Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

$94 “ Beloved Patria!’’ he exclaimed, “‘ Rafael!” she replied. ‘‘ Now go!” CHAPTER XVII. WALTZ-TIME. HAT evening at one of the slippery, wave-swept steps of the Sanidad pier a launch from a warship bobbed in the wash, held in place by two sturdy sail- ors who clung with their boathooks to ring and coping. Commander Grandis met Patria and Nelson on the pier. “There is a little sea running to-night, Miss Gonsalvo,” was his greeting, “ but I’m sure you won’t mind that by the time we get through with you.” Patria indulged in a dubious smile. “‘ I’m not much of a sailor, Mr. Grandis; you must be responsible for the consequences. Is it too dreadful a load to assume in ad- dition to your hostship?” “Tt is, unless I receive your undivided attention. You must stick very closely to me all evening if I am to be your guardian.” With a laugh of acceptance Patria allowed herself to be lifted into the small boat. Mrs. Gray, tagged as usual by the for- bidding female who had attached herself to the merry widow, joined the party under escort of young Daly. One charm of Mrs. Gray’s personality was an unwavering interest in whatever person she might be with. Despite the fact that she had seen every one in the group only so recently as the luncheon hour she seemed as delighted to encounter them again as if they were long lost friends. The Gorgon, Mrs. Hartwell—‘ Lugubri- ous Liz,’ as she had been christened— made a great fuss and todo about entering the boat, promptly interjecting her cus- tomary discordant note by sprightly com- ment upon the dangers of the deep and her reluctance to drown while still so young. Once seated she fidgeted and fumed, - coveting the places not a whit better than her own that were occupied by others aboard. “ Come sit by me, young man,” she de- - manded of Somers who stood at the com- - ‘ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. panionway to give the signal to start. ‘““You must protect me. I feel as though my dear departed Henry were standing be- side me—but I must have something more substantial to cling to when this crazy cockleshellawpsets.”’ And Somers perforce had to comply, as the boat swung about and headed toward the fairway. “That ship, the Condé, is called Noah’s Ark,” observed Nelson to Patria, indicat- ing the French cruiser which they were passing. “It looks like it,” she replied, ‘‘ with all those square holes in the side. I wish the animals would poke their heads out of the windows.” “Ports,” Nelson corrected, with mock gravity. “ When you are at sea you must conform to convention and use nautical terms. Watch carefully and you may see all sorts of animals. They keep a cow, pigs, chickens, a goat, and a donkey aboard.” “T wish they had old Madam Hartwell aboard her, too,” whispered Patria mis- chievously. “She would add materially to the collection.” The boat careened in a wide curve and came to rest at the foot of the warship’s gangway. As the party ascended to the deck the sun had fallen behind the hills, and already the eastern sky had deepened to royal blue through which gleamed a few fervid stars. The ship’s band, forward, was playing for the bluejackets. A mere wisp of smoke curled lazily from a funnel, at the other end of which boiler fires smoldered in hand, ready upon call to furnish sufficient steam to get the ship immediately under way. Deck stanchions lay snugly lashed in place along the scuppers; hatch-hoods were stowed away and the decks were bare, for the ship was cleared for action. One by one the great war vessels an- chored in the open sea twinkled agleam, | and the city water front put on its eve- ning diadem of arc lights, a vision of rare beauty in the tropical night that soon closed down its transforming screen of alluring unreality. Gomichbooks (E(0)