Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

Vita A Dees, 140 voice saying to the steward that she would be all right and that she would lock the door when she left. Gilbert Lang remembered her. She was the sort of a woman that is always remem- bered: black-haired, black-eyed, a slender oval face, long lashes and red lips; also what might be called a multitude of hair, black, glossy and fine, Vain as they are of the glory, women will never realize fully until they begin clipping it how much of their feminine distinction is due to their hair. There never was, there never could be, a clipped-headed sorceress. Lania’s hair, had she worn it down, would have hung in massive braids, and it was only by adroit and studied arrangement that she escaped a top-heavy appearance and made her hair literally a crowning glory. Gilbert Lang with some difficulty got to his feet. “You poor boy!’’ she said, unaffectedly. “What are they going to do with me?” “IT don't know. ‘They are brutes!” She Was not posing. “Have they caught Mr. Williams?” “No, hardly! He—’ she stopped. Then gazing at him intently—Would you do what Willerby asked if he would turn you loose?” He shook his head slowly, and he looked at her with something of disappointment in his eyes, as much as to say— “That is why you came!” “You wouldn't? Not if they were going to hurt you?” *NTo.”” “You said he was no friend of yours. You said it two or three times.” “He isn’t what could be called a friend. He hardly ever spoke to me. And some way he seemed always angry. It made me very uncomfortable, though I suppose it is only his manner. He hates white men, and I am beginning to understand why!” “Did he hate you?” she asked. “I don’t know. He seemed to at times. I suppose he does—now.” . Gilbert Lang was thinking of how Wil- liams had glared at him when he came upon Uala and him under the palms. “Didn’t any one tell you what happened last night?” “What happened? No. I didn’t hear anything. Did they get him?” Then Lania told of how Williams had come on board the Bebe—and left. »® * ; s ¢ . : 7 ~~ : : » oF eh Ty ‘ . , = * 2 - oD Adventure “stiffened. She meant it. Of course, she “He must be a wonder!” Gilbert 1 “Men call hima hurricane. How did come to be“with him, Mr. Gilbert?” —- Lang,” he corrected. “Gilbert £- Then it was as if lightning had struck Lania. By the flash of the bolt that cunied Res ae Sse, 7a tee ae t Lang that stirred vague things within her, They were no longer ue, The heart-hungriness that had ned pull her toward him was rather the hungri- ness and memory of his brother, Frank Lang. This boy was her brother by law, and the name of Gilbert, as “that kid brother of mine,” had often been on Frank’s lips. There was scarcely a family resemblance, for Gilbert was the more delicate, but there was much suggestive of his mother. Lania had sought him out largely through restlessness and not through passion, but within her was the feeling that she could . love him. Except for a certain untar- nished youth, it was not because of Gilbert Lang’s personality, but because of her own discontent. He saw that she was very much agitated, and he asked what was the matter. Hers was a quick brain: “T overheard Willerby and Paul say they would have to put Lang out of the way. Kill him. I didn’t know that was your name! I thought it was Gilpert. Oh, I won’t let them kill you! I won't!” Fire flashed in Lania’s eyes; her body you had overheard nothing of the kind, but, while she had swiftly fabricated that in- formation to cover her own agitation, she nevertheless knew that either Paul Du- Beque or Winston Willerby would readily enough kill the boy. But that did not begin to explain her attitude. There was that deep, deep feeling of gratitude, amount- ing to a tenderness more vading than any emotion she had ever called “love,” for Gilbert Lang’s brother. He had been a gentleman, and, though his presence was sometimes wearisome, the memory of him, . his devotion, courtesy, worshipful inno- cence, was dear to her. ‘. ae am = YS ee “ =* “a ~ : - % ee a Ces = Oj a ‘ ss — €omicbooks.com