A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, December 1949 — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

7 A. MERRITT’S FANTASY —but someway, tonight, I didn’t want to talk to her. I cast an involuntary glance of appeal at McCann. McCann caught it. He said: “Sorry, Miss Helen, but we got to get right out.” Helen looked at him. “Hello, McCann. I didn’t notice you. What are you going to do with this man of mine?” “Anything you say, Miss Helen.” Mc- Cann was grinning, but I had the idea he was speaking absolute truth, and that whatever Helen ordered he would cer- tainly do his best to accomplish. Bill said; “Alan has to go, Helen.” She took off her hat and smoothed the copper helmet of her hair. She asked, quietly: “The de Keradel affair, Alan?” I nodded and she went a little white. I said: “It’s nothing very important, but, honestly, I can’t stay. Let’s made a day of it tomorrow, Helen. Meet me at Mar- guens and take lunch. Then we'll ride around a bit and get supper and go to some show or other. I haven’t been to a theater for three years.” ' She looked at me for a long minute or two, then rested her hands on my shoul- ders. “All right, Alan. I'll meet you there— at two. But—be there.” As I went out I swore to myself that come hell or high water, I’d be there. Summons from Dahut notwithstanding. If Bill had to entertain one of her shadows for a few hours—well, he’d have to stand it. Down at the Club, McCann and I had a few drinks and I told him a few more things. I said I thought both de Keradel and his daughter were a bit crazy, and the reason {’d been invited down was be- cause she had a wild idea we’d been in love with each other a few thousand years ago. He listened, silently. When I was done, he said: “Them shadders, Doc. You think they’re real ?” I said: “I don’t see how they can be. But certainly the people who see them think they are.” He nodded, absently. “Well, they got to be treated as if they’re real. But how can you put the heat on a shadder? The people responsible for 'em are real, though, An’ you can always put the heat on them.” He said, shrewdly: “This de Keradel gal. now. How do you feel about her? I hear shé’s mighty ornamental. Feel there?” I flushed at that; I said to him coldly: — “When I need a guardian, McCann, I'll 3 let you know.” He answered as coldly: “I didn’t mean — it that way. Only—I ain’t aiming to see Miss Helen get any crooked deal.” That stung me; [ began, unthinkingly : “Tf it wasn’t for Miss Helen—” then shut — up. He leaned over toward me, his eyes less hard: “T thought so. You’re scared for Miss Helen. That’s why you’re going. But mebhe that ain’t just the way to protect her.” I said: “All right, McCann, tell me a better.” He said: “Why not leave it to me an’ the hands?” “J®know what I’m about, McCann,” I told him. He sighed and got up. “Well, soon’s we hear from the boss, you an’ me’s got to get together on signals an’ how to meet down there. There'll be boats fishing at the end of the walls, for one thing. When do you figure on visiting ?”’ “When I’m sent for.” He sighed again, shook my hand sol- emnily, and left. I went to bed, and slept soundly. The next morning at nine Bill called me up to say that Ricori had cabled the necessary instructions and that he was flying from Genoa to Paris that day to catch the Mawretania and would be in New York in a week. McCann phoned the same news, and we made an engagement for that midnight to go over details of our team work, I spent a * poteeous day with Helen. I met her at Marguens and said: “This day is yours and mine, darling. We're not go- ing to think about anything else. To hell with the de Keradels. This is the last mention of them.”’ ‘She said, sweetly: “To hell with them suits me perfectly, darling.” It was, as I have said, a gorgeous day, and long before it was over I knew just how much I was in love with her; how utterly lovely and desirable she was. Every time the thought of the Demoiselle crept out of the far corner of my mind into which I had thrust her, I pushed her back with a pang of hatred like the sting Eomichbooks safe—going down — ~~ 3 = 4 ‘ip te whe eee A