The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

490 driven off some of the “ quick” and given the mass its spherical form. Of course, the bali had been dropped by one of Bremerton’s assailants. It proved that at least one of the rascals was a mill man, or indirectly had some- thing to do with a stamp-mill. This in itself was no identification, as there were hundreds of such men in that part of the country. With the aid of. another match, Bremerton examined the ball more closely. Its upper surface was a cu- rious formation of small ridges where the folds of the chamois had been gath- ered together and strong pressure ap- plied with the hands. The lower half of the sphere was smooth, save for an indentation that resembled the letter “W.” Or was itan“ M’’? Bremerton scowled. By some chance the Mallorys, father and daughter, were so vividly in his nund that he instinctively looked for them every- where. He growled over his folly, re- placed the ball in the handkerchief, and stowed it away in a coat pocket. Then he would have crawled on again had a sound not reached his ears and suggested caution. it was a sound of horses’ hoofs approaching slowly from the direction of the road. He could see the rider indistinctly, coming through the heavy shadows cast by the trees. The horse moved to right and left, in a zigzag course, as though its rider were seeking something. Bremerton wondered grimly whether he or the ball of amalgam was the ob- ject of the stranger’s quest. Suddenly, while he knelt there, watching and waiting, the approaching rider passed a spot upon which the mocnbeams had full play. <A gasp of amazement came from Bremerton. The silvery light touched as with a caress the bare head of a woman. The hair, shining and luxuriant, was brushed smoothly back from the tem- ples. In its strands the stem of a full- blown rose was entangled. The woman’s face was dim, yet Bremerton could see enough of it to THE ARGOSY. know that it must have been wondrous- ly fair. Her form was erect and grace- ful, and she was mounted in a man’s saddle and rode as a man would ride. “If you happen to be looking for me,” called Bremerton grimly—“ this way.” : The girl started, peered in the direc- tion from which the voice had conie, and quickened the pace of her horse. “If you happen to be Lee Bremer- ton,” said she in a voice at once soft and musical, “then I @m looking for you.” He laughed huskily and jeeringly. “Tam very much alive,” he re- turned, “ which is probably a great dis- appointment to you—Miss Mariquita Mallory.” The ill-natured .remark seemed to make no impression upon her. Draw- ing her horse to a stop, she dismounted calmly and stepped in front of Brem- erton. CHAPTER IV. THE GIRL, WITH THE ROSE IN HER HAIR. BREMERTON knew this girl was Mari- quita Mallory. In his mind that con- viction was as fixed as fate. First had come her father, then her father’s men, and now why not the girl herself? It seemed peculiarly fitting. ‘“ Not too close!” he ordered sharp- ly. “ About where you are.will be near enough.” . Fear was a mental poison which his strong soul had never known. Some day, when his brain was sick and he was physically -breken, he might know it; but it would not be a woman who caused his heart to fail and his courage to wane. He commanded the girl to keep her distance, because his whole nature was in hot revolt against her and her fa- ther and their schemes of violence. She gave his words no attention. Serenely she glided to a.spot from which she could have reached forth and touched him, had she wished to do so. COMicdoo S CO@