Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

CROOKS WELCOME. h “ How about the kale? The ten grand?” e demanded. ‘“ What yuh done with it? I want mine before any more funny busi- ne comes off.” rescott looked annoyed. Possibly he had hoped that the <1.) had been. for. gotten. Paul interposed to explain their reasons for not opening the suit case sooner —the possibility of an infernal machine. ‘When we come aboard, we tied it to a line hooked around a cleat and let it down into the water to soak,” Trescott added. ‘IT see now that Craig was bulling us, but we weren’t taking chances. He seemed to be such a raving bug that it wouldn’t be impossible that he had an infernal machine in it. Anyway, it was a safe place to leave it, where nobody would find it. And we've been so busy since, we forgot it.” “Well, I ain’t forgot it and I want mine,” announced Bat. “I'm not yel- low—” “ Are you cracking at me?” demanded Paul softly, his hand in front of his coat. “ You two lay off,” commanded Trescott. “ T}]- get that suit case.” Paul and Bat glared murderously at each other while their chief was absent. Within a couple of minutes he returned, carrying the: water-soaked, dripping leather case. This he placed carefully on the deal table directly under the swinging kerosene lamp which furnished the cabin’s sole il- lumination. His accomplices hunched their chairs closer to the table, their faces as eager 5 those of children at the moment of un- wrapping the Christmas presents. Silently Trescott searched Monty, bringing to light a key with which he approached the bag. “ Oh-h!”? moaned Monty in mock terror as he widened his eyes and held his hands over his ears to shut out the devastating explosion. Paul moved back uneasily from the suit case, and Trescott hesitated. “ Gimme that key. I ain't bluffed, an- nounced Bat. “Listen, girl,” requested . Trescott or Belle. ‘This bimbo says this 3S gong Y oe ou know any ° blow up if we open it. Do yo we may thing about it? If you're sensible, deal you in on this.” “He told Fenton and Kildee the 4A ¢ it was a dummy full-a paper,” she replied sual- Jenly. ‘I wouldn't believe that kidder un- der oath.” “Righto. Then here goes,” declared Trescott, fitting the key. ““ Hold on there! We declare in on that,” rapped a voice from the doorway. Framed in it stood the two men who had posed as office renters that afterncon— Fenton and Kildee. Each held his pistol with a businesslike aim which covered the rival crooks. At sound of this greeting, Trescott and his pair sprang up in alarm, overturning’ the table as they faced the men covering them. The newcomers closed the door be- hind them and advanced a step, swinging their guns. ‘Don’t try a move for your guns unless you want to wear walnut bennies,” warmed the new spokesman coldly. ‘“‘ And thanks for opening the door. Your light guided us here when we saw you with that grip. You’ve got a friend of ours here. her and be quick about it.” “You got the message I phoned to be given you after I trailed ‘em here in 8 taxi?” asked Belle. ‘I got worried wait- ing for you, so I came aboard to spot what was doing after a dame came on.” “See here, Fenton—if that’s your name,” fumed Trescott, addressing the pear-shaped crook. “We pulled this job. It’s ours, see? I may be willing to talk a split, but you can’t come hijacking us like this.” “ Very unethical, I would say ed Monty. ‘No honor among po privacy for prisoners. What about mre, ere alone? Am might as well charge admission to let every one look at me and make a lot more money & show- men. It’s a low state the good old trade of kidnaping has fallen into wh that was to be locked up & I left alone? No! You napee has no seclusion—" Untie ,” comment- thieves, and en the kid- “Shut up!” roared Fenton, who had been staring and fizzing with bursting ran on U> wrath as this surprising tirade checked. ‘‘ Have you t that broadcasting station ? « Somebody's got to tel you guys bow Co () 1A@OO SS Co