Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

THE C RUCIBLE. 63 confessedly found attractive, and it made his voice and manner none the less strik- ing. Then, too, there was a vast difference between being his employee in a lonely country house and a fellow passenger on a great liner where there could be no such thing as isolation. Another thing that cheered her was the thought that every turn of the propeller carried her nearer safety, and each succes- sive crumpled wave brought her closer to the man she sought. There was protection here from King if she needed it, and the burden that lay so heavy on her mind lightened enormously. “How did you leave your sister?’’ she asked quietly. He nodded as if welcoming the attitude she adopted. “ Really, I think she’s very much better, and, strangely enough, it seems possible that that slight concussion has actually helped her. She’s perfectly calm and col- lected. As to yourself, she does not appear to worry, and told me that you had lett a note saying you had been called away.’ Sylvia felt comforted. “ Now will you tell me something else?” she inquired. “ Anything I can—if you'll answer me one question.” “ What is that?” “ Am I right in assuming that you're go- ing to the Victrix Mine?” “She colored in spite of herself. { am.” King smiled a little. inal, but, after all, very natural. can [ tell you?” “Where are you going?”’ “ To the Victrix Mine,” he said smooth- ly. “And I’ve been thinking for the last few moments how charming it will be to have such a fellow-traveler through the wil- derness.”’ A tingling sensation ran through Sylvia’s nerves. ‘ You really mean this?” she de- manded startled. “ Why shouldn’t I?” he answered even- ly. “Would it surprise you to know that my plans were made before yours?” “Then you haven’t—haven’t—” she brake e in , Santee Sain Ps ae “> ce Yes, ‘“ That’s quite orig- Now what “No, { have not pursued you. I had no idea where you were going until I saw you on board. This is all pure chance, that is, unless,” here he paused a moment and looked at her steadfastly, “ unless behind what men call chance there moves some- thing bigger and stronger which we recog- nize as destiny. You have not run away from me, Sylvia ’~-he lingered a little on the word—* you’ve run toward me.” It was a moment or two before she could speak. The world had again resolved itself into a maze of doubt, through which moved one dominating and unmistakable figure. She stared at him with an expression of ut- ter bewilderment, experiencing again that sense of helpless fascination. But if he knew what was in her breast at that in- stant, he gave no sign of it. “Let me explain something that must be very mysterious to you,” he said quietly. “T am the managing director of a London company which is largely interested in min- ing shares and mines. Among the latter is the Victrix. How that particular interest came about you will know later on. “The single truth for you to remember is that I am engaged on an official visit of inspection, and that arrangements for that visit were decided and my passage booked on this ship two days before you were charming enough to dine with me for the second time at Shadow Manor. ‘“My own plans have not been in the slightest degree altered by anything that tookplace that evening. That is what I mean by saying that in running away you have run toward me, that I have not pur- sued you because,”’ here he glanced at her strangely, “it is not necessary for me to pursue, and that behind the vagaries of chance there looms the more potent ele- ment of destiny.” He stopped, made a sudden gesture as if to put an end to the gravity of his man- ner, then smiled disarmingly. “Tell me, are you quite comfortable, be- cause I see you’re not in the most suitable part of the ship.” She laughed in spite of herself. ‘ Yes, perfectly, and it’s all very nice and clean D , 9S and my fellow-voyagers are most Jpsnedts | ne _ able, but T don’t like the berth at ~ is comicbooks.com