Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

THE STRANGER to her that the steel pushed through his clothes, and that she could feel the pulse of his heart. And in her forefinger there was quivering a sufficient power to snap the thread of that strong life and send it flying away faster than the bullet that killed him. She had come within the dizzy verge of shooting, and this magnificent and foolish’ courage appalled her. “Tt really won’t do,” said John Hodge. “People aren’t shot down in cold blood, you know, by charming ladies. I don’t know what manner of men you’ve been living near that you could attempt to work such a bluff. Please put up that revolver!” She obeyed. She dropped the weapon into .the pocket of her gown, and at the same time she cried feebly: ‘“‘ Oh, what a silly idiot I’ve been!” “Do you want me to go on and explain the library scene?” he said. “No. Don’t say a word.” ““ You’ve stopped doubting me?” Indeed, it seemed as though a blinding light had been thrown upon him by this last singular act of recklessness. It did not matter in what strange position or com- promising act she had seen him. A man capable of such bravery was certainly in- capable of knavery of any kind. ‘“T’ve stopped doubting!” she said mis- erably. “I feel as though I’d made a wonderful fool of myself!” ‘“‘ Suppose we strike a bargain.” ‘“* About what?” ‘‘ Why, suppose that you agree to for- get everything that has happened in the first part of the evening, and I'll agree to forget everything that has happened later on. Is that fair to us both?” “ More than fair,” said Olivetta. “And you will forget?” ‘““ Yes,” she whispered. He had not drawn back from her. Now he seemed to be leaning, and his shadow enveloping her, so to speak. She was bound by a peculiar influence which she had never felt before, saving in the garden that same evening. A strange commingling of fear and happiness worked together in her. And that peculiar ugly face worked on her, fascinated her. Suddenly he stepped back. heard or seen. AT THE GATE, “T have learned one great lesson,” he said. And then, in a different voice: ‘I think that you’re quite right. It would be useless to raise the house. Whoever at- tacked you—” He paused. “ Did it because he thought that—that I carried something of value on me. They searched me and then ran away. And—” He had started, but now he nodded in the most reassuring manner. “An excellent antidote for these mid- night scares is five minutes of morning sun- light. Suppose that you wait till sunup. And then, if you’re still awake, we'll get together and try to solve the mystery. will that suit you?” -““ Do you think that is best?” “ Frankly, I do.” It was an immense relief to transfer the burden of making the decision. ‘“‘ Good night, then,” said Olivetta. ‘ Good night,” said John Hodge. CHAPTER XI. THE MAN IN THE DARK, ND yet, even as she turned away, it A seemed to her that the face of John Hodge changed from its courtesy, changed from its eagerness. There was a flash of the same old sardonic mirth which she had marked in him before, and with it there rushed over her the sense of shame —the feeling that she had been mocked. She went up the stairs slowly, pausing two or three times, and once actually turn- ing around. He was standing exactly as she had left him, with his head bowed a trifle as though he were still looking down on her; his chin was dropped upon the supporting fingers of one hand; nothing could have increased that picture of intense thoughtfulness. This was the last she saw of him before she turned into the darkness of the upper hall. Once there, she hurried at full speed. In her room, she switched on the light, as before, and went to her window. There she sat for a time, staring into the night, rehearsing with jumping nerves all she had But by degrees a calmer Eomick 00) ~ ‘SCO 707