Adventure Magazine Cover, December 18, 1919 — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

176 beggars are pretty women. And TI have no gallantry. . “Where’s Blackstone?’ I said abruptly. It took her a few seconds too long to answer and she replied at first by staring wide-eyed at me and shaking her head slightly. Then, with an air of innocent mystification that was far from deceiv- ing me, asked— “Who i is he?” , “The man who sent you—because he ‘was afraid to come himself,” I told her roughly. -Though I did not move, did not turn -» my head, I was sure that I heard a muffled sound at my door. I guessed that Mr. Blackstone might be listening. I hoped so, He would hear something interesting of himself before I had finished. “Oh,” she said. “Mr. Blackstone?” “Yes, The gentleman who permits the women he has kissed to pay his expenses.” “Oh! ed Involuntarily her eyes went toward. the door. I did not seem to notice. A pause followed. She seemed to be studying me closely, hesitantly trying _to decide something. At last, low- voiced, she said: “Tl have heard of you—I wonder—” her eyes went furtively toward the door and came back to my face as she went on—“I wonder if—you—are a gentle- man.”’ I told her bluntly that I was not, that I was a gambler, a professional gambler. When a woman begins to appeal to a man to be a gentleman it is high time to throw up breastworks. “Blackstone’s a- gentleman,” I added. “He has hidden ybehind your skirts. I would rather be ‘a crook.” Something very near to a smile came to her lips but went away. She seemed really agitated without showing much nervousness, or, more accurately, I had the impression that she was highly keyed, as if about to venture something des- perate. _ Rather than that there should be pro- tracted silence, I went into some detail regarding Blackstone. I told some of the things that I knew; that he was a venomous cad. and cheat, liar and rascal, without a thing in the way of personal & Adventure courage to safes even Satan’s imps re- spect him. “You say that behind his back,” she remarked, but I could not tell precisely what she ‘meant, It was not exactly as if suggesting a reproach, nor quite like. doubt if what I said was true, but she rather conveyed the idea of wonder as to what I would say to his face or do if confronted by him. “True,” I answered. “His back is all that he presents these days. And that only at a distance, a safe distance.” She said that it was not like what she had heard of me—that I should boast. But I am suspicious of women when they pay compliments, though she did it exceedingly well. I told her that I did not understand. She hesitated and again her eyes went a little anxiously toward the door. And I thought that I understood what was the matter. She seemed to be wanting to say something to. me, yet was also aware that a listener was at the door. However, it might be that she was out- guessing me, playing a deeper game than she’thought I would imagine. It is hard to tell about women. Their simplicity and their subtility is often so bewilder-_ ingly alike; that is what makes them so hard to understand. | “Please listen,” she said. ket was stolen from me. I will pay—anything. It is money you want, isn’t it?” ; “Usually, yes. Money. But why this sudden interest in the casket?” “It hasn’t been sudden with me, Mr. Everhard. I was frantic when—when my sister missed the casket. But I didn’t know who had taken it.” “T see. You didn’t suspect Black- stone.” “T didn’t know who had taken it,” she repeated, seemingly a little anxious not to offend Mr. Blackstone’s eavesdrop- ping ears. “Then I learned that you had it. Yow have refused every offer. I simply must have it. My—my-sister’s future is at stake.” “You think a great deal of your sis- ter, don’t you? Why didn’t you come to me at once?’ She almost. whispered— “T didn’t dare!” “That cas- I must have it!~ Gomicbook (E(0)