Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

80 Miguel, who knows so many things, did not know about this?” “Foolish!” she said scornfully. talking all day and all night with the angels -and the blessed saints. But how should he know anything about the devils and their ways? Besides, this devil in my father is a very strong devil, for see what he drinks for water?” And she tapped the bottle in the arm of Tyson. CHAPTER XVI. \ A TALE OF A FACE. HEY had left the outskirts of the town ‘while she was talking, and now, round- ing the dam, they circled down and then into the basin of the Chiluah. She was like a play to Henry Tyson. She walked at. his side and yet she was upon a stage, and he sat among the audience in front and watched her from a distance. It was a very odd feeling. Nothing like it had ever come in the life of Tyson be- fore, for he had known many an attractive girl, but none like this child of the desert. Infinite, vague possibilities centered around her. That step, alert and buoyant as his own, promised to lead them into unknown > adventures. Guided by her, he seemed about to enter a strange, enchanting realm. The moment they reached the valley proper, she seemed to cast off all restraint,. entering her own domain, and she accepted him as a part of it. She took off her hat, and walked along, swinging it in her hand. Her shining black hair had been gathered under the hat in an uninspired knot, from which sundry strands escaped, but now a single shake of her head sent a dark cata- ract over her shoulders. _ “ Where is the tie I gave you to bind around your hair, Rona?” asked Tyson, with some malice. ~ “That I have given away again,” she returned carelessly. ‘‘T am sorry for that,” remarked Tyson, “because it’s very bad luck to give away. a gift.” ‘“T could not help it,” she answered. ‘You see, he liked it.” “ He is . THE ARGOSY. e¢ Who?” “The Big Man.” & Ah?” ‘““T am to marry him some day.” This was worse than the discovery of her parentage. If it was hard te imagine the girl living with a father, it was impossi- ble to think of her obeying a husband. ‘He will lead .an active life,” observed Tyson. The girl halted. She faced him in her © aggressive manner, arms akimbo, and then laid firm hold upon his shirt front. ‘“‘ Hear me, senor,” she said, in a voice as soft and velvety as the purr of a cat, ‘“‘T have many times heard you laugh at me, and then Rona also has laughed. But still more times I have guessed at you laughing deeply and silently inside, I have seen a smile in your eyes. I do not like it, senor, and if I see that smile again—” She con- sidered him searchingly from head to foot as one who sought a vulnerable point. ‘Would you set the Big Man upon me?” ‘““I keep one friend with me always,” she answered, and pushed down her broad belt enough to expose the hilt of a poniard. ‘“‘'Then I shall keep at arm’s length when I smile.” “A long arm,” she said savagely, and then, infuriated by the continual glitter of his eyes, she snatched out the slender knife, caught it deftly by the point, and flung it from her, a whirling flash of light. It was buried half the length of the blade in the trunk of a sapling, and Tyson heard its angry humming distinctly as it quivered in the wood. “Take warning, sefor!” said Rona, and she drew the bright steel from the tree with a violent jerk. | “I would not laugh if I could help it,” said Tyson, “but to confess the truth, ‘Rona, there is a devil in me like the one in your father.” ‘“‘ A devil?” she cried, and recoiled a hor- rified pace. “ Your father’s makes his throat Hoe but mine is a mocking devil.” She crossed herself swiftly, and mur- mured something inaudible. ‘“T knew,” she nodded at length, ‘ that you. were not like other men. Even Senor Kennedy is not like you.” 3 5 ARGOSY comicloook CO