Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

AeA : Ad } THE DANCING DOLL, “Tf I’m not so lucky—if I don’t come back—I want you to have all I’ve got. Margot is taken care of by her contract. I wrote her a letter and left it with Gian’ Bori to mail to-morrow. She'll under- stand.” “You want me to have your property? In case—”’ ‘‘ Sure—you’re my pal. I wrote it down on a paper and had old Bori witness it.” But Tina suddenly began to cry. Her body shook with sobs. ‘Oh, George! It gives me the willies to hear you’ve made your will. Why did you do it? Why? I don’t want your damned old money!” ~ CHAPTER XXI. TWO SHOTS. EORGE patted the shoulder of the weeping girl. Her tears flowed for a while, then suddenly Tina threw back her head and brushed her hands across her eyes. “ Forget it, kid,” she said. ‘“ That will, I mean.” $é Why?” ‘‘ Because there’s only one thing to think of. Plug him!” The girl fumbled at a thin silken cord about her slender neck and drew a small object from the warmth of her breast. ‘Here! Wear this!” she exclaimed. “ This was blessed by a priest. Not by one of these padres, but by a real priest at home—Father Luisi.” George received the amulet gravely. As she hung it about his neck, her hand touched his throat and the contact tingled. She was vibrant with pent-up emotion. “ Good night, Tina. I’ve got to sleep for a while—steady my nerves.” ‘Good night, boy—-good night!” She was at the door of her room when suddenly she turned and ran back. “Kiss me good night, George.” Her arms were about his neck. ‘‘ No—don’t look so serious! Smile! I’m not kissing you good-by. I’m kissing you for luck.” And Tina was smiling as their lips met or the first time. nt = “z FI tam, a Ee AOR Ta ee ae But once behind her own door the smile had vanished. She was on her knees, turn- ing a blanched, drawn face imploringly to the little image of the Virgin. ‘‘ Protect him!” she whispered in ago- nized prayer. “‘ Don’t let him get bumped off! Madre di Dio, keep an eye on George and don’t let that dirty bum croak him!” She stayed on her knees through the night until the gray that heralds the dawn stole through the shutters. 3 Before daybreak Tina slipped into George’s room on tiptoe. He was fast asleep and his face was as placid as if no worry about the outcome of the duel had ever troubled his dreams. Tina glanced about the room as she touched him on the shoulder. The walls were bare. The photographs of Margot had all been taken down and put out of sight. Tina wondered why. Was it because he found it too painful to look at them, or —she scarcely dared to hope—was he be- ginning to care less for that beautiful blonde with a heart as cool as the northland of her birth? George awoke at her touch, and while Tina made ceffee in the sitting room she could hear him splashing away in cold water she had drawn for him, and presently he came out smiling and whis- tling, his hair all rumpled from the bath. The coffee was ready, but George did not sit down to drink it. Instead he walked up and down the room sipping the hot brew with boyish impatience. “One would think you were going to a picnic,” said Tina with a forced smile. “It’s a picnic for me, but not for Val- dez. I’ll be back again in a couple of hours, and then our troubles will be over.” . She looked at him with wide, questioning eyes. ‘Tell me one thing—are you going to shoot to kill?” asked Tina breathlessly. “No. I’ve got it all figured out. That might mean more trouble. I'll put a bullet through his arm and let it go at that.” There was the sound of a motor in the street. ‘““Here’s Rico now with the car,” said George. ‘‘ Good-by, kid—I’ll see you later.” oO GComichooks:;com