Books › Blue Book v035 n06 [1922-10], 1922 › scan 121
Scan 121
Blue Book v035 n06 [1922-10], 1922
71 lines. Read by computer on 17 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Lou-Lou
3"But I suppose we have some decency, haven't we? It isn't a case of ourselves now. It's a question of chucking Zahri into his pigpen, of holding the reins for Lou-lou. Eh?"
5Trehearne raised his head. His face changed indescribably, as though the name of Lou-lou had wakened something unguessed within him.
7"Ah!" he said.
9In that one "Ah!" were volumes of meaning.
11"And," pursued Franks, "don't forget that Luke Quail is coming."
13"Ah!" said Trehearne again.
15A shadow of ancient energy seemed to come into his fat jowls. His dead eyes became more bright. His pulse quickened. A gleam of some old and almost extinct fire flickered up in his face, tightened his flabby muscles.
17The glittering eyes of Franks rested upon him with a sardonic air.
19"What d'you want to do?" demanded Trehearne.
21"Go over to the palace. The council will be in session in an hour. The government was placed in their hands until Lou-lou arrived to claim the succession. If that young hog Zahri comes with his story, whatever it is, and if no one disputes him, things will be put in his hands. Possession is nine points of the law, remember.
23"We'll have to stand up before that council and speak for Lou-lou. That's all. Tell what we know, and put a spoke in Zahri's wheel. It'll save things until Lou-lou arrives."
25Trehearne took a fresh cheroot from the box on his desk, and rolled it between his lips.
27"I see," he muttered. "But Zahri don't matter. It's Hvarson—and Rais Hamed."
29FRANKS nodded quickly.
31"Of course. They're clever and unscrupulous. Between them they control the opium and so forth, and they've worked up a regular party for Zahri. Besides, Hvarson has his eye on Lou-lou for himself, I think."
33A violent flood of color drew into the face of Trehearne at this.
35"If he tried that, I'd—why, I'd shoot him!"
37Franks' gaze rested upon him speculatively, curiously.
39"I almost believe you would," he returned. "But just keep cool. If we don't keep cool, Hvarson is going to trip us all up and land us in hell! You never saw him when he wasn't cool—remember that. Zahri doesn't count; he's a figurehead—a fat swine drinking himself into the pit. Drink and women, and enough opium to keep him quiet."
41"That's their game," assented Trehearne broodingly.
43Franks nodded to himself as though in satisfaction. He played upon this fat man as he would play upon his violin. Now he had wakened Trehearne's sluggish mind to action. The two men were thinking and talking in accord, in understanding.
45"All right," said Franks briskly. "Shall we go to the council?"
47"Go?" bellowed Trehearne with sudden violence. "Why, of course! What else would we do? We have to do it, you ass! It's the only thing on earth to do!"
49Franks grinned slyly.
51"Rais Hamed will be there."
53"Let him be there!" cried Trehearne. "What'll he say to us, eh? Nothing! Just nothing! He'll be taken all off his feet—won't understand how we know so much!" one of two readings
54"Let him be there!" cried Trehearne. "What'll he say to us, eh? Nothing! Just nothing! He'll be taken all off his feet—wont understand how we know so much!" one of two readings
56A chuckle shook the dry frame of Franks.
58"D'you know what the niggers will say? That you got the news out of your magic board. A good play, Trehearne! They think you talk to the spirits. Remember how the old Moros used to crowd around the door, watching you? Remember? They actually think you talk with the spirits."
60Trehearne glared at him belligerently.
62"Well, don't I? Haven't you got messages yourself? Didn't you get a message on the old board from your brother, who died ten years ago?"
64Franks shrugged his shoulders and rose to flick his cigarette-end into the sand outside.
66CHAPTER X
68FRANKS was what might be termed, politely, a retired gentleman. He was a gentleman in the sense that he did no labor, but collected old native manuscripts and played the violin, and lived alone in his house on the hill behind town.
70He had bought that house when he first came to Sibuko, in the days of the old sultan. At that time, before the sun had
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.