Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 87: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ROARING FORTIES. On his side, Nat felt that things were progressing to his satisfaction. His was the nature of the tortoise, rather than the hare: he might be slow, but he was steady and sure, never veering from one fixed pur- pose. “T can wait. I can wait.” most oft-repeated sentence. Others, impetuous, might rush things, but it was the nature of a Gertridge to keep pegging away with dogged determination. Though Mary spoke no more of Richard Dunbar to her mother, his name would not die out of her heart. As Nat had now be- come her greatest companion, it was natural for her to talk occasionally to him about her inner feelings. On such occasions Nat was always diplomatic. He made no more demonstra- tions against the absent Richard. Indeed, he was now magnanimous in his references. “Poor fellow! Too bad he had such luck! He was his own worst enemy. It was the wild blood of the Dunbars. He couldn’t help it. That kind of blood was bound to make for trouble.”’ One day Mary’s curiosity got the better of her, and she inquired of Nat, point blank, if he knew of Richard’s present con- dition. Nat answered with apparently guarded admissions. ‘“T’ve come to see, Mary, that you really like Dunbar; therefore I hate to talk about him.” 66 Why?” “Because, in my heart I am sorry for the poor fellow. Perhaps in the past I did him an injustice. I used to get rabid talking about him, on account of you. I was so fearful lest he might lead you off into some foolish infatuation that might cause you pain. ‘‘ Now, viewing the thing calmly and in a saner light, I want vou to know that I This was his 877 have nothing but good will toward the poor fellow. Indeed, it was through me that he was reinstated on both occasions.” ‘* How’s that?”’ “You remember he was fired for his breach of the standing orders of the com- pany.” ce Yes.”’ ‘“* Well, I was the one who broke him. And then later, even before Captain Forbes made a request on his behalf, I myself had already given an order for his reinstate- ment.” As Nat uttered this lie, he was glad that Mary did not have access to the minutes of his board. ‘* What was the other time you reinstated him?” inquired Mary. ‘“* After he had been broken in England, for drunkenness and inefficiency. He was then absolutely down and out. That was why he wrote you that he was coming home. ‘“‘T felt at the time, Mary, like allowing him to face the music. But knowing how much you cared for him, on your account, I gave the order to have him reinstated once more.” “That was awfully good of you, Nat,” said Mary, with a sudden surge of gratitude. ** And where is he now?” “He sailed for Australia on the Val- kyrie.” In spite of the cynicism and bitterness that had been stealing into her heart, Mary felt a sudden thrill at these words. In one moment she had warmed to Nat Gertridge; in the next instant her blood was quickened by the answer which Nat had given. In that answer Mary seemed to feel the tang of unexpectancy, the lure of the adventure trail. “‘'He sailed for Australia,” she repeated aloud. “It sounds so brave. It sounds like Richard.” TO BE CONTINUE D NEXT WEEK ie} Le} U A WHALE OF A STORY next week as our Complete Novelette—*‘ The Comedy of Terrors,” a business tale of a good natured man who suddenly determines to become hard-boiled —by Joseph Ivers Lawrence, author of the famous “ Unbeatable Bates.” COMIC OOo! (©