The Argosy for May — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

WANTED BY UNCLE SAM. -just «what to do with you. I don't exactly relish the idea of killing you, and yet I really don't see what other course is open to.me.’ : “Pooh!” exclaimed L effingwell con- temptuously. ‘We're not afraid that you're going to kill us. You’re too much of a coward, Mitchell, to run the risk of going to the electric-chair.” ‘Oh, really, I don’t think there’d be very much risk of -that,’ the deserter retorted smoothly. “I could put a bullet into your head, and into the red head of your, friend here, and there’d be nobody to bear witness against me. My friend, Beem Nomm Low here, is too loyal to betray me; and, of course, the bulldog can’t talk. I guess I can put an end to the pair of you very nicely, without run- ning any danger of going to the chair fori: a ‘“ But you won’t do it,” declared Lef- fingwell confidently. “I know your caliber too well, Mitchell, to be afraid of you. You haven’ t got enough nerve to do anything like that.” “It isn’t exactly prudent of you to talk in that manner,” the deserter re- torted. “If you set any value on your life, and the life of your friend, you should not question my courage, you know. It isn’t good policy. Your words almost tempt me to pull this trigger— just to prove to you that I have got the nerve.” “And I tell you again that you daren’t do it,” cried Leffingwell, with a defiant recklessness which caused Simple Simon to glance at him in surprise and trepi- dation. “Whether you’ve got the nerve or not,” the latter hastened to interpose, addressing Mitchell, ‘“ I’m wouldn’t murdersus in cold blood. You don’t want to forget that we had you in our power earlier to-day, and were merci- ful enough to let you go. One good turn deserves another, you know.” Simple Simon was no coward ; but life was dear to him, and he did not see the sense of throwing it away out of mere bravado. Not knowing Mitchell’s char- acter as well as Leffingwell knew it, he did not share the latter’s positiveness that the deserter was too much lacking in courage to make good his threat. “T assure you that I have not for- sure you 293 gotten that favor, my red-headed friend,” Mitchell replied. “ But, on the other hand, I haven’t forgotten the emphatic kick with which our dear friend Lef- fingwell sent me speeding on my way. The recollection of that kick sort of takes away my gratitude. Besides, I have since learned that my dear Leffing- well has paid a visit to my sweetheart, and tried to blacken my character in her eyes. “True, he did not succeed; but, never- theless, I bear him a grudge for it. As Shakespeare remarks: ‘He who steals my purse steals trash; but he who robs me of my good name,’ etc., etc, ‘“ However, that is not the point. It is not for the sake of revenge that I feel constrained to kill you both, but merely as a matter of self-protection. “IT very much fear that your object in coming here now was not to pay me a social call, but to seize me and hand me over to the authorities, in ‘erder to earn that big reward. Now, of course, I can’t afford to let you do that. My liberty is very dear to me, and I don’t relish the idea of languishing in a mili- tary prison. “Therefore, the question presents’ it- self, what am I going to do with you if I don’t kill you?” He pretended to deliberate for a full minute, during which time Simple Si- mon’s face wore a very anxious and ap- prehensive expression, while Leffiingwell’s under lip curled in a contemptuous smile. ‘“T have an idea,” cried the deserter suddenly. “I think I perceive a way out of the difficulty. you gentlemen to be kind enough to step inside our humble little dwelling. But, first of all, I must request my friend, Beem Nomm Low, to search you both—while you continue to keep your hands above your heads, of course—in order to make sure that you have no weapons.” The one-eyed Chinaman obediently made a careful examination of their pockets, and reported that they carried no arms. : “Very good,” Mitchell commented. ‘That being the case, I will not trouble you to keep your hands up any longer. It must be an uncomfortable position. CORMICLOO© (C S I will have to ask © (C@