The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

18 when he was in the dark house with her. But the lock had resisted them. Some sound had started the man. He had rushed out—to fall over the owner of the ranch. Now, that owner would have his innings. “Tl let you go if you turn over that paper to me,” he said. He kept his right hand free; and his gun pointed toward the door. But her head was on a level with his chin; and loose strands of her hair blew across his lipssand were whisked away again by va- grant breezes. The softness of her body, the faint fra- grance that drifted tantalizingly to his nostrils thrilled him exquisitely. But his mind’s eye was fixed on a big, discourag- ing fact. How splendidly she used brain and wit and risked her very life to serve the man in the dark! That man was gone. He felt sure of it. And she was in the arms of the owner of the ranch. But no exalting sense of pos- session came to Ben. “Since you are engaged, it isn’t advis- able for you to hold me in your arms— any longer than necessary!” she suggested. ‘“T’m the judge of that!” he answered quickly. ‘‘ Might doesn’t make right, you know,” she said. “And its triumphs are short- lived!” “Therefore to be held as long as pos- sible!”’ Ben whispered, bending till his lips rested lightly on her hair. He felt her rigid body relax. Its protest ceased. She breathed deep and evenly for the first time since he held her. She really hung in the support of his arm, unresist- ingly. Her yielding stirred a feeling of shame in him. She was a little thing for all her buoyant strength and splendid health. She could no ‘more have freed herself from him than she could’ have made him willing to release her. His big muscles exulted in their power; but his finer self grew ashamed of the advantage they gave. He argued with himself for a moment. She deserved all she was gettmmg. She had not hesitated to use every expedient that occurred to her to command the situation for her lover. Why shouldn’t he claim the THE ARGOSY. brief satisfaction of the poor possession his strength gave him? But the argument did not bring convic- tion. He fought against trembling with the subtle assaults that vibrated through him. He tried to make his voice sound calm and natural. ‘ After all, it’s up to you, you know!” he observed. ‘““ How?” she asked, gratefully, as if re- lease seemed nearer. ‘‘4Just give me the paper; and you may go,” he answered. ‘I haven’t it!” she exclaimed. ‘“‘Oh, come now, Ill make allowance for your motive. But the time’s gone when ly- ing will help any!” he said impatiently. “No. It’s still there on the rope of the swing. When I heard a strange voice, I—”’ “Strange voice! You have me guessing in more ways than one; but not abdut that! You knew perfectly who that voice belonged to.” He started toward the center of the room, taking her along and feeling his way toward the swing. She tried to escape. He knew she meant to dash ahead of him and get the paper—if it was actually there. He stumbled slightly. Something was trailing down from her. He pulled him- self free. It was the dark rug that usually lay folded on the swing-couch. ‘You used this to cover your retreat to the arms of the enemy!” he observed. ‘* Just let me use it now.” x He drew the rug around her, pinioning her- arms in its folds. Then, holding it se- curely, he recommenced the journey to the couch. She gave no assistance. - Indeed, he felt she was pulling away from the place he wanted to reach so he guided his efforts by her opposition. Outside, the hot darkness had brought rain that spat fiercely on the veranda porch and against the window he had cl be- tween them and the man in the dark. Through the open windows and the front door, the wind that bore the storm soughed and retreated, dragging the white curtains till they flaunted ghostly draperies in the night. Moore had completely lost his sense of direction. He could not locate the swing. oO Comicbooe S CO