Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

DIRTY this antiquated, measly, moth-eaten, wretched imitation of a Victorian bath tub that even a third rafe junk dealer—” “Nothing of the sort,” interrupted Sparks, raising his voice to the necessary pitch so to do. “Six hundred was all I paid for her.” * Aha!” cried Mr. Vail and added, with a fine show of sarcasm and exactitude, “then the remaining nineteen thousand and four hundred dollars were dissipated, I pre- sume, to the winds?” “No!” shouted Sparks. ‘‘ They were spent in getting machinery to get your fool rocks from your fool island and every one of which I ought to throw at your fool head.” He stuck his own outside the port- hole for the sake of greater emphasis. Mr. Vail, spotting Mr. Swift’s neck for the first time within reach, made a grab for it. He missed. ‘“ Do you mean to tell me you actually pulled any bluff at getting that rock?” “ Bluff? Go take a look under those hatch covers and then come back here and tell me what the fireworks are about.” ~ Mr. Vail, seeing there was nothing to be gained by hovering in the vicinity of a neck that possessed such a high degree of elasticity, complied. He descended to the forward deck and approached, suspiciously, a hatch cover. Of course, it was absurd. It was simply some fresh outrage in the form of an ill- timed jest that would be perpetrated upon him. Still, Mr. Vail was just seaman enough to recognize the fact that the fool ship, his—ye Gods!—fool ship, was loaded with something and he might as well find out with what. A child could have knocked him down with a feather upon his catching sight of the top layer of slabs of peculiarly shaded beryl green coral rock that mocked him from the hold. The first sensation to assail him was one of exultation and immense satisfaction. He fairly trembled with excitement. A vision of Mirapa as it was to be arose dazzlingly before his eyes. He stepped over the hatch coaming and descended the ladder into the hold where he stroked the soft, fine surface of the cargo WORK. 213 with his hand, the better to convince him- self of its reality. His heart, volatile at best, switched in a flash from anger to joy, from recrimina- tion to gratitude. Mr.. Swift, whoever he was, whatever he was, was a smart young feller, just the type of fine upstanding young American that Mr. Vail liked to have around him. If Mr. Swift’s neck had at that moment been within his grasp he would, instead of wringing it, have released it. Mr. Vail intended, as it was, to ascend at once and make the amende honorable. He had been hasty. He would explain. All would, all must be forgiven. He wanted many more cargoes of that precious rock. He started to ascend the ladder with the dove of peace prettily circling a rosy halo about his head when a sudden darkness and the clank of boards descended on him from above. A few more rungs explained the meaning of it. The hatch cover had been shoved into place and, which was worse, battened down so he couldn’t budge it. The dove of peace, one need scarcely mention, took sick and fainted on the spot. Up at the house, Miss Nancy Vail com- pleted her toilet with sundry birdlike and useless pats at her hair, her linen dress, and wherever her hand happend to land, and sauntered from her room to meet the morning, her breakfast, her father, and all comers. Mr. Victor Swift stood glaring up.at her from beside the newel post at the foot of the stairs. “You!” she said, in the tone of voice reserved for those who have returned in the shape of a ghost from the grave. Sparks ignored all amenities, social and otherwise. “If you have any influence with that papa of yours,” he said, “ come down and get him. I have him battened down in the Princess’s forward hold. “ Princess? Papa—Princess—papa— papa—” “For heaven’s sake, stop saying ‘ papa’ and come with me. You'll see him in a minute.” There was a good deal to see when they got there. Miss Vail had explained a number of Go ONOOKS AMUNG (C@