The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

THE THING THAT WAS CASSAR’S. orange—extracting every drop of juice before throwing aside the worth- less skin. “Tt isn’t that I fail to realize what will happen,” said Oakes tersely. “I know only too well what the upshot will be. If I pay this outrageous de- mand or even one cent, and it is a graft so simple and plain in its direct application that it would make a New York alderman sit up and wink ;—1if, I say, I pay this, it will be only the be- ginning of a scheme by which I will be supportmg every idle Japanese and Russian in all Korea. “They will let the coolies get to Chenampho, and then they will see to it that strikes take place that will take official action to settle and that'll cost more money, and the Koreans will al- ways have us on the count that we evaded the quarantine laws—-” “They’ve got no laws except what they make while you wait,” growled Innes. ‘“ What’ll you do? ” ‘“T don’t know yet. Let’s get some luncheon.”’’ They needed it, and it was not par- ticularly appetizing, but they sat and sipped leisurely enough at the long glasses of amber-colored Scotch-and- sodas that the boy brought them, and it was not till the sun was well down toward the life of low western hills that Oakes made up his mind. He turned to Innes. “When does the Lorelei sail for Yokohama? Do you know?” For answer Innes scanned the line of the water-front where stands the tall flagpole on which is hoisted the great red ball that when pulled to the very truck announces the arrival of a steamer. The pole thrust its ugly length into the very eye of the sun, but there was no ball upon it. Obviously no steamer was within reach. “Let’s go to Forbes & Lyon and see their sailing list. Why do you want to know?” ‘Because we-musn’t forget about Miss Downs. If they grab the Atlan- ta and hold her, they'll hold Miss 587 Downs up with the vessel, and that’ll be décidedly unpleasant for her. Let's go take a look at the sailing list.” An obliging clerk showed it to them and they discovered that the Lorelei was not due for two days. “What's due to sail to-day? thing?” “The Futami Maru, outward bound for Hong-Kong, Thursday Island, and Sydney,” said the clerk. “ She sails at eight, as soon as the ebb makes.”’ “What cabin list has she?” — For answer the clerk again over- hauled the passenger sheet before say- ing: “There are no cabin passengers booked for this run, sir.” “Reserve two firsts. Any- I will call later and arrange about them.” “Still I do not fathom your inten- tions,’ said Innes, wondering. “Not yet? Tl explain. I want you to go aboard the Atlanta and tell Miss Downs all that has happened and tell her that the Lorelei, by which she was to go to Yokohama, is not due for several days yet. “I want her to sail on the Futami Maru this evening. I want to get her on board of the Futami Maru and out of the way before any unpleasafht com- plications arise. It would be the devil and all to pay if she were caught on the Atlanta and refused permission to leave while you and the Atlanta are held up indefinitely in quarantine. They'll hold you up till I either pay the fine or till your owners put up a howl. She can get to Yokohama as easily from Hong-Kong and easier than she can from here and far more comfort- ably too. Tell her that and get her on board the Futami Maru yourself, Innes. Mind that. What’ll you do?” | “Oh, I suppose I'll sweat out my soul till | hear from my owners. We'll get all kinds of damages for this, of course. Incidentally, I wonder who’s ‘hide’ll suffer for it—Japan’s, Russia’s Korea’s or—China? ”’ “China, of course,” said Odakes COMicdoo S CO@