Adventure Magazine Cover, October 1911 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

1090 than this have been degraded for many an act less weak. The code of my sovereign is rigid, signorina—rigid and far-reaching as his justice. And that is flawless!” A throb of uneasiness passed through Katrine’s heart. “You implicate me/”’ she said sternly. “It was the act of—of a woman,” allowed Esuli. “That you understood the grave- ness of it I do not for one moment suspect. But that this son of dishonor deceived you into complying with his nefarious designs seems possible, signorina. Did he say it was tobacco, perchance, and you turned a com- plaisant eye away from so petty an act of contraband? That is so excusable in one of so kindly a nature as yourself, but the consequences, signorina—the consequences? Deplorable! Deplorable!”’ He shook his head. A little deprecating murmur escaped him. Katrine’s eyes flashed. “TI have told you expressly that I knew nothing of this matter. I will go further. I specifically accuse your man of having designed and executed this despicable fraud!”’ Fsuli bowed rigidly. ‘You leave no course open to me but one, signorina,” he said. ‘You must remain here to prove your point or bear the brunt of your re- sponsibility in making it. You impeach my men and therefore me. I can not allow this matter to die. To-morrow an inquiry will be opened. For the moment I must ask you to accept my hospitality and must require your parole not to—evade it.” _ Katrine looked up at him with incredu- lous eyes. “I am to consider myself a prisoner—I?” she asked, and Esuli’s bow was an affirmative. She stood up and stepped ashore. “Then I refuse to acquiesce in it and I give no parole,” she said. ‘But I lay upon you, Excellency, the responsibility of arresting an American citizen on this grotesque charge. You may find it a heavy one to bear.” He bent his shoulders obsequiously. “It is your own displeasure which hurts me most, signorina,”’ he said quietly, ‘‘but even that, when my duty requires it, I must bring myself to face.” Gy) HE TURNED and gave rapid orders to the corporal. A moment later Uiko’s wrists were lashed be- hind his back and he was being goaded up the path in the direction of the buildings. tw Adventure The Bey gave a keen glance in the direction of the six Zaptiehs who were sedulously and sullenly guarding the reed-patch. They looked toward him. He did not speak, but his eyes were eloquent. They turned to their wardership of the shore with a sudden shivering zeal. The grimness died from the Bey’s face. He pointed up the path. Katrine took a step or two along it, but Lucia Gessi’s voice, in sudden indignation, checked her. “IT do not come!”’ she objected loudly. ‘‘Some means of returning me to Vodra must be accomplished!” The Bey turned toward her imperturb- ably. “I am afraid you must share the re- sponsibilities implied in your companion- ship, signorina,’”’ he said. Her excitement increased. ‘“‘How dare you!”’ she cried. “I have no responsibility —TI have simply done as I have been told to do! I demand to be given my liberty and a boatman’s help! I will not remain!” Esuli shook his head. “Yes, signorina,” he said dispassionately, ‘‘ you remain.” She strode toward him—she shouted in his face—she became the virago unashamed. “You think to make a tool of me—of me?” she cried. ‘“‘Are you threatening me—the daughter of Carlo Gessi? And do you hap- pen to remember what Carlo Gessi repre- sents?” “He is no doubt an important functionary of the Great Bir Railway, but even his daughter becomes amenable to the laws of the country it pervades,” said the Bey, and there was some small shaft of humor lighting his somber gaze. “The Bir Railway!”’ She spat into the dust as a gutter wench of Catania spits to show her utter scorn. ‘What is the road to me—who know that another year will see every rail and tie torn from its resting-place and every tunnel and embankment a ruin! The road, indeed! I know no road but the one which you will tread if you run counter to the Society whose daughter I am—the Society ss A stone rolled down the slope from above and crashed through the herbage to her feet. That it had been set rolling by the foot of a passer-by on the path above was evident, for some one was descending the path. Some one who whistled gaily—a lilting, catchy air, with staccato flourishes, onc which had been shrill in Gessi’s ears a day or two before on the Gorac embankment. CO MICLOOKS (©