All-Story Weekly, Vol. 112, No. 1 — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

112 She seized one and bit into it, then eyed him accusingly. ‘You did go away, didn’t your” ‘“Oh, hear the woman! Certainly I did. I sneaked off as soon as you hit the hay. I’m not cut out for a martyr. But I notice you’re not above accepting the fruits of my enterprise. Now, are you ready to be rea- sonable?”’ “I’m always reasonable,” she mumbled through a large mouthful. “So? Well, listen, then: discoveries.” Mary stopped chewing and stared ex- pectantly. ‘Those apples come from a toy orchard. The orchard is part of the backyard of.a house. This place where we are sitting is part of the waterfront adjoining that house. So much I have learned by being cautious as well as intrepid. DoTI bore you?” ‘‘Hurry!”’ she commanded. ‘““In the other part of that backyard, nearest to the house, is something even more important than food. Can you guess?” ‘* Clothes?” ‘Not exactly the word,” said Pete. “ It is better to say the week’s wash. My dear seagoing secretary, there is wash enough in that backyard not only for you arfd me, but for the whole crew of the Sunshine, if they had happened to be cast away with us.” ‘“Well, if there are clothes there, for Heaven’s sake, why didn’t you bring some? I’m getting chilly.” ‘Wash, I said; not clothes. You'll un- derstand when you see. The reason I didn’t bring any is simple: it was still broad daylight. Back in the orchard I had partial concealment among the trees, but I took chances, even there. To have invaded the raiment department would have been foolhardiness, for which I have never been celebrated. So I merely located the outfit and provided myself with food.” He glanced out at the harbor. “In a very short time it will be twilight, and when twilight comes we will see what can be done to remove a rival from the path of Annette Kellerman.” Mary was too deeply interested in these disclosures to pay any attention to this ref- I have made ALL-STORY WEEKLY. erence to her present costume. He had brought a new hope into her life. Clothes at last! After that—well, clothes came first. Except, of course, the apples. She began to eat another. Never had a twilight gathered so slowly. Just as she had been immovable before, now it was difficult to restrain her impa- tience. She was for starting at once. ‘“’m getting chillier all the time,” she complained. ‘“ Patience,” he counseled. ‘ Give us fif- teen minutes more. If you're cold you might spend the time doing setting-up ex- ercises.”’ He took hrs own advice and began a Sse- ries of exercises that were highly recom- mended to the pupils in Kid Whaley’s gymnasium. Mary watched for awhile and then emulated him, so that two figures were presently engaged in an occupation that suggested nothing so much as a pair of railroad semaphores gone mad. Even- tually they paused breathless. ‘““T think we’d better go,” said Pete. “A man on that nearest yacht seems to be try- ing to answer us with a pair of wigwag flags. You didn’t happen to be telegraph- ing him anything, did you?” Mary squealed and began scrambling up the rocks. ‘“You’d better let-me take the lead,” he said. ‘I know the way. Follow close be- hind me and do whatever I do. If I flop down on my stomach, you flop. If I duck behind a tree, you duck. If I run, run.” “ And if we get caught?” she asked. ‘““That’s one thing we won't permit. Don’t suggest it. Take to the water again, if it comes to that.” The ledge of rock along which they picked their way ended at a grassy bluff, where there was a grove of small ever- greens. Jn among the trees Pete paused to look and listen. Then he beckoned her to follow. Dusk was thicker in the grove, and Mary felt m&te comfortable in its add- ed security, although she hoped it would not be long before they came to the land of promised raiment. Pete moved stealth- ily and she imitated his caution. They skirted along close to the edge of the bluff, keeping within the shelter of the cCoOmiclbooks C©