Adventure, January 20, 1922 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

Men of the Night finally got to his attention he looked around with: ‘“‘What was the matter, did you say? He was to come if you shouted for help?” Leela was exasperated, but also amused. She stood up, moving quickly. There was something tempestuous about even her way of rising from a chair or walking across a room. Her movements suggested swift- ness without being jerky or even impetu- ous; but she was full of fire, challenging; her eyes were rapid, and there was an im- pact when she looked at one. She came up, erect, shoulders back, and stood close to him, watching him with un- abashed directness and smiled a little play- fully but with anger. “Listen,” she said jestingly, with a sharp edge of mockery. “Youse jus’ listen—as [I did. Us dagoes uses steel Her hand flashed at her waist and a glim- mering stiletto was poised before her breast, point at him; but Middleton did not move an eyelid. His manner was coldly curious. His hands had slipped into his coat pockets; and, partly turned toward her, he waited. She put the steel away, and with a half- threatening laugh asked: “Why not inquire of Cabron’s daughter why he went to the pen? She could tell you. Oh, I hate you—I hate you, Black Wolf! You sent my father up.” She was suddenly aflame with anger; and, chin lifted, she glared while the hand which had dropped the stiletto into its hidden sheath came up as if to drive a steel edge home. Then with bitterness: “And I came to warn you. you receive me.”’ Her attitude was mockingly supercilious. “You didn’t want to be alone with me. Was it because your conscience troubled your No. No, not that. Conscience! Bah. Perhaps you thought——” She glared as if on the instant she would be an avenger. “Black Wolf—Black Devil, you are.” “Well?” He asked it ambiguously. It might have meant anything. She stepped back, hands to hips, asking accusingly: “Do you want to know why Cabron went to ‘prison? Do you? It was because a fel- low who calls himself Black Wolf sold some records that he took from Cabron’s vault.” Middleton shook his head slightly, indif- This is how IOI ferently. He was attentive, but seemed hardly at all interested. “You mean Holder stole them from you?” she demanded. “Whor’”’ “Holder. Frank Holder. The man—” she grew dramatic—‘who gave the district attorney a half-million, and, pointing to my father, said, “Get him!’ ”’ “Who,” asked Middleton with every ap- pearance of ignorance, “‘is Frank Holder?” Leela answered with contempt— “My cousin’s husband.” “Oh, I see. A sort of family quarrel. This Holder—he must have money. A half- million. Your cousin did well.” Leela did not know whether he was as unconcerned and as unenlightened as he seemed. His manner suggested precisely what his words said; but she had deep and bitter reasons for believing that he was throwing her off, or trying to. “TI suppose,” she said tauntingly, ‘‘that you remember her—the cousin?” ~ “T suppose,” he answered—as if it were an answer. “But before that, before this Holder affair, didn’t she marry or some- thing?” “Huh. It was the something. Yes.” Then with animation— ‘But some of us dagoes used a chive on him—on that something you referred to; and that’s what’s going to happen to She caught herself up abruptly. Middleton smiled understandingly, but was scarcely amused, as he finished the sen- tence for her— “‘_what’s going to happen to this Holder person if he doesn’t look out.” “Since when do us dagoes—” Leela stressed the word bitterly—‘dagoes forgive an injury!” “Bah. When you go back to the pen will you consider it an injury?” He looked at her penetratingly. She had struck and struck hard, expecting that he would be startled. She had even hoped that she might drive him to his knees— though, as this is the paradox of woman, if she humbled him she would break her love of him; and she did not want it broken. But at least, she felt, he might feel some gratitude toward her that she knew his secrets and protected them when every normal instinct of vengeance should have drawn her to her father’s wishes. COmMicloooks (C@