Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

906 Regardless of the danger, he snatched up the fallen instrument and called loudly into the transniitter. “Hello! Hello!” There was no response. “Hello! Hello! Wilpin! Answer me!” he shouted. But the only sound in the receiver clamped to his ear was a faint scratching —static—caused by the electrical storm. He replaced the receiver on its hook, turned about and looked from one tense face to another. “Well?” he rasped. “We've got them!” Julius cried hoarse- ly. “That flash must have come out at both ends of the circuit!” It was true. In Dead Man’s Pass, Larry Wilpin Jay stretched out on his back near the telephone box where he had fallen when the bolt struck the wires. And beside him, vaguely rubbing her eyes, sat Margery Cor- bin, who had been stunned to semi-con- sciousness by the shock. mm CHAPTER XXXVI. GRIM DEATH. “0, EAD!” Margery Corbin screamed. The bolt of lightning that had struck the telephone wire and knocked Friday Pepper senseless at one end and Red Wilpin unconscious at the other, had only dazed the girl. It seemed to her that a chain of flickering green sparks had leaped from Larry’s Wilpin’s side to hers. She had recovered from that shock to find herself sitting on the ground near his sprawling body. And now, placing an ear to his heart, she could hear no sound. All about her the rain beat down into puddles, and these enlarging puddles trickled off into a small torrent that cas- caded down into the valley of Yumpa. The lightning and thunder appeared to be re- ceding “‘ Dead!” she repeated in a choked whis- Then, in futile frenzy, she caught at his cold hands and rubbed them; pressed her cheek against his, as if she might im- part some warmth to that beloved face. Her true love! ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, A chilling numbness crept upon her. She arose to her feet and tottered to the tele- phone. The receiver was hanging by its dark brown cord, and she picked it up. It was still warm—still warm from his be- loved touch! Choking back a sob, she de- pressed the hook and rang Yumpa. A voice, strange and excited, answered her. “Ts that you, Friday?” she asked faintly. “No, it ain’t, gal!” the voice shouted. “Friday Pepper’s a layin’ yere on th’ floor deader than th’ deadest thing J ever saw.” “ The lightning struck him, too?” ‘“Ma’am, it percolated him good! Whut shape is yore sweetie in, if I may ask, ma’am?”? Dead!” she sobbed. ‘‘ Who is this?” But the voice at the other end no longer heeded her. Evidently the man had dropped the receiver and was spreading the news, for she heard his voice as if from a distance: “ Red Wilpin is dead! It struck him th’ same time it struck Friday!” Then some one called: “Is th’ leetle gal all right?” And the answer: ‘“‘ Shore! Wasn't I jest a talkin’ to her?” Commotion followed. The diaphragm in the receiver rattled tinnily with the din. Then voices emerged, sharp and contesting. “No, she ain’t! I spoke up fer her fust!” “You got enough gals, Black Dan Mac- Gillicuddy!” still another voice roared. “T’ve been a hankerin’ fer that sweet leetle thing ever since I fust laid eyes on her. And there ain’t goin’ to be no argyment!” “You’re mistaken—all of you,” a cold, incisive voice broke in, and Margery, sway- ing beside the phone box, recognized the accents as those of Julius Yost. “T’ve wanted that little girl for a long time,” he added. “I’ve gone through hell and high water to get her and now I’m going up there and take her home with me as my wife. And if any of you have any Serious regard for your lives, you will keep out of my way. I am a dead shot, and I am going to shoot any man who stands be- tween me and that girl.” “We'll match fer her!” a hoarse yoice bellowed. “We'll do nothing of the kind. It’s GOMIGDOOo C SS Co