Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

EYES OF THE DEAD. its sinister carven coppes handle. He fon- died it. He glanced back, turned, bowed to the applauding folk. He let his glance fall to Troiville, and, under cover of the. cheers, fleered at the captain from a tense mouth-corner: “Tf I should miss, monsieur, if I should miss, with this last blade, it shall be for you.” He turned suddenly, faced the target board. Merim was at ’Leesah’s side, her finger extended, its tip touching the very armpit. Troiville’s voice sneered from behind: “In the heart this time, donkey.” With a blind rage seering his heart, Pierre drew back his arm. As he did so he could see Merim’s finger creep in and in. It was over the girl’s heart. He sought to-escape from the fascination of the fan- tasy of the desert-born’s presence. Her finger seemed to make its end’s impress right over where "Leesah’s corsage ended, over the loyal beating heart of her. “ Donkey!” It was Troiville’s colerditetitig snecr! Pierre’s arm tensed. “Leesah smiled at him, and he could see her, through Merim’s veil, that seeméd to dangle between them, as if apart from the Bedouin girl’s body. Merim’s body vanished like a whiff of mist —but her eyes, the eyes of the dead, ‘burned in their place and the slender finger was pinned to *“Leesah’s breast. Pierre strove not to throw, then to divert the knife, ‘whose weight seemed to be like a feather’s burden. His arms snapped forward, the hand opened, the blade sped. “TI told you,” Troiville ated The fingers, the eyes of the dead, van- ished. There was a dull roar—chairs and tables were overturned. Old Martin screamed—Pierre started’ to- ward ’Leesah. | The knife quivered—a red, trickled from its edge. The point was buried deeply in the girl’s body. Pain slew the smile she tried to keep there, in her loyalty. Then, before any one could come to her, she wilted and sarged and would have crashed downward but that red stain 71 . Pierre caught her in his arms, tenderly eased her from among the hedge of terribly sharp blades, to the floor. CHAPTER VI. BEHIND THE GREAT SAND: HILL. EOPLE surged forward, formed a mor- bid ring about them. Major Cheri- ‘mande pushed through. Troiville was close after him, calling: ‘“*T accuse this man of intentionally slay- ing this woman!” “Remember you are under heavy accu- sations yourself,” the major warned, push- ing the deposed commandante aside. . Troiville persisted, as Pierre gazed up at him with heavy eyes: “Yes; he killed her on purpose, under cover of speed in his act. He took that mode, it was so safe.” “But the motive! He loves her; see his face,” the major said, as Pierre, answering some word of the girl’s, bent his lips to her mouth, from which the blood was begin- ning to ooze. “He had reason to believe she loved another—or at least accorded him privi- leges that go with love.” Teesah sighed, her form: straightened. They made way for her limbs as they stiff- ened. Pierre, with face drawn, stood erect. His hand touched the hilt of the breast- piercing knife. “Permit me—I am an old surgeon,” and Major Cherimrande bent over. He tested the knife, drew it forth. A welter of blood followed the blade. The girl sighed, went limp. A murmur of pity swept the people. Cherimande dropped the knife on the floor beside her and glanced keenly at La Forge, then at Troiville. “T insist,” Troiville bevan: “he killed her—he thought she loved another.” “What other?” Cherimande demanded. “M. le Captaine will be kind enough to remember!” Pierre warned, his voice ice- like.” “With me; she loved me; we had words over her to-day,” Troiville flicked out, venomwise. | Go DOOLK C©