Argosy, Vol. 120, No. 1 — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

40 THE ARGOSY. It has cost enough blood and sweat and anguish. I shall see that it does no more mischief. Do you understand now why I ask you to keep my secret?” Marta nodded slowly. “ But I’m not sure that you—you are right—I’m not cer- tain—”’ ‘“‘ But I am sane. You don’t doubt that?” ‘* No, I don’t doubt that.” “e And I have the right to think as I please?” “There’s no harm in what you think. Only— éé Well?” “‘ Are you sure it is best for you—to think that way? Are you sure you are happy?” ‘“‘ Dead sure.” Dean smiled. ‘“‘T.do understand, Mr. Dean.”’ She rose and came close to him. He was surprised, touched, to find her hands in his. In her glance he read a wealth of sympathy that was more startling than any event in his adventurous, lonely life. Marta’s lips opened, but she did not speak. The siren ‘of a steam vessel cut speech short. ‘““ She’s been Awkward if “The yacht,” said Dean. in sight the last quarter hour. she’d come sooner, eh?” With a cry Marta was out of the door and running toward the beach. Dean fol- lowed her more slowly. He remembered then, she had given him no promise of secrecy. But -he did not feel the lack of her spoken word. A secret was safe with such a woman, surely. } _ CHAPTER V. BURCHARD. HE yacht was -a smart vessel, large enough for comfort, but not over- -whelmingly important in that wide scope of sand and sea and sky, with rugged islands hazily silhouetted in the drizzle that filled the air. She was painted white, with a buff stack. As her speed slackened to a drift a . tender dropped into the water with trained alacrity and Dean could see men entering it. Marta Kree had gone to the water’s edge. She was waving her handkerchief, and somebody from the tender waved back at her. Dean had no difficulty in identifying the man as Burchard, her late employer, the fellow she was going to marry. He had but a vague notion of Burchard from Marta’s references. lieve he cared for closer acquaintance. Marta seemed to consider her future hus- band in a rather impersonal light. If she had enthusiasms for him she concealed them well, But Dean was more cpflcenned just then with the profanation of his solitude. He resented the yacht and the men who would soon walk on his beach, staring about them, asking questions, sowing the seeds of he knew not what complications. He did not wish to speak with any of them—nor see them. Yet he felt he must meet them. He could not very well sulk in solitude. But he lingered in the back- ground, uneasy. The white-painted tender was rowed in briskly. He heard the preliminary ex- change of greetings across the water; saw some one—Burchard again, of-course—leap overside and splash through shallow water to seize Marta Kree’s hands. Her figure melted into his, and Dean looked away, lik- ing Burchard all the less for his easy famili- arity with the woman. Three other men climbed from the boat, and stood staring. Sighing at the necessity, Dean advanced slowly. Marta was calling him by name. “ George,” she said to the tall fellow close beside her, ‘‘ this is Mr. Dean, who has been a very kind, considerate host to me while I waited. Mr. Dean, Mr. Burchard.” There was no ignoring Burchard’s briskly extended hand nor its hearty pressure. ‘“‘ Dean, I'am indebted to you. I surely am. Mighty good of you to help us out, mighty good.” Burchard’s voice was pleasant. Though he spoke alertly there was a trace of drawl, a suggestion of cultured ease and just a little condescension that Dean did not like a bit. ‘The pleasure was unexpected,” he was replying, ‘‘ but a pleasure, just the same.” Then they took stock of each other. Dean found Burchard his equal in height, a little slighter in build and a little softer in condition, but well set up. His dress sug- gested the sportsman; a Norfolk jacket of He did not be- - SCOMICOOKSRGO