Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

64 “T thought that might be the case. Will you allow me to be of any practical as- sistance?” ; ‘““T won’t accept anything, if that is what you mean,” she said quietly. ‘‘ Not even a word in the right quarter which might make a considerable differ- ence? Words are sometimes useful you know.” “J don’t understand.” “Well, as it happens, several of the first class berths on this ship are empty and the purser is an old friend of mine. He is a man of naturally kindly instincts and I have an idea that he would be very glad to make you a good deal more comfortable.” Sylvia’s pulse quickened a little. She had only been on the ship for a few hours, and while she could remain on deck there was nothing to complain of; but below decks it was a different matter and she had tried not to think of the ten days she was destined to spend in those surroundings. She was still hesitating when there came, as though from a distance, a suggestion that it would be foolish to decline. Then, sud- denly, she thought of Brent and her resolu- tion stiffened. “T’m sorry, but I can accept nothing from you, not even a word.” “Ts it Sylvia Denby or Sylvia Dart who refuses?” he asked cynically. The color rushed to her cheeks and she felt innocent and guilty all in a breath. King took on the guise of an inquisitor from whom there was no escape, and the shadow of fear crept a little nearer. “Does it make any difference?” “ Not to me, but it might to the purser.” “Why?” she parried. “ Well, considering your looks and per- sonality, it’s possible he might be most in- terested in the fact that you were traveling under an assumed name, and would like to know the real one. That brings in the further interesting question of the reason for a disguise, in which case it’s just pos- sible he might ask me. “Tf this happens, and it’s for you to say whether it will or not, and since his posi- tion on the ship is, to say the least of it, official, I might be bound to tell him that —— | you had pe coe in amy. peek. god amOw. She was puzzling o | Se ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. left it by night without giving any notice. So you see, my dear Sylvia, how imprudent it is to be impetuous.” She glanced at him helplessly. no escape from you?” King flung his cigarette over the rail. ‘What a curious word to use! Here you are, going as fast as you can toward your paragon in the backwoods—by the way, his first official letter came in this week and it isn’t remarkable for intelligence—- and here am I ready to help you on your journey to this most fortunate of men and make that journey as comfortable as I can, and yet you talk about escaping from me. Really, I don’t understand.” So whimsical was he, so skillfully were his words put together, so foolish did he .make her appear and yet behind it all so striking was his confidence in his own pow- ers that she did not know whether to smile or frown. One thing alone seemed clear. This unsought companionship could con- tinue for the most two weeks longer, by which time she would be safe at the Vic- trix. But, and the thought came to her with sudden conviction, even the Victrix Mine was under the hand of Marcus King. The grim possibilities of this new situation un- folded themselves with threatening clear- ness until, to her anxious mind, it became evident that there was only one course open to her to follow. She must accept a minor risk to avoid a greater one. And how ~ great that other might be she could only dimly apprehend. “If you think that the purser really has another cabin available,” she said uncer- tainly, “of course, it would be infinitely nicer.” King put his hand lightly on her shoul- der. ‘‘ Congratulations on the most sens- ible thing you’ve done since you. came on board. Please wait here a minute.” He went off and, left to herself, she tried vainly to grasp the situation more fully. But it eluded her. “ Another fortnight,” she whispered, “if I can only carry on that long it I] be all right.” She felt unaccountably tired and it seemed that a weight was lying across her POMC hbote com “Ts there . pues wee foe, the ie