Free The Swordsman of Mars by Otis Adelbert Kline

father."
     
    At this juncture an officer entered and saluted. "Which of you is Kov Lutas?"
     
    "I am," replied the young Jen, returning his salute.
     
    "If you are ready you will come with me to relieve the temporary guard of the Dixtar's daughter."
     
    "I am ready," Kov Lutas told him. "Let us go."
     
    They went out, and Thorne, after pouring himself another cup of pulcho, sat down to reflect on the situation. But he had scarcely settled in his swinging chair when Vorz came to the door and announced, "Salute the Deputy Dixtar."
     
    Thorne sprang to his feet and raised his hand smartly in salute. Then he let it fall to his side as he recognized Sel Han.
     
    "Greetings, Sheb Takkor Jen," said the Deputy Dixtar with a grin. "You seem surprised at seeing me."
     
    "And to you, greetings, Sel Han," replied Thorne coolly. "To what do I owe the--er--honor of this unexpected call?"
     
    Without replying, Sel Han walked to the taboret and helped himself to a cup of pulcho. Then he seated himself in Kov Lutas's chair. For a time, he sat there in silence, then spoke suddenly in English. "Shut the door."
     
    Thorne closed the door and returned to his chair.
     
    Sel Han nodded. "I thought so. Understands English."
     
    "Perhaps when you have finished talking to yourself, you will explain your business," Thorne said.
     
    "Don't get stuffy with me. I can put you on the spot, or I can make things good for you. I came to make you a proposition. What do you say, Harry Thorne?"
     
    "I say you're wasting your time, Frank Boyd."
     
    "Ah--I figured you knew. Well, I heard about your run-in with Sur Det. Pretty handy with a sword, aren't you? There wasn't another man in this country who could have made a monkey out of Sur Det the way you did.
     
    "He was my teacher when I came here. I saw I needed to be handy with a sword, so I picked the best teacher I could find. Since I'm younger, faster, and have a longer reach, I got so I could beat him. Then I went and started to cut my way to the top. And I'm pretty close to it now."
     
    "Did you come to entertain me with this modest little sketch?"
     
    "No, I came to get a line on you--and give you a break if you're willing to play ball. I can cut you in on something big.”
     
    "Such as what?"
     
    "I'd be talking out of turn if I told you. First, you do what want you to do, then I’ll make things right for you."
     
    "I don't think we can talk business, Mr. Boyd.”
     
    "Don't be an idiot. Get this--you're taking orders, I'm giving them. Now this girl Neva is supposed to marry me, but she doesn't see it yet. Right now, just to spite her father and me, she's flirting with every man she meets. She’ll probably make a pass at you. If you don't play, she’ll send you to the lines--if you do, her father will have your head. You're on the spot unless you listen to me.
     
    "What bums me now is that she won't even talk to me--calls the guard and has me thrown out every time I drop in to see her. Now here's all I want you to do. I'm going to drop in to see her tonight before I fly to Takkor. She'll probably want you to throw me out. If she does, tell her you can't in honor lay a hand on me, because I won that duel from you at the military school. That will let you out."
     
    At this moment the door opened and an orderly entered with Thorne's evening meal. As he arranged the dishes on the taboret he noticed Sel Han. "May I get the Deputy Dixtar something to eat?" he asked.
     
    “No, I'm dining with the Dixtar," replied Sel Han, rising. He swung on Thorne. "Don't forget I'm not asking you, I'm telling you--and you'd better come through."
     
    Without replying or looking up, Thorne drew his jeweled dagger and turned his attention to the food on the taboret which the orderly had set before him. A moment later he heard Sel Han leave the room. Soon after he finished his meal, an officer came in and saluted.
     
    "It is time for you to relieve Kov Lutas in the apartments of the Dixtar's daughter,"