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TOM'S RIGHT "AN UNTRAINEO TRAINING FOR RADIO IS EASY AND IM MAN HASN'T A CHANCE. I'M GETTING ALONG FAST.— V \GOIN0 TO TRAIN TOR ^411 .*•">» SIRVICINS SETs^ feAMOTdOc IT'S TOOAVS FIELD tit, GOOD PAY OPPORTUNITIES THERE'S NO END TO THE GOOD JOBS FOR THE TRAINED RADIO MAN

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J. E. SMITH, President, Dept. 5 MM National Radio Institute, Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Smith: Without obligating me, send your book which, points' out and your 60-50 method) N. R. I. Course Pays for the spare time and full time job opportunities in Radio Itself of training men at home in spare lime to become Radio Experts. "At the end of my first (Please print plainly) year I more than tripled AGE the cos t of in y Gours e. NAME Other fellows need not be afraid to start the Course for fear they cannot pay ADDRESS., for it, because it more ' than pays for itself. ' C1TT STATE. F. E. Sanderson, Jr., Moyock, N. C. Home-Study FACTORY TO YOU Business Training LATEST MODEL REMINGTON TYPEWRITERS Your opportunity will never be bigger than your preparation. Prepare now and reap the rewards of early success. Free 64-Page Books Tell How. Write NOW for book you want, or mail coupon with your name, present position and address in margin today. Q Higher Accountancy Business Corres. DMod. Salesmanship Credit and Collection Traffic Management Correspondence BRAND NEW, latest Rail. Station Mgm't Modern Foremanship model Remington Port- Law : Degree of IX. B. Personnel Mgm't able for only 10 a day! Amazingly low price direct from Commercial Expert Bookkeeping i Law the factory. Every essential feature of large office type- Industrial Mgm't C. P. A. Coaching Banking and Finance Business English writers—standard 4-row keyboard, standard width car- Business Mgm't Effective Speaking riage, margin release, back space, automatic ribbon re- Paper Salesman's Training D Stenotypy verse. Act now, while this special opportunity holds good. LA SALLE EXTENSION UNIVERSITY You don't RISK a Penny Dept. 1175-fc Chicago We send you this genuine Model 6 for 10 days' free trial. If not satisfied, send it back. We pay all shipping charges. FREE Typing Course and Carrying Case You will receive FREE a complete simplified home course in Touch Typing. Also FREE, a handsome, sturdy carrying case. No obligation. Mail coupon for full details—NOW. SALARY Ry. Mail Clark } POSTMASTER P. O. Laborer ) Seamstress TO START R. F. D. Carrier Auditor Special Agent Stenographer Remington Rand Inc., Dept. 147-11. $ U.S. Border Patrol 90 to Customs Inspector i 205 East 42nd Street, New York, N. Y. City Mail Carrier Telephone Opr; i 175 P. O. Clerk Watchman Tell me, without obligation, how I can get a New Remington MONTHLY Matron Meat Inspector Portable, plus Free Typing Course and Carrying Case, for Special Investigator ) Secret Service Opr. 10c a day. Send Catalogue. () Typist < ) File Clerk MEN INSTRUCTION BU REAU .Oapt 1 1 2 ,S t. Loult, Mfc Name Send me FREE particulars "How to Qualify for Salarlee, Government PoBltione" marked X . Addres3 WOMEN locations, opportunities, etc. ALL SENT FREE.

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Mr. Jim Thayer, Dept. 550 The Crowell Publishing Company, Springfield, Ohio

Dear Jim: Start me winning MONEY and PRIZES.

Name-

Address- BESIDES; —I — .

YOUneaf 4 MONEY

Here's a wonderful chance to moire,

llpP end get a Brand New FORD SEDAN besides. you are out IF of work or on part I Send Everything time and need cash at once to pay your bills and live on, you are just Experience or previous training un- the person I am looking for. I have a necessary. I send everything you good opportunity for you right now need. You don't risk a penny of your a wonderful chance to start right in money. I'll give you a brand new making up to of the opportunity for you to $6.50 in a day and Ford Tudor Sedan as a bonus if you quickly increase your earnings as you show me you are a producer. You become established. handle the money and deliver the MAKE m MONEY Make Money Fast goods. You keep a big share of every You don't dollar take in as Noth- Wouldn't H give you a thrill to make have to go around penni- you your pay. money like this? Money to spend less in a land of plenty. My system ing complicated about that. more where that came from—money to shows you how to make money FASTI pay for the necessities and some left Look at those earnings Start Earning at over for the luxuries? Bead this list. in the column at the The people who reported these cash Once left. These are excep- earnings have sworn before a legally Ladles Wanted, Tool My unique plan pro- authorized NOTABY PUBLIC that tional earnings for any im- these are true and accurate reports— kind of times, but they Many ladies, both mar- vides a way to get could print SCOBES of other sworn are especially good right ried and single, hare had mediate earnings. As statements of big earnings If I had unusually good success long as you are hon- now. with the space. But these are enough to my money making est and reliable you are you the possibilities, for these plan. They say It is show If only three or four eligible for this oppor- people reported these earnings from people had made money possible to make as much the very same opportunity I now offer as the men do—up to tunity. Due to big ex- as fast you. as this, you $10.00 and more in a day pansion program, I want Amount Earned might call it an acci- for full time, and as high someone in every terri- as $6.50 in a day for In One Week dent. But scores have tory. I am able to give spare time. Don't hesi- r. J. Mother, Wyo $60.00 done it! These are only tate just because you are this splendid money- Wilbur W. Whltcomb, Ohio.... 146.00 a few—if space per- a woman. Send for this making opportunity to White, Kan 47.50 H. D. mitted I could print information. I will be more men and women Geo. E. Bohn. Idaho 53.86 glad MANY MORE reports to send it. Free. at once. There is no Tom Noble, Mich 68.40 of exceptional earnings, red tape connected with Ft. E. Teague, Calif 52.00 every one sworn to as L. P. Boyne. La 67.20 this offer. being the truth, the Clara C. Wellman. N. J 96.00 whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Paul T. Krlder. Pi 81.00 When these Send No Money—Just Name people Geo. W. Wright, Maine 63.75 first beard of my proposition Send me your name so I can lay the Sam. A. Barker, Mich 51.00 they may have been skeptical. But decide A. Pardlnl, Calif 69.09 they were wise enough to investigate. facts before you, then you can Norman Geisler, Mich 129.00 When they received the complete facts if the earning possibilities are satisfac- Lester Gcorgina, R. 1 63.70 that I will now send you absolutely tory. Don't miss this chance. It doesn't 100.00 Albert Becker, Mich Free they opened their eyes in amaze- cost you anything to investigate. You Idaho 51.87 Ft. J. Metcalfe, ment and got busy. can't lose by mailing the coupon or a Gunson R. Wood, N. Y 65.00 post card for free details. Do it Max Barrett, Wash 62.00 Now I offer you the same opportunity I gave penny them. The very Lamar C. Cooper, Mich 90.00 minute I hear from you I'll today—NOW. send you a few simple, Helen V. Woolmington, Pa 45.00 easily read details, explaining just how you can start earning the N. Abel, N. J 59.50 MILLS, 7717 Monmouth A. very first day. You will be amazed how sim- ALBERT Ruby Hannen, W. Va 73.00 ple this Fast Money-Making plan really is. Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio Adolph Plckney, N. Y 60.00 Lambert Wilson, Mich 79.00 Hani Coordes, Nebr 96.40 FORD SEDANS GIVEN C. Thomas, W. Va. 50.00 S. In addition to the cash earnings W. J. Way, Kan 78.15 name that you will make, I will give Wouldn't you like to see your you a brand this? Wouldn't you like new Ford Sedan as on a list like extra to make up to $50. to $60, and even an reward if you show $100 In one short me you are a pro- week? Then send ducer. Send for ^Albert Mills. President your at once. 7717 Monmouth Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio name free facts at once. I I'll send you Send me free facta. Tell me how I can start at all the lnfor- — ^/gu J once making up to $42.50 In a week end get a new maUon Free. JOS 8-Cylinder Ford Sedan as a bonus In Addition to my big cash earnings.

Name.

Address

(Please Print or Write Plainly) 1/ ,.«•»- - v ELECTRICITY IN 12 m WEEKS AT COYNE

The great Coyne Shops In Chicago have a world-wide rep-J utation for training ambitious fellows for this big-pay field In only 12 weeks. Then help you by giving you lifetime employment service. By my newplan YOU can take ad van- tage of their wonderful method oflearning-by-doing NOW. SEND TODAY FOR DETAILS OF MY J COMPLETE "PayTuitton-After- New "Home) >: \ Graduation" Plan Factory" Makes Get training in 90 days on real electrical machinery. Send the NEW KIND POTATO CHIPS coupon today. If you are short of a|| money I 'U send you ail details of my DON UTS—SALTED NUTS finance plan. If accepted, you won't Hi Stop looking for something difficult. Turn W have to start paying tuition until potatoes Into Ave cash. I show you ]ust how months from the date you H'ith my newly perfected outfit. Start any- tart school, and then you'll havo where. Very little cash needed. Exclusive 18 months to k complete your pay- location. Profits pour in. No experience i.si>ments.SenaforBlsFreeillU8trated needed. I furnish the plans. Begin any- SBook telling all about COYNE and where—village, small town, how many earn while learning city or suburb. A big opportunity is waiting. Business per- and training you can get manent. there without " . _» a , book study orjU.f^njufL Make Up to 300% Profit on Raw Materials uselesatheory. •*? *• • "P" * Raw materials are COYNE ELECTRICAL SCHOOL Complete 16-unit plentiful and cheap. Outfit includes 800 S. Paulina Streets Dept. 85-66, Chicago, Illinois new Highly perfected type vitreoui out- LEWIS, white fit MR. H. C. President enamel ROUND and confidential Dept. 85-66.500 S. Paulina St., Chicago, III. plans Cooking Vat, Direct- make operation Send BIO FREE IUiiHtratod Book on ELECTRICITY sod details simple, with startling of roar "Pay-Tultlon-Atter-Graduatlon" Plan. to-fat high speed Slicer, centrifugal profits certain. NAME Greaae Extractor, AGE,. Thermometer — WE HELP FINANCE YOU ADDRESS PoaitiTely every- and locate you. Send no money, just name, thing necesiary to for book of facts and free opportunity. CITY. start— all at new low price. LONG-EAKINS COMPANY 1093-S High St. Springfield, Ohio

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l WELL, I REALLY TAKING I THAT WAS A GREAT THAT'S JUST */HAT\ v SEE YOU ARE HUNTING TRIO, BILL,, »"VC BEEN THINKING— -~—vTAXiDERMV IN EARNEST, BILL. ALL THE DUCKS V/E. JIM, I'M GOING TO WRITE WANT. OUT IT SEEMS TOTHEKwmtttcsTcaN THAT'S RIGHT, UIM—AND I'VE NEVERl of A SHAME TO THROW SCHOOL TAXIDERMY HAD SO MUCH FUN IN MV LIFE. I'VE ( AWAY THIS BEAUTIFUL AND SEE. IP I CAN'T ACTUALLY DOUBLED THE PLEASURE I

.PLUMAGE LEARN TO MOUNT GET FROM MV HUNTING AND REALLY ; MV BEST HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT. TROPHIES COME IN THE^ HOUSE AND IT I'LL SHOW ft YOU SOMEAa OF MY WORK.

f ' NOT BIT, AFTER YOU THE I'VE SOLD MANY BOOK-ENDS, HARD? A GET HANG OF j LAMPS, ASH-TRAYS, PIPE RACKS, IT. WHY JIM, TO ME TAXIDERMY IS THE GRAND4 AND SOON TO SPORTSMEN FOR EST HOBBY IN THE WORLD. I'VE MADE AS HIGH L THEIR DENS I'VE LEARNED AS #75 PER MONTH IN MY SPARE TIME, MOUNTING J TO TAN FURS FOR CAPS, SCARFS TROPHIES FOR HUNTERS. WHV DON'T YOU y-i j - ^— — - - " ' AND RUGS, AND — BEST OF ALU— TAl^F IT I ID? — 1^ — H _ I INSTEAD OF THROWING AWAY THOSE f "M SURE GOING TO — WHAT'S^ COW-HIDES, I TAN THEM INTO LEATHER THAT ADDRESS? I HAD NO FOR BELTS, HARNESS AND STRAPS IDEA WHAT fVE BEEN MISSING.

( BUT WASN'T ) | S if X *» ""A TAXIDERMY \ I HARD TO \ LEARN, BIU?J

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Address m guaranteed harmless home treatment Can be given secretly in food or drink to anyone who drinks, or craves Gift Whiskey^ Home Brew. Wine, Moonshine, etc Your requea* for Free Trial brings i trial supply by return mail and full 52-QtJ City State. treatment which you may try under a 30 day refund guarantee. Tr* (c) 1935, A. Ltd. «o«lc».aJ C. ourj-isk. ARi.EE. CO. . Di?pt H-12. BALTIMDRE^MQ^ reply that her occupation of the isle was merely temporary, for the purpose of in- stalling a cable-station. Then the English finally receded and recognized Brazil by withdrawing her man-of-war. Meanwhile, however, James I was mis- erably ignored by the contracting parties. So he appointed an ambassador, conferred upon him some high-sounding decorations, and packed him off to the United States THE ONE-MAN KINGDOM under the label of the "Comte de la Bois- OF TRINIDAD siere, Grand Chancellor and Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Kenneth P. Wood Trinidad." That was enough for the ubiquitous New York reporters. They THE mid nineties, an adventurous published the fact that the rotund "count" French-American named James A. was a French wine-agent. INHarden-Hickey announced himself Nevertheless he set up his embassy, not King of Trinidad and sent his ambas- in Washington, but on the ground-floor sador to Washington to ask for formal rooms of a humble brick tenement in the recognition of the title. metropolis, from which he made visits to This was not the Trinidad of asphalt the national capital in vain hope of pouring fame, but a small rocky island seven hun- into the ear of the Secretary of State the dred miles off the coast of Brazil. It troubles of his sovereign prince. But the boasted of no inhabitants when Harden- latter was satisfied to have Brazil keep the Hickey came upon it in 1888. Finding guano kingdom as her own, and so poor guano upon the island in marketable quan- King James passed out of his island king- tities he projected a great plant for its dom, and out of history, as well. exportation, including costly wharves, and spacious warehouses. Then, in 1894, after planting a colony of forty Americans upon

its shores, he set himself up as its sovereign prince, assuming the title of "James I of Trinidad." He adopted a flag for his principality, had paper-money and postage stamps printed, and even established an order of knighthood. But uneasy this crowned head began to rest when none of the powers would recognize his pretensions. Then his throne began to totter, in the -spring of 1895, when a British cruiser called at his stronghold and formally took possession. But when Brazil heard that the British flag was floating over the dominions of King James, all sorts of indignation meet- ings were held at Rio de Janeiro, for the Brazilians had claimed the island empire as their own. An emphatic protest was presented to England, which could only

10 BIGGEST AND BEST—ACTION Short TWICE A MONTH CONTENTS THE ONE-MAN KINGDOM OF TRINIDAD Kenneth P. Wood

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN (First Part of Four) H. Bedford-Jones \% The Devil's Bosun Had Been Playing the Devil with Shipping over Borneo Way.

BLACK JOHN BUYS SOME BONDS (A Novelette) James B. Hendryx 44 Bond Salesmen on Halfaday Creek! Black John Smith a Customer! Cold Cash in Hot Money! Wow!

MURDER ON MALITON6A Robert H. Rohde oO A South Sea Island—and Ben Lark's Ten Thousand Pound Yawn.

DAW6 TRACKS G. W. Barrington 71

Detective Moffat Had to Produce Results or Else—

THE BLACK GOD (A Complete Novel) David Owen Daher 84 He Was a Black God Who Spoke to the Jungle People, but His Voice Came from Far Beyond Their Boundaries. ADVENTURE, THRILLS, MYSTERY Stories

Title Registered in

HARRY E. MAULE, EDITOR U. S. Patent Office NOV. 10th, 1935'

ADVENTURERS ALL Captain J. M. EUrich izz Sharking Waters

EXTRA HAND Harold F. Cruickshank 114 Extra Hand—Huh! Pretty Near the Whole Works on that Deep Sea Logging Boom.

BADLAND MEET Duane Hopkins 136 A Drunken Telegraph Operator Gets Religion at an Opportune Time.

HEADING SOUTH (A Novelette) Henry Herbert Knibbs 149 Young Pete Cleans Up an Outlaw Gang in Exchange for a Pardon.

THE STORY TELLERS* CIRCLE 168

OUTLANDS AND AIRWAYS 172

ENDS OF THE EARTH CLUB 173

COVER—W. F. Soare

Vol. CLIII, No. 3 Whole No. 717

The entire contents of this magazine is projected by copyright, and must not be reprinted. Copyright, 1S35, by Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. 12 10 ;

MASTER PIRATE OF THE EASTERN SEAS

~ The Devil ?s Bosun By H. BEDFORD-JONES

Author of Many Outstanding Adventure Stories

Part I

was lean and brown and hard, erect and trim in his whites, the four gold stripes of truth is revealed only in a captain on the arm of his jacket. His THEthe sequence of events. You hatchet-face was young, almost unlined, might think the meetings that and his gray eyes held humorous glints. A morning on the bridge across man of twenty-five seldom shows the sear- the River of Gold were pure ing scars of hell, except in his actions and coincidence. They were not. Here was reactions. a gathering of forces, a culmination of On either bank were the buildings of schemes and cunning intents, apparently Surabaya, half drowned in the luxuriant centered about Cairn but really concerned foliage of Java. The muddy yellow torrent with someone much more important in the of the Kali Das, the River of Gold, was Eastern seas. spotted with native boats. Across the Cairn was idly smoking a cheroot on bridge poured an endless tide of humanity the bridge; he frequently stood loafing Dutch sepoys, laden coolies, natives in here, watching the crowds. Cairn was a brilliant sarongs, Hindus and Chinese, the

man from hell, but did not look it. He throngs starred by unhurried Europeans.

10 13 : :

SHORT STORIES

A perspiring Chinese clerk came up to one, especially a Malay, it meant every- Cairn, spoke him, and handed over a chit. thing. Chinese and Malays despise each Cairn opened the note and read the brief other. words "Very well, you're hired," said Cairn promptly. "We'll talk wages later." !" "Please come to the office. The Ta Ming "Agreed, tuan. May Allah requite you

is chartered. Li Tock Lo." CAIRN produced a key and a banknote.

"Here's money ; get yourself decent So the old bumboat was chartered, and clothes. This is the key of my room at he must get on the job! Cairn smiled. the Hotel Beaulieu, the French one. Go Working for a Chinese shipping firm was there, pack my things, and await me." not bad by half, for a man from hell. He He spoke in Malay, and Ali, showing his liked them, they liked and trusted him, de- black teeth in a grin, departed.

spite his past. Cairn lit a fresh cheroot and sauntered "Tuan kapitan !" Cairn heard a low, gut- toward the shipping office. He'd be glad tural voice, and found a man at his elbow. of a servant who spoke English; it would An old Malay, who spoke very fluent Eng- add to his dignity, too. He turned in at lish. "Is there not need for a servant? Reilly's Bar and had a drink, passed the I am sick at heart for the sea. Once I was time of day with the half Irish proprietor, a nakoda, a ship captain. I am a good and went his way. steward, cook, quartermaster, servant." The shipping office was a low, pleasant Cairn inspected the man. Why not? place where punkas and electric fans stirred In a land of servants, he could well afford the air. Cairn was passed directly into the a man of his own, and here was one who office of Li Tock Lo, a Straits Chinese of spoke English. A rather small man, fea- great girth and fat moon-face. Li shook tures flat like a dish, a fresh and unhealed hands cordially, and Cairn dropped into the knife-scar running across one cheek. indicated chair. Touches of gray at the temples, miserable "So we're chartered, eh? When do we

dirty rags for clothes ; neither affluent nor leave?" young, this man. "Stores are going aboard now, Captain. "Your name?" You'll leave in the morning." " "Ali, tuan. I can take good care of Cairn's brows lifted. "But cargo

clothes." "There is none, on the out trip. A Myn- "Your own don't prove it." heer Vandunk has chartered the Ta Ming "Poverty and illness, tuan, are in the for Coomassin in ballast, to return with

dispensation of Allah." cargo. He will be here in a few minutes ; I "You have references?" wish you to meet him." "Yes, tuan. I am from Kelantan. I Something in the fat Chinaman's man- " know few people here. But ner puzzled Cairn and caught his attention. He thrust out a dirty, folded paper. Cairn "Hm! All right. How about a crew?"

- took it, opened it, and read "Vandunk is engaging his own crew and " officers, also paying them. You "Ali deserves all trust. I recommend him." "What the devil!" exclaimed Cairn in astonishment. "But that's not regular!" No name was signed merely a vermilion "You will sign them on tonight, here at ;

seal in Chinese. Cairn knew it to be the the office," proceeded Li Tock Lo impas- personal seal of Li Tock Lo, and whistled sively. "Vandunk expects to bring back in surprise. A coincidence, of course. But a valuable cargo and wishes to have men if shrewd Li Tock Lo recommended any- he can trust. It is not regular, but quite 10 ;

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN natural. I should say that Mynheer Van- TI TOCK LO permitted himself a smile. dunk has influence in the Dutch Colonial "May I be pardoned for suggesting, Office. He has wealth, and desires more, Captain, that you do not drink any more which Coomassin will give him." today?" Something in the flat, emotionless voice "That's really my own business, Li," said dinged again at Cairn's attention. There Cairn drily. "I intend to drink, and to was more than appeared on the surface. drink plenty. I don't get drunk, as you He knew this fat yellow man pretty well. know. I merely blunt memory."

It would come out in good time. "Absurd. The past is a sharp sword

"Where's Coomassin?" that cannot be blunted." The flat voice "Look in your pilot guide, Captain. The was suddenly edged and keen. "I am island lies off the Celebes coast; it has no sending my young relative Erh Tan as good harbor. I have prepared detailed supercargo aboard the ship, to which Myn- instructions for your guidance in this re- heer Vandunk has agreed. I wish him to spect. It has been semi-independent until be protected. I desire that you do not last year when the sultan rebelled. The drink."

Dutch killed him and took over the island, "Oh! Fair enough. In that case, it's leaving his daughter on the throne. Most agreed," said Cairn. "Not until we reach unluckily, bubonic plague broke out. This Coomassin, anyhow. I'll take good care

is now over and ended. A resident and a of your relative. A young chap, eh?" garrison of sepoys are there. No more Li Tock Lo nodded, produced a fan from trouble. Mynheer Vandunk has a con- his sleeve, and fanned himself gently. cession covering the island. He is taking "An estimable youth but inexperienced," with him an English gentleman and his he said blandly. "I am trying to teach sister who are interested in leasing the him that the strongest forces in the world rubber plantations from Vandunk. I think are often those which appear the weakest. that covers the situation, in brief." A valuable lesson for anyone to know." "Hm!" Cairn scowled slightly. The Again the indefinite something caught at scowl made his face harsh, intolerant, Cairn. He looked the speaker in the eye. cruel. "Concession, eh? What sort?" "Meaning that for me, eh ? All right ; I

"Comprehensive," replied Li Tock Lo. get it. What sort of man is Vandunk?"

"The island belongs to Mynheer Van- "I do not know ; I have not seen him. dunk." His agent arranged everything," Li Tock

"By grant of the Dutch government, eh ? Lo responded. "His agent is one John " " That means slavery Drift, who goes as first officer

"It is really none of our business," plac- A buzzer sounded. Li Tock Lo leaned idly said Li Tock Lo. forward and pressed a bell-button on his "Right; I'm rebuked," and Cairn broke desk. into a laugh. "Look here, Li, I've hired "There is Mynheer Vandunk now," he a little a man. Going to put on dog by said. "Whether you like him or not, please having servant. The fellow said my own be very polite; his influence in colonial you knew him. He's a Malay named Ali." affairs is large." "Half the barbarian Malays are named The door opened. The fat moon-face of Ali," said Li. "I remember one such man Li Tock Lo expressed surprise, as into the he is not young, but speaks English. He office came a small, brisk man with droop- may be trusted. As a youth, he spent sev- ing a very red nose. eral years in England. His morals are mustaches and deplorable, but he does not steal." "Hullo, Li, hullo," he said in English, "Fair enough," and Cairn nodded. then blinked at Cairn. "Eh?" "From you, that's a high recommendation." "Why. Mr. Drift 1" exclaimed Li Tock — —;

3 6 SHORT STORIES

Lo. "I expected to see Mynheer Van- "That man spoke much, and you uttered " dunk two words. Hm! I'm sorry not to meet

"Blast it, he went and missed the train Vandunk. By the way, Captain, I've se- at Batavia !" said Drift with evident agita- cured government permission to put a tion and a slight cockney accent. "I just dozen rifles and as many pistols aboard; 'ad a wire from 'im to see you. He won't you know, there's been so much piracy of get 'ere until morning. That is, the train late along the Celebes coast that the pre- as gets in about three. He'll go right caution should be observed." aboard ship, says 'e." Cairn laughed. "We've nothing worth "So. Mr. Drift, this is Captain Cairn, robbing aboard the Ta Ming." who commands the ship." "You may have, returning. And this Drift wrung the hand of Cairn and ex- pirate holds people to ransom. The Dutch claimed cheerfully. and English are both trying to run him

"Glad, sir, perishing glad ! Board o' down. Singular, they can't even discover !" Trade ticket, I take it?" much about him "Yes," said Cairn. The brisk little man "You mean the chap called the Devil's beamed. Bosun?" queried Cairn. "Right, right. First officer in steam "Yes. Said to be a white man, leading never 'ad my master's examination, blast it! natives. Well, let us hope you don't run into him. I should regret having to ran- som my young relative, Erh Tan. He will be here this evening at seven, by the way, to be signed on." "How about stewards?" asked Cairn. "And the black gang?" "It seems that Vandunk—or his agent bring a complete crew. Perhaps they, too, are taking no chances on accomplices of the pirates stowing away aboard. It is a wise precaution. Mr. Drift, by the way,

is attending to all the ship's papers

I'll be here at seven tonight to sign on through the official assistance extended to the crew and go aboard, if that suits you, Mynheer Vandunk, it is made easy." sir". A queer business all around, thought "Quite," said Cairn. Mr. Drift glanced Cairn, as he took his departure after all at his watch. final arrangements. The Ta Ming was a "I'll 'ave to see Mr. Tracey and 'is small coastwise steamer of no great speed, sister," he rattled on. "They'll want to get comfort or ability. She had just got rid aboard tonight too. At the Netherlands of a copra cargo, which increased her usual Hotel, they are. The blasted ship 'as no evil odor, -end she was ready to start as passenger license. I've arranged to sign soon as stores were in and steam up.

'em on as chief stewards and take 'em Queer, all of it. Vaguely, indefinitely aboard wi' their luggage late tonight after queer; Li Tock Lo had sensed it without dinner. I 'opes, sir, it meets with your knowing why. Natural enough that a consent?" Dutch official would want to put his own crew aboard rather than trust Chinese. HE PEERED anxiously at Cairn, who The Devil's Bosun was playing the devil nodded. Then he departed. When with shipping over Borneo way, and often the door had closed, Li Tock Lo regarded worked by stowing some of his pirates Cairn with a twinkle. aboard the ship he meant to loot. ; —

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 17

Natural enough that an official would The two shook their heads at each other. be given an island concession. It meant A mistake, of course; Mark Hudson had virtual plunder, slavery and death for the been drowned the night before the court- unfortunate natives, who did not matter in martial. Had tried to escape and had been the least. Particularly if they were Malays drowned. An old Annapolis custom. and therefore Mohammedan in religion. Damned good thing, too; saved all hands Natural enough that an Englishman and from disgrace. Drunken robbery, a woman his master, probably from Singapore or tangled up in it—yes, a damned good thing. North Borneo, would want the rubber out- Men who made mistakes of that sort had put. Natural enough that Vandunk no business in the navy. should miss his train down from Batavia But Cairn, cursing under his breath, to Surabaya. And yet all of it, every bit walked home to his French hotel with eyes

of it, conveyed a queer and indefinite sen- so bitter and hard that men who met him sation of being a trifle screwy. turned sharply away. He needed a drink now, wanted a dozen drinks, a whole bottle. Why the devil had he promised not to take SO THINKING, Cairn went back to Reilly's Bar and bought half a case of a drink until he reached Coomassin? Now Irish whiskey to be sent aboard for later was when he needed it most. consumption. He refused a drink. He He found Ali in his room, quietly pack- was paying Reilly, when he heard a voice ing his things. The dish-faced little old behind him. Malay now wore a fresh sarong and jacket. His teeth were quite black from chewing "Bill, if that isn't Mark Hudson, I'm a betel-paste, Cairn observed. liar! It's Hudson, I tell you! Hey, Mark! Mark!" "Well, Ali ! We're going to Coomassin. ?" Cairn paid no attention. A hand caught Know where that is kapitan. it." his arm. He turned, to see two men star- "No, tuan I never heard of the better. 'Neither did I. ing at him. He knew them both instantly "So much until tonight." but his look of surprised interrogation was You're free seven perfectly assumed. "If the tuan permits, I will stay here," "I beg your pardon," said one of the two, "Suit yourself. Lay out a fresh suit for me." Cairn departed his bath. a bit confused by that straight, blank look. to flung "But aren't you Mark Hudson? You must Later, he found his clothes ready, and be you remember me—we were both in a laughing question at Ali. "Where'd you — " your class at Annapolis learn so much about getting clothes Cairn's brows lifted. "Sorry," he said, ready?" with a deliberate English accent on the "By having servants of my own, tuan," said Ali. Cairn press the topic, word. "Mistake, no doubt." My name is did not Cairn." from a feeling of delicacy. "Here's your change, Cap'n Cairn," broke in Reilly, handing over money? Cairn took AS HE had not eaten since morning, he it, nodded, and walked out, leaving the two L was ready for a very early dinner Americans looking after him. They turned he had to be at the office by seven. He left to Reilly and overwhelmed the latter with everything packed, gave Ali money and questions. orders to be there with his bags at the ap- "No manner of use, gents," said Reilly. pointed time, and swung out of the little "I've kndwed him a couple o' year. Master hotel. in steam he is—Cap'n Cairn. Where What was the name of those English from? Lor' bless you! Liverpool Irish people? Tracey, yes, and at the Nether- as ever was. Told me so hisself. What'll lands. Cairn went straight there, being it be, gents?" curious. Woman aboard, eh? Not so ! !

SHORT STORIES good. Still, these stiff Englishwomen Pure Caucasian, and ineffably lovely; a didn't matter; they were sexless creatures, face to take away the breath of a man, eyes as a rule. Not like blooming, rosy Eu- to hold his heart—one of those chance pic- rasian girls. tures where the eyes look out and pierce. Cairn caught sight of them talking with "Hi, there! Who are you, horning in?" Mr. Drift. He dropped into a chair, held With an oath, the two Aussies swung an- up a newspaper, and kept an eye on them. grily around. Cairn laughed, reached for- At first he was staggered. Tracey was ward, and took the picture. A fist swung a young fellow, blond and eager, but far into his midriff. fists lightly gone in liquor ; nearly drunk, in fact. The His struck out, it seemed. A sister was slim and cool, lovely as a flower blow smashed him squarely in the eye; unfolding. Cairn regarded her sourly, ap- those two could fight. Glasses shivered, praising her with jaundiced eye. Too Reilly shrieked for help. One of the two damned cool altogether, too capable, bound went staggering down the length of the bar. by restraint and icy convention. Bah The other spun around and was knocked Mr. Drift went off with the young fel- over a table, and went crashing down with low, toward the bar. Cairn caught a flash it. of emotion in the girl's face as she looked Cairn, still laughing, strode out. In the after them—anxiety, even fear, widening street, he paused to look again at the pic- the lovely blue eyes. He let the news- ture. Head and shoulders, no more. An paper fall. She felt his gaze and her eyes almost Grecian face, smiling a little, so un- touched on him for an instant, then drifted utterably perfect and adorable that his away. She rose and departed. pounding heart stood still. With a scornful grunt, Cairn strode off "Sultan's daughter, hell !" said Cairn, as to get his dinner. he thrust it safely away. "There, by God, "I bet the Dutchman trims those two is a woman—a real woman, not an iceberg Britishers," he reflected. "Rubber, eh? Now I know why I'm going to Coomas- And she tags along to keep the young fool sin." sober—which she doesn't do. Bah! Bet she gets a few healthy shocks at Coomassin, TTE WALKED into the shipping office or before. Do her good." at seven o'clock with one eye puffed Dinner over, with time to spare, Captain and blackening. The brisk Mr. Drift was Cairn drifted back to Reilly's Bar in order there, and so were the other officers. to meet a Scotch tramp skipper whom he Lochaber, a portly Scotch engineer, and his wanted to see. He did not find his man, assistant who had Chinese blood. Andrews, but two officers of a Burns-Philp boat were second officer; a dark, taciturn man with standing at the bar after many drinks, and cruel devils in his black eyes and an ugly one of them uttered the name of Coomas- twist to his lips. A powerful fellow, An- sin. drews. Chinese steward, halfbreed quar- "Sultan of Coomassin's daughter—aye, termasters; bfack gang, deck hands, cook that's who she is," said one, handing over a and helper—all halfbreeds or Malays or photograph. "I hear she's running the Chinese. Not a Dutchman in the lot. bloody outfit now. Did you ever see the And this was the queerest thing of all, likes? My good gosh, what a woman! thought Cairn. What a woman!" Evidently Erh Tan thought the same "Aye, she's likely enough," said the thing, and the other clerks; Li Tock Lo Other, with a catch in his voice. was not here. Erh Tan was a plump young Cairn came up beside them and looked. man, small, clad in black jacket and skirt

A pulse leaped in him at sight of the pic- of beautiful silk brocade ; his features werte tured face. Sultan's daughter? Nonsense! exquisitely carven, like old ivory. His eyes —

{THE DEVIL'S BOSUN flitted in surprise and wonder over the to everything. Now Cairn was to take over assembled men. He turned, caught the —a queer sea-going, this! But, with the gaze of Cairn, and smiled slightly. decking under his feet, he became a differ- Cairn liked him. He did not like this ent man, alert and alive, all dreams de- crew. None was drunk; and this was a parted, pictures forgotten. strange thing, also. He had a word with Mr. Drift was to come aboard an hour Lochaber, the chief engineer. An unpleas- later with the Traceys. ant fat rascal of perhaps fifty, loose-lipped and heavy-jowled, with an odor about him. CAIRN pitched into details, getting the Over the room hung the same odor. Cairn new crowd shaken down and every- had sharp nostrils, and sniffed at it with a thing shipshape. He stole time off for a frown. He touched Erh Tan on the elbow visit to his cabin, under the bridge. There and met the slitted eyes. he emptied his pockets, glanced at the

"What is it I smell?" he said under his photograph, and put it down with a smile. breath. "What's this odor?" Ali was stowing away his things, quietly "Chandu," muttered the yellow man. efficient. Cairn saw the Irish whiskey and

Opium, eh? The whole lot of them. That locked it into his private cupboard, and looked queer, too. went back on deck. Cairn wondered what was the matter There he reached for his pipe, found it with him, that he should have this strange forgotten, and returned to his cabin. As feeling about the whole business. Perhaps, he stepped in, he caught sight of Ali, hold-

meeting those two Americans and being ing the picture of the girl, staring at it. The recognized? No, not that. Malay whipped around, startled agitation The only natural touch to the affair was in his scarred face. that of the Tracey girl ; and Cairn grunted "Hello!" exclaimed Cairn. "Do you again at thought of her. The picture in know the lady, Ali?" his pocket—well, it might be a mistake. "No, tuan," humbly replied the little Those two Australians might have lied brown ban. "But her face is one in which about it No telling. there is no luck." And so saying, Ali left The comprador wakened him from his the cabin. musing. All ready to go aboard ; the boats No luck? Cairn looked at the picture, were waiting. met the wide, lovely eyes, and thrilled to A silent lot. No jokes, no stories, no them anew. He understood what Ali had talking. Less and less did Cairn like his meant. This girl was too exquisite, too outfit, but they were signed on now; no perfect a thing, to have any great luck. She backing down. He found himself curious would be looted, plundered, used, a tool in to see Vandunk. Mr. Drift stuck close to the rapacious hands of conquerors. his side, chattering and rattling away with "Probably she's Eurasian," thought eternal nervous energy. Nervous? By Cairn. "A sultana in Coomassin, but in God, that might be it! The brisk little any white man's town a despised outcast. " devil was nervous. What about? Then Well, by heaven Mr. Drift departed to seek the passengers. He checked his thoughts, shoved the pic- Questions died. The river, the harbor, ture into a drawer, and went back on deck. the glinting lights, the boats awaiting them, He came slap on Mr. Andrews, the dark the men piling in with their duffel-bags. second officer, standing on the bridge in Cairn wanted another look at the photo- talk with two of the men from forward

graph in his pocket, and wanted it badly. in talk and laughter, as though some smutty There was the old scow now, with sam- jest had just been passed. Cairn halted. pans and boats around her, stores going in, "I thought you had charge of stowing stevedores at work. Li Tock Lo attended those stores, Mr- Andrews?" he said. "You ;

20 SHORT STORIES men, go below. Don't come on the bridge 'Great Enlightened' is one translation of the again except on duty." words. I think we'll need a lot of enlight- "What the hell!" Andrews swung enment this voyage." around. "Don't be so high-faluting on this "I think so, too," she answered calmly. old bumboat. You ain't going to run this "What is Mr. Vandunk like?" " " hooker navy style "Eh? But you know him Cairn hit him twice, and hard, and care- "We know only his agent, Mr. Drift." fully. Not at all like a gentleman, but like "That's queer. Well, I don't know Van- a man who meant to win his fight then and dunk either. He'll be aboard sometime in there. The two brown men disappeared the morning, before we sail. May I show like shadows. Mr. Andrews clamped both you your cabins?" hands over his belly and leaned back against He did so, called the Chinese steward, the bridge-house in agony, his dark eyes and put him at the lady's disposition. Then rolling. he bade his guests good night and got Mr. "Don't make mistakes again," said Cairn, Drift to work. And Mr. Drift could work his voice cold and cruel. "I'm running this he immediately relieved Cairn of all details hooker any style I damned please. You're in an admirably brisk manner. taking orders, not giving them. Wipe that It was after three in the morning when look off your face and get to work, or I'll a launch brought Mynheer Vandunk murder you." aboard. Cairn, who had expected a brawny Murder lay in the eyes of Andrew's, but Hollander, was disappointed. The man it was downed by suffering ; he was all but who came over the rail was rather small, paralyzed. He gasped out something and and enveloped in coat and shawl against staggered away. Cairn went into the the river mist, until only a pair of bright wheel house, examined his fine black eye, little eyes were visible. His handshake was and fell to work with charts and pilot limp. guide. "Glad to meet you, Captain," he said in English. "I must get to my cabin and MR. DRIFT brought the Traceys go over matters with Mr. Drift, if you'll aboard. Cairn met them at the rail allow. The moment we start I'll be awfully and was formally introduced. Tracey was sick. I get seasick with the first wave. I pleasantly drunk and affable. He shook just can't help it. I'll be sick for days and hands and hurried of? with Mr. Drift to days. That's why I can't abide the sea, look after the mountains of luggage stream- just can't abide it. Good morning." ing aboard. Miss Tracey moved aside with So this was Mynheer Vandunk! Cairri Cairn and spoke in a low, controlled voice. looked reflectively after him, then turned as "You were sitting in the hotel this eve- a limp, senseless figure was lifted on deck ning, watching us. But you did not have under Mr. Drift's direction. that mouser at the time." "Who the devil's this?" Cairn demanded. Cairn chuckled. "Right. It's a beautiful The first officer winked. shiner, eh? Yes, I wanted to see what "Mynheer Vandunk's servant, sir—un- our passengers looked like. What do you fortunately, he's a bit addicted to the poppy. think of the ship?" A fine fellow in his right senses. I'll have "She's pretty dreadful," said Miss him placed in Mynheer Vandunk's cabin; Tracey, with the usual English habit of the master likes to have him close at hand." speaking one's mind. "I don't understand Cairn shrugged and sought the bridge. why you should have such a ship." "Can't abide the sea!" Now that was a "Eh? Oh, is that base flattery? You strange expression for any Dutchman to

don't know the truth. I'm lucky to have use, even if the speaker had been educate? any ship at all, much less the Ta Ming. The in England or were half English. And it THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 21 seemed odd that the Traceys should be around, before going to the bridge. Stella taking a long trip with investment possi- Tracey had a book in her lap. Her brother bilities ahead, yet did not know Vandunk. was mouthing a pipe, with moody, frown-

Of course it was customary to deal through ing air. agents—and yet it seemed odd. "Why did Vandunk send for you and "Something queer back of it all," Cairn not me ?" he demanded irritably. told himself. "The Traceys aren't crooked. "Because I'm handling the business end, The young fellow's a fool for liquor, the naturally." girl's got the brains of the two. Still, Cairn hesitated. So Vandunk didn't look

like his pictures, eh? Interesting if true; but few people do look like their pictures. It was early afternoon. Rijstaafel, the enormous noonday meal of Java, was over. Cairn had everything running smoothly; the ship was pounding through a level, calm sea that was hardly ruffled by a breeze. "Good afternoon !" Cairn approached the two. "Everything all right?" "Oh, quite, thanks," said Tracey. "Sit down, do—take my chair." there's something that doesn't show on the "Can't possibly, to my regret," said surface. I can feel it. So could Li Tock Cairn. "I'm due on the bridge. By the

Lo. Something screwy." way, if either of you care to come up there Cairn turned to the instructions given at any time, barge ahead." him by Li Tock Lo. These merely con- Stella Tracey looked up at him, a pe- cerned the Coomassin anchorage, which culiarly frank and level look. was exposed and unsafe. In case weather "Thanks. If you'll not sit down, I may came up while Cairn was awaiting the re- be up presently. I'd like a word with you turn cargo, he was to run the ship into the when you're time." river-mouth on the Celebes mainland, oppo- "At your service," replied Cairn. "But site the island. I must run now. Come when you like." So, with the turn of the tide, the Ta He touched his cap and went up the after Ming put out to sea, with ballast of sharp bridge ladder. Andrews, who was on duty, death and subtle destiny. met him with a nod that betrayed no rancor. * II "The steward was just here, sir, look- ing for you. Mynheer Vandunk would

STRANGE ! He doesin't look a bit like like a word with you when you've time to his picture," said Stella Tracey. Her step down." brother turned to her in surprise. "Right," said Cairn, and lit his pipe. The "Where'd you see his picture?" quartermaster at the wheel saluted him. A "In Surabaya. I showed it to you, but bony-faced brown man, a halfbreed of sorts you'd been drinking and paid no heed. It on a Malay base. A good seaman. was in that government handbook we "I'm sorry about last night, sir," An- looked over; it told how he meant to turn drews said unexpectedly.

Coomassin into a model district. He has Cairn laughed. "Forget it, if you can

full powers there, you know." also forget what caused it. How on earth The speakers sat overlooking the after did you and Mr. Drift happen to be hired well-deck. Cairn had come aft for a look by a Dutchman?" ;

22 SHORT STORIES

"Can't say for Mr. Drift, sir. For my- "No. My brother was there three or self, I was out of a berth and got this one four years ago, when he first came out. He through knowing the Celebes coast a bit. liked the place, and quite lost his heart to And a clean ticket." the sultan's daughter. I understand she's "Lucky man," Cairn commented drily. grown up now, and has become the sultana. Odd for a white girl, eh?" FIVE minutes later, he saw Stella Cairn's heart skipped a beat. Tracey coming to the bridge. He was "White girl? But you said, the sultan's " surprised by her speedy appearance, and daughter surprised again when she halted at the lee- "Yes indeed. I believe she was the child ward rail, as though to speak beyond hear- of some trader who had no other family, ing of anyone else. This, it proved, was and the sultan adopted her. Romantic, her intent. what?" "Did anything queer or extraordinary Cairn nodded. "I suppose so. If true. take place last night, Captain Cairn?" In these waters, romance usually turns out "Not to my knowledge." Cairn met her to be pretty sordid stuff that won't bear flashing blue eyes. "Why?" looking into. A white girl—and a sultana? "No one fell overboard?" I'll believe that when I see it." Cairn laughed. "I hope not! No, cer- She departed in frigid disapproval. Cairn tainly not. Please tell me why." cursed himself; what had impelled him to "Then I must have been wrong." She such savage words ? In no pleasant mood, hesitated, and continued. "You see, before he sought the cabin of Vandunk, and at daylight I was awakened. At first I thought his knock was told to enter. by the movement of the ship at sea; but I heard voices next door. My cabin is next HE FOUND Vandunk seated before a that of Mynheer Vandunk; next me, and table littered with papers from an farther aft, is that of my brother. The open portfolio. Cairn's impression was one noise came from Vandunk's cabin. My of astonishment. The man was small, port was open, and so, I imagine, was his." rotund, beaming with merriment; little Cairn nodded. "What sort of noise?" shoe-button eyes danced, his thick lips "Excited voices. I could hear nothing curved. He had a heavy cleft chin and of what was said; the tone was excited. high forehead, and was healthily bronzed. I went to close my port. As I did so, I saw But there was no humor in his mirth. It something fall. It was as though a man was like a mask. had jumped from the port next door. A "Well, well, Captain ! Seasick, says I voice said, 'He's gone.' That was all. I and here you find me hard at work. Even could not swear to it, mind. I was sleepy keel and no swell, eh? Well, I'll no doubt at the time. The whole thing must have be sick enough tonight. Sit down, sir. A been a mental error on my part." cheroot? Prjme stuff, you'll find 'em."

"Perhaps ; perhaps not," said Cairn. "It's Cairn accepted a whitish cheroot of fine good of you to have told me this, Miss tobacco, and seated himself. The little

Tracey. I'll look into it, without mention- shoe-button eyes darted over him in ap- ing you. There are all sorts of queer praisal. goings-on when a ship leaves port, so don't "You speak English well," said Cairn. be uneasy." "And why not? First twenty years of She laughed lightly. "Oh, I'm not! And my life were spent in Norfolk, Cap'n. All

I don't think your ship is half so bad as I well aboard?" did last night, really. By the way, have "Well enough," said Cairn, and lit his you ever been at Coomassin?" cheroot. "Who fell out of your port last "Never. Nor you?" night?" ;

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 23

He meant to catch Vandunk off guard narrow glance. "You don't know the and did it. For a moment the man seemed island?" to freeze in every line of his rotund face. "Never heard of it before yesterday." But the black little eyes dilated until the "Very well." Vandunk gestured to the whites showed clear around the pupils, and litter of papers. "I've everything here to the thick lips hardened, and the limp hand put me in full authority. Your ship's un- on the desk made a jerky movement—as der charter to me. You take orders only though to dive for a weapon. Then it from me. Is that understood?" stopped. "Naturally," said Cairn. "That's what I called you down about, "Then we understand each other," Van- Cap'n," Vandunk said slowly. "My serv- dunk said, and shook hands in dismissal. ant, poor devil! Out of his head with "I'll be a sick man tonight, I fear; looks opium and bhang. He kicked up a bit of like wind in the north. Well, good luck to a row early this morning. You know how you!" these Malays are, and the queer insanity that comes upon 'em at times, like running CAIRN sought his own cabin, with amok? This is the other kind, congenital. mixed feelings. Looks like wind in The poor devil was out of the port before the north, eh? This man spoke like a sea- I knew it, and gone." man. He was a Dutch colonial official, Cairn nodded silently. He remembered and unlike any of the ilk Cairn had ever the limp figure that had come aboard. met or seen. Yet a keen eye cast at those "I don't suppose you'll have to enter it papers on the table had shown him that in the log?" asked Vandunk. they were official papers. Yes, Vandunk "Not unless you want it entered. It's was simply a queer sort of man, a square none of my affair." peg in a round hole as it were. Vandunk drew a deep breath, as of relief. Ali was straightening up the cabin. He "Right you are, Cap'n. You'll not lose by had a bandage about his face, and com- it, I promise you. I take it you know plained that the knife-wound over his what's ahead of us?" cheek was swollen and painful. Cairn made "Vaguely. No details." him take off the bandage. The wound

Vandunk took a cheroot and bit at it, looked perfectly all right, but Cairn dosed and relaxed in his seat. it with iodine none the less and Ali re- "I'm to take over Coomassin for the placed the bandage. This was just being government. I want to ship out a good finished when a knock sounded at the door, deal of stuff at once ; I'll have a cargo, or then Mr. Drift stuck his head in. His part of one, for you within a week, I hope. eyes rolled. It may go to Sarawak or Macassar. We'll "Cap'n! Cap'n!" he said sharply. "Oh, see about that. But there may be a bit this is terrible, awful! Come along, sir. of trouble. Two of our men, Mr. Andrews Mr. Lochaber's cabin—the chief's dead, and Mr. Lochaber, were at 'the island at sir." the time of the revolt and in fact were in Cairn followed him on the jump. Loch- the service of the sultan. They were, if I aber's cabin was just across the passage. may so phrase it, agents of ours and in con- Cairn entered behind the first officer, and sequence the natives may remember the Mr. Drift pointed. On the floor lay the fat fact. They'll have to be careful about old chief, dead, and dreadfully dead. He going ashore and so on. Don't give them had been stabbed twice. any shore leave." With shaking fingers, Mr. Drift laid

"I see," said Cairn. "To put it bluntly, bare the wounds. They were neat and I presume they're considered as traitors." clean. No blood at all. Cairn knelt, then "That's it," and Vandunk gave him a glanced up. Erh Tan stood in the open "

24 SHORT STORIES doorway, and now came forward. The aboard. Oh, there's the steward—come plump young Chinese showed no agitation, along ! Start with him. Take him for'ard hut looked down at the dead man and the and I'll be along as soon as I've spoken exposed wounds. His voice came calmly, with the assistant engineer." clearly. Andrews gripped the yellow steward "Strange! A kris meldla did this work." and they disappeared, leaving a wake of "What's that?" snapped Cairn. "What oaths and protesting squeaks. do you mean?" "Look at the wounds, Captain," the CAIRN looked around the cabin once young Chinese said. "Each shows very more, went to the half-open bag, and clearly that it was done by a knife with a dumped it. Shoes fell out, a Bible, a tat- raised ridge down the center. This could tered copy of Burns' poems, half a dozen only be a certain form of kris used by knick-knacks, and two new Webley auto- Malays of the highest rank." matics with a box of cartridges. Incredu- Mr. Drift felt the hands of the dead man. lous, Cairn picked them up, examined "Stiff," he muttered in agitation. "He them. Never fired, apparently, but cleaned didn't show up at noon mess—that's why I of all grease. Service pistols, new, fresh, looked in on him, and found him. Must unscratched, empty. And cartridges for have been done when he went off watch at them. Where would a fat old engineer get eight bells, noon. As soon as he came into such things—in Java? What would he his cabin. Captain Cairn, what can we do want with them? about this murder?" Cairn took them to his own cabin, locked "Go take the deck and send Mr. An- them away, and sought the engine-room. drews here," said Cairn, rising. "Erh Tan, The assistant, an empty-eyed fellow half will you find the steward?" Dutch and half native, gawked and blinked Cairn was alone with the dead man. He and knew nothing. Mynheer Lochaber had looked about; the cabin showed nothing gone off watch. Trouble with anyone?

of the least interest. A duffel-bag, half- Enemies? Not at all. The black gang all emptied, a half filled locker, afforded no liked the old chief. help. Then Mr. Andrews came in, and his Cairn learned nothing. He joined An- dark features were gray. drews forward, where the crew were mus- "Poor old devil !" he exclaimed. "Poor tered. The outcome was very curious. The — Tom Lochaber— whereabouts of every man was definitely "Get to work," said Cairn. "You and shown, at the change of watches. Even me both. Don't waste words; there's Ali, the Malay, had been lending the stew- somebody aboard who murdered him. ard a hand at the mess table. A search Why? We'll go through every cabin and of the men's quarters showed no weapon every man until we find the weapon that of any kind.

did it. A kris with a ridge down the Andrews resumed his watch. Cairn blade." went to the bridge and found three men in Andrews stared at him, and fright shook the pilot-house; Andrews, the quarter- the dark man. master and Mynheer Vandunk. The latter "A kris—ridged! A sultan's kris—no, was in a white fury. Cairn heard him curs- no!" cried Andrews. "I tell you, it can't ing, but he checked himself as Cairn ap-

be, it can't! Not that, Cap'n. You don't peared. His little eyes were like blazing " know about it, but coals. "What's got into you?" snapped Cairn "Who did this murder, Cap'n?" he shot- angrily. "You and the chief are old friends. out. Buck up! We'll find the murdering devil "Don't ask me," said Cairn wearily. who did this. Go through every native "Every man for'ard has an alibi. Someone - 10 THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 25 aft did it—or these men are good liars." "Macassar, perhaps? Or aboard some "None of my men did it!" exclaimed craft?"

Vandunk vehemently. His voice was deep, "No , tuan," Ali responded in his humble authoritative, charged with power. "Loch- way. "If I had ever seen the tuan before, aber was a favorite with the men. I've I would not forget him. Ya Allah! The looked into the record of every man aboard. slave does not forget the great ones whom

Perhaps you did it yourself?" he has served." "Are you drunk?" Cairn surveyed him "Huh! I'll remember sooner or later," with quick appraisal. said Andrews. "Well, Cap'n, Mr. Tracey "I beg your pardon," said Vandunk. is a bit of all right. Sick as a dog, but "I'm a bit worked up—Lochaber was an sticking to his job. We'll manage." old friend. I'm terribly agitated. Oh, my Cairn happened to look up, caught a

stomach ! I must get back to my cabin. I glance that Ali threw at the second mate, can't stand the motion up here on the and was momentarily startled. The gleam " bridge and glitter in Ali's eyes, the flashing scorn He departed hastily. Andrews watched and even hatred—no, he must have misread Cairn with smoldering gaze, and spoke. the look. It was gone instantly. Perhaps

"I think he's had a bit to drink, sir. Most Ali resented having to act as steward, for

upset, he was. I don't mind saying it got some of these Malays were devilish touchy. me a bit, too. The chief and I have been Later, Cairn looked up Erh Tan and places together." found the plump young fellow terribly "So Vandunk told me," Cairn said drily. gripped by seasickness. The ship was roll-

"Enter it up in the log. We'll have the burial at sunset." To the surprise of Cairn, young Tracey eagerly volunteered to act as assistant engi- neer, the half-blood assistant becoming

chief. Tracey knew engines, looked on it as a distinct lark, and threw himself into the job with a will. Mr. Drift and Cairn searched everything

aft, from captain's cabin to cook's galley, but no kris or knife with a ridged blade was turned up. The rifles and pistols that had been put aboard, Cairn kept under lock and ing like a pig. Toward noon, Cairn went

key ; he said nothing of the two new Web- to the bridge, and while awaiting Mr. Drift leys reposing in his private locker. to take the noon sights, fell into talk with Andrews. He had put the second officer NEXT morning, feeling the swell of the down as a thorough bad one, but he got a Straits of Macassar, the To Ming was bit of a surprise. wallowing through a heavy quartering sea. "Vandunk tells me you've been at Coo- Both the Traceys were seasick and, the massin. I've heard stories about the sultan steward being busy, AH took his place at there having an adopted daughter, a white breakfast. Mr. Drift and Cairn were at girl. Any truth in the yarn?" the table together, then the chief officer "Yes," said Andrews, and his hard face departed and Andrews took his place, with softened. "Amina, her name was. The

a glance at the little brown man, whose face most beautiful creature ever lived, Cap'n ; a

was still bandaged. living angel, that girl was. I reckon she

. "Can't get it out of my head that I've never had a bad thought, even—think me seen you before, Ali," said Andrews. a damn fool, I s'pose?" !

26 SHORT STORIES

"No," said Cairn softly. "Tell me more Poison—it was incredible ! But the air, about her." the suddenly vigorous tone of Ali, smashed

"Ain't much to tell. She was a trader's the fact home. White powder? It might daughter. The old sultan adopted her. be some mistake or it might not. She's got his throne now. I s'pose the Cairn went for his cabin with a rush. He

Dutch will marry her off to some official got rid of his meal ; then, white and shaken, and make sure of Coomassin. Everybody he questioned Ali. The Malay really knew loved her—in a right way, mind you. Why, nothing, had merely seen the cook dosing you take even me ! I'd ha' gone into hell the plate of curry with a white powder, and for her. And old Lochaber, who had four had jumped to conclusions. Cairn was native women then, he'd get mighty tempted to anger, but repressed the feel-

ashamed if Amina even looked his way. ing ; such loyalty was too rare to be jeop- Well, some women are like that. Have a ardized. queer effect on you." He went back to the mess cabin and Mr. Drift appeared with his instruments, found only Miss Tracey there, lingering and the conversation ended. over her tea. Cairn told the steward to The noon meal was a sea snack and no bring the cook at once. mistake, with everything rolling great guns The cook arrived. He was a lean, pock- and the Chinese steward hard put to it marked fellow, with Malay features and at times to keep right side up. Stella oblique Chinese eyes. Cairn addressed him Tracey showed up, white but brave, to cope in English. with tea and toast. "The curry you made for me is excellent. The steward set a huge plate of curry I desire to compliment you. Unfortunately, before Cairn, especially decorated for him my hunger does not permit me to eat so by the cook—shrimp, fish, meat, rice, ar- large an amount, therefore, as a mark of ranged in fantastic manner. There was my favor, I desire you to finish the plate. laughter, Drift some Mr. complaining Give it to him, steward." loudly that nobody bothered to fix his plate The cook took the plate, and his face as- navy style. Cairn attacked the dish with a sumed a grayish look. will, and was part way through it when Ali "Captain, no can do," he said in a thin appeared suddenly. voice. "Seasick. Velly sick. No can eat; "Tuan kapitan! Mr. Ehr Tan wants all come topside quick. Velly solly." at once. you He says he is dying and must Cairn smiled grimly. "Eat it, or I'll call " see you two men to hold you and have it crammed "Dying?" Cairn started up. "What's down your throat. Eat it!" happened?" "Why, Captain Cairn!" exclaimed the "Nothing, tuan. He is seasick." girl quickly. "You can see he's desperately Cairn broke into a laugh. "All right, I'll ill—he can't possibly eat that curry! The " come along and reassure him. Cover my very sight of it plate and keep it warm, steward." The cook's eyes darted about. Then, like a flash, he was at the nearest port. HE STARTED for Erh Tan's cabin, With one hand he unscrewed it, and before only to find Ali suddenly gripping his Cairn could grab him, he had the thick arm, looking into his face with blazing glass open—and the plate went flying out. eyes. Then he crumpled in Cairn's hands, and

"It was a lie, tuan. Go quickly, quickly made no resistance. Your own cabin. Be sick. I came into "Get the off watch quartermaster and the galley and saw the cook put a white two men," snapped Cairn at the steward. - powder into your curry. Poison. Yai Five minutes later, the cook was taken

Allah ! There is no time to lose." away to be laid in irons, and Cairn went ; —

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 27 to the galley. Miss Tracey, wondering herself, even about the man over in Kedah," and a little angry because he ignored her, in the civil service, to whom she was en- followed him. In the galley, Cairn turned gaged. She talked rapidly, trying to keep on her. his mind occupied. Why anyone would try "This is a case of poisoning, since you've to poison the captain of the Ta Ming was a got to know. Now keep quiet." mystery, and she said so. Presently he had what he sought; a "More'n one mystery here," mumbled folded paper such as chemists use, crum- Cairn. "All this crowd aboard speaks Eng- pled in one corner. Cairn opened it up. A lish. Why? Most of the men, too. All few white grains of powder showed. He picked men. Vandunk picked the cook."

tasted them and made a wry grimace. Al- "Well, don't think about it," she said. ready he knew that the warning had come "Any signs of convulsions?"

barely in time ; a feeling of constriction was "Nope. Just the first stage; nothing creeping through arms and legs, and his worse ahead," and Cairn Jaughed. "Saw a

heart was pounding. chap die of strychnine once, and it's damned "Strychnine," he said curtly. "Miss unpleasant. Sorry—my rudeness. You're Tracey, will you be good enough to find an angel." Mr. Drift—get him to my cabin at once. I "Oh, you're not a bad sort !" she replied didn't get enough of it to kill, but I may brightly. "Tell me something—I saw this be knocked out for a bit. Hurry." on the shelf yonder," and she held up the Once in his own cabin, he got into pa- photograph of Amina. "A friend of yours? jamas, took out one of the Webleys, loaded I'm interested, because I never saw a more it, and took it to bed with him. AH did lovely face in all my life. Who is she, if not appear. When Mr. Drift showed up, I may ask?" Cairn regarded him grimly. "Not sure myself," Cairn said. "Took "Take charge. Sweat that cook try and ; it away from a couple of chaps—in Reilly's talk. make him I got rid of the poison in Bar, in Surabaya. They said it was Amina, time, but the paralysis has got me. I'll be the Coomassin girl we were talking about " an hour or two before I can do anything. the other day. Not sure Heart's going hard." Presently Erh Tan appeared in the door- Mr. Drift disappeared briskly. Then way. He stayed only a moment, inquired Cairn found Stella Tracey sitting beside very politely after Cairn, and went his way. him. Cool, capable, she silenced his pro- Ali showed up. His bandage was gone tests. now, and Cairn noted that the wound on "I've talked with Ali. Now keep quiet, his cheek was healing well. He squatted Cap'n. Let me make things easy for you in one corner, in the respectful style of

best to let it wear off. I'm not a bad Malays, and said little. nurse, really." Cairn was beginning to feel more like himself; the cold sweat was passing, and CAIRN drifted. He would be all right the constriction, and the slight paralysis

later, and knew it ; but the constriction was also departing. Then, suddenly, Mr. was hard to bear. Her deft ministrations, Drift walked in and shut the door. He her tenderness, astonished and softened removed his cap, and wiped his forehead.

him. She was a very beautiful woman, was "Blast it ! I've had one hell of a time Stella Tracey. excuse me, miss. Terrible, Cap'n, but there

His brain was clear enough on certain warn't no 'elp for it. I fair 'ad to shoot the subjects, but he could talk only with diffi- blighter. Come at me with a knife, he did.

culty. She was making him drink quanti- Pulled it out of behind his neck." ties of hot black coffee all the time. She Cairn came to one elbow. "Who the did the talking herself; told him a lot about devil are you talking about?" .10 —

28 SHORT STORIES

"That ruddy cook, sir." The brisk Mr. low caste; you are a raja at least, a man Drift was agitated and earnest. "I was of some rank. What do your words mean?" a-hauling of 'im over the coals when he Ali looked blank. "Once I was a raja, done it. Lucky I 'ad my gun at hand, and yes; now I am a servant, by the will of let 'im have it. But it fair broke me up; Allah. Nothing was in my mind. The put me all in a shake." words were idle." "Did you get any information out of The door burst open. him?" demanded Cairn. "Any reason for "My God!" Mr. Drift came stumbling having poisoned me?" into the room, catching at the door as the

"Not a smell, sir. It was me what ship rolled. He was livid, his eyes bulging. signed 'im on, too ; best of credentials and "My God! Poor Andrews has got it references. He'd been assistant cook in just like the chief—laying in 'is cabin all one o' them Bombay boats." Mr. Drift blood, and dead, stone dead. Just like the " wiped his brow again. "I've put the stew- chief, sir—stabbed twice ard on to the galley job, sir, and it struck Cairn was out of bed, and caught up the me that if this here Malay of yours would pistol as his feet touched the floor. " act as steward

"That's for him to say. What about it, Ill AH?" DEATH hovered above the Ta Ming ALI, squatting in the corner, regarded as she ploughed the eastern seas, and them with a grim smile, an ironic not death alone, but murder. It filled her smile, a smile proud and scornful at once. like a living presence. Murder, stark and

Then it was gone. terrible in the sunlight, dread and whisper- "What else can I do?" he said with a ing under the stars. shrug. "Allah gives one man the power The utterly baffling mystery of it was to order, another the faculty of obedience. horrible. Officers and men—all hands were I serve you, tuan." jerky, eyes darting over shoulders, dark "Good. Then that's arranged," said Mr. places shunned, cabin doors locked and

Drift with relief. "Now I'll 'ave to look up ports screwed shut. A stiff sea was run* Mr. Andrews, blast him! He should be ning, so that the clumsy little hooker kept

on the bridge, but he ain't. I'll just take rolling savagely, as though dodging the a look in his cabin. Feeling better, sir?" finger of deatth that reached into her vitals. "Quite," Cairn rejoined. "I'm pretty A couple of days put Cairn on his feet, much myself." as well as ever in body, but mentally aghast Mr. Drift departed briskly. Cairn looked before the undeniable facts that faced him. at the little brown man. Time had elapsed, giving him full oppor- "Ali, I'm in your debt; I don't forget tunity to run down every clue and pin the debts. Thanks to you, I'm alive. And murder upon the right man—and it was thanks to Miss Tracey, here, I'm quite all impossible. The murderer was by far too right again. By the way, AH, have you clever. any idea why that rascal wanted to kill Andrews had not been long dead when me?" Mr. Drift found him; but the time of his

1 "None, tuan," returned the Malay, re- death could not be approximated. He, like arranging his sarong as he squatted. "But Lochaber, had been stabbed twice by a he would certainly have talked, had he lived kris with ridged blade. The same weapon, to talk." its mark clearly defined. "What do you mean by that?" demanded "I've run down nothing," said Cairn to Stella Tracey suddenly, in Malay. "What Stella Tracey. She had come up to the is in your mind? You are no man of bridge during his afternoon watch. They THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 29 stood at the lee rail together, beyond hear- Vandunk would like to see the captain. ing of the quartermaster in the house. "I'm on duty until eight bells," said "About three persons I'm absolutely Cairn. "What were you doing around the sure. One's the cook, because he had just cabins ?" been shot. You and I were together in my "Me and Hilo Tom were put on brass cabin. Everybody else aboard is covered polishing, sir. You done it." from suspicion—but someone's a liar. Van- "Right. Tell Mr. Vandunk I'll see him dunk was seasick, is still confined to his at eight bells." The man went back, and cabin. Erh Tan is about today, for the first Cairn turned to Stella Tracey. "Wouldn't time. He was certainly sick. Your brother you feel better if you had a pistol about was in the engine-room at the time; the your cabin? You look to me like the sort engineer was asleep in his own cabin and of girl who could use a gun." was wakened by the noise and confusion. "Thanks, I am, and I have," she said, The steward had just taken over the duties laughing. "Mr. Drift insisted that I should of cook and was aft in the galley. None of bring one along ; he gave me one in Sura- the men from for'ard were in or about the baya. A Webley. He said that it was by 'midships cabins. That's the layout; and Mr. Vandunk's orders." somebody's a liar. No telling who it is, "Eh?" Cairn's gray eyes glittered sud- though. Not a shadow of suspicion." denly. "Would you mind getting it and

"Where was Ali? Oh, yes ; he was with letting me have a look at it?" us." "Gladly." "Not all the time. But he has no weapon She went below, to return with a hand- of any kind. Then, we don't know exactly bag in which the pistol lay. Cairn gave it when Andrews was murdered, so we can't a short examination, beyond sight of the definitely pin anyone down to the moment. helmsman. Brand new, never used, same The one sure thing is that everybody calibre, fully loaded. He replaced it in the

aboard is in a flutter." handbag, with a nod. "Vandunk had me come to his cabin," "Thank you. A good gun. Hello! So she said, hesitant. "This morning. He he's come to me, eh?" questioned me, very insistently, as though Mynheer Vandunk, shawl about his neck, he suspected you might have done it." came nimbly up the ladder. He bowed and Cairn laughed. "I more than half sus- removed his hat momentarily to the girl,

pect he might have done it. Anyone might then gave Cairn a look. ?" have ! Did he look pretty green in the face "Can we step into the house for a mo-

"He didn't look ill at all," she said. "He ment and talk?" he said.

was well wrapped up, of course." "If you like. No, don't go, Miss Tracey," "Have you, personally, any suspicion of Cairn replied. "We may need your cool faintest sort?" the head to solve some of our problems. I'm "No," she answered in her cool way. sure Mynheer Vandunk agrees." "Not the least." Vandunk assented. As the girl had said, "Where'd you learn to speak Malay so he did not look at all ill. Once shut away well?" from the wind, with a mere shrug at the "We've been out here a year, you know. presence of the Malay quartermaster, Van- And immediately we resolved to come out, dunk faced Cairn brusquely. we pitched in to learn it. Everyone does. It's an easy language."- "I'm not satisfied about these murders, Cap'n. As you know, this crew was hand- I picked. of our men could possibly CAIRN nodded. One of the seamen, a None Portuguese halfcaste named Souza, have killed Lochaber and Andrews. That

came up the ladder and saluted. Mynheer puts it squarely up to anyone outside our 3Q SHORT STORIES men. You yourself, your Malay servant, there in his life, told me so when I first " that plump Chinese supercargo engaged him. Some one of your own "And Miss Tracey and her brother," put crowd up for'ard has put it over on you, in Cairn. "Dead right, Vandunk, from one Vandunk." viewpoint. We'll come back to that in a Vandunk was staggered. He scowled minute. First, since the cook was your thoughtfully and then nodded. man and tried to murder me, what have "Possibly you've hit it. Frankly, I did you to say about it?" think at first you were the killer."

Vandunk's little shoe-button eyes glit- "And I thought you might be; I still tered. "Do you dare accuse me?" think so," said Cairn bluntly. "Not that I "Certainly. I accuse anyone. Mr. Drift believe you Were. I say, it's possible." shot the cook. Two of the men were on the spot. Both swore that the cook attacked MISS TRACEY broke in upon the Mr. Drift. Let that pass. It was Mr. threatening silence with a bright Drift who found Andrews murdered. laugh.

"I'll tell you what it all sounds like," she said cheerfully. "I've heard a good deal of talk at Singapore about the piracy up the coast. This sounds like one of the mysterious jobs pulled off by that man they call the Devil's Bosun! They say he has confederates aboard ships, you know, who murder the officers at the proper time." Vandunk bit at his cheroot. His thick lips curved, merriment came back into his rather broad features—merriment, amuse- ment that was a mask, but not humor. Maybe he murdered him and then came to "The Devil's Bosun!" he repeated, with give the alarm. I don't think so, mind; a chuckle. "My dear Miss Tracey, that say, it's possible. might I You have done is all rot, really. Legend gets built up it. You've been laid up, but you look around some rascally pirate ; he is given all devilish healthy. You may as well face the sorts of attributes; every crime committed possibilities all around." in the seven seas is laid at his door. As a Vandunk bit at a cheroot, then smiled matter of fact, no intelligent or even shrewd slowly. man would be a pirate, in this day of radio "I see. You're nobody's fool, Cap'n. I and sea-police. He couldn't get away with stick to it that no one in our crowd com- it." mitted those murders. I've done a bit of "The Devil's Bosun does," said the girl. investigation. There's no such knife Vandunk shrugged. aboard—no kris melala. Either it was flung "Nonsense; forgive me, but it is non- overboard, or it's hidden away. And I've sense. Look at those pirates up around checked something else. Lochaber and Bias Bay, within sight of Hongkong! Some Andrews, as I told you, were at Coomas- genius was supposed to be at their head. sin. Possibly they were killed because of When they were broken up, nothing of the that fact—because of their treachery, as the sort was found. The same in this case. We natives there called it." have a number of piracies up the Celebes "More than likely; that would explain coast, and people jump to the conclusion why Andrews was so startled, even afraid," that some person has contrived them all. said Cairn. "And that puts it up to one of No, no; it's quite unlikely. By the way, your own men. Ali tells me he was never Cap'n, what do you know about this serv- 10 ;

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 3i ant of yours? This Ali? Been with you between his teeth, he could not very well long?" claim illness. "No," said Cairn. "He had a recom- Ali was sent for tea. Tracey joined mendation from Li Tock Lo in person ; he them in the mess cabin, as soon as he had used to be a Malay trader who had a ship removed the marks of his labor ; he grinned of his own. He's a raja. That is, of good boyishly, was eager about his job. Van- blood, a noble as opposed to a peasant. I dunk threw off his wraps, and Stella think he's faithful. I know he has no Tracey soon had him talking. He revealed weapon of any kind. That's really about himself as a man of wide travel and in- all I know of him." formation; but Cairn, who was watching Vandunk nodded. "That's enough. him with attention, divined that he kept Where is he from?" a continual restraint upon himself. Van- "Kelantan, in the Malay States." dunk said frankly that he detested the sea,

"I'm satisfied, then." Vandunk lit his and once he reached Coomassin intended cheroot. "We've checked up on every one to stay there several years. He was, Cairn of our men aboard ; as you say, somebody's judged, a man of forty-five. lying. Mr. Drift tells me that Erh Tan "Have you any plans in regard to the is a relative of Li Tock Lo. That rules sultana there?" asked Stella Tracey. "I him out. Looks like a plump young capon understand you have entire authority over not the sort to use a knife so well. We're the island." blocked, that's all." "There still remains the question of why VANDUNK assented. "Plans? No," your cook tried to poison me." he said slowly. "No. I shall act for "I know. I can't explain that." Van- the best interests of the island, of course. dunk turned to Cairn, spreading out his An unfortunate situation, with that woman hands. Earnestness suddenly sat in his of white blood. It may be that a native face, his voice. "Cap'n, we're blocked; sultan would be better regarded by the I can say no more. I'd give five thousand people." guilders, gold, if I could find the murderer "But," put in Tracey, "I thought she of our two officers. I've spread that offer was the heiress of the former sultan?" among the crew. Every man aboard is on Vandunk waved his cheroot and smiled. the alert this moment." "Oh, yes; however, I shall be guided by Cairn stiffened. "Not your place to the resident there. It is impossible to pre- make the offer. You should have sug- dict conditions." gested it to me. I'm the captain aboard Cairn decided definitely that he did not here, not you. You're here by sufferance." like Mynheer Vandunk. The man was "Eh?" exclaimed Vandunk. "I've chart- very shrewd, far more so than he appeared !" ered this ship, sir on the surface.

"That has nothing to do with it. In Later, when Ali was in his room, Cairn the Malay future, remember the fact." Cairn smiled, told about Lochaber and An- drews having been at Coomassin previ- and removed the offense of the words. ously, and suggested that this might in The quartermaster turned to him and he some way lie behind their killing. nodded. Eight bells ; four o'clock. "Now, "That is ;true, tuan," said Ali reflec- mynheer, suppose we all have a regular tively. "I heard two of the men forward English afternoon tea, eh? Mr. Drift will talking about it. It seems that those white up in a minute. Here he now. be comes men betrayed the sultan to the Dutch, al- You'll join us, Miss Tracey? I'll have though they had taken his salt and were " your brother as well in his service. It would not be strange Vandunk assented. With the cheroot if someone aboard here had killed them so 32 SHORT STORIES

for that reason. Shall I try to find if any fog has no advantage over a blind man." of the Malays forward come from those No help here. The young fellow was a parts?" mass of sluggish inertia, at this moment "If you can find out, do so," Cairn said. anyhow. And yet he had suggested that "And I'd give a good deal to learn why Lochaber's wounds had been made by a the cook tried to poison me." certain kind of kris—an odd thing for a AH took from his pouch a bit of leaf- Straits Chinese living in Java to know.

wrapped betel paste, and mouthed it. "Who ever told you," asked Cairn, "Allah alone knows the truth, tuan! I "what a kris melala was like?" have heard men talk about the time when Erh Tan stared at him for a moment, Tuan Drift will be captain." then smiled again. Cairn whistled. So the crew expected "You think it strange that I should that Drift would be captain! know, eh? Well, that is natural. About "And," went on Ali slowly, "at that time a week ago I was dining with my relative there will be many women aboard." Li Tock Lo. He had upon his desk a "Interesting," said Cairn drily. "Keep Malay kris. The handle was made from your ears open." old yellow ivory, and the blade was inlaid He went to the cabin of Erh Tan, with gold. Like that of any kris, the blade knocked, and entered. The plump young was wavy like a flame, but unlike most, it

yellow man was sitting up, still very pallid, had a heavy ridge in the center, on either but still very calm. Politeness over, Cairn side of the blade. My honorable relative spoke abruptly. told me that this kind of kris was called "Some of the crew seem to think that melala and was only carried by chiefs, Mr. Drift will be captain before long. One among the barbarians. I remembered it. attempt has been made to poison me. Two When I saw the body of the engineer, the of the officers have been murdered. Now, shape of the wounds showed they had been

if you have any suspicions, speculations, or made by a similar weapon." That all simple, guesses, I'd like to hear 'em." was ; naive, candid. No Erh Tan smiled faintly. deep and crafty brain here. This brain, "Captain Cairn, you think because I am like its body, was plump and soft. Still, Chinese, maybe I guess something. You it had its points; it had remembered and

white men all think the Oriental people are spoken at the right moment. Erh Tan

very deep and shrewd. That is not so. was no fool, but he was no very crafty We think differently, but we are far less Oriental, either. shrewd than you. We are not deep and complex. Maybe we start a ball rolling, CAIRN went away thoughtfully. and that is all; we cannot tell where it "Maybe we start a ball rolling, and will roll. Mynheer Vandunk hired this that is all." The plump supercargo had ship through his agent. Cash was paid, expressed a profound truth there. But

much cash. It is agreed that when cargo where, in this business, had anyone except

is handled, it is handled through the agents Vandunk started a ball rolling? No- and associates of Li Tock Lo, in any port. where, apparently. I look after such interests. You look after There remained the little matter of the the ship. It is very simple." Webleys, and Cairn doggedly determined "It's too damned simple," Cairn said. to go after this. When Mr. Drift relieved "Suppose you and I were killed?" him at four the next morning, Cairn for a "That would not matter. The ship is moment discussed the course, then beck-

insured. She is old and has little value. oned Mr. Drift out to the lee of the bridge No one would kill us in order to steal her. house. There was only a faint breeze, But how can I tell? A man walking in a with the glass dropping fast and some ,

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 33 heavy weather ahead before they sighted 'e made me 'is agent, and that's the God's Celebes. truth of it." "I suppose you haven't a gun, Mr. "You lie like hell," Cairn said grimly, Drift?" asked Cairn. and paused. "But I don't believe you're

"Aye, sir, that I have," was the prompt a murderer. I don't care a hang who response. Mr. Drift, with surprising signed you on. Let's have the truth about rapidity, slipped an automatic from an arm- all these brand new Webley pistols you pit holster. Cairn took it, moved forward put aboard. Out with it, or I'll clap you into the light for a moment, then returned into irons on a murder charge and you to the other man, but kept the gun. can talk to an Admiralty court." "The same, I see. How did you happen In the darkness his voice was like the to give Lochaber two instead of one?" ring of steel. Then another voice broke "Two?" In the darkness, the brisk in. Cairn started, and turned to see the " mate caught his breath. "Why, sir figure of Vandunk approaching past the "You wouldn't intimate that Lochaber door of the pilot-house. lied to me about it?" Cairn said grimly. "What's all this, Cap'n? This talk about "Oh, no, sir, not for a moment! You pistols—good heavens! Is that a pistol in see, now, this was the way of it." Drift your hand?" was evidently sparring for thought. "I "Mr. Drift has brought a number of got 'im one, but he didn't like the hang Webley pistols aboard, and I want an ex- of it. Very particular, the old chief was, planation," said Cairn. "He's lied about about such things. So I got him another it. Either he talks turkey, or I'll put him that he liked better. That's how it was, in irons for the murder of Andrews and Cap'n. You see, I'd 'ad a chance to pick Lochaber." up a couple fairish cheap in Surabaya." Vandunk halted. His voice rolled out "I see," Cairn said, and clicked off the silkily, calmly, with authority. safety catch of the gun in his hand. He "That's absurd, Cap'n ; they were friends shoved it suddenly against the other man. for two or three years, all three of them. "Hands up, Drift! You'll lie your way I looked them up. As for the pistols, I to the gallows yet, if you don't watch out. can explain that. I strictly ordered Mr. Lochaber dead found You found ; you An- Drift to say nothing about it to a soul. drews dead. You've lied like hell about I picked up a dozen new Webleys in Ba- " these Webleys tavia and sent them to Mr. Drift, asking Mr. Drift was pressing back against the him to distribute them among our officers iron rail, his hands lifted. and to the Traceys as well. I thought we "Good God, sir, you can't be saying I should have the officers armed. Later on, done it!" broke out his voice in a wail of Mr. Drift wrote me that Li Tock Lo was acute horror. "Why, they was my friends, sending arms aboard, so I knew my pre- shipmates! I couldn't ha' done it, sir. cautions were useless." Mr. Vandunk knows bloody well I Cairn replaced the safety catch and handed the gun to the mate. couldn't." "You have the bridge, mister; go "How does he know it?" snapped Cairn. ahead," he observed. "And next time you "Why, sir, it—it was me as got 'em to lie to me, heaven help you! There'll be sign on!" no excuse." "Then Andrews lied when he said that Mr. Drift ducked into the wheelhouse. signed Vandunk him and Lochaber on." Vandunk spoke with asperity. "I dunno, I dunno," cried Mr. Drift in "You appear jealous of your authority desperate panic. "The three of us 'ad to Cap'n Cairn. I don't like it by half." get berths. I sent 'em to Vandunk, then "I don't give a damn what you like," —;

34 SHORT STORIES

Cairn said quietly. "Aboard this ship, unless they're moved by it. Now, when just one man gives orders, one man's re- I was so careful about a crew for this sponsible, one man is supreme. You ship, don't you suppose I was equally should realize the fact, and not act as careful about the master? I was, Mr. though you were also in command aboard Cairn. I looked him up and down, I here. Mr. Drift may have been your agent promise you." ashore. Here, he obeys me and no one Cairn felt a tingle of warning. He else." could guess what was coming. Vandunk sighed, laughed, and passed his "I know," resumed Vandunk, "that arm in that of Cairn. you've been with this line for three years "You're right, Cap'n. I do forget that that you obtained your tickets very rap- my authority doesn't extend here ; the fault idly; that your Board of Trade license is is mine. Come below and have a glass correct—all under the name of Cairn. I of Hollands with me." may have heard other things, but I speak "Thank you," Cairn replied, "but I don't only of what I know." drink until we're lying at Coomassin." "Meaning what?" asked Cairn. Mynheer Vandunk sighed again. "Cap'n, "That I like you. What lies in your you're a man after my own heart, but a past, I don't care. Allow me, and I'll trifle apt to flare up. I'd like to speak make your future my concern. I may tell honestly with you, as man to man. I'd you that this sultana must be removed and like you to hear me out, keep yourself safely put out of the way of making trouble under control, remember that I'm speaking for the government. If you like her to you as a friend, and allow me to speak take her. I can give her to you, and no with the frankness of a friend. Yes or one else can do so. Marry her, do what no?" you like. Wealth goes with her. In re- Cairn sensed a vibrance from the man, turn, you take my orders, cut loose from a subtle blend of power and character, a your present employers. You'll never re- sober warning of something tremendously gret it." important in the wind. His dislike died "What sort of orders?" Amazed, be- out. He answered quietly. wildered as he was, Cairn spoke quietly. "Very well. I'm not always so hasty Did this man know or guess his past as you seem to think." that he had been kicked out of the navy, "I know that, Cap'n. I like you be- was now under an assumed name? Very cause you don't apologize or excuse your probably. "Dishonest orders, mynheer?" words or actions. You're more or less un- nerved by these murders. So am I. The VANDUNK laughed softly. "Would death of Lochaber and Andrews gave me you care what sort of orders? Can a frightful shock, more so than you can you afford to care? I offer you the most realize." beautiful woman in this part of the world, for wife or what like; Vandunk was speaking the truth; his a you and wealth. I offer you a future to replace that which voice rang with it. you lost. No man can afford to question "Miss Tracey," he went on, "mentioned what sort of orders he gets. In the Ameri- to me the photograph in your cabin of the can navy, you question no orders. In the Sultana Amina, as she is called. I may army, you accept orders. But I accept assume that you think the young woman your challenge! Yes. You might con- lovely, are correct." very in which you sider yourself bound to do anything I might "The picture is, at all events," said Cairn command. In government service, re* 'cautiously. member, there are unpleasant duties—such "Yes. Men don't keep a picture around as getting rid of young and lovely women. THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 35

If you refuse her, a far worse man must when we sight Co'omassin—but keep confi- get her." dential what I said about the sultana.

Cairn lit a cigarette. His brain was in Agreed?" a whirl. Shame and disgrace lay like a "Agreed," said Cairn. "Good night." blanket upon his soul. So his past was known or guessed! And this Dutchman IV thought him reckless of honor Honor? To hell with honor. That lay ALI came early to make up the bunk, far behind him. Cap'n Cairn was a good *\ while Cairn was shaving. seaman, with a clean ticket, but with a "Well, what's the news?" damned poor future. Here was one ready- "The news is good, tuan." It was the mechanical Malay greeting, as empty of meaning as "Good morning." Ali expectorated his crimson betel-paste saliva carefully into the slop-basin and then grinned. "Tuan, somebody would like to do you in." The expression, in Malay, was identical with the English phrase. "Who?" Cairn demanded. "I could not find out. Last night when they thought me asleep, they talked of your death as of a thing expected. More, I could not find out. But one of those men, who was a true believer, spoke of having killed an infidel, a Christian." Cairn swung around. One of the Malays,

no doubt, for all these Malays were fol- lowers of Allah. Here was something defi- made for him. Were Vandunk the devil nite at last.

in person, it certainly would not matter; "Who was the man? Did he say when? and he had spoken frankly. Then there Which of the two officers did he kill?" was the girl to consider. All question of "Neither one, tuan." Ali went on speak- money aside, the right person could save ing in Malay, evidently to make sure of her from a lot of things. what he was saying and to avoid mis-

"Think it over, Cap'n," said Vandunk takes. "He only spoke of it as a thing quietly. "There's no hurry." done, a thing which would insure his entry "You've sprung it on me a bit unex- into paradise. It was good luck, he said, pectedly," Cairn rejoined. "That's true. that on the very night we sailed, before the I'll not deny—well, let me be frank. I ship was yet far at sea, he had sent a don't like your jumping at the conclusion Christian infidel to hell. That is some- that I'd have no scruples over doing the thing I do not understand, tuan, for neither wrong sort of things. I would. Nothing of these two officers was killed that night."

lies in the past that I'm ashamed of ; much Cairn stood as though paralyzed. His that I regret bitterly." mind slipped back, and farther back, to

: "Think it over," Vandunk repeated. "I the night they had sailed from Surabaya. need you for, say, three months. Then No, nothing had happened; no one had. you 'can cut loose and the future is yours, been missing then—no one. and; a free one. Give me your answer "Ah!" The quick exclamation broke 10' 36 SHORT, STORIES

from him. Stella Tracey's story—the body over as a chattel to anyone who would that had fallen from the port—Mynheer take her, fired his blood with anger. Not Vandunk's explanation about his unfortu- that way would he have her from Van- nate servant who had taken too much dunk's hand! He might not have her at bhang and opium! "But that man was all, in fact; he might not want her; she 99 might not want him. It was all the most He checked himself, unwilling to say too utter madness to think about. But there much. Not a white man? How did he was the picture, there was her lovely face, know? Probably Vandunk's servant had to assure him it was no dream; and the been a white man, a Dutchman. Proba- offer from Vandunk. bly the fellow had really been killed, and His future free and clear, whether with Vandunk had covered up the matter to a wife or not. His future; money in the save himself trouble. Which he had cer- bank, a chance to build and carve afresh tainly done. The man had not been en- with no more slaving for mere wages. At tered on the articles, and no trace of the the cost of three months' forgetting. A killing, if it were such, now remained. cheap price! He'd be a fool to throw it "A man fell overboard that night, Ali," over. Lord knows he'd been no stickler

said Cairn slowly. "But he was not one for honor ! And the thought that he would of the crew. I did not know he was a be in government service was like opium, white man. Possibly he was." deadening the conscience. No. Vandunk had very definitely said The world owed him a bitter debt. For the man was a Malay. He had said the a thing he had never done, he had been man was a victim of the disease called chucked out of the navy, been given a lateh, a nervous disorder which causes a chance to disappear and be marked down man to commit violence and draw blood, as dead. Another man, some other man,

spasmodically, almost without knowing it. had done it, fastening the guilt on him; Vandunk had made no mistake. Either that other man—and Cairn had never Vandunk or this man up forward had known who he was—now walked a war- lied. And it was not the man who had ship's deck in high career. Well, no use

hoped to enter paradise by his deed; it thinking about it. He'd never regain what

was Vandunk. he had lost, and did not want to regain it. "Well, no matter," said Cairn at length. That was all done with. Ahead lay a "It is not my affair. It's got nothing to suddenly golden future. Vandunk would do with the murder of the two officers. give the orders, he would carry them out. And as for killing me, they have a long "I'll do it; and to hell with regrets!" way to go before that happens." he told himself. "After all, only the fellow "May Allah will it!" echoed Ali, and who comes out on top matters. You've fell to work at the bunk. got to step on somebody to get any- where !" CAIRN looked at the picture on the Gray scud filled the sky, an ugly sea

shelf under the mirror, and went about was coming up ; the Ta Ming, high in bal- his business in a dream that held his clear last, rolled like sin and pitched like a devil. gray eyes unseeing. Even though the Cairn was getting a storm apron rigged glass was down and weather whistling to at the break of the bridge when Stella clutch them in storm, he could think of Tracey joined him. She enjoyed the whip nothing else. The face of that girl had of spray and the lash of the wind, and the bewitched him. The thought of her ob- foaming seas beneath, now beginning to sessed him. burst over the forward well-deck. The thought of her, torn from place and "I want to ask you something," she said, friends by an arrogant Dutch master, given as they stood in the lee of the pilot house. !

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN

"Something personal. You remember the He hastened to obey her motion, to join picture I saw in your cabin?" her outside, alone. "And that you mentioned to Vandunk?" "What's wrong?" he shouted at her ear. said Cairn maliciously. "Yes." "You look as though you'd seen a ghost." Her cool blue eyes dwelt upon him for "Worse," she replied, and thrust the key an instant. into his hand. "Take that." "Was there any harm in my mentioning "What's up?" he demanded, puzzled by that lovely face?" her manner. "Get the picture?" Cairn broke into a laugh. "Lord, no! She shook her head, her eyes staring It brought me good luck. Go on." at him. "I wondered if I might show it to my "No. I fell over—a lurch of the ship. " brother. You know, you weren't sure I fell on your bunk. You whether it was the sultana's picture. He The rest was swept away by a howl of knew her and would be able to identify wind. Cairn caught her arm, and she her. I'm curious to know whether it's pulled free as though his touch burned really her picture." her. "So am I," said Cairn eagerly. "Yes; "Go look for yourself !" she cried at him, by all means! I can't leave the bridge stridently. "Look under the edge of your until noon, however. If you like, here's bunk. Can't talk here." the key of my cabin. The picture's on the Then she turned and slowly made her shelf under the mirror." way down the ladder out of sight. She hesitated, then took the key with Cairn cursed in bewildered surmise. a nod. What the devil could she be talking about? "Thanks very much. By the way, when Well, no matter now. Too much going do we reach Coomassin?" on to pay any attention to the whimsies Cairn squinted at the sky. "Depends of a woman. Until eight bells, he must on this blow. With luck, tomorrow night stick right here. or next morning. The old girl's pretty Before noon sounded, Mr. Drift was on good on her pins, old as she is." the bridge, cool and brisk as ever, his

After all, he thought, he had only the bright eyes darting about. No noon sights word of two drunks as to that photograph. today, of course. All going well below,

A lot might depend on it ; if it were not a and the glass steady; even rising a frac- picture of Amina, he would need to know tion. The blow would be over by next it. Good thing Miss Tracey had thought morning. They talked, compared notes on about it. drift and windage, pricked over the chart. Eight bells sounded. The watches were "^JOON was approaching, and the ship changed. was wallowing stoutly along, when "Blasted good meal waiting down there," Stella Tracey came clawing up the ladder said Mr. Drift cordially. "Eat hearty, sir to the bridge again. She stood in the Good luck." open lee doorway and made a peremptory Cairn, on tenterhooks, hastened below gesture. at last. Before going to mess, he must

Even before she gestured, at first glimpse see what it was all about. Miss Tracey's

of her, Cairn's pulses leaped; he knew eyes still burned into him. something was fearfully and dreadfully He unlocked his cabin, stepped inside, wrong. Every bit of color was gone from closed the door again. He could see noth- her face, and her blue eyes were ablaze. ing amiss. What had she said—to look As they touched on him, they seemed to under the edge of the bunk? Why, the r§cpil, to shrink back from him in horror. woman must have been out of her head! > IP f3? SHORT STORIES

Nothing wrong witfi the bunk. Nothing must have been put here before the cabin wrong with—with was occupied, narrowed things down. Good God! A lurch of the deck threw Cairn side- CAIRN looked at the knife again. A ways. He caught the edge of the bunk, short ivory handle, made to fit the sat down on the deck, and reached out to small hand of a Malay. Beautiful old the thing that lay there just beneath the ivory, yellowed with age. A murderous bunk. It was a knife, a short-handled, ridged blade, such as only chiefs or great long-bladed knife, the blade wavy like a men would use, made of native Trengganu flame. A Malay kris, all stained and caked steel. Finely worked, this steel. Cairn

with dried blood. rubbed it with his finger and saw yellow The blade was not flat. It had a high, inlay. Gold. Arabic letters and arabesques tapering ridge on either side. It was a inlaid in gold.

kris melala; it was the knife that had killed A sudden flame leaped through all his Lochaber and Andrews. This was the veins. He had the murderer at last! dried blood of Andrews still upon it. Rising quickly, he went to the wash- Cairn stared at the thing. What was it stand and there cleansed the handle and doing here in his cabin? It had not been part of the blade, washing off the dried here the previous night or he would have blood, leaving the lower half of the kris

seen it. Or—or as it had been. He thrust it under the A sudden thought struck him. He lay blanket of his bunk, then made haste to flat on the deck, twisted his head beneath the mess-cabin. the bunk, looked up at it. Across the There he found Miss Tracey, her brother springs and the bottom of the mattress and Mynheer Vandunk, who was no longer were dark smears. The knife had been affected by mal-de-mer. Cairn seated him- hidden there, under the mattress, only to self and met with a smile the coldly ques- work out gradually. When Stella Tracey tioning blue eyes of the girl. was flung off balance on the bunk, her "Well, my friends," he said cheerfully, weight must have knocked out the knife. "thanks to Miss Tracey, here, I think Cairn's brain struggled back to coher- I'm on the trail of the murderer of Locha-

ence. Hidden in his cabin—why? So that ber and Andrews. I'll know in an hour blame could be cast upon him? or so. Miss Tracey, I'm going to ask you For a moment the thought burned hotly to accompany me, after lunch, to settle the within him, then died away. No, that was matter." most unlikely. He had been here with She assented silently. An exclamation Miss Tracey when Andrews was killed, and burst from Vandunk, just as Ali came into the knife had been stowed away here, red the cabin with his tray. with blood. Perhaps before he came to "What, Cap'n? ,You know who mur- his cabin and went to bed. Perhaps after. dered 'em?" More likely before, though. It was im- Cairn nodded. "And I've got the wea- probable that the murderer could have hid- pon. Can't go into it now, until I make den the knife under the mattress while he certain. So let it pass for the present." lay in bed with Stella Tracey sitting be- He glanced up and met the gaze of Ali side him. fastened upon him, a wide and startled While he lay here, Mr. Drift had come gaze. He smiled. "Ali! Remember the in, Erh Tan, Ali. No one else. No, the murderer must have been in the second man whom you mentioned to me? The mate's cabin when Andrews came off watch one who's headed for paradise? I want and walked in. Someone below here, not you to send him to my cabin at four bells on deck. Finding this knife, knowing it —two o'clock. Nothing wrong; I merely THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 39 want to ask him a few questions. How's kris from under the blanket. He wrapped

Mr. Erh Tan today?" it in a couple of towels and turned to her.

"The Chinaman is improving, tuan," AH "By the way, would you mind letting said, with his usual touch of contempt me see that picture of Vandunk? I'm a when mentioning the yellow race. "He has bit curious about it." requested some food." She produced the clipping. "Keep it,

Cairn nodded and pitched into his meal. if it interests you. I'm sorry my brother

"I say!" exclaimed young Tracey. mentioned it before him. Just what do "Couldn't you tip us off, Cap'n? We're you propose doing about that kris?" all friends here, you know." "You'll see." Cairn glanced at the clip- Cairn chuckled, met the shoe-button eyes ping, which showed a face of pronounced of Vandunk, and winked. aquiline features, then tucked it from sight. "Are we? When Mynheer Vandunk "Come along, please. My program will had his doubts about me—and I had mine explain itself and avoid a lot of talk." about him? Huh! Wait till it's definitely His Webley was already in his jacket settled." pocket, hanging heavily.

Under the impact of his decisive tone, the others laughed and yielded. Vandunk HE LED the way to the cabin of Erh began to talk with Stella Tracey about Tan and knocked. At the response, rubber exports. Her brother, with his he opened the door. The plump yoUng boyish manner, produced a clipping from Chinese, now not so plump, was sitting his pocket, laughed, and thrust it at her. up in his berth.

"There you are, sis. You said you'd "Miss Tracey is here," said Cairn. "We " ask Mynheer Vandunk about it may come in? Thanks. I'd like a word He broke off, at his sister's angry flush. with you, and it's rather important." She caught at the clipping. Vandunk Erh Tan protested the disarray of his laughed and flung a question at her. Re- room, but Cairn ignored him. When the luctantly, she gave him a glimpse of the door was closed, he spoke calmly, affably. clipping before tucking it out of sight. "Do you remember telling me of having seen a certain kris lying on the desk of "Nothing at all ; silly curiosity," she said. "I saw this picture of you in an official gazette in Surabaya and kept the cutting.

We decided it didn't look like you." Vandunk's broad features contracted slightly. For an instant his eyes widened, and white showed around the pupils; then he broke into a hearty laugh.

"Oh! You're right about it," he said, chuckling. "It's an old picture, taken years ago when I was young and good- looking."

Cairn rose abruptly. "Ready, Miss your relative, Li Tock Lo, in Surabaya?"

Tracey? Let's go. Mynheer, I'll look Erh Tan remembered. He told of it you up in your cabin as soon as we know again, exactly as he had told Cairn on the the rights of this." previous occasion, and described the kris. Vandunk nodded silently. Cairn de- There was wonder in his face as he spoke, parted with Stella Tracey. She said noth- and a certain perplexity. ing as she followed to Cairn's cabin. Her "That," said Cairn, "was about a week' air was aloof but alert. Cairn unlocked before we sailed, you said. Did you ever His door and ushered her in, then took the see the kris again?" ;

40 SHORT STORIES

"Yes," said Erh Tan. "A day or two "Don't be a fool," said Cairn roughly. " later, I noticed it, in the same place. I "The facts are against you may have seen it on other occasions, but "I think Erh Tan has told us the truth, do not recall it." Captain," intervened Stella Tracey of a A heightened color had risen in the sudden. Cairn flung her an irritated cheeks of Stella Tracey. glance.

"You haven't left your cabin for several "What? It's impossible that anyone else days, I think?" asked Cairn. should have brought this kris aboard."

"I have been ill." Erh Tan gestured "You don't know that it is," she re- helplessly. "That day when Ali told me turned, and smiled. "You think it impos- you were poisoned, I went over to your sible ; that does not make it so. Erh Tan cabin. It was the only time I have been would never have mentioned the kris to out of the room." you, had he been guilty." Cairn laid bare the kris. "Is this the Cairn nodded. "Perhaps; perhaps not. same weapon?" You prefer to think me the guilty one?" Erh Tan looked at it and caught his "Don't be silly." Her blue eyes warmed breath. .The pallor of his rotund face upon him. "1 think nothing of the sort. deepened. His eyes sharpened and drove Li Tock Lo is the person to ask about this suddenly at Cairn. weapon." !" "That's it, Captain he exclaimed. "The "Right. None the less," said Cairn, "I " same, the same ! But how must put you under arrest and confine you

"Exactly. How?" repeated Cairn to this cabin, Erh Tan. Agree, and I'll grimly. "This was found hidden in my not charge you openly with the murders, cabin, with the blood of Andrews still on until we can communicate with Li. Is it. And I don't think it walked aboard there a cable station at Coomassin?" of itself. You've been below here. You're "There is nothing," said the young Chi- the only person, apparently, who might nese calmly. "Macassar would be the near- have murdered Mr. Andrews, hidden the est point from which you could reach Sura- knife in my room, and then returned here baya. Your proposal is equitable. I ac- before I took to my bed that day. As to cept." " the murder of Lochaber For a long moment Erh Tan stared up CAIRN nodded, ushered Miss Tracey at him, with agitation working in the plump out, locked the door and pocketed the features. Then those features settled into key. The ship was lurching badly. He lines of calm. The oblique eyes quieted. caught the hand-rail in the passage and Cairn was perfectly acquainted with this looked at the English girl. phenomenon, so familiar to any who have "Blessed if I know what to think!" he had intimate dealings with the Chinese. said slowly. "I'm tempted to believe him, " Erh Tan had simply "retired within him- and yet the facts "You mean, the facts that can see," self," as his people express it. He had we she cut in. "You've brought me into this cast a politely blank veil over his inter- let's be quite frank. You're not the type course with the whites before him. of man to commit murders, or in such a "I cannot explain," he said with a manner. That's why I was so horrified strange dignity. "I understand what you at finding the knife. Now, Erh Tan isn't think. I cannot argue against it. I have the right type, either. He's really been been very ill here, and certainly would very ill. Let the matter rest for the present not have desired to kill anyone. I know as it is. Let me go and see Vandunk and nothing more about the kris than what I tell him just what's happened; I think I have already told you." can make him see the thing aright." —

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 4i

Cairn was silent for a moment. Oddly quicker the better. He was a proper bad enough, into his mind flitted the words of 'un. Shall I log it?" Erh Tan: "Maybe we start a ball rolling, "Of course. All right above?" and that is all; we cannot tell where it "Quite, sir. Weather breaking a bit and will roll." Had somebody started some the glass rising." ball rolling here? What did Li Tock Lo Cairn went back to his cabin. He had know about this peculiar kris? forgotten his instructions to Ali, and meant "Very well," Cairn said slowly. "Re- to snatch an hour's sleep. First, he took member, the day Lochaber was killed, Erh out the clipping, the picture of Vandunk,

Tan was up and about for the first time. and put it on his table. He stared down

Then he became seasick again, as he is at it, frowning. now. It doesn't look so good, for him. Younger? No. Not like Vandunk at However, have it your own way." all. A high-nosed, aquiline face with large "Thank you." She put out her hand, eyes; a different man altogether. He frankly. Cairn gave her a firm grip, met thought of Vandunk's expression at catch- her cool blue eyes, .and then she was gone. ing sight of the picture. Queer! Yet the

Cairn went to his own cabin, put the kris man had laughed it off quite naturally. out of sight, and started for a turn on the Four bells sounded; two o'clock. A bridge. As he emerged from the passage knock, and Ali came into the cabin. Cairn and went to the foot of the ladder, he looked up. caught a sudden terrific commotion on the "Hello! I forgot about that order forward well-deck below. He swung where's the man?" around, startled. "Dead, tuan." Ali came forward and A knot of the men there, careless of the squatted down, crushed a wad of betel- flying spray and water, were tangling in paste and slipped it into his mouth. "It mad and insensate battle. Yells rang on was the man Merah, a Malay from Kedah, the wind, knives were flashing; half a who ran amok a little while ago and was dozen men were hotly swarming in the shot by Tuan Drift." knot. Then a flying figure came down past "Eh? You mean that he was the same Cairn, caught the lower ladder, hit the who boasted of having killed a Christian ?" deck, and went into the mass of them. It "The same, tuan." Ali chewed in silence was Mr. Drift. for a space, his bright old eyes fastened Cairn was stupefied at the swiftness, the on Cairn. Then: "Tuan kapitan! When savagery, of the mate's action. Mr. Drift I was a young man, I was a ship captain went into them barehanded. The knot dis- and owner of ships. Then I went to Eng- integrated into groaning men. One of land for a time. I know much about ships. them rushed in with ready knife. A shot Tuan Vandunk has charts in his room and spanged out and the man fell. Pistol in has been working over them. On one is hand, Mr. Drift kicked the others about Coomassin." "That's natural," Cairn said absently. their business and then returned, leaving "He's taking command there for the Dutch the dead man to be tended by the others. government. I thought you knew this. It's At the top of the ladder, Cairn met him. no secret." "Mister, that was a revelation! Did "When you were on the bridge this you kill that chap?" morning, tuan, two men were in the cabin "Aye, sir." Mr. Drift laughed shortly. of Tuan Vandunk for a long time, talking actor, that Merah; he'd "A bad run amok with him. One was Tuan Drift. The and knifed two of the other men. When other was Sabok, the quartermaster." those brown monkeys run amok, they're Cairn jerked awake. "Eh? In Van- done. They're bound for paradise, and the dunk's cabin—you're sure?" —

42 SHORT STORIES

ALI grinned unpleasantly. "If I do the back, having forgotten my cigarette case, work of a mongrel dog, at least I and that halfbreed engineer was speaking have a dog's scent—and teeth." to the bridge. He didn't know I was com- Well, why not? Drift had been the ing down the gratings, never saw me in man's agent. No harm in one of the quar- fact. I heard him say, 'Tell Cap'n Patter- termasters coming along for a talk—no son about it.' That was all. It's utter harm, but damned queer just the same. rot, of course, but—well, I thought I'd It was off balance entirely. Cairn began mention it." to stride up and down the cabin, knees Cairn's brows lifted. Mr. Drift had giving to the thrust of the deck, a frown taken over the bridge at that time. ridging his forehead, thinning his gray "Patterson? An unlikely name to mis- eyes. take, I admit," he said slowly. "You think "Any more word for'ard about my ap- we have the Devil's Bosun aboard? Why'd proaching death?" he shot out. he be aboard us?" "None, tuan." Tracey leaned back and shook his head. Cairn felt irritated with the man. He "I can't see, of course. Still, I was had the sense of being up against a blank rather certain I'd caught the name aright. wall here, as though this Malay knew a With these murders and all, you know lot that remained unurtered. Well, I'll be off. Hope you don't think "When you take any food to Mr. Erh me too much of an ass to fetch such a " Tan, get the key from me," he said. "He's story locked into his cabin for the present. That's "On the contrary," said Cairn, "I'm glad all. You may go." you did. I don't know what to make of

Ali stood up. His gaze struck upon the it, for a fact. We've no pirates aboard. table, upon the clipping lying there, upon Not a chance; Mynheer Vandunk picked the pictured face. A sharp glitter came each man carefully. Even looked me up," into his eyes, as though of recognition. As and he grimaced wrily. "No, I don't think he started to speak, came a rap at the door we need worry about the Devil's Bosun and the voice of Tracey. this trip, Tracey. But keep your ears "You here, Captain Cairn? May I open, by all means. So far we've drawn come in?" pretty blank, but no telling what may turn 99 "Come in," sang out Cairn, and Tracey up. entered, laughing, blond, boyish. Ali took Tracey departed. Almost instantly, Ali his departure. knocked and re-entered, as though he had "Cigarette?" Tracey proffered his case, been waiting outside the door. He slid struck a match, and sat on the edge of the forward and touched the clipping that still bunk. "Well, how d'you like your amateur lay on the table. engineer?" "Tuan!" he exclaimed in his harsh Ma- Cairn smiled. "He's open to congratula- lay. "This man came aboard the night we tions. All well down below?" sailed. I have not seen him since then. "Smooth as smooth. Good old engines I saw him carried aboard. I was watching she's got." Tracey leaned forward earn- Tuan Vandunk come. This man was car- estly. "Look here, sir; one of the stories ried into his cabin after him; his hat fell about the Devil's Bosun goes that he's a off and I saw his face. Where is he now?": chap named Patterson who was kicked out Cairn swung around. For a moment he of the Shanghai Merchants' line a couple was incapable of speech, as the import of of years back. Never been proven, y'know. the words drifted across his mind. Van-

But a bally odd thing happened when I dunk's servant was a white man after all, came off duty at eight bells. I turned then—no, impossible! 10 " ! ;

THE DEVIL'S BOSUN 43

"Ali ! You don't know what you're say- The real Mynheer Vandunk had been ing," he exclaimed quickly. "Not this bound for Coomassin, no mistake about man. Not this man of the picture!" that. Mr. Drift might have been his agent "It is the face of the white man who was probably was not. With an appalling ef- carried into Tuan Vandunk's cabin," the frontery, all the details had been arranged Malay exclaimed vehemently. "I call Allah and dovetailed. Just how, did not matter to witness that I speak truth, tuan kapitan now ; it had been managed superbly. That I saw his face before the door slammed. little matter of the train from Batavia hav- He has not been about the ship since then. ing been missed, gave the clue. Mynheer He is the man whom Merah killed, the Vandunk had left Batavia—but he had not Christian—— reached Surabaya consciously. Another man had taken his place. CAIRN felt stifled. "All right. Clear Another man had come aboard ship in ;' out of here and let me think," he the early morning hours, taking his name ordered. AH drew back, blinking at him; another man, muffled to the eyes. The real a rush of blood had suffused Cairn's face, Vandunk had been lugged aboard, and later his eyes were wild, his manner was strange. knifed and thrown into the ocean. Cold- He struggled to keep himself under con- blooded, efficient cruelty! Dead men tell trol, to meet this thing sanely. He heard no tales. the door close, knew he was alone. He Handpicked crew? A bitter, wild laugh came forward and looked down at the pic- burst from Cairn. ture on the table. "Who's this fellow, then?" he muttered. Incredible? It was insane. And yet "Who's this man posing as Vandunk— there was no mistaking it. this infernally clever rat who's been running Here was a picture of the man who had the whole show, who has Vandunk's papers, been carried limply aboard, and who had who's taken his place? By the lord Harry, later been killed and dropped out of Van- who else could it be? Tracey put a name dunk's port. This frightful and unbelieva- to him—Patterson." ble fact was the key to everything. Cairn's The whole thing lay clear to him now. brain raced back, picked up details as he This man who called himself Mynheer stood there. Vandunk was in reality this Devil's Bosun.

(Part II in the Next Short Stories.)

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10 Black John Buys Some

To Think That Corporal Downey of the Mounted Had Ever Doubted the Integrity of the Dictator of Halfaday Creek!

CUSH, proprietor of naldo," replied Black John, casting the dice, OLDCushing's Fort, the combined "but there's three fives to beat in one." trading post and saloon that "Yeah," assented Cush, returning the served the little community of dice to the box and spreading them on the outlawed men that had sprung bar with a flourish, "an' there's three sixes up on Halfaday Creek, close against the that does it. Aguinaldo, he's the nigger Yukon-Alaska borderline, set out a bottle, General that's fightin' the U. S. over there a leather dice box, and two glasses as in them islands. An' there's four deuces Black John Smith entered the door and right back at you. See what yer law oi advanced to the bar. averages says about that!" "There was a piece in the paper you Black John cast the dice, scowled at fetched up from Dawson," he began, as the the pair of fours that showed, and filled other picked up the dice box, "that says his glass, as Cush made the proper notation where some army officer, over there in in his book. "What," he asked, "would the Phillipyne Islands, took a common sol- the U. S. Army be wantin' with a General dier er two along with him, an' set out of niggers?"

fer to capture this here Aguinaldo." "Well—hell ! If they ketched their Gen- "I don't know nothin' about no Agui- eral, they could take him down an' choke

44 10 —

BONDS By JAMES B. HENDRYX

Author of the Halfaday Creek Stories

him, er somethin', till he ordered the nig- he? There didn't no one tell him to go, gers to quit fightin'. Then that would did they? It was his own idee. You kin end the war." bet that his superior officers never sent him

"Why would the Army want to end a on no sech a fool trip. An' if a man's

war? Cripesl If it wasn't fer wars, they workin' on an idee, no matter what the wouldn't have no job." odds is agin him, he's happy. If you want "That's so," admitted Cush, "why would to feel sorry, why the hell don't you feel they? Maybe they figger they've got him sorry for them common soldiers he took

about licked, er somethin', an' want to tip along with him? I'll bet they ain't happy him off to start another one. But anyhow, —by a damn sight 1" it took a lot of guts fer this fella to go "The papers says where they've been off in them jungles which is full of them gone quite a while now—an' they ain't head-huntin' niggers—an' white man's come back. I still claim it took a lot of heads figgered as blue chips among em guts." an' try to pinch off their General, I feel "I ain't deridin' his guts, none," agreed

kind of sorry fer him." Black John. "But if a man lets his guts "Sorry hell!" exclaimed Black John. run away with his brains—that ain't so "What do you want to feel sorry fer him good neither. Their heads is prob'ly stick-

fer? . He's doin' what he wants to, ain't in' up on poles somewheres, right now."

10 45 —

46 SHORT STORIES

ONE-ARMED JOHN was in a day or "Yeah—damned important. Half a mil- so back," said Cush, changing the lion dollars worth. They think the rob- subject, "an' he says how them three fellas bers got the wrong pouch. There was a that moved into Olson's old shack, down heavy shipment of currency on the train, the crick, had went." too. But somehow, they overlooked it an' "Yeah," said Black John. "I looked in took the bonds. It was a special shipment, there when I come up from Dawson, an' to cover a deal involvin' the merger of the I seen there wasn't no one there. It's West Coast an' the Alaska- Pacific Steam- prob'ly jest as well. I never figgered they ship lines. It come through from Eng- was no ornament to the crick." land." "By the way, John, did you do any good "Well, it was insured, wasn't it?" on yer prospectin' trip?" "Yes, it was insured, all right. But that "Oh—about so-so. I done a little bet- ain't the half of it—if these bonds ain't ter'n wages. Nothin' to brag of." located within ninety days, the merger deal "Look who's comin' up from the land- is off, an' the London Syndicate that's in'," exclaimed Cush. "Damn if it ain't interested will stand to lose a couple of Corporal Downey! Wonder what he's millions in profits. Sir Henry Billson, doin' on Halfaday? Mebbe he's up after their representative, is sure hell-bent to them three we was jest talkin' about." get them bonds back. It's important "Might be, at that," agreed Black John, enough so we sent out special patrols." as he turned to greet the young officer of "But no one could cash them bonds, the Northwest Mounted Police, who was even if they had 'em, could they? Hell entering the door. they're all numbered, er somethin', ain't

"Hello, Downey ! Me an' Cush was jest they?" talkin' about you ! Is it, mebbe, some crim- "Sure they are, but the robbers might inal matter that brings you amongst us? get away with it, at that. If they hit Er is this jest a neighborly call? Belly south an' crossed into the States, there's up. Cush is buyin' a drink." plenty of fences that handle hot bonds. "It's a kinda of a hurry-up case," replied They'd have to let go of 'em at a loss on Downey, filling the glass that Old Cush their face value—but they could get rid placed before him. "There was a big ex- of 'em, all right. It's the time element press train robbery down in Alberta, an' in this deal that makes Sir Henry so they seem to think that the robbers might anxious to get 'em back. Of course, who- of hit north. The Inspector sent me up ever showed up with one of 'em would be the White, with orders to go on up the picked up for a suspected robber." Dalton Trail as far as the detachment, an' "Yeah," agreed Black John. "When then swing in here an' report back to Daw- was this here event pulled off?" son." "Three weeks ago—jest long enough so "You got a description of the robbers?" they could be nosin' into the Yukon coun-

asked Black John. try, if they hurried." "No, all know is that there's two we "H-u-u-m, that would be about the time of 'em, an' they might be headed north." I was down to Dawson, wouldn't it?" He paused and grinned. "Any two fel- "Yup, jest about," agreed Downey. "Has lows I meet on the trail headed inside are anyone showed up on Halfaday? I sure apt to get their packs searched for con- wish you'd help me out on this case, John. cealed weapons; if I should accidentally Practically the force is stumble onto any bonds, of course, I'd whole huntin' 'm, gather 'em in." an' believe me, I'd like to be the one that "Bonds, eh? Was there an important picked 'em up. Besides, they'd ort to be amount of 'em?" caught, anyhow. They killed the express —

BLACK JOHN BUYS SOME BONDS 47 messenger, an—it's the rope fer 'em if Mounted, bein' what it is, I hold that it's they're caught" bad ethics to commit practically any crime at all on this side of the line. An' you've BLACK JOHN nodded. "You might's got to remember, Downey—you can't well go on back to Dawson," he said. hang a man on suspicion." "There ain't no new faces on Halfaday. "You an' yer ethics!" grinned the cor- I give you my word, Downey, that if them poral. "We've hung men with better ethics

bonds shows up on the crick, you'll git than yours ! Drink up, I'm buyin' one, an' 'em. You'll have to take your own chances then I'll be movin' along." on pickin' up the robbers, though. It "Yeah, mebbe you have," laughed Black would probably serve 'em right to git John. "But you've always ketched 'em at

caught, at that. I don't believe in murder- somethin' before you done it. Here's mud in' a man fer the purpose of robbery. It in yer eye. Up here on Halfaday you'll don't somehow seem right." always find us willin' to work hand in Corporal Downey smiled a tight-lipped glove with the police. Ain't that so, Cush?" smile. "I'm takin' you at your word, "Oh, shore," agreed the somber-faced John," he said. "Without havin' any de- proprietor. "We aim to keep the crick scription of the robbers, I know damn moral in spite of hell."

well that if they're already on Halfaday, they've had time to cache the stuff, an' BLACK JOHN followed Downey down I'd never find it. I know that if the bonds to the landing. "By the way," he showed up on the crick, you'll locate 'em, asked, "did you fellas grab off either one an' I believe you'll deliver 'em to me. I of them kidnappers before they got out-

ain't forgot that there's been times when side? I've kind of wondered if that last one ever ketched up with his pardner the one that had the dough?" "No," replied Downey, "we didn't. They'll be picked up, though, as soon as they begin to spend that money. We took the numbers of all those bills, an' they've gone out over the new telegraph wire to every police force in Canada, an' the States, too. An' not only that, the banks have got the numbers, too." "Well, well, so they've got the wire through, at last, eh? Handy thing fer you fellas, ain't it—that telegraph?"

you've turned over big sums of cash to me, "You bet it is ! That's how we got word that you could jest as well kept for your- of this bond robbery. Hadn't been fer the self—like the money from that Boston bank wire, we prob'ly wouldn't have heard about

robbery, an' that dust Monty had hid in it yet." the shaft, behind them dead men, that time. "Well, so long, Downey. Don't you But there's been other times when I've sort worry about them bonds. If them fellas of had my suspicions that " Downey hit north, the chances is they'll show up paused, and the grin widened. on Halfaday. Most of them damn mis- "Well, cripes," interrupted Black John, creants does, fer some reason er other. We His keen blue eyes twinkling above the don't mind that, as long as they stay moral. heavy black beard, "you can't expect to git But the trouble with the bulk of 'em- all the breaks, Downey! A horse apiece there ain't no steadfastness about their feiair play, as the Good Book says. The morality. It's apt to be spread on kind 48 SHORT STORIES of thin—an' when it begins to wear "I'll have some coneyack," said Whitney, through, they're out of luck." eyeing the bottles on the back bar. "You might think you will, but you n won't," replied Cush evenly. "Them names is on them bottles jest to make 'em look IS THIS Cushirig's Fort, on Halfaday fancy. The licker in all of 'em is drawed Creek?" asked a voice from the door- out of the same bar'l. It's whiskey. An' way, one morning ten days after the if it ain't good enough fer you, you kin departure of Corporal Downey. go dry. Sometime some damn shorthorn "Both guesses is right," replied Black is goin' to come prancin' up here demand- John, as he and Old Cush eyed the pack- in' beer—an' when he does, he's goin' to laden men who advanced to the bar. git a bung-starter right plumb between the "We're glad to git here," said one of eyes." them wearily, as he wriggled from his "Oh, hell—whiskey's all right with me," straps and let his pack fall to the floor. the man hastened to explain. "I seen that

"We've had a hell of a trip." bottle with 'coneyack' on it, an' I thought "Sech gladness might er might not be I'd try a little jest fer a change." mutual," Black John retorted. "Jest reach "Changin' licker's hard on a man's guts," in the name-can yonder, an' help yerselves opined Cush, "besides bein' a damn nui- to a couple of names." sance fer a bartender. What I claim, if a "Name-can?" queried the other, as he man can't git along with whiskey, he'd ort too divested himself of his pack. "What to stay to home an' rig him up a sugar the hell's a name-can?" tit." "It's a simple device me an' Cush here thought up for to furnish good workable THE liquor was downed, and, ordering names to folks that comes in here lyin' another round, Fulton turned to Black about their own. Most folks that comes John. "So you're Black John Smith, eh? bustin' in on us claims their name is John We heard about you an' Cushing's Fort Smith, which would be all right with us, down on the Yukon. Some fellers was if it didn't lead to confusion." tejlin' us how you boys was all outlaws The larger of the two men grinned. "I up here—an' how the police don't never git you," he said, and reaching into the can dare to stick their nose on Halfaday Crick. slip withdrew a of paper and read off the We was headin' fer the Klondike, till we name: "Eli Fulton." run onto these fellers at Selkirk. An' when The other man drew a slip and read, they told us about this crick, we decided "Robert Whitney." to come on up here. We thought it might Black John nodded approval. "The suit us better than down around Dawson." party back of the bar is Old Cush hisself "Well, it might, at that," agreed Black an' my name's John Smith," he announced. John, ordering a round of drinks. "It's true that "I'm mostly called Black John, owin' to most of us here on Halfaday is outlawed, fer one reason er another, but the fact that my whiskers turned out to be it ain't true that the police don't dare show that color." He glanced toward the pro- up here. The fella you was talkin' with prietor, who stood behind the bar, twisting must of been a chechako, er he'd knowed an end of his long yellow mustache. "Cush, damn well that the Mounted would dare I want you should meet my old friends, to go anywhere they wanted to, an' it would Eli and Bob." be jest too damn bad fer anyone that tried

"The house is buyin' one," announced to stop 'em. The facts is, the police don't Cush, by way of acknowledging the intro- bother us none up here—not because they duction. don't dare to, but because there ain't any to —!

BLACK JOHN BUYS SOME BONDS 49 reason they should. Me an' Cush, here, "Accordin' to what we heard from them we try to keep the crick moral—an' all the fellers down on the Yukon, there's plenty rest of the boys backs us up in it, by of money on Halfaday—gold an' paper votin' a hangin' onto anyone that would money, too. They claim that every onct commit any crime on the crick that would in so often you go down to Dawson with fetch in the police. Keep a crick free of a hull damn boatload of gold an' trade it in crime, an' the police will let it alone." fer bills. They said you had plenty—an' "That's good common sense," approved Cush, too. They claimed that jest about the man. "But what do you fellers do up everyone on the crick was well fixed." here?" Black John, himself, was obviously be- "We work," replied Black John. "There ginning to feel his liquor, so that Old Cush ain't nothin' like good honest toil to keep a eyed him quizzically as he thumped the bar man out of mischeef. Cush, here, he runs with his fist, and bellowed for another the saloon an' tradin' post—an' all the rest round. "Oh, shore!" he boasted. "Take of us works on our claims." us per capita, an' we're a damn rich crick "You mean, dig fer gold?" I've got plenty of dust an' bills, too! "Yeah—that's about the only enterprise Plenty—an' more than a plenty fer all my that's flourished, so far, on the crick." needs an' requirements. But I'm a fly in "We don't know nothin' about gold dig- my ointment, as the Good Book says gin'," protested Whitney, calling for a meanin' that I'm all bogged down in my round of drinks. own wealth. What good does it do a man "It ain't no complicated business to to have a lot of gold, an' a lot of bills? No learn," said Black John. "You stake out good whatever! Not a damn bit of good a claim, an' then you dig. You sink a —if they ain't earnin' him nothin'. Gold shaft, an' throw the gravel onto a dump, an' bills cached away in holes in the rocks, and then sluice out the dump. We kin an' in iron safes ain't producin' a man

show you about riggin' up a windlass, an' a nothin' ! They don't draw no interest. sluice." That's the trouble with Halfaday, gents a man's got to keep toilin' away, no matter BLACK JOHN npted that the man was how much money he's got, er he ain't earn- beginning to show the effects of his in' nothin'. Take it now in cities an' places liquor, and he ordered another round. As like that, if a man's got money, he don't Whitney refilled his glass, he scowled. "I never have to work. No sir—he kin set didn't come up here to dig in the ground back an' take life easy, an' let his money

like a damn badger," he said. "From what work fer . him. He kin buy store buildin's we heard about the gold camps, a man an' houses, an* rent 'em out to folks. He

could have a hell of a good time, an' clean kin put his money in a bank an' let it draw up good money at poker, an' roulette, an' interest, er he kin buy stock in some com- faro—provided he had a stake to start pany, an' drag down dividends, er he could with." buy bonds, an' live like a king on the inter- Black John nodded. "Yeah, I guess est of 'em. But here on Halfaday, we're

some of 'em's doin' it down around Daw- cut off from all them advantages. I feel

son. But Halfaday ain't that kind of a sorry fer us, gents. Yes, sir, much as we'd camp." like to have you settle amongst us, I can't

"I don't notice you breakin' yer back see no future in it fer you. You'd jest none with no shovel," retorted the man. have to go on diggin' out dust, that you Black John took no offence. "I took a ain't got no use fer when you git it dug." day off," he explained. "I got up this He appealed to Cush, who stood eyeing mornin' with a bellyache, an' I figgered a him with a disapproving frown. "Am I little licker would do it good." rjght, my dear friend—er am I wrong?" —

SHORT STORIES

"Yer soused," growled Cush, "an' talkin' gilt-edged ones is the best cards; they cost like a damn fool." the most, an' they're worth more." "Oh, I don't know," interrupted Fulton, "Yeah," agreed Black John cagily. "But ordering a round of drinks. "There's a hell there's jest as many aces in a cheap deck. of a lot of good common sense in what he Like I was tellin' you—it's what's on the says. If a man's got money he's out of luck flat of 'em that counts, not the edges." if he can't set it to workin' fer him. Money "You're right," agreed the man, "an' our ain't no good layin' around idle. Like he bonds have got the goods on the flat of says, if he could invest it in good stock, er 'em—you kin bet on that. Hell—you don't bonds—'specially bonds. They're safer, suppose we'd try to unload no phony bonds an' they don't fluctuate, like stocks does. on anyone, do you? Not with the laws Good sound bonds is damn good property." what they be, we wouldn't. The Gover'-

"You said it, ol' pal!" agreed Black ment checks up on all bonds before they'll

John, throwing an arm about the man's let 'em be offered fer sale. Hell's fire, a shoulder. "Don't pay no 'tenshun to Cush. man could go to jail fer tryin' to unload I know a smart man when I she one. Yer phony bonds!" smart, 'cause yer smart enough to know "They ort to, too," acquiesced Black I'm smart, an' that makes two of us. It's John solemnly. "It would be one of the onearned increments that's the bane of of—of the financial strucher of—of civiliza- tion—you know that, 'cause yer smart—an' I know it—but, Cush—he don't even know what we're talkin' about. He's good fella —Cush is—but he ain't smart—an' he never will be. Fill 'em up again, Cush! An' listen around a while, an' mebbe you'll git smart, too. Thish man's right—if I could buy some bonds, I'd be happy."

THE meaning look that passed between the two strangers at Black John's state- ment was not lost on Old Cush, whose frown deepened at Fulton's next words:

"Fact is," he said, casually, "we've got a few gilt-edged bonds with us that we might part with fer ready cash." worst forms of skullduggery—an' on Half- Black John regarded the man owlishly: aday it would be hangable. So you two is "Wha's a difference if a bond's got gilt bond salesmen, eh? Funny place fer bond edges ? It's wha's on the flat side of a bond salesmen to come. I'd think they'd stick around cities, that counts—not wha's on the edges of it. where there's more folks to You think I'm a sucker, eh? Think you sell bonds to." kin sell me some bonds because it's got fancy edges, eh?" THAT'S where yer wrong," replied the Fulton laughed good naturedly, and or- man. "The cities is all full of bond dered a round of drinks. "You don't quite salesmen. The competition's fierce. Me an' git me," he explained. "What I meant my pardner, here, we figgered this way— gilt-edged—was jest a way us bond sales- here's them gold camps, we says, up north, men has of sayin' a bond is A Number One. where they've got plenty of gold and no- Anything that's an awful good buy, we say wheres to invest it—jest like you was say- it's gilt-edged. Like a deck of cards—the in' yerself. We figgers that if we was to —a !

BLACK JOHN BUYS SOME BONDS 5i take a bunch of bonds up there, we could lion dollars' worth," he said. "Would that sell 'em easy, 'cause there wouldn't be no interest you any?" competition, an' plenty of gold an' money "Half a million dollars !" exclaimed Black jest itchin' to be invested in good solid se- John. "Cripes—them bonds runs up into curities, where it would be workin' fer a Aggers! Trot 'em out—let's look 'em man, an' not layin' around idle—jest like over." you was tellin' us." "That's right," agreed Black John. "Men AS THE two men stooped to open their like us is smart 'nough to see them things, * *• packs, Old Cush, by means of frantic an' grab the bull by the horns before the head-shaking, and frowning grimaces,

horse is stole, as the Good Book says. But sought to dissuade the huge man from how come you showed up on Halfaday? dealing with the strangers. But his efforts Dawson's a bigger camp. There's lots of were futile, and presently the bar was deco- dust in Dawson." rated with an assortment of official looking "We're goin' on to Dawson," replied the documents in green, and yellow, and man. "We jest stopped in here 'cause we brown. heard, from them fellas at Selkirk, that "Look a there, Cush!" exclaimed Black you boys had a lot of dust an' bills on hand, John, indicating the array with a wave of an' we figgered to give you a chanct to in- his hand. "Ain't them the purtyest layout

vest it, if you wanted to. We figgered of bonds you ever seen? Cripes—anyone we'd be doin' you boys a favor, besides could tell, jest by lookin' at 'em that there doin' some business fer ourselves, to boot." ain't nothin' phony about them bonds. "Tha's right," agreed Black John. They're the real article. You better git "What's bonds worth, a dozen? I might in on this, Cush. I'm goin' to take a bunch buy some." of them yeller ones. They look important "They ain't sold by the dozen," grinned as hell!" the man. "Each bond is sold separate "I wouldn't have nothin' to do with 'em," accordin' to what it's worth. Like— growled Cush. "An' if you've got any thousan', er five thousan', er ten thousan'. sense, you won't either." Each one has got the amount printed onto "There you go," exclaimed the big man it, an* what company issued it, an' what's impatiently. "Always tryin' to obstruct backin' it, in the way of property—an' all civilization ! If I was as gloomy minded as that stuff. It's all printed right on the what you be, I'd of strangled myself at bond where you kin read it yourself before birth, an' saved a whole lifetime of misery you buy it. There ain't no chanct fer a Why, jest lookin' at all that there wealth fake." spread out on the bar makes me feel happy. Black John seemed to lose interest. "I Fill 'em up again—an' then open up the guess you boys better go on down to Daw- shafe, Cush! I'm a-goin' to make an in- son," he said. "I wouldn't care to piffle vestment." Cush's lips straightened into firm around buyin' bonds one to a time. An' Old a white line beneath his yellow mustache, as read each one out before I bought it. Hell, he reached beneath the bar and picked up if I want to read, we've got books on Half- the bung-starter, which he balanced in his aday—Cush, here, has got a Bible, an' I've hand with a certain devoted regard, as he got a law book damn near a foot thick. eyed Black John through narrowed lids. You prob'l ain't got enough bonds to inter- "I ain't openin' no safe—an' you ain't est me, nohow. If you had a job lot I buyin' no bonds," he announced in a flat, could pick up reasonable, I might talk to cold tone. "Not with no dust er money you." you've got in that safe, you ain't. Yer Fulton smiled. "We've got half a mil- licker's went back on you today, John. Yer —!

SHORT STORIES

drunker'n a fool, right now. It ain't none back on 'em. Look at him—my pal of my business how drunk you git, but standin' there with a bung-starter ready to

when it comes to blowin' all yer money into brain me, jest 'cause I want to draw a little

a lot of junk like that, I'm agin it. An' if of my own money out of his shafe! But, you go makin' a move to open the safe, yer- gents, to hell wish him! Yesher—to hell self, I'll knock you cold as a wedge with wish him an' his shafe, too! I got some this bung-starter—an' when you come to, spare change to buy bonds wish. Got it you'll thank me." right over to my cabin. You wait right

here, gents, an' I'll go git it. Firs' though, BLACK JOHN'S brows drew into a we'll have a li'l drink all 'roun'. Cush frown as he eyed the determined fig- shays I'm drunk—hell, I'll shtart in an' ure that stood behind the bar. Surprise show'm how to git drunk ! An' I'll buy all was mingled with wholesome respect, as yer damn bonds, to boot. I know a busin- his eyes dropped from the other's face to ish man when I she one—an' I'm him. I the weapon that he fondled most caress- c'n tell it jest by lookin' in the glash. Ain' ingly. Long years of professional practise I a bushiness man?" had made Old Cush a past master in the "Sure you are I" exclaimed Fulton, turn- technique of the bung-starter, and Black ing to Cush. "Fill 'em up, barkeep. I'm John had seen too many demonstrations buyin' this one. He's all right—let him of his skill on the skulls of obstreperous alone." customers, to ask for any of it on his own "I don't give a damn how drunk he gits," account. He sought, by means of soft said Cush, "an' I guess he won't buy no words, to win the other over. hell of a lot of bonds with what cash he's

"Aw, lishen, Cus', I ain' drunk. I know got in his cabin. Let him blow it, if he

damn well I ain' ! Gripes—I couldn't talk wants to—but he don't get a damn cent out buishness—businish, if I was drunk, could of the safe." I? Course I couldn't. Cm on—open up "Don' need no money out of yer damn the shafe, like a good fella, and lemme have shafe !" retorted Black John, swallowing his some money. You wouldn' she all them liquor. "Got plenty over to my cabin. You !" good bonds go to waste, would you? They'd wait an' she look as important as hell in the shafe, along with the dust an' bills." CROSSING the floor unsteadily, Black "They ain't goin' to look important in John disappeared to return a few min- this safe," replied Cush obstinately, "an' utes later with a bulky package done up in

you ain't goin' to git no money out of it, brown paper. Setting the package on the neither." bar, he undid the wrapping, and three pairs The big man switched to bluff and blus- of eyes widened in surprise as Old Cush ter. "Why, you damn ol' badger! It's my and the two strangers gazed at the neat money I want out of that safe—not yourn. packets of bills, held together with rubber

An' I'm entitled to it, too. Open up, now bands. —er damn if I don't climb the bar an' git "There she ish, gents—jes' a li'l loosh it!" change I keep on me in case I might wan'

"You'll sleep a while before you do," it. Fifty thousand, in good paper money replied Cush dryly, waggling the bung- Fifty thousan' dollars, gents—bring on yer !" starter a bit as he rolled back his sleeve damn bonds suggestively. Eagerly the two strangers began sorting Black John assumed an air of outraged over their bonds, and presently Fulton dignity. Ignoring Cush, he turned to the handed Black John several of them. "There others. "It's pitiful, gents," he said, "how, you be," he said. "Fifty thousand dollars in the hour of need, a man's friends goes worth, an' no charge fer accrued interest.", . — —

BLACK JOHN BUYS SOME BONDS $3

"Fer what?" asked Black John, fum- "Yeah—an' you ain' started to throw in. bling the bonds over as he examined them. Come on—keep 'em comin'." "Accrued interest, they call it. You see, "Tell you what we'll do—seein' you've them bonds has already earnt some interest got the ready cash handy. We'll sell 'em sence they was issued, an' it belongs to the to you at seventy-five cents on the dollar. one that owns 'em. But we ain't chargin' There's a bargain for you—seventy-five you fer that. We're sellin' 'em at face thousan' in bonds fer fifty thousan' in value—you keep the interest." cash!" "Shore, thash all right," said Black John, "That's a li'l better—but not nowheres "but all of 'em only adds up to fifty thou- near good enough," replied Black John,

>» san shaking his head. "Yer willin'ness to part "Well—that's what you claimed you've with 'em cheap, kind of warns me that got there in bills. Fifty thousan' in bonds, there's somethin' shady about 'em. The fer fifty thousan' in bills—that's fair bonds theirselves looks genuine—but yer enough, ain't it—with us throwin' in the title to 'em is ondoubtless open to suspi- interest?" cion. They might even be the product of Black John shook his head. "Nope some crime." that ain't the way I do businesh. Them "Listen," said Fulton, scowling, "I'll bills ish real money. Bonds ain' money give it to you straight. We ain't reg'lar they're jes' bonds. I gotta make a profit. bond salesmen, like I told you. We got

Man would be a damn fool to give fifty holt of this stuff on a deal that was a little thousan' in money fer fifty thousan' in shady. The bonds is good as gold. We bonds." figgered we could git rid of 'em fer ready "Tell you what we'll do—we'll throw in cash up here in the gold country, an' like an extry ten thousan'. There's a bargain I told you, we was headin' fer Dawson. But fer you! Sixty thousan' in A Number when we heard about here, we come on up, One, gilt-edged bonds fer only a lousy fifty figgerin' that some of you would know how thousan' in cash." to git rid of 'em, an' we could, mebbe, git "You talk kind of big, don't you? Lousy a better price than we could in Dawson.

fifty thousan' ! By God, fifty thousan' dol- Tell you what I'll do—an' it's the best I lars in cash money ain' lousy—no matter kin do on 'em. Give me fifty cents on the how you look at it. It's important money, dollar an' take 'em. At that price mebbe an' you'd think so, too, if you'd toiled fer yer friend, here, would go in with you

it, like I did!" two hundred an' fifty thousan' fer a half a "I didn't mean it that way—it was jest a million in bonds. You double yer money way of speakin', to show you what kind of not to say nothin' about the interest." a bargain you was gittin'." "I wouldn't have 'em at no price," said "Yeah, tha's what I think, too—lousy Cush. "Buyin' hot bonds ain't in my line

bargain ! Tha's right. Come on agin with —never was an' never will be." them bonds, if you want to do businesh Black John listened to Cush's dictum with me!" with drunken gravity. "Cush is right," he "What do you mean?" announced. "We might find ourshelf in a "Mean? I mean keep shovin' them bonds hell of a lot of trouble. Guesh I don' wan'

over, till I git my money's worth. What none of 'em neither." Deliberately he be- you think I mean?" gan to arrange the packets of bills on the brown paper, preparatory to doing them TfULTON frowned. "What kind of a up. "Damn shite better to have fifty thou- bargain do you expect? We offered to san' in good honest bills than half a mil" throw in an extry ten thousan'." lion in bonds that might git you in jail. —

54 SHORT STORIES

Better take 'em to on down Dawson, boys, /~\LD CUSH snorted his disgust. an' peddle 'em down there." "Somethin' wrong—a couple of strips of paper out of a can ! Sometimes, John, "D OTH strangers were eyeing the money you kin be the damndest fool I ever seen. avidly as Black John drew the paper Most gen'lly when you git soused you've around it. got some sense left in yer head—damn "Hold on!" Fulton cried. "It's a damn little, sometimes, but some—but this time hold-up— but I'll tell you what we'll do! —fifty thousan' dollars in cold cash fer a We need the cash, bad. Fifty thousan' is lot of bonds that's so sizzlin' hot that nothin' but chicken feed, side of half a mil- they're sendin' out special patrols of the lion in bonds—but it's a stake. If the play Mounted fer 'em! Ain't you got no sense, is runnin' like we hear tell at all it of in Dawson, ? Take from me—yer goin' to come we kin hit there with fifty thousan' an' out of this drunk with a hell of a head- clean up a million with the cards. Shove ache!" us the money an' take the bonds—all of White teeth showed through the black 'em! Half a million fer fifty thousan'! beard, and suddenly Old Cush was aware Ten cents on the dollar is all they're costin' that the drunken stare had disappeared you. You'll make four hundred and fifty thousan' profit—besides the interest. It's jest like you stole 'em!" "We-e-e-1," hesitated Black John, "at that prishe mebbe a man might take a chanct."

"Course you kin take a chanct—only it's a sure thing fer you. We're the ones that's takin' the chanct—we've got to git our money out of the cards. If it worn't that we figger we kin git it back, we wouldn't from the blue eyes that twinkled into his let them bonds go at no discount whatso- own. "What do you mean—cold cash?" ever. Here's the bonds—all of 'em." he asked. "By God, when them boys be- "All right," agreed Black John. "It's a gin shovin' out that cash in Dawson, deal. There's yer money—count it, while I they're goin' to find out it's a damn sight !" figger up these bonds. Then we'll all know hotter'n them bonds ever thought of bein' we ain't be'n short-changed." "You mean to tell me you ain't drunk A quarter of an hour later, bonds and an' ain't be'n all along?" demanded Cush. hills having been checked to the satisfac- "I don't reelect of tellin' you I ain't tion of all concerned, the two men took drunk," grinned the other. "Where'n hell their departure. did you git the idee that I was? Cripes "Sho long !" called Black John from the I ain't had more'n a dozen er fifteen drinks. doorway, as the two shoved off in the What would I be drunk fer?" canoe. "You boys be careful you don' take "Well, you talked an' acted drunk as no wooden nickels!" hell." Returning to the bar he stood contem- "Oh, shore—I done that fer* to give them plating the pile of bonds while Old Cush birds a chanct to unload them bonds onto scowled in silent disapproval. "By God," me. It was jest a little play actin', Cush. he exclaimed suddenly, "I know'd there You know I always wanted to be an actor. was somethin' wrong! Them birds fergot Sometimes we'll go to work and stage a to put them slips back in the name-can! real drayma." What was them names they draw'd out, "Like hell we will! We've had enough

Cush? I'll write out some new slips." of yer damn draymas, as it is ! If anything BLACK JOHN BUYS SOME BONDS 55

had went wrong with them other ones you man who faced him across the bar, as he set pulled off, I'd of been in a hell of a fix! out a bottle and two glasses. "You folks What you goin' to do with them damn can't be very busy up on Halfaday, the way bonds, now you've got 'em?" yer runnin' back an' forth." "Don't you rec'lect that I promised Cor- "Oh, we're busy, all right," replied Black

poral Downey, I'd git 'em fer him, if they John as he filled his glass. "But, cripes, show'd up on Halfaday?" you can't expect a man to spend his whole "Yeah—but it looks like you went in life in toil. Time a man cranks a windlass, kind of deep, jest to do Downey a favor. an' shovels gravel eighteen, twenty hours a When all's said an' done, John—fifty day, over a period of years, he's entitled to thousan' dollars is fifty thousan' dollars." a little vacation, now an' then." "Oh, hell," replied Black John, "what's "Yeah," grinned Curley, "but they tell

-little amounts like them, amongst friends ?" me there's a hell of a lot of windlasses you never cranked—an' a hell of a lot of gravel OLD CUSH eyed the other narrowly. you never shovelled." "Where'd you git all that money, "Shut up, an' have another," laughed

John? An' what d'you mean about it bein' Black John, laying a bill on the bar. Pick- hot?" ing up the bill, Curley glanced at its num-

"It's what you might call the emolument ber, and dropping it into the till, laid the of virtue—havin' to do with them three change on the bar. fellas that One Armed John told us was in "What the hell's the matter?" queried Olson's shack, down the crick. I mis- Black John. "Think it's counterfeit, or trusted they was malefactors of some kind, somethin' ?"

so I took that there prospectin' trip. In "No, it ain't that it might be queer. But " the course of my peregrinations ever sence Chase was kidnapped, an' the "What in hell's them? Can't you talk no Consolidated paid out that fifty thousan' English, at all?" to git him back, we're s'posed to look at "As I was sayin'," continued Black John, the numbers on all bills. We've got a list

ignoring the interruption, "whilst I was on of 'em a yard long there in the till. When that trip, I was instrumental in the pre- we take in a bill that might be one of 'em,

vention of a crime, as a reward fer which we check it with the list. This here bill meritorious act I took over that money. you give me was only five numbers long,

An' it wasn't till Downey came up here the so it couldn't of been on the list. It's a other day huntin' fer these bonds that I cinch that some time or other, somewheres, realized, from somethin' he told me, that them bills is bound to show up—an' the them partic'lar bills was ondesirable prop- police is hopin' it'll be here. The kidnap- erty to have. An' them fellas will be find- pin' bein' in their territory, they'd like to

in' it out, too, jest about the time they be- grab off the ones that done it. You was

gin shuckin' it out around Dawson. Guess the one that found Chase an' fetched him

I'll jest drop down an' watch the fun. Be- back—where do you think they're at?" sides, I've got to fetch Corporal Downey "Well," replied Black John, "that would them bonds. You know, Cush, up here be hard to say. Of course, they might have we've got to work hand in glove with the hit fer the outside. But then ag'in, they

police." might jest be layin' low till the stink blow'd away. I don't claim to be no authority on Ill them criminal matters, but off hand I'd say that them bills would begin showin' up HELLO, John—back agin already?" most any time, now." Curley, the genial bartender of the "How long you goin' to be here?" Tivoli Saloon in Dawson, greeted the huge "Oh, not more'n a night er so. I jest —

56 SHORT STORIES

run down fer a couple of sessions of stud." amid congenial surroundings. The house Curley grinned. "Old Bettles says you're matched their purchases, drink for drink, the world's worst stud player. He claims and roars of laughter greeted the pithy but you stayed through four or five stiff raises unprintable stories that bandied back and with a pair of deuces, back to back, an' him forth across the bar. with one deuce showin' all along—and Then Black John drew the newspaper a then you ketched the case deuce fer yer last bit closer for better concealment, as Cor- card, an' beat him out of a hell of a big poral Downey stepped into the room and, pot." crossing to the bar, paused behind the two.

"Yeah, that's the way of it," chuckled the Receiving an almost imperceptible nod big man. "Trouble with most folks, they from Curley, the young officer laid a hand ain't got no faith in deuces jest 'cause lightly upon the shoulder of each.

they're little. Guess I'll set down by the "I want to have a little talk with you

table, yonder, an' read the paper till the men down to headquarters," he said. boys drifts in." The two turned swiftly. "What the hell !" exclaimed Whitney. T) LACK JOHN, taking the Ladue "There's some mistake here," blustered Fulton, truculently. Creek shortcut, had timed his arrival "Maybe," replied Downey. "I don't in Dawson to correspond as closely as pos- claim to be the that never makes 'em. sible to that of Fulton and Whitney, who man If there is, fellows have got nothin' to would reach the big camp by way of the you find though, White River and the Yukon. fear. Until we out, you're both under arrest for the kidnappin' of Thus, it was that, some two hours after Frederick Chase, an' possession of the ran- he seated himself, he watched with interest som money." through a small hole punched in the news- "Kidnappin'!" scoffed Fulton, with paper that concealed his face, as the two a laugh that Black interpreted as men entered, strode to the bar, lowered John one

of vast relief. "Yer crazy as hell ! Where their packs to the floor, and demanded re- was this kidnappin' pulled off an' when?" freshment. He saw Curley set out the — "Oh, a couple of months ago right here bottle and glasses, and saw Fulton lay a — in Dawson." bill on the bar, in payment. He saw Curley "That lets us out. We never seen Daw- pick up the bill, glance at it, and turn !" son till .today toward the till. Then, as the men filled "Maybe," admitted Downey. "Come their glasses, he noted that the bartender along with me, an' we'll find out." laid the bill on the back bar, counted out we'll agreed Fulton with some change, which he placed on the bar "Sure go," alacrity. "Why the hell wouldn't we? before Fulton, then, with a casual air, We ain't got nothin' to fear. on, cop turned his back upon the two, removed a Come let's get it over with." long slip of paper from the till, and once

more consulted the number on the bill. IV A grin twitched the corners of Black John's lips as he watched Curley beckon to AN HOUR later, Black John rose from Joe, the porter, whisper a few words into the table, yawned, stretched prodigi- his ear, and then turn toward the two cus- ously, and stepped to the bar. "I'm buyin' tomers with a genial invitation to have one one," he announced, as Curley turned from on the house—as Joe slipped unobtrusively the back bar to face him. the back door. out "Hell's fire, John—you been here all the It was evident, during the next half-hour, time? I'd plumb fergot you. Where the that the two strangers found themselves hell was you at?" 10 !

BLACK JOHN BUYS SOME BONDS 57

"Oh, I set down over there to the table drops in tell 'em I'll be back. Tell Bettles to read the paper, but I might have got he better be practisin' up on his stud." kind of sleepy, an' took a little snooze." "An' you didn't see what come off?" "DLACK JOHN, as was his privilege, "What come off? There couldn't be no opened the door of Corporal Dow- hell of a lot come off, er I'd of woke up. I ney's office at detachment headquarters of ain't no sound sleeper. It don't pay to be." the Mounted and stepped into the room, to "There wasn't no excitement. It all find the young officer, his desk top cov- comes off nice and quiet. Downey slipped ered with bills, and a long strip of type- !" in here an' pinched them kidnappers written numbers in his hand. "Well," grinned Black John, "you "Hello, Downey!" he greeted. "Cripes wouldn't expect him to let 'em run around it must be pay day!" loose, would you? That's what police is "Yeah," grinned the officer, "an' I paid fer—to pinch miscreants like them." draw'd my salary fer the next twenty-five "Yes, sir—two guys come in an' ordered years in advance, eh ? Do you know what the drinks, an' one of 'em lays a bill on this stuff is?" the bar, an' I checks the number of it with "I might hazard a guess that it's money." that list, an' damn if it wasn't one of 'em "It's money, all right! It's the money So I slips Joe the word to go fetch Downey, the Consolidated paid over to the kidnap- an' he come, an' pinched 'em both." pers to get Chase back."

"Good work," approved Black John. "It "Well, well! So you got it back, eh? looks like you both done yer duty." Good work, Downey ! Did you git the kid- "You bet! Damn cusses like them had nappers along with it? I run acrost 'em, ort to git pinched. Chances is, if the Con- you remember, when they had Chase up on solidated hadn't paid that money, like they Halfaday. I wouldn't have no compunc- told 'em to, they'd of knocked Chase off. tions about helpin' identify sech damn

What'll they git fer it, John? What's the scoundrels as them, because, by fetchin' law on kidnappin'?" Chase up there, they might have jeopard- "A term of years," answered the other. ized the morals of our crick." "I can't say off hand, jest how long. But "I don't think you could identify these it'll give 'em plenty of time to think things two that had the money," replied Downey. over." "I had Chase in here a few minutes ago, "Damn if you wasn't right—about them and he said he'd never seen these men. He bills bein' about due to show up. How the definitely stated that they were not the hell could you tell?" ones who held him prisoner. Kidnap gangs "Oh, jest common sense—an' mebbe work like that. The ones that do the some slight insight into the workin's of the snatchin' an' holdin' ain't the ones that criminal mind. Cripes, anyone could of handles the money. They work it that way doped that out." so that in case they're picked up passin' "Yeah?" retorted Curley, a vast respect the stuff, the victim can't identify 'em." "Ain't they smart?" grinned Black John. showing in his eyes. "Well, no wonder "Why, if they'd put all them brains into there ain't no crime on Halfaday! Gosh, honest pursuits, they'd prob'ly do well." John—you'd ort to be in the police!" "They're smart, all right," replied Dow- "No, no! I wouldn't make a good po- ney, "but they ain't quite smart enough. liceman. Hell, a policeman's got to be They overlooked the fact that possession of smart." Passing around the end of the bar, this money is a criminal offense of itself, Black John retrieved his light pack and and to any reasonable jury the fact that slung a strap to his shoulder. "Guess I'll they had it would link them up with the jest percolate around a while. If the boys kidnappin'. Here's how I've doped it out. 10 —

58 SHORT STORIES

You remember, you told me that you fol- "Sure they did. However, when I lowed the man who had this money up the questioned them about the possession of the Yukon, but failed to overtake him?" money, they were mighty vague, an' wound

"Shore, I remember that." up by claimin' they found it in a cache." "Well, he went on up past the mouth of the White, where these two were prob'ly WHEN Peters appeared, Black John waitin' for him. Then they took over the followed Corporal Downey into the money. An' the chances are they knocked cell room, where the two prisoners sat in off this bird an' the other one—the two adjoining iron barred cages. Both stood that done the snatchin'—because these two up and paled perceptibly at the sight of I've got had every damn cent of the fifty Black John. thousan'." "There they are," said Downey. "Have

"Tch, tch, tch! Don't it beat hell how you ever seen 'em before?" some folks carries on? It's a wonder to According the men scarcely a glance, me that them damn crooks trusts one an- Black John swung his light pack to the !" other out of their sight floor in the little passageway before the "I'm mighty glad I picked these birds up, cells, and turned suddenly upon the officer. John—-as much for your sake, as for the "By gosh, Downey!" he cried suddenly, Consolidated's." "here I be, foolin' around like this, an' "My sake? Cripes, Downey—I'd of got plumb fergot what I come clean down from along, if you'd never ketched 'em." Halfaday to fetch you." Fumbling in his pack, he drew forth a sizable packet, which YEAH," grinned Downey, "but if I he extended toward the officer. "Here's hadn't picked up these fellows with them bonds you was inquirin' about up to that money, I'd have always held a sneakin' Cush's that day. Half a million dollars' suspicion that you had it. You see, I was worth of 'em; they're all there—count never quite satisfied that you didn't lie to em. me when you said you never overtook that "You mean," cried Downey, eagerly bird goin' upriver. I figured you had over- seizing the packet, and cutting the cord took him, an' made him fork over the bills. that bound it, "you located those bonds?

Of course, I never could have proved it The ones that were stolen in that ex- but jest the same I'd have always thought press robbery?" it. I'm damn glad that this clears you of "I wouldn't be surprised an' them's the even that suspicion." ones," replied Black John. "They're

"Well, so'm I, Downey—if that's the bonds—an' the amount of 'em checks with way you felt about it. Cripes, I never had what you claimed was stole. An' by the no idee you'd think I'd lie to you! How way, Downey, didn't you claim there was about givin' me the chanct to look these a murder connected with that robbery?" birds over, anyway? You see, they might "Sure there was. A damn dirty murder, of been hidin' out on Halfaday, too—an' I too. They never gave the poor devil of a never connected 'em with the crime. messenger a chance. They'll sure swing Strangers comes and goes, an' a man. for that job, when we lay hands on 'em!" wouldn't know who was mixed up in it, if There was a movement in one of the they kep' away from them others." cells, and Downey looked up from his "That's so," agreed Downey. "Wait scrutiny of the bonds to encounter the pale till I call Constable Peters to watch this face of Fulton. stuff, an' we'll step into the cell room." "Hey, Corp'rl," said the man huskily, "I s'pose they denied they know'd any- "we want to come clean on that kidnappin' thin' about the kidnappin', eh?" job. We was in on it, all right. We lied 10 —

BLACK JOHN BUYS SOME BONDS 59 to you, but we been talkin' it over—an' we hundred thousan' dollars in cash fer the re- decided to plead guilty." turn of those bonds before October first "All right," said the officer, "I'll take yer the date when the merger deal expires. An' statements, later." it all goes to you." "Well, well," grinned Black John. "That HE TURNED to give Black John a change'U shore come handy." rousing thump on the back with the "Oh—yes—how about these two fellows flat of his hand. "By gosh, John—you —did you ever see 'em before?" don't know how glad I am to get hold of Black John eyed the two white-faced these securities! But how about the men men deliberately, and subjected them to that had 'em. Did you bring them down?" long and careful scrutiny. "No," he said, "Nope," replied Black John, "I didn't. shaking his head in a slow negative. "No You know damn well, Downey, that I —I can't say that I ever laid eyes on either never had nothin' to do with arrestin' any- one of 'em—an' I've got a good mem'ry fer one—er even squealin' on 'em. It ain't faces, too." ethical, an' I wouldn't have nothin' to do "Come on, then," said' Downey, turning with it. If you think them men's on Haifa- to lead the way back to the office. "I want day, an' you kin locate 'em—go to it. You to wire Vancouver about these bonds." won't be neither helped nor hindered when As he was about to follow the officer, you git there. I promised you I'd try an' Black John turned a solemn face toward locate them bonds if they showed up on the the two men in the cells. "There's an old crick—an' I done so." sayin', my men," he boomed sententiously, "You sure did, John—an' I thank you "that honesty is the best policy. If you for it. But my thanks don't stack up very two had learnt to live moral, you wouldn't big beside what you've got comin'. It jest be where yer at now. Jest remember that goes to show that it pays to be honest. Sir —when they turn you loose twenty, thirty Henry Billson has posted a reward of a years hence. It'll do you good."

In the next issue- WAR OF THE BRANDING IRON

A Complete Novel of Range Feuds by Charles W. Tyler

November 25th SHORT STORIES

10 —

The Joke Was Certainly on Someone in That Colony of Jaded Men Beyond the Horizon's Rim Murder on Malitonga

By ROBERT H. ROHDE

Author of "Beyond Last Water," "HeWs Annex," etc.

I approach the sky seaward was altogether black. SOMEONE of course!—was down Barefoot, invisible within the deep-blue there by the dark lagoon, waiting fold of the robe he had flung over his for her. Before he saw the man pajamas when he heard her stealing out of himself, Safforth could see the their bungalow above, Safforth was as sober beacon glow of his cigarette. The now as if yesterday had not been mail night's only star, that tell-tale cigarette day on Malitonga, remittance day for him. had been; when it sparked to earth at her An icy rage filled him. As he trailed

60 jo MURDER ON MALITONGA 6t her, his hand dropped into that weighted dead to the world the moment he fell into pocket of the robe, closed on the gun he his bed." had snatched up. Safforth, hidden by a palm-trunk hard Not surprisingly, the man she was tryst- by, could have laughed then. Tension ing with at two in the morning, was Craig. snapped with the impulse. His grip on Who else? the pistol relaxed. Old Ben Lark, pressing sixty, had Not that he shouldn't, not that at an thought left at his weathered age for only imminent moment he wouldn't, take Craig three things terrestrial—pearls, money, to account for the poaching—damned sum- rum. Schruyn, the Dutchman who kept marily to account. But why not hold off the hotel, might have a roving eye ; but as a bit? As it stood, the situation promised certainly that alert brown Nuolana of his points. Tremendously, ironically amusing had too sharp a one for any dalliance to points. Such very proper people, these have escaped. Jollett, the ex-detective in- two, when they knew themselves observed spector pensioned down to the islands from —but what, for example, at two o'clock of Auckland, was not only professedly but a black morning? credibly a confirmed woman-hater—a rhino Thinly, cynically, Safforth smiled. Queer of a man, as fond as Ban Lark of his turnabout! Weeks ago he'd made up his noggin. And except for Craig, these were mind about Kay, decided to chuck her. It the only whites now on the island. had been just a question of how soon he'd Craig, who had been something or other tire of this lazy living on Malitonga. When with the American mining company that he did tire, he had meant to strike for the had flourished for a brief day on Malitonga, mainland next schooner day and leave her then gone suddenly sosh, was young and stewing there to work out her own destiny. unattached. The sort that a woman, even But now ! in a spot less isolated, might find attractive. Safforth's smile drew in.

He drank a bit, but only a bit ; and with Kay, Safforth grimly recognized, that FAR side of the palm, they had seated might very well stand nowadays near the themselves. The blinking red ends of apex of masculine attractions. So then! the two cigarettes were near together as Craig spoke. His voice was slower. CLOSE up to them, blended into the "Had to see you. I mean, I've had a sable sky, any light sound he may letter. At last, a job turns up. Rather have made lost in the grumble of surf on better one than I could reasonably hope the ringing reef, Safforth came to ah abrupt for, these times. It's in South America. halt, froze. Craig, just beyond the shore- Peru." line fringe of palms, had struck a match. One of the cigarettes—Kay's—bright- A lucky match. Safforth's finger had ened. It had been a long draw, Safforth been a-jitter on the trigger; in another could see. Then he had to strain to catch instant, except for that diverting flame, he her words. They came wavery, low. would have squeezed it. "I—I'm glad for you, Neil. Naturally, Kay had taken a cigarette from Craig. you'll go." He was lighting it for her, lighting a fresh "It's that, or risk dry-rotting here an- one for himself. He remarked, matter of other year. Maybe forever. Takes wire- fact: pulling to land a decent engineering job in

"Thought you'd make it. Sort of looked this depression. And the friends who that way at midnight." pulled the Peruvian wires might not be so

The soft breeze carried Kay's voice to keen to pull others if I high-ball oppor- Safforth, clear as Craig's. tunity now." "Yes; he's beastly drunk again. Was "Right." She was trying for a hearti- — —

62 SHORT STORIES ness that didn't quite come off. "No use of fhe company funds; Kay and her pretending that Malitonga will be the same younger sister down to bedrock in Can- without you. But sooner or later it had berra. to be—good-by. We've always known it, She repeated bitterly, "But it couldn't haven't we ?" have been Neil Craig then! No, this world Craig took her up instantly, abruptly. isn't built that way. There was just Ger- "Have we?" ald Safforth, running through a few thou- The other cigarette glittered again, now sand inherited pounds and imagining he with quick, jerky glowings that gave an wanted to marry me. And little Connie, effect of breathlessness. poor kid—it might've been the streets of

"Neil ! Certainly we have! Why, we Canberra for her if I hadn't flown at that chance to get her passage money for home." "We faced facts—yes, when 'good-by' Craig murmured pityingly, "Poor kid was a sail behind the horizon. But when you!" He was closer to her, pleading. it's with us, hull up, it's different, Kay. I "Forget all that. Forget Safforth. For- simply can't leave you sunk on Malitonga.

That's the short of it. Oh, I'm not forget- ting that you're still another man's wife. But—will you listen?" Her cigarette made a swift arc of nega- tion. Her voice faltered, "Absolutely, I will not!" And she listened. "This," Craig was hurrying on, "has been in the back of my mind a long, long while. Was there before I suspected I'd ever be feeling this way about any woman. I meant, 'way back yonder, to offer you the chance to pull out when I pulled out. Just on the basis, then, that you were an- other American—and stuck with something you'd probably had more than enough of. It would have been a loan, you understand. get everything but—but better days ahead. Straight loan. No strings." You'll come, Kay? When the mail schooner calls on the up-trip, you'll come?" KAY'S cigarette was finished. She She took a moment's thought. Safforth

rubbed out its smoulder against coral ; could imagine her forehead puckering there

and her changed tone, when the last spark in the darkness as it had puckered when he was gone, told Safforth of the rubbing out proposed coming out to the islands. It had of a few of those sovereign inhibitions of been a Hobson's choice for her then, for hers as well. Her voice warmed, steadied, she had no money of her own, not one speeded. friend in the whole Antipodes. Now? "Dear, decent Neil—God, if it had only A chilly thin smile quirked Safforth's been you I found in Canberra last year lips. He was amused again; amused by this time!" two things. He and Craig, husband and Then in the same rush she was spilling other man, both hanging on her answer

it all. With little sobs choking in, the very good indeed! And Craig's fancying

whole of it cascaded. That American show that he could take Mrs. Gerald Safforth touring Australia; its eventual pancaking; off Malitonga without inviting, and evok- the flight, in good melodramatic tradition, ing, catastrophic eventualities that, all of the company manager with the tag-end considered, was truly priceless. !

MURDER ON MALITONGA 63

KAY came to decision. "No, my dear." moment after that, came picking his un- And that was a solid No. She fol- steady way down to the lagoon, his bright

lowed it in the same flat voice. gasoline lantern whitening the night in a "It would be madness, Neil. Not that wide circle about him.

I'd put it past Gerald to walk out on me —but my walking out would be something THE two on the shore sat silent. Lark, else. He'd make trouble. He has a pistol, as they must have well known,

wouldn't hesitate to use it. No, no! My wouldn't be coming in their direction. His going on the Flamingo with you isn't to be venerable pearling schooner, long years thought of. Please, please, won't you see beached on a lagoon flat that had risen it?" clear of tides to engulf her to the scuppers,

With an edge of contempt, Craig said, was still his home. She lay beyond the "Safforth wouldn't have nerve to shoot. In bungalows, eastward.

a pinch he'd cave. He's yellow under- Lark went rocking along the spit. Pres- neath." ently Safforth heard his feet thump on the

At that moment death stood again at deck that would never again lift to the Craig's elbow. Safforth, at point-blank South Sea swell, thump on the compan- range, had dropped his hand to the pistol. ionway descending to that musty hole of a Yellow? Hadn't he heard enough? Wasn't cabin. it just about time—spot time—for his A squalid way of life, Ben Lark's; and

lightning to strike? yet, if he chose, he could be living like a Behind him, inland, the screen door at lord. For the old fellow was not only the hotel closed with a whang. Nuolana's solvent, but very much more than solvent. voice shrilled. Already well-fixed when he drove his rot- "You hear, you two ol' whiska-barrel? ting hooker aground to take root inside You drink by yourself otha time. You Malitonga reef, he had made an amazingly

leave my Schruyn be soba." good thing of it since in snapping up off- On the lagoon shore, Craig gave a little price pearls from the native divers. Now laugh. he boasted that at any given instant of call "Lark and Jollett. Two-thirds of the he could put his hand on ten thousand active bar trade on Malitonga—the very pounds sterling, or its equivalent—and that,

cream of it. And listen to the woman!" weirdly, was literal fact. Old Ben's wealth, From Kay, Safforth caught, "Well, aren't trusted neither to distant bank nor local Nuolana and I sisters under the skin?" hiding, was an easily portable wealth, al- Then, "Know this, Neil. All of me—all ways upon his person. One could have of me that's mine—is yours. I'd follow said that he wore his fortune, for by settled

you to America, to Peru—follow you to habit he carried it snug in a money-belt. \ hell if you ever took a notion to head that Safforth, staring toward the now lighted way. But as for making a start on the ports of the ex-windjammer, felt once Flamingo with you, I definitely won't more the electric tingle, the flash of pro-

chance it. Such as it is, there's law on the test, that thought of Ben Lark's belt never islands. On a showdown, it would hold failed to set off. you wrong and Gerald right. He'd have Once, unforgettably, he had had a that to bank on." glimpse into it—a time when Lark, very A second screen door whacked—the door drunk, needed more funds than his pockets of the mining-company bungalow across held to take up his monthly chit from from the Safforths that Jollet had fallen Schruyn. Shades of Croesus, there had heir to on his retirement from the Auck- been the wherewithal of a lifetime cham- land police department not so many months pagne binge in that sweaty loop of leather before their own arrival. Ben Lark, a Given only that one kept off hazards of ! —

64 SHORT STORIES green cloth and race meet, the means to saw her chin come square as she took buy years of London, years of Paris. The her light. price of tailors, hotels, motors, dinners, "When?" she asked. theatres, night clubs, women ad lib. "I could have the boat ready tomorrow Careless wads of banknotes, clinking night. Rigged. Water and food aboard. gold coins, the sheen of pearls that would We'd shove off whenever you figured the bring more cash showering—keys to the coast clear. I'll get you to Luahala, never great world, held unusable fear get unused and by ; you on to America. Then—well, a dotard who lived and would die like a there'd be Reno. Or quicker than Reno, beachcomber on this Godforsaken atoll! you could run down to Mexico for one of those famous cash-and-carry divorces. EVIDENTLY Lark was turning in full- Meanwhile—oh, I want it that way just pack this morning. He must have as much as you do, Kay!—we play it as screwed down the lantern's gas valve as straight as we have from the start. A go ? he lurched off the companionway. The Tomorrow night?" port-lights were white for only a moment. Her die was cast. Safforth heard her Then they were gray. Then black. The breathe, "Yes, Neil! Tomorrow night—- tropic night's dark curtain closed on spit forever yes!" and schooner. With that she was in Craig's arms. Craig spoke quietly. Safforth's hand touched the pistol—no "I'd back myself to handle Mr. Gerald more than touched it, and came away. Safforth, whatever—but you win, Kay, so Strangely, his mind had flown off. Of a far as the Flamingo's concerned. Here's sudden he was thinking not of Kay, not another idea. A sudden one—yes, and of Craig, but of old Ben Lark. Lightning better one. If you're game to trust your- had struck, but another kind of lightning self to amateur navigation, hanged if I —a blaze in his brain. Clear as daylight, wouldn't make a stab at fetching Luahala he might have ten thousand pounds out of on my own. Once we hit there, no trick this. If Craig and Kay were going, let !" at all getting on to Brisbane. And home them go! "But Luahala, Neil—that's a good two Tomorrow night, Lark would have hundred miles." drunk himself sodden again before he came "Two days and two nights, the way we'd down from Schruyn's. He'd be sleeping go. Not more. This time of year we like a log, cabin hatch wide open. If he could count on fair wind, steady and woke to find his pearls and his money strong, to get us there. Do you see, Kay, gone, and Kay Safforth and Neil Craig one of the crowd that quit Malitonga first gone, too—wouldn't the addition be as schooner after the shut-down left a whale- plain as two and two? boat behind. She's moored on the other What was the law term? Prima facie? Quite side of the island and her gear—mast, Oh, certainly, let them go! mains'l, jib, compass, charts—is stowed Safforth waited. When after a space away in the old tool-shed by Number One they rose and walked slowly off along the shaft. Mightn't be too comfortable, but shore, he slipped soundlessly inland and certainly she'd take us to Luahala. Ought to bed. to, by Godfrey, for that's exactly where young brought her from to Mali- Keene II tonga!" Once more a match flamed. It jeweled THEY really meant to skip out. No the ripples lapping at Craig's feet, fleetingly question. Bright and early, Craig had yellowed Kay's thoughtful profile. Safforth been down tinkering at that dory. He had !

MURDER ON MALITONGA 65 stepped her mast, stayed it; was reeving atolls bred men as tough as the square- the mains'l halyards when, toward noon, riggers he had begun life in. Knifings and Safforth strolled along the lagoon. gunnings had been incidents of his rise. And Kay was another person than she Once, on Luahala—Schruyn swore he had had been at any time during the Malitonga seen it—he had killed a man with his fists. months. Even another person, she seemed, "And ten minoots before dat," Schruyn than she had been during those first days had marveled, "you look at Ben and t'ink in Canberra, before the windfall legacy he is so far unter wetter he couldn't lift !" melted away and it became a case of doing out from his chair on two hundred a year. She had done No, it wouldn't do to have Lark waking things with her wavy brown hair that she up at a wrong moment. Hardly! hadn't bothered to do for weeks. The Safforth, a little shaken by the picture shadow was out of her eyes, the cloud gone that poignantly unpleasant thought con- from her brow. She hummed as she went jured, returned to fortify himself with fur- about the bungalow, setting the bedrooms ther Scotch—and then, suddenly, it was and the little breakfast veranda to rights. all very simple. Jolly handily he could fix When Safforth started for the hotel and it so Ben Lark wouldn't wake up while his morning spot of Scotch, she had no that mossy hoard of his was moving the caustic comment. No word at all. Well, first ticklish few inches of its flight to the good enough. He, on his own part, would bazaars. Gray matter having functioned, have no comment when she shoved off. it would be no trick at all. Leave comment—after the fact—to Lark et al! CRAIG came in after a space and got For a while he watched Craig, but from one of his American gin drinks. a distance. Then he wandered across the Lemon, sugar, sparing turn of the gin- island, a scant half mile from reef to reef crock, much warmish soda. He gave at this bottle-neck end, to give Ben Lark's Safforth a nod and a brief, "Hullo" and sand-swallowed schooner a look. stood off, as usual, to himself. Lark was on deck, naked to the waist, "You rig Keene's cutter, huh ?" Schruyn sloshing in a bucket, puffing and blowing. said. With a wary eye on Nuolana, pass- Huge, he looked bigger with his ragged ing into the hotel hinterlands after meticu- shirt off than with it on. Bigger and in- lously brooming the veranda, he splashed finitely more formidable. For all his years a drink from the crock and swooped it of inactivity, all his rum-swigging, he down. "V'y not? He wouldn't use her wasn't fat like Jollett or bloated like for a long time yet. My Gott, it's our Schruyn. His arms and shoulders were bum luck dey don't ever reopen der !" still mighty; his hairy chest was deep; mines gleaming, wet, his torso was like a punch- "No telling if—or when." Craig blew eon of stout oak. off a thin, long trailer of cigarette smoke. He bellowed at Safforth, waved, and "Yes, I rigged the whaleboat. Might as Safforth, returning the wave, walked on. well be sailing around as sitting around. Things he had heard about Ben Lark be- Just happened to think of her last night. gan to sift into his mind. Things as un- A break in the monotony." settling to think of as that amazingly Safforth, much pleased, poured a self- surviving muscular machinery had been to congratulatory peg at that. Quite obvi- behold. ously, Craig hadn't said anything about Along with his pile, Lark had made a quitting Malitonga—and if he hadn't, he reputation through the islands. He was wouldn't. Excellent known far and wide as a mauler. In his From somewhere rearward piped that day a bucko mate, he had found that the bos'n-whistle voice of Nuolana's. It was 10 66 SHORT STORIES

coffee time for Schruyn. He waddled from their company ; and when Craig came along behind his little bar and vanished. a while later, Safforth presented all out- Safforth caught Craig's eye. Smiling, he ward signs of having fallen into his ac- drawled, "Must be no end monotonous. customed nine o'clock haze. Chap alone, and all that. I've rather won- One drink again for Craig. He stood dered that you haven't taken in a house- with it for half an hour. When Jollett and keeper—like Schruyn. But I fancy it's a Lark and Schruyn settled down to their case of never knowing when you'll push nightly muggins marathon, he shot another on. appraising glance at Safforth and eased Craig looked at him straight. out.

"That's part of it, anyhow," he calmly Planted at a window table, Safforth saw agreed. Then he finished his drink, tossed him enter his bungalow and come out with another cool nod toward Safforth and a bulky package. There was, embarrass- walked out.

IT WAS as predictable as the tide-turn that the entire white male population of Malitonga would be found assembled in the hotel bar within, or shortly after, the first hour of darkness. Island nights had been identical to date so far as Safforth's usual late-hour mist had permitted him to observe them, and this night was one more out of the same mold. There was just a single difference. ingly for Craig, a moon tonight. Heading Safforth's daylight drinking had been done, toward the whaleboat with his burden, he went roundabout. if not lightly, with judgment. There was Safforth smiled and no mist. He did not intend that there gave a space to cheerful thought of the should be. Continent. Those knobby fists shuffling Ben Lark came up from the lagoon about the dominoes gave him no concern, not eight and caught Jollett napping in the an instant's. Samson, before the plucking, doubly-roped hammock on his veranda. would have been well shorn. That suggested golden opportunity to Keeping foxily to shadow, Craig made Lark's very primitive sense of humor, and several trips between lagoon and bungalow. he proceeded to a pleasantry involving a Over the long course, they consumed hours. wooden match. Business end out, Lark It was after midnight when he finally had all deftly implanted it between the sole and his cargo stowed. upper part of a vast, dangling shoe ; man- aging that without waking the sleeper. SOMETIMES he would come back to Then the match, ignited, burned down, the bar, late, for a nightcap. He came and Jollett came out of slumberland and tonight. Looked at the lay of the domi- the hammock roaring. Ben Lark roared noes ; looked at the unplayed hands ; looked, too. Safforth, looking across from the ho- with a deeper interest, at Safforth. tel, chuckled inwardly. This from Ben In the rear, Nuolana had Schruyn's Lark now was roaring laughter. But to- scratchy gramophone going. It was an

morrow ! American record squawking now, a favor- Strangers a scant year ago, today as ite of the brown woman's. Something much cronies as if a lifetime's intimacy lay sticky about a Johnny's wife running off behind them, Jollett and Lark descended with somebody else and his being terrific-

on the bar. They scooped Safforth into ally cracked up over it. Countless repe- 10 MURDER ON MALITONGA 67

titibns had made that record the most "Come to life, Lark ! Wake up ! Youf loathsome to Safforth of all Nuolana's play!" ghastly collection—but distinctly it fitted. Kay was in her own room, in bed. He couldn't keep a glint out of his eyes Sleeping or pretending, one or the other. as they met Craig's. The American, he She didn't respond to Safforth's call, and saw, also had caught the words. He Safforth didn't repeat it. Stumbling on, flushed. A little frown came and went. he artistically bumped a table and knocked Then his jaw tightened and he returned over a chair. His voice when he swore his attention to the domino game. was much thicker than there was need for

1 It was a moist game that grew noisier it to be. His head was clear as a bell. hand by hand. Safforth knew that Craig Through his mind as he got into pajamas couldn't be enjoying it, but for once he ran over and over an impudent little mel- appeared to be bent on seeing it through. ody that had bridged an ocean of time.

Probably meant to hang on until he saw They had been singing it at the Folies his all white Malitonga tucked safely in for the last shot in Paris. He thought of a girl night. called Babette, nice looking, altogether When one o'clock had passed, Safforth, charmingly sinful. He wondered But fingering that chemist's vial in his pocket, no, there'd be a new crop so pass Babette. really began to watch his chance to expe- From the hotel came a gust of laughing. dite matters. The little bottle contained Ben Lark wasn't doing any of it. The a powerful opiate, liquid and almost odor- laughers were Jollett and Schruyn, and less—quite odorless, on Safforth's test that promptly their guffaw had brought Nuo- afternoon, when in combination with alco- lana, penetratingly indignant. hol. He had first made the acquaintance "Schruyn, you drunk like peeg! Ben of the drug more than a few years Lark, he keel you sure if you mak' him ago; since then he had never permitted hot foot!" himself to be without a supply of it. When Then Jollett's voice, "Got to rouse him a man took a few drops after an especially some way. He went out like a bloomin' heavy joust of drinking there was never light. Leave 'im to me." any nonsense with nerves. In short order Jollett's method, whatever it was, must he corked off, retreated comfortably into have been rough and ready. It brought a sleep sure to last until frays had patched a protest even from Schruyn. Safforth themselves—a sleep that a blast of dynamite heard, "My Gott, don't do it!" But Jol- directly alongside his bed wouldn't break. lett, evidently persisting, was laughing again. And after a moment, Schruyn and AT HALF past one, Safforth's oppor- Nuolana were laughing with him. tunity had arisen and had been At last, Jollett got Lark on his feet, got grasped. Sparing Schruyn a trip to the him out on the veranda. Safforth, looking bar, he had obliged with service. And on from his dark bedroom over the way, very definitely he had got the contents of saw the start for the schooner. The opiate, the vial into the proper glass. In another in truth, hadn't taken hold with full effect ten minutes old Ben Lark was yawning yet—would not for perhaps another half cavernously. The beginning of the end. hour. Lark, of course, couldn't realize

A ten-thousand-pound yawn! much what was happening ; couldn't possi- There was no further necessity to stand bly have got down to the schooner under by. Safforth, convincingly glassy, gurgled his own fading power. But with Jollett down a parting spot and bowed out. When propping him on one side and Craig on he was half way home a bellow that was the other, he did navigate after a fashion. rich music came over his shoulder. That It was well after two when Jollett and was Jollett. Craig came back. At half past, Jollett's 68 SHORT STORIES light was out and Safforth's door was softly of the gun and settled it with the heavy opening. Kay stood there listening; then, end. The crimson trickle starting out of assured that he was soundly sleeping, she the bristling gray thatch jolted him—and tiptoed out into the bright night. She wore then he was jolted again. Either it wasn't a tweed skirt and a woolly sweater, carried true that Lark always wore that fabulous just one small handbag. belt, or else he had somehow contrived

This morning Craig awaited her by his to get it off and put away before the drug own white bungalow. They embraced sank him. At any rate there was only one swiftly, swiftly and silently went toward belt on Ben Lark now, the scarred strap the lagoon. Fifteen minutes after that the looped through those baggy, beachcomber whaleboat flitted like a silver ghost over breeches. the reef as Safforth looked after her from Safforth embarked on a hasty search. the doorsill of his broken home. No money-belt in the standing locker for- "Bon voyage!" he murmured chipperly. ward, none on the transom shelves, none With care he ripped up the farewell note in the drawers tinder the berths. In a

that Kay had left . for him—not the best sweat of anxiety he lifted his watch wrist of reading, after all—and changed again into the shifted pond of moonlight under from pajamas to dungarees. For moral the hatch. Four o'clock was near. The support, nothing more, he shoved the pistol sun would be up in devilish short order, into his pocket at the moment of setting and it mustn't see Gerald Safforth aboard forth. the schooner or in its neighborhood. The thing was, surely, that Lark was in AT THIS tide there was a swirl of the habit of laying his treasure away in water lapping the counter of Lark's some special place of concealment before embedded schooner. Wading, boarding her he turned in, and that it was a habit which aft, Safforth could be sure he was leaving had prevailed. no marplot footprints. A whiskey bottle, half full, stood on the The cabin hatch stood open. Moonlight cabin table. Not a favorite brand of Saf- pouring through it fell on Malitonga's forth's, but a stiff peg out of the bottle Midas, flat on his back, fathoms under, pulled him up. Getting into a lather, he his mouth wide as the hatch. told himself, he'd get nowhere. Some- He stirred as Safforth reached the foot where in this small space that belt was of the companionway, and that was very hidden. If he sought it with intelligence, hard on Safforth. Took it out of him the with method, he would have found it well way his tries at the quarter-mile had done ahead of daylight. at school, before he was sent down. His Method and that racing longer watcE- heart slammed fearfully against his ribs. hand didn't team so well. He took a sec- For an all-gone instant the pistol was a ond drink and a third. They failed to greater weight than his shaking hand could help. It was suddenly half after four. lift. A loose floorboard gave under his tread. Lark hadn't opened his eyes—nor closed He pulled it up and the foulness of the his mouth. But Safforth, staring at him, bilge surged at him. No belt there. It catching breath, found his faith in the in- was maddening. Ten thousand pounds so fallible wavering. What if he hadn't dosed close, yet not to be found. Could it be out quite enough of that stuff? What —only place he hadn't looked a dozen times

if there should be something in Lark's inner —under Lark? Under that dirty pad of chemistry to make him exceptionally re- a mattress? He crossed over and heaved sistant to it? at the sleeper's supine bulk. Safforth shifted his grip to the barrel Somehow, there wasn't 4 right feel to MURDER ON MALITONGA 69

Lark. Safforth let him drop back, leaned its fingerhold on the hotel roof. It was over him—Lark didn't look right, either. setting. Safforth drew in a long, wheezy breath Someone was moving in the house. Saf- and went to ice. The shuddering truth forth, not quite out from under, called was that Ben Lark's skull hadn't been built "Kay!" as staunchly as the rest of him. That pre- It was Jollett who came into the bed- cautionary tap had mortally crashed it, and room. His red-moon face that smiled so now his belt was his estate. easily was funereally solemn. It was murder—profitless murder. The "Been trying for hours to rout you out,"; eastern horizon was menacingly aglow. he said. "You gave us a turn, you did. Feeling fit?" Ill Safforth gathered himself. He passed an uncertain hand over his forehead. FOR himself, Safforth felt no alarm. Let "Dizzy. Am I—have I been ill, you mean?, them protest as they would, there'd Where's Kay?" be a hanging case tin Craig at the snap of Jollett dropped into the bedside chair; the handcuffs—whenever and wherever Safforth could have sworn that its legs they snapped. Why, his own lawyer would bowed under him. never believe that Craig had not killed "There's bad news," he said. "Even if Lark! Just as his flight would have you're not tophole, you might as well have branded him a thief on happier upshot, he it off the shoulder. To begin it, your was now a branded murderer. wife's gone. Or—did you know?" The sun was coming over Schruyn's Safforth lifted, stared. roof when Safforth settled himself for a "Gone!" sleep. It would be a long sleep, for he "You must know—can't be dodged. had taken all but the last few drops of the She's left you. Left Malitonga. She went opiate. The vial he had placed in Kay's room. If there should be premature dis- covery of the murder, and others should come here and find him in a drugged tor- por, there it would be—reasonable enough evidence that it was she who had slipped the drug to him. Dropping off, Safforth could think equa- bly of what was to happen to the man who had stolen Kay. His one overwhelming with Craig. They were both missing this regret was that he had missed the belt, his morning. So was Keene's whaleboat." one fondest hope that he might yet be the Safforth gasped, "Impossible! It—it's first to discover its hiding place. If he one of your blighted tricks, Jollett. I tell

were alone then, it would be his. For you straight, you're overstepping."

surely the fact it was not actually on Craig "It's true." Jollett had whiskey on his at the moment of his apprehension could, breath, but his eyes were clearer than Saf-

in the circumstances, mean nothing. forth ever had seen them ; clear and terrific- Wouldn't he have got his loot into hiding ally sympathetic. It was manifest in them

at the first chance ? that it went against Jollett to be burdened

Coming out of such a sleep, a man's head with ill tidings. He looked down his nose

would not be at its clearest. Safforth, toward that great purplish wart, and sighed waking, knew that at least twelve hours and looked at Safforth again. "As true," must have passed since he closed his eyes. he said, "as that Ben Lark's dead." The sun had traveled a long way from "Dead!" repeated Safforth, up straight. —

7o SHORT STORIES

"Murdered," said Jollett. "Murdered in of Ben Lark's blood. And as he dived, his sleep for his money-belt." Jollett had his wrist. "Thank you—for Craig, I thank you," SCHRUYN filled the doorway—as sol- Jollett murmured, master again of the easy emn as Jollett, not as sober. Cutting smile. "Nothing else is needed now to in, he swayed. send you on to hell. Of course, it was "Und Craig—und Missus Safforth one of us four other whites who killed running off so sudden und secret! What Ben—and which, indeed, but you? it look like, huh?" Might've been harder to make the proof,

"Desperate, it looked," Jollett nodded. though, if you'd kept your bloody head!" "Deadly bad indeed. Murderous bad. Schruyn was laughing again. " But "Himmel!" he grunted. "Who iss the Suddenly as he met that steady look the joke on, I like to know. Lark or Saf- horror in Safforth's eyes was authentic. forth?" Jollett—God, what could that "But—" Jollett shrugged a suety shoulder. mean ?—was fatefully sure of himself as he "Not on Neil Craig, anyhow," said he. spoke it. "After all, not on 'im." Sure too as he spoke again after that thundering little pause. AT THE whaleboat's tiller, midway be- "But most luckily, Lark's murderer had 4* tween Malitonga and Luahala, Craig left his signature in that cabin below. God suddenly chuckled. help him, he'll swing. Yes—God help you, "Almost wish," he said, "we'd stayed Safforth! It's your own mark there, not put for one more day. It would have been to be missed. Every time you pulled out something to see Ben Lark today—and another drawer, opened another locker, you listen to him when he found that ten-thou- ?" deepened it. D'you begin to understand sand-pound belt gone. First time, it was, Schruyn broke out with a boozy laugh. I'd ever known him to do a blackout. And "You fool, Safforth! You don't know Jollett and Schruyn got his money-belt " yet! Listen, dummer away while he napped and hid it overnight He stopped. Safforth had heard enough in that little safe of Schruyn's. Let's see, for one purpose—enough to convince him was your former boy friend Mr. Gerald he had made some mortal slip. He was J. V. Safforth in on it? No—I remember diving for that pistol, cleaned now, innocent he'd just gone home!"

in Bob Forrest and His Human Bloodhound from the Sticks Watch a Real City Detective on a Murder Case

Dawg I Tracks

By ^

G. W. BARRINGTON

Author of "Trouble Rides the Range," "Battle in the Badlands," etc.

!" get out to the big Cullom estate on the DAMNBracing his chuffy shoulders whizz, that eccentric old Cullom had been against the rear cushion, De- murdered in a most brutal manner, and tective Moffat held his breath that Moffat must produce results or else. and hoped for the best, while That "or else" was injected because old expecting the worst, as all men must who Cullom had been the captain's financial ride with Speed Smiley. A skift of rain chum, and the time had not yet arrived in on an oily pavement, with Speed doing Dallas when a captain's financial chum seventy around a sharp turn swung the could be beaten to death with nothing done powerful police car into a careening wrench about it. to the left that was followed by a drunken Then the lieutenant had malleted his lurch to the right. Moffat found himself favorite bald spot on the desk with a flying through space to an accompanying knuckly fist and sworn by the wraiths of diapason of tinkling glass and grinding, Nick Carter and Old Sleuth that if this buckling metal. crime was added to the six others unsolved "Whewl" Contact with the good old during the past thirty days somebody was earth, at last. Dripping shrubbery, soggy going to ketch hell. He had looked hard turf, darkness, silence. Lurching to his at Moffat when he said "somebody." feet he swung his short arms and felt of All the way from the station, worried his ribs. Sound all around. He dug out Moffat had been arraying in his mind the his flashlight and snapped it on. There disjointed clutter of facts his superior had was the car, on its side, its crumpled belly sputtered at him. Cullom was rich, miserly jammed against a tree, one front wheel in a way, and known to distrust banks.

still spinning lazily. No relatives. Few business associates, "Speed!" fewer social intimates. No enemies. Maid "Here!" A shrimpy, bedraggled figure out—neighborhood movie. Butler tied. reeled into the circle of light and leaned Wall safe tapped. Old man killed. Ten

against the mangled car. thousand known to have been in the safe.' "Hurt bad?" Moffat tried to be decent Probably much more.

about it and inject a little anxious sympa- thy into his tone. If he was not entirely HURT bad?" Moffat repeated the query, successful, allowance must be made for the when Speed failed to answer, seeming fact that the lieutenant had told him to to be engaged in taking an inventory.

10 71 72 SHORT STORIES

"Nawthin' serious. Bunged shoulder, "Shore thing," came the genial answer. ankle on the bum, noodle a little woozy. "You'll hafta come 'round on this side, Guess I'll live." though. Them doors on that side is busted, "Huh! Nobody cares a damn whether and we had to wire 'em shut. you live or not. If you do you'll kill some- body else. What I wanta know is can you TX7"AL, wal, wal. So you're a officer, " ™ walk till I git you over to that house?" eh?" the slow full voice came from Speed could and did, though he was a the back seat after Moffat had slipped in little wobbly. The folks at the house were beside the driver and a succession of snorts sympathetic, but their car was out. After and rumbles and puffs of acrid smoke told phoning the emergency hospital, Moffat that they were on their way. "That's what rushed outside, bent on commandeering the a feller might call a funny coincydence. first wheeled thing that came in sight. And I'm a officer, too." there it came, a rattling fuming touring "Yeah ?" Moffat froze instantly. He had Lizzie that squealed wildly and stopped to encountered these hick laws before, had throb and shimmy, when Moffat waved his even piloted a few of them around town, flash. "Somethin' th' matter, Mister?" a watching them gape and answering their slow drawl came from the back seat. In- ceaseless questions. Not tonight, though. trigued, despite his hot haste, Moffat played "Straight ahead. Step on it," he almost the torch over the speaker and saw a snapped. squabby-bodied, iron-gray man in faded but "Uh-huh," the man on the rear seat went clean and serviceable brown corduroys, on, placidly, raising his even voice as the battered wool hat and laced boots. The shivering machine gathered speed and eyes, steel-blue and twinkling, were sur- fumed and rumbled and clanked propor- rounded by hundreds of criss-crossing tionately. "Name's Forrest. I been sher- smile wrinkles. The mouth and mustache iff down there at Seminole thutty-fo' year, were modifications of T. R.'s. The sun- come January." He leaned forward and cooked neck was Jack Dempsey's. The tapped the driver's withy shoulder with a square chin was this man's and no one's stubby forefinger. "This here's Danny else. Simmons, my head deputy. Folks down Moffat turned the torch on the driver our way calls him th' human blood-houn'. —another fellow who appeared distinctly Mebbe you've heered of 'im." out of place in a fashionable Dallas suburb. "Sure thing," Moffat lied, amiably, mol-

Probably in his early thirties, he was tall, lified by the fact that Danny was getting slender, with a face like a knife. The deep, surprising results with that four-wheeled steady brown eyes and rather long black agitator. "Glad to meetchu. See'n' th' hair betrayed his strain of Indian blood. fair, eh?" Handsome, in a half-tamed way, Moffat "Uh-huh. Some show, hain't it?" decided. "Where you birds from?" he "So they say," Moffat answered, a little glumly. "Fact is I ain't been out there asked, a little gruffly, instead of answering myself. Too much on th' books at head- the elder man's question. quarters. Take tonight, now. Just goin' "Seminole, Texas," came the drawling off duty when in comes a hurry-up call, answer. "We come up to see the fair. We and the Loot shoos me out—right hand got a room out this-away, and drive in turn " here—to work up a damn murder ev'ry day to case." "I see." Moffat opened his coat and flashed the torch on his badge. "I'm the IIS SEN, Danny, he's a real city detec- uncle. law, Gotta grab your hack fur a + tive out on a murder case ! Gee- little ramble." whillikins, but I'm glad we happened to —

DAWG TRACKS 73 come shackin' along just when we did! winding drive, the flivver displayed a new Now we kin he'p him." variety of vibrations and abdominal rum-

"Thanks," Moffat answered, without en- blings when its worn tires encountered a thusiasm. "But I'm afraid you fellows brick-flagged roadway. When it stopped, wouldn't able help a lot. You may be to panting and shuddering, beside the deep be all right down at Seminole, Texas, but front veranda, Moffat was already on the this town's too big for you. A dick hasta runningboard. "Much 'bliged," he admit- be really smart to work here." ted, none too graciously, then dropped off "That's what me'n Danny been wantin' and took the steps three at a time. to find out," the old officer went on, cheer- In the vestibule loomed a huge blue- fully. "You know that word 'smart' means coated figure Tiney Stevens, largest a hull lot, or nawthin' Mister. Depends — man on who's usin' it, an' who he's pastin' it on the force, exiled to patrol duty on the outlying beat because he had arrested one of the captain's friends for a traffic viola- tion. Moffat shuddered when he thought of that captain's power. In the reception hall, Braley and Smith, radio patrol junt- ers, were squirting tobacco juice into a glowing grate with the bored air of men who are not particularly interested in their surroundings, but must stay around. With Braley flat-footing ahead of him to show the way, Moffat went up the broad, wind- ing stair and into the stuffy tapestried bed- onto. A reg'lur jughead may be smart in — room where the body lay. Not much to some ways 'specially when he's on his guess about there. Gad in a faded purple own dunghill. On t'other hand, the plumb bathrobe, the time-worn, emaciated figure ignurantest human I ever met up with was lay sprawled on a rug by the gloomy old a college president. Honest to Gawd, Mis- canopied bed. There had been no strug- ter, that pore dumb galoot didn't know gle. The left temple had been caved in. what a mayhaw glade was." Only a thin trickle of blood had dried on "You don't say," Moffat said a little the craggy" cheek-bone. One stiffened fact that the lamely. The was he hadn't hand still clutched a long-stemmed pipe, most remote idea of what a mayhaw glade embers from which had slightly scorched was, either. He thought he had heard the the rug beside the old man's shoulder. driver chuckle softly. Could it be that the Satnding on the threshold, Moffat easily seat bird on the back was giving him the reconstructed the crime to his own satis- razz? He looked back suspiciously as they faction. Old Cullom had taken his bath, passed under a corner light, but the old of course. Then, after filling and lighting officer had opened a grip on his lap and his pipe, he had started toward a rocker was prowling around inside of it, seemingly in a bay-window near the bed for his bed- willing to allow conversation to cease, for time smoke. Someone lurking there the time being. probably having entered the room while he was bathing—had struck him down. TJERE'S the place," Moffat announced when they came opposite a big, square DONE?" Braley asked, as a matter of house set well back from the road and routine, when Moffat turned toward surrounded by a tangle of vines and shrub- the hall after a cursory glance into the bery. Sticking its steaming prow into the bathroom had shown him that the rubber. 10 74 SHORT STORIES rug before the tub was wet and that two '"PHIS officer tells me that the pore ol' soggy towels lay on the tiled floor. feller's body is upstairs," the sheriff " "Sure. Tell Smith to stick here till the said. "Mind if men' Danny coroner takes his look-see," Moffat an- "Oh go ahead," Moffat acquiesced, a swered, as he reached the upper landing. little to his own surprise and to Tiney's He picked up speed on the stairway when evident astonishment. "Don't touch any- sounds of a mild altercation were wafted thing, though." up from the reception hall. "Much obleeged, shore am," the veteran " 'Gainst orders," Tiney's heavy basso enthused, his smile wrinkles interlocking announced, inflexibly. and dancing merrily behind his steel-bowed

"Mebbe so, mebbe so, Mister," that out- spectacles. "You know, this is gonna be lander sheriff's smooth drawl answered, right intrustin' to us. We-all bin readin' placatingly. "Circumstances alters cases, 'bout finger-printin' an' blood analyzin' an' though. Y'see we driv Detective Moffat sichlike tricks you city officers use. Y'see out here an', bein' officers, it's our bound- we may l'arn some didoes that'll he'p us in' duty to aid a feller-officer in distress. in our own work, eh, Danny?" Anyway, that's what th' Texas statutes Danny nodded silently, and they Indian- makes an' provides, so I reckon it's the filed up to the death chamber, just as law here in Dallas." Smith ambled in from the front to sizzle "Where do you git that distress stuff, uncle?" Moffat boomed, going on down. "I ain't sent out no S O S that I remem- 9 ber of." "Cain't say as you did, precise," came the unruffled rejoinder. "Same time, I m thought you looked kinda worritted, so » ill "Huh! The clan to the rescue, eh?" Moffat stopped at the foot of the stair to say, dryly. "Well, I must say that you two believe in preparedness." The last re- the grate with amber saliva and announce mark had its justification. Moffat knew that the Big Boy was outside. now what the old sheriff had been delving Damn ! The fact that the captain deemed for in that grip. A large star labeled the case of sufficient importance to demand Sheriff glittered on the lapel of his coat, his personal attendance at the investigation a wide leather belt with a double row of reminded Moffat sharply of the dread ulti- cartridges circled his waist, supporting two matum the desk-whacking lieutenant had holstered revolvers of the old frontier type. bluntly laid down. It was pinch some- The deputy also wore his badge, and in body—or else. Moffat would pinch some- body. "Fetch them servants at the crook of his arm nestled a light, high- in one a time," he ordered with his most business- powered rifle that seemed to belong just like air, just as the captain entered. there. Somehow Moffat suddenly acquired an unaccountable respect for the alien pair. WAS quite an imposing tribunal that Plant that keen-eyed old coot's foot firmly IT assembled in the big bleak living room. on his native heath, and he'd be formida- There was the captain, whose facial ex- ble. those incongruous Peel store clothes pression backed up everything the lieuten- and yellow button shoes off the younger ant's malleting fist had conveyed. There one and dress him in fringed buckskin, he'd was Moffat, desperately bent upon digging give Deerslayer cards and spades and up a clue somewhere—anywhere. There DAWG TRACKS 75 was Tiney, a disciplined automaton, eager old-type wall safe in the library had been to serve. There was the resourceful worked. No, Perkins had no idea how Braley, acting as bailiff. Moffat's official much money had been in the strong box, frown deepened when the sheriff and his as he never interested himself in his mas- deputy stalked in, causing the captain's ter's affairs. bushy brows to arch, and necessitating in- troductions and an explanation that was ABOUT what time was it when this somewhat of an apology. yegg shoved the gat at you?" Moffat Perkins, the butler answered questions asked. readily, his well-disciplined butlerish coun- " 'Alf after nine," Perkins answered, un- tenance devoid of expression. He had hesitatingly. "Mr. Cullom was a gentle- served in the house six years, having come man of 'abits, sir. 'E made a point of it directly there from Liverpool. Having no always to retire promptly at that hour. valet, and being somewhat feeble, his mas- A most personable person 'e was." - ter sometimes demanded his aid in dress- "Can you give any description of this ing. On this particular night, he had drawn robber or his clothes?" the water for his master's bath, then come "Sorry, sir, but I cawn't. I 'ad a mere downstairs to lock up the silverware. As glimpse before he faced me about and he entered the dining room, a tall man, chevied me in 'ere and trussed me, and an-

roughly clothed and masked, had forced other mere glimpse as 'e barged through the him to enter the living room and seat him- kitchen garden." The butler mopped his self in a chair. To be more specific, it was moist forehead with an immaculate hand- the identical arm chair the sheriff gentle- kerchief and volunteered, "Permit me to man was occupying. say, 'e must be an extraordinarily soft- Then the intruder had bound Perkins moving person, quite. Not a sound did

with the sash cord that was still lying there I 'ear from 'im while 'e was prowling about by the hearth, and gagged him with a strip and looting the bally safe. It was fair

torn from the bay-window curtain. There spooky, sir, I assure you." was the strip, half underneath the chair. Then the prowler had padded upstairs. THERE was a brief interlude while Shortly afterward, Perkins had heard a Braley brought in the maid. The old blow and a heavy fall. That was all until sheriff picked up the strands of sash cord, Melissa, the maid had returned and found examined them in a detached manner, then him. Horribly frightened, Melissa had tossed them aside and sat gnawing at a fainted after cutting his bonds. He had tuft of his long, spiraling mustache and just secured a pistol from the drawer of gazing into the fire. Seated on the other

the desk in the library, when he heard the side of the hearth, his beloved rifle across

back door slam shut, and stealthy footsteps his lap, Danny bent to scratch a match on cross the service porch. Rushing in pur- the pitted tip of one of the antique bronze suit, he had glimpsed a furtive figure slink- andirons. For some reason that set Mof- ing through the kitchen garden and had fat to wondering idly, the deputy changed given chase, firing his pistol twice. The his mind and hoisted a leg to scratch the robber had scrambled over the high fence lucifer on his shoe sole. Queer birds, those' and reached the next street. Not being an two, Moffat decided a verdict that was athletic man, Perkins was obliged to go — strengthened a moment later when the dep- around to the gate. Before he reached it, he heard a car start and hum away toward uty rose quietly and sniffed unobtrusively town. Returning to the house, Perkins at a pair of empty glasses and a decanter had found his master dead, as the gentle- that stood on the tall mantel shelf. "Hit

men could see. The combination of the it if your mouth's cottony," Moffat grinned.' 10' 76 SHORT STORIES

"You too, uncle. It'll be the real stuff remember that she had phoned for the po- or Cullom wouldn't have it." lice, though Perkins said she had, so she

"Much obleeged, shore am," the sheriff supposed she must have. And now, if the smiled. "It's gin, though, and gin's a nig- gentlemen would kindly excuse her, she ger drink down where we come from. had told all she was capable of telling, and Furdermore, whilst I don't mind admittin' it was near two o'clock, so she would go that me'n Danny takes a little snifter now and lie down, though heavens knows she an' then, this ain't now an' it hain't then." didn't expect to sleep. After Moffat had The old officer finished repacking his black- nodded his assent, she started upstairs. rimmed corncob, and engaged himself in Moffat was mildly surprised when the sher- coaxing it into a satisfactory state of erup- iff rose with alacrity, offered his sturdy arm tion. and gallantly escorted the weeping, trem- Feeling rebuffed somehow, Moffat could bling maid to the upper floor. "Old gal's not refrain from taking a sly dig. "You pretty shaky," the detective commented, may not guzzle everything in sight, but I after the sheriff had waddled back and re- must say you gotta nose for your licker. You didn't guess twice about what was in that decanter."

"Sorter knowed it awready," the sheriff answered, unconcernedly, then leaned back in his arm chair with the air of one who had dismissed an inconsequential subject. Eddie Stalworth, fingerprint expert, ar- rived from headquarters and was ordered to give the library the once over and take plaster casts of any footprints found in the back yard. Under the captain's all-seeing sumed his seat. "No wonder though. As eye, Moffat was overlooking nothing. The she says, things have been happening ominous part of it was that the captain was around here." taking no part whatever, but was seemingly "Shore have," the sheriff acquiesced. content to give Moffat full play and see Wonderingly, Moffat noted that the deputy what he could do. eyed his superior questioningly, receiving Well, he'd show 'em. an almost imperceptible nod in response. What the devil was all that pantomime MELISSA, the maid, a buxom, round- about anyhow? Moffat didn't know, and faced brunette, had worked in the when there was something afoot that Mof- house before poor dear Mrs. Cullom had fat didn't know all about, Moffat was un- died, six years previously. She had taken easy. the evening off to see the pictures, return- ing shortly after eleven to find Perkins WELL?" Speaking almost for the tied. She had gotten a knife from the first time, the captain put a respect- kitchen and cut him loose somehow. Then able vocabulary into the monosyllable. It she had passed out, knowing no more about was a query, a covert threat and a predic- anything until she had roused to find her- tion of failure. self alone and had dragged herself upstairs "Just a minute while I go see what Ed- to find Perkins sobbing over the body. die's dug up," Moffat parried. And, what with the murdering and robbing As Moffat passed through the hall on and chasing and shooting that had been his way out, Tiney leaned down to whis- going on, it was enough to frighten a body per, "Go to it, old top and scratch out out of their wits, so she couldn't even something. Me an' Braley an' Smith will —

DAWG TRACKS 77 yes the hell outa anything you say. Make right, Moffat," he said, just a little doubt-

'er a good one though. The Big Boy's fully. "Anyway, I hope you are. I'll call got you on the spot." headquarters and ask the chief to throw When Moffat re-entered, he had Eddie's the net out. I suppose, of course, the Ber- report that there were prints on the safe tillon room has Thumper's prints, eh?" door that might be anybody's. Plaster "Sure," Eddie answered, having just casts of two sets of footprints were hard- entered with a couple of plaster casts on ening. One was about size number ten; sheets of pasteboard which he laid gingerly the other was the biggest Eddie had ever on a center table after brushing aside a taken. The two trails were all mixed up few knick-knacks. "Well, there you are. and ran straight from the service porch This here's the butler's, of course. The to the rear fence. There the number ten other's big enough to be Thumper's, gent had circled and gone to the gate, then though he'll be slick enough to change returned to the house. A damn dog had shoes on us." prowled around out there, messing things "He'll change clothes, too, if they still up some, but a few prints hadn't been put stripes on 'em while they're waitin' smeared any. They'd be right in. to go through the little green door," the And now, the detective was walking on captain growled. "Where's the phone?" velvet—actually itching for the captain to he asked of Perkins, who was hovering in ask him a few things. The captain did. the hall. It was another "Well?" a shade more "Straight ahead, sir, at the far hend of menacing and surcharged with evil proph- the 'allway," Perkins answered, stepping ecy than the former one. aside and bowing. "Blimme, but I'm 'op- "Nothin' to it," Moffat answered, with' ing you'll make that bloody-'anded knave !" airy confidence. "It's a plain open-and- come a cropper shut case. Thumper Hayes got outa stir "Don't worry," Moffat assured him,

last week, and is back on th' job. Re- cheerfully. "Thumper's a slick one all member th' description Perkins give—big, right, but we got him dead to rights, this soft-steppin' bird, never sayin' nothin' to time. Gonna throw the book at him nobody. Velvet-fingered that safe, too." burglary, assault, murder. The judge'll

"Just what I was thinkin'," Tiney sec- give him all of it, and that'll be that." With onded promptly from the doorway. "This things going his way nicely, the detective is one of Thumper's jobs. Might as well turned to his guests of the 'evening. "Well, have left us a receipt fur that cash. He boys, what do you think of our city meth- always bats 'em on th' head and lets 'em ods now? Scientific, eh? Johnny-at-the- lay, and he always prowls aroun' quiet as rat-hole, eh? Quick service, eh?" a mouse just as that butler bloke says." "Comin' to think of it," Braley con- IN THE act of refilling the corncob, the tributed, "we thought we seen Thumper old officer retrieved a few vagrant flakes over on the water front, las' night, didn't of Green Toad from a crease in his vest we, Smith? Anyway, he's somewhere in and tamped them into the black-rimmed town. We know that. Like Moffat says, bowl with meticulous frugality. "We're this thing's a cold cinch." lookin' an' we're listenin'," he finally drawled, non-committally, then scratched THE stern look on the captain's face a match noisily on his bootsole and resumed relaxed somewhat. After all, there his smoking. was light ahead. He had had a real liking "Lookin' an' listenin', eh?" Moffat for eccentric old Cullom. If he only could chuckled. "Shoved onto the sidelines, eh? turn a key on Cullom's murderer a lot of Game's too fast for you, eh? Well, get things could be overlooked. "You may be your money's worth while you're at it." 78 SHORT STORIES

The detective's chortling voice trailed off nasal tones, then clapped on his hat and to nothingness and he cocked his bullet started out. head to one side and did a little looking "It was only a theory," Moffat defended, and listening himself. The captain was weakly, then bristled a little. "You said " yourself returning from the phone, his quick, stamp- The detective stopped when his superior ing tread having an eloquence that could wheeled back to face him. The captain's not be mistaken. All eyed him in pregnant mustache had disappeared altogether, and silence as he stalked in and faced the al- his nose had changed from a mouse's to an ready-cringing sleuth. "You square-heads anteater's. "I'll put a harness on you for git to hell out of here. We'll take a fresh this, Moffat," he promised darkly. "A beat start on this thing in the morning," he in the sticks, at that. That'll give you snapped, reaching for his hat. plenty of time to theorize all by your lone- Apprehensive, but still game, Moffat fal- some. Only one thing'll save you. Bring tered. "Then you don't think Thumper me in the man who killed John Cullom. I don't mean railroad some poor devil. I The captain's close-cropped mustache mean get the man!" contracted to a mere tuft on each side of "Beggin' your pardon fur hornin' in," his nose, and his nostrils twitched like a the old sheriff offered diffidently, "if we mouse's. "Thumper, hell," he grated, his kin he'p, me'n' Danny's plumb willin'. close-set ferret eyes glittering balefully. You've done showed us your finger-

"Don't ever say Thumper to me again. prontin' an' plaster-castin', so, if they's any He's got what I call a air-tight alibi. way we kin do hit we'd admire to pay you "Huh! Fine stuff, I don't think! 'Bet- back." ter have Thumper Hayes picked up,' I sez "Huh," Moffat snorted. "I s'pose you to the chief. 'We about got this Cullom and Hawkeye over there can solve this thing pinned on him.' crime, right now, eh?" " 'Fine work !' the chief applauds in that "I ain't sayin'," the sheriff answered, sugar-coated voice he uses when he's about placidly. "We mought, an' then ag'in, we ready to bust somebody's jaw. moughtn't. Anyway, you 'pear to a got " T don't see how Moffat ever hung this your tail in a crack, an' I don't want it said onto him so quick,' sez I, tryin' to give that Bob Forrest ever deserted a brother " you a boost. officer in " T don't either,' the chief honeys back. "Hey ! Wait a minute," the captain in- 'Especially in view of the fact that we've terjected, the mustache commencing to had Thumper in jail on general principles spread toward normalcy. "Bob Forrest. " since day-before yesterday. If you and Bob Forrest. Seems like I Moffat can't attend the morning show up, "B'gawd, I gotchu! By special request why in hell donchu read the papers ?' of the president, you two put on an exhibi- "Now I'm askin' you ivory-domes some- tion of man-trailing at the last meeting of thing. Don't all answer at once. Just the Sheriffs' and Police Chiefs' Association,

how long do you think it'll be before the didn't chu ? Trailed a man all over a park boys down at headquarters quit telling this where hundreds of men had been tramping story to each other? around, didn't chu?" "Think hard." "Danny did," the old officer said, mod-

estly. "I ain't no great shakes at it, but I'm captain grabbed the decanter off better'n' some, at that. Take Danny there, THE " the mantel, tilted it up, drank gur- though. I'd shore admire to hev him

glingly, then banged it down. "Thumper "Hop to it, the play's yours," the captain Hayes," he mimicked Moffat's slightly agreed heartily, while the others gaped and DAWG TRACKS 79 shuffled their feet uneasily. Moffat braz- next row, the deputy had not taken a half- enly took an unconscionable pull at the de- dozen strides before he stopped and bent canter, then sat down and crossed his legs over to center the light on a jumble of with an alright-I-wash-my-hands-of-it air. tracks. "Oh Bob," he called over a withy Solemnly Braley, Eddie and Tiney fol- shoulder—the first time he had spoken in lowed his example. They needed it. the presence of the others. "What chu got?" Sheriff Bob inquired, SHERIFF BOB knocked the dottle from drawing alongside. By way of answer, the his corncob, blew noisily into the stem deputy held the light steady, and silently to be certain it was clear, and tucked it into pointed at the trail. his pocket, seeming to shed off with it his "Watch your step, fellers," Sheriff Bob air of somnolent lethargy. Rising briskly, cautioned, then dropped to all fours and he clipped orders right and left. "You looked at the maze of imprints, through the big feller, take that butler man off upstairs steel-rims, then over them, then under somewheres and make him lay down fur them. "I got it," he said finally, a slight a spell. He looks plumb beat out. You tremor of excitement in his even voice. finger-printer, go see that that girl stays "Got what ?" the captain wanted to know. in her room till we call her. Mosey along "Looks to me like that's a poor place to

with us, Moffat. You too, captain, if you find out anything. Dog tracks and man wanta. We're gonna take a squint at them tracks all mixed up." tracks." "Mix-ups like them there shore are en- "Nothin' to squint at," Eddie offered, lightenin' sometimes," Sheriff Bob re- helpfully. "Plain as print that a middle- marked, enigmatically, then placed both sized man chased a big one through that hands on his knees and rose with a grunt. " garden and "Go 'haid, son." "Mebbe so, mebbe so. But men' Danny come to Dallas to see th' sights. This is MORE big man tracks, more of the one of 'em. C'mon, Son." smaller ones. Always the dog tracks,

Flashlight in hand, his rifle tucked under mingled with the others. Always, too, the story appeared plain, so Moffat and the captain thought. A big, long-striding man had run down that cabbage row. A smaller man had followed, running also, but taking shorter strides. Presently the deputy jerked to a stop, as a bird dog does when the scent strikes suddenly. Dropping to hands and knees, while the others crowded close to watch, he remained there, statuesque for a full half- minute. Rising, he played the light cross- the other arm, the deputy passed to the rear wise of the rows. Finally he walked di- at that smooth running walk that was as rectly to a dense clump of Juneberry bushes effortless as it was deceptively fast. Wad- a few yards to his left. After threshing dling along in the rear, Sheriff Bob cau- among the dripping branches for a little tioned the others to keep back, and "leave time he came gliding back, buttoning the Danny take a squint." bosom of his blue flannel shirt over some

i Under the rays of the flashlight, the bulky object he had tucked against his

trails lay beautifully clear, running straight breast. This time it was Sheriff Bob who down a cabbage row where the sandy soil made the mute interrogation with his eyes had been freshly hoed. Gliding along the when the light played over his ruddy face, I

8o SHORT STORIES

and it was Danny who nodded eloquently easy reach. "The coat and pants were in reply. hanging in the garage," he said as his The deputy followed the trail on for a superior unrolled the bundle, which con- little way, then appeared to lose interest. sisted of a pair of denim overalls and "Be in in a minute," he promised, by way jumper, and an enormous pair of coarse of dismissing the others, then turned to- work shoes. ward the garage. His flash was playing After examining the cob-webbed gar-

over the interior of it while they trooped ments carefully, Sheriff Bob laid them on back toward the house. "Had to give up, the floor beside his chair and turned ta eh?" the captain remarked, dolefully, as Perkins, who just had entered, convoyed they tramped across the service porch. by Braley. "What's your fa-vor-ite drink, "Not precise," the sheriff answered. Perkins," he asked, without preliminary. "Reckon Danny seen all he needed to. He shore is the sign-noticinest feller you'll ever PERKINS flushed, and his head went meet up with. up. "Tea, sir. Barring a glawss of

"Dad-blimmed mean mizzley mornin', ale when a good quality of it can be pro- hain't it?" cured, I habsolutely habstain from halcohol, sir—habsolutely habstain." CAPTAIN, how was Mister Cullom, "You do the work here in the house— morally?" Sheriff Bob asked, after mean sweepin' an' dustin' an' polishin', an' they had reseated themselves in the living- sichlike?" room, and the corncob had been placed back "To be sure not, sir," indignantly. in commission. "What I mean is was he "That's the maid's task." kinda dawgy-like?" " 'Lowed so, but I thought I'd ast. Now "Doggy-like? I'm afraid I don't quite who does this here coat an' pants b'long jj to?" "Uh-huh, dawgylike. Philanderin' you "The garments were left 'ere by a negro know—a runnin' arter evil wimmen." menial who was employed 'ere as gardener "Oh. We-1-1. In his younger days, John several years ago. 'E turned out a bad egg had more money than was good for him, so and the Master discharged 'im. We've 'ad

it was wine, woman and song—sky limit. no regular gardener, long since." Then he married a good woman, and cut "An' them shoes? They b'long to th' out everything." nigger, too?"

"An' she died?" Sheriff Bob finished, The sheriff's voice still droned, his lolling patiently. attitude remained unchanged as he took the "Yes. And since then John had stepped shoes from behind his chair and presented out occasionally with the frails and he them. But something prompted Moffat to drank—well, moderately." turn quickly and note the effect of the "Moderately's a sorter rubbery word question on the butler. For the barest where drinkin's consarned." fraction of a second, the broad English

! "Well, then, I'll say that he hit it a little face twitched—whether with surprise, fear heavier than a man of his age should. No or vexation, Moffat could not be sure. "I protracted sprees, understand, and he never cawn't say, sir," Perkins answered, after got off his feet—just hilarious." taking the articles gingerly, and examining

, "I see. Wal, here comes Danny, so I them judgmatically. "'Tis so long since reckon mebbe better call that butler we " 'e was 'ere, I cawn't feller down an' chin 'im a little." Re-entering, Danny laid a bundle on the "I see. Sot down in that cheer, will you, j sheriff's lap and resumed his former seat, whilst I try this plaster dingus on your

leaning the rifle against the mantel within foot. Huh! Fits exact, showin' that you DAWG TRACKS 81 chased that there robber, just as you say t' say that that rain kep' right in betwixt you did." you two while you was hazin' that geezer

; "I am a man of truth, sir. That hall, down that cabbage row ' fannin' his tail sir?" with a smokestick? "'Nother thing, Perkins. That dawg RECKON they is one leetle favor you stept on a good many of th' big tracks, but mought do," Sheriff Bob answered, not ary one of th' little uns. Th' dawg handing one of the work shoes to Perkins. was a-walkin'. You two was a-runnin'.

"Take that there and see how it fits inta Still an' yit, he kep' right in betwixt you. that cast th' fingerprinter made." "Yo're a damn liar, Perkins. Take him "Me, sir? Very well, to be sure, sir. upstairs an'— Wait a secont. I got one Lor'lumme, but it matches, exactly! Quite more lie I wantchu to tell. How long since extraordinary, I should say!" you c'menced sottin' by Melissa?" "So should I," Sheriff Bob agreed, rak- Chalky-faced now, Perkins trembled and ing his armchair around to face the ques- licked his dry lips. tioned one a little more squarely. "Plumb "Keep a-tryin'," Sheriff Bob encouraged astonishin', when you stop to think of it. him. "Th' truth must be in you some-

You chased th' galoot that was wearin' wheres, if we kin only dig it out." them shoes clean acrost th' yard an' heered Desperate now, the butler folded his 'im leave in a car. Now Danny finds them arms across his chest and thrust out his shoes out in them Juneberry bushes." chin. "I'll talk no more." "The bugger must 'ave come back and "Ho-hum! Reckon we'll hafta ast her, delivered them there." then. Take 'im upstairs somewheres and

"Airplane ur dirigible, do you reckon? have that big feller squat on 'is neck till !" He didn't make nary track, a-comin' or we need 'im. Fetch that gal down a-gwine. "Passin' that fur th' time bein', was it I GIVE it to you," the captain crowed, after Perkins had tramped out in the grasp of Tiney, with Braley acting as rear guard. "So do I," Moffat chimed in, generous in defeat. "May as well come clean while

I'm about it," he grinned, sheepishly. "Of a'rainin' any when you chased that Jas- course we can understand about them

per?" tracks, now that you explain it. Perkins "Really, I cawn't say, sir. I was fair an- put on the big shoes and made the trip, gry and in great 'aste at the time, so I coming back on the walk. Then he made " cawn't the chase in his own shoes. That right?" "Remember steppin' on ary stray dawg "Why in course. Never was no doubt out there?" about that, nohow. Both sets of tracks toes "To be sure not. As I 'ave told you " out scandalous—one just as slantylike as gentlemen before t'other. 01' mole like me could see that "Perkins', you're a damn liar—not a fust- much, though, of course, it took Danny class, convincin' liar, but just a plain, to show me th' fine p'ints." every-day damn liar. Hush now. It hurts "That's what's worrying me yet," the my innards to hear a man tell 'em like you do. captain confessed. "He turned right off

"Perkins, that little mizzle of rain we had that trail and went straight to those bushes ""arly last evenin' washed them big tracks a as if he knew those shoes were there." mite, but never teched one of yourn. Mean "He knowed somethin' was there, 'cause 82 SHORT STORIES why Perkins made a little half circle in th' arms stiffened levering her slowly to her soil with his right foot, and Danny knowed feet. "Didju?" he prodded her, inexor- he'd throwed somethin' high an' fur to th' ably. When she continued silent, he re- left. That was them bushes ready to ketch. placed the andiron on the hearth, and Easy 'nuff, fur Danny, eh?" turned to the captain. "Better have that "Yes—for Danny," the captain grinned, finger-printer take a whack at it, captain- then rubbed his palms together gleefully. not that it makes any great difference. We "Circumstantial, of course, but it's air-tight, awready got 'nuff evidence 'ginst Perkins at that. The jury'll give him the frosty to hang ten men." eye." AS DESIGNED, that brought the girl WHAT'S your fa-vor-ite drink, Miss," L out of her semi-coma. "Hang Per- the sheriff asked, the girl when ap- kins?" she shrilled. "Hang Perkins? Oh peared, red eyed from weeping, her hands you can't do that! Perkins didn't do it! clasping and unclasping on the arm of the He didn't, I tell you! . I did it! I killed rocker into which she had slumped. "Gin?" him! I had to! I tell you I had to!".. . hesitated. he suggested, when she "Thar, thar, Miss. Don't take on so. She nodded. "I don't drink often, Hand 'er a snifter, somebody. This is one though." time that she shore needs a bracer. Sot

' "I see. hit it a mite too hard Mebbe now Miss, whilst I tell it fur you. Don't loose, though. If when you do tear you talk, 'less I go wrong, an' you hafta k'rect don't mind me sayin' so, a person of that me." temperyment never orter tech it a-tall." After the captain had sluiced an ounce of "I never did, and never would have if he gin down the girl in two attempts, spilling hadn't " She stopped, confused, and a half of it each time in his excitement, the hunted look appeared on her flushed face. sheriff proceeded. her, "I onderstand," Sheriff Bob assured "You didn't go to no theater las' night. sympathetically. "Mister Cullom was your But Perkins went somewheres—leastwise boss, so you couldn't hardly refuse to take he was outa reach." a sociable leetle snifter with 'im when he "Cigarettes," she managed to sob, then ast you to—say like las' night, finstance." rocked back and forth, while he droned on. She nodded again. "That all?" she "Awright then, Perkins went after ciga- asked, hopefully after he had remained rettes, 'bout the time the boss was gittin' silent for a little time. ready to go to bed, bein' tanked up so copi- Sheriff drawled another inquiry. Bob ous that his body still smelt like a gin "You do the dustin' an' sweepin' an' sich?" factory when me'n' Danny went up there. "Yes sir."

"Ab-sol-dem-loot-ly all it?" he pressed of AWRIGHT. Now here comes a mebbe- her. **- so—th' fust one I've spoke. Hearin' "Yes sir. Perkins is helpless at work Perkins leave, th' ol' cuss slips on a dressin' of that sort." gown, he bein' 'bout ready to take 'is " Sheriff Bob grabbed one of the andirons bath

and jabbed it at her so suddenly that he "Hold it," the captain interjected. "My

appeared to be about to spear her with it. understanding is that John had taken his

"Then it musta been you that polished the bath." He glared reprovingly at Moffat.

'tip of that, eh?" "Tain't no sich," Sheriff Bob denied. Instead of answering, the girl gazed at "The tub was clean as a houn's tooth. Who

the thing as one fascinated. Her hands clean't it at an excitin' time like that? The clenched on the chair arms, and her fore- soap an' the sponge was dry as preachin'. —

DAWG TRACKS 83

Wuss still, them towels on th' floor was plumb emphatic. All th' mistake you two wet. They was too wet. Nobody ever made was that you didn't tell the truth on coulda dried themselves on either of 'em. th' take-off, 'stead of fixin' up a lotta "Awright, thar's where the mebbeso flummy-doodle bizness with tracks an' comes in. Here's a naked geezer who towels an' sich. hain't takented his bath, an' he's got a "At that, though, you moughta got away dressin' gown on. Answer is, slipt it on to with it, if it hadn't been fur a skirt of rain, go somewhere in a hurry. Where? an' a houn' dawg—an' Danny Simmons." "Excusin' th' remark, Miss, he smelt scandalous of gin' an' so did you, as I dis- THE tribunal dissolved, Tiney and covered when I escorted you upstairs Smith leaving for headquarters with which same I done to find out about that the prisoners. When the house had been very thing. They was two gin glasses on locked and the two country officers with the mantel, so he was here an' you was the captain and Moffat emerged into the here. pale morning light, the sheriff yawned pro- "Awright, we got another mebbeso. digiously, then climbed stiffly into the de- Somebody had polished only the tip of one crepit flivver, which the deputy was crank- andiron, though both of 'em was needin' ing with mighty force. it, all over. The guess was whether you "Wal, so long, fellers," the old officer an' him was cuddlin' all amicable and Per- droned, as the machine spat and blew its " kins come back an' ketched you, or nose, then commenced snorting its desire "I did it! I did it! I had to !" she com- to be off. "Me 'n' Danny shore is much menced again. obleeged to yuh fur lettin' us watch yuh "Yes'm," he soothed. "Then Perkins work up that case. come in, an' you tied 'im with that sash "If yuh ever happen along down our cord, arter you an' him had toted th' body way, drap in' an' mebbeso we kin do as upstairs. Perkins done th' runnin' an' much fur you boys." shootin' an' sich, bein' bound to he'p you The snorting changed to a series of rasp- out 'cause he's been sottin' by you assidi- ing groans. The machine started with a ous. Incidental, whar's that money?" jerk, then buck-jumped into full speed "Under my mattress," she answered, ahead. wearily. "Honestly, we didn't intend to It was a ludicrous sight, but neither

keep it, though. We only took it to make Moffat nor the captain laughed. As they the robbery story stand." listened, though, the flivver's voice lost its "Wal, don't worry none, Miss. They harsh impatient note.

ain't no jury on earth that'll convict you, It seemed to them that it was chuckling bein's you had a right to defend yourse'f, softly.

> t*c* *:< - — > mart]

10 Chapter I puckered from long gazing over heat shim- mery veld. One sinewy hand hung by its A RNOLD paused momentarily in thumb from the belt of his riding breeches; /^k his pacing of the room. Brown the other swung a hippo-hide whip from a / from the sun, he was. Lean thong. His soft-soled bush boots had made •A- A- and hard from a deep-lying in- no sound as he stalked the polished floor terest in everything outdoors of the Governor's office in Nairobi, in all of Africa. His eyes were narrow and The young hunter, guide, trader—Jimmy

A Vast Store of Ivory Worth the Ransom of Many Kings, Weird Signals Resounding Through the Jungles—and an American Adventurer Who Hated Red Tape

84 10 THE BLACK GOD 85

Arnold was anything that had to do with you. But he's had only six years of the great outdoors—turned and bit his lip Africa." lightly and looked squarely into the eyes "Six years! Why, all I've had is eight !" of Sir David Earl Stewart, Governor of years in this blasted country Kenya Colony. Sir David smiled again—a knowing "Governor," Arnold said, "I can't do it." smile, this time. "Yes," he said, "but "Now look here, Arnold," the older man you've had a different training. Oxford pleaded, "think this thing over. There's and Africa don't mix too well, unless old some deviltry hatching up there and I've Father Time comes in." got to find out what it's all about and stop Arnold grinned in agreement. "Sure is it before it comes to a killing. You know some handicap. Gosh, when that boy must what that would mean." have been writing Greek verse I was shin-

Arnold nodded. "Trouble. Bad trouble. ning mule back in Dakota and getting

But I can't do it. Not but what it's a whole regularly swindled by an old Sioux medi-. man's job that I'd like to look back on and cine man on pony deals." feel that I've pulled off. But gosh al- The governor nodded his head. "That's mighty, I'd have to write a hundred page exactly what we need. A man who has

report about it and I'd have to make out been swindled by crafty Indians in pony an expense account down to the last cent deals and has learned his experience out of and a daily mileage list and—but who's it to adapt it to crafty African spellbinders.

your man up there? Why can't he handle A man who knows natives like you know ; it?" them; almost like I know them." " Sir David smiled wryly. "A man called "Governor, I Sheldon. Assistant commissioner. Good Arnold looked appealingly at Sir David. youngster—maybe a couple years behind His eyes dropped to the floor and he started 10 !

86 SHORT STORIES stalking up the length of the room again. American expect to find— By heaven, He wasn't hesitating. Arnold merely maybe there wouldn't be any necessity of didn't know how to temper his refusal. detailing anybody up there after all Sir David tried again. "If you would only take government employ as a special FROM Nairobi a bumpety railroad track temporary agent I could wire to Entebbe straggles toward the northwest and and my colleague there would make some vast Lake Victoria. Two weeks after his " allowances for you. But talk with the governor in Nairobi, Arnold "Yes, but—that's just it," Arnold shot sat in this train and damned its dreary back at him, pointing with a long fore- rattle, bang, crash. ' finger. "I'd still have to wrap myself in It is about two hundred and fifty miles a gaudy silken cocoon with sacred red tape. from Nairobi to Kisumu, the port on the Gosh, I'd suffocate." great Kavirondo Gulf of the inland sea. A

. The governor sighed resignedly. He day and night run if one is lucky, but to a could understand this restless man. Sir weary traveler it seems a week. Mile after David was not one who had been born to crawling mile of burned brown veld and the splendor of colonial administration; he sparse, flat topped acacia and countless dry had won his way along the line from the dongas—the bridges over which make long ago days of the Boer War. African railroading so expensive; and "That's the damned American of you," every now and then antelope or zebra in he growled. "If you wouldn't be so bally the distance; and dust. Over everything scornful of necessary authority you'd find dust. Fine white dust; over the lumpy some of our youngsters to be jolly decent coach cushions, in the food, sticky around chaps and this driveling red tape wouldn't the collar, smarting in the eyes. bother you. But you're too dashed much It is one of the most unpleasant railroad like a leopard to change your spots. Well, journeys in the world. But since it can if you won't, I suppose you won't. I'll cover in two days a distance that a safari have to see if I can find one of our more could hardly accomplish in twenty, Arnold experienced officers to fill the job. But re- traveled by train and cursed it as he doc- member, not a word outside. This thing tored his eyes against infection from the is an official secret as yet." pestilence of flies. Arnold grinned. "Governor, how many He alighted from the train at Kisumu years have you been in Africa, that you talk and cursed it with mechanical finality. As of secrets?" he turned away from the carriage he found Sir David smiled whimsically. "You're a big, strongly built native grinning at him. right. Oh, well, of course there's nothing The man was dressed in an old khaki hidden in Africa for those that have ears to shooting coat and the scantiest possible loin hear. I suppose you'll pick up a lot of cloth. Below each sinewy knee and above underground talk. If you hear anything the right elbow was a garter plaited of real I would be glad to know about it." monkey hair leaving a flash of white tuft. Arnold chuckled good humoredly. "Any- He carried a long, beautifully polished thing that your blawsted British officials stick, which was really a spear with the are too high to hear, yeah? Sure thing. head removed, since the regulations of well I'm going upcountry after some ivory that policed Kisumu did not permit natives to

I've heard about, and if I happen on any go armed.

bush telegraph I'll pass the word pronto." But Arnold knew very well that the two A worried frown puckered Sir David's foot long, razor sharp blade of that spear forehead as Arnold left. Then the wise was somewhere not far from the shaft. A smile spread slowly across his face. Ivory, Masai and his weapon do not part com- Arnold had said. Just where did the young pany. 10 THE BLACK GOD 87

"K'kos bwana," the man greeted. "Ma- strong witchcraft. A new juju has come to leff? Train this time good?" the land." "Ha, Barounggo. Never good. Dak bungalow. And after bath time come and BAROUNGGO was off on a tangent. tell me what the talk is in Kisumu." The Masai, like the Zulus, like to orate. Give them a chance and they will ARNOLD had barely entered the declaim all round a story in order, as they

** screened bungalow when he found say, to wrap it with meat before they come Barounggo at his heels. He wheeled on to the bone. Arnold stopped him. the man. "Melons," he said simply. "Talk after bath time, I said, Baroung- Barounggo resigned himself and came to go! the point as directly as his innate sense of

The Masai raised his stick in the sign drama would permit him. "The talk is, that was salute as well as deprecation. bwana, that we have taken service with the "Yes, bwana, talk is for after bath. But government to go up and stop that trouble." there is a gift and—maybe talk goes with "The hell!" This time Arnold was gift." startled. Though not accurate, this was He opened a grass basket and showed two beautiful melons, luscious luxuries in that parched season just before the rains. "Ho, good!" Arnold exclaimed. "What friend sends this gift, Barounggo? And what talk should there be about a gift of two melons?" "Bwana—" the man hesitated and looked up and down the long veranda and uneasily about the compound planted with labori- ously cultivated shrubbery. Arnold's eyebrows flickered and he, too, shot a glance along the veranda. It was deserted. Arnold stepped down to the stoop and seated himself on the edge. He knew his man. The Masai, besides being the most warlike, are some of the most in- telligent of the Africans. Barounggo had been with Arnold for many years and Ar- nold knew he was no wild goose chaser. the fastest bush telegraph that he had "Tell me this talk that belongs to the two known. But the melons. Barounggo had melons. All the talk." digressed again. "Melons," Arnold repeated. "Bwana, there is talk, first, that trouble "Yes, as to the melons," Barounggo is growing up among the jungle men of the agreed. "A Kavirondo savage came to me North." immediately you left and said he was the So the great official secret was all over servant of the Banyan trader Khoda Bux the district! Naturally, it would be. But who has the garden and who remembered what had trouble in the Rudolf province to you with a full heart and sent these melons with melons, Arnold do wanted to know. as a salaam." "Bwana, the trouble is a young tree as That seemed plausible enough. Arnold

yet ; but it has a strong rain in the words had done some service for the East Indian,' of a new witch doctor. This man has a and a delicate compliment of a small gift 88 SHORT STORIES

was an Oriental custom. Arnold knew that Carefully, gingerly, at full spear's length more lay behind that innocence. Arnold sawed at the fruit with the keen Barounggo glanced about the compound blade. The denouement came with sudden again and then hurriedly put in his climax. swiftness. The fruit split softly open and "But the Banyan has been dead a month fell apart disclosing its pale yellow interior and the savage who brought the melons which should have been speckled with lost himself in the crowds at the bazaar im- large, dark purple seeds. Not a seed was mediately." there. Instead an incredibly swift watch "Oho! And so?" Arnold's interest was spring thing, colored bright red with a more than merely surface now. thick black stripe down either side, wrig- "And so, when talk is of trouble," Ba- gled free and coiled in compact but deadly rounggo returned sententiously, "the wise menace. man looks for trouble. Therefore observe "God!" that melon, bwana. This one, here. And Almost as swift as the brilliant coiled consider that this is the limbwa melon death, Arnold lunged the great blade at it. which the white men say is spoiled by the The steel buried itself in the ground a bare taste of a knife, so they but score the skin inch from the vibrant thing, and it, like a and break it open in their hands." watch spring again, flashed once in the sun and was gone. ARNOLD looked closely and saw that a "Whaul" Barounggo exclaimed. "A clean round hole had been punched limpo'-olu! The snake whose evil is as in the fruit just over the stalk indentation great as his belly is small. But a pity! and the plug neatly replaced. He whistled Bwana lacks practice with the spear." a thin, tuneless rhythm through his teeth. Arnold was breathing hard through his

"O-ho!" he exclaimed through clenched nose, still looking at the spot where the teeth. "It is possible, Barounggo, that you beautiful death had coiled. Mechanically have been very wise. Now what trouble, he tugged at the spear shaft, thinking the do you think, can come into a melon while. There was no doubt in his mind through a round hole ?" now but that there was much more to the "Many troubles, bwana," Barounggo fuss brewing to the northward than even whispered. "A good witch doctor, such as the governor thought. Still, it was none that one where the trouble is, who might of his funeral—or wouldn't be as soon as wish that we should not go into his coun- they stopped connecting him up with it. try, could put a strong devil into it. A fool He turned to Barounggo. could put poison into it." "Barounggo, you have shown wisdom. I True enough, Arnold thought. Poison. am pleased. There will be a blanket with

Or, if the not so generous donor had been stripes as brilliant as that snake. Make a white man he might expect to find some no talk with any man. This trouble is not sort of contact bomb. A bomb was really our affair. We make safari to the Elgon out of the question, but precaution would Mountain. We go fast before all the water suggest cutting the interesting melon with holes dry up and we come out fast before a longish knife. the big rain. Six carriers are enough for He looked at the imperturbable Masai the going. For the return the number de- and as if divining his master's mind, Ba- pends upon luck." rounggo reached his hand behind his neck and, apparently from out his spinal column, Chapter II produced two feet of shining steel. The great blade fitted sweetly onto the end of WITH the morning of the third day his stick and he handed the weapon to Arnold was striding out of Kisumu Arnold. at the head of six porters who carried 10 ;

FHE BLACK GOD 89 bundles on their heads, Barounggo who loads and would keep it up from dawn till carried only his ever present stick, and a dark. wizened, monkey-like Hottentot who car- White men were beyond reason. If a ried an extra gun and the splendid name foolish porter should once show that he of Kaffec'enq'uamdhlovu, which, in his could do a certain stint of labor the white queer, staccato language had something to bwana would imagine that he could do it do with the slaying of elephants. again. So they began to blow long moan- Old timers who knew Arnold cocked ing whistles between tongue and teeth and their eyes and wondered what big venture to sigh high pitched sighs. They began to he was set upon with all that equipment. straggle out till half a mile separated the Others, accustomed to seeing the moun- last of them from the tireless white man. tainous impedimenta of rich sportsmen, Arnold wasted no breath in futile ad- wondered how far this rangy looking fellow monition, or even the energy to turn thought he could go into the interior with around. When he came to a shady mimosa that insufficiency of food, and how long he he sat quietly under it, lighted his pipe and hoped to keep up that speed. fanned himself with his sun helmet. The As a matter of fact Arnold proposed to porters judged this to be the time to come keep up that speed until eleven thirty. Then up with lagging footsteps and with great he would camp under an umbrella acacia heaving groans of relief. When the last to let the heat of the sun pass over. There of them had arrived, Arnold rose. He was nothing surprising in the proposal spoke only to Barounggo—reflectively, but there was surprise in its accomplish- almost impersonally. ment—to those six porters. Four miles "Does it not seem to you, Barounggo, per hour had been the pace set; and the that some of these carriers think we have men had swung along easily enough. Ex- arrived in this land but yesterday ? Not till perienced sportsmen's porters they were, the half hour before noon does the safari all of them. stop."

Presently this white man would wander And so it was. At eleven-thirty Arnold off into the veld and would tramp a few found a suitable umbrella tree, and the cara- miles to shoot some buck or other. Mean- van, right at his heels, was within its shade While, they would lie on their backs and almost as soon as he was. smoke and wiggle their toes in the good "Three hours rest," Arnold pointed out. dust; and when the white man returned "Let any man sleep who will. But first, he would be tired. He would not go much in that load are mealies, already parched. farther and they would make early camp. Each man gets half a portion of potto." There would be meat for them. It was a The surly looks of the porters altered good, easy business, this portering for with African light heartedness to grins. white hunters, and the government saw to This wasn't so bad after all. Their white

it that their pay was twenty-five cents a man was not one to be made a fool of, but day with potto. on the other hand he knew what other safaris never seemed to understand—that BUT this white man did not wander off food was good at any time. to shoot anything. At a steady four Promptly at two-thirty, Arnold rose. miles an hour he stalked over toward the "Three hours trek," he announced briefly. horizon of brown, burned plain. The por- ters gabbled among themselves. It was THE porters took up their loads. There just as well to establish their rights at the was no murmuring. Three hours of very beginning. Not that they were tired steady going saw the party on rising land or that they couldn't keep up that pace. On twenty-eight miles from Kisumu. It was their own business they could carry heavier good going. Nearly twice as far as the 10 ;

9Q SHORT STORIES

cumbersome sporting safaris made in a understanding. One always cleaned game day's trek. where it fell. Why carry useless weight? To the northward, miles away, a pale The men with quick African superstition cone of ghost gray without any tangible began to be uneasy about all this mystery base stood up out of the dust haze. Al- —which was just what Arnold wanted. most transparent it looked at that distance. He smiled thinly to himself as he It might almost have been a freak of cloud watched them go. Then leisurely he but the cool wind that blew from it even walked to a little knoll, sat and kicked at this distance established it as the snow himself comfortable heel holes for a steady mass of Mount Elgon. The water beside position. Carefully he wiped the day's dust which Arnold proposed to camp was snow from his rifle and blew sharply through water on its way to feed Lake Victoria. the peep sight. He used the precise Lyman There was a little more than an hour of .48 and the little sums that went with its sunlight left. Just time enough to make use came to him automatically. One point camp in comfort. Arnold directed four subtended one inch at one hundred yards, of the porters under the direction of was the basic rule. Two inches at two Barounggo to cut thorn bush and build the hundred, and so on. For open veld shoot- customary boma against lions. An hour ing he kept his gun sighted in for point allowed just time enough to build an im- blank at three hundred. He knew his am- pregnable circle of some fifteen feet across munition trajectory to drop three and a and eight high and stock it with sufficient half inches between three and four hun- firewood to last the night through. dred and four inches between four and five Arnold turned to two other porters. "Go hundred. and fetch in that buskbok," he commanded Very well. It was four-fifty. Six points them. "The young one under that small would just about do it. The little breeze tree." that persisted was not of sufficient strength The men stared at him, astounded, with to figure. No old-fashioned guesswork the ape expression of their kind. The little about this. All that was required was the herd of red-brown antelope were feeding ability to hold steady. Good eyesight, un- between four and five hundred yards away. shakable nerves, and taut muscles. Arnold How were they, not hunters but porters, had all the requirements. to carry out this peremptory order? They Taking it easy and without hurry, he stood and stared dumbly. fired. The young buck leaped high in the

For just a moment they stared at Ar- air and fell, and the rest stood staring nold. There was something about the white stupidly at the distant report. Not till the man that puzzled them. He spoke with porters began to approach did they up-tail such sureness. Perhaps the young buck and race off. would wait for them. The white man had The little Hottentot, who noted every- implied it would wait. It might be best thing with a monkey-like curiosity, pre- for them to go. tended to be engrossed with his fire. So the two porters went. What foolish Squatting as no white man can, with his things white men said; particularly this knees up behind his ears, he ventured a white man. They set off, looking back at question between violent blowings of flame. every few paces expecting they did not "Master, for what purpose must those know what. porters bring the entrails? There will be meat enough without." SUDDENLY Arnold called out after Arnold smiled grimly. "For magic," he them. "Bring it back whole," he uttered momentously. "There will be a

shouted. "Without disemboweling it." witch smelling this night."

There was another foolishness beyond The Hottentot tended his fire in silence » THE BLACK GOD and proceeded to prepare the meal. His man should know it too! It was fear- master had many strange powers, he knew. somely horrible to the porters. Mysterious powers. The slow moving forefinger traced the fatty nodules and thin windings of veins. SINCE Arnold had not expressly ordered "This is the house of the evil one," Arnold to the contrary this news of magic that intoned. "This the road that he follows. night communicated itself to the camp be- Here is the fate which awaits him. I fore ever the meal was finished. The men, smell him out. I see the evil in his heart. as they worked, looked at Arnold with uneasiness. The gloom deepened. Meat was broiled on sticks and eaten in gloomy discomfort, Arnold sitting wrapped in black silence. The porters squatted apart and whispered to one another. The last of the day disappeared and tropic night swept over the country. The atmosphere was full of apprehension. Arnold sat with- Nothing is hidden. Ha, it is finished. I out motion and let it all soak well in. make the test—the test of truth. His Suddenly he lifted his head and glared death sits in his shadow and is ready." across the fire at the huddled bearers. With that he sprang up and stalked be- Upon his forehead they could discern, fore the wretched natives who rocked them- marked in white, an oval with a spot in selves on their hams and gave vent to its center. moaning misery. In Arnold's hand ap- Someone shouted. "Look—it is the peared six white pellets—aspirin tablets. !" !" eye ! The eye that sees within "Stand up he shouted. "Stand up and

The men muttered to one another and take the test of the magic that does not lie. huddled closer. This was witchcraft such The guiltless one will grow strong from

as their own witch doctors practiced. it ; the one with evil in his heart—his belly "Bring those intestines !" Arnold's voice will swell with his own poison that he car- exploded into the uneasy gloom. ries and he will surely die. Up and open Kaffa, the Hottentot, scuttled forward your mouths and let the guiltless have no with the mass. Not without a certain dis- fear!" gust Arnold pored over the offal. With something like relief the men stood "A young buck," he mumbled. "With- up. They knew all about this kind of or- out horns, without guile, one that had not deal. Their own magicians always spelled

yet learned the way of lies. Truth unwraps out wrongdoers that way. And it was true,

itself." if the ordeal was done the innocent never

With his forefinger Arnold made a vast suffered; and if one did, why there was pretense of tracing out the windings of the proof of his guilt. The thing was infallible. intestines. With meticulous care he fol- lowed the thin tracery of the fatty tissues THE first porter opened his mouth that surrounded the paunch, bending for- obediently. Arnold muttered mumbo-

ward with eagerness, starting with ahs of jumbo and popped an aspirin into it. The surprise and ohs of conviction, breaking off man gulped and waited, half uneasy in his to glare across the fire at the wretched conscience for past wrong doings, though porters who watched with the fearful fasci- innocent enough in the present instance, nation of the African for gruesome mys- feeling no sudden cramp in his vitals, he tery. This was divination of the surest began slowly to grin his relief. sort. Only the best of their witch doctors The second porter took the test with could work this magic. And that this white flying colors. So the third. But the fourth 9* SHORT STORIES man in the row was gray with terror. His to him about the ivory was an alluring left- eyes rolled white and the sinews of his neck over from the days of the great scramble distending dragged down the corners of for Africa. Great Britain, Belgium, his mouth in a horrible grimace. Sud- France were all playing the vast game denly, while the third man was still await- of intrigue for control of Central Africa. ing the verdict of his stomach, the man Nominally they were great trading com- gave an inarticulate howl and bolted out panies who were just trying to open up into the night through the opening in the business. But the trading companies who stockade. Arnold had left it open for that were supported by troops of employees very purpose. who knew how to salute smartly to young "Whau!" was the endorsement of the clerks who openly carried the titles of lieu- men. Even Barounggo and KafFa were tenant and captain. Besides the business of impressed. It was real magic. This had stealing marches upon each other, these been a true witch smelling and the evil one "business men" were faced with the always had fled rather than take the test which treacherous opposition of the Zanzibari would have swelled his belly and killed Arabs who had got into the country before him in agony. them. Arnold couldn't suppress a light smile. The whole situation was a scrambled It was a good hunch and the bluff had mess of intrigue and counter-intrigue with worked. He had figured that the Rudolf vast interests jockeying for control. It can crowd, if they thought he was important be imagined what a glorious time was had enough to stop with that melon trick, by such traders as Tippoo Tib, perhaps would have sense enough to work in a the most infamous of all such opportunists. man with his porters. A clever man must A clever organizer unhampered by any in- be directing the work in the north. Well, hibitions at all, he sent his raiding parties it was really none of his business, so he north and south, east and west. The trail should worry. Still Arnold would like to of slaughter and pillage that he left in his have known what the man's plan was. Ar- wake is but part of African history. senic in all probability. If he had searched The methods of those traders, and Tip- the native he might have found something poo Tib was but one, were simple and interesting. However it was just as well effective. They would rush upon sleeping that the man ran away. Otherwise he'd villages, shoot down all opposition, torture have had to do something pretty horrid to the survivors into confessing the local store make good his bluff about swelling him up. of hidden gold and ivory, and then carry Arnold's ruminations were broken in them all off, men, women and children, upon by the remaining two porters who as porters for the loot, and eventually to came diffidently with every right they were serve as slaves. sure, and wanted their share of the magic Sometimes one of these raiding parties pills which would make them strong be- never came back. Fate or weather or des- cause they were innocent. Laughing, Ar- perate natives overcame them. The Bu- nold gave each of them a five-grain tablet ganda, a tribe of surprisingly advanced of aspirin. state of civilization, who lived along the shores of Lake Victoria, had put up an THREE days found the little safari on organized resistance to these raiders. The the northern slope of Mount Elgon. story that had come to Arnold was of a At that point Arnold had to pick up old large party who had ravaged the country trails. The information he had gathered for a year and had amassed an incredible about this cache of ivory was sure and amount of loot. And then the Buganda accurate. There remained only the exact avengers came upon them. The raiders locale to trace. The story that had come swiftly buried their loot, murdered the THE BLACK GOD 93 workmen in approved fashion, and moved the superior white man's every move, sent out into the best fighting position they him back a goat, and the way was open could find—and were there very properly for social amenities. wiped out by the Buganda. Arnold paid a call and sat on the three- That had happened only about fifty years legged stool of honor before the doorway ago. Old men lived who had seen that of the hut festooned with bones and dried fight. The locale was known. Arnold had snake skins and claptrap, and took snuff checked up descriptions of it from more with the old faker while the uninitiated than one source. What he hoped to find common herd of the village squatted in a now was some old man who had survived wide circle out of earshot to let the two the slave chain and who could perhaps give wise ones discuss the inner mysteries. him some clue as to where all that ivory The two men talked in circles for an had been buried before the battle. hour before Arnold dared broach the ques- When Arnold required information he tion that was uppermost in his mind. And always went to one of two basic sources: there he had drawn a lucky number at his missionaries or witch doctors. Both, he first venture. This old man knew all about maintained, were excellent people and had that battle of Elgon and all about the ivory, many points in common, the most useful too. of which was that both had more down- The fakir had not seen the fight himself right accurate knowledge of their people because he had been serving his novitiate than the most scientific observer could ever in the village of another witch doctor far acquire. away. But the ivory had been buried all He now made inquiries, therefore, for right, and the Buganda, having foolishly the oldest witch doctor in the north Elgon speared every last Arab, had not been able district and put himself out to make friends to find it and had gone away. But some with him. Nothing patronizing or clumsy information had somehow remained alive; about his method. He knew the jealousies for after some seasons had passed a strong and vanities of all people who controlled war party of the Tappuza, who were a their less intelligent fellows through super- branch of the great Elgume tribe, had come stition. down from the north and had dug it all up and taken it away. The old doctor had

met his hundreds of seen it himself ; a vast treasure many hun- ARNOLD had ; L white men whose religion and con- dreds of tusks—thousands, in fact. The viction it was that the African must be warriors of the Tappuza covered the plain dealt with only from the position of lofty and each man carried a tusk; and there dominance. It was a good rule, and knew were many loads of gold besides. all of the arguments and citations with The Tappuza were now the strongest of which it was so uncompromisingly sup- the Elgume peoples because—this was a ported. Arnold knew, too, where to make secret, he said—they had for some time the isolated exception. So, from his pres- past been carefully trading ivory for rifles ent camp, he sent Kaffa to the old rain which the Armenian and Greek traders

maker's hut with a present of tobacco. smuggled down from the Sudan. Still,

Kaffa knew his ambassadorial duties as there must be an immense treasure left, be-

well as any diplomat. First he told the cause it was difficult to get guns ; the Ing- old witch doctor how good he was. Then lesi were so stringent about such matters. how good his own master was—a brother But all the same, the Tappuza were a of the craft, no less—and that he sent a strong people. And thus and so on the gift to express his admiration of the other's witch doctor rambled for a full hour more. powers. Thus properly appreciated, the Arnold came away from that interview old magician, instead of secretly opposing in a thoughtful frame of mind. Not be- 10 !

94 SHORT STORIES cause that buried ivory had been removed. the lavish pay and expenses that the Nairobi As far as that was concerned, one hole in governor had offered? Arnold thought of the ground was as good as another. Not the old Aesop fable about the dog who in- because the Tappuza tribe who now had vited a wolf to dinner; and the wolf mar- it were a "strong people"—he had dwelt veled at the other's ease of life—comforta- with many a strong tribe before. Not be- ble kennel, good food, protection from the cause they had it and recognized its value. constant fear of being hunted, plenty of That merely made a trade proposition of leisure—until a whistle sounded and the the deal rather than a treasure hunt. dog jumped up and said he had to go in- Rather, Arnold was thoughtful because he stantly because his master was calling. So believed in luck, or fate or whatever it was. the wolf preferred to remain a free lone In Africa, every now and then, things hap- wolf. Arnold called Barounggo. pened. Without one's own volition; out- "Barounggo," he told the Masai, "from side of one's knowledge; against one's di- tomorrow we must catch guides to show us rect precaution. They just went ahead and the water holes, for that country to the happened and one was drawn willy-nilly north is bad country and the road is not into the vortex of that happening. known to me." Barounggo remained impassive. "Good, THIS was one of those happenings. bwana," he said quietly. "It is moreover These Tappuza lived up north of the a happening of fate that in this village is Elgon Mountains. They lived, as a mat- a Turcana bush dweller who would return ter of fact, along the western shore of an- to his country. For his food and a present other of the huge lakes of the Great Afri- at the end of the journey he will show the can Rift—Lake Rudolf. That was where good places; so I have engaged him." Arnold did not want to go; had refused Arnold flicked an eyebrow at such pre- to go. It was of just these Tappuza people science. The great seer continued, "It is that Sir David Earl Stewart, the governor already known to me that we go north. of Nairobi had spoken. For three days I have smelled blood on

Fate; that's what it was. It was too my spear blade." circumstantial to be coincidence. It was Arnold grunted with a light laugh: !" just one of those happenings of Africa be- "Helluva cheerful prophet you are yond the molding of mere man. Man pro- poses and Africa disposes. Arnold felt that Chapter III he was being pushed up to the scene of smouldering trouble. That was what gave IT WAS a long trek through bad country him thought. That caution never hurt to the region occupied by the strong anybody was one of his rules. Another tribe of the Tappuza. In point of distance one was: figure it all out in advance and no more than a good day's run in an auto- then jump with both feet. That was why mobile; but to a safari traveling on foot, he was so seldom hurt. a journey of many parched and thirsty

To be or not to be? There might be days ; so desperately thirsty that one drank profit; there might be danger. Those gratefully the water of the water holes. people who were smart enough to make But the burned out plain began to give two attempts to waylay him might place to rolling higher ground, the begin-

' Well, that settled that little question right ning of the escarpment of Lake Rudolf. there. They weren't going to get away Trees other than thorn bush began to ap- with that funny stuff pear. Seepage of water showed among Well, then, should he go back south to sheltered rocks. Green herbage grew. Kisumu, steamer across to Entebbe, see the At the edge of the forest, on the high- chief executive there, and go officially with est available ground overlooking the great

.10 THE BLACK GOD 95 iake fifty miles away, to take advantage in Africa the process is brutally direct. In of whatever breezes might blow; yet no British Africa, there is no severe inquisi- closer, for that again meant descending tion, no finger-printing. One pays a polite ground and more heat, was the little out- call and discloses one's business in the proc- post station of Lo Bur. ess of conservation. It was at Lo Bur where Sidney Sheldon, the assistant commissioner was stationed; ARNOLD, therefore, presented a rather the same assistant whom Sir David decried crumpled card to the barefoot sentry as too young and inexperienced to handle at the barbed wire gate and followed him the impending troubles with the Tappuza in to the shade of the veranda. Dilapidated people. brothers of that card were known in many Also at Lo Bur lived Father Ignatius parts of Africa. Some men—like the gov- van Dahl, a member of the Jesuit Belgian ernor in Nairobi, who knew men—were Mission. Here he had built a mission glad to see them. Others who had heard house from which his hope was to make stories about this strenuous man from the as many as perhaps fifteen converts in the wild and woolly West of that uncouth and course of a year, and to win them to his inexplicable country, America, viewed them mission settlement by teaching them to with misgiving. grow better yams and mealies and bananas Assistant Commissioner Sidney Sheldon than they knew how to grow before. As received the card with a feeling of dismay assistants Father van Dahl had Lay that was akin to panic, which turned to smouldering irritation. He sank back in his chair and frowned while he fidgeted with a carefully clipped blond mustache.

That man in his district! As if he didn't have enough trouble already. There was always trouble where Jimmy Arnold was.

That was true enough on the face of it, though some fault could be found with the wording. It was not exactly that trouble was where Arnold was, so much as that the restless Arnold was so often to be found where trouble was. Sheldon pushed Brother Leffaerts and—a new acquisition back his chair and called sulkily to a boy —D'mitrius Stephanopoulos, zealous con- to bring two whiskey pegs out to the vert from the Greek church in Alexandria, veranda and went to meet his caller.

who had shortened his name to Stephen. Arnold had been received by district offi- It is etiquette in African colonialdom for cials before. He had a quite accurate com- a traveler to call upon the local govern- prehension of what many of them thought

ment authority. It is a pleasing convention of him. He knew that they thought it be- which disguises the harsh necessity of re- cause he came and went his own way, that porting arrival. Where natives are many he did whatever he did without explaining and turbulent, white men are desperately means and motives, and that he went away few, with, among the few, the inevitable again without making clear exactly what percentage of those who would sell their he had done. Or, to paraphrase his words own treacherous souls for gain. It is a wise to the governor, because he would not administrative precaution to know the who write a hundred page report about his do- and the why and the where of each new- ings. Such procedure was disturbing to comer. the peace of mind of district officials whose

In some of the fussier European colonies business it was to read hundred page re- 10 96 SHORT STORIES ports upon what was going on in their know how much the high muck-a-mucks districts. have got hidden away somewhere—not yet. Sheldon received his caller with formal I carry the dynamite 'cause I never know courtesy and made the formal Anglo-Saxon where I may be going; just part of any gesture of good will by offering alcoholic regular kit. I came up here on a yarn stimulant. about some ivory."

Arnold turned the drink down graciously. Sheldon's jaw dropped still farther. He "No peg, thanks very much," he said. had heard some disquieting rumors about "Not so early in the day. I'm a confirmed that ivory. If this troublesome trader sundowner." should come stirring up ancient legends

and if he should discover anything, there RIGHT there, in the perfectly courteous would immediately be confusion and argu- offer and refusal of a drink, was a ment and dissension about property rights source of irritation to a mind already pre- and heaven only knew what else. He set disposed to antagonism. A little thing in out to explain to Arnold with great pa- itself; yet a universal cause of hostility tience all about the difficulties and the throughout the tropics. To any man whose secrecy of the people, and the almost pro- system feels that a stimulant during the hibitive transport problem—and even a sluggish heat of the day is advisable and hint about the "little temporary unrest." perhaps necessary, it is a subtle reproof, a never admitted sense of inferiority, to ARNOLD nodded appreciatively. "That's meet a man whose more robust system does right, you seem to have quite a bit not need that stimulant. of underground something on your hands. Sydney Sheldon was unconscious of re- I picked up a talk about getting guns in. sentment, yet this impalpable barrier had Sounded pretty authentic, too." been raised. Courtesy could continue to The assistant commissioner shot a quick govern all his dealings with this man, but look at Arnold. Where did this uncom- there could be no cordiality. Neither could promising person get so much information Arnold confine himself to the banal pre- that was private news known only to the liminaries of polite conversation. He pro- official elect? However, he commented ceeded directly to give the information only polite surprise. required by law. "Yeah," Arnold supplemented. "Some "I report two rifles, Mr. Sheldon; a sixty or seventy guns I'm told; Martin- .457 and .300, and a sixteen shotgun. Henry carbines mostly, with plenty ammu- About three hundred cartridges all told, nition. If as many as fifty percent of them and two dozen sticks of dynamite." don't blow up there's still enough to make Sheldon's jaw dropped to disclose large, heap big trouble." even teeth and he fussed with his mustache. Sheldon was suspicious. This was damn- It was his duty to know, but he shrank ably explicit. More even than he knew. from the barbarous necessity of the direct Was this man trying to pump him ? Shel- question. Things just weren't done that don was the unfortunate victim of a tra- way. Such matters should always come dition which Sir David could understand. out in the process of conversation; or at He had been reared in the knowledge that least after a decent period of persiflage. in every outlying colony might be found "You—you are thinking of prospecting a certain class of white man who would for gold here, Mr. Arnold?" smuggle guns and liquor to the natives. Arnold felt easier. The stiff prelimi- No white man of his own class would ever naries done with, he felt he could talk. descend to such a despicable business. Here "Shucks, no. There's no gold around was a white man distinctly not of his own

here—not in the ground, that is. I don't class ; therefore potentially he might belong 10 THE BLACK GOD 97 to the other class. And this white man ters of the next district. He knew that seemed to possess much suspicious knowl- regular mail communication was by edge. monthly auto trucks, with an escort of two "Why, you make a very definite state- rifles. From this his simple deduction was ment there about the number of guns which that news that could not wait for the you say have been smuggled in, Mr. Ar- monthly mail must be very urgent. What nold," Sheldon questioned his caller. urgent need might there be in the existing "What basis, permit me to ask ?" situation other than a call for help? And Arnold sensed the thing immediately the bet about car trouble, then, was no and responded accordingly. There it was more than a logical sequence. Having his again, the same old clash between in- own little experiences about the cleverness trenched authority acting according to pre- of the man, whoever might be organizing scribed rule and its honest convictions, and this unrest, in trying to keep him out of the individual with an indomitable sense the game, Arnold felt confident that, if of personal liberty. Arnold's reaction was reinforcements had been sent for, the same always that of the boy who dares to tease alert mind would surely plan to delay them. the policeman. His expression was one of Succeeding would not be a difficult task. innocent mysteriousness. Arnold left the assistant commissioner "Gossip, Mr. Sheldon," he remarked wondering darkly just what was his pur- casually. "Just gossip. Native village pose in coming there, and what might be chatter. You know natives, of course ; and his connection with the smuggled guns you must know how many guns have come about which he seemed to know so much. into your district. I'm just retailing scan- Arnold chuckled as he went. It was so dal." seldom that the bad boy could put any- Sheldon was not at all sure how genuine thing over on the policeman. Authority was this perfectly true statement. Arnold always held all the cards; all the might fired a metaphorical sling shot at a wicked of government; all the sources of informa- chance. tion ; all the mutual assistance and limitless

"And I'll tell you another bit of gossip funds. The lone hunter had nothing but that'll give you a laugh. Your reinforce- his wits and such knowledge as he could ments from Karamojo are having trouble dig out by diplomacy. That made the game with the monthly mail truck and it's pretty an interesting contest of skill. sure betting that they'll have to make it on foot. Twenty days of foot slog over Africa Chapter IV if they're fast." That broadside shook the assistant com- ARNOLD'S next call was on another missioner from his precise reserve. He white man at the mission. Here gagged. Words stuttered in his throat. there was no card of announcement. He This man was a devil. How could he found Father van Dahl standing under the know about an urgent appeal for twenty long fringe of thatch eave over the door. more men—and what did he mean by his A slight, pale figure with deep brown eyes, certitude of car trouble? If it were all true visible above a flowing brown beard and it would be a condition of desperate seri- mustache, robed in the prescribed habit of ousness. But, it couldn't be. This unoffi- the order, which had once been black but cial person couldn't know! which many suns and many washings had faded to a rusty brown, the priest blended AS A matter of fact, Arnold didn't. He into the surroundings. There was no alien had picked up a story about a runner note of newness or harsh superiority; the having been dispatched two weeks previous quiet low house and the quiet little man with a letter going toward the headquar- belonged in that far African setting. 98 SHORT STORIES

"Mr. Arnold?" The priest held out his formed about the idol. An alert mind with hand. "They told me you had not long no hallucinations, he dissected the situation arrived. I have heard much of—Arnold with clarity and in fluent English. bwana. You will come in, yes; and the The juju was an unusually large one boy will prepare the bath. Very shortly carved out of some black wood, probably we eat our little tiffin. You will partake ebony. It was hardly new, probably an with us?" antique and had been produced from some Arnold took the proffered hand that he witch house by its present high priest who could have broken easily in his own brown was a cunning old highbinder. It stood

fist and marveled, as he always did, at the upon a roofed platform some thirty feet

spirit that could keep so frail a man in so up in a solitary "ghost tree" ; it was hung thankless a place. The cool dimness of the about with the usual collection of bones house called to him. and offerings ; and it did tricks.

"Yes, to all of them, Padre, and heaps What kind of tricks? Well, its most thanks. Exactly what my system needs. I spectacular trick was that its arm and jaws hope that all you've heard about me hasn't moved and it ate offerings—some simple been as bad as some other people have system of strings or levers, no doubt, ma- heard." nipulated probably from the tree against the

Father van Dahl smiled wisely. "We trunk of which it stood. At certain times, who live in Africa, after we have lived a proclaimed in advance with all its attendant long time, we understand what to hear and hokum, it talked and gave messages to the how to hear, is it not?" people. Stage effects, no more, put across He pulled, almost as a bird, at Arnold's by a smart knave; but quite spectacular

sleeve ; and the dimness of the house swal- enough to capture the infant imaginations lowed them. Through the simple little of the Tappuza savages and to bend them lunch served by Lay Brother Laffaerts and to whatever purpose the highbinder had the convert Stephen, they discussed Ar- in view. nold's search for the hidden ivory. For the moment, however, Arnold was inter- ARNOLD^ sat with narrowed eyes, a ested in something else. L deep straight line running from his "The ivory can wait for now," he said nose up into his forehead. "There's just pleasantly. "The question of transport will two questions come out of that," was all

keep it right where it is. But what about his comment. "The man or men, whoever this new juju that the natives are hanging they are, are playing up to start a fuss. their courage on—what about it, what is Why? The organized intelligence back of it? That's more important." it all is more than the common witch doc- The priest was immediately grave, his tor has. Who ? If Sheldon knows enough eyes those of a pleading spaniel. to find those two answers he'll know how "Yes, yes that is most important," he to put the skids under the trouble." sighed. "They are children, these people; Brother Stephen thrust out his hands, they run to follow a show. This idol, it palms uppermost, and his round, dark face makes some tricks. The man is clever, twisted into a grimace that was not compli- and my people leave me. More than a mentary. "Mr. Sheldon thinks that the hundred there were—what is left? Per- way to stop this trouble is to confiscate haps twenty—perhaps ten. They leave and the ivory so that it cannot be traded for

go to howl in the night before that devil guns ; and he is hoping to find it." made of wood. It is the story of Africa. "That would cause a riot," returned Ar-

Let Brother Stephen tell it. I will leave nold with a nod of certitude.

you. I still have some small duties." "Yes, immediate riot, at once. But he " Brother Stephen happened to be well in- will never find it. I could Stephen —"

THE BLACK GOD 99 checked himself. "If he were not so high can figure that out—if the government and mighty toward a Greek trader I could would ever permit so many men to leave perhaps help him. He had even planned to their fields at once. No, my friend, I as-

confiscate the juju." sure you, as a business man, this is not a "And that would have meant that you trade proposition." would all have been wiped out. These people have too many guns against Shel- ARNOLD remained in silent cogitation, don's little force." absorbed in intent examination of the "Yes, but I—but Father van Dahl end of his second cigar and in the great agreed with my opinion and persuaded him rings he blew to enormous distances in that to do nothing so hastily before he had still, warm air. "I think you're dead right in everything you say," he said at last. "And I think

I'll go and see if this Sheldon gent is possi- bly as good an egg beneath his shell of caste as the old governor at Nairobi." Brother Stephen's shoulders showed his disapproval. "I would not advise you to do that, my friend. I assure you he will— listen to nothing ; he will take no advice rising passion darkened the sallow face "he will insult you to your face with his many more soldiers. So, you see, we stand politeness ; he will What do you want upon a gunpowder mine. My advice to to go to him for? You are not interested anybody would be to go away before the in this thing, you say ; not officially. As a mine blows up." trade it is not possible, I tell you. Then Arnold nodded impersonally. "Yeah, leave the official to take care of his own that would be the wise thing for a man to troubles. Go away before trouble comes do. But I came up to look into this ivory to you. It is not your affair." yarn." He ceased abruptly and blinked his round Brother Stephen's hands were eloquent. eyes, swallowing to control his emotions. "My friend, let me give you my opinion Arnold blew some more smoke rings in on that matter as a trader of experience. silence. Consider. This ivory is no longer a buried "You're right again in everything you treasure. It must be bought from these say," he repeated. "Dead right. All the people—under government supervision and same I think I ought to have a pleasant the government tax must be paid. If there chat with Sheldon. And there's Father is not so much of it as you hope the small van Dahl's hundred men to be remem- profit is not worth the distance involved. bered. It would be a pity to have them

If there is enough of it to make it really led astray by a trick juju after they have pay, you would need a whole tribe to trans- learned to wear white clothes and to grow port it. Slow travel with the weight ; one bigger and better yams." month's journey to the railway at Kisumu. That apparently forgotten consideration "This is not the good old days when was beginning to dawn in Brother Ste- you could dash a chief a few gaudy gim- phen's face as Arnold left him. cracks and have him order his men out. Well, there was the whole truth about You would have to pay the rate prescribed affairs. Witch doctors and missionaries.

by the government ; seven hundred men at Those were the people who always under- one shilling a day apiece with food allow- stood the rest of the people and who had ance and half pay coming back. And you the information; Arnold came from the 10 100 SHORT STORIES missionary interview even more thoughtful this day that you moved the camp into a than he had come away from the ancient strong place?" witch doctor at the Elgon Mountain. He "A small talk, bwam," Barounggo re- smiled thinly to himself as he walked. plied, "yet such as I have heard before a

There was the answer to the first of letting of blood. Talk was that the Black the two questions. Clever lad, Stephen. One of the ghost tree will talk this night." Seemed to know quite accurately about "Hmh. That is talk that must be heard everything. The thin smile stretched to by you or Kaffa, and I must know what a grin. Sheldon must have upstaged the is said by this witch doctor," Arnold or- good Brother pretty stiffly at that. Arnold dered the Masai. decided to see Sheldon himself that night "Nay, bwana," Barounggo's contradic- after he'd had his dinner. He'd be all tion was positive. "The witch doctor only dolled up and at his best then. But—why calls the names and the titles in advance. didn't Stephen want him to see the assis- It is the Black One himself who speaks." tant commissioner? His insistence had a "Huh!" Arnold grunted and walked on peculiar ring to it. in silence. Then softly, "How many men, At the mission outskirts one of Arnold's think you, are following behind us?" porters met him. He had been sent by Barounggo showed no surprise. "It has Barounggo to lead the way through a been in my mind that three men come run- jungly path to the camp. They had moved ning softly." from the hasty halt of arrival and had taken "Good," Arnold returned. "Now there- possession of a deserted stockade with a fore at that bend in the trail where the couple of huts in it which they had re- moon strikes do you step swiftly to the left paired. It was a strong place. and I to the right, and we shall see what "Good," was all that Arnold said. He manner of men come behind us in the wondered what his two boys had heard night." that had induced them to move into a Some thirty paces farther the trail strong place. So close to human habitation took a sharp curve. No sooner round it there were no animal menaces to worry than both men ducked into the bush and about other than the ubiquitous hyenas. crouched. In a few seconds padding foot- steps sounded and the followers trotted into DESPITE his curiosity Arnold asked view. no questions when they arrived at Arnold's eyes narrowed in the dark and camp. The information would come in its he took a quick breath. He had seen this own good time. It would be better for the kind of night runner before. Three present to betray no anxiety. He washed strongly built savages, naked except for up, rested, shaved, ate leisurely. That their gee-strings, and each carried a short, brought him to the time for his after dinner heavy stabbing spear. Their heads were

visit to the assistant commissioner. He thrust forward, the moonlight glinted white signalled to Barounggo to accompany him. upon their eyeballs, distended with excite- ment, and upon strong, white teeth showing The Masai was ready; all that he needed between curled lips that panted wide, was to pluck his great spear from the though not with the exertion of their ground where it stood upright at the en- stealthy running. Killers they were, and trance to the hut and to stalk behind his the lust of hot blood gleamed from each master. thin moon cut black and white A dark face. silhouettes out of the jungle path. They Arnold muttered a curse and hurled him- walked a while in silence. self out of his hiding place in a flying tackle Arnold spoke first after a long trek at the foremost runner. The man crashed through the bush. "What talk has been down with a startled yelp and Arnold in- THE BLACK GOD stantly rolled with him into the black bind. It is a bad business. We sit under shadow of the underbrush. the very mantle of the English ruler, and At the same moment a coughing much trouble will be made over spilled "Whaughl" the war shout of the Masai, blood. Sure justice will come in the length told him that Barounggo had not hesi- of days; but we do not want talk and tated. His own man was a burly fellow, bother and interference in my doings now.", who, after his first surprise, fought in fero- Arnold stood frowning at the body of cious silence. In the darkness, Arnold, the killer who was still pinned to a tree.' clinging to his spear hand, found some dif- A trickle of blood crawled the length of ficulty in locating the man's head, holding the spear shaft and fell with a plop onto

1 it down with his free hand and smashing a dry leaf. Here was a nasty dilemma. his knee hard under the ear. The squirm- The three men had quite obviously fol- ing figure went limp. lowed them with murderous intent in the Arnold leaped from that place, ten feet third attempt to keep him out of the fer- in one great bound, to another patch of menting trouble. Everything could no shadow beside the path and crouched for doubt be proven and cleared up; but the whatever might come. Running feet re- one certainty of the whole affair was re- ceded farther up the trail. A tall, dark strictive delay. figure stood with his back to a tree, head forward, great spear raised. Arnold was THE Masai spoke from the shadow at a disadvantage. He tore his automatic where he was tying the unconscious from his belt holster, though under the very man's hands with a quickly twisted rope shadow of the established law, as it were, of grass. Arnold's antagonist must be he hesitated to get himself involved in any made safe. premature blood spilling. "Bwana," Barounggo spoke softly, But the dark figure in the half-shadow "there is a word in my mind. I have of the tree did not move. The head hung many times listened to the talk of the in the same forward strained position. The white priests who say that their great white threatening spear pointed not at Arnold spirit who rules all things has put all but curiously horizontal. In the same sec- things into the world for a good purpose. ond Arnold knew. He whistled thinly and This is a hard talk to understand, but a pushed his pistol slowly back into its hol- little is clear to me. For this good pur- ster. He stepped closer softly. The spear pose he has put these many hyenas into was not one of the short stabbing spears the land. Let me throw these two dead of the killers, but the great weapon of the dogs into the first donga and in one hour

Masai. Four inches of the blade's butt, a it shall not be known how they died. And hand'sbreadth wide, showed darkly red be- if bwana will permit likewise this third dog fore the man's chest. The remaining who would have murdered us from be- " twenty inches of steel were through him hind and fast in the tree trunk behind. Arnold grunted a short laugh and came Arnold was levering the blade loose to a decision. "You'd make a swell convert when running steps sounded again. Single for the good padre; you have the faculty footsteps. It was the Masai, eager, face of acceptance of fundamentals. Listen now, gleaming with excitement. He stood and Barounggo. Thus it shall be. Give these

regarded his handiwork critically. two to the hyenas ; this third one take back "Hau, that was a good stroke. So, now into the stockade; bind and watch him three dead." well. He must be questioned and we may Arnold shook his head. "It was not learn something. I go to talk with the good, Barounggo. And three are not dead. bwana Inglesi." This one in the shadow we must take and Arnold found the assistant commissioner SHORT STORIES sitting in his veranda in solitary after-din- so —far as it affected this ivory story. ner state. He could see the pale glow of But " the eyes narrowed to the same hard Sheldon's shirt front, a white splash in the thinness as the mouth—"some nervy gent deep shadow, long before he reached the connected with this fuss is so interested in steps. me that he's begun to warp my judgment. Like any other man, Arnold had grown But let's continue to be impersonal for up with certain traditions himself. One of awhile yet. Let's suppose, for a moment, these was that to wear anything white was that everything was quiet here and a man a foolish invitation when trouble was should locate this hoard and deal for it abroad. The formal greeting concluded, legitimately. Would you sanction his hir- the formal drink accepted, Arnold ventured ing porters here?" a well meant warning. "That would depend," Sheldon returned "Mr. Sheldon, you ought to be able to judiciously, "upon how much ivory he step out there and look at yourself once. wanted to take away."

You've no idea what a target a boiled shirt "Well, suppose that man should tell yoti makes for any sportively inclined native that there were seven hundred tusks ; what who's got one of those Martini-Henry's." would you say?" Sheldon shook his head confidently. "I would say first, Mr. Arnold, that I

"Oh, I suppose it is visible at quite a dis- don't believe there is any such fortune of tance. But then, Mr. Arnold, one can't ivory in this district; next that that man drop all the conventions of decent civiliza- knew very much more about this secret tion just because one happens to be posted than I do; and finally, that I would refuse in a savage country." to sanction any such number of porters. Arnold, dressed in breeches and shoot- Why, my good sir, that would be a migra- ing coat, and with frayed cuffs at that, tion. You have no idea what such a tribal grinned to himself in the darkness. He upset would mean." had met the same thing all over Africa. It was the proper thing to do and it was ARNOLD nodded. "Well, leaving out therefore done. Tradition again. And un- the ivory, suppose a man should tell swerving faith to that tradition. you that somewhere in the tribe is a store But he had come to talk, not to quarrel. of gold in quills. What would you say He approached the subject placatingly. then to that?" "Will you let me ask you a few questions, Sheldon was positive in his tone. "I Mr. Sheldon—and let us look at question would tell that man, first, as an officer of and answer quite impersonally?" Sheldon inclined his head. "Well, then," Arnold began, "have you formed any idea of what is the real bed- rock reason for this unrest here?" Sheldon weighed his words before an- swering. "I don't mind answering that question, Mr. Arnold. I say, no, I don't

know. I believe it to be the work of a the government, that he might as well for- crazy witch doctor with a sense of his sud- get it, because the government would not den power over his superstitious people in- permit the tribe to be exploited. That gold flating his ego. In turn I would ask you would have to—be paid for at its face value. why you are interested in this unrest?" And secondly " Sheldon's— eyes narrowed Arnold weighed his answer in turn. "I'm directly into Arnold's "I would demand interested only, as I told you, Mr. Sheldon from that man how he knew so much about —that is to say, I was interested—only in the ivory as to be able to state its quality — —

THE BLACK GOD and so much about the gold rumor as audacious. That the unrest might develop to know that it was put up in quills? I into an uprising he knew only too well. would regard that man, Mr. Arnold, with But that the whole thing should be a de- suspicion, and I would watch his every liberate plot, so diabolically clever—and move. In fact, I would cease to regard going on right under his nose—that was the question as impersonal ; and I ask you more than he could assimilate all at once. flatly, Mr. Arnold, as the administrative officer of this district, how do you come to REVOLTING from its acceptance, his have all this informaton which has not even mind searched for difficulties in its been reported to me?" conception. He found one almost immedi-

Arnold laughed shortly. "I have not ately and it was so conclusive that he was all that information, Mr. Sheldon. I afforded a laugh. don't expect you to believe me, but I "That is a very ingenious theory, Mr. repeat, I'm following a thin trail of a story Arnold. But you forget an important and I'm guessing. But I have one piece point; I might say a prohibitive point. The of information now which I will tell you. jolly old transport problem, don't you

I'll tell you the rock bottom reason that's know. While your magician might suc- back of this unrest." ceed in temporarily dislodging the govern- Arnold pointed his statement with a long ment in this district he couldn't upset all

forefinger. "This whoever it is who is stir- of British Africa, could he? And one can't ring up trouble is aiming to bring about safari several hundred men with elephants' an uprising—it don't matter how quickly tusks hidden about their person; or even suppressed or who pays the piper after- a few men with gold in quills, for that wards." matter. Sheldon permitted himself a smile. "Up- "To the northeast across the lake is risings are always possible in Africa when Abyssinia, where they would take every- the natives are excited about something; thing away from him in the first day's trek. but you ascribe an unusual intelligence to To the north and northwest is the British the agitator. Why, Mr. Arnold, permit Sudan and desert. Not a single water hole me to ask, does this witch doctor wish to in many hundred miles. All the rest around have an uprising? What would be his pos- us is British Uganda or Kenya Colony sible gain as against his very sure future not upset by your intriguing genius. And,

punishment ?" dash it all, we do know what is going on Arnold pointed his forefinger like a gun. in the country. So, where, Mr. Arnold, "Suppose, Mr. Sheldon," he said slowly, would your man go?"

"that it isn't the witch doctor who is the "That is the big hole in the argument," bedrock. Now, this man who's supplying Arnold admitted, "and maybe I can find the brains wants to get the administration that out. But let's suppose for a little bit out of the way for just a little while longer. Suppose that is the plan, how

no, let me finish please. He wants to get could you stop the trouble before it came

it out of the way so that he can make his to an uprising and a white killing?" own dicker with whatever chief will be in Sheldon's triumph in the argument had power. He'll arrange with the chief for put him in a more tractable humor. He porters at about four cents a day. He'll was willing to discuss and disclose a corner fix up to snaffle all that ivory and that gold, of administrative policy.

to pay for it in trade trash, and to make "That is a problem, I don't mind admit- his getaway before the government can re- ting," he confessed. "You know, of course, store order and come back to control that all these African disturbances are the things." work of some single dominant personality Sheldon gasped. The statement was too who understands how to excite the monkey 10 —

104 SHORT STORIES mind of the herd. These poor fools have Sheldon listened to the crunch of Ar-

nothing against us ; they are infinitely bet- nold's retreating footsteps on the gravel ter off than they ever were before, and if the khaki coat and breeches had melted into they would stop and think they would the darkness. The assistant commissioner know it. But the excited African can not just couldn't make up his mind. Was Ar- think. Some dominant mind is exciting nold all right after all? these people by an appeal to their super- Arnold walked back through the moon- stitions. Eighty percent of the African streaked jungle path alone, alert with ready wars have been started that way." gun, but not unduly anxious. The domi-

nant mind, the dispatcher of three killers, SHELDON stopped to shake his head in would hardly have had time yet to ascer- a gesture of resignation. "We don't tain the result of the mission and to have know who the person is in this case, but made new preparations. it's obvious that his instrument of excita- His lips were set in a grim smile, but tion is this blasted juju. You know all Arnold did not devote much time to indig- about the smuggled guns somehow so I nation. The attempts on his life irked him may as well admit I'm not strong enough to no little degree, it was true, but his just now to risk any possible riot." mind was engrossed with other things. There spoke Africa again. Arnold un- Thoughts flew from point to point in his derstood and nodded. He knew the old brain; guesses formed, worked themselves story by heart. Here was this stiff-necked out or remained as reckonable possibilities. official sitting, as Brother Stephen had said, Certain things adhered together in an as upon a powder mine. Yet the thought yet intangible train which he voiced to never even came to him that he might de- himself. sert his post. Nor did that thought occur So Sheldon would regard with suspicion to the missionary. Nor, for that matter, a man who knew that there were seven to Arnold. That was why the white man hundred tusks and that the gold was put dominated Africa. up in quills. Arnold wondered about that. "So the question boils down," Arnold And the Greek, Brother Stephen as he said quietly, "to who gets there first. The styled himself, doesn't think of himself in dominant mind with this uprising, or your his own mind as a missionary, but as a reinforcements." man of business, a trader. Again Arnold "Well—er I suppose that is so, Mr. wondered. Still the hole remained. Where Arnold, since you put it that way." would the man go with the stuff if he got "And believe me your reinforcements are it? going to take a long time getting here." At his camp he inquired about the pris- Sheldon was immediately belligerently oner. The man had been put into one suspicious again. "What do you know of the huts and was safe. He would keep

about my reinforcements, Mr. Arnold? till morning. Arnold turned in to get some There again you display an unwarranted much needed sleep. He intended to devote knowledge. I have a right to know your the next night—when the juju would talk source of information and I demand to —to constructive wakefulness. know." Arnold held up disclaiming hands. "I Chapter V don't know a darn thing, Mr. Sheldon. I'm guessing. You don't believe my MORNING brought an interview with guesses. When I know anything definite the prisoner, but it was entirely un-

I'll tell you. Good night and thanks for satisfactory from every angle. Arnold had your information." to look at the man's face but once to know 10 THE BLACK GOD that there was little hope. It was a brutish NO, IT was impossible. Except—Ar- gorilloid face with wide cheek bones and nold strained his eyes over the map prognathous jaw. The typical gunman and visualized roads and ways and means. type in the white race. Dull witted enough Safaris could not just disappear into the to be callous nad physically courageous. uncharted wilderness; they were confined He knew nothing. He had been told to by certain definite trails by the inexorable go out and do a job, and he had gone ac- circumstances of water holes. Kenya cordingly. He was to receive a piece, two Colony? The sinewy brown finger trailed and a half yards, of print cloth in payment. off hundreds of miles in a wide north-east- He did not hesitate to name the higher up south arc. Uganda? Westward clear to who had given him his orders— a certain the Belgian Congo. All of it quietly, effi- Umbale, a native of the village. It meant ciently policed. Up to the northwest there nothing. Arnold had never hoped that the were no water holes at all. The Tappuza guiding genius would have been foolish wooded country gave way to desert. Four enough to deal with this stupid tool di- hundred miles of blazing sand and rock rectly. and rubble to the mud village of Rejaf on Arnold was convinced that that was all the white Nile. Not a water hole, not a the man did know. He knew better than tree, not a blade of grass. An empty, to try to extort further information under deadly barrier. threat of death. Only the civilized man, Yet—an idea began to grow. Desert. educated to dread after life torment, fears That meant no water. No water meant no death. Primitive man lives in too close rain. No rain meant no steep sided wash- contact with sudden death to be terrified out ravines criss-crossing the country. by its imminent threat. That meant level, or at most rolling "A spear and the bonga," Barounggo ground; sand dunes. No nourishment for suggested. man or beast. But—the idea flashed to a "Shut up," Arnold quieted his man. climax. What was four hundred miles to "Put the fool back in the hut. Feed him an automobile truck? Had not a French and hold him safe. If he cries out drop Count Somebody-or-other crossed the Sa- sand in his mouth for a lesson. Perhaps hara with a train of trucks? later we give him to the bzmna Inglesi for Arnold whistled his tuneless melodies justice." through his teeth and his eyes contracted Arnold went to the official residence and to almost sightless slits. Was there any asked to look at maps. Permission was hole in that idea? Rejaf? The Nile? Too granted readily enough though with unmis- far up for regular river steamer traffic;

takable suspicion as to motive. Arnold but native boats plied up and down all the spread an enormous roll out on a table, time with a worthless assortment of up-

weighted the corners and pored over it. river trade. Dried mud fish; papyrus What Sheldon had said was true. Ex- reed; pottery. All kinds of junk. Miles of barren, uninhabited stretches cept for a little corner of Abyssinia abut- above and below the mud town. Many ivory tusks ting on the lake, the rest was British ter- could be loaded into the bilge of a native ritory. Miles upon thousands of square boat, covered over with any kind of junk miles colored pink. It was true, too, their and could keep going without question till territories were well administered. Any doomsday. Arnold removed his weights large safari movement would be reported and the map rolled up with a conclusive and quietly checked over at some point by snap. Well, that filled in that hole. He some outlying resident white official. Par- was ready to bet on question why. There ticularly if the word had gone out that still remained who? something bulky was being smuggled out. Arnold went to have tea at the mission. 10 —

SHORT STORIES

He talked with the good missionaries about THE ghost tree stood alone, a giant nothing in particular ; the gossip of interior wild fig with enormous horizontal Africa. People and tribes and local cus- limbs and wide, buttressed roots, between toms and railroad developments and isola- some of which one might have pitched a tion of distances and safari travel and autos tent. Half of the spreading base had been and airplanes. Airplanes would be the sal- built up with crooked sticks and thatch to vation of the interior. All agreed to that. form a witch house. Bones, human skulls, As to automobiles which had opened up dried monkey mummies, snake skins—all the rest of the world—the trouble with the horrors dear to the African mind hung automobiles, said Brother Stephen, was the about in gruesome suggestiveness. prohibitive expense of bridging the wash- For fifty yards around the tree was a out ravines. If it were not for that, there clearing, stamped hard by the pounding of were many makes of cars that would stand many hundreds of naked feet. The dark the rough going over the veld. clearing was packed just now with naked Brother Stephen was able, out of his experiences during his trading days not so long ago, before—with a flashing smile before his reformation, he was able to name some of these cars and discuss their merits. Arnold came away mumbling to himself. Brother Stephen had the knowledge. Did he have the nerve? Away to his left he could hear a steady drumming. He knew the rhythm. It was the notice of a ceremony. It would con- tinue all day, and that night the juju was shuffling, heaving bodies, all stamping a going to talk. Decidedly, both Barounggo dull rhythm on the hard ground. A sweaty and Kaffa would have to go and hear that odor of goat pens eddied in the hot night talk. He told them so again. They were air over the human mass. only too eager. So were the six porters. Back of the clearing was a treeless scrub He gave them all leave to go. of tangled bush and stunted thorny mimosa. With the beginning of dusk they went. In the scrub Arnold lay on his belly. It Arnold lounged in indolence until full dark was pitch black in the shadow, for which

—till no possible watcher could note his he was properly thankful. This was as movements. Then he too got up with the near as he dared to come. Arnold had no eagerness of one who contemplated a show. hallucinations about any sleuth ability to First he went to the prison hut and assured disguise himself so that he could mix in himself that the captive was safe. He then with the crowd. A white man detected in that hysterical mob would be torn apart by opened one of his safari bundles ; one of his clutching blunt fingernails and big white secrets that not even his own servants must teeth. know. From a cloth roll he took a fat From where he crouched Arnold had a black stick and proceeded to make a black clear view of the juju. Halfway up the face of himself. giant tree was its platform—high enough More than once before in his experience for the hocus-pokus of manipulation to pass had found that the glow of white face he a muster. At either corner of the platform the noticeable in dark was almost as as the a smoky wick in a saucer of oil lighted the glow of a white shirt front. Arnold was awesome idol; a squatting figure carved

going where a white face would be a swift with all the savage talent for the bizarre ; a passport to a particularly horrible death. huge grotesque of jutting angles and vast JO THE BLACK GOD opaque shadows. High lights glittered evitable priestcraft—and soon would come blackly from the knobby, drawn-up knees, the sign. from the curve of a great, pot belly, and Africans do not cheer. The crowd reflected out of the higher gloom from the seethed and its grunts of ejaculation rolled outlines of a bushel-basket mouth and glar- back and forth like summer thunder. Ar- ing eyes. A clever stage effect of a voodoo nold was grave. This matter was closer horror. to bloody riot than even he had guessed. The thick arms which hung between the The juju's trick was most dramatically splay feet moved jerkily. The heavy jaw impressive. Its great jaws opened once chattered on a hinge like a ventriloquist's more and commenced on another harangue dummy. For a space the thing confined on the wrongs of the black man. Arnold itself to these antics while the crowd below listened, and wonder dawned upon him. shuffled and milled in suspense. He thanked his various heathen gods that An overwrought savage, nerves taxed he had come. Never would Barounggo beyond endurance by the awe-inspiring and Kaffa have been able to report the im- suspense, screamed a high pitched hyena portant essence of this speech. His suspi- laugh, slavering through blubber lips, and cions crystallized. This talk made every- fell to the ground. He writhed unnoticed. thing clear; everything possible—and in- His howlings were smothered out in horrid finitely more dangerous. gurglings under hard feet. The mob The voice that mumbled from above was moaned in minor keys and closed over him. an unmistakable African voice; but the

He screamed once more and was silent. claptrap that it dispensed was pure Bolshe- Shoulders heaved; heads tossed like cattle vism. The African in himself has no in- before the break of thunder; eyeballs herent sense of his wrongs; he has not glared white like those of the juju. evolved to that state. If he is starved, and

Arnold crouched in his shadow, tense. if he is beaten and robbed, he resents it He knew the danger of Africa in that with dull apathy. If the starving and beat- temper, This was more than he had come ing and robbing reach a point beyond hu^ prepared to see. man endurance he will rise in a howling The looming idol tired of its chatterings mob and will rend and slaughter every- and its jerkings. It yawned cavernously to thing within his reach. show inset bones for teeth, each as large as He will rise and slaughter for other dollar pieces. The packed crowd shivered. causes, too. But of his own volition, never The thing was going to speak. because some intangible authority claims to own the land upon which he lives, which THE jaws clicked woodenly. A hollow his fathers reclaimed from the jungle; nor megaphonic voice issued. Arnold could because he has to pay a tax to that intan- make out most of its mumblings. The gible authority for the privilege of grow- v Tappuza dialect was an offshoot of the ing yams upon his own land. primitive Masai with a sprinkling of Kiswahili. The The African is not convinced that he is an oppressed proletariat. But message was meat for the attendant con-

if he is told that he is ; if he is told it care- gregation. It flattered their strength. It fully, in words of one syllable; and told praised their courage. It promised them often; and told the same thing again; and wealth, and above all indolence. There with all the force of awesome skullduggery would be nothing to do except sit in the to back up that telling—then the possibili- of their huts eat. soon, shade and And ties of the primitive African are devastat- soon, soon, would all these good things be ing. No witch doctor could think those forthcoming. Tomorrow it would eat of- thoughts. They would be beyond his ken. ferings—Arnold grinned grimly at the in- But any African spellbinder could put those io8 SHORT, STORIES thoughts across to the herd if some more in the black shadows, softly, cautiously.

sophisticated intelligence, which knew how It was not an animal ; he knew that at once. potent such rhetoric was to inflame the This was no sniff-sniff-snuffle of any beast. primitive mind, would coach him along. It was the slow, careful exhalation of a hu- Arnold's lips framed to a soundless man under the exertion of moving in dead whistle. The intelligence behind this cun- silence. ning propaganda—the same intelligence Arnold cursed himself for a fool. Not that had guided three attacks upon his own because he was there, but because he must life—was indubitably a white man, or men. have in his absorption, in craning for a It was white intelligence that could see a better view, made some noise to have be- huge profit in all that ivory and gold if it trayed his presence. Some sharp eared could dash the jubilant local chief a present savage must have detected something in the and make a getaway—maybe by automo- bush and was crawling to investigate. Some bile—across the otherwise impassable des- unusually nervy fellow to go prowling ert. about in the outer dark when magic was afoot. ARNOLD'S blood chilled. So that was He had been through too many violent ** the seed of that plot. A perfect plan, experiences to have any hallucinations about carried out with devilish cleverness. In- any sort of certitude in the matter of a exorable in its progress, and certain, from fight. It was only in the motion pictures present indications, of success. The little that the intrepid hero could be sure of white community that would be obliterated seizing an adversary and choking him into by the first wave of that mad orgy sat help- instant silence. That silence was desper- less. What if he should tell the govern- ately necessary to Arnold. A single cry, ment authority all that he knew and all a scuffle, and that hysterical mob only a that he suspected? What if the authority few feet in front of him would hurl itself, believed every word of it? Authority sat screaming and fighting one another, to lay with empty hands, with a black sergeant clawing hands upon the intruder who had and six soldiers against who could tell how dared to spy upon their black mysteries. many fairly modern guns? What could it do? Apprehend the guiding spirit? Who ARNOLD had seen a dog once torn into was the guiding spirit? If, acting in des- * little pieces of rag by the infuriated peration upon suspicion it should succeed males of a troup of rock baboons. He had in arresting the evil genius, had not the no foolish shame of flight. He rolled softly deluge already gained sufficient momentum over from his stomach, and over again. His to carry it blindly forward? Authority legs felt the prick of a thorny stem. Care- could watch it come; but lacked sufficient fully he drew them up and clear and rolled force to stem it. again. He listened. In the clearing the Authority could also run away. But crowd still shuffled and murmured. From Arnold laughed silently. The same tradi- where he had just been his straining ears tion that made authority wear a boiled shirt fancied they detected the click of a break- for dinner in the wilderness would make it ing twig. stick through hopeless odds and against all He was on his knees now. How he reason to the end. His night prowl had thanked his stars for those days in his given him much to make him very serious youth when he had played Indian with real indeed. So he laughed again out of a Indian boys from the reservation and had crooked mouth. labored so earnestly to vie with them in Suddenly he stiffened. His never dor- stalking the hostile brave. He had to feel his mant hunter's instinct made him aware of way, reaching with cautious hands to locate a presence near him. Something breathed bush and overhanging branch and to sweep THE BLACK GOD *°9 dry twigs from his path. For a moment bristly stem radiated low hanging arms. he thought he had lost his skulking follower. Farther to the left. More thorns. Arnold Then a soft scrape of thorn upon cloth was in a cul-de-sac. Beyond him sounded came to him. the rustle and crackle of the other stalker. He wriggled under a bush, breathing This fellow was not so skillful. Behind hard. Curse his foolishness in getting in him came the stealthy crawl of the expert such a trap ! The man was good. Arnold with the knife. It was a trap. himself was far from a clumsy stalker, but Arnold was unarmed, to all intents and this fellow managed to keep right on the purposes. He had his automatic, of course, trail. Could he smell him? Arnold won- in his belt holster. But as well as use that dered uneasily. He had heard many he might stand up and shout his presence. natives claim that a white man's smell was The only weapon to this situation was a strong and unmistakable. Was this fellow piece of lead pipe. following him by scent? Arnold rolled He reached out a cautious hand and with drawn knees through another opening groped the ground for a stone. Something —and stopped in the middle of the turn. to give weight to an empty hand. In this To his left, farther away, sounded an- hope his luck was with him. His groping other swishing of disturbed foliage. Was fingers closed on a large oval that fitted the bush full of silent stalkers in the dark? nicely to the hand. Arnold crouched on And why so blood chillingly silent? knee and one hand and waited. Why didn't they yell an alarm and call the Before him, skyward, the far glow of the howling pack? But this was no time for juju's footlights showed blurry patches of questions. Arnold scrambled hurriedly in foliage in silhouette. Around him the a right angle direction. His hand came shadows were black. The very blackness down hard on a two-inch mimosa thorn took form and swelled and shrank and which immediately pierced clear through shifted. It was hopeless to try to discern the heel of his thumb. His tortured nerve anything there. Arnold's heart thumped responses forced a hissing intake of breath. and he took long inhalations to still its He lurched on through the passage into pounding. Stillness was the most difficult an apparently more open place—and the thing in his life. presence was there. Suddenly out of the black a hand pawed It breathed heavily. Soft pats indicated his face. Arnold, shaken from his nervous a groping hand. Something touched his tension, nearly yelled. In the next second boot. He snatched his foot away. Leaves the other would yell his discovery. A faint rustled above; a straining grunt; a swish; odor clung to the hand ; not of goat, not of and a soft chuck in the ground where his sweat, not of plain African dirt—but of foot had been. sandalwood perfume! All that came to Arnold out of that star-

ARNOLD scuttled desperately from tling discovery was the flash that it ex- there; he didn't know where. The plained why a knife and not a spear. He noise he made seemed to him appalling. visualized the knife again, heaved up for There was no mistaking those sounds. He the instant stroke, and not, this time, at might almost have seen the action in broad where a boot had been. The issue depended daylight. That had been the vicious upon swiftness of decision. Upon which stroke of a knife. Limping on two knees of the two would recover first from the mo- and a hand, Arnold contrived with his teeth mentary shock of actual contact. Arnold to get a hold on the broken end of the judged his distance and direction, heaved thorn. Its drawing out seared like a hot his shoulder and swung his long arm over needle. A tangle of thorn barred his prog- with all his might. There was a hard thud

ress. He wormed to the left of it. A as the stone struck; a stab of excruciating —!

SHORT STORIES pain where an overreaching fingernail had Arnold supposed that he had hidden him- impacted. A soft, knuckly sound of sub- self in the scrub to overhear whether his sidence. lessons were being put across properly and Out in front the juju mumbled guttur- to supplement omissions in future lectures. ally. The crowd shifted and stamped. This Clever. Not a mistake anywhere, except thing had been as silent as the best talking Arnold scowled into the dark—except the picture could have wished. To the left mistake of starting hostilities against him. sounded the scuffling of the other, less Three times. Three attempts on his life. skillful, stalker, clearly in a tangle himself. Somebody was going to pay damages for Arnold began his precarious retreat from that.

1 the trap into which he had crawled. A cer- If—there was always that terrible if tain elation filled him. He had discovered the trouble did not break before Arnold much. The exhilaration of having got out could, or the assistant commissioner could, of a desperate trap was with him. The or somehow somebody could do something other clumsy stalker worried him not at all. The situation was very near its climax. He left him fumbling in the dark and felt The directing genius would never have his own way out from the so nearly fatal been so foolish as to announce a practical

scrub. i declaration of war unless he knew for cer- tain that no reinforcements would suddenly Chapter VI arrive out of the south to spoil his plans. All that was needed now was the last ARNOLD sat in his tent, without light, straw; the final match. One good manifes- thinking. So it was established that tation of the juju—some spectacular mira- the directing intelligence behind all this cle—and the blue flame that glowed just trouble was white. A knife and sandalwood beneath the dark crust of banked fuel would perfume were not native attributes. That blaze out in an orgy of destruction. Let explained, too, why the stalker had not set- almost any little excitement start, and that tled the issue by simply giving the alarm. insensate herd would stampede to the kill. However friendly with a more intelligent To stab and thrust and mutilate long after chief or witch doctor whom he directed the last white man had been killed. That was the history of Africa. The situation was bad. There was no bright ray of hope in the immediate future either. Well, anyway—Arnold was able to bark a short laugh—there was one crafty plotter, who, just about then, would be carrying a horribly sore head in a sling. He would remember that for awhile. Arnold's men came home jabbering in awestruck tones about the wonder they had

witnessed. He sat still and said nothing. from behind the scenes, he would be, as a His mind was occupied. Once, long after white man, just as forbidden as Arnold the men's chatter had died down, he got up, himself to a voodoo ceremony of the herd. fumbled among his duffel, carefully made

Too, the herd, should it be known that a up a package in wrappings of trade cloth, white man was directing operations, would and returned to this thinking. It was a with natural suspicion be less amenable to slim chance, he knew, but the only one. If the spellbindings of their leaders. only Father van Dahl would cooperate. The man was a cunning devil, whoever With earliest morning he went to visit he, or they, were. He overlooked nothing. the mission. He knew that missionaries 10 THE BLACK GOD got up at' an appallingly early hour. Father Righas. Perhaps you have known the van Dahl met him, frail, quiet, smiling a name, yes? Already we consider him one welcome through tired eyes. of us, though he is not really a lay brother

"So early, my friend? It is nothing of as yet ; but the name pleases him, and he is seriousness I hope." a great help." Arnold was forced to smile in return to Arnold's brows contracted. "Righas," the greeting, but the smile quickly left his he muttered. "Righas. No, I don't know face. "Pretty bad, Padre. I've come to the name. They didn't operate in Kenya make medicine. I took in the juju show anywhere." last night." The priest shook his head. "No, not in "So? That was no doubt difficult—even Kenya. In Egypt and the Sudan. They for Arnold bwana, no? Myself, I have were well known and were making much never seen this ; nor any other white man." money—and he has given it all up for our work." ARNOLD smiled wryly. "Hm! Don't Arnold looked ahead blankly. The Su- be too sure, Padre. Your—er—are dan/ That resumed a persistent train of your people up yet?" thought. But he had come on a more im- "Oh, yes; certainly, yes. Even Brother portant errand than blank speculations. He

Stephen." The priest smiled indulgently. told the priest all that he had witnessed ; the

"Though he finds it not so easy as yet. He impressive performance of the juju; the has been not long with us, and our devo- temper of the crowd. tions, yes, they come earlier than those of Father van Dahl was very grave. He one who has been in the trade world." nodded with understanding. "Yes, yes,

Arnold's eyebrows flickered wide. He that is bad. That is very bad. I did not had somehow expected after the previous know. I hoped— Yes, at any time now night's encounter in the bush that Stephen it may come. My poor people." would be—but he wasn't exactly sure what Arnold spoke swiftly, trying to put con- he expected. Why should he have con- viction into an argument that he knew was nected Stephen with anything at all? hopeless. "But there is still time, Padre. Just at that moment Brother Stephen You're not tied down. You're not a gov- appeared. He was passing the door, full ernment official glued to his job. You can of health, without a care in the world. He get out. Grab your valuables and go. You flashed his ready smile, bustled in, shook haven't much to carry and enough of your hands and remarked cheerily on the early converts remain to act as porters." hour. Immediately, then, he bustled out The priest smiled slowly, nodding. "Yes, murmuring something about morning yes, you are a man of the world; you do duties. not understand. You can go while you Arnold was nonplussed. He had been have the opportunity. But I—have I not building a theory upon a suspicion which also my duties? More even than Mr. Sheldon. people, he thought had been clinched the night be- My who for the moment " have been misled fore. Had it been correct, Stephen would have been a sick man this morning, a very ARNOLD was impatient. "But, Padre, sick man. have some sense. In a couple of Father van Dahl was talking with fond months it'll be all over. You can come benevolence. is a great comfort, " "He back and Brother Stephen. He has a way most The priest interrupted in turn. "In a wonderful with the natives. His great ex- couple of months ? In one day, my son, my perience as a trader—yes, it was a firm people will have lost their confidence in riiaking much money; Stephanopoulos and their pastor. My hundred whom I have 10 —

112 SHORT STORIES so slowly won. Shall the shepherd desert backwoods. I'm going out to take a long his flock?" chance; and I'm going to prophesy the

Arnold swore and made no attempt to miracle for you. If it works you win apologize. He had known it would be so. we'll all win and save our scalps. If it Let battle and murder and sudden death flops you'll be past worrying." come or let it pass, the priest was just as He stampeded out without waiting for much an inexorable fixture as was the further reply. government official. That, too, had been written into the history of Africa. IN ARNOLD'S camp the boys waited ex- Father van Dahl laid a thin brown hand pectantly; children anxious to relate all on Arnold's knee. "And you, my friend. the wonders of the show they had seen.

I do not perceive you making preparations Arnold sat on a camp stool and listened to go, is it not?" with exaggerated boredom. Not the most Arnold swore again. "Padre, there's spectacular of the marvels moved him, even just one chance—a slim chance, if I get all embroidered by African imagination. He the breaks. And since your damned hun- flouted the super-juju powers of the idol. dred nigger men whom you've taught to "That is not such a great witchcraft. I grow bigger and better bananas than the have seen many better," he told them. rest of the savages are more important than "This is but a little jungle juju. Thus your life I'm going to take my hat off to does it move its arms, its foolish mouth, you and I'm going to take the chance." He and the words that it talks are winds." came closer. Arnold imitated the spasmodic antics of the "Now, listen. Wasn't there some prophet thing and its megaphonic voice. in the Old Testament once whose people "Aho! Wo-we!" The boys were im- were sliding out on him in favor of an idol pressed. How did the white bwana who that pulled magic stuff? Baal, wasn't it? could not have seen know these things?

And the prophet called miraculous fire from . "I had heard much talk of this toy and heaven and burned the juju up along with it wearied me. I slept and sent my spirit a batch of priests and so cut the sticks from to look while I rested." under the opposition's prestige and won his "Arra-wa!" Yes, that might well be crowd back?" true. The greater of the witch doctors Father van Dahl perked his head in bird- could do this thing, and the white bwana like query. He could as yet see no analogy. surely had this magic too. Arnold continued with totally unconscious Barounggo stood up. He had a speech lack of reverence. to make and he required space for action. "Well, now, you give out that you're "If this is but a little witchcraft, bwana, going to do a miracle and set a magic fire then it is well. For that Black One of the to this idol; and if my luck works, your Ghost tree—" Arnold noted that even the people'll come crowding back on you so Masai hesitated to name the thing—"the " fast Black One makes an ill talk ; a talk of the The priest held up his hand. "My son, slaying of all the white men in the land. my son, do not blaspheme." Now it is my mind that we in this party Arnold jumped up. He had never any could make a proper fight. We three alone, patience with matters of sentiments un- for these porters all will run as do the dogs practical. "Gosh almighty!" he stormed. " when the lion speaks "How can I get you to have some sense Arnold could not but admire the loyal and understand? It'd take all day—and fellow's cheerful insult of the porters and then you'd have some inhibition about it. Listen, Padre, I've got no time to argue. their meek acceptance of it. The Masai Things are buzzing right along in these gave himself over to declamation. THE BLACK GOD

"A very proper fight. Or perchance in "It is a strong witchcraft, bwana. Those the wire stockade of the village, a better who give place their gifts upon a flat fight. These soldiers of the Raifuls are basket. In full daylight then a servant of true men as I have spoken with them. Yet the Black One ascends a ladder of bamboo these Tappuza dogs are many and in the with the basket, at no time touching the end their spears will be red. Therefore, gifts, and places the basket before the Black bwana, if the Black One is not so strong as One's feet. The servant retires and the " he says Black One takes up the gifts in his own Arnold yawned carelessly. "It is noth- hands and eats them up. It is a great ing. It is a small matter. For us it has magic." no interest. But I have told the white Arnold laughed outright. He quoted in priest of these babblings and he has said English a familiar patter: "Nothing in my

hands, ; it is enough! I have given him a small gentlemen ; nothing up my sleeve at witchcraft and he will burn up this little no time, you will perceive, do I touch the juju with magic fire. Tomorrow, per- card— Gosh, what children ! But it works, haps; maybe today. It is nothing." it works every time!"

. "Aho? A magic fire?" Kaffa was emboldened by the laugh. The men were awesomely impressed. It "Therefore, bwana" he pleaded, "I would was sufficient. Arnold knew that this ask an advance against my payment. A planted seed of a counter magic to the piece of cloth ; a small gift, bwana. On be- Black One would sprout and spread half of these porters, too." throughout the community faster than the Arnold held himself to pose in judicial civilized magic of the telephone. contemplation, controlling his impulse to

Kaffa, the little Hottentot, had a word whoop. Then he announced in a matter to say. He squirmed uneasily making his of fact tone, "Good. I will give you a request. "That is good. The white priest piece of cloth. But it is a waste, for the will make a magic and the Black One will white priest's magic will surely burn up burn up and die. Bwana has— said so and this little jungle juju this very day." it is without doubt—true. Yet " he writhed He went into his tent and there he in his abashment "suppose that the white pounded his fist into the other palm. His man does not work his magic right; sup- luck was running strong! He had been pose that the Black One does not die. An racking his brain to think of a means to offering, a small gift—today he eats offer- introduce his miracle plan to the juju, and ings^—a gift today might well be counted here it came to his hand. He took the little in our favor when trouble comes." packet he had made overnight and un-

wrapped it. A RNOLD chuckled. It flashed upon him **• that maybe his luck was beginning TWO sticks would be enough, he felt to work. At the same time the everlasting sure, though the detonators would adherence to type of the African held his stand some doctoring. He proceeded to attention. On the one side the Masai, the doctor accordingly and his tuneless whistle fighting man, loyal to the death, facing the broke out. His plan was simple, as simple imminent danger with a fierce nonchalance. as are most great strategies. He knew On the other the Hottentot, the bush from his youthful experience of July dweller, loyal, too; but as cunningly full fourth that torpedoes were a lot cheaper of caution as a monkey. Maybe this cau- to make than to buy. A pinch of fulmi- tion was playing right into Arnold's hands. nate and little fine gravel wrapped in a "What is the manner of this eating of paper ball provided the most delightful offerings?" he asked. material to explode at other boys' heels SHORT STORIES and to send girls screaming down the street. Chapter VII With a certain cynicism he translated all his percussion cartridges into giant tor- "fXTTTH early afternoon he gave his pedoes. He began to feel that he had an * * men leave to go and watch the eat- almost foolproof miracle. The juju, he ing of the offerings. As soon as they were reasoned, from his observation of its move- well out of the way he took his field glasses ments, whether actuated by strings or by and set out himself. He was going to

Internal levers or whatever it might be, watch this show too, if from a distance. would pick up these offerings and would His way took him past the government drop them through its cavernous mouth compound. He had not intended to stop into its hollow interior. The figure squatted in, but a soldier ran after him. The assist- at least five feet high. Arnold knew from ant commissioner wanted to see him. experience that a: drop of less than that Arnold found Sheldon in a condition of was ample to detonate a fulminate bomb. bewilderment, and in that predicament was With a dozen oversize bombs and two much more cordial than before. Something sticks of dynamite surely something ought had happened that had g3fen him a consid- to happen. At about four o'clock that very erable measure of respect for Arnold's afternoon, then, the predicted miracle might judgment. Sheldon came to the point with- be counted upon to disintegrate the juju's out preamble. \ death laden prestige into a great many "Mr. Arnold, a very extraordinary very little pieces of hardwood. thing has happened. I am taking you into " Arnold chuckled. He would have to my confidence because—er—you seem to witness that miracle. He wrapped his sur- know a great deal of what is going on. A man was picked up this noon in the bush in front of this juju thing. The natives would not touch him—some nonsense about witchcraft. My men brought him in —a white man." Arnold's eyes flickered. He held his sur- prise with an effort. He had not expected this. "So? A white man, eh? He was fi

Sheldon nodded. "Yes, dead. Killed by a blow with a club. There's the usual prise packet carefully in a gaudy strip of secrecy of course. Nobody knows any- trade calico, tied it with string carefully thing about him ; never heard of him ; and against monkey meddling, and came out everybody is ox dumb. And as for me, from his tent. I didn't even know that any strange white in the district. could he "Here is your gift," he told the Hotten- man was Where appear from? What could he be doing?" tot. "A good gift. This order only do I Arnold frowned into space without an- place upon you. Carry it with care. Do swering. So the man who had stalked him not drop it, on your life. Place it softly in in the bush was dead. At mention of the the gift basket. And return and report to man having been killed with a club he im- that it is done. Later you may all go me pulsively squeezed his blackened middle eating." and watch the fingernail into the palm of his hand and The Hottentot took the package gingerly. winced with the pain. He had hardly ex- Already it was becoming imbued with the pected that. At most he thought the man sacredness of sacrosanct property. Arnold would have a very sore head. turned in to snatch some sleep. But even that was not exactly what was 10 THE BLACK GOD occupying Arnold's mind. What he was other wheel which, to insure its own safety, cogitating was whether the death of one must now carry on. And there remained guiding genius would undermine the the juju, potent power of hysteria and trouble at its source. Was there only one? latent slaughter. He turned the subject. Who had been the man in the bush with "Any source of identification, Mr. Shel- him at night? Native? White man? don? Name, business, where from?" Partner, possibly in the great plot. It was Sheldon made a wry face. "Not yet. I a big thing for a single man to tackle. If dislike that sort of thing myself. My men only he had captured the man alive! He are looking him over in routine form." was a white man, not an African. He "Well, I'll look in later," Arnold said. could have been made to talk. "I've got to hop along and see the Rev- At any event there was definite proof erend van Dahl's miracle do its stuff." now of some of his theories. With a cer- Sheldon raised his eyebrows in interro- tain triumph he turned to Sheldon. "Well, gation, but Arnold was gone. He was doesn't that begin to fit into what you called aiming for a scrubby little knoll which he my fantastic theory about a guiding genius had noted before as being suitable for his behind this trouble?" purpose. From it a clear view of the ghost

Sheldon nodded dumbly. "It does. I tree could be obtained and it was there that admit it. Otherwise why did the fellow he proposed to plant himself with his not come up straightforwardly and report glasses. The small delay at the govern- his presence? In fact, I don't know from ment office had not made him too late. At where any white man could have come all events he had heard no explosion, so through without some report coming to he would be, he hoped, in time for the per- me." formance.

ARNOLD smiled thinly. He thought, if HE WAS. Arnold selected with in- k the rest of his theories were correct, stinctive habit a bush which screened

that he could guess from where a white him from casual observation. Under it he man—who had perhaps a sturdy automo- stretched himself luxuriously on his stom- bile—could come without passing through ach and took his glasses from their leather a populous and well patrolled country. case. Far away from the direction of the Sheldon was asking another embarrassing ghost tree the confused, sublimated thunder question. The law training essential to his of drums sounded. This was no call to studies for his appointment had rendered a function, to hear a speech. This was him adept in picking the holes in any situ- just noise; fiesta, sideshow about to com- ation. mence. Arnold grinned in anticipation. "All the same, Mr. Arnold, if this man They were going to be seeing a bigger were, as you suggest, the guiding genius show than their tickets entitled them to, he of this unrest, he would be obviously per- reflected, his grin broadening. It wasn't sona grata with the natives. Who, then, every day that these frisky natives could would kill him?" see a white man's miracle. Arnold did not feel that he could enter He wiped the lenses of his field glasses into explanations and delays. Time was and leisurely adjusted focus. It was one passing. During the last minute conviction of the newest Zeiss eight-power hunting

had come upon him about more than one glasses ; the kind that showed the approxi- of his cogitations. The death of one man, mate range of the focused object. Instinc-

one wheel in the carefully built machine, tive habit once again made him note it. would not stop the progress of its function. Between seven and eight hundred yards. Not at this stage. It had gained too much Well, that was plenty near enough to see momentum. There remained at least one everything that went on. 10 —

SHORT STORIES,

Arnold could see the ebony figure He watched each . offering in turn lifted clearly; its inset shell eyes ; its thick jointed clumsily to the gaping mouth and disap- arms; even the white tips of the big teeth pear. With each gaudy packet he tensed. between loose sagging lips. The drum- Would it come? Would a sudden explo- ming boomed distant thunder and faded sion tear the sky? Or, since quite obvi- out to nothing as the hot breeze eddied ously the man inside took each bundle in about. It rose to a crescendo and mingled his hand and presumably laid it down, with a sudden volume of far shouting. would he jar it sufficiently to set spark to Something was going to happen. Either any one of the fulminate torpedoes? the servant of the Black One was about For a long dragging hour the thing ate to climb up the ladder with the basket, or, with gusto. Nothing happened; it re- if that had been done, the magic perform- mained full of health and horrid appetite. ance of eating was about to commence. The last of the offerings disappeared. The Then Arnold noted that no ladder stood crowd howled; the drums roared. The against the platform. He grinned again miracle of eating had been accomplished.' cunning precaution that no overwrought No counter miracle as .threatened by the worshipper should climb up to present him- white priest had occurred. self as a Juggernaut offering and so dis- Arnold hovered for a moment on the cover the hoax. verge of panic. His fool proof plan had The thing would soon move then. And failed. Nothing stood in the way of revolu- it did. A furious howling came on the tion. One white man was dead ; but he was wind and the juju's jaws chattered in an- surely not working single handed on so ticipation. Arnold was keenly interested in ambitious a scheme. His associates, so the mechanism. Elbows firm on the near to success, would carry the blooded ground, he held the glasses motionless. business through. Everything was ready. The thick right arm moved. With a The very threat of the priest's counter slow clumsy motion the thing groped at miracle, by its failure, would enhance the the basket between its feet. It seemed prestige of the juju and raise the courage that the thumb worked on a hinge against of the natives to a howling frenzy. the rest of the hand ; a sort of lobster claw movement. Presently the claw found a ARNOLD bit his teeth together until hold on a small bundle. Stiffly the arm they hurt and forced himself to calm heaved up; the jaws fell open; the bundle thought. What would happen now? What hung between the big teeth, then was would be the next step? The juju man sucked down. The jaws champed wooden would obviously have to remain in hiding appreciation. till dark. Then he could slip out. Arnold Arnold was troubled. From the nature thought that the ebony figure stood close of the movement he guessed that the mech- enough to the tree to enable an undetected anism was man. A man within the hollow retreat. It must be ; the trick could never figure worked a hollow arm and then, when be worked otherwise. But the packages? the offering was between the jaws, just The offerings? Would they be smuggled took it in. The poor devil! He couldn't out at the earliest opportunity so that the know what he was in for. greedy witch doctor could look over what

But Arnold was consistently practical. he had drawn; or would they remain till Better, a hundred times better, the immola- a more favorable time? tion of one malignantly scheming savage There was one chance—only one chance or for that matter, of a dozen men—than left. the rebellion of a whole tribe that would Arnold crawled from his shelter and mean a slaughter and its aftermath of blood sprinted through the bush for the home in the reestablishment of control. camp. Then as he ran and his thoughts —

THE BLACK GOD 117 raced ahead he slowed down. After all, ago, but we can't control those sales, you the thin chance that remained depended know." upon the lighting of the footlight lamps on "In Port Said?" Arnold echoed. "And the juju platform. There was to be an- from Port Said up the Nile to the ex- other speech that night. Possibly the last treme limit of the Sudan and to your bor- one ; who could tell ? The carefully planted ders; how about that?" rumor about the white man's counter mira- Sheldon considered for a moment. "It cle might be the last straw, the match that could be done," he said. "That is to sayr the blaze of riot awaited. except for that strip of desert." Still, there was a dim gleam of hope in Arnold went on. "Then if this Righas the forthcoming speech. The crowd would who bought hundred guns in Port Said begin to gather early, before darkness set a got bumped off in Tappuza district where in, and the opportunity for the magician to somebody has sold the natives, remove the day's loot from the belly of guns to somebody did pretty good job, the idol would be unfavorable. The ex- a no?" Sheldon aghast the untold treach- plosive packet might well remain there for was at eries that this train of reasoning opened a while. In that hope lay his one chance. Arnold decided that he would have time to up. Indignation and disgust shook him stop in at the government compound to urge Sheldon to be prepared for anything and to make arrangements, if necessary, to bring the missionaries in by force. Sheldon thanked him coldly for advice that was neither asked nor needed. Every- thing for defense had been done as far as might be. But Sheldon had one item of in- formation. The search of the dead man's clothing had revealed the fact that his name was Theophilos Righas. Arnold stiffened. His eyes narrowed to like a fever. "The scoundrel received no the characteristic slits and in spite of his more than his just desserts," he exploded. anxiety, the thin grin seamed his cheeks. "Why, what a foul thing!" "So? Righas, eh?" That fitted exactly Arnold was not listening to any confir- into his guessed theories. That was the mation of what he knew. Another confir-

last crooked key piece to the puzzle. With mation outweighed everything else. There assumed carelessness he asked, "Ever hear was another partner then. Equally cun- ning equally callous of the firm of Stephanopoulos and Rig- ; ; who must now push has?" the thing to its desperate climax. Perhaps the more cunning of the two. He had cer- THE names conveyed nothing to Shel- tainly played a bold and brilliant part. don, though Arnold's tone told him Possibly the brains of the outfit. that something ought to connect somewhere. "M-m, no," Sheldon said. "They didn't THIS was no time to dally. Uncere- operate anywhere in Kenya or Uganda moniously Arnold left the still raging wait a minute, though. There's something assistant commissioner and ran. Straight about—" he turned a key in a confidential to his camp he went. Only Barounggo

steel file case and flipped over the cards. squatted in the compound. The rest of the "Yes, here's a report that a firm of that boys had gone; scuttled off without leave name bought a hundred rifles from Daniel to see the juju show again. To Barounggo Leroux and Company in Port Said a year Arnold gave permission to run off and 10 ;

118 SHORT STORIES join the others. He was eager enough, Well, that was easy enough, and no guess- but waited to say a word. work. All he had to do was to count the

"This is an ill talk that will be this night, clicks correctly ; the elevation rule was ab- bwana. It has been said—all men have solute. A certain glow of contentment be- heard it—that the Black One will give gan to come over him as he worked. This word for a war." was something he knew. He commenced Arnold forced himself with an effort to to thrill to the test of his skill, of the surety nonchalance. It was the white man's creed of his hand and eye and nerve. His thin in Africa never to show anything but con- whistle broke from between his teeth. fidence before a native. Eight hundred yards call it. There was "There will be no war, Barounggo. The nothing to be alarmed in that. If an Army magic of the white priest will burn up this marksman could be expected to hit a bull's- jungle juju with a great noise and fire this eye at that distance and even greater, very night while it makes its monkey chat- surely the squat juju was a mark large terings. Go and watch it. And tell all enough; and it would be nicely centered

' men that it will happen." between two lights. Barounggo was impressed with his mas- ter's power. He lifted his great spear in THAT was one little worry, too. Sup- salute and departed. pose the lights were not set in the Arnold looked after his broad shoulders regular positions? To an African a foot melting into the dusk and his face twisted or so one way or the other would make in a wry grin. He wished he could be no difference. But the main cause for one tenth part as confident as he had anxiety was the conjecture whether the of- bluffed. A chance there was that he might ferings had been removed from the belly avert disaster; but the chance was a thin of the juju or not. If, by God's grace and One. good luck, not, well, a bullet carefully It was his rifle that he had come home planted anywhere near the middle of that to fetch. Very soberly he took it, flipped bulk would jar that fulminate off like a its sling over his shoulder with familiar bolt from heaven. certainty, and started out. His objective And since the dynamite would explode was his observation post of the afternoon upward none of his men would be hurt. the mound from which he had obtained Arnold didn't want to hurt any of those a clear view of the juju ; the knoll between poor fools unless it were necessary. No- seven and eight hundred yards distant. body would be hurt, unless perhaps a chunk Nearly half a mile. of falling juju should hit somebody on the It was dark by the time he arrived. He head. Arnold whistled some more. From Sat down and set slowly to kicking heel his pocket he took a little bottle of radium holes at the exact places for a comfortable paint and spotted a careful bead on his rest. He had never been able to accustom front sight. He squinted through the peep himself to the Army sharpshooter's prone at it. Good, it was not too big. position. The sitting rest for him every Wind? Wind was in his face and there- time. fore negligible. Perhaps one point of ele- " The distant drone of voices came to him vation. Click. He was ready. The issue |rom the ghost tree, but the lamps had not depended upon his luck. Arnold began been lighted, yet. With methodical habit to feel confident. His luck had been run- he wiped off the sights. By meticulous ning with him. Surely it would continue. feel and by ear he turned the little microme- A point of light began to crawl fitfully ter screw and clicked off the required ele- up the wall of distant blackness. A swell- vation. ing hum came downwind. Arnold shuffled Between seven and eight hundred yards. his heels into secure position. The point W THE BLACK GOD 119 of light mounted interminably; it moved what matter? It would be no more than horizontally; became two lights; moved a foolish stranger shooting at a hyena or again; became three lights. The swelling something in the dark. If his first shot hum became breakers on a rocky shore. struck right nobody would hear anything The first light descended and left the two because a high velocity bullet arrived at horizontal ones. eight hundred yards quicker than sound, and the explosion would occupy every- ARNOLD tried his glasses. Just dimly, body's attention for quite the next few days. k he thought, he could see the ebony bulk between its illumination. It looked ARNOLD snuggled his cheek down to to be middle. Good. Luck had held that 1 the stock and held his breath. This far. Arnold felt that he was not asking was to be the supreme test of his skill, too much of the wayward goddess in hop- of his judgment, of his luck. He was cool ing that the offerings had not been removed and unhurried. Evenly he pressed on the from the juju's belly. On the contrary, trigger. He felt the final small resistance, it would have been difficult for anybody steadied to the last little fraction of immo- to remove them between the eating and the bility, and pressed it home. Instantly with after-dinner speech. That was all that Ar- the shot, stock on shoulder, his right hand nold asked. If his bomb were there he shot up to the bolt, slammed it out, in would hit it, or near enough to it. again, ready for the next shot.

Distance worried him not at all. Dark- But before that lightning maneuver was ness troubled him hardly any more. Only one half accomplished a yellow glare split one question caused him anxiety. Ex- the sky before him. It winked once like actly where was the inner floor of that an enormous eye and closed down on empty juju? Where did the offerings lie? The blackness. A roar hurtled downwind in a thing was a squatting figure some three furious hurry and was gone. And after feet wide. Its inner hollow would be, say the roar came a prolonged yow-wow of twenty-four inches. Since it was about shrill yelpings—the cry of Africa in its five feet high and since a man had terror. crouched within it, it was reasonable to Arnold whooped once and let the re- assume, Arnold hoped desperately, that it mainder of his pent breath escape in a long was bottomless. The carving, the hollow- hiss. He wiped his forehead. His im- ing out, would naturally have been done mobility had vanished. He found a tremor from that end. The open shell, therefore, shaking his whole body, and at the realiza- probably stood upon the platform itself. tion a dry laugh croaked from his throat. If that were so he would have to shoot Then he scrambled to his feet in a panic middle and about six inches up. If he and raced to the home camp. It behooved missed—well, he wouldn't miss the target him to be innocently within his tent when —but if his bullet did not smash through his men arrived with the portentous news. near enough to his bomb to set it off he He found the camp silent. He went into could shoot again. A one hundred and his tent to await the boys. Suddenly he eighty grain bullet arriving into that as- remembered. In one of the huts the native sorted mess of hardware—even with a few killer was still a captive. Arnold flashed packages of cloth—would disrupt things a match in the man's startled face and quite considerably. It was just a matter looked him over. He was securely tied of his luck how many times he would have to the hut's centerpost. With his hunting to shoot. knife, Arnold cut the cords. At that distance with wind against him, The man couldn't do any damage now. and the crowd howling, nobody would be Arnold held him by the back of the neck likely to hear anything. And if one did, and pointed him toward the door. He 10 120 SHORT STORIES kicked the man hard, and like a thankful of noise I heard. Was it the white priest's rabbit, the fellow bolted. Arnold chased magic?" him across the compound and then the "Awo, bwana, we do not know what hap- night swallowed the man. pened. From the sky came a fire as of -a Arnold lay on his cot and laughed. Re- lightning, only more fierce, and the Black action from the nervous tension and the One was eaten up." exhilaration of success were upon him. Arnold chuckled silently. Well, that was His luck had held good—he attributed it just about the same way that the Baal all to his luck. The consummation of the miracle did happen. He turned to the men. white priest's miracle would thoroughly "I told you this would happen. It was a cow the natives—must already have. The good magic. Let one man light the lan- effect would be instantaneous. Not the tern and go before me. I go to the mis- most unscrupulous scoundrels would stir sion house to give the white priest joy and this tribe up again as long as the memory to bring back my magic that I gave him." of that wonder lived. WITH the morning "Arnold was at the ARNOLD was forced almost to admira- assistant commissioner's office, grin- * tion. devils, those ning all over his rough Clever two. That carved face—well s had been a slick scheme to take cover like a juju, Sheldon thought. For the first under the mission and work right under time in their acquaintance the government the eye of the administration. An almost official met him with a smile—a rather perfect plot the pair had hatched. If they twisted smile of inquiry, hands in pockets, hadn't overreached themselves in their anx- head on one side. These miraculous hap- iety and tried so hard to get him disposed penings had passed beyond the pale of offi- of he might never have come to the Tap- cial reserve. puza district. But yes, he would, though. "What in hell have you been doing, It was fate. It was one of those "happen- Mr. Arnold?" ings of Africa." Arnold smiled. "Nothing, Mr. Sheldon, And good Father van Dahl. Now he nothing. Er—I did a little shooting last would be a veritable prophet in the land. night ; damn good shooting, and I'm proud

How that backsliding flock would come as all heck over it. But I've come to talk crawling back to its bigger and better yam business. I've located this ivory at last. patches, and would bring a lot more with In a couple weeks, I take it, this flurry them to boot. That was the way to civilize will have settled down to normal, and so the savage—appeal to his belly. All the I want to ask if you'll let me have six same, the padre would reprove him sadly hundred men for porters." and would pray for his soul for having Sheldon was pained. He felt in some called the thing a miracle. Well vague way that Arnold had done some- Arnold's ruminations were broken in thing commendable. He didn't understand the whole of it yet, disliked upon by his returning boys. They trooped but he having to refuse. But administrative regulations into camp jabbering in awestruck whispers. were adamant; decision was not in his Arnold left them to chatter for a while; hands. they discussed whether they should wake "I told you before, Mr. Arnold, that I the master to tell him the wonder. Finally could not sanction such a migration. And they decided it was a matter of sufficient why six hundred men? I thought that importance. Barounggo stood at the tent your very accurate information had made

flap and rang his spear blade like a bell. it seven hundred loads?" "Well?" Arnold called sleepily from Arnold grinned. He had played for just within. "Has it happened? Some sort that question. "Oh, I can get a hundred —

THE BLACK GOD 121

men from the mission ; I require your sanc- worded bill-of-sale. It was signed D'mit- tion for the six hundred only." rius Stephanopoulos. Sheldon shook his head. "Government "Of the late firm of Stephanopoulos and regulations, Mr. Arnold. I would have to Righas," Arnold explained. apply to the governor in council for so Sheldon began to see the light. With great a local upset, and it would take stolid British control he withheld himself weeks to get action. Under no circum- from evincing any undignified curiosity or stances may I permit so large a body of ignorance of happenings. Time would men to move more than one day's journey come for explanations later—over the din- out of their district." ner table would be appropriate. Yes, over Arnold was satisfied. "That's quite all the cigars and whiskey peg Arnold would right, Mr. Sheldon. All I need is a half talk. Just now he asked only: day out into the desert side." "What sort of services?" Sheldon looked his amazement. "I have "Negative, Mr. Sheldon," Arnold re- many proofs that you are anything but in- turned. "Mostly negative. His chief ap- sane, Arnold. I'm prepared to find further preciation seemed to be that I didn't twist proofs at any moment. So why not sit his filthy neck for making three attempts down and explain the joke or the catch to bump me off. I had a mind to, too; or whatever it is in this thing?" but I allowed that a good truck would "No catch at all, Mr. Sheldon," Arnold balance the annoyance." assured him. "I've got an auto truck out "Humph!" Sheldon grunted. "Perhaps there. A rugby six-wheeler, all comfort- I shall do so officially." ably stowed away under a canvas cover "Maybe, Mr. Sheldon, maybe," Arnold

and weighted down with stones. Brother agreed. "But I'd almost bet against it. Stephen tells me it's an excellent car; and Our friend Stephanopoulos went out into

believe me, that boy knows trucks." the dark some time last night, and I'll bet "Brother Stephen?" that boy is melting into the African land-

"Yeah. He sold it to me. I've got a scape right smartly. But to come back

map how to find it, and I was careful to to the point. Now that I've got a fine get a bill of sale—Stephen knows all about new truck and a map to the Nile, how the business intricacies of these things about those porters for seven hundred and my man Barounggo ought to be well tusks of ivory?"

on his way to sit on the property till I can Sheldon grinned. "Well," he said judi- get over." cially, "I suppose you've earned them, Arnold produced a paper upon which, Mr. Arnold." sure enough, was scrawled a correctly His grin widened into a broad laugh.

African mystery and jungle

adventure again in our

next issue "The Lame Boy" A "Major** novelette by L. PATRICK GREENE 10 Adventurers

SHARKING WATERS

CAN'T clear the net, Captain. It is of these "ivory-plated" visitors coming I caught under a coral rock. Maybe along at the wrong moments. an octopus or some sharks pulled it I was about halfway through with the in there." Ansong, a Moro and my cutting, when a large shadow slowly passed head boy announced, as he came up over the ground in front of me, and was from a dive in the waters of my sharking quickly followed by aiSottier equally slow station off Zambales, in the Philippines. moving shadow.

Ordinarily these thousand-foot gill nets I stopped cutting, and felt myself getting are set in about thirty or forty fathoms of cold all over. With just a helmet on my water. But here was a small passage be- head, it was not an easy matter to look up. tween the mainland and a long coral bar; The water might rush in underneath the and the sharks were in the habit of sneak- throat opening. Anyway, I didn't have to ing in there and annoying us at the work- look up. Only two things will throw such ing dock. So I had this net hanging there shadows ; either a dugout or a shark pass- at an average of fifteen fathoms ; and had ing overhead. had very good results from it, too. These were sharks; large ones, judging But now a section of the net had been by the shadow, and most likely hungry dragged into a hole of an isolated coral ones, too. They had either smelled the table, about twelve fathoms down. Since octopus or sharks which had dragged the my boys could only dive to and work at net underneath the rock, or—worse yet—1 ten fathoms, and only for a few seconds they had smelled me. at a time, I ordered the diving equipment. If I remained where I was, they might But none of the boys was willing to go either bite through the hose, or come down down in that helmet; mainly not because to find out where the small bubbles came the upper fifty feet of the air hose was from; and then they would see me. Just white; and sharks had a peculiar habit of a case of "veni, vidi, vici" for them. liking to bite white air hoses. If I tried to get up the ladder, they Well, a net like that is worth a con- certainly would spot me. And to crawl siderable piece of money; and I wasn't into the hole, where the net was, was out willing to lose it, just because some sharks of the question. If that was an octopus were playing hide and seek with a small in there, I'd be finished. section of it. So I went down myself. I didn't know what to do. My tempera- Rope-soled shoes on my feet, blue bath- ture was rapidly changing from cold to hot, ing suit on, knife tied to my wrist, and and back to cold. Then hot again. There the helmet on my head. Down the weighted was the shadow again—it was becoming rope-ladder to cut adrift whatever could be smaller ! That meant Mr. Shark was com- salvaged. To crawl into the hole and save ing down—towards me. the entire net was out of the question. Only one way out, now. One chance in These were sharking waters; too many a hundred. Take a deep breath, throw off

s 10 !

ADVENTURERS ALE 123 the helmet, and make a jump for the top, sharks from our boat, and he had promptly seventy-five feet away. And a wish and dived over and shot the shark with his the hope that the buoyancy of my body seven-foot-long steel arrows. I could now would shoot me past the shark too quick see the arrow sticking out through both of for him to notice and bite me. his eyes. It had gone through the center

My left hand was still holding on the of his brain, and killed him outright. rope-ladder, and I was just about to re- But the other shark! Where was he? lease my hold on it, in order to put both I had seen two shadows, before. of my hands under the helmet for a quick There it was again! Right in front of push-off, when the ladder was jerked out my feet, between me and the dead shark! of my hands. But now the shadow changed its shape, I lost my breath, and my balance. And and I recognized it as that of one of my down I sat on a hard and rough piece men. of coral. Collecting my senses again, I It was Ansong, who signalled me to come got ready for a second deep breath, but up. The ladder was nowhere in sight, so before I got halfway through with it, I I pulled myself up hand over hand, on the saw a large twelve-foot Tiger Shark com- air-hose. And halfway up I saw the other ing right my way. shark The intended breath got stuck in my But no more danger from him, now. throat; my heart seemed to stop beating; He was very efficiently enmeshed in be- and my blood was running cold. No way tween the rungs of the ladder. When An- out, now! He was only fifteen feet away song had shot the big male, the arrow had from me. flitted very close by the female; and she

Easy ! Easy ! I said to myself. Sit still had made a quick turn about and accident- and keep your arms near your body; he ally gotten her head right into the ladder, can't bite through the helmet. He might which had thus acted just like one of my yet smell the bait in the hole behind you, gill nets. and get caught in the net, while trying If she hadn't been caught that way, she to get in. certainly would have noticed me, when she But he didn't. Instead of coming closer had come down to see what was detaining to me, he very gently and quietly de- her dead companion. And in that case this scended to the bottom and lay down on his story might never have been told ; because side. even with sharks—the female is the more I was still half paralyzed, and stared at deadly of the species. him. And then I saw it. He had been shot. My headboy must have seen the Captain J. M. Ellrich

$15 For True Adventures TJNDER the heading Adventurers All, the editors of SHORT STORIES will print a new true adventure in eterg issue of the magazine. Some of them Witt be written by well known authors, and others by authors for the first time. Any reader of the magazine, any where, may submit one of these true adventures, and for eeery one accepted the author will be paid $15. It must be written in the first person, must be true, and must be exciting. Do not write more than 1000 words; be sure to type your manuscript on one side of the page only; and address it to: "Adventurers All," Care of Editors of SHORT STORIES Magazine, Garden City, N. Y. Manuscripts which axe not accepted will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope for that purpose.

10 It Takes Real Deep Water Men to Work the Great Log Booms of the Pacific Coast Through Rough Weather

Extra Hand

By HAROLD F. CRUICKSHANK

Author of "Wilderness Heritage," "Plugging the Gap," etc.

CAPTAIN JUD RYAN, turned, with a snarl. By the great horn of the tugboat Galardi, had spoon! Here was something animate, only stopped swearing long something human on which to vent his enough in the past day and a spleen. He found himself looking into the half to eat. In the dim light grinning frank face of Tom Saxon, a young- of gathering dusk he kicked on the locked ster whose frame stood out well under his door of the Marcus Engineering Works as tight-fitting blue jersey. if it gave him some satisfaction to boot "Was you laughin' at me, kid?" snorted the woodwork; not that it did him much the skipper. "By thunder, if you was, I'm good. glad ! I'm glad of the chance to tear some- " A low chuckle arrested his attention. He body apart. I'll He made a lunge

24 10 — —!

EXTRA HAND I23 at Tom, but the young drifter rolled easily heel of a big sea boot struck the raised off to one side. guard timber on the wharf edge, and Cap- "Wasn't laughin' at you in particular, tain Jud Ryan pitched backward into the Skipper," Tom jerked. "It was just kind Pacific. of funny you kickin' on that door, when you know durned well there's been no- THE shock of impact, and the cold body there for the past thirty-six hours." sting of the water saved Ryan from

"Hunh ! Then where the blazes are they taking the count. He struck up with pow- at? They knowed I was warpin' the erful arms, and swept to the barnacled Galardi in for engine overhaul. Why, I pier piling. A rope dropped overside, an uh What's the use me talkin' to you end of which Tom Saxon had hitched —a wharf caddy. I'm sunk, blast me. Got around a bitt. a season's tows o' log booms waitin' up off Slowly, grumblingly, the sodden skipper Rugged Island—tows that'll go to some hauled himself ashore. For a moment he other outfit, an' cost me plenty, if that stood in a crouch, and shook himself like damn Diesel outfit aboard the Galardi ain't some huge animal. Next, his eyes ranged fixed. Tcha! Where at's this engineerin' and found Tom Saxon, who had taken a gang?" seat on a hawser coil.

"On a deep water job—rush call, Skip- "Why, you young salmon-heaver, I'll slit per," said the drifter. "Salvage boat in your danged gizzard out," thundered the trouble off the main island. Outbound skipper. "By the seven-toed prophet ! No liner in trouble, an' merry hades blowin' all man ever got away with that on me. I'll " round. I—I've been stickin' around my- break every damn bone in your self, hopin' to catch Dawson, the chief here. He was interrupted by a chuckle from Thought I might pick up a job." Saxon. "Hunh! What was that, kid? You say "Aw, sit down, Skipper," jerked the you was lookin' for a job with the Marcus youth. "I got a line on you now. You're company. Why, you got to be a engineer, a Yank, same as me: You're Jud Ryan, or a mechanic that is somethin', to tie in skipper of the old Mississippi Calahoo. with this company. Tcha! I seen you I've heard my dad speak of you. He humpin' a salmon catch onto the wharf claimed you were the youngest, toughest, this mornin'. A man who flops around in most efficient skipper ever to run a boat the well of a salmon dory ain't got no on ol' man river. Saxon's my name—Tom business lookin' for a job with a marine Saxon." engineerin' outfit like the Marcus—blast "Sax-on—Mina Saxon's kid! You em. well, I'll be keel-hauled for a beachcomber "Oh! Well, how'd you like to go take if—h'mm. I'd oughta to take you acrost a runnin' backward jump into the harbor, my knee an' spank you with a wheel spoke. Skipper!" Tom Saxon's well-muscled Tom Saxon. But I heard you was with frame now hung in a crouch. He was some deep water outfit. Cripes—I'm cold pounds lighter than the ponderous skipper, Come on to the Galardi. Mebbe the Chink

but the Galardi's chief had stung him with can scare us up some hot coffee. The his insults. rest of the crew's ashore." "Scuttle me—I'd boot you clean across Over hot coffee, Tom Saxon and his that bay, for two barnacles, you damn drift- dad's old pal swapped experiences. Tom !" er's whelp ! I—ugh A clean right hook had got down beneath the surface bluster socked hard into the skipper's chin. He of this old Mississippi River skipper. He bellowed with rage, but another stinging was going to like him.

blow caught him on the point of the chin "An' if you ain't nearly all like your ma",

—this time, a left. He toppled back. The Tom," Ryan breathed, "I'll eat all them' to —

126 SHORT STORIES wet clothes afore I go to bed. Man, O, thing wrong, and yet—the Galardi was man, but your ma was purty. Tom, if not picking up speed. There wasn't enough your ma had been some younger, or—if power in her to tow a pleasure launch, let I'd been some older, I might've been your alone pull a million feet of heavy fir logs dad. But we was great buddies, all of us. in rough, deep water. I've fished you out o' the river with a Ryan brought the ship about. She was boat hook when you was crawlin' round a trim craft, the Galardi, a good boat m my Texas deck in rompers; an' here you any kind of a sea, but her vitals were weak. !" are—Gawsh Even the Marcus people, as good an engi- "Yeh, here I am, Skipper, and I'd like neering outfit as ever operated on the a look at the Diesel that's givin' you trou- Pacific Coast, had failed to put a finger ble. What's wrong with her ?" on the Galardi's trouble.

• "You mean you're a marine engineer Lying to, at wharf B, another tugboat mechanic!" jerked the skipper, slopping skipper and his mate chuckled coarsely coffee onto his dry clothing in his excite- over a bottle of Scotch. ment. "There's old Ryan exercisin' the Galardi, "Enough to apply for a job with the Mason. She's still got a pain in her belly,

Marcus outfit. What seems to be wrong huh ? Why, you can hear her even now— with the engine, Skip?" "Gome on down into the engine room. Take her apart. Come on—Cripes!"

TOM SAXON was down on his knees. Already his face was streaked with grease. Wrench in hand, he hung poised, his head bent, catching the stroke of the Diesel now in motion. He was catching the timing, tuning in on the beat, and power of the stroke. Take the wheel, an' run her out into the agruntin' like a overfat hawg. Reckon we narrows a mile or two, Skip," he said. can get his tow business this time. We've Ryan swept his huge frame to the wheel- made no mistake. That Diesel's got 'em house, bellowing orders to the Chinese cook all fogged." who was posted at the hawser bitts "Yeh," grunted the mate of the Maisie ashore. Dean, Ryan's greatest rival. "Just so long

"Full astern, Tom," he called. "Stop'er! as the Marcus outfit is busy, it's all hunky Let go on the stern line, Wong. Let go, dory. But we got to cast off an' hit up ye galley cod. Now on the for'ard line, to Rugged Island. We got to get a boom stand by. Half ahead, Tom—half. Stop down to Everett an' back before Ryan hauls 'er! Let go, Wong." in to Rugged Island. We got to prove The Galardi stood off. Ryan began to to that lumberin' outfit that we've got the give his orders to Saxon below. They goods. What time do we sheer off?" eased off at half astern speed. Ryan "With the six tide, Mason. Not afore. brought her round into the freeway, clear He—he—I ain't enjoyed anythin' so much of the wharf and Tom Saxon opened the for a long time. But say—you're sure Diesel to lull ahead. that second engineer is okay? You got Tom went thoroughly over the engine him drilled aplenty?" during the few miles of run. He exam- "Yeh—he's safe, an' he's the only one ined the cylinder stroke. His valves were of that crew who's a mechanic. Why, the

afl right. Actually, there didn't seem a first's a pleasure boat man; got hisself in EXTRA HAND wrong on a dude tour o' the islands an' boat. I " Jud Ryan broke off. He that's why he's aboard the—say—is that stroked his stubbled face and for a long the Galardi pickin' up power?" moment was wrapped in deep thought. Suddenly he jerked his head forward again. BOTH senior officers of the Maisie "No—I can't say that any member o' Dean rushed topside to the for'ard my crew is crooked," he breathed. "This'll head. The Galardi was picking up power. be an outside job, Tom. There's my sec- She was running at over twelve knots. ond engineer—a bruiser I took a chance "Better not wait for that six o'clock tide, on, but he seems trustworthy enough. Say Skipper," growled the mate. "Somethin's —how'd you like to sign on for a trip or happened. By gravy, if it has, somebody's two—a extra hand?" !" goin' to get his The skipper turned and bellowed to his TOM'S lips tightened. It wasn't quite second engineer. in his line, but he remembered he "Tune her up," he snarled. "We're hadn't eaten since he helped unload a shovin' off, at once." salmon catch in the early hours of dawn. "Aye, aye, sir." The engineer dropped He had hoped to catch the chief of the below and soon the powerful Diesel of the Marcus outfit and get back on a lathe. Maisie Dean was quaking her decks. But—somehow he had taken a liking to "An' you found it—you found the trou- Jud Ryan, whom he scarcely remembered ble, Tom !" Jud Ryan was kneeling down, as an old family friend. peering into the small engine room, his "Right, Skipper. I'm with you," he " face agleam in the light of an electric bulb. jerked. "I—uh "Yes, I got it, Skipper—got something. Tom reeled. The skipper crashed down It was in the air receiver. The engine and caught him as he was pitching toward wasn't pulling in enough air." the heated engine parts. "Oh, I see. But why the blazes couldn't "Why, blast me for a danged oP fool, my engine crew discover that. Hell! I I might've knowed you ain't been eatin been rompin' all over for weeks, tryin' to enough. Hey, Wong " Jud bellowed get a line on that trouble. I've been payin' up. The cook pattered aft and dropped " a first an' second engineer to—to to his knees.

i "Well, listen, Skipper—don't blow up till "Haul away on this feller, an' help get you hear the rest of it," cut in Tom. "This him stowed plumb full o' grub. No canned trouble isn't something that just happened. muck, either. Fry him a big juicy steak, It—it was a plant." savvy?" "What!" "Yeh—savvy, al'lite. Plenty empty belly, "This air receiver was plugged, pur- huh. I fix, al' time damn quick." posely plugged by somebody. If you have It was when he came topside, smeared any enemy in this business I reckon he's with grease, that Jud Ryan caught the pretty clever, an' pretty near had you mocking blast of the Maisie Dean's whistle. stopped. How's your own crew—all trust- "Hounds of hell!" he bellowed. "Slip- worthy?" pin' off. Think I'm busted."

i "A plant! Enemy! Sufferin' catfish! He shook his big fist into the night, then Sure I got a rival—enemy. Black, o' the hurled himself to the wharf. He knew Maisie Dean, would give one of his ears where to find his crew. In less than half to keep me away from Rugged Island an' an hour the Galardi would be out to sea,

them log booms. I'm beginnin' to see a and then—if Cap'n Black and the crew bit o' light, son. But, it don't work. By of the Maisie Dean were looking for trou- gawsh! I'll lick 'em yet, if you say this ble—by gor-r! Diesel's O- K. I got a faster, stronger Jud Ryan balled his fists as he lumbered — —

J28 SHORT STORIES up to a dark alley off the wharfside. He The Galardi was answering the wheel had been "Hell-Fire" Ryan on the Missis- like a charm. Ryan brought her stern sippi. That same old fighting fire was about and" slacked off. The man at the being rekindled. Somebody had blocked bitt ashore got his signal and cast off the up the air intake on the Galardi's Diesel stern line. Then Ryan chirped three short engine. There was crooked work afoot blasts on his whistle, and the stout little and it didn't pay to fourflush on the skip- sea-going tug leaped forward, her nose per of the Galardi. smacking the phosphorescent waves full on. "Skipp' plenty peeve al' time, unh? "Full ahead, an' take her away," bel- Plitty soon some'd'y catch plenty hell!" lowed the skipper. He then took position intoned Chon Wong, as he slid a prime alongside the man at the wheel. There steak to a plate before Tom Saxon's eager were tricky narrows and channels to navi- eyes. gate. But he spotted Tom Saxon, and "Yeh, you're right, Wong. The skip's called him up under a deck light. a real man, too. I'm glad I'm in with "I want you to keep an eye an' an ear him, instead of against him." on that engine, Tom," he breathed. "Re- "Plenty in with skipp. Smack him down port anything you think might be wrong. al' time. He—he—how come you plenty By gor-r! I'm goin' to overhaul Black in after you knock 'im offside?" an' his Maisie Dean. No man'U steal my

"My dad and ma and Skipper Ryan were thunder an' get away with it. I heard old friends," Tom said, and his voice was somethin' ashore, son. I got on the inside full of meaning. "You savvy just why the o' Black's designs on me. I'll make this skip and me hitched up after I—after he tow on scheduled time, or—well, by Jupi- fell off the wharf. I'm for him, Wong. ter, nobody else will!" I know him, an' his record. He's a ring- Tom Saxon nodded and sheered off. He tailed snorter—a big chested old Missis- strolled nonchalantly down to the engine sippi man. There'll be doin's before we hatch, and nodded to the chief and second, get our tow to Everett. Keep your eyes who were both on shift, perhaps amazed peeled, Wong—an' your ears open." that the Diesel was pulling at full power. Wong regarded this new, extra hand "Who found the Diesel trouble?" jerked through expressionless, oblique eyes. But, the chief as he spotted Tom. he was well satisfied, in his sage, silent "Oh—how do? It was the skipper an' way, that Jud Ryan had an ally in whom me, Chief. Receiver was plugged with he could put lots of trust. some old gasket metal. Nothin' much. She pullin' okay now?" A FEW moments later the sound of "Yeh—nearly perfect, stranger. Thanks coarse voices in argument and the for the good work." But Tom noticed clump of sea boots on the wharf decking that the second was eyeing him strangely. brought Tom Saxon to his feet. Skipper He had made no offer of greeting. His Ryan was returning with his crew. thin lips were drawn to a hard fine line. Jud wasted no time in introductions. "That cheap grease monkey an' me are Men were posted to the watch, and the not goin' to hit it," the young Yank told Diesel started. The skipper then whistled himself. "When a man packs a fish stare to the wharf master for release. He stood like that, he's got somethin' fishy on his by the port rail, and his orders to engine mind." room and wheel man were clipped very Tom took a seat on a coil of towing short. hawser and as the Galardi throbbed on, he "Full astern. Hard-a-sta'bud. Stop seemed to be counting her pulse beats 'er!" Then: "Half ahead—hard-a-port. tuning his mind in with the rhythmic beat Cast off on the head. Stop 'er." of the Diesel. —

EXTRA HAND *29

SEYMOUR INLET was alive with bob- Though a deep water man himself, he' bing lights, as the Gdardi threaded her sensed a certain tingle of anticipation at the' way in and out of anchored log booms. thought of getting a two million feet boom 1

Jud Ryan's teeth ground steadily on a quid down through those narrow, treacherous 1 of tobacco as he stood on the for'ard head, channels. piloting his fast tugboat to her appointed "I'll take your anchor watch, Skipper," place of anchorage. he suggested to Ryan, but the skipper The mudhook had scarcely taken hold waved him to one side. before a gas boat putt-putted up to the "No. I want you to set in an' meet' side of the Gdardi, and Ryan stepped aft the boys at Jenson's place," he grunted.' to greet the big boss of the lumbering, "Davey'll take the watch. He usually does.' transportation interests. Great boy. Doesn't play cards. But there's

"Thought you weren't going to make it, another reason why he likes to stick aboard. 1 Ryan," snapped the newcomer. "I allowed He's a foolish drinker. It gets him. Now a tide to go by; wanted to give you all he's tryin' to lay off, so I do all I can to the chance possible. But it costs money help him. Get a wash, Tom, an' we'll shove to hold these booms here. Sure your off. This'll be your last free night for a few. boat's in shape for the tow? Black told There's sign of a sou'easter comin' up; me you were having Diesel trouble." an' if she does, we'll have our hands full. "Black's face is always open, Jenson," She's a snorter. Tcha—so Black figures Ryan snarled. "One o' these times, I'll to skin out with a million and a half, and

have to find something to stuff in it. Sure beat me into Everett, huh!" my boat's okay. I'll take two million feet Ryan moved over to the deckhand,

o' logs, an' I'll be in Everett a half day Davey, and held a few seconds' whispered before Black or any other skipper in the conversation with him. Then he turned, Inlet" and piped the rest of the crew to the "Well, that's just fine, Jud. Everett dinghy. It paid to play in with Jenson, Mills are raising Cain at the delay. If and Jenson was touchy. To refuse one you can take two million feet and make of his invitations was a fatal move against

that record run, I'll arrange for a bonus one's business. from this end. Black has signed for a mil- lion and a half." THE night dragged on. Ashore, at "Humph!" Ryan spat testily into the Jenson's warehouse, stacked with sup- night. His was no idle boast, so long as plies for the logging camps inland, a large his engine played up. He was the best room served as the recreation room. It navigator on the log run, and knew how was here that Tom Saxon watched his to humor those tides which often got nasty skipper play draw poker. There were two off Grief Point, and in other waters. schools in the play. Ryan played with "Well, better let's get signed up," sug- his mate, the first engineer, and a couple gested Jenson. "Then bring the boys up of petty officers from aboard the fisheries for a drink, and some poker. I'd like boat. At another table sat Captain Black, fine to have 'em. There's a U. S. govern- his mate, the second engineer of the ment fishing boat anchored off the booms. Gdardi, the senior officer of the U. S. cut- Swell bunch of boys." ter, and Jenson.

"Right, Jenson. We'll be over. I'll post Saxon was deeply interested in the game an anchor watch an' bring the lads over before him. He smoked on in silence, in the dinghy." watching the poker faces in that grim circle Tom Saxon heard most of the around the table. increasing, i had con- The pot was

versation. It had thrilled him to hear all gradually, slowly, to one of worthwhile

this big talk about big logging operations. proportions. All players were still in. Jud —

SHORT STORIES

Ryan had drawn two cards to three dueces, Saxon, and winked. Tom realized now, but Tom had failed to see what the skipper more than ever, that he was tied up with drew. Ryan played a serious, close-fisted a real big square-shooter. There was no game; and his weather-beaten face never need for him to ask Ryan why he had changed expression. He sat stolidly chew- tossed good fours into the discard. ing his black plug, waiting for the rest to "I'd like you to come along while I in- make their plays. spect the booms, Tom," Ryan grunted. He One of the U. S. P. O.'s tossed in his cards face down, and with a grin lit a cigarette. The Galardi's mate raised a bet to his skipper. Through the merest slits in his cards, Ryan squinted in. There was a long moment of tense silence; then "Raise you five!" Jud tossed in his chips and settled back in his hunch. The remaining P. O. screwed up his broWsi shot a glance at the grizzled face of the tugboat skipper; then slowly doubled his bet. Jud Ryan's big chest heaved. He shot a glance down at his watch. "H'mm—reckon this'U have to be my last hand, gents, win or lose. I've got had refused to drink with the P. O. ; al- to inspect my booms yet, an' we shove off though he shook hands and wished the to catch the dawn tide. I'll—raise that lit- youngster plenty luck. tle double fifteen bucks." The Galardi mate tossed in his hand. TOM SAXON'S eyes had wandered The first engineer stayed, as did the P. O. off toward the other tables. They But the latter quickly changed his mind fastened their gaze on the table at which and made another raise. Ryan's engineer Black and the second engineer of the dropped out. Galardi had played. The table was de- Now for the first time since the game serted. Jenson, the big boss, was coming began, Tom Saxon saw a change of ex- across the room. pression in the skipper's face—a not un- "Black's determined to beat you into Ev- kindly smile played with the corners of his erett, Ryan," he grinned. "Not waiting for mouth. His hand closed over a stack of the tide. Going to take a chance on round- chips, then came away. Jud Ryan knew in' Grief Point. That must have been that the young fellow opposite was playing some game you were in!" him for a bluff. He knew he had the Jud Ryan bit back a desire to thunder P. O. beaten. Ryan knew something else. out his feelings. Black had slipped away that the young naval was He knew man on him. By the pink-heeled prophet, this betting perhaps the last cent he had in the didn't look so good! Tom Saxon hurried world. There was likely a young wife to his skipper, and drew him to one side. back home. "If it's all the same to you, Skipper," Saxon was quick to spot Ryan's play. he breathed, "I'll beat it back to the boat. He had the P. O. beaten a mile. With Mebbe the mate'll go over the booms with a grunt, he tossed in his cards, face down. you. Black's outfit have all shoved off. "H'mmm, an' so it goes," he breathed as he glimpsed the three kings which the I'm a little bit afraid that we're goin' to find P. O. carelessly discarded. "Some must ourselves a—man—short." Tom was run- win, an' some must lose." He turned to ning to the door. And then Jud Ryan —

EXTRA HAND exploded. Galling to his mate, he lurched^ later he was aboard a section of Jud Ryan's outdoors, and whistled up a dinghy. long log boom. "Trouble, Skipper," he jerked. TOM was three hundred yards from "You mean more trouble, Tom. What the Galardi when he saw a stealthy, now?" dark form drop from the stern rail into "The Diesel. She's jinxed again. Some- a waiting boat. At once he was inclined body lifted the valves out of the auxiliary " to order the Siwash paddling him across air compressor. She's to give chase, but he quickly changed his "My Gawd!" The exclamation came in mind. A seething anger surged through a groan from Ryan. "An' Black's away. his frame. He called to the Indian to in- There's his lights. Swine! We're cooked, crease his stroke. Tom. Reckon I'll have to sign off with

"Plenty fast, tillicum," he bellowed. The Jenson, an' take my loss an' like it. You canoe cut water like an arrow. say somebody stole those valves. Any Aboard, the young extra hand rushed idea who?" to the galley, but Wong, the cook, was ^Yeh, but that won't replace the valves, absent—likely playing fan tan ashore with Skip. Don't bother signing off. There's a bunch of the Orientals from the salmon a chance yet. How's the boom? Can cannery. she stand lots of sea and weather?" Tom dashed aft, then checked up short. "W-why, uh—I reckon so," stammered Lying propped against a hawser coil was the skipper. "But what's on your mind? the anchor watch—dead to the world. We're sunk, Tom. Jenson won't stand for "Doped, I'll bet a million," Tom gasped. any delay, an' you can't blame him. I'll "Rotten dirty work." Now he dropped send down to Vancouver for a set of new to the engine room, and prepared to start valves—then by the seven eyed Buddah, the Diesel. He got no response at all I'll overhaul Black some place an' put him not even a cough. He tried again and to bed for the rest o' the season!" again, but with no better result. Then to But Tom Saxon had a better idea. There his trained mind came the solution. was a glitter in the extra hand's eye. "Of course, blast them," he snarled, "the "Tighten up all boom section connec- valves have gone. They've stolen the guts tions, and hire a couple of peavey men to right out of her." He leaped to make his ride the logs, Skipper," he jerked. "Give inspection and found that he was right. me an hour an' I'll have the Diesel run- The valves had been stolen—likely dropped ning. Say nothing to Jenson. Will you overboard. play in with me?"

"That lousy little fish-eyed second engi- There was no immediate reply, but at a neer," he thundered, coming slowly top- nudge from the Gcdardi's mate, Fred side. "What a mess! Enough to turn Peterson, the skipper grunted. Jud's brain. And he swore to reach Ever- "Right! Go to it. If you can come through I'll give a half share in the ett ahead of Black, with a half a million feet you !" Galardi, by gor-r!" The skipper gave an of logs extra. Gosh, what a lousy deal order to the mate. Saxon leaped aboard Just then, from down the Inlet, came the waiting canoe. the mocking toot of the Maisie Dean's Aboard the Galardi he squatted on the whistle, in a devil's tattoo. Tom Saxon floor plates, and with hammer and cold whirled and shook his fist at those gliding chisel began to shape new valves. lights. Black's tow of logs was stealing

well out of the inlet. "D Y THE flood tide of dawn, the Galardi L Tom dropped to the canoe, and snapped was standing off her boom, Jud Ryan a crisp order at the Siwash. Five minutes throwing his voice like a fog horn at the 132 SHORT STORIES men responsible for the towlines. Tom "What a lousy crew Ryan got stung Saxon, now acting second engineer was with," he ruminated. "By George! Per- on duty below. haps it would have been better to let him "Think she'll stand the drag of that two go, at that. Mebbe I should heave him million tow, Tom?" asked the first engi- overside before he loses his nerve when neer. we get into a blow. Huh, I'll hogtie him "Depends on weather an' tides. A lot to the mudhook, first. I'll see he gets a depends on a lot of things when you hit full taste of salt water spume—deep water the open sea." spume, by gad!" "What! You mean the skipper's going Jud Ryan and his mate stepped aboard, to hit into deep water, with an extra mil- soaked to the skin, tired, but full of fight. lion of logs in tow?" It was just as Ryan got both feet aboard

"Yes—we're going to short cut it, Chief. that the Galardi's Diesel broke into song. We tie up for nothing. Ryan's been Tom Saxon had got his improvised valves double-crossed too badly. He'd rip cut to a nicety. through the tide gates of hell, an' Fm with "Listen, Fred," the skipper chuckled. him. What about you?" "By gor'r! Listen to that extry hand

"I? Well, as a matter of fact I didn't makin' her like it. Ye-ah! Man dear, bargain for any fool moves like this. Any- we're shovin' off." He turned, and thun- how, I don't claim to let no driftin' extra dered a command at the deck hand, now hand tell me anythin'. I'm shovin' off revived. to the Inlet. I'll catch a Rupert boat goin' "Stan' by to stow that mudhook, you. north—a passenger. Tell Ryan I wish Take the wheel, Fred. We make fast the him luck." tow an' get goin'." As he neared the foot of the ladder, Tom Jud strode to the engine room hatch. Saxon loomed large and formidable before His eyes popped as he glimpsed the chief him, square jaw sticking well forward engineer sitting groggily trying to get to menacingly. his feet.

"I'd change my mind if I were you, "What's gone on here, Tom?" he jerked. Mister Chief Engineer," Tom drawled. "One of your little pack rats was tryin' "Haven't you got any more red liver than to abandon ship on you, Skip. I put him your second, who bunged up the Diesel, to sleep till you came. If you don't want then made his getaway?" him, I'll heave him overboard. How about "Pipe down, and shove out of the way, it?" Saxon. I'm not shippin' with a damn fool "First the second—then you," snarled March hare outfit like this. Gangway!" the skipper. "Get for'ard an' slop your He made the mistake of grabbing Tom's head in a bucket o' bilge. Consider your- shoulder. self under open arrest. When this trip's Two lightninglike bolts shot out; two done I'll hand ye over, by gor-r! Now, Tom, take over the anchor iron-balled fists took him on both sides of winch. We're goin' down the roads, son hell bent for the lower jaw. He staggered back, rock- — Everett. Got lots of power?" ing against the Diesel exhaust manifold. "Aye aye, Skipper, lots. I'll put her at His vision cleared, and Tom saw his hand it to the limit. Shoot me some hot coffee steal for'ard to a heavy Stillson wrench. down here in about an hour, then hang With a cry of disgust, the extra hand on to your braces, we're goin' places." leaped in and crashed over a savage hook. The chief engineer sagged to the floor FOR the next two days, the Galardi plating, and Tom resumed his task of held up her end like the true brig she blocking new valves out. was, taking a sou'easter and eating it, and JO "

EXTRA HAND 133

Still retaining her hang on the long, slug- tow by Friday, the seventh. Reckon we're gish boom. jinxed. There's nothin' for it but to put On the eve of the third night, Tom in at the back o' Texada till she blows Saxon was standing at the for'ard head herself out." together with the skipper and mate. They "H'mmm, too bad, Skipper, but you're had bucked a fast tide in the flood through right," acquiesced the mate. "Reckon this the strait. Of Black's Maisie Dean there cooks our goose with Jenson, huh? We was no sign. might as well call it a season. Well, there's "He's shown more guts than I gave the fishin' off the west coast o' the main him credit for," growled Jud Ryan. "In island. I'm with ye, if ye want to take a spite o' our efforts, he'll take his boom fling at that." through ahead, unless a miracle happens. Fishing—off the west coast. Fishing. He-— Wallowing in the slime of a salmon catch. "Look, Skip," cut in Saxon. "Light Jud Ryan jerked on his tobacco plug and ahead. That's his after boom lantern there spat contemptuously. He turned and off the starb'd head. He's less than three snarled an order to the man at the wheel. miles before us." The three men craned Tom Saxon had been waiting for this. His forward. There was no mistaking the rid- blood was up close to boiling point. He ing light of the after boom section ahead. knew Ryan was putting in to shelter purely

It hung low above the water. The Maisie in the interests of his crew ; as well, he had Dean was making slow progress now. two million feet of valuable timber at his "By gor-rl" grunted through Ryan's back. His responsibilities were heavy. But lips. "We're overhaulin' the crittur. If Saxon knew that the real old fighting Ryan we had just twenty-four hours of fair rebelled. weather, we'd roll him on his beam end "You're not goin' to hide out, Skipper ?"- with our wash." he snapped. "Hell, after all the trouble

But it was the mate who first called we've had, you're not goin' to hide out like attention to a sudden change in the slap a durned fair weather sailor! There's of the night wind. deep water in the open strait. Deep wa-

"What d'you make of the blow, Skip- ter'll take you any place, if you've got the per?" he jerked. "Am I just imaginin' guts to stay with her. You've got a good things, or is that a westerly smackin' the boat, an' log timber'll ride any place there's

back o' my neck?" water. Of course, if you fair weather sail- If there was one wind that tug men ors are afraid of a stern wind an' deep dreaded more than another coming through water, then it's no use my talkin'. If you the strait it was a westerly. It either pull in off Texada Island, you can put me meant a tie up in some sheltered cove back ashore. I'm a deep water man. I'm "> of Texada Island, or a foolhardy attempt "You danged young swab," bellowed at a run before the wind, taking a chance Ryan. "Am I to take orders an' advice on the breaking of the boom. Men who from a blasted extra hand! Deep water had attempted to run before had paid heav- man—why you ain't dry behind the—the ily for it, spending hours with peavey and " Ryan broke off sharp. Tom had pole, rescuing loose logs in the dark—mak- stung him to the quick, but he bit back ing up broken booms with a heavy sea his retort now, knowing that the youngster threatening death at every moment. was a deep water man, and a big chested "You're right, Fred," Ryan jerked. young hellion who was afraid of nothing. "She's veerin' sharp to the west. Sufferin' Something in Ryan seemed to snap. Here seacats! First we take it in the head, an' was a boy, son of an old Mississippi River now we got the devil off our stern. Tcha! man, hurling a challenge into the teeth An' I promised Jenson delivery of this of Hell-Fire Ryan. —

*34 SHORT STORIES

"Sta-b'd y'r hel-m," he roared at the his almost spent men and rushed for'ard wheel house. to whip a length of cable about a heavy "What the devil, Skip?" jerked the mate. locking timber, and so retain another sec- "You ain't goin' to run her out. Man tion. you plumb crazy? You ain't listenin' to The wind seemed to increase in force, this—this damn extry hand?" and the sea thundered in, tossing the booms But Captain Ryan merely grunted. like matchwood with angry sideswipes. But through his misery, Saxon forced THE Galardi swung into the flow again, a grin. The Galardi was holding her head and a screaming wind smacked her, up—holding it up like a deep water boat. stern on. In back of Texada Island, Cap- Furthermore, she was making speed, and tain Black tied up to sit out the blow. conserving her actual engine power. It Tom Saxon drew the skipper to one took two men to hold her wheel over, but side. they were big-chested men—whose lips "I'm goin' aboard the boom, Skipper," were blistered with the salt spume riding he said. "Have the mate take me -along- over them off the starbo'd head. side. I want plenty cable, an' chain. By A sudden grinding crash brought Saxon the great eyelids of Buddah, I'm goin' to about with a start. He gasped, struggling give those two beachcombers aboard those against the fury of the wind for breath, logs somethin' to do. Skip, we've got to as he saw the after boom section stand almost on her head. In a flash he struck down at the man outstretched on the logs at his feet.' "Quick, you," he bellowed. "Run for it." He stooped, and half dragged, half booted the man for'ard. They had scarcely cleared before the tre- mendous tonnage of battered logs thun- dered in with a quaking crash, piling up like a river jam, threatening the entire boom. take this tow in on time. I—didn't mean Tom ran forward, and with the help any insult when I rode you about the deep of the other member of the boom crew water. I just wanted to get you steamed rushed aft with locking chains and cable. up. Hang on here, and hold her full ahead "We've got to tie her, get me?" he thun-

before it. I'll see those boom sections hold dered. "This boom tow's goin' through. Stan' by to pass me that chain." Anything else Tom Saxon might have said was lost in the whine of the wind. HE HURLED himself at the piled up Tom Saxon rode the after boom section mass of logs, fighting as he had never like some marooned sailor aboard a raft. fought before. He was dragging heavy His clothing was almost ripped from his cable with him, cable which almost tore his spume-blistered body. One of his helpers arms from their shoulder sockets. was down, groveling full length on the logs. Cut, bleeding, blistered, and aching in For seven hours at a stretch the three of every limb, he fought those logs for up- the boom crew had fought an almost losing wards of two hours. His chest seemed battle with terrible sea and wind. Twice utterly stove in, and save for a fragment the after section had threatened to hurl its of his trousers which clung soddenly to his tonnage high up on the section ahead. waist, he was naked. Times without number Tom had gathered With peavey, he rolled troublesome logs — —

EXTRA HAND into place, helped by the one man able where'd you bump into him? Must be to stand on his legs. Tom made his chain good, eh?" and cable locks; not the best of ties, but "Good! I'll say. He's the first man good enough to tide them by. to bring a two million tow into this water

But it seemed that fate was not in many a year ; an' he brought her through done with its alliance with the devil. A the straits, runnin' before a westerly—with sudden upheaval of the entire two after his arm broke. An' old Mississippi lad, sections hurled Tom through space. He but a blown-in-the-glass deep water man. crashed to the timber and lay still, spread- Do I—we get another two million feet eagled on his face. His right arm was right sharp?" strangely twisted, two sharp points of bone "You can get all the tows you want, threatening to puncture the flesh above the Skipper," was the quick reply. "Any out- elbow. fit that can pull a two million boom outfit But the dawn was riding through. The through ahead of a westerly, as you did wind was now moaning a half sob, in place with the boom standing on her ear, well of her scream. The waves still rode high, —sft£&e. And when that young partner slopping over Saxon's recumbent frame. of yours is out of hospital, fetch him along^ The heavy buffeting had ceased, however. The boys at the mill want to look him Aboard the Galardi, Jud Ryan was hum- over." ming a tune, as he stamped back and forth Jud Ryan's eyes were misted. He pock- —for'ard and aft. eted his check, and moved to the door. "Extry hand," he breathed. "I wonder "By gor-r !" he grunted. "An' to think why the devil I ever called him that ! He'll I once let him sock me off'n the Vancouver be half owner in this outfit. He is, in fact, wharf. Tcha!" Jud spat testily into the right now. H'mmm—extry hand." night, then strode off to find a taxi which would whisk him to the hospital. He BY MIDNIGHT of the seventh, the wanted Tom to see their first check—the Galardi was tied in off Everett. Jud first of many to come. Ryan smoked a huge cigar in the office of "An' when you finally slop along wit' the big boss of the Everett Mills, Limited. that mere million an' a half feet o' hem- "Make the check out to Ryan an' Saxon, lock, mister Cap'n Black," Ryan breathed. Limited," he grunted. "An' that bonus "I'm goin' to take just two pokes at that check you spoke of can be in-incorporated." ugly mug o' yours—one each for Ryan an' "O. K., Cap'n," returned the accountant, Saxon. You won't need any more, by "you've taken on a partner, eh? Who Gor-r!"

WAR OF THE BRANDING IRON

Quick trigger fingers in a

complete novel in our

next issue by Charles W. Tyler 10 :

The First Glow of Number Twelve's Headlight Could Be Seen,

and Still the Dispatchers Hadn't Changed the Meet

/

Badland Meet By DTJANE HOPKINS

Author of "Target Yard," "Flying Coupling," etc.

just call him John Doe. himself needn't have been mentioned here, WE'LL presi- except his favorite story. He happens to be the that this is He

dent of one of the great Wes- loves to tell it. He will tell it to anyone

tern railroad systems, so it is who drops into his office and asks to hear

perhaps best that his real it. And he will tell it in words about like name not be mentioned here. In fact, he these

136 10 !

BADLAND MEET *37

But, my dear sir, I am a very busy man berth extra. Never overlook a chance to I just can't spare the time, you know. Still advertise, is my motto. That's probably the —er, urn—well, maybe I have a free min- only reason I'm president of this company. ute or two, if you really want to hear the I know a hundred men down in the ranks story. who have more brains and more education But here, let me draw up a chair for you. than I have, but they don't push. They Sit down, my friend. There, that's better. don't push either the road or themselves. Have a cigar? They're rather strong. But I'm wandering. Let's get back to

And a light? Not at all, don't mention it. Wildhorse in the old days. I was just a Now you take railroading. A dull and youngster then, starting right at the bottom uninteresting business, you may think, all on my first railroad job. Officially, I was bound up with strict rules and rigid regula- the assistant station agent at Wildhorse; tions. Ah, yes. But I want to tell you, but actually, I was only a sort of errand some very odd and unusual things have boy, janitor, and general baggage smasher been known to happen in the railroad game. down at the depot. Anything in the line of The operation of trains isn't always such a odd^bs fell to me, because there were dull routine as it appears to the outsider. only two other railroad employees on duty Any veteran of the steel trails can spin you at Wildhorse. One was the station agent, yarns that sound almost unbelievable, and who was my daytime working companion yet are strictly the truth—actual, personal and superior. The other was Dave Du- experiences. Shane, the night telegrapher.

This is just such a tale that I'm going to I want to say a word here about Dave

tell you. This is the true story of the DuShane, because this is really his story.

strangest happening I have ever witnessed He is the chief character in it, and I might in a long lifetime of railroad service. It is say an extraordinary character. Physi-

something I'll never forget to my dying cally, he was a strapping big fellow, tall

day, and if you find any part of it hard to and dark and powerful, with flashing black believe, remember that I saw the whole eyes and a great shock of coal-black hair. thing with my own eyes and that I am tell- He was rather handsome, too, in a bold

ing you nothing but the gospel truth. These hard way. And when it came to telegraph- are real facts, without any coloring or ex- ing, he was as handy an operator as ever aggeration. Now if you're settled and worked in Morse code. comfortable, we'll get started. NEVERTHELESS, Dave DuShane TO BEGIN with, we must go back a was no good. Yes, I mean no good. good many years to a place known as He was a wild one, a bad one, even in an Wildhorse. At that time Wildhorse was era when all railroaders were pretty much just a prairie flagstop out on our Plains a gang of toughs. It may seem strange to Division, a jerkwater cow country town. you today that railroad men were once And to tell the truth, Wildhorse remains to considered the scum of the earth, but in this day the same thing, a jerkwater cow the early days they were just about that. country town. You haven't, by any chance, In general, they were a roughneck, profli- ever been there? No, I thought not. Few gate bunch. visitors ever have business in Wildhorse, Dave DuShane was one of the worst of and most of our trains never stop there. the old hellion crowd. He caroused

! However, if you should ever have occa- around and got in every low brawl that sion to journey to that part of the country, started in Wildhorse. He guzzled booze I'd be very pleased to have you use our continuously, off duty and on. More than railroad to take you. The fare is $32.14, once he stole the ticket money from the one way, Chicago to Wildhorse, Pullman depot office to gamble with. And when it 10 138 SHORT STORIES came to plain and fancy swearing, he could ders, tightened around my chest and arms, curse more devilishly than any section boss and jerked me sprawling on the ground. who ever hurled an oath at a Mex track The next thing I knew, I was being laborer. Dave DuShane was utterly god- dragged helplessly in circles behind a gal- less—I can't word that too strongly—an loping horse, with the audience of punchers utterly godless man. all whooping in delight. Gentle hazing,

Now I am sorry to have to say these they'd have called it. But it was far from things about Dave, because he was my being gentle. The boys were too drunk friend. Bad as he was, I am not ashamed to realize they were killing me, but that to call him my friend. He always liked was just what they were doing. There me, for some unaccountable reason. He were jagged boulders lying all about, and was a bully, too, a fist-fighting, hard- being dragged on my neck lickety-split mouthed bully. Yet he never bullied me, through those rocks was deadly play. I'd and the day that the Scorpion Butte outfit certainly have had my skull split open if captured me, it was Dave DuShane who Dave DuShane hadn't suddenly appeared really saved my life. on the scene. Understand, the boys from up on the The last I'd seen of Dave, he was swig- Scorpion Butte range weren't deliberate ging whisky in one of the saloons up town. killers, any of them. They weren't rustlers I never expected him to bob up at the ship- or outlaws. But they were as reckless a ping pens. But bob up he did, out of no- where, and just in the nick of time. I was battered almost unconscious when I heard Dave's yelling curse rise above the laughter and shouts of the others. A moment later he came bursting through the knot of on- lookers like a madman. Nor did he pause an instant in the res- cue. As the circling horse loped past, Dave

dashed out after it and grabbed the rope that was dragging me. The lariat pulled him down sliding, but he hung on grimly and with his pocket knife slashed the rope in two. That freed us both, and we rolled to a stop together in a cloud of dust. Then mob of cow waddies as ever handled a Dave jumped up, jerked me to my feet cattle drive. They were in Wildhorse ship- also, shoved me behind him, and turned to ping spring beef that day, and their ranch face the cowhands. foreman made the mistake of paying them For a minute there was only silence. My a month's wages before they started back tormentors were too surprised at the sud- home from town. Consequently, by sun- den rescue to move or speak, and Dave just set they were drunk to a man, raising stood there calmly rolling up his shirt merry hell down at the stock loading pens, sleeves for combat, with his thick black and looking for some real fun. They got it hair hanging in his eyes and an ugly scowl when I walked down the track to the pens, on his face. Then the astonishment passed, after work, to see if their cattle cars were and the entire group started for him in a properly loaded for the night freight east. rush. There must have been fifteen of them, but they could have been fifty for all THE first thing I knew, somebody had Dave cared. A good gang fight was right a lariat on me. The loop whistled up his alley, and he met the onslaught with through the air, dropped over my shoul- flying fists and bellowed oaths. The first BADLAND MEET *39 thfee men to reach him went down in their TO DESCRIBE just what happened tracks almost simultaneously, on that memorable night, and how

j "Pick on a skinny little lad, will you?" such a thing could have happened, I must bawled Dave, his hefty arms pumping like first tell you a few facts about our railroad pistons. "Now tackle somebody your own as it was in those days. The old line was size, you blankety-blank thus-and-such's." single track, without block signals, and far

Crack, slap, thud ! "I do hate to hit a man from being a perfect speedway. East of when he's drunk, but I'm just as drunk as Wildhorse it ran through a country of any of you, so—" Bam! Another cow- broken badlands, and the track had more boy bit the dust. curves than a boa constrictor with acute convulsions. It was a nasty piece of road, AT THAT, they might have over- down there in the badlands east of us. Two whelmed him by weight of numbers, of the worst train wrecks in the history of but Wildhorse suddenly woke up to what our system occurred on that dreaded stretch was going on. Entertainment! In a jiffy of rail. There was nothing west on our every saloon on the main street emptied mountain divisions to equal it for continu- and the occupants raced for the stock track. ous curves, variable grades, restricted visi- Nor did they come just as spectators. Their bility, and railroad tangle in general. arrival started a grand free-for-all, with a The first station east of Wildhorse was hundred men slugging whoever happened Alcorn, beyond the badlands and some to be within reach. The battle royal kept twenty miles distant. But there was an tip joyously until all the combatants were intermediate passing track between Wild- either knocked out or winded and worn horse and Alcorn, laid out right in the out. Then the whole thing was over as heart of the badland wilderness, and its quickly as it had started. Everybody, in- name was Badland. It was a lonely and cluding Dave, went back up town, had a desolate place, a blind siding without a tele- few rounds of drinks together, and prompt- graph office or any means of communica- ly forgot the pleasant little incident. tion with the outside world. About the

But I didn't forget it. I never forgot it. only signs of life ever seen at Badland I always remembered that I owed my life were a few scrawny range cattle of the old to Dave DuShane, and that oddly enough Tumbling T ranch, which occasionally wan- he seemed to like me. After that experi- dered up on the track in front of a train ence, Dave stood as pretty much the hero and got knocked straight into cow heaven. in my eyes. Now those are the brief facts. I men- Still, he was no sort of man for a boy to tion them because they have a direct bear- look up to. He was no shining example to ing on what happened that night. Having follow. Dave was about as devoid of mor- a picture of the layout, you can better un- als as a man can get. Drunkard, bruiser, derstand the train movements and the gambler, thief; he was all of those. He events that took place in such a remarkable burned the candle at both ends, fast and manner. hard—until the candle burned out. THE night I speak of, I sat in the It was bound to happen sooner or later, ON Wildhorse depot from about eleven of course, and happen it did, one frosty o'clock on. This was most unusual, for I autumn night Dave DuShane's candle fi- was on day duty at the station and as a rule nally burned out. And that brings us to home in bed by ten. But merely by chance the strange part of this story, the railroad- I had a bit of reporting to do. The road ing part, and the part that is seared even had just bought some new passenger loco- deeper into my memory than my narrow motives, and one of them was coming escape from death on the end of a lariat. through from the east that night on Num- 10 140 SHORT STORIES ber One. It was my idea to watch the first part of it. There was no sound but the of the new engines rocket through Wild- whine of a frosty wind around the little horse, and then write up a piece about it depot, an occasional click of the telegraph for our company magazine. Not that I sounder, and the deadly ticking of the office had any journalistic aspirations, but I did clock. Dave sat at his table in the bay want to get my name known on the system. window that fronted the track, with a kero- Even at that age I had started to advertise sene lamp burning smokily in front of him and push, you see, to get somewhere in the and a quart bottle of whisky alongside. I business. was seated back in the gloom by the heat- So there I sat in the Wildhorse station ing stove, which I industriously stoked that night, waiting for the arrival of Num- ber One. She was due past without stop at midnight, but was running rather badly off schedule to the east, so I faced a longer wait than I had expected. However, for companionship I had Dave DuShane, work- ing his regular night shift at the telegraph key. Dave welcomed my company, too, for his job was a dreary drag through the dark hours until dawn. When midnight passed with no word at all of Number One, Dave called the dis- patchers at division headquarters for some information about the delayed flyer. In answer, his telegraph sounder sputtered a long series of metallic dots and dashes, which Dave translated into English for me. whenever the monotony of sitting idle be- "You might as well go home, lad," he came unbearable. announced. "The DS office says One Toward two o'clock Dave got up, won't be here before three or four o'clock. stretched, walked around the room a few That new engine is running some hot pins times. Finally he stopped at the stove and and boxes. They've had to tie up and rig glanced in at my fire. In the bright glare a keeley line from the tender to water-cool from the coals I got a good look at his the main driver bearing." features. And the sight really startled me. That was disagreeable news. It meant a Dave DuShane looked like—well, like a prolonged wait for me, or else give up and man whose candle has about burned out. go home to bed. But I was a determined Deep lines of dissipation showed on his youngster. face, marring its natural handsomeness. "I'll stick around," I decided. "I'm go- His usually flashing black eyes were dull ing to get that item for the company maga- now, and bloodshot. His thick black hair

zine if I have to sit here until breakfast was tousled, his clothing disheveled, and his time." muscular shoulders drooped wearily.

Dave only shrugged. "You'll fall asleep," "Gosh, Dave," I spoke up. "You look

he predicted. "Trying to stay awake all like the last rose of summer. What's the

night on this job is a tough proposition. I matter with you?" know!" "Matter? Nothing. Just a little tired is all." He went back to his table, lifted the HE WAS right about it, too. By one quart bottle to his lips, then wiped his o'clock I could hardly keep my eyes mouth with the back of his hand. "Been open. Just sitting, that was the worst on a drunk for a week, lad. Haven't been BADLAND MEET) in bed for five days. Yeh, I'm a little to chatter again. Listening to the message, fagged out tonight." he perked up with sudden interest. Then I was glad then that I was there with he glanced up at the clock on the walL Dave. It was my guess that he was on the When he saw the time he frowned, whistled verge of keeling over and falling asleep at softly, as if puzzled by it. the switch. I didn't want that to happen. "There's speed for you !" he barked over

I didn't want him to get into trouble for his shoulder to me. "Buckhorn Creek just sleeping on duty—not after the way he had reported Number One by. The BC oper- rescued me from the cowboys. I made up ator says One's new engine is running like ray mind to struggle and stay awake from a house afire. They've made up twenty that minute on, if for no other reason than minutes' lost time already." to be sure that Dave stayed awake on his "Ugh," I grunted drowsily. "That kind job. of balls up One's meet with Twelve at Alcorn, doesn't it?" AND stay awake I did, somehow, while "Sure does," agreed Dave. "It throws > the minutes ticked away in tiresome that Alcorn meet all out of kilter. At this monotony. It was almost three o'clock be- rate, One will reach Alcorn by three- fore we had another report on Number twenty, the same time Twelve is due here One. By that time my head was nodding at Wildhorse. The dispatchers will have and I was groggy with sleepiness. The to change the meeting point, move it this clicking of the sounder seemed far away, way from Alcorn." and then Dave's weary voice speaking to "Uh-huh. But where to?" me. "To Badland, lad. You know, that God- "Still awake, lad? Well, you won't have forsaken siding in the rough country be- much longer to wait for Number One. tween here and Alcorn. It's a perfect meet She's quit losing time and is making sched- for Badland now, since One will reach ule speed now, steadily. The dispatchers Alcorn so much earlier than expected. The have just put out a train order for One to dispatchers will shift that meet, you watch meet Twelve at Alcorn." and see." Meet Twelve at Alcorn? I roused my- self sufficiently to recollect the timetable. AS A matter of fact, I was too sleepy to Number Twelve was the night limited from give a hang where the two trains met. the west. She was due through Wildhorse But I kept up the discussion, just to help at 3:20 a.m. without stop. Tonight, then, me stay awake. Twelve would get past us and as far east as "Then there'll be an annulment of or- Alcorn, the next station beyond the bad- ders?" I asked. lands, to sidetrack for the delayed crack "Bound to be," said Dave. "Both trains flyer, Number One. And then One, racing have orders to meet at Alcorn. Those will westward through the badlands, would hit be cancelled and new ones issued, changing us at Wildhorse about four o'clock. Such the meet to Badland. Number One will was the line-up according to the orders that pick up the new order at Alcorn at three- both trains had now received. twenty. Number Twelve will get the new Fine and dandy. If it had worked out order here at Wildhorse, from me, at three- as planned, all would have been well. But twenty. And then Twelve will take the

it was destined not to be. Even then, siding at Badland to clear for One instead trouble was brewing to the east. For Num- of running on to Alcorn for the meet." ber One, running four nours late, was be- Dave was gabbing away for about the ginning to make up some of that lost time. same reason I was—trying to clear his And she was making it up fast. weary and muddled senses. He got up and At exactly 3:05, Dave's sounder began began to pace the floor of the tiny lamp-lit 142 SHORT STORIES office again, striking his hands together im- up my spine and reminded me again of patiently. This new development in train what I sometimes forgot—that Dave Du- movements had caused him to become Shane was an utterly godless brute, an un- strained and nervous. He would be called principled ruffian of the first water. on to handle the new order for Number It was 3:15 now, and still nothing from Twelve, and there was little leeway in the the dispatchers. The west pane of the bay matter of time. The dirty-faced clock on window was becoming frosted with the in- the wall registered 3:10 now. creasing glow of Twelve's headlight. I "If the dispatchers aim to change that could hear the low rumble of the train in meet," I muttered, "they'd better hurry up the distance. Still cursing, Dave flung and put out the new order for it. Number open the door of the heating stove and be-

Twelve is due here in ten minutes." gan to poke up the fire with furious impa- "And she's reported right on the dot," tience. added Dave. He stepped to the bay win- Then suddenly his telegraph sounder dow and peered out into the night. "Yeh, broke with a wild burst of stuttering. He the first glow of her headlight is showing jumped for the instrument, jumped quickly in the west already. What in the devil and anxiously, leaving the stove poker can be slowing things up at headquarters?" sticking in the hot coals in his haste. I was With an impatient oath, he broke open sitting right there beside the stove, but I his telegraph instrument and called the was too drugged with drowsiness to notice division dispatchers. Their answer was the forgotten poker, or care. for Dave to keep his shirt on, and it sent After a moment at the key, Dave spoke him into a tantrum. He grabbed up the aloud, but as much to himself as to me. whisky bottle from his table, took another

stiff shot out of it, and began to stride around the office like a caged animal. And then a thought struck me—the order board, the semaphore signal above the roof of the station. Its red light would have to be turned on, if Number Twelve was to be stopped and a new order delivered. At the moment, the order signal was dark, for the rules required that no train be stopped at Wildhorse unless the operator actually held a train order to deliver to it. And his voice sounded strained and hoarse, "Say, Dave," I broke in. "Hadn't you thick in tone.

better play safe and turn on your red "Here it is at last!" he said. "The light? You don't want Twelve to get away superseding order for Twelve. Number from you." Twelve will hold for Number One at Bad- "Play safe, hell !" swore Dave. "I'm not land instead of Alcorn. And it took those allowed to display my red light without an brainless dispatchers ten minutes to figure order to deliver. That's regulation. And out a simple meet that an idiot could have I haven't got an order to deliver to Twelve arranged in ten seconds!" because those fumble-fingered dispatchers The rumble of Twelve was growing haven't issued it yet. 'Keep your shirt louder now, and the light on the west win- " on,' he says—the dirty son of a dow brighter. It was just 3:18. Two minutes were left in which to stop Twelve AND Dave cursed the dispatchers for for its new order. k> their delay; cursed them with such Dave promptly got up from his chair to

bitter hard blasphemy that it ran shivers turn on the red light of the order board —

BADLAND MEET S43 overhead. His hand reached forward to- And so help me, I fell dead asleep. ward the signal lever, set close beside the I was awakened almost instantly. I was window. And in that very instant, Dave being shaken; shaken gently, but from DuShane's waning candle gave its last head to foot. The chair I sat in shook, the flicker and burned out. whole depot shook. I jerked erect, looked Rising hurriedly and clumsily, he had around, wide-eyed and startled. knocked his chair over backwards on the Through the bay window I caught a floor. With his hand halfway to the signal glimpse of movement, of speed. Dull var- fever, he paused and turned around to see nish and glass was streaking by, followed what had caused the racket. When he saw by the flash of a red-and-green tail light. the overturned chair, he blinked at \t, mut- Then the shrill shriek of a locomotive tered an oath, and stooped over to pick it whistle faded quickly to a long wail in the up. The interruption was fatal. distance. What train was that, so swiftly past? I WATCHED him, watched him every My brain was numb. I looked at the clock. in n second ; yet I saw him only dimly as 3 :2&P Why, that was Number Twelve, of a dream, for my eyelids were leaden and course, right on the dot. But half closed. For a moment he stood there Shouldn't Twelve have stopped? To leaning heavily on the back of his righted pick up a train order? chair. He seemed to sway unsteadily on I looked quickly at Dave. And my his feet, and to be clutching at support. heart turned a flip-flop. He was standing Then abruptly he straightened erect, lifted in the center of the room, standing frozen his hands to his haggard face, and pressed and speechless. His mouth hung open, his palms against his bloodshot eyes. his eyes bulged. In his hand was clutched "Now let me see," he croaked dazedly. a green order tissue. ?" "What was I doing? What was I do "Dave! What is it? What happened Oh, yes, I remember. The stove poker.

Left it in the fire. Damn it to hell, I TJUT I knew what had happened. I thought I was sober, but I must be drunk!" knew it even before I looked at the

He came over and pulled the poker out signal lever and saw it set the wrong way. of the coals. It was red hot to the handle. Dave DuShane had forgotten to turn on He dropped it quickly on the zinc ash pan. his red order light! Even that noise failed to disturb my sleepy It stunned me. Twelve gone, without

stupor. Neither did the long station whis- that change of orders ! I tried to think tle of an approaching locomotive bring me what would result. Certainly, Twelve to my senses. I was in a worse daze than would fail to take the siding at Badland Dave, or just as bad. now. She would run on to Alcorn for the From the stove he staggered back to his old meet. And Number One, receiving the

chair and half fell into it. Why, I wondered new order at Alcorn, would start at once vaguely, did he sit down? Shouldn't he for Badland, expecting a clear track all the have reached forward to turn on—to turn way through. The two flyers had, in on what? My brain was so fogged that it effect, lap orders. There would be a head- refused to function at all. on collision between them. "Twelve's almost here," came Dave's "Dave!" I cried, leaping to my feet. babbled words. "Can't make a mistake "Stop Number One! Get Alcorn on the about this new order for her. Let's see if wire and stop One there—quick!" I've got it written right. Number Twelve The telegraph sounder had started to

will hold for Number One at Badland in- click again. Dave nodded toward it, stead of Alcorn. Twelve will hold for One dumbly, hopelessly. I knew no Morse, at Badland instead of Alcorn." but I knew what Dave meant by that mute !

144 SHORT STORIES nod. Alcorn was reporting Number One happened, what is going to happen in a few out, gone. Gone at 3 :20 as expected, after minutes. Tell them to rush relief, an am- receiving the new order saying that Twelve bulance train, doctors, nurses, the wreck- would be clear on the Badland siding. ing crew. Hurry and get busy on your My scalp prickled at the thought. It was key!" too late now to stop that collision. There , For a long moment he remained huddled was no way left to warn either train. Only and motionless. Then slowly his face came the badlands lay between them, and there up out of his hands, white and old. Slowly was no living thing in the badlands except he turned to his instrument and called the a few stray Tumbling T cows. Two train- division dispatchers. loads of people, of peacefully sleeping pas- They answered promptly. And then, sengers, were doomed to crash together be- with his finger on the key, Dave's lips tween Badland siding and Alcorn. They moved mechanically with the words he would head-end at full speed on the blind tapped over the wire to headquarters. curves of that dreaded country, already the "Wildhorse. No. 12, out, 3:20 a.m." scene of two major railroad disasters, and Just that. No more. A regular report now about to witness a third and even of train passage. worse catastrophe. I was thunderstruck. I stood and gaped at him. It was several seconds before

DESPERATELY I began to grope in speech returned to me. Then it came in a my mind for some ray of hope, how- rush. ever slight. But it was useless, for there "Man alive, Dave!" I burst out. "Why was no hope. It was just impossible for didn't you tell them the truth? Get help the coming collision to be avoided. Nothing started down to those poor people ! Heaven could stop it, not even the warning of knows they'll need it soon enough ! What's headlight beams. No engineer could see got into you, anyway?" an approaching headlight in those broken badlands in time to do more than slap at TTE MADE no answer. I doubt if he his brake valve and jump for the rocks. * * even heard me. He got to his feet Hopeless and stood silent and grim, staring vacantly I know my own feelings then. But what into space. Slowly his fingers crept up were the feelings of Dave DuShane, whose the sides of his head and knotted in his mistake had caused this tragedy? The heavy black hair. Then suddenly he turned crumpled and useless train order dropped and strode across the office to the door of from his fingers and fluttered to the floor. the depot baggage room. Jerking it open, He staggered back to his table, reached for he stepped through into the pitch darkness the half-empty whisky bottle, started to beyond. The door banged closed behind

lift it to his lips. Then suddenly his arm him, and I heard the key click in the lock. whipped back, and he hurled the bottle I could only gaze blankly after him. His away from him, violently. It smashed actions had left me flabbergasted. Why through a pane of the bay window, and had he locked himself in the dark baggage itself was shattered on the depot platform room? Why did he refuse to tell head- Outside. Then Dave dropped heavily into quarters what had happened? Had the

his chair, slumped over in it, and buried shock of the coming disaster unbalanced his face in his hands, shuddering. his mind? With a great effort I began to collect My thoughts were in a turmoil. I went my wits. "Listen, Dave," I quavered, to the baggage door and pounded on it, walking over to him. "Hadn't you better calling for Dave to come out and notify the

tell headquarters? Yes, that's the thing to dispatchers. But there was no answer, no do. Call the dispatchers. Tell them what's sound, within. I beat on the door until 10 ! —

BADLAND MEET H5 my fists were bruised and bleeding, then "Those two trains didn't collide. There went back to my chair beside the stove and hasn't been any wreck at all." dropped down in it exhausted. At that, I went limp all over. No wreck ? It was 3 130 now. Number Twelve was How had it been avoided? Had I over- due at Badland already, making the short looked some ray of hope? And what did run from Wildhorse at high speed. At Dave know about it ? that very moment Twelve probably was "Why do you say that ?" I asked weakly. rocketing past the Badland siding on her "How do you know there hasn't been a way to doom. As nearly as I could figure wreck?" it, her collision with Number One would Dave turned away, walked back to his come just four minutes later—at 3 134. My eyes riveted on the office clock with table in the window, sat down. Reaching horrible fascination. I counted in anguish forward, he turned down the wick of the every second of those next terrible min- smoky lamp. The yellow flame shrank, leaving the room in semidarkness. Then he answered my question.

"Because I prayed ! There hasn't been a wreck, because I prayed that there shouldn't be one!" The words chilled my blood. So the shock of horror had affected Dave's mind, after all. The man was mad. It would

have been funny if it hadn't been so tragic. Not really prayed! Not Dave DuShane, utes. 3 131, 3:32, 3:33. And then—3:34! of all men I could hear the echo of that frightful "You know, lad," he went on, ration- crash in the badlands. But, no; it was ally enough, "I've always been a pretty only my frazzled nerves. The sound I godless sort. You know my reputation heard was the door of the baggage room booze-hound, barroom bully, company

being unlocked and opened. Looking up, thief. I've never said a prayer in my life. I saw Dave standing on the threshold. But I prayed just now. I went in that "My God!" I said. "I thought I heard baggage room and prayed my heart out. — Dave, are you going to tell the dispatch- Whatever I've been or done, I don't go in

ers?" for killing innocent people in droves. I

"There's no need of it." He stood there don't want my hands stained with the blood quietly, his tone strangely calm and as- of those helpless passengers. A thing like sured. "You're overwrought about this, this will break any man, if he's human at

lad. Don't take it so hard. Everything all."

will be all right." "Be all right?" I echoed. "Two pas- THERE was no doubting his sincerity. senger trains collide in the badlands, and I could tell by the tone of his voice

you say everything will all right?" that he meant every word of it. But Dave's be , personal reaction was beside the point, TJE CAME over and put his hand on which was a cold matter of a major rail- * * my shoulder. And there was not road disaster miles away. a tremble to his fingers, I noticed. This "I don't blame you for praying," I said. was not the same man who had entered that "I'd have done the same thing. But this

baggage room, stunned and horror-stricken, is practical railroad operation. You should ten minutes earlier. have called headquarters for help immedi- "Stop your worrying, lad," he said. ately. Surely you can't believe a prayer —

146 SHORT STORIES

has stopped that collision from taking repeating it, so I'll go dead-wire until I place." learn what's happened."

"Yes, I believe just that," declared Dave. Then we sat there, just sat there, listen- "But why? It's so ridiculous!" ing to the clock tick away the dreadful

"No, it isn't ridiculous, lad. You see, minutes. If I had hoped against hope

I had an answer to my prayer. While I earlier, I gave it up now, for it was after was kneeling in the baggage room, just a four o'clock and still no sign of Number few moments before the collision was due, One. Of course, it had been hopeless from I had an answer. Not an answer in words, the first. Two trainloads of people had or a vision of angels, or any of that silly been slaughtered, Dave DuShane was stuff; but an answer, just the same. I felt crazy, and that's all there was to it. it, somehow. The collision did not take The minutes passed, somehow. Ten of place." them, twenty, thirty, forty. A full hour "Then what happened to stop it?" dragged by. Still we sat there in the gloom. "I don't know, lad. I haven't the faint- I felt too weak to move off my chair. I est idea of what happened. But I'm certain could only hold my head in my hands and there has been no wreck. Everything will try to blot out the nightmarish visions be all right. I prayed, and received an visions of scores of humans mangled and answer." dying in the badlands, with no aid coming Well, that was the last straw. "Prayed to them, their plight unknown to anyone and received an answer!" It was just too except a helpless kid and an insane oper- much to believe. I was convinced then that ator. Dave DuShane had lost his mind. His brain had cracked under the blow of THEN suddenly I heard a word, one tragedy. I could think of no other explana- word, spoken by Dave. !" tion for it. As for imploring him any "Smoke longer to notify the dispatchers, that was I looked up, and through the bay win- clearly useless. dow saw a strange dull light outside. Then I realized that daylight was breaking. The BY NOW it was nearing four o'clock. clock said 5:10 now. A sad gray twilight If the two trains had passed safely at hung over the prairies, and frost was white

Badland, as Dave seemed to think, it was on the sagebrush. now time for Number One to have arrived Smoke? I jumped up and over to Dave's here at Wildhorse. But One was not here. window. I peered eastward down the Neither was there any glow of headlight in track, eastward toward the badlands. Dawn the eastern sky. was a blood-red streak on the ragged Soon the telegraph sounder began to horizon. And against the crimson, darkly, click and sputter again. Headquarters was there showed a little black smudge, like the calling. Dave responded, sent reply. This smoke of a locomotive in the distance. conversing was repeated several times. At A locomotive? Coming out of the bad- length Dave pulled out the plugs and cut lands? What could it be? Not Number his instruments off the wire circuit, leaving One, surely! That was impossible, now. us in silence. I left Dave sitting at his table and dashed "The dispatchers are up in the air," he outside to the track. remarked. "They keep asking why Num- Standing there on the depot platform, I ber One hasn't arrived here yet from Bad- squinted my eyes against the growing dawn. land, and why Number Twelve hasn't Yes, it was an engine coming. And com- reached Alcorn. I've told them there's ing like a bat out of hell. She was raising some kind of delay at Badland, but nothing a white cloud of alkali dust to mingle with serious. There's no use for me to keep her black smoke. BADLAND MEET 147

Then I saw it, nearer. A passenger lo- One at Alcorn, had of course run past comotive. But a strange one, an engine Badland instead of sidetracking there. But I'd never seen on our road before. What on the first curve beyond Badland, the devil! Were my eyes deceiving me? Twelve's engine had hit a steer—one of Or had I gone crazy like Dave? those confounded Tumbling T cattle that No, it was real. A strange engine run- were always wandering up on the track in ning toward me like mad. And behind it, the badlands and getting knocked into cow now, a long gray line of dust-coated sleep- heaven. Instead of getting boosted over ing cars. Good God ! —could that be Num- the telegraph wires as usual, however, this ber One and her brand-new locomotive animal went down under the engine wheels. approaching? I'd never write this report And one of its large leg bones derailed the for our company magazine; the story was pony wheels of Twelve's locomotive. too big for me to handle. Naturally, the engineman made an Now a whistle shrieked. An engineer's emergency stop. Then, according to safety goggled head poked out of the cab window. regulations, the train crew piled out to flag A gauntleted arm waved me back away the track in both directions from the dis- from the track. Then a blast of wind al- abled flyer. The head brakeman strolled most bowled me over. There was a rush a few hundred feet up the rails eastward, and a roar, pounding of wheels, screech of and to his utter astonishment, suddenly flanges, flash of smoking trucks. Dust saw Number One's headlight come zoom- choked me, gravel peppered me. And ing around a curve ahead of him. At once Number One was past like a shot, more the brakeman broke out a red flare, and than five hours late now and really burning Number One, spotting the desperate signal, the steel. just managed to stop pilot to pilot with the derailed engine of Number Twelve. I BURST back into the station, laughing Afterward, it had taken an hour or so aloud. I must have been a little hys- to rerail those pony wheels. And then terical. Twelve had reversed and backed into the "Dave!" I yelled. "Did you see that? Badland siding, trembling and thankful, Did you see it?" after comparing orders with One. "Yes," said Dave simply. "It was Num- ber One." 1 LEANED feebly against the table and "But how did it happen? How could it looked at Dave taking the story off the ever have happened?" sounder.

"I still don't know, lad." He shook his "Well, can you beat that?" I exclaimed head gravely. "I still haven't the slightest weakly. "A cow derailing a train ! Why, idea of what happened. It was the answer such a thing wouldn't happen once in a to my prayer. That's all I can say." thousand times. And yet it happened this

But we soon found out what had hap- time, at the exact moment when it was !" pened. Dave plugged in his instrument needed. What a lucky accident that was again, and almost at once got the informa- "Only," said Dave quietly, "it wasn't an tion off the wire. Number Twelve had accident. It was—it was sent." just been flagged down at Alcorn for her Well, was it? Had it been just a queer crew to explain to the dispatchers what had twist of chance that saved those trains?

caused the long delay at Badland. And Or was it what Dave DuShane so deeply this is what had occurred, as Twelve's believed—a practical demonstration of the

conductor told it: power of prayer ? Freak accident or divine

Number Twelve, having only the old miracle, I do not know. Your guess is as train order calling for a meet with Number good as mine. 10 — :

148 SHORT STORIES

Whichever it was, through ing sight. Dave's hair, his thick mop of | Dave was now. His job was gone. For failing to coal-black hair, had turned white! deliver a train order he would be dis- Of course, I'd read of people's hair sud- charged, blacklisted, run out of the game denly turning gray or white under the for life. You could get away with a lot of stress of some great emotional upheaval. things on the railroads in those days But I'd always taken such yarns with a boozing, fighting, even stealing the com- grain of salt. At least I never expected to pany cash ; but you couldn't get away with witness such a phenomenon. Yet here it one bad operating mistake. Oh, no; Dave was before my eyes. Sometime between DuShane was done. As a railroad teleg- the passage of Number Twelve and the ar- rapher he was washed up, forever and a rival of Number One—perhaps while he day. was in the baggage room learning to pray "But there's a way to beat the blacklist," —Dave DuShane's hair had turned as I reminded him, trying not to be too down- white as a ball of cotton. That capped the

hearted about it. "You can go somewhere climax of a series of events which, as I else and work under a false name. Plenty said at the beginning, formed the strangest

of other railroaders have done it. Wherever experience I have ever encountered in a

you go, Dave, I'll go with you." lifetime of railroad service. "No, lad." He got up and put his arm All this, to repeat, took place a long around my shoulders. "You stay here and while ago. Railroading has changed a lot —and push. Don't be a fool like I've been. since then, and the men have changed even There's a new generation of railroad men more than the business. Only Wildhorse coming, and they won't be drunken toughs remains the same, a jerkwater cow country like me and a lot of the others. Make your- town. Still, it has a church now, and the self one of those new men, lad. Who church stands on a corner that used to be knows, you might even push yourself up the site of the largest saloon in the county. to be president of this system some day." So even Wildhorse has changed some, too,

; "But you, Dave. What's to become of since those days. you, now?" And now, my friend, I am afraid I'm "Just this." He bent to his instrument, overdue for an appointment with my board called headquarters, and told the dispatch- of directors. But before I excuse myself ers to send a new telegrapher to Wildhorse there is one more thing I'd like to say. If to replace Operator DuShane, resigned. you should ever visit Wildhorse and attend "I've got another job in mind," he added. Sunday service at the church I mentioned, "A better job than this. It just occurred I want you to take a good look at the to me. I'm going to— Hold on, lad! preacher. You'll find him to be an old What's wrong?" man, but for all his advanced age, still tall and powerful and handsome, with flash- HE SAW me fall back against the wall, ing black eyes and a great mop of snowy suddenly stunned. I thought I'd had white hair. And if you should ask the my share of shocks that night, but here was old-timers in the congregation whether another, perhaps the greatest shock of all. their pastor is a good man, a godly man, "Your hair, Dave!" I gasped. "It's worthy to hold a pulpit, the old-timers will " why, it's tell you this

1 Words failed me. I hadn't noticed it That the Rev. Mr. David DuShane before, because the light in the office had hasn't touched liquor or uttered a single been dim and I'd been too upset to notice cuss word since a certain night, many long much of anything. But now, with the first years ago, when his hair turned white be- rays of the rising sun striking through the tween the passage of two trains and he window full on Dave, I saw that astound- quit a railroad job to join the clergy. 10 The Tonto Kid Turns Peace Officer—But Not for Long

Heading South

By HENRY HERBERT KNIBBS

Author of "A Slim Chance," "Wildcat Reward," "Slim Plays a Fast Game," etc.

bank window was riddled past, after their unsuccessful attempt to loot THEwith bullets. Bits of bark were the First National Bank. Emerson, the chipped from the plaza trees. A druggist, a puncher from the Pecos, and bay saddle horse staggered the cashier of the First National Bank lay across the plaza, sank down and dead in the plaza. One of the Randall gang lay with head outstretched. Citizens of the was badly wounded but still in the saddle, state capital crept warily from behind The volley fired into the governor's counter and door, emerged from recessed mansion was an echo of the gang's fre- hallways. The smell of burnt powder hung quently repeated challenge to the chief in the air. Someone telephoned the gov- executive; if he wanted them, he could ernor's mansion that the Randall gang had come and get them. Several times in the again raided die town. So far as the gov- past five years the invitation had been ac- ernor himself was concerned, the news cepted. But as yet no posse or peace was a bit late. The Randalls had fired officer had been able to dislodge the out- into the governor's mansion as they raced laws from their stronghold in Horse Thief

i« 149 SHORT STORIES

Canyon. The canyon itself was all but in- remember that poker game and laugh. accessible, and the mountain trails west led "Correct! You are Slim Akers." into the Bad Lands, affording an easy re- "Gambler. Now we're on common treat in case of a prolonged attack. The ground." Hamills of Thunder Mountain controlled "How are things going, Akers?" the timberland and high meadows south of "Quietly, in my line." the canyon. The Hamills themselves were "Could I persuade you to take a little notoriously unfriendly toward peace of- drink?" ficers. "Why, yes—if you won't smoke." The day following the raid, a slim, rather "Not—well—let's try one of those carefully dressed man of about thirty called cigars." on the governor. The caller's name, the Again Mr. Akers gracefully proffered a governor learned, was Alexander Akers. cigar which the governor accepted as an

Always out for votes, the governor smiled. accompaniment to the little drink. "Sandy Acres, eh?" "Wonderful," said Mr. Akers, setting "So I have been told. But not gritty down his glass, "how a little conversation enough to go after the Randall outfit." loosens up the rivets." The governor's heavy gray eyebrows "Especially the unofficial rivets. What went up. Mr. Akers hadn't been in the can I do for you?" reception room five minutes, and he had "Issue a pardon for Young Pete, better put his finger on a sore spot. This was known as The Tonto Kid." just a little bit too swift. As governor of Governor Rowland was surprised, more the state, The Honorable Frank B. Row- than surprised, and he showed it. Mr. land felt entitled to a little more respect. Akers' nerve hadn't failed any since their "To just what am I indebted " he be- last meeting. "But Akers!" gan stiffly. "Your constituents, and so forth. Of

"For the pleasure of this visit?" Mr. course ! I expected that. Barring a select

Akers proffered a cigar which, not being few, your constituents know as little about accepted, he lighted himself. "Or for my the real history of The Tonto Kid as you ?" remark about the Randalls do. He's a bad man, a gunman, a killer. "Let us say both." That's wholesale opinion, never sifted. Mr. Akers nodded. "That saves time. What started him riding the high trails? However, allow me to point out that I When did he ever bump off a man with- didn't make the mistake of calling you out giving that man every chance in the Frank." world to either back down or pull his gun? It pleased the governor to be facetious. How many times has he let a peace officer "Frank with a capital, or lower case?" go when he could have blown his head off? "Let us say both." When did The Kid ever go back on a friend," Mr. Akers looked the governor THE governor was no fool—he couldn't hard in the eye, "or play a favorite? I've afford to be. So he let down the bars. traveled with The Tonto Kid for a good "Haven't I met you before?" many years. I know him both ways from "Several times, when you were a private the jack. There isn't a straighter man in citizen. But I don't care to trespass on that the state, nor a man with more sand. But circumstance. About a year before you your newspapers and your loose mouthed received the nomination, if you haven't for- gentlemen who read them, all have it that gotten, the pleasure of your company netted The Kid is a rattler that will strike any- my establishment something like five hun- thing that comes within reach. To the dred dollars." contrary, if the peace officers of this unen- A good politician, the governor could lightened community had spent as much to HEADING SOUTH time leaving him alone as he has trying to the Randalls we don't get any cooperation keep out of trouble, he'd hung up his gun from the community." and give the law a chance to get a little much needed sleep. Pardon .him, and see IT WAS Mr. Akers' turn to show sur- if I am not correct." prise. "Then Emerson the druggist, cashier Harrison, and that young puncher from the Pecos off eight of the Ran- THE governor felt there was consider- stood able justice in the suggestion. The dall gang yesterday just for the pleasure of Tonto Kid, in spite of his record, was more getting shot at, and killed?" a victim of circumstance than a deliberate "A splendid example of individual cour- lawbreaker. But to pardon him offhand age." would raise a storm of protest. Political "Yes, I know. But they wouldn't have rivals would charge him with currying put it that way. They figured, as citizens, favor with the wild bunch. It wouldn't do. For a full minute Governor Rowland studied the blotter on his desk. "I'm sorry, Akers," he said finally. "But it is im- possible." "Pardon a contradiction. You're not sorry—yet. But you feel you might be, next election time. I had anticipated your

reply. This is my proposition. Give The Kid a pardon, deputize him and turn him loose, and he'll clean up the Randall outfit or get shot to pieces trying. Either way, you win." "Have you talked with him?" "Plenty. Now, I'm talking for him." "Why didn't he come and see me him- it was their job. That's what I call co- self?" operation." Mr. Akers allowed himself a smile. "Get- "Accidental cooperation, if you wish." ting right down to cases, he doesn't trust "Got results, didn't it?" you." "That isn't the point." "And you do?" Mr. Akers was sorely tempted to say "I'm not The Tonto Kid." several things. Had he been suing for a Governor Rowland frowned. "Folks pardon for himself he would have said seem to hold me personally responsible for them. But he represented his friend The the existence of the Randall gang." Tonto Kid, so he restrained himself. "You "Aren't you?" speak of cooperation. That's exactly what I'm offering. Sheriff failed The back of Governor Rowland's neck Yardlaw has to land the gang, and Buck is the best man tingled. This man Akers was too damned in the state, barring one. Deputize The insistent. Like a bulldog on the end of a Tonto Kid and he'll make good." sack, he wouldn't let go. Swing the sack "I can hardly deputize an outlaw." and he would hang on all the harder. Per- "That's a joke. I could name seven or sonally responsible for the existence of the eight outlaws drawing salaries from the Randall gang! The governor snorted, in- state. I would even be willing to name 'em wardly. Outwardly he remained the smil- in print." Mr. Akers rose.

ing politician. "Responsible? Hardly, Governor Rowland gestured to him to sit Akers. Trouble is, when we do go after down. "No hurry, Akers. Let's look at 10 142 SHORT STORIES

this from another angle. Suppose I issue more private quarters—an upstairs hotel the pardon. What guarantee have I that room overlooking the plaza. Not that the The Kid will clean up the gang?" gambler ever did any loose talking. But "None, whatever. He'll try." he had expressed a desire to talk. "All right. Tell him to go ahead." "Have a cigar," said Mr. Akers. Governor Rowland waved a magnanimous "Just had one." hand. "If he turns the trick I'll issue the "Have a drink?" pardon." "Just had one." Mr. Akers deliberated. "No. The Kid "Well, have a chair." ' won't go after them without written au- It was warm, and they sat by the open thority from you. The pardon can come window. "Suppose," said the gambler, later," "we get down to cases." Governor Rowland reached for a pad, "Suits me." wrote a brief line and handed it to his "You're taking a little vacation. Don't

visitor. "Tell him to take this to room 28, be surprised that I know it. I'm largely Capitol Building. Glad you came in, responsible." Akers. Give my regards to The Kid." Yardlaw said nothing. "Just between ourselves, Buck, the gov- ARRIVING in the state capital following ernor has deputized The Tonto Kid to go the attempted bank robbery, Sheriff out and clean up the Randall outfit." Yardlaw was summoned to a private con- Yardlaw nodded. ference with the governor. Yardlaw was "If The Kid busts the gang, he gets his instructed to ignore the Randall gang and pardon."

the recent raid, also to keep his hands off "I'll be damned glad if he does." The Tonto Kid should the latter show up. "Save us all a lot of wear and tear, won't The tall, grizzled sheriff was not over- it? You know as well as I do, that Young pleased with these instructions. The gov- Pete is entitled to a break. I had an idea

ernor had tied his hands. Sheriff Yard- the governor would talk to you about it. law decided to do a little intelligent listen- But you can't always tell about governors." ing. "Or about The Kid." Yardlaw nodded A day later, while loafing in the Capitol toward the plaza. Hotel bar the sheriff heard a voice he knew. "Yes. I've been watching him." Mr. Turning he saw The Tonto Kid's friend, Akers leaned out. "Hey, Pete, come on up Mr. Slim Akers, conversing with the pro- and meet a friend." prietor of the local gambling hall. Mr. Akers had no establishment in town. His THE gaunt, grizzled sheriff rose, took presence in the Capitol was interesting. off his belt and gun and laid them on Yardlaw concealed his curiosity with a the dresser. This was a great concession brief nod to the gambler, who finally left for the fighting sheriff to make to his old

his companion and joined the sheriff. enemy The Tonto Kid. And yet it was "This," said Akers, "is no place to talk natural enough. Between them existed no politics." personal enmity. For several years Yard- "Who wants to talk politics?" growled law had trailed The Kid. Several times Yardlaw. they had met in battle. Outlaw and peace "I do." officer they had come to respect each other's If anyone knew why the governor was nerve and ability. Now a pencilled line

protecting The Tonto Kid it would be Mr. from the governor and a little piece of Akers. Recalling the governor's injunction plated metal had put them on an equal to keep his hands off The Tonto Kid, the footing socially. In disarming himself the sheriff accepted Mr. Akers' invitation to sheriff had been wise. The Tonto Kid 10 HEADING SOUTH 153 would never take advantage of an unarmed gone after him except for the governor's man. orders. "I'd kind of like to meet him," Someone knocked on the hotel room said Pete finally. "What does he look door, and although it was unlocked, waited like?" for it to be opened. Mr. Akers did the Yardlaw told him. For a moment Young honors. "This young fellow," he said as Pete stood gazing down onto the plaza. Young Pete stepped in, "is The Tonto Presently he rose and moved toward the Kid." door. "Guess you fellas'll have to excuse Young Pete grinned. "Hello, Buck. me for a couple of minutes."

How's it goin'?" "Don't make it any longer," said Slim Noting the belt and gun on the dresser, Akers. The Kid followed Yardlaw's example. Mr. The door closed. Mr. Akers glanced at Akers insisted that they shake hands. Yard- Yardlaw. The sheriff rose. law smiled. "Understand you're going "I feel like taking a little walk," declared after the Randall gang." the gambler. "So Slim tell me." Buck Yardlaw picked up his belt and "Going in alone?" gun and followed Mr. Akers down to the

"Sure ! I don't want any posse messin' street. "It's his party," said Mr. Akers up my party." as they moved toward the Capitol Saloon. Dark eyed, slender, boyish except when "Unless another one of the gang should his eyes hardened, Young Pete stood look- happen to be in town. I don't want to see ing at the sheriff. Gaunt, battle scarred, anyone get shot in the back." Yardlaw gazed at the youth who so often Opposite the front of the saloon stood a had given him the slip. Mr. Akers relieved telephone pole. Against the pole leaned what seemed a slight tension. "First time Young Pete, his thumbs in the arm holes you fellows have ever shaken hands, I of his vest. His hat was pushed back. A take it?" thin smile played about his mouth. Directly Young Pete laughed. "Hell, I been across the street in the doorway of the sad- willin' to shake hands with Buck any time dle shop stood Mr. Akers and Sheriff he let go his gun." Yardlaw. Mr. Akers was smoking a cigar. Yardlaw indicated the badge on Young Yardlaw was gazing at a cowpony tied to

Pete's vest. "How does it feel to be wear- a hitch rail half a block away, a bay and ing one of those things?" white paint horse. Altogether too showy, "Kinda like hidin' behind a tree when reflected Yardlaw. Too easily spotted. you're shootin'. I don't figure to be wear- The horse belonged to Bart Randall, in' it long." brother of the outlaw. Mr. Akers' gaze

"Don't know that you will, if you stack was fixed on the doorway of the Capitol. up against the Randall outfit single handed." WITH no definite plan in mind, Young "The fella that gets it can keep it." Pete had begun his campaign by Sheriff Yardlaw nodded grimly. "Bart simply awaiting developments. Sooner or Randall might like to try for it. He's in later Randall's brother would show up. town." If the outlaw wanted a fight he could have

it. If he chose to ignore the deputy loaf- RANDALL was in town! This was ing outside the saloon, Pete would not news. Yet Young Pete said nothing. challenge him. But he would mark him Slim Akers merely elevated his eyebrows. down, note how he dressed and acted. A Randall's brother was in town, probably mining man and a local attorney came out scouting for the gang. Both Slim and of the saloon, glanced at the young fellow Young Pete knew that Yardlaw would have leaning against the telephone pole and 154 SHORT STORIES moved on. In the doorway of the saddle like?" Pete moved an inch or two, freeing shop Yardlaw and Slim Akers stood talk- his shoulder from the telephone pole. ing quietly. The paint horse stamped and switched flies. A number of townsfolk RANDALL seemed to hesitate. Finally were passing back and forth. Pete noted he swung round, and turning his back that there was not a town constable in on The Tonto Kid, started to walk toward sight. the paint horse at the hitch rail. Slim Black hair, blue eyes, medium build, Akers, across the street, thought that the about twenty-five years old, acts tough. outlaw had backed down. But Young Pete Yardlaw's description of Bart Randall. had a different idea. Hardly had the out- Aware that the gang had friends in town, law taken two steps when he whirled. The Young Pete kept the telephone pole at his guns of the outlaw and The Tonto Kid back. crashed like a single shot. Slim Akers Glancing across the street he noted that groaned. His sympathy was wasted. Ran- Slim Akers and the sheriff were leaving the dall swayed and fell, face down on the doorway of the saddle shop—as plain a hint sidewalk. Gun poised, Young Pete walked as he could wish. The saddle shop was slowly toward him. directly in line of fire should the man who In the few seconds between the time had just come out of the Capitol Saloon Randall had accosted The Tonto Kid, and happen to be Randall. Pete seemed to be talking to himself. "Black hair, blue eyes ." . . The roughly clad man coming to- ward him stopped and stared at the badge on Pete's vest. 'Acts tough," murmured Pete, flicking his half smoked cigarette into the gutter. Casually The Tonto Kid glanced at the other man, whose face was lined with a sneer of disdain for the young, slender, smooth faced youth sporting a

deputy's badge. Still leaning easily against the telephone pole, Pete seemed to be star- ing at the other's boots, powdered with the the shooting, but one or two had seen the

red clay dust of the hill country. Yardlaw fight, or knew exactly what had happened. had disappeared. Slim Akers was stand- In the crowd gathering round the dead out- ing a few doors up the street from the sad- law, loomed the grizzled face of Sheriff dle shop. Yardlaw. "Yes, it's Bart Randall," he said. "Anything about those boots you don't But when questioned as to who shot the like?" outlaw, Yardlaw had no answer. Rumor Young Pete looked up questioningly. spread that Buck Yardlaw had killed Bart Randall. When the news reached the gov- "Talkin' to me?" ernor, he sent for Yardlaw and got the "Talking to you." facts. Apparently uninterested in the "All right. Go ahead." Pete saw Ran- shooting, Mr. Slim Akers stood a few feet dall glance toward the paint horse. up the street using his pen knife to dig "You're feeling real healthy, ain't you?" a bullet from a telephone pole. nodded. "Real healthy." Pete In Mr. Akers' room in the Capitol Hotel Randall strode up and flicked his finger sat Young Pete gazing down onto the plaza. at the deputy's badge as though snapping No matter what happened now, he wouW a fly from Young Pete's vest. have to go through with the job. The "Anything about that badge you don't elder Randall wouldn't leave a leg under 10 —

HEADING SOUTH 155 a horse till he rode down the man who had one actually knows where he is, just so killed his brother. much easier it will be for him to follow Cool and smiling, Mr. Slim Akers en- out his plans." tered the room. Walking over to The "What are his plans?" asked the gover- Tonto Kid he laid a lead slug on the win- nor bluntly. dow sill. "Compliments of Bart Randall. "I don't know what his plans are. I I figured he had got you." don't even know whether he's in town or "No. Because he didn't know what I not." would do. The minute he started to walk The governor who wished to give some away, I knew what he would do. Some carefully edited news to the papers, sur- fellas make mistakes like that."" mised that Yardlaw knew considerably

"Going to stay around town and take more than he cared to tell. "Governor is them on as they come?" out to clean up the Randall gang." That Pete shook his head. "I'm going over would make a valuable headline. But the into their country. I know the trails pretty headline didn't appear. Even Young Pete's well. I'll need a pack horse and some grub. closest friend, Mr. Akers, seemed to know Mebby you or Buck can stake me." nothing about his whereabouts. "Buck will let you have 'most anything Meanwhile Young Pete, riding his own he's got. Know where he was when the horse and leading a pack animal loaned ruckus started?" him by Yardlaw, was riding south. Not "No." until he was some miles out from the capi- "He was sitting in the upstairs window tal, did he swing west and make for the of Rodney's, next to the saddle shop. No hills. Neither Yardlaw nor Akers knew one would have got you from behind." just when he left or which way he would "And I suppose you were wearin' a tele- ride. graph pole for a chest protector." At dawn he made camp in the timbered "That's exactly what I was doing. How range of Thunder Mountain. His next would you like a little drink?" ride would bring him well over the range "When I can't handle myself without and into San Dimas valley. Heading up liquor, I'll hang up my gun." San Dimas, another eight hours' ride Slim Akers glanced at his friend. Young would locate him in the rough, rock-strewn Pete was staring out of the window, ap- foothills back of Horsethief Canyon. Sur- parently lost in thought. mising that the Randall gang had scattered following the recent raid, Young Pete THE next day a rumor spread that The planned to hunt them out one at a time Tonto Kid was in town. An eye wit- a fool's job, with the chances a hundred ness of the shooting was responsible for the to one that he would not come out of the news. Governor Rowland, who didn't want venture alive. But that bothered him con- The Tonto Kid's presence advertised, was siderably less than the fact that he, who pleased. pointed anything but But Yardlaw had been hunted from Mexico to the Cana- out that it the best thing that could was dian border, was now the hunter. Reason have happened. The news would reach told him that he was right—that he had Randall, who, while he would hardly risk the law behind him, that every member another raid immediately, probably would of the gang was a killer who would shoot quietly send in someone to get The Tonto him or any other peace officer on sight. Kid, and thus split up the gang. "Let the job, had he given folks talk all they want to," advised Yard- Yet he hated and not law. "Let them say The Tonto Kid is his word that he would see it through, he hiding somewhere in town until he can would have quit long before he reached make a safe get away. Just as long as no the backyard of the Randall stronghold. SHORT STORIES

BOTH his horses staked well down the tered Young Pete. Evidently the man mountainside, Young Pete climbed to wounded in the raid had died. the crest overlooking Horsethief Canyon. The air was clear and warm, the grass on HARDENED by a life of outlawry, the range stirrup-high. Below, the great Young Pete tried to ignore the bru- rock walled cleft of Horsethief Canyon tality of dumping a body into a canyon spread from a knife-edge to a wide boulder- like a log. While aware that on the ledges

strewn wash where it met the distant des- or anywhere along those rocky walls there ert. The ledge trail leading up to the stone was no place to make a grave, and to pack house where, several years ago he had the body up to the timber and bury it fetched the mortally wounded Pecos, would have been a risky job because the showed sharp edged in the morning sun. Randalls were on the watch, still no logic In the corral back of the house stood two could convince him that the act was either horses. Young Pete reasoned that at least necessary, or decent. two of the outlaws were at the gang's head- Seldom curious as to motives except as quarters, possibly the man wounded in the they might affect his own welfare, Young recent raid and a companion. Pete did Pete was irritated by a growing urge to some reckoning. Bart Randall was out of meet the man who had so callously dis-

it. That left seven to be accounted for. posed of his companion. Pete wanted to If two were holding out in the canyon, size him up, note what kind of an eye he there must be five of the outlaws scattered had and how he carried himself under back in the hill country. Two of the gang ordinary circumstances. He was almost he knew my sight, Ed Randall and his tempted to make his way into the canyon right hand man, Harper. The other five and wait on one of the ledges above the

he knew by name only ; Lindquist, a Pecos stone house until the outlaw appeared.

cowboy and cattle rustler, Stevens, said While he might get away with it, it would to hail from the Tonto Valley, Bill Page, be a foolish and unnecessary risk. At any a former deputy sheriff, White Eye John- moment one or more of the gang hiding son, a Texan, and Sarg, once a railroad back in the hills might take a notion to visit man, who had joined the wild bunch. From the stone house. Moreover, it was not a Yardlaw's description Young Pete thought good idea to leave his horses too long. he could recognize them. As there was al- Someone might happen to discover them ways the possibility that one or two of the and surmising that their owner was not gang might visit the canyon for word with in that part of the country strictly for the

their chief, or for supplies, Pete sat watch- fun of it, ambush and kill him. He could, ing the stone house. After a half hour he told himself, lie out on one of the canyon or so, he closed his eyes to clear his vision. ledges and pick off anyone that came When he opened them, a man was coming along. Although he knew that any of the out of the stone house carrying another Randall gang would skyline him and drop

man. The figures were too far for Pete him merely on suspicion, it was not in his to catch any detail, but by the way the book to shoot a man down without giving man being carried hung in the other's arms him a chance. Pete judged him to be either unconscious The man in the stone house below came or dead. In either case, why carry him out with a saddle on his shoulder. Pete out of the house? The man carrying the watched the other saddle up and lead his other walked to the rim of the ledge, paused horse out of the corral. Would he ride up for a second and then heaved his inanimate or down the canyon? The noon sun was burden into the canyon below. hammering hard on ledge and tree and "Thafs one way of buryin' 'em," mut- boulder. A haze of heat hung in the air. Far 10 HEADING SOUTH 157 below the man mounted and began to ride looking for you. Seems you and Bart up the canyon trail. Pete drew back from had a little argument." the point of rocks where he had been sit- "Seems we did." ting. A few yards north of him the trail crossed the timbered crest. IITTLE by little Pete drew back the edge of his vest. Catching the glint SOMEWHERE in the brush a rattler of the deputy's star, the outlaw's expression buzzed. Through the still air came the changed. "So that's it?" With the first distant click of hoofs. A little later Pete word Harper went for his gun. At the could hear the creak of a saddle. Soon second word he fired. The third was not he would be able to see the man who had much more than a mumble. Whirling his more than roused his curiosity. Screened horse he spurred over the crest. Save by a clump of brush, Pete stared at the that he knew he was hit, and hit hard, trail. The head of a steel gray horse Harper was hardly aware that The Tonto showed, then its shoulders and front. The Kid had fired at all. polished butt of a carbine glittered in the Crashing down the hillside, wide of the hot light. Sharp, hard blue eyes looked trail, the outlaw's horse lunged and leaped, out from beneath the curled brim of a tat- his rider rocking in the saddle. Young tered sombrero. Sallow faced, his mouth Pete didn't want to drop the horse. But and chin half concealed by a stubbly black it wouldn't do for Harper to get to his beard, the rider of the steel gray rested fellows and warn them. Half way down his mount for a few seconds. Already Young Pete had identified him as Harper, Ed Randall's right hand man. Black Joe Harper he was called. Appreciating the value of surprising a man from the rear, rather than from in front, Young Pete made no move until the outlaw had ridden past. "Harper!" he called sharply, expect- ing the outlaw to whirl and fire. To his surprise Harper coolly pulled up his horse and turning faced the man who had called to him. His hard blue eyes swept Young Pete from head to foot. "Hello, Tonto! What in hell are you doing up here?" the mountainside as the horse swerved to

"Lookin' for a couple of stray horses. avoid a boulder, the outlaw fell, and lay Seen any?" crumpled up in the low brush. "No." For several minutes Young Pete stood

Pete stood with his hands touching the watching the country below before he fi- edges of his open vest. Slouched in the nally climbed down to where the dead out- law lay. The shot had taken Harper in saddle, Harper looked as if he had no sus- the pit of the stomach, paralyzed him. Had picion whatever of The Tonto Kid's mis- he been hit anywhere else except in the head sion. Yet he knew there was something or the heart, he would have kept on firing wrong. After killing Bart Randall, Young until either he or The Tonto Kid was Pete would hardly hide out in the Horse- down. thief Canyon country. "Looking for Ed Gouging a hollow in the hillside Young Randall ?" asked the outlaw. Pete covered the outlaw's body with rocks.' "Yes." Far down the foothills Harper's horse was Harper bared his teeth in a grin. "He's making for the spot where Pete's horses' 10 158 SHORT STORIES were staked. Fearing the gray would hundred feet below a patch of moonlight stampede them Pete lost no time in getting lay like a silver pool on the trail. Above down to the valley. The steel gray broke and below the moonlit spot the canyon was for the brush-lined slope on the western deep in shadow. Faint and muffled, came hillside. Before Pete could saddle up and the sound of horses moving along the trail. take after him, the horse had disappeared. His gaze fixed on the pool of moonlight, Sooner or later some of the gang would Young Pete waited and listened. A horse run onto the gray, and look for Harper. stumbled. The sound of a curse came "Had a hunch I ought to have dropped clearly through the still air. Finally the that horse," muttered Pete as he prepared head of a horse poked into the pool of to move camp. moonlight, its rider's figure tiny but dis- tinct. Pete counted three horsemen. Some THE Hamills of Thunder Mountain distance behind the others came a fourth, claimed the land bordering the south leading a horse with an empty saddle. A side of Horsethief Canyon. A stranger few minutes later a light showed dimly in trespassing on the property had to explain the doorway of the stone house. The door himself. While the Hamills would not closed. Four of the gang had assembled bother a man hiding from the law, a peace at headquarters. Pete wondered if Ed officer was about as welcome in their terri- Randall was one of them, or if he had rid- tory as a cloudburst. Once before Young den to town in search of the man who shot Pete had had occasion to ride the Hamill his brother. The outlaws had found and range and had barely escaped with his life. captured Harper's mount. Pete went back Yet the south rim afforded the only look- to his blankets. For a long time he lay out now that Harper had been killed. awake trying to shape some kind of plan. That evening Young Pete camped in the He decided, finally, that all planning was timber back from the south rim, his horses out of his hands. He would simply have grazing in a grassy meadow a few yards to stay in the Horsethief Canyon country beyond. In spite of the chance that the and take it as it came. Hamills might discover him, the location had its advantages. From the canyon trail, NEXT day, squatted near a tiny break- far to the north, it would be difficult for fast fire, Pete's gaze roved up and anyone to identify him without a field glass, down the rimrock which ran like a clean- should any of the Randall gang happen to swept road in front of him. Just within see him on the rim rock. In any event he the edge of the timber lay his blankets was reasonably safe from an attack from and saddle. A few yards farther back his the rear. Only because the gang respected horses grazed the circle of their stake ropes. the Hamill range were they tolerated in the The morning sun struck like slanting flame neighborhood. on the red bark of the big trees. In over- That evening Young Pete sat near the alls, shirt and vest, his hat off, Young edge of the rim watching the stone house. Pete might have been some stray cowboy The horse left in the corral below moved who had bushed out for the night. Appar- about nervously, apparently suffering for ently unconcerned as to his surroundings, water. As darkness settled, Young Pete nevertheless his eye was constantly alert. turned in. He had been asleep several Although his movements as he made break- hours when he was awakened by moonlight fast seemed natural to the task, they were on his face. Through the still, starlit air as deliberate as if planned. Now he was came the occasional click of a shod hoof. facing the rim rock and the wide void of Walking to the canyon rim, Young Pete the canyon. Again as he shoved a bit peered down into the wide, dusky hollow. of dry branch into the fire, he was facing Directly across the canyon, and some two the timberlands. His hat was off not by 10 HEADING SOUTH 159 choice, but because its brim cut down his horses. "Seems you had time to catch up vision as he stooped above the fire. He a pack horse before you left." hummed a tune, "Cowboy, What You "Sure! I don't mind runnin' from a Doin' Here?" That he had met and ex- bunch, when it's necessary. But damned terminated two of the Randall gang in the if I feel like starvin' to death." past few days did not bother him in the "I heard it was a deputy sheriff got least. Had the shooting resulted from a Bart Randall." private quarrel he would not have felt other "So did I. But I don't believe every- than he did. The fact that he was a peace thing telephoned on the wind." officer was secondary. In each instance Hamill gestured toward his own domain. his opponent had opened the fight. It was "The Randalls don't ride this country just as much his job to take care of him- much." self as it was to take care of his enemies. "That's why I'm here."

Glancing over the rim of his tin cup "But if the Randall outfit should happen of coffee he saw a horseman coming to be tracking down a peace officer, none through the timber. Pete ceased humming of the Hamills will stop them." "Cowboy, What You Doin' Here?" Now "Fair enough," said Pete. "If any peace he might have to answer the question. officers show up, you can bet I won't be Black-bearded Judson Hamill, a Winches- anywhere in sight." ter across the saddle, was riding down the Judson Hamill stared hard at the youth meadow where Pete's horses grazed. squatting beside the fire. "Same if the Young Pete's hand moved up under his Randalls were to show up?" vest. Unpinning the deputy's star he "That would be different. I reckon

shoved it into his pocket. they're out to get me. That will be my Judson Hamill had once witnessed a own private party." strange quarrel in which his brother had Saying nothing as to whether Young been shot and killed by The Tonto Kid. Pete could continue camping on his land At the time, Judson Hamill's brother was or would have to move on, Judson Hamill a peace officer, and consequently, accord- reined round and rode back into the timber. ing to the Hamill creed, beyond their pro- Pete poured himself a second cup of coffee. tection. While no hand had been lifted Hamill, he was sure, would not inform the against him as he rode from the scene Randalls of his whereabouts. Whether or of the shooting, Young Pete knew that not the mountain man suspected him of hereafter the less he saw of the Hamills being a peace officer, Young Pete was not the better. Now he was camped on their so sure. Hamill was shrewd, and probably range, grazing his horses in their meadows. knew more about present circumstances than he seemed to know. Young Pete de-

CQUATTING by the fire, his coffee cup cided to stay where he was until some in his hand, Pete nodded as Hamill move of the outlaws forced him to another rode up. The tall, gaunt mountain man location. showed no surprise in finding The Tonto Kid camped on his land. Yet his deep HE SPENT most of the day watching set black eyes asked a question. Again the stone house in the canyon. Young Pete nodded. "Campin' for a Meanwhile, one of the outlaws sat with couple of days to catch my breath." a rifle on his knees guarding the canyon "Lost much breath lately?" trail below. Men came out of the stone "Some." He gestured toward the can- house, filled the trough at the corral, packed yon. "Them fellas over there got it." feed to the horses, and spent their time "I heard about that." Judson Hamill loafing. Toward evening the guard rose waved his hand toward Young Pete's and stood looking down the canyon. A i6o SHORT STORIES half hour later, after answering a signal, hours waiting. About midnight he heard a rider appeared. There were now five the unmistakable sound of hoofs. Dim in men at the outlaw headquarters, and eight the moonlight, two riders passed on the horses in the corral. Without being able trail below him, rounded the upper end to identify the recent arrival, Pete sur- of the canyon and disappeared in the tim- mised that it was Ed Randall. With their ber. When they reappeared on the rim leader present the outlaws would doubtless rock near his camp he tied his horse in make some new move, governed largely, the brush. Taking off his boots Pete made Pete reasoned, by what their leader had his way down the trail. He had just been able to find out in town. Pete asked reached the corral above the stone house himself what effect Harper's disappearance when the door swung open and someone would have. Would the gang take to stepped out. Pete dropped in the shadow tracking and finally locate his present camp, of the water trough. The horses snorted or would they ignore the mound of stones and circled. Pete held his breath. Cursing in the foothills and simply look out for the horses, the man turned and walked themselves? back to the house. Rising, Pete let down Just before sundown two men came out the corral bars and waved his hat. With of the stone house. One of them gestured a rush and roar the horses stampeded across the canyon toward Young Pete's down the canyon. camp. The other raised his hands to his eyes. Pete caught the glint of field glass "yOUNG PETE turned and ran. Be- lenses. He could easily have lain back on hind him rose the sound of men rushing about, of voices sharp with surprise. The pool of moonlight through which the out- laws had passed on the preceding night at an earlier hour, had widened. As Young Pete sped through it a rifle barked. A slug whistled past his head and spattered on an angle of the canyon wall. Again the rifle barked, but Young Pete had rounded the bend in the trail. He slowed down to a steady trot. Leaving the trail he climbed the rim rock, out of sight. But as he had through the brush to his horse, mounted already planned a second big move in his and crossing the crest rode down into San campaign, he sat still. Dimas Valley. Two of the outlaws were Before dark he made a fairly big fire afoot. Six of the eight horses were loose, on the rim, cooked supper, and packing probably making for the desert below. It hastily, struck west through the timber- would take some time to catch them up. land, Ins fire on the rim rock still bright Pete's pack horse was staked on the San in the night shadows. Reaching the crest Dimas side of the range. Arriving at his of the range he dropped down the western camp, Young Pete moved both horses to slope, staked his pack horse, and rode another location and managed to get an round the head of the canyon to the north hour's sleep before daybreak. side. Some twenty or thirty yards back That morning while he was watering his in the brush he dismounted and sat down, horses at the valley stream, a curl of smoke the reins in his hand. In the thin chill broke above the timber of the range. Fi- air he had no difficulty in keeping awake. nally the smoke grew dense and black, Reasoning that the outlaws would investi- bulging over the distant tree tops, and mov- gate his camp on the opposite side of the ing slowly west in the light breeze. While canyon, Young Pete wore down the tedious safe enough in the valley, Young Pete was 10 HEADING SOUTH 161 curious as to what might have caused the ruffled the tree tops. The yellow haze fire. Like most mountain men, the Hamills cleared. The bars of the big corral, which were careful about fire. The smoke came had escaped the flames, were down. A from somewhere in the neighborhood of man lay near the charred logs that had their homestead. been the cabin. Still fearing some kind As Pete watched, a band of horses broke of a trap, Young Pete sat his horse watch- across the distant crest of the range and ing. The man's hand moved as if signal- rocketed down into the valley. Too far ing for help. Slowly Pete pulled his car- away to read the brand, he surmised they bine from the scabbard. Slowly he rode were Hamill stock. The smoke seemed to forward, watching the timber edging the grow less dense, finally subsiding to a thin clearing. Within a few feet of the pros- yellow haze. Aware that in the valley he trate figure he reined up. The man on the might be spotted from some crag or ridge, ground was Judson Hamill. He raised on he had already decided to take to the high his elbow, tried to speak. His black beard trails, circle the Hamill homestead and twitched and his head fell back. make his way back to the south rim of The mountain man's Winchester lay near the canyon opposite the stone house. Only him. Round about were scattered eight by constantly moving camp could he hope or ten empty shells. Tracks of plunging to keep from being ambushed. By this hoofs showed in the earth in front of the time the Randall gang would be only too charred cabin. More empty shells glit- well aware that someone was after them. tered in the sunlight. Near the log stable It was a case of keeping out of their way, Pete found the bullet riddled body of Jud- and in their way until he either wore them son Hamill's brother. Both the Hamills down, or they got him. had died fighting.

REASONING that it was his last TJETE tried to picture the fight—Jud- chance to make good, to come clear •*• son Hamill and his brother surprised of the law and settle down to some quiet by two mounted men, who according to occupation, Young Pete went at his job the tracks near the cabin had not dis- with the calculating mind of an accom- mounted; an argument of some kind, and plished chess player. He knew the game a battle. That the corralled horses had been from both sides, and knew the odds against turned loose after the Hamills had been him. One mistake would probably end shot down, was plainly evident. But why the game. And he didn't intend to make it. had they been turned loose? The earth His next move was apparently irrelevant, round the corral gate was so heavily yet he had his reason for it. Riding down tracked that it told no special story. But the valley to where the stampeded horses out in the clearing Pete discovered that had crossed, he back-tracked them up the the mounted men had departed with two eastern slope. The smell of smoke came led horses. Keeping within the timber, to him as he topped the crest. Films of Young Pete followed their trail out to the ash drifted down through the trees. Alert rim of the canyon. Too far back from for a surprise, he rode slowly through the the rim to see the stone house, he could timberland. When he came within sight see the upper end of the canyon trail as of the Hamill homestead, set in a wide, it neared the crest. Nothing showed on grassy clearing, he pulled up and sat his the trail. About to turn back, he glanced horse, wondering how it had happened. The big log cabin, the sheds and outbuild- up and down the stretch of rim rock in ings were burned to the ground. Tiny front of him. The glint of a saddle gun flames still played about the fallen timbers. caught his eye. Pete was puzzled. No

Flecks of ash floated in the air. A breeze one riding that country would leave a rifle 10 1 62 SHORT STORIES

behind unless there was a mighty good rea- jerked free. "Water," he mumbled, as he son to do so. lurched forward and toppled into the chasm Still keeping within the timber he rode below. west until almost opposite the carbine on For a moment Young Pete stood as the rim rock. Huddled at the base of a though paralyzed. The flicker of a lizard big pine, lay Sarg, the railroad man who across the rim rock brought him back to had joined the wild bunch. Wounded in himself. Picking up Sarg's carbine he ex- the fight with the Hamills he had fallen amined the magazine. It was empty. Re-

from the saddle, dropped his carbine, and calling how it had been emptied, he hurled had then crawled to the timber. And there the carbine out into space. his companion, whoever he might have A few minutes later he saw four men been, had left him. leave the stone house across the canyon Bending over the wounded man, Young and ride toward the crest. Evidently the Pete saw that he had been shot through gang was heading for San Dimas Valley, the chest twice. He was unconscious and possibly leaving the country. Once below could not last long. the border it would take months of trailing to locate them. Mounting, Young Pete BART RANDALL, Harper, Sarg and cut through the timberland, passed the the man wounded in the raid were Hamill clearing and nearing the ridge trail out of it. Still remained four of the gang of the range, waited to see if the outlaws to be accounted for. Riding back to the would come along the ridge or ride the Hamill homestead Young Pete dug a valley trail below. For an hour he watched trench near the charred logs. He buried and waited, unaware that the gang had Judson Hamill and his brother. He crossed the San Dimas Valley and had rid-

worked fast, never taking it for granted den up the opposite slope, instead of head- that the Randall gang would not return ing either north or south. Finally Young to the clearing. An hour later he was back Pete rode down to where he had left his on the south rim of the canyon, near the pack horse. Stake rope, pack horse and spot where Sarg's carbine lay. Absorbed provisions were gone. in watching the stone house, Young Pete Where they had gone was not difficult was startled by a shuffling sound. Whirl- to determine. The tracks near the river ing, he saw a figure staggering toward bed showed where five animals had crossed him. It was Sarg, hands outstretched as the stream, three shod horses and two un- though feeling his way in the dark. Shot shod. "Got my eyes left, anyhow," mut- through the body, and dying on his feet, tered Pete as he began to trail the horses he was evidently unaware of anyone near up the western slope of the San Dimas. him. "Water," he gasped tonelessly. "Water." TO BE out of provisions and blankets, Young Pete stepped to his horse and and riding an uninhabited country was unslung his canteen. "Here you are, no new experience to The Tonto Kid. He Sarg," he said, unscrewing the canteen cap. had a good horse under him, and arms But the wounded outlaw did not seem to and ammunition. He also had papers and either see or hear. Slowly he lurched past tobacco. Heretofore he had not dared Young Pete, groping blindly in the sun- smoke. Now he curled a cigarette, and light. with his gaze on the brush-covered hillside "Hold on!" cried Pete as Sarg kept on. before him, followed the plain trail of the "Sarg !" he called sharply. Standing within five horses, three shod, two unshod. The a few feet of the canyon rim, the outlaw unshod horses, he reasoned, had belonged hesitated, as if about to turn. Pete to the Hamills. No doubt the Randall jumped forward, grasped his arm. Sarg gang would tack shoes on them the first 10 HEADING SOUTH 163 chance they got. They would have to if casional freighter hauled supplies through they expected the Hamill mounts to last Carmelita to the distant coWtown of Rod- long in the desert country. ney. An occasional buckboard passed About an hour later Young Pete reached through the town, and once in a while a the crest of the range. He was not sur- cowhand. Otherwise Carmelita was as iso- prised to see, far out in the desert below, lated as a pinnacle in the Bad Lands. a cavalcade making for the town of Car- melita, an outpost on the edge of the Bad FAR out on the desert Young Pete Lands. Carmelita was populated largely waited until dark before approaching by Mexicans. Brinkley, an ex-cattleman, the town. He smoked to dull his hunger, ran the general store. He had a hard and to amuse himself, talked to his pony. name. The kind of man, reasoned Pete, "Long haul and no grass, eh Buck? Mebby who for policy alone would be friendly so you'll have to eat frijoles when we hit toward the Randall outfit. With a de- Carmelita. But you'll eat. I said it. cidedly unfavorable prospect before him, "Mebby so the Randall bunch kept right Pete rode down the western slope. But on goin'. That would be bad." not as a peace officer. Half way down Buck mouthed his bit. He wanted the slope he unfastened his deputy star water. and shied it into the brush. "This here," "If they're bushin' in town tonight, one he told his horse, "is what Slim would of 'em will be watchin' the back trail. call a strictly personal matter. Somehow, What do you say if we was to ride round I kinda like it better that way." and come into town from the west. Think Fading sunlight lay on the low adobes, that would be healthier?" the littered streets, and the weathered gen- To the stout little buckskin it didn't mat- eral store of Carmelita. Round about ter. All he knew was that he was hungry and needed water. He could see no reason for standing there in the sunset shadows, his rider sitting at his feet smoking a ciga- rette. "They got our pack horse, and some grub," Young Pete nodded toward the dis- tant town. "That pack horse belongs to Buck Yardlaw. We got to do somethin'

about it. Chucked my badge in the brush myself. All they got to do now is to get you," he looked up at the pony, "and my

spread the desert, stripped of greasewood gun, and I'll be all washed up and ready near the town, criss-crossed by goat trails for buryin'." and meandering wagon roads. Shiftless- Pete caught himself thinking of Judson ness and poverty were as apparent as Hamill and his brother, of Harper and though printed on a signboard. Mongrels Sarg, and Horsethief Canyon. A man

of all sizes lay in the dust of the main didn't last too long riding the high trails. street, or against the crumbling adobe He himself had been lucky. He had taken walls. From a desert well, not much more about every chance a man could take, and than a square hole in the ground, planked aside from having been wounded in two on the sides, the natives drew their supply gun fights, had come through without a

of water and carried it to their homes. scratch. Sometimes it happened that way. Adjoining the store stood a squat adobe But not often. with a blue door—the saloon. Storekeeper There were four of the Randall gang Brinkley's partner ran the saloon. An oc- still going: Ed Randall, Lindquist the —

SHORT STORIES

Pecos cowboy, Stevens and White Eye from his pocket—"perhaps you could help Johnson. The outlaw wounded in the re- me?" cent raid was, according to eye witnesses "But there is the store. And there is of the fight, Bill Page. His body lay at water at the well." the bottom of Horsethief Canyon. Young "I know. But I can't go in the store. Pete glanced toward the distant desert Those fellows," Pete lowered his voice, town, a vague outline in the gathering "are after me." darkness. "White Eye Johnson and Ed For a moment the girl studied Pete's Randall—I'd like to take 'em in and turn face. "I will get food for you. But from 'em over to Yardlaw. But shucks! Buck my father's house, not from the store. The himself would have to knock 'em out and men in the store are bad men. They rope 'em to a buckboard and freight 'em would talk to me. I am pretty, am I in. And I ain't got a buckboard." not?" If he were lucky enough to clean up the "Pretty as a speckled pup under a yel- gang, what proof, thought Pete, would the low wagon," blurted Pete. "But you don't governor have that the Randall bunch was savvy American talk. Like a rose," he wiped out? None, except his word. Of added in Spanish. course time would tell the story. But a "I will bring the food and the water, whole lot could happen before folks finally and no one shall see me." realized that the Randall gang was actually Pete gestured. "I'll be waiting—out out of existence. yonder."

PETE rose and gathering the reins, IT WAS a long chance, and Pete had mounted. "We got to do this job to take it. Carmelita was so small a quick. That's all. Tryin' to put 'em under town that should he appear on the street, arrest would be a joke. And the joke his presence would soon be remarked. If would be on me." the Mexican girl didn't talk, he would be The Tonto Kid saw no romance in his safe for the present. If the girl talked work, no glory if he cleaned up the gang. well, the buckskin pony would have an- It was simply a job, like roping out salty other long trip without food or water. broncs and riding them. It was his own The girl came stealthily through the fault if he got piled. shadows. She gave Young Pete some food. The desert stars shone high and clear She had filled his canteen at the well. when Young Pete stepped from his horse "The men in the store want shoes for their and led him up to the first adobe on the horses," she told him in Spanish. "There west side of Carmelita. A few houses down are no shoes. They have sent for my the street several horses stood tied to a father who does the work of a blacksmith. hitch rail. With one exception the horses They have told him he must make shoes. were saddled. The exception was Pete's But he has not the iron. These men from pack horse. They belonged to strangers the San Dimas country do not speak with in town, he learned. The young Mexican reason. They are drunk." girl he talked with laughed in the starlight. "That's good," said Young Pete laconic- "You also are a stranger, no?" ally.

Swarthy, black-haired, and speaking "But it is not good ! My father is afraid Mexican like a native, he could easily have of these men." passed as one of her country. "Yes, I'm "Kind of scared of 'em myself," said a stranger. Got lost, out yonder. Saw Pete smiling. "Suppose you go back to

this town and rode in. If I could get your house and forget all about me. Here's something to eat,— and some water and feed something to buy you a new dress with." for my horse " Pete took some silver The girl took the money, two dollars s 10 —

HEADING SOUTH 165 which to her was a fortune. Young Pete "Where's the regular freighter?" seemed like a being sent by the saints "At Big South Bend. He'll wait till one who gave much money, yet asked he hears from me." nothing. For a moment she hesitated, gaz- Young Pete was regaining his poise. ing at the dark young stranger. "Is that His old enemy, Sheriff Buck Yardlaw, evi- all I may do for you?" she said finally. dently had trailed him to the Horsethief Pete grinned. "You might give me a Canyon country, read sign to advantage kiss. But I'm not beggin' you for it." and was now for some very good reason The girl was gone. Pete brushed his playing the part of a freighter. Surmising lips with the back of his hand. Taking that Yardlaw was also out to clean up the the reins he led his thirsty pony round Randall gang, on old scores, he said so. to the well back of the store. From down Yardlaw shook his head. "That's your the desert came the rumbling and clack job. I'm after the men who murdered of a freighter's wagon. In Brinkley's store Jud Hamill and his brother." there was loud talking and an occasional Pete gestured toward Carmelita. "You'll burst of harsh laughter. Pete's pony find one of 'em yonder. The other, he's raised a dripping muzzle and gazed toward at the bottom of Horsethief Canyon." the approaching wagon. The freighter "How many in this bunch?"

would have supplies for the cowtown of "Four. As I figure it, they are Ed Rodney. As there was no water between Randall, Lindquist, White Eye, and Rud Carmelita and Rodney, he would make Stevens." camp in Carmelita. Chances were he would "Looks like you been busy." have a supply of blacksmith's iron and "I had luck." horseshoes. The gang could now get their The tired horses fretted to get to water. horses shod without any difficulty. The "I'm camping at the well," said Yardlaw.

wagon was still several hundred yards east "Mebby I could help you unhitch." of town. Someone in the gang would soon "Mebby you could." step out to see who was coming. Young "I'll ride round and meet you," said Pete mounted and rode toward the oncom- Pete. "The gang are short on horseshoes. ing wagon. They'll be askin' you for some."

JUST outside Carmelita he hailed the THE arrival of the freight wagon teamster. "Got any corn or anything aroused no suspicion among the gang. a fella could use for horse feed?" White Eye Johnson came out of the store The man on the high seat nodded. and asked the teamster if he had any horse-

"Don't figure to unload till I get in," he shoes, and when he would be pulling out mumbled. in the morning. The teamster replied that Young Pete's pulse quickened. There he had shoes, that he would not pull out was something slightly familiar about the until late in the morning, as he had to teamster's and his voice. Pete manner repair the wagon reach before starting. hated to be taken by surprise. "Suppose White Eye went back into the store. you quit chewin' tobacco and talk human," Unhitched, the eight horses stood tied he blurted. to the feed trailer. Young Pete, on foot, The teamster laughed. "So they didn't stood near Yardlaw. Solid as a rock, the get you after all?" big sheriff gazed at The Tonto Kid for "Not me. What in hell you doin' up in plenty?" this country, Buck?" a moment. "Got "Freighting." "Shells? Yes." "Been doin' some trackin' too, I reckon." "Want to go after 'em now—or wait

"Some." till morning?"

10 i66 SHORT STORIES

"I been thinkin' about that. You flip "Eight shoes would be four too many if a coin." you're lookin' for luck."

Pete called heads, struck a match and For once in his life, Ed Randall seemed gazed at the coin in Yardlaw's hand. "All to be stricken with sort of paralysis. Had right, Buck. I had a hunch somethin' was either Yardlaw or The Tonto Kid shown on for tonight. Ed Randall is the fastest up alone, it is possible the outlaw would gun. White Eye ain't slow, so I've heard. have gone for his gun the minute he saw Let's get busy." them. Yardlaw took a step toward him. Still no one in the room made a move. BEFORE entering Brinkley's store, Another step, and Yardlaw swung his som- Yardlaw and Young Pete carefully brero and slapped Randall in the face. and noiselessly braced a stout post against Young Pete heard the crash of their guns. the rear door, so that no one could leave the building at that end. Just before they came round to the front Young Pete took off his sombrero and hung it on a fence post. He might need it again, and he might not. Gray with alkali, gaunt and tall, Yardlaw strode round to the front of the building, Young Pete beside him. It was a warm night. The store door was open. Together they stepped in. "I hear somebody wants to see me," said Yard- law. His own hand was up and busy. Twice he Young Pete's eye traveled round the fired. White Eye Johnson sagged along room. Ed Randall, leader of the outlaws, the counter, grasped it and sank to his was sitting sideways on the counter talking knees. Lindquist turned and dashed for with the storekeeper, Brinkley. White the rear door. But his companion Stevens Eye Johnson sat astraddle of a chair facing had his gun out and going. One of his the doorway. Stevens and Lindquist, a shots struck Yardlaw, who flinched, and bottle between them, stood near the lower then walked slowly toward him, firing as end of the counter. he came. Brinkley, dropping behind the

"Where's Jamison?" said the storekeeper counter, fired through it. As the splinters quickly, naming the regular freighter. sprang up round the hole, Young Pete "Resting up at Big South Bend." Yard- threw a shot which bored another hole law answered Brinkley, but he kept his within an inch of it. Pete's gun was empty, eyes on Ed Randall. and Stevens, though hit hard, was still Lindquist and Stevens set their glasses firing. Suddenly Yardlaw dropped his down. Young Pete saw that Randall had own gun and collapsed. Young Pete dove recognized him, yet Pete was watching for it and came up. Twice it flashed. Stevens staggered toward the front door White Eye Johnson's hands. and fell across the threshold. "How many shoes do you want?" Yard- Lindquist, the Pecos cowboy, stood with law's question seemed filled with a double his hands in the air. Young Pete walked meaning. "Cold shoes, you said." up to him, took his gun, and jerking it "I can use about eight," said Randall up knocked him down and out. Smoke easily. At any minute the tension would hung in a blue haze round the two ceiling break, and the outlaws would go into ac- lamps. Out in the street a dog howled. tion. Young Pete, whose unspoken motto Pete walked round the counter. "Come was The Sooner The Better, laughed. on out and show yourself," he called. But 10 HEADING SOUTH 167

Brinkley, drilled through the stomach, was "we been gunnin' for each other for quite unable to move. a spell." This was no news to Yardlaw, but that BOLTING the front door, Young Pete Young Pete should mention it, seemed raised Yardlaw's head. The sheriff strange. The sheriff nodded. had been hit twice, but it was the slug "I just took a look at that headboard that plowed through his scalp that had where Joe Harper is planted. It wasn't downed him. The wound in his shoulder there when I planted him. I notice it's got was high, and not serious. my name on it." The storekeeper died before sunrise. "Somebody made a mistake." Randall, White Eye Johnson and Stevens "Mebby." Young Pete looked the sheriff had been killed in the fight. Lindquist, in the eye. "I never reckoned you would the Pecos cowboy, was the only one to take that kind of trouble for me." escape being hit. He lay hogtied in the "Hell, Pete! I said somebody made a room back of the main store. mistake." Two days Young Pete stayed in Car- "Somebody. Buck Yardlaw, mebby. melita. The third day following the fight, Thought the gang had got me, so he does Yardlaw was able to travel. Mounted on some fancy carvin', for a friend." the pick of the outlaws' horses the sheriff "For a friend who did some fancy shoot- and Young Pete headed for San Dimas ing when I was down and the guns still Valley, Lindquist handcuffed, riding a few going." yards ahead. Asked why he had not put "But that headboard was there before the outlaw out of business during the fight, the shootin' started. What I mean, I ain't Young Pete replied that Lindquist was the no more peace officer than a coyote. It only member of the gang alive, and the ain't my game. Now I figure you're feelin' only witness, aside from himself, that could healthy enough to take Lindquist on in, prove the rest of the gang had been exter- and pry some talk out of him. If the minated. "It ain't as if I was a peace offi- governor wants to make out that pardon, cer," said Pete. "I chucked my star before I tell him to hand it to Slim Akers—and hit Carmelita. Them fellas stole one of my Slim will send it to me." horses. That was plenty excuse for me." "Scared to ride back to the capital?" "So you figured Lindquist will turn Young Pete's face went red. "Yes. I'm state's evidence?" scared. Scared of myself. Not that I'd "Figured he was the yellowest dog in be lookin' for trouble. But some other the bunch. He'll talk. Then the governor folks might. And there's only one way will know I played my hand like I said of settlin' them kind." I would." Sheriff Yardlaw thought he understood.

Perhaps it would be just as well if The WHILE crossing San Dimas Valley, Tonto Kid kept out of sight for a year Young Pete rode aside long enough or two. The sheriff thrust out his hand. to look at the mound of stone underneath Young Pete seized it, and turned away. which lay the body of Black Joe Harper. "So long, Buck." Pete grinned. "Tell To Pete's surprise he found a roughly Slim for me, to go to hell, and I'll meet hewn headboard and on it penciled "The him there, one of these days." Pete reined Tonto Kid." He surmised that Yardlaw his horse round. The Pecos cowboy,

had found the grave and had se marked it. Lindquist, stared at him. Pete recalled Yardlaw's "So they didn't "Heading south?" said Yardlaw as Pete get you after all?" He rode back to where rode down the valley. the sheriff waited. Young Pete turned and nodded. "Head-

"Buck," Pete hesitated and glanced away, in' South." :

ellers Circle

The Tonto Kid work and frequent beatings. One day, when Pete was about thirteen years of age, THE TONTO KID, Henry Herbert his foster-father came home drunk. Pete's Knibbs' young outlaw—who has been foster sister happened to get in her father's appearing in Short Stories for some way. He knocked her down. Enraged by years—is a great favorite with our readers this brutality, and doubtless influenced un- and we have received quite a few letters consciously by an accumulated hatred for asking about the beginnings of this young- his foster father, Pete grabbed the latter's ster who plays on both sides of the law. gun from the holster and shot him. Mr. Knibbs writes us that Mounted on the horse his foster father had ridden from town Pete headed north "No one ever knew The Tonto Kid's in a hurry. Independent and resourceful real name. he managed to survive the hardships of his "Following a flood in the Texas pan- flight, and arriving in Arizona met with handle, some searchers found a washtub a band of cattle and horse thieves who gave in the fork of a cottonwood, left there by him a place by their fire and virtually the flood. In the tub was an old army adopted him. He became horse boy and overcoat wrapped round something. The errand boy for the gang. At first he was something was discovered to be a baby of not aware of their thieving, but thought a few months, the sole survivor of the them cattlemen. By the time he had found family of ranchers whose bodies were found out their real methods he had become so miles from the homestead. The men who accustomed to their way of living that he discovered the orphan all had large families decided to stay with them. Among the of children. No one wanted the baby in gang, long since wiped out by peace officers the washtub, so the discoverers drew lots and personal quarrels, was a man Young to see who should have to adopt it. Pete admired. His name was Tonto Char- "The foundling was a male and was ley. Tonto was the wildest of the gang,

named Pete by the rancher who took it fast with a gun, reckless when drunk, but home. When Pete grew big enough to un- always kind to Young Pete. When about latch a gate he was put to work. Like all fifteen years of age, considering himself a youngsters in that section he learned to ride man grown, Pete became involved in a at an early age. He knew no kindness quarrel among the gang, who, finding them- from either of his foster parents. His only selves hard pressed for recent cattle steal- friend was his foster sister, a child of about ing, decided to rob a train, divide the loot his own age. About all he knew was hard and each go his own way. Camped in the

168 10 THE STORY TELLERS' CIRCLE neighborhood of old Fort Apache the gang long, kid.' Pete turned in time to see discussed plans for the train robbery. Tonto, who might have lived an hour or Tonto Charley refused to have anything two longer, draw his gun and kill himself. to do with the scheme. The gang quar- "Young Pete, on Charley's big iron gray reled. The quarrel ended in a gun fight. horse, managed to evade the posse, who, Young Pete had never been taken seriously finding Tonto with a hole through his chest by the gang. Aware that Tonto had been and another in his forehead, reasoned that drawn into the quarrel as an excuse to kill Young Pete had killed the wounded man him, Young Pete watched the man who to get his horse. That was the beginning had threatened to get Tonto. When the of Young Pete's hard reputation. shooting began Young Pete took a hand. "Drifting over into New Mexico he be- His unexpected assistance in Tonto Char- came involved in a war between the authori- ley's fight, saved Tonto's life. Together ties and a gang holding out in Horsethief they made a getaway, finally arriving in Canyon. At fifteen years of age he had Socorro, on the river. Here Tonto got become outlaw. Often during the years drunk with an old companion, a Mexican following he tried to ride a straight trail. he had known in years past. But luck was against him. He had earned "Talking over old times and old feuds, a hard reputation. His escapades were the two finally decided on a little private elaborated until he became known as The war with some Magdalena cattlemen whom Tonto Kid, a killer feared and hated by they had reason to hate. Young Pete was those who didn't know him, but liked by against the idea and tried to reason with his friends, and respected for his ability Tonto. But Tonto, always a fool when by more than one peace officer. He ranged drunk wouldn't listen to reason. In the from Mexico to the Canadian border, work- saloon fight which followed Tonto was ing at times, gambling, seldom in one place badly wounded, but made his getaway, long. Eventually he met with a card man Young Pete riding with him. A posse was known as Slim Akers. The two made organized. Across the river and north of themselves known in Arizona, New Mex- Socorro Tonto Charley and Pete rode the ico and Sonora, were captured, managed to empty country between Socorro and Albu- escape, and finally decided to leave the querque. Finally Tonto, who was hit hard, country and make a fresh start. Often gave out. Pete's horse, stepping in a they were obliged to follow separate trails, gopher hole had broken its leg. Knowing but always they came together again. Their, they would be followed they took refuge plan to reach the Argentine was frus- in a shallow draw. Tonto Charley was all trated. Becoming tired of being constantly but helpless. Both he and Pete knew he on the move, they decided to appeal to the couldn't live long. Tonto told Pete to go governor for a pardon. What success they to the edge of the draw and look at their had is told in the story entitled 'Heading back trail. He returned saying there was South.' no one in sight yet. Tonto Charley told "This is a brief and rather hasty sketch Pete not to get smart with him, that he of The Tonto Kid. His adventures have had stayed too long looking at the back been told in a series of stories during the trail. Pete tried to make Charley believe past five or six years. All but one of these there was no posse in sight, but he couldn't stories appeared in Short Stories, which fool his friend. Tonto told him to take has done so much toward making Young his horse and get out of there. Pete re- Pete known to present day folk. Naturally fused to go. Finally the wounded man many of the names used are not those of asked Young Pete to look again and see the folk they represent. And many of the how near their pursuers were. While place names have been changed. Pete was looking he heard Tonto say, 'So "Henry H. Knibbs" 10 In the next issue SHORT STORIES for Nov. 25th

WAR OF THE BRANDING IRON A Complete Novel—completely full of range action and quick triggers and riders by night Charles W. Tyler

Also

A ''Major" novelette by L. PATRICK GREENE

Part II of "The Devil's Bosun" by H. BEDFORD-JONES DOUGLAS LEACH, F. R. FIERCE, DONALD BARR CHIDSEY, B. E. COOK, etc., etc., etc. jy ' ' : - - - - - ; . ; _ ... i . : — ! :

THE STORY TELLERS' CIRCLE 171

A Student of Voodoo Arnold is a fictitious character in the en- tirety. rHE BLACK GOD in this issue is "David Owen Daher" David Owen Daher's first story in A Pirate Queen Short Stories, and it is a novel, at that. Pretty good for a start! Mr. Daher says HT1HE DEVIL'S BOSUN of H. Bed- in a recent letter: * ford-Jones serial which begins in this

issue was a super-pirate if ever there was "As for the background of 'The Black one, even in those seas swarming with out-

God'—I'm quite a student of native voodoos laws of many nations, and it is an interest- and superstitions and feel I know quite a ing fact that the world's only woman bit about witchcraft, especially as applied buccaneer is a Chinese. Her name is to the African negro. I've trekked through Madame Lai Choi San. Described as a

Kenya—though it was a few years ago; fair-looking lady about forty years old, three I think—and am quite familiar with Madame San, with a fleet of armor-plated, Nairobi and Kisumu. Believe me the Dark swift-sailing junks, manned by no fewer Continent intrigues me and I think I have than 500 cut-throats, William P. Schramm material enough for at least one more writes us is holding her own against the witchcraft novelette in which I hope to keep competition of hundreds of other Chinese Jimmy Arnold as my central figure. Ac- pirates who infest China's coastal waters

tually, my life should fit me more for from Shanghai to French Indo-China. For writing Westerns as I spent a few years years this pirate queen has been a Mystery riding the range up in Alberta, but my real Woman to the Far East. To date she has love is the general adventure story. been seen by only one white man, a nervy " 'The Black God' as a story is, in the newspaper correspondent, who placed his main, the natural result of a knowledge life at stake to get an interview with her. of Kenya Colony and the superstitions that After spending weeks in Chinese coast vil- make government such a difficult thing lages to learn her whereabouts and days in not so much so now as when I was there, negotiating, the correspondent obtained I understand—and a fertile imagination. permission to come on board the lady's Some of the characters were suggested by flagship. He was allowed to remain on men I knew in Kenya, such as the good board several days as a paying guest, this Father and the English commissioner, but at $45 a day

READERS' CHOICE COUPON

"Readers' Choice" Editor, Short Stories: Garden City, N. Y.

My choice of the stories in this number is as follows

1 3 2 4

5

I do not like

Why ? Name__ Address

10 ! —

172 SHORT STORIES

It was learned that Madame San was the Animals Eat Railroad Track daughter of a powerful buccaneer captain, who one day passed into Davy Jones' locker THE railroaders of Dimne Hopkins' "with his slippers on" in a skirmish with Badland Meet in this issue faced a gunboat, whereupon the daughter had some tough problems, but back in 1873, fallen heir to her parent's fleet of junks animals actually ate part of the track of a and set to following in his footsteps. railroad in the state of Washington Through her piracies Madame San had One of the pioneer railroads of that state become a millionaire, and as such she was was built from Walla Walla to Wallula. It found living a life of luxurious ease on her was a narrow-gauge line, and the whole flagship, the decks of which bristled with thing was made of wood. Even the rails ancient muzzle-loading cannons of all sizes. were hewn out of fir trees, and were about

When not actively engaged in piracy, she four by six inches in size. However, it spent her time in a lounge chair on the aft was much better than the old horse-drawn deck, attended by two valets who continu- stage coaches, and for a time everything ally combed her long black hair. She dis- was splendid. Then the rails began to dained speaking to any one of the crew splinter and go to pieces. The cost of steel except the captain. In addition to raids rails prohibited the buying of them, so the on vessels and occasionally kidnapping a owners replaced the worn-out track with wealthy Chinaman and holding him for ran- rails covered with the hides of animals. som, the lady carries on a lucrative side- Surprisingly, these were quite successful business in levying moneyed tribute on the for a time. Later, though, all the carnivor- hundreds of fishing junks of her fellow ous animals in that section began lunching countrymen who ply their trade in the off the hides on the rails. With spring, waters where she reigns. When she began only the well-chewed wooden strips re- buccaneering with her inherited fleet, other mained. This time the company cheated pirates attempted to drive her from her the animals by using strap iron as a cover- territory, but the Madame readily managed ing. Within a few years the road had made to hold her own against all comers. Today, enough money to put down steel rails, and being well aware of her powers as a pirate finally was taken over by the Oregon Rail- queen, other ruffians give her territory a road and Navigation Company in the early wide berth. part of the eighties. OUTLANDS AND

Strange facts about far places and perilous air trails. Send in yours.

Martin Bomber Makes Three bombardment plane over the second lap Worlds Records of his 2,000-kilometer flight at an average speed of 165.4 m. p. h., which Col. Follette TT.S.AIR SERVICES MAGAZINE Bradley, intelligence officer at Langley i~y reports that Brig. Gen. Frank M. Field, said broke three world's records for Andrews recently hurled his Martin B-12 the 1,000-kilometer course. General An- 10 !

THE STORY TELLERS' CIRCLE 173 drews' elapsed time for the 1,000-kilometer speed, it struck a tree with such force that course, flying with a 2,204.6 pound (2,000 the animal was broken into two equal sec- kilogram) load, was 3 hours, 45 minutes, tions with two legs on each. Fortunately 13 seconds. The General, commander of the dog's owner, Davey Crockett himself, G. H, Q. Air Force, headquarters at Lang- was close at hand and on seeing the beast's ley Field, flew for the record over a tri- predicament, he instantly clapped the two angular course in which the points were halves together again. In his hurry he

Willoughby Spit in Hampton Roads, Floyd didn't notice until it was too late that he Bennett Field, New York, and Boiling had one section upside down and ever since Field, Washington. then two of the dog's legs have stuck up The previous marks, set by Colonel in the air. This odd state of affairs made Lindbergh, Edwin Musick, and Boris the dog look rather queer but nevertheless Sergievsky in a Sikorsky S. 42 seaplane, it had its advantages. According to the lumbermen's legend, the creature got were 157.3 m - P- h. over the prescribed when distance, first, without payload, second, with tired of running on one pair of legs, it payload of 500 kilograms, and third, with could actually flop over and start off afresh payload of 1,000 kilograms. on the other two while the first pair were resting Davey Crockett's Strange Dog From Buenos Aires To Europe THE lumberjacks have built up many legends about mythical creatures to be THE German Transatlantic air mail found in the woods and when they started and passenger line, The Sindicato telling strange tales of an evening, Davey Condor Ltd., is advertising in South Crockett's dog was often mentioned. This America a four-day service for mail and peculiar creature was actually supposed to passengers from Buenos Aires to Europe. have two of its legs, a front one and a Passengers are carried from Buenos Aires hind one, sticking straight up in the air. to Rio by planes, and from Rio to Fried- This, the lumberjacks said, was due to an richshafen by the Graf Zeppelin. Inter-

accident it once suffered. When running mediate stops are made at Sevilla and through the woods at its usual lightning Recife.

NORTH POLE THE ENDS OF THE MUmIIh EARTH CLUB

LIERE is a free and easy meeting place for 2 J * the brotherhood of adventurers. To be one a.§ of us, all you have to do is register your name and address with the Secretary, Ends-of-the' Earth Club, % Short Stories, Garden City, JV. Y. Your handsome membership-identification card will once. There are no str or be sent you at MAGELLAN dues—no obligations. 6A20m/l.s

Here's an opportunity you stamp col- Earth Club? I would like to join. I have lectors had better not pass up. been reading Short Stories Magazine for some time.

Dear Secretary: I am very much interested in stamp col- Is there any place for a Danish sailor lecting and I could supply large quantities to become a member of the Ends of the of the current issues to members who

10 174 SHORT STORIES would care to write to me. I would like Here's hoping the Club keeps up the stamps from all over the world—South good work and with orchids to Short Sea Islands, India, Tasmania, Australia, Stories, I remain South America, Africa, etc. Yours sincerely, Yours respectfully, Jack Langabeer H. Jensen 54 Henry Street, M/S "Nordhavet," Belleville, Ontario, D/S "Norden" Amaliegade 49, Canada Copenhagen K, Denmark Here's an opportunity to gather some snaps of the Far East and also some Here's a chance for you fishermen interesting information as well. who spend your winters in Florida to tell how you landed that big one. Dear Secretary:

Here is a plea from a new member for Dear Secretary: some mail. I have today received my membership I am a soldier serving in the Far East card as a member of the Ends of the Earth in the British Royal Artillery. I can write Club. I work in an office and consequently interesting letters about India, Egypt, do not see much of the country. I would Malaya and the Mediterranean ports. Will like to communicate with other members swap personal and interesting snaps. in the different countries and see just how Hoping for a full mail bag, I am those in the other parts of the world live. Sincerely,

I would appreciate it also veiy much if Richard Tester any members who have fished off the coast Gunner, of Florida for sea bass and tarpon would 4th Anti-Aircraft Battery, R. A., communicate with me and let me know Changi, Singapore, how the thing is done and how they fight. Malaya, South Seas

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TIf ITH hundreds of letters from new members coming in every day, it is obviously rr impossible to print all of them in the columns of the magazine. The editors do the best they can, but naturally most readers buy Short Stories because of the fiction that it contains. Below are more names and addresses of Ends of the Earth Club members. Most of these members will be eager to hear from you, should you care to correspond with them, and will be glad to reply. Save these lists, if you are interested in writing to other mem- bers. Names and addresses will appear only once.

W. Nelson Williamson, 4364 West Thompson Street, West Wilbur Black, Reidsvilie, Georgia Philadelnhia, Pennsylvania Willard Boe, 3728 South Lincoln Street, Rear, Chicago, I. M. Willis, Way Way, Macksville, New South Wales, Illinois Australia Paul Boff, 1908 Carson Street, Pittsburgh, S. S. Pennsyl- Joseph St. R. Willis, Way Way, Macksville, New South vania Wales, Australia Edward Bolson, 300 East 65 th Street, New York City, New York Albert Aldo, 145 North Main, Concord, New Hampshire Bill V, Bonnell, 1700 Jopping Avenue, Bronx, New York Joseph Charles Alfano, 520 Wctmore Street, Utica, New Joseph Bonpietro, 113 East Clifton Avenue, Clifton, New York Jersey H. Andbcrg, Highland Road, West Concord, New Hamp- Larry Bowen, General Delivery, Buffalo, New York shire E. S, Boyer, Chaminade College, Clayton, Missouri Murray Arnowitz, 1968 Cedar Avenue, Bronx, New York Edwin T. Brennan, 5 King Street, Dorchester, Massa- Marcel Le Maistre Auger, 1394 Sherbrooke Street, East, chusetts Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada Cecil L, Britton, Weymouth North, Digby County, Nova Ben Bailey, 1 16 Company, C. C. C, Millers Falls, Massa- Scotia chusetts Lewis Brown, 15 Spring Forest Avenue, Binghamton, New Dave Barney, 341 North Normandie Place, Los Angeles, York California Van Burnham, Jr., Ruleville, Mississippi John Bechtel, Riverside Park, Riverside, New Jersey Willie Burns, Weymouth North, Digby County, Nova Joe Belmal, 118% Grove Street, Bakersfield California Scotia Alex Belyea, Browns Flats, Kings County, New Bruns- Ellis Olmstead Butler, 144-41 Thirty-fifth Street, Flushing, wick, Canada Long Island Howard Best, C. C. C. Company 1835, Fort Sill, Okla- D. F. Callaghan, 7 Maranea Cres, Coburg, N. 13, Mel- homa bourne, Australia 10 Emil Cederfelot, R. F. D. 1, Box 73, Brunswick, Maine Harold C. Carpenter, 274? North Adams, Indianapolis, & Price Indiana Harley E. Carroll, Route I, Eckville, Alberta, Canada Edward Cevene, Street, Western 216 South Main c/o CuyTtrim Union Rockford, Illinois mm* on * 10c a Day 1 Gerald Clark, 40 Union Street, Lewiston, Maine Only Bernard A. Cobb, 5 Arborth Street, Dorchester, Massa- Sav. over ^ on all standard office chusetts models. Also portables it reduced prlcei, Pat Cochrane, 40 Beaufort Street, Grahamstown, Cape SEND NO MONEY Province, All Ute models completely refmiehed tik» South Africa brand bsw. FULLY GUARANTEED. Vincent Cochrane, 136 Lake Street, Kent, Ohio Big (re* catalog shows actual machine* ht full colore. Lowest prices. Scud at once. J. D. Coleman, Jr., Box 2, Burrwood, Louisiana ff Mum In typing Included. Leonard Copobianco, 2046 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, H. Monro* 81. Pennsylvania International Typewriter Exch.» o«t>t. 1192, chic.go Armand J. Courtemouche, 94 River Street, Riverside,, Rhode Island _ BECOME AN EXPERT Joseph W. Covert, 1023 East 13th Street, Brooklyn, New York Chester Crockett, 1319 East Leafland Street, Decatur, Illinois John P. Dalton, 515 West 170th Street, New York City, Accountant New York Executive Accountant! and O. P. A. 'a earn 18,000 to 1 16 000 a year. Thousands of firms need them. Only 12, 000 Certified Public Account- Stuart Datesman, 1094 Golden Gate Avenue, San Fran- ant* In the U.S. We train yoathoroly at home In spare time for C.P.A. cisco, California examinations or executive accounting positions. P raviolis experience unnecessary. Personal training under supervision of staff of CP. A's, Woody De Leon, 170 Park Terrace, Hartford, Connecticut Including members of the American Institute of Accountants. Write E. R. Delgarno, Box 1002, Harlowtown, Montana for free book. "Accountancy, the Profession that Fan." Russell Dembreske, 11512—80th Street, Edmonton, Alberta, LaSalle Extension University. Dept. 175-H, Chicago Canada ' The School That Hat Trained Ovor l.aoo c. P. A.*e Louis Ralph de Pelletier, Box 575, Lecsburg, Florida Donovan Dickson, 52 Gramercy Park North, New York City, New York DEAFNESS IS MISERY William J. Didelot, Company 1506, G C. C. Camp P-213, Many people with defective hearing and Columbia, California Head Noises enjoy Conversation. Movies, Bill Dory, 536 North Elm Street, Butler, Pennsylvania Church and Radio, because the/ uie George C. Dougherty, 4207 Frost Street, Philadelphia, Leonard Invisible Ear Drums which Pennsylvania resemble Tiny Megaphone* fitting; W. E. Downham, 3011 West Street, Wilmington, Dela- In the Eir entirely out of light, ware No vires. batteries or head" piece. Robert Drenan, 2453 North Kostner, Chicago, Illinois They are inexpensive. 'Write for H. H. Dunbar, 1106 Company V, C. C. C, Jefferson Camp, booklet and sworn statement of gjpyfri. North Whitefield, Maine the inventor -who was himself tlcat\ C. H. Dunn, 716 Eighth Street North, St. Petersburg, A- 0. LEONAB D| Iotas Salts 23, 70 65b Avt., Raw Yurie Florida Bill Edmunds, 262 North Park Street, East Orange, New Jersey Henry Eggles, Jr., 1256 South Greylock Street, Phila- High School Course J. delphia, Pennsylvania You can complete your George L. Elliott, Jr., 1301 West 42nd Street, Richmond, in 2 Years Blgh School education Virginia at home— tit two year* or Evans, less. Coarse meetsreqalrementsfor entrance to college, business, Walter M. Jr., USS Oglala, Pearl Harbor, Terri- and Industry; prepares for state examinations. Standard man tory of Hawaii School texts Bopplled. Diploma awarded. Full credit for H. S. subjects already completed. Don't be satisfied with anything; Wesley Fladborg, 27 Caselli Avenue, San Francisco, Cali- less than a complete High School education. Then—whether yoo fornia go to college, or seek success In business or Industry , or take state examinations—yoo will have the necessary training. Send Ralph R. 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