Adventure Magazine Cover, October 1911 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

1082 Evil, signor,” he whispered dryly. ‘‘We may count Esuli Bey as such, may we not?” Agnew started. ‘‘Esuli?” he repeated. “This is——?”’ “The courtyard of the Governor’s castle,”’ interrupted Jovan imperturbably. “They drill these precious Zaptiehs, signor. ‘There must be a reason for that. Shall we inspect them?” Silently and with infinite precautions the two crept forward toward the mouth of the cave. They looked down from the protect- ing shadow of its dusk. Below them was a ring of whitewashed buildings, surrounding a courtyard of dried and trampled mud. Across it, to and fro, a couple of score of ragged and sullen men- at-arms were moving, goaded by the com- mands of a sergeant. Watching them sat Esuli in a wicker chair. But it was not at the Bey that Agnew’s incredulous gaze was directed. It was at his companion, who lounged very much at ease in surroundings which he must, at any rate, have found unaccustomed. It was Gordon Glaisher! CHAPTER XXIV WOMAN’S WORK | Ge and Gugi poled their boat slowly and carefully up to the edge of the em- bankment. ‘Their untidy craft was trans- formed. Half a dozen gay cushions covered the stern; the bare planks of flooring had been strewn with dry reeds upon which a rug had been spread; from a tiny flagstaff fluttered the combined flags of the Union and the Turkish Empire. The deplorable paddles had been replaced by sound and well-made oars. The flags had been the work as well as the idea of Vilip, and it was he who looked down upon them and the approaching boat with the complacent air of the inventor who sees the .phantoms of his brain brought into actual being. He saluted his mistress ob- sequiously and held out his hand to assist her and her companion to land. “The Signor Agnew has arrived from Gorac,” he informed her as he gathered up the rug and cushions and prepared to follow her across the square. ‘Though he spoke in his broken English his pronunciation of the name was exceedingly distinct. He watched Lucia Gessi alertly. Adventure She turned. ‘The Signor Intendente is here?” she asked, instinct supplying his meaning. “Yes, signorina.” He looked at her thoughtfully and then the corners of his lips drooped into a smile. He turned his gaze from her to her companion with an air of something like commiseration. _ She flushed. Behind her red lips she ground her teeth, for again her instinct in- terpreted his aspect more easily even than his words. ‘You still interest yourself in your recreant lover?’ This was the meaning implied by the courier’s smiling glance. ‘You still hope to hold him?’ The stormy shadow passed from her eyes to leave them frigidly indifferent. She turned and came to a halt opposite Mr. Gresham’s veranda. “I have to thank you once more for your companionshif), signorina,”’ she said. ‘‘Am I becoming something of a water woman at last? I rowed—positively I have learned to propel that terrible craft a matter of half a kilometer or more. Let me beg your felicitations.” “You have them, and with enthusiasm,” said Katrine. ‘‘These expeditions have been most enjoyable and have greatly aided my convalescence. I shall never be sufh- ciently grateful to you for suggesting them.” There was a queer look on the Italian girl’s face. ‘“‘The gratitude should all be mine,” she said. ‘Life has lost its mo- notony for me—since you came. I have much to thank you for—more than you are aware of.”’ And the queer look was made the more noticeable by the odd emphasis of her tone. Katrine noticed it. She looked at her with an air of slight bewilderment. ‘Two women in such a masculine com- munity as this were bound to seek mutual companionship, were they not?” she said. “I was fortunate in finding you here, sig- norina. It was certainly unexpected.” And this time it was Katrine who laid a subtle emphasis on her words—and who smiled, as if at a meaning withheld. She held out her hand with a gesture of fare- well. “And now I must hurry in—to meet my —my guest,’ she said, and the hesitation over the last word was well contrived. It hinted of a warmer phrase which had halted on her lips for intimate reasons which were not for the ear of her companion. CO MICLOOKS CO