Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 7, 1925 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

482, unselfch friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves see Or treacherous, is his “dog. — Gentlemen of the jury, a man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in pov- erty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other. friends desert he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an out- cast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no bigger privilege than that of accompanying him to guard — against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends-pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.” CHAPTER 1. SMOLDERING EMBERS. HE city of New York beneath its | intricate illumination faced the night like a complacent woman, obscure behind the barbaric splendor of her jewels. Fifth Avenue flashed through its heart as a cold, discreet lance of white silver. Broadway flared with gaudier lavish- ness its: scarlet needle north and south. The lesser streets glittered crosswise like _ hot drops flung from the center of some molten flame. — : The May air held the softness of an early spring while above, unseen through the dis- _tractions of the city’s artificial glare, the stars arranged their patterns in an infinite variety. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. And to the north, calm, steadfast, the North Star offered its clear loveliness to the unseeing eyes of seven million beings. The swift passage of innumerable cars flooded all lanes that led to pleasure, while along their sidewalks moved a million afoot. The restless energy of a gayety that must be striven for made the crowds electric. A hum, a throb of noise, the blending of a million chattering tongues, the blare of sirens, the strident clangor of a street car, laughs, snatches of jests, of oaths, rolled upward like the rip and sighing of some. distant surf. Two thousand odd miles to the north and to the west,.a solitary cabin maintained its lonely. state in a small clearing in the great pime woods. There was no sound within it or without. Its heavy wooden shutters were closed and fastened tight. Its door was barred. : It squatted in lumpy insignificance at the base of a proud, tall tree, and cast its minute shadow on the ground beneath the clear, unsullied brilliance of an indifferent moon. In the hush of the keen night air there arose the chill howl of a wolf. Lexington Avenue, in the city of New York, was receiving that evening the un- usual distinction of a great number of ex- pensive motor cars. They were moving in a frequently halted stream toward the Crystal Palace. It was the opening night of a new event in the city’s social activities. For the first time in its history the Camp Fire Club was staging an international ex- hibition. There were to be present the city’s social leaders, luminaries from the world of art, the theater, the motion picture, and the government. Incidentally, there would also be on exhibit objects of interest to sports-— men and to lovers of the outdoors from all parts of the world. Marcia Gale, with a frankness that was only equaled by her costume, turned side- wise ande surveyed her brother. Their motor car was still two blocks away from the entrance to the Crystal Palace, and she would have, she knew, a good quarter of an hour in which to make up her mind. She possessed the unusual ability so to do, had she desired, in as many seconds. Wilbur.” Eomircbooks:.€o