Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

a. —, ql a ne THE DANCE ence of Joan’s enthusiasm—seemed fantas- tic as he looked at Katherine. “Any change?” he asked Dr. Welland ' huskily, striving hard to control the emo- tion that the sight of her aroused in him. “T think so—a little,” said Welland. “Tt seems to me the heart action is re- sponding slightly to the stimulant I have administered.” “You think there is a chance, then?” Dr. Welland nodded. “T think there is,” he said, and then— “See! The sound of our voices reaches her. Perhaps if you call to her now you can induce her to make an effort to arouse herself! Try!” Garry leaned over her, trembling, and called: “ Katherine! ” Her eyelids flickered, but they did not open; otherwise she did not stir. “ Katherine!’ he cried again, more loud- ly, more intense. At that she opened her eyes slowly, and gazed up at him. She was dazed, bewil- dered, but quite conscious; they saw that at a glance. Dr. Welland motioned him to speak again. * ‘“‘ Are you better?” he asked. She nodded. ‘“ What happened? Did I faint?” she asked, in a voice that scarcely carried to their ears. “Tt was the headache powder,” said Garry. She frowned, trying to remember, and looked confused. Her eyes wandered about the little office. It was plain she was try- ing to connect up her fragments of memo- ries. , “When you ran away from Stuyvie Net- tleton on the dance floor, and broke through the palms—you remember,” said Garry, “ you sat down at a strange old man’s table and took a headache powder. Didn’t you?” : She shook her head. “‘ No,” she answered more strongly. “ My head wasn’t aching! I was just tired out, and faint. I felt myself going, and I was frightened. Id never fainted before. He gave me some brandy, but it was no use.” ‘““And you didn’t take a powder? You are quite sure?” he persisted. 599 “TI should cer- OF DEATH. “ Oh, quite,” she said. tainly remember!” She raised herself in the big chair and shook back her damp hair. “‘T feel so awfully weak,” she murmured —* frightfully weak. What is it, do you think?” Her dark eyes were fixed on Garry. ‘“‘ Shock, most likely,” said Dr. Welland comfortingly. ‘‘ You'll be yourself again presently. Just lie still for a moment or two.” She lay back, frowning anxiously into space—worried. “This is Dr. Welland,” said Garry, ‘“who has been attending you since your collapse!” She smiled faintly at the doctor and then at the cloak-room maid, who was sitting motionless, all ears. ‘““T hope I haven’t been a nuisance,” she said. “ Can’t imagine how I came to faint. I’ve never been known to before!” Dr. Welland took her pulse again. “ Excellent,” he said; “ growing stronger every minute!” She looked at Garry. “Have you accomplished anything?” she asked, “in regard to—him?” Her eyes indicated the floor above where Da Costa lay. 3 “Til tell you when you are stronger. You are not to worry about it in the mean- time,” he said. “That means you have not accomplished anything?” she said. ‘““May I have a few words with Miss Kendall alone, doctor?” asked Garry. “ Do you think it will upset her?” “It would be wiser not to excite her,” said Welland. ‘‘ Her heart seems to have undergone some sort of strain! I tell you frankly, I did not at first anticipate such a speedy recovery.” “I think I can relieve her mind,” said Garry. ‘“Oh, in that case—” smiled Dr. Wel- land. “Tl just go back and say a few words to my wife. I abandoned her, you know, without warning when Mr. Silvers came for me!” : “You have been very good,” said Garry. “We shall not soon forget!” Eom Gomichbooks. e < ee oe a ee ee