Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

THE SHIP THAT CRUMBLED. ‘‘T hurried back to see you,” she said, with a little laugh. “I am flattered, Miss Anderson,” he re- ~ plied with gravity. ‘“‘ Aren’t you glad?” she pouted. ‘“‘ Flattered and delighted!” he amended. Now that he was no longer diverted by visions of bleeding to death—visions which had arisen between them during their first meeting—he took the pains to appraise Miss Anderson—as young men have a way of appraising the young women they en- counter under such exceptional circum- stances. In her guileless little way she was much prettier than he had at first imagined. She was small and young and—inviting, per- haps. He thought he recognized. in her a type—the type that is built to be cuddled. There was a freshness about her helpless- ness, a wistfulness in the way she looked up at him, that prompted the kind of love- making whose origin is not entirely within the heart. Her lips formed a rosy bud, or the shyest of smiles, depending upon their mood. Her eyes, dreamy and velvety azure, seemed to _ brim with impulse. Her cheeks were peaches and cream. Donn Riley found himself marveling at the presence of so much innocence among such a cut-throat crew. . “I do get so lonely,” she was saying in her sweet, young voice. “ I have no one to talk to at all. Oh, of course I can talk to father, but he zs so moody!” “It’s a shame to drag you along—all alone—on this kind of a ship!” exclaimed Donn Riley indignantly. | “Tm old enough to have a beau if I want one!” she added. “I’m almost eighteen!” “It’s an outrage,” agreed the adventurer with a twinkle. ‘“ By rights, you should have at least twenty beaus!”’ | Miss Anderson bit her lip. ‘‘ You’re mak- , ing fun of me. I don’t Know whether to feel complimented or—or hurt.” “Vd willingly make the twenty-first!”’ “Then I would get rid of the other twenty at once!” she retorted. ‘I never told any other man that I thought he was —very nice!” “ You make me feel uncomfortable,” said ww Ee 441 Riley, lifting his arms and screwing up his face in a splendid imitation of despair. “ If you knew what a scoundrel I am at heart; if you knew how I am swayed by criminal -tendencies—”’ - ‘“ And conquered?” she added with a soft laugh. He looked at her severely. ‘“ Yes—con- quered!”’ ‘Gracious! You don’t look wicked!” ‘“‘ Miss Anderson,” he replied sententious- ly, ‘“ when you are a little older—” “Tf you knew how hateful I feel when people say that!” she cried. “When you have barked your pretty little elbows, and your nice little shins on the sharp corners of this old world—” “The way you’ve barked your pretty little elbows, and your pretty little shins?” she took him up. “TI am beginning to suspect, to suspect very deeply,” he rejoined, ‘ that your in- tuition will save you from the fate that Old Man Experience had in store for me.’” ‘He did a beautiful job, I think,” she answered demurely. ‘“‘ Miss Anderson?”’ “Yes, Mr. Riley.” “Can I tell you something about your- self?” : ‘“There’s really nothing you can’t do if you set your heart on it, I suspect, Mr. Riley!” ‘“ Now, just what do you mean by that?” ‘Did you or did you not appoint your- self as my twenty-first beau?” ‘“‘ Emphatically yes!” “You were going to tell me something about myself. You’re going to tell me how forward I am.” Donn Riley became penitent immediate- ‘“‘ Nothing of the sort!” ‘“* But you do think so, don’t you?” “Not a bit!” Miss Anderson winked her eyes several times. Her lip drooped. She put out her hands impulsively. “If you do think so, I’m awfully, awfully sorry. I don’t mean to be forward. But I’m lonely — dying of loneliness! There’s net a soul for me to talk to. I’m told to keep away from all of the men on the ship. Why, I can’t sit down on a chair all day—and all evening— ly. comic VOO S (C(O) in