Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

A488 cate the facts to Mr. Rado and let him take such steps as seemed necessary. The lines in the father’s face grew deep- er as he listened to the story; and Creigh- ton, the secretary, observing his expression, felt that if the suggestion of bandits were true he would not like to be in their shoes. Mavor Rado, he knew, would spare neither time, money, nor effort to run them down and exact full requital for anything that had happened to his son. Yet for a moment the banker seemed to hesitate as he rose from the telephone. He frowned uncertainly, and ran his fingers up ‘through his thick iron-gray hair. _ Then he gave a nod of quick decision. » “Have my car brought around, the road- ster,’ he ordered curtly. ‘‘And tell the chauffeur I will drive myself.” Five minutes later he was speeding down the avenue that led from the house and out to the main highway. But he did not stick long to) the traveled road. Turning off a mile or so beyond the village, he headed across the island, following a route that was little more than a confusion of rough trails through the scrub oak and sand. Finally he reached a huddle of dingy tents and traveling vans in a clearing not far from the shores of Lake Ronkonkoma; and drawing up beside it, he sprang out of his car and strode forward. A couple of sullen-looking men playing with a greasy pack of cards beside a smoky camp fire rose to challenge his approach; but he flung them an impatient word or two in a strange-sounding guttural, and wonderingly they stood back to let him pass. Paying no further heed to them, or to other staring figures scattered about the in- closure, he pressed on toward a van larger and gaudier than the rest, which stood almost at the center of the camp. But as he neared this he found his way determinedly barred by a young woman. “What do you want?” she demanded under her breath. “ To see the Queen. I, too, am a Rom.” “Vou?” Her dark eyes glinted with ridicule as they ran over his expensive mo- toring coat and the glimpse of faultlessly fitting evening clothes showing underneath. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Listen.” He caught the girl’s hand and hastily whispered in her ear. Her expression changed at his words, but still she did not move out of his path. “The Queen is asleep,” she muttered ob- Stinately. “She cannot be disturbed.” Rado frowned. He was not accustomed to being crossed. “ But I tell you I must see her. an old friend of hers, and—” He paused at the sound of a quavering voice from inside the van. “What is it, Alice? Some one for me?” There was a querulous note to the tone. “Tell him to go away. I am resting.” “You hear?” The girl spread out her hands. “She will not see you.” But Mavor Rado had not come there to be denied. Calling upon his more or less rusty fund of gypsy patter, he lifted his voice in an urgent appeal for audience. It proved successful. As he still strug- gled with the uncouth, almost forgotten words, the Queen appeared in the door- way of her van—a bent, old figure with a face like wrinkled parchment, and upon whom the colorful gypsy turban and dress seemed a mockery. “Who is it speaks to me in the Romany chiv of long ago days beside the Danube and in the Transylvania hills?” With the aid of her stick she hobbled down the two or three steps from the van to the ground, and over toward Rado. The girl sprang forward to lend her assistance, but she waved it aside, and reaching the visitor, peered up into his face with her dim, old eyes. — “Yes; I thought I could not be mis- taken.” She nodded slowly. “ It is a long time since we have met, gorgio; but Queen Dinah does not forget her friends. You are welcome.” She extended her clawlike hand, and Mavor, bowing, raised it to his lips. “You are good to remember the old friendship, Mother Dinah,” he said. ‘‘ May I lay a further claim upon it, and ask you 4 run the cards for me? I am in trou- le.” Tt am She turned to the girl standing beside her. “The tarok, Alice,” she ordered. (EO) NOOLKS AMUNG (E@)