The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

10 situation you must face if Mark re- turns to Paris in the custody of Ravary. Now, listen to the other side. See the bright sun shining for us all, the music of the spheres playing—’’ “Cut out the dope,” came the cold, cruel words of Ordway. “I still hear the music of your automatic. Pump harder. The water is rising in the hold.” Joloff nodded. “In plain language, then, there is a way out. [ am, as I said, rich. So far as I know Nicasse has no near relatives who will insist on pressing the hunt for Sanderman if he does not return to Paris. Money can do in Paris what it can do in any other place, and the memories of French policemen are much like the memories of policemen the world over. They all remember they are advancing in years, and a snug bank-account is a beautiful silver- lining to the dark cloud of incompetent old age. ) “ My proposition is this. It is sim- ple, and can be carried out without any trouble: “Sanderman goes back into that cave. Nobody is going to look for him in a cave that opens from the sea. Let Ravary burn the forest if he wants to. The timber is good for nothing ex- cept wood-pulp, and there is no mill near enough to make it available for that. “Let him rave, curse, do anything he wants—then leave him to me. I'll venture to promise that his report will be that Mark was blown from his air- ship in the storm and drowned at sea. “Then when it comes time for the cruiser and Morley’s yacht to leave, you, Dagwell, and you, Ordway, must have reached a conclusion that our friend here you call Crusoe, is not yet ripe for the inevitable introduction into civilization. You desire a little time in which to coach him. We leave you here. “Immediately upon my return to Paris I will manage secretly to send a seaworthy yacht after you. The sail- THE ARGOSY. ing-master will have orders to carry you to any spot on the earth you may choose. Sanderman will accompany you in perfect security, for by that time the police will have—well, forgotten all about the murder of Nicasse. There will also be a large sum of money for Sanderman to begin life anew. What do you think of that for a way out?” It isn’t a way out yet,” I answered. “So far it is a cul-de-sac. You have led us up a blind alley to assassinate us. Proceed with the assassination.” “What do you mean? ” “IT mean just what I say. All this sounds very pretty. ‘ Cinderella’ isn’t a “patch on a barn door compared to it. The GoodGenie of the ‘ Arabian Nights’ was a low-browed villain compared to you. Come over with the gold beads.” “Of course,” added Joloff, “ the latter plan is contingent upon Alma be- coming my wife as soon as we return to Paris.” Miss Sanderman gasped, turned white, and seemed to shrink up into a small bundle of quivering muscles. Ordway looked steadily at me, then at Joloff. “* Joloff,” he said, “ it is not for me, and it is not for Dagwell, to say whether or no Miss Sanderman will consent to your gentlemanly arrange- ment. Had I the authority I would kick you three times the length of this island.”’ “But it is none of. your business,” retorted Joloff. “ You and Dagwell are merely witnesses, and this savage doesn’t count. The matter seems to be one that only Miss Sanderman herself can settle.”’ The gleaming, ominous eyes of the islander were sending out their vol- canic flames, and I began to fear an- other attempt on the life of Joloff. I am ready to admit right here that so far as my personal feelings in the mat- ter were concerned I would have shout- ed with joy if I could have seen Joloff stretched dead, torn and broken, on the rocks. But this would merely make a bad matter worse. CoOMmicbook CO