All-Story Weekly, March 1, 1919 — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

glass away. She tried to rise again, but ‘was not yet ready for such effort. “ Sit still, Marigold, until you feel Petter.” You'll be all right very soon.’ a What—how did it happen?” asked Mame, in a shaky voice. “T’m sure I don’t know. We’ll find out presently,” said Miss Dean, with a reassur- ing smile. ‘‘ Take your time.” ‘““You—brought me—here?” “JT? Oh, no. I found youhere. But it’s all right; you’re quite welcome.” Suddenly Mame began passing her hands over herself with cautious movements. “T=I’ve been shot,” she whispered. “Shot? Let me see. Where have you been shot?” “T don’t know,” wailed Mame. Miss Dean made a quick survey and _ shook her head. 3 “You haven’t been shot,” she said. “‘You’re perfectly sound. I’m sure of it. What makes you think you were shot?” ‘“‘J—I saw the flash. I heard it. then it was all black again, and—” “Where did this happen? Here?” Mame shook her head. * And “Up on the path—the path to the spring,” she said. Miss Dean wrinkled her forehead and became extremely attentive. “Tell me about it, Marigold. Did you see anybody?” X “No, ma’am. I felt somebody!” “Tt was dark, was it?” “ Terrible!” “Tell me all you remember,” commanded Miss Dean, drawing up a second chair and seating herself. . Mame did not remember much, but she told it with a native sense of dramatic values. “And just as I felt somebody, they shot at me. And [I cried aloud and swooned,” she concluded, tragically. “Squealed and flopped,” nodded. Miss Dean. “I understand. It’s often done. Then how did you get here?” The victim of the shooting shook her head helplessly. “‘T guess I must have walked,” she said. “J don’t remember.” | | ope “GROUCH. Mame drank a mouthful and pushed the | Miss Dean did not press that part of the inquiry. She knew that a lady in a faint a does not walk, but it seemed unnecessary to acquaint Mame with that fact. more interested in another matter. “What were you doing at the spring?” she asked. Mame hesitated. Her wits had retipase o = in full strength and she found the question somewhat difficult. If she told the truth she would be compelled to confess that her mission was one of espionage, and this — = = would be embarrassing, particularly in the case of a person so downright as Miss Dean often was. ‘““I—I went to get a drink,” she an- swered. “ Alone?” 2 “Of course!”” Mame put indignation in her voice. ‘“ Were you expecting to meet anybody?” “Why, Miss Dean! You certainly sur- prise me,” Miss Dean smiled tolerantly. “I didn’t mean to, Marigold. Lots of girls meet their sweethearts at the trysting __ A rather nice custom, I always 3 place. thought.” Mame flushed to a discernible degree. ‘IT have no sweetheart,” she sighed. “Never mind. You will have, I’m sure. We all do, at one time or-another.” ‘‘ How you talk!” exclaimed Mame, irrel- evantly, as she studied this lady who had long before disclosed her vampirish habits. ‘““T’ve even been known to speak the truth,” said Miss Dean, placidly. mustn’t mind me, however. But let’s get back , the adventure. You’re sure you haven’t left out anything?” Mame spent a moment in thought, then shook her head. “ “T can’t remember anything more. It just scares one, doesn’t it? When one’s life is attempted one gets an awful shock. Don’t you think so?” Miss Dean now perceived that Mame was entirely. recovered. “Only I wish I knew how it happened, ” added the victim of the adventure, wist- fully. Helng: She was — = ‘“ You “Tl try to find out,” said Miss Dean, = Se 7