Charles Beadle

“ You see, Plessons, I’ve been up against it all along because it was Bodiker who put up the money for this outfit. But there are limits. And I think I’m justified in—well, kicking and then some, now that I’m convinced that for some incomprehensible reason Bodiker had meant to get me—even before the diamonds came along.
“By the way,” he added with a sunny smile, “I haven’t got the diamonds. Hid ’em in the bamboo grove. There’s only grass in the belt. Too heavy to carry.”
“Why didn’t you tell ’em?”
“Because I —— well wouldn’t!” Tony grinned. ”

“ They belong to the man who found them. That’s what I said, and that’s all there is to it.”
“But ye’re bughouse, ye’re crazy!” recommenced Sawyer, who was rocking his great bulk from one foot to the other like an elephant with the toothache. “We took it off him——”
“I did,” reminded Tony, “and incidentally saved your lives.”
“You’re dippy. Ain’t he a boche? What in ——”
“What’s that got to do with it? The war’s over.”
“Listen, Phil,” began Bodiker, the peace-maker. “Tony’s right. ”

“ At Sawyer I’m not surprized, but the other’s new on me. Wonder what it was?”
“Oh, nothin’ serious. Murderin’ an ol’ widder or snippin’ pigtails orf flappers goin’ to school. Somethin’ taisty. But yer’d better sleep with yer gun full cock nah, gov’nor. That slab-sided bloke means ter get us both for them sparklers.”
“Yes," agreed Tony, likewise removing perspiration. “That’s understandable. I could kick myself when I think of how I fell for that Bodiker. Yet he certainly seemed a —— good fellow and —— generous. ”

“ His eyes shuttled wildly between Tony and Sawyer.
“See here, Phil,” he continued wheedlingly, “you’re all shot to pieces. You don’t know what you’re saying. Come outside—I mean over there—and I’ll explain what Mr. Westlake means.”
Sawyer’s eyes, still smoldering, glanced doubtfully at Tony and Plessons, hands resting slightly on their ready guns. Slowly he turned toward Bodiker.
“All right,” said he, “and I’m going ter show yer where you get off. I ain’t going ter stand fer none of this Y. M. C. A. stuff.”
Once more his eyes returned to the beloved belt ”

“ At the base of the escarpment and well beyond the poisonous area they found another hut in which were frames for the diving suits standing in water to protect them from the ants. These they carefully removed to a hidden spot in the forest. From the jungle emerged a fairly broad path, roughly but sufficiently cut. ”

“ Like me muvver used to s’y when I wus no bigger than a horse bucket. ‘Jack,’ says she, ‘in love and business yer’ve gotter be a good liar and a good thief ter get on in this world, else yer won’t never know what the other bloke’s trying to do ter yer.’ That’s right, gov’nor. ”