Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

THE CRUCIBLE. to waste her loveliness in the desert. It’s not cowardly to promise you all that the world can offer. “You are drawn to me,” he went on in tones of extraordinary confidence, “ and you cannot deny it. You shrink from what you do know, because of your apprehension about things of which you are ignorant. The last thing I want is that you should be unhappy with me and once you’ve sur- mounted the narrow tenets of convention I can give you such happiness as is not dreamed of by any ordinary woman.” He paused, laid his hand on hers and, with a subtle change of inflection, con- tinued evenly. ‘‘ We are going to the Vic- trix mine together, you and I. Now tell me what you will do when you get there. You ought to be very clear about that because the situation is rather delicate. ‘“ And if you hesitate about accepting my escort, which you will presently see you are not in a position to decline, I may tell you that you will find the journey extremely difficult and perhaps impossible for a young woman who is unmarried and singularly at- tractive. ‘“T want you to think carefully about this before answering, because I’m intensely in earnest. That matter isn’t as simple by any means as you take it to be. You’re up against the point of view of the world which, as I think you are beginning to perceive, is apt to be critical, especially about women. “ T’ll just hazard one guess. - Is it in your mind to tell Brent your whole story, yours remember, not mine, the minute you arrive at the Victrix?” “ Yes,” she admitted, shakily, “ it is.” King smiled whimsically. “ That would be an egregious mistake.” ‘“ Why—wouldn’t it be the truth?” “Would you speak as Miss Denby or Miss Dart?” Sylvia caught her breath. whispered, “ cruel.” “Tt may sound that way to you, but every man is apt to be cruel when he hun- gers for a woman like you. No, that would only be a false move and immediately de- “ Cruel,” she stroy what I maintain is your remarkable | opportunity.” . “Opportunity, ie ee she. countered. > fee ES — — eae | "on 67 ‘“ Think for a minute,” he went on, mus- ingly. ‘‘ You told me that you were prom- ised to a man who, in the nature of things must be almost a ‘stranger, but who—if you keep your promise which is really not binding at all, being only the impulse of an impetuous girl—has it in his power to make life a hollow disappointment. ‘* Now you have it in your power to see this man in the setting he has chosen for you, to appraise and consider him, to see ex- actly what manner of man he is, he being all the time ignorant of your identity. You told me that it is improbable that he will . know you after so long a time. ‘On top of that, I tell you that if vou are wise enough to use this extraordinary opportunity which, without question you will use ’—here King’s voice took on a dominant note—‘ and meet him as Sylvia Dart and not Sylvia Denby, it is impossible- he should know you. And,” he concluded with quiet authority, “ this is what you will do.” “I will not,” she said swiftly. not.” He made a little gesture. cause it was all arranged.” ‘“How.can it be arranged? is unheard of.” “Because,” he replied contentedly, ‘after I was fortunate enough to be able to arrange for your comfort on this ship Iw Tielecgal to Mr. James Brent, the man- ager of the Victrix mine, that I wauld be accompanied on my official visit by my niece, Miss Sylvia Dart.” There was a long, long silence, and pres- ently as if in a dream, she heard his voice again. “It is quite inevitable. It is all Sno planned and decided. If you need any con- firmation of this you may be interested to know what I was doing during my recent absence from Shadow Manor. Well, frank- ly, I was getting control of the Victrix mine, the name of which property you had kindly provided. It wasn’t a difficult mat- ter, and J picked up the shares cheaply enough. “As to the mine itself I care nothing. It may sink or swim. The property may “T can “You will, be- The thing be parties or cw oe but again that | . : . —- = ails Noe - oe —— SS -s . es > i = - % re i As =e ps Fe — Ps ae — —2 ee ee SS - =e Sigs pene SS at = ~~ oo = — = 2s cS es ee See a pss So SSaeeen PCOMICEOGKE. com