Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 48: what you’re looking at

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678 “No, I’m really very sorry, I can’t. I’m already engaged to go with some one else.” The intense appeal on Richard’s face changed in a twinkling. “ Good afternoon,” he announced curtly, and to Mary’s amazement turned on his heel, and started down the deck. Here was a new type of the male specie. In Mary's experience all others were hard to shake even after the most cruel rebuttal. Here was one who was off at the merest word. But Mary really liked Dunbar; she could not let him go away offended. Catching up with him, she exclaimed: “Tm awfully sorry that I made another engagement. But won’t you come along with me just the same?”’ - Richard hesitated for a moment. © “Yes, do come.”’ “ Well, as I told you last night, ’'m not much of a lady’s man, but when I do see some one I like, I don’t want to share her with any one else.” “Ah, now I’m afraid you are both a flirt and a blarney.”’ Mary started off, laughing gayly, and in spite of himself, Richard was swept along in her train. Long tables had been set in the mold loft. Here all the guests were now as- sembling for the banquet. With a reciproc- ity of smiles, Mary swept through the crowd toward the speaker’s table, at the far end of the room. ‘There, in the midst of all that happy throng, some one advanced to- ward them, unsmiling. Richard felt himself go tense as he rec- ognized the same face that he had seen slinking in the shadow on the previous night. The newcomer expostulated with Mary in excited tones. “T was merely going over the ship with Mr. Dunbar. You remember, Nat, you saw him go aloft to unfurl my flag. He is most fascinating. I want you to meet him.” Nat looked unwilling enough, but with him, at least, Mary was accustomed to do- ing as she pleased. She turned to find _ Richard, but he had gone. Later, from a remote corner, Richard seated alone, partook of the feast with scant relish, and then listened restlessly to the various speeches, ARGOSY-ALESTORY WEEKLY. The last toast was proposed to the Val- kyrie by the Governor of Massachusetts. There was a murmur of suppressed excite- ment as a young man arose to answer this toast. With a flutter, Richard saw that it was the same questionable person who had taken Mary from him. His speech proved the event of the evening. At its conclusion everybody except Richard Dunbar was cheering lustily. While the crowd was still lifted by its inspiration, the Governor arose, exclaiming: ‘Gentlemen, I propose three cheers for our young friend, Nathanael Gertridge, Jr., in the line of a noble sire, and a noble grandsire, the future head of our famous house of N. L. & G. Gertridge.” {n the thunders of applause that followed, Richard Dunbar from his humble corner gazed intently on the face of Mary Willis- ton. He saw in the girl’s face unmistakable delight and pride. “Yes, and why wouldn’t any girl fall for stuff like that?” he muttered to himself as he slunk off dejectedly into the night. = CHAPTER XII. DISCHARGED! HE Valkyrie was introduced to the end of a manila hawser by the tug R. B. Forbes. Without mishap she was towed to Boston, and berthed at the Far East Docks. Because of the way they were kept up in port, the Gertridge fleet were known as the Far East yachts. This eye to smartness was not for love of beauty, but for love of business, as smart ships spell high freights. It was the custom of N. L. & G. Gertridge to keep their officers aboard while their ships were at home; an old pensioned cook going into the galley and acting as ship- Keeper. As a result of this the keenest riv- alry was engendered among the various clippers. None felt a keener zest in this riv Sieg than Richard Dunbar. As the weeks slipped by, and everything was approaching readi- ness for sea, his pride was steadily increas- ing. Often he would be seen coming back to join Valkyrie, after a day’s absence, with conmicboolks (S@)