human
Don't shoot, colonel, I'll climb down,
gpt
Ah, now you talk reason, Captain Strange.
human
You bet I'm goin' to, he retorted bluntly.
gpt
Y've played your hand fur all you're worth, an' mighty prettily bluffed it is. But I guess --he swung back in his chair largely--
human
I guess I hold the ace.
gpt
You do? She eyed him uneasily, for he appeared to be much cooler than she approved of.
human
And the ace?
gpt
Your husband.
human
Jim!
gpt
Huh! grunted Strange.
human
I thought you gilded bummers were allays lords an' ladies t' one another.
gpt
Jim! she repeated blankly.
human
Jim!
gpt
You bet. Kidnappin' wos th' word I used, an' kidnappin' it is. Thet there Berrin', your husband, sailin' under false colours, come along with me to Buenos Ayres--there's no denying thet. But --here the freebooter winked significantly--
human
--he stretched out a huge paw--
gpt
My husband is in England, then?
human
Within reach, anyhow, and with my first mate hangin' on t' him. Maybe the barkey anchors in a French port. Might be Spanish fur choice, if y' like--there's no knowin'. But he's within hail, same as them coppers of yours. The ace, ma'am, the ace. Y' might put in a day arskin' me why I let him go at ten thousand dollars. Th' hull shoot is worth heaps an' heaps more.
gpt
Worth five thousand pounds, perhaps?
human
Well, he drawled, equally watchful;
gpt
I shouldn't mind goin' nap on that, all things being on th' square. Naow if----
human
Wait! Wait, I tell you!
gpt
She's the dandiest devil I ever sot eyes on, was his admiring verdict.
human
Golly, wot a flyer! Huh!