Adventure, December 1914 — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

The Sinews of War the impression that she was sorry for me, as a confiding, inexperienced young man who could be lured by any petticoat. ‘“‘What else tould I do?” I added half defiantly. ‘She practically saved my life, didn’t she?” “TI dare say,’ agreed Masoya. ‘‘And she had no ulterior motives, of course.” I looked at her sharply. ‘“‘What ulterior motives could she have had?” “T did not say she had any.” Masoya smiled sweetly. ‘Did she pump you?” For the first time I became angry. ‘What do you take me for?” I demanded. ‘fA schoolboy?” “Oh, no; merely a chivalrous young man. But it really is disconcerting—at least, I 9 should think it would be disconcerting—the . way that woman follows you around.”’ This rather stung me and seemed to me unfair, so I came back smartly. “She did say my friends should take bet- ter care of me,” I remarked. Masoya’s eyes flashed. “Did she? I suppose you agreed with her?”’ ‘Look here,’’ I remonstrated. ‘‘What’s the use of quarreling about this? You may believe me or not, as you choose; but I did not enjoy the position I wasin. Yet I could not léave her alone in the old quarter to go home by herself, after ‘“‘T suppose she would have had more trouble getting out of the Turkish Quarter than she had getting into it,”’ said Masoya coldly. Here I lost my temper quite completely. My normal relations with Masoya were maddening enough in themselves; I was al- ways under the necessity of keeping a check-rein on myself. And now to have her flick me in the raw in this fashion was the finishing touch to a disagreeable morn- ing. ‘There is no use in arguing with you until you have made up your mind to be fair,”’ I said as coldly as she had spoken. ‘You are making a great deal out of a very small incident.” Having said which I got up and went into the minister’s study, oblivious even of a whine for recognition from Stoyan. The minister met me with a pleasant smile. ‘Ha! Another thundercloud,” he com- mented. “Have you been passing an un- pleasant hour with Masoya? Do not mind it is they who are pushing me out.” 205 it, Dan. She is in a sad state of mind, poor girl. The Czar was not very nice to her last night.” - A wave of compunction submerged my passion and I started toward the door with- out even answering him. “Stop! Stop!” he called. ‘‘Don’t you know anything about women, Dan? That is not the way to end a quarrel. Wait a while. Let the regret for the angry words sink deep. Seriously, though, sit down here a minute. His Majesty is hinting that he wants to see you.” “Well, he’ll have to more than hint,” I returned gruffly. “Quite right.” He nodded approvingly. ‘“‘Make him move first. I haven’t the slightest idea what he wants, Dan. Frank- ly, in the last few days some barrier seems to have come between my sovereign and myself. What it is I don’t yet know; but I do know that the—Austrians are be- hind it. “‘Gribaieff and the radicals of the Left seem to be stealing into favor. Not that He laughed scornfully in his grand, old-world manner—languidly, with a touch of haughty disdain. “The Anhalt was inclined to be boastful last night,” I said. “I dare say. Austria plays a deep game. We are giving them the scare of their his- tory, Dan. Not since Kossuth was crushed have the Hapsburgs stood so near annihila- tion. And they knowit. They will fight to the last ditch. But what will they do?” Before I could answer him there came a timid knock on the door. ‘“‘Come in, Masoya,” called the minister, with a laugh. The door opened slowly and Masoya fairly crept into the room, with the guilty manner of a penitent little child. “I have been perfectly horrid to Mr. Blair,’’ she said, ‘‘and before I go away I want to tell him so and ask him to believe that I spoke only in pique.”’ I jumped to my feet. ‘““Nonsense; stuff and nonsense!”’ I stam- mered. ‘‘You—you—have a per—perfect right to—to——”’ The minister strolled off to his inner office with a chuckle. “Strange,” he flung over his shoulder, ‘“‘but I have a sudden ae that I am de trop.” DOOK C©