Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

HONEST FOOL. toyin’ with the idee, so to speak. But it’s brought me this far from anywhere—so I guess I may’s well make port.” “You ’ave come a long journey?” “You said it, mate. A long journey’s right. A long v’yage. But that beat to win’ ward from the railroad was the roughest leg of the whole entire journey. A sailor on snowshoes. If you’d sighted me, mate, you'd of swore it was a crazy porpoise an’ got a throwin’ iron ready.” This was evidently intentional humor; but he did not smile. ‘A sailor,” said Jules encouragingly. ‘‘ One never meets mariners, nor even fish- ers of cods, in this region.” Wilson nodded his head. ‘I guess that’s so,” he said. ‘I’m out of place in these woods—you don’t have to tell me—like a boson in church. I’m kinder keepin’ an eye skinned for folks of the name of Harlow.” Jules felt a thrill, though he could think of no reason in particular for being thrilled by the fact of a sailor looking for the Har- lows. “T’ree of zem are at ’ome,”’ he said. “The parents and the young lady. The son is still in the deep woods, if I am not mistaken.” ‘You are acquainted with ’em, mate?” “Yes, we are acquainted. We are neigh- bors.” “Tell me, mate—them there parents, now—what kinder folks would they be for a man to live with—a man like me, for in- stance?” “To live wiz? Peter and ’is madame? It is a question, It is a situation I ‘ave never contemplated. To work for Peter and ‘is madame would be very good, very friendly, I do not doubt—but zat family do no work.” “No work, hey? That suits me, mate. That sounds good to a sailor only six weeks outer hospital at Pernambuco. But I don’t know. My mind ain’t altogether made up yet. There’s more’n one side to a custard pie; and I don’t want to sign on in haste an’ cuss myself out at leisure. It’s a long hop, mate—from follerin’ the sea to navi- gatin’ these woods on them damn snow- shoes. Let her ride.” Jules handed over his tobacco and ciga- 607 rette papers and then fell to work. Tark Wilson sat and watched him, rolling and smoking cigarettes the while. The after- noon passed. The sun reddened as he neared the horizon and at last slipped out of sight in a smolder of gold and scarlet; and the east, eggshell green, disclosed a hundred stars like diamonds. The still air crisped with an increase of frost; frosty snappings rang out from the trees of the forest, far and near; and Jules ceased his labor and drew on his coat and mittens. ‘Where do we go from here, mate?” queried the sailor. Halfway to the house Wilson halted Jules with a pluck at an arm. ‘“ About them Harlows, mate,” he said. ‘‘T been considerin’ it. Let it ride, that’s the idee. Mum’s the word. No hurry, you understand. No call to tell what I asked you, neither. My mind—I don’t seem to be able to make it up. Sailin’ the seas is one thing an’ runnin’ aground on these here woods is another. So I guess we'll let it ride, mate. Mum’s the word.” ‘What is your exact wish in the mat- ter?” asked Jules. ‘‘ Perhaps I do not fully understand you. Be more explicit, if you please.” “It’s this way. Never mind tellin’ your friends what I asked you-—how I asked you about folks of the name of Harlow. That’s all. I come outer the woods an’ belayed you for a job. Not a word about the name IT told you, nor about me bein’ a sailor. That last dose of fever kinder spoiled me for makin’ up my mind. Call me Jones, mate—or Morgan-—anything but Tark Wilson—till I make up my mind, An’ about the job, mate. If vour skipper will tell me off into your watch, to work along with you, I’d be obliged—-an’ I don’t ask a cent more’n victuals an’ smokes.” “It is your wish to lie low for a little while?” | ‘You said it, mate.” ‘Very well. I see no ’arm in it—as yet. But as you are an absolute stranger, and I am taking the responsibility of introducing you into my friend’s ’ouse wizout disclosing to ‘im your true name and vocation, I must warn you zat I shall keep a sharp eye on you.” COMmicbool< CO