Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

THE DANCING DOLL. fellow. with the peons. I said you could even beat him—not too much—but I ex- pressly forbade you to kill him. Who has tried to poison him?” ‘“‘T know nothing about it,” said Mancel sullenly. ‘‘ All I know is that I have made up my mind to have him flogged to-day.” “Flogged to-day? Why?” “Strung up and flogged by the two strongest blacks on the place,” declared Manoel. “ Rosita swears that this wretched _ pasty-faced outcast tried to make love to her—would you believe it? The scoundrel had the audacity to try to take away my girl!” Valdez looked at Rosita with a slow ap- preciative smile. ‘‘ Did he succeed, my pret- ty one? Did he force you to give him a kissP”’ oe Rosita let her eyes droop shyly and then she flashed a look of anger at George. ‘‘ Let me see him flogged,” she begged. At a whistle from Manoel two negroes had come running and George found him- self in their grasp. Even before the wound had weakened him, George would have been helpless in the grip of these half-naked giants. Pedro Valdez smiled sardonically as he drew near the girl and allowed her weight to rest on his shoulder. ‘ You little devil! I'll wager it was you who tried to poison him.” He spoke in caressing accents. ‘No, no, no!” cried Rosita. “ But I’d love to see him flogged. I would like to flog- him with my own hands. Please!” she clasped her hands in supplication, ‘“‘ Let me hold the whip! —Just one lash!” TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK U U Lo] THE LINE THAT LASTS HEY talk of “ lines ” that maidens “ pull ” With men, and hint of methods clever; _ They speak of “ bluff” and “talk” and “ bull!” There’s just one line that lasts forever And never fails. It’s always had ’em (The men) and hauled ’em on the shelf Since Eve demurely lisped to Adam: “ Now tell me all about yourself!” They talk so solemnly, the men, Of woman’s ruses sly and skillful; They call her weak and vain—and then They call her proud and strong and willful! No wonder every flapper smiles Who knows (as half the flappers do), The simple ‘phrase that so beguiles— ‘It’s “ Now let’s talk of you—just youl” Perhaps she’s warm—perhaps she’s cold— Perhaps she’s plain—perhaps she’s pretty— Perhaps she’s shy—perhaps she’s bold; {t doesn’t matter, more’s the pity! She doesn’t need a childish pout— A rippling laugh—a low sweet brow— For when she says, “‘ Let’s talk about Yourself!” he loves her, anyhow! | ECOG OOKSAGOM