The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

o ow os 1SCO bi Charles V. Barne Author of ‘‘ Texas Fever,’’ efc. WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED SIMPLE British sailor, or so he thought himself, Arthur Lake, son to Tobit Lake, cobbler, was in reality of noble blood—the son of Prince Charles of Viana and Eleanor of Durham. Tobit knew the secret, but it died with him when, in a fit of rage, he was strangled by Don Juan de Seseca, Count of Sansito, private secretary to Ferdinand of Aragon. Tobit had stubbornly refused to part with the parchment attesting the youth’s identity. Finding Tobit dead, young Lake, as we must call him, discovered the parchment, and a store of gold; then, visiting his sweetheart, Judith Merton, daughter of the diplomat, Sir Thomas, who, finding the two together, waxed wroth; Arthur returned to his lodgings to find a yokel whom he had left in charge vanished—and the money and parchment stolen. All that he now possessed were a few gold pieces, and a miniature of his mother, whose name he did not know. ; Hearing a movement within the room, Atthur pursued an unseen intruder through the window, cutting off one of his fingers ere he could escape—and later was accepted as a common sailor on the ship Hopeful, in which Seseca and Sir Thomas and his daughter were sailing. But little did the young man suspect the sea of intrigue upon which he was embarking. Merton’s interview with Seseca—who wore his hand bandaged—might have told him much could he have overheard it; he would have learned that he was indeed noble—royal, even. But aboard the ship, when he had sought audience with Seseca, or Sansito, the latter, talking to Sir Thomas, said: “I will excuse you.” “I would rather be present,” the old man objected. “You will go!” Sansito made no effort to soften his insolent command, CHAPTER X, SESECA LOST. T that moment Arthur Lake came into the cabin. Sir Thomas Merton did not stir. “T thank you for this privilege.” The sailor bowed to Sansito. The Spaniard acknowledged the speech with a slight nod, while he looked first at Sir Thomas and then at the door. But the old courtier refused to take the hint. He feared for Arthur’s safety if left alone in the power of this man. “T thought you were on watch,’ San- sito nervously began, for the youth had surprised his look at Sir Thomas. ‘ How comes it that you are allowed to pay visits, ha?” *“T asked leave.” The Spaniard eagerly demanded: “ Of whom?” “ The captain.’’ * He then knows you are with me?” “He saw me come,” Arthur replied. Sansita looked baffled. “T would talk with you alone,” Arthur announced, glancing meaningly at the old nobleman. Sansito pretended to misunderstand, ‘Leave us, Luis.” The Jew departed. “Am I to speak before him?” Arthur asked, pointing to Sir Thomas. - ‘Why not?” the crafty Spaniard de- manded. His interest in getting Sir Thomas away had vanished since discovering that Arthur’s whereabouts were known to the ship’s captain. Now, he had another scheme. At the young man’s direct insistence, Sir This story began in The Argosy for March 20. 4 ARGOSY 209 comnliclooolkS.COmn