Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

EYES OF THE DEAD. Merim dissolve and vanish. The last glimpse he had of her then was of her face, smiling in contentment. “'Ves, this,” ’Leesah ‘went on. seems there is a queer sect in some distant waddy, that of Zin, I-think, my friend. A small tribe. They were in here two years ago on some pilgrimage connected with their sect’s belief. Troiville, on the pre- text of political troubles, but really to have an excuse to see the reputed beauty of the tribe, a young girl named Merim, raided the camp of the strange sect. He forced his way into the tent of the old sheik, Ben Yousef of Zin, tore down the hangings sheltering the women of the sheik from-~ ‘public gaze, and tore off the veil of the girl Merim, and carried her off. He kept her several days and then put her forth from out the town. It made a scandal that he had hard work in covering up, and that even now is under investigation, and since then the natives, aside from the ones attached to him from mercenary motives, have been sullen to Troiville.” A sudden, gripping hate for Troiville sprang up in Pierre’s heart. Its coming took away, like magic, the thirst that had been racking him. His eyes ceased to burn. A purpose took possession of him. His form -seemed to dilate. Then said ’Leesah: ‘Why, my friend, what is it? You seem better, brighter. Your eyes seem well again. That lotion was good, was it not?” She got off the window ledge quickly and came to him. She placed her fingers on his eyelids that he held motionless for her to feel. Her touch was as a benediction —tender, deft, allaying his misery. ‘““T can feel they are less fevered,’”’ she said encouragingly. She stepped back. He barely restrained an impulse to reach out this arms to her. The purpose within him deepened, surged, became masterful. Yet he was not fiur- ried, but calm, serene. He knew what he wanted now! Let Troiville— “ After hearing that tale,” "Leesah was saying, ‘of course I kept away from Troi- ville, unless in public. We will be going soon, my friend, and we want no trouble with him. We will forget him at the next place we go to.” ¢é Tt 67 He laughed with new resonance and as- surance. “Come,” he'said, “let us go to the café for our little rehearsal. Yes, we can afford to ignore him unless he becomes offen- sive.” = He ushered her out, and they went to- gether down the little stair to the street. The town was waking up again. They crossed to the café and passed old Martin, who nodded and gave them a warm saluta- tion. He handed Pierre the box of knives. La Forge took them, and the two went back to where the target board was. .La Forge began this preliminary practise—cutting the pips from playirig cards, clipping the .ash off a cigarette held in "Leesah’s fingers, splitting bangles. He was cool, calm, alert. He did not miss a single of his most diffi- cult throws. Finally he signaled for ‘Lee- sah to take her station before the target- board. 7 She stood before him, arm outspread, as if crucified. His thirty-six knives piled into the crook of his left arm, the handles all toward his body, Pierre picked them up, one after the other, and launched them, whirring, shining, at her. Each found its appointed place, some alongside her waist, some against her neck, some alongside her outstretched arms. Soon he had her out- lined in gleaming steel. His eyes were keen at first, and only near the close of the trial did he feel them burn. He passed his hand over them. He saw ’Leesah smiling at him encouragingly; he smiled back, yet the smile froze on his lips. At ’Leesah’s side he saw Merim. Her face was serious. Her right hand was out- stretched, the index finger pointing. He had one knife left. Her finger came to rest in the vacant spot in the steel fence about the body of "Leesah—the vacant spot right where perfect arm came to perfect bust. She smiled meaningly, and under an urge that he could not control Pierre launched the final knife. It whirred, end-over-end, the point thudded home! It had snugged so close to the girl’s body that the force of it made muscles jar. But she, smiling, alert, was not touched! Pierre rubbed his eyes again. They had ceased to burn, Merim was gone. ‘Lee- COmiclbooks C@