Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE, “You’ve condemned them to death, big Jim, just as surely as if my warriors ran assagais through them. They had twenty jars of the stuff, and it is all at this place!”’ VIIl. THE next two days passed very slowly for Hardwick, because Katje seemed to have vanished, and all this inquiries among the natives elicited no response, save: “ When the Inkoosikaas wishes to be seen, she will be seen. Until then: who are we to ques- tion her goings and comings?” And so Hardwick had to content himself with wandering aimlessly about the place, a target for Ginger Dick’s coarse horseplay and coarser wit. On the afternoon of the third day—and it had rained without ceas- ing since early morning—the native girl, Mary, came to Hardwick. ‘ Inkoosikaas Katje, she come back; she want to see you.” Whistling cheerfully, Hardwick followed Mary down to the house, and found Katje huddled despondently in a chair before the fire; there was a chill in the damp air. “Hullo, big Jim,” she said wistfully. “ Sit here.”” She indicated a stool near her chair. He obeyed and, looking up at her sud- denly, their eyes met. She turned her head away for a moment; then, looking at him again, stuck out her tongue. ‘“ What a child it is,” he said teasingly. “And are you so old?” she retorted hotly. Then they both laughed. “You said you wanted to see me,” Hardwick said presently, “Yes.” She was alert now, her dreamy mood had passed. “I need your help.” “What is the trouble, Katje?” Her little, sun-browned, capable hands fluttered before her. “That can wait a little while. First tell me why you wanted to get away from here the other night.” ‘““Why—why,” he began, and finished lamely, ‘‘ I—I don’t know.” Her eyebrows arched. “So?” she said. ‘‘ Were you afraid?” ie4 Yes,” 205 “ Of me?” “ Of you—and of myself.” 4 Whye”’ He moved uneasily and, taking up the poker, prodded the blazing log, sending a shower of sparks up the chimney. ‘** You're so young, Katje, and—”’ She laughed softly. “Yes? You've said that before. But go on, big Jim.” She bent over toward him; her hands rested lightly, caressingly on his head. Suddenly he sprang to his feet and, taking her up in his arms, kissed her on the lips. “That is why I tried to go away the - other night,” he said, and loosed his hold of her—intending to go to his hut. But she clung tightly to him. “Silly big Jim,” she murmured. ‘“ That is all the more reason why you should have stayed. Well ”—she shook him slightly— ‘“aren’t you going to say something?” “You are so young,” he began; but she put her hand over his mouth. “If you say that again, Ill scream. I’m twenty-two, if you must know. Now say something nice.” He said it, and she sighed happily and held her face up to be kissed again. Then the remembrance of the gold reef came to Hardwick and, affecting a stern- ness he was far from feeling, he said: ‘* Katje, I’m a rotter to be acting this way. I haven’t a thing in the world. All [ own is the clothes I have on my back—”’ ““My clothes, are just as ragged, big Jim,” she interposed softly. He nodded. “ But you'll soon have better ones. At the back of the house, Katie, is a rich gold reef. I’ll stake my reputation as a mining engineer that it can be made one of the best producers in the country. You must develop it so that you can get away from here and see all the things young girls should see. Buy pretty dresses, jewels; you must learn things, meet young people, anad——” She silenced him with an imperious ges- ture. “That’s enough. You're getting—as Ginger Dick would say—‘ bloomin’ squeam- ish.’ I know all about the gold reef; have COmMicloooks (C@