Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

510 This was a signal to ply the water with greater agility, and the firemen followed up their advantage as the now bewildered mob gave way. Presently the rioters broke helter- skelter, and in one mad plunge, turned and fled, getting away from the merciless torrents as best they could. In another ten minutes the streets were clear. Heloise Truxton drew close to Karby, and as they started back for the machine, she told him softly: ‘““T came to you to-day — because I knew my father—and his agents were go- - ing to recruit a mob—to try to demolish your great store. I made him promise to let me come—and make the proposi- tion to buy your eggs. If ydu had agreed, there would have been no mob. I want- ed to save you—even though I didn’t know then who you were. I failed, and the mob was organized, and they turned against my father and would have burned us out—had it not been for you. ‘We — father would have deserved it all, and yet you stood by us—warned us to flee and then helped us to get here— and it was your idea that brought the firemen, oh, you are splendid, Mr. Karby, just splendid.” ‘ “ Not splendid,” Karby told her. “I warned your people not because of any idea of returning good for evil, but be- cause of you. I wanted to save you. That’s why I did it.” He stopped her in the darkness of some trees and faced her. “Do you understand that?” he said. He took her by the hands and looked THE ARGOSY. into her eyes. “It was for you. I would have gone through fire to save you.” She swayed toward him. Karby never knew just how it happened, but the next instant she was in his arms, and he was holding her tight. Her face was upturned to him, and on a sudden he stooped and kissed her. Her lips were not unresponsive, but yielded with a warmth that thrilled him to the soul. He murmured words to her which were for her ear alone, and her arms came up and tightened about his neck. And then the city rocked with the roar of an explosion that made the very ground beneath Karby and the girl tremble. The concussion was awéul. , Karby disengaged her—held her at arms’ length and stared in the direction of his store. There came a faint illumina- tion from that point, and then the heavens flamed with a deep red glare, and Karby saw tongues of fire shooting up and up and up and gaining ground as the seconds went by. He lowered his head and stood there, a picture of dejection, despair. The girl threw her arms about his neck and asked him what it was—said she was afraid. But Karby stared down into her eyes. “Tt’s all right, Miss Truxton. I’ve got you—and I’m going to keep you—marry you. But your father has won. I with- drew my deputies to help fight this mob. Your father’s agents got in their work. That explosion came from my store. They have fired it. He wins. His corner in eggs is safe. The people lose. I’m sorry.” comicloool C©