Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

SOMETIMES PRETENDING’S RISKY. he confess to her that he was Archie Trev- ington? He wondered what her reaction would be if he tried that little bluff. “Sorry,” he said, “ but you'll have to wait. To tell you would spoil the fun.” It would be too dangerous to play his part too far. In the arms of the pirate captain, Anna also underwent a friendly questioning. Her refusal to divulge her name was natural enough. As they tangoed on, she forgot her qualms and flirted outrageously. Now and then they passed close to Dick and his harem queen. Anna smiled as she realized that Dick was growing jealous—in spite of the attractiveness of the girl who danced with him. “T’ll follow you all evening,” the pirate captain threatened. “ But I’m sure I know you now. If I get a chance I'll carry you off. My ship’s out in the Hudson—with the black flag at the masthead!” She knew it was foolish banter; but somehow his threat of following her made Anna feel uneasy. With a sigh of relief, she slipped away when the orchestra stopped playing. , Gay laughter and confusion reigned. She had considerable trouble in finding Dick again. At last she came across him, near the door of a room that had been made a great conservatory. “So there you are!’’ came Dick’s slow drawl. Then he dropped his role. “ Let’s find a quiet spot out here. I want to talk to you.” Relieved to find that they were alone, Anna sat down on a bench. They were sheltered by a bank of palms. No one ap- peared to be near them. ‘Have people been asking you who you are?” Dick blurted out at once. “ Why, yes,” said Anna. “‘ Why shouldn’t they? Every one’s probably guessing.” ““No such thing!” Dick denied. “ All of them know each other. Do you suppose they’re checking up—that maybe Treving- ton is here—and they’re suspicious of us!” ‘Why should they be?” asked Anna, challenge in her tone. “Why spoil it all with silly fears? It’s no crime to crash a gate. The worst they could do if they 917 found out would be to put us out. In a sense, it’s a public party.” ‘Three husky chaps in evening clothes. keep walking after me,’ Dick told her nervously. “You only imagine it!” Anna scoffed. She observed Dick’s nervousness. “I thought you said we'd just pretend—and enjoy ourselves.”’ She could not resist that dig. “There’s one of those guys, over there!” Dick whispered, and Anna turned. She saw a face peer through the palms, then quickly disappear. Unmasked, and plainly unfriendly, the heavy features of the man gave Anna a little start. ‘“Let’s go into the supper room—as though we didn’t see him. Then, when we've had a bite to eat, I think we’d better go,’”’ she suggested. Willingly, Dick arose. As they sauntered toward the tables where refreshments were being served, Dick felt more uncomfortable. That red-faced fellow, he felt sure, dogged his every footstep. Now, Anna herself observed the man glancing in their direction. At his elbow was Captain Kidd, who had boasted that his pirate ship was anchored in the Hudson. That the two were discussing her and Dick was plainly obvious. Instead of perturbing Anna, the knowl- edge of their scrutiny made her laugh softly. Dick plainly showed the tension of the situation. He spilled his coffee and dropped ice cream on his silken waistcoat. If he’d ever felt a desire to act, it abruptly left him now. Yet, to save his soul, he didn’t know why he should be on edge. Wasn’t this what he had wanted to do, and wasn’t Anna, apparently, having a splendid time? Nevertheless, he’d feel when both the costumes they had on were back on old Bloom’s shelves, “Shall we dance once more—and then slip out?”? Anna had finished her ice. ‘““ Maybe we’d better—go at once.” Dick pushed back his chair. As he did so, three big men paused beside their table. In lieu of costumes, each of them was dressed in evening clothes. Their hands and feet seemed much too large, and all of | them had = necks. relieved _ Eomicbooks (G0)