Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

98 a woman! Is this not the unwritten law of all fighting men?” “* Not of their brand,’’ Cameron said. “ I would be safer in their midst than you. There is no further time to argue.” “Tt is the truth you speak. And I have said what I have said!” She started for the door. He intercepted her. “What a lunacy! What a sacrifice!” he cried. “Have you no ‘conception of what will happen if they see you—if they discover that this sort of treasure is to be found in this house? All else in this house —gold, silver, precious relics, will mean nothing to them—if only they catch sight of you!” “Can it be that I have such power over them! It isto thank God! Iam a Medusa then—that everything will turn to stone, because of my looks—” “Your beauty—yes! There will be a tragedy in this house—greater than the rifling of all its hoard of wealth. Must I force you to stay here?” “ Force—me?” she asked incredulously. A shock passed through Cameron as if she had hurled a _ challenge at him—or rather as if she had held a knife up to warn him not to touch her. The dim candle light reflected in her eyes was trans- formed into a livid, a savage fire. For the first time Cameron caught a_ glimpse —which was but a momentary flash—of another personality in this scion of a blood- thirsty race. A qualm thrilled him—an instinctive de- sire to step back from her—an impulse that might overcome a soldier in the face of a terrific onslaught. She stepped towards the door before which he stood. She was apparently confi- dent that he would not dare to touch her. It was unthinkable! By all the laws of heaven and earth he would have to step aside and let her pass. She even saw the confounded look—the bewilderment, the parting of those masculine lips. He raised his arms as she stepped to him. It seemed a gesture of defense—as if he feared she would bury a knife in his chest which was revealed by that torn wet -blouse. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. He did not step aside. She realized that too late. For she had literally walked into his arms. That savage fire that flamed up was snuffed out and in its place there burned a light softer than the candle beams. He held her in his arms with a feeling of wonder: could this frail and perfect vessel contain the fierce hot blood of those bucca- neers? “ Mademoiselle will stay in this room,” he said. She did not struggle. Cameron had the impression that she was totally without physical strength. Her power was intangi- ble—a thing of the spirit. But curiously enough even the strange force that she had, could not be pitted against the brute strength of those masculine arms. Cameron released her for there was noth- ing to combat. Tim Holloway looked up from a very im- portant bit of work at which he had for the last few moments been engaged. ‘Shiver my timbers, skipper, if our whole game ain’t hashed!” Cameron turned towards the bed where Tim had spilled out his cartridge boxes, ar- ranging the cartridges in rows. “They don’t fit!) My gun’s no use!” the boy exclaimed. ‘What calibre’s your gun, mate?” “ Thirty-eight—and these here cartridges is forty-four!” “ Mine’s a thirty-eight, too!” said in consternation. “* Hashed!” “Our guns are loaded,” Cameron said. “That gives us twelve shots. And we’ve only got four men to fight. Pretty good odds, mate. So forget about that ammuni- tion. There isn’t going to be any siege or any gun-battle. I’m going down there now to hold ’em up. You stay here and protect mademoiselle.” “Aye, aye, skipper. They’ll have to cross me dead body, afore they luff up into this here room.” Cameron opened the door softly, and groped his way out into the dark. The. girl stood in the room somewhat dazed at that first bewildering and vital experience. The strange young pirate had actually used force to curb her will. She Cameron COmiCcMookKks (E@