Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

BEWARE OF _ “ Piffle!” said Horace, impatiently. “I say, if you'll forget that you have a part- ner and give me this dance, I'll do like- . wise.”’ “Qh, no,” said Mary, with her ghastly . giggle. ‘“ Because I’m going to stick around until I know you,” stated William’s odd cousin. However, he did not accompany her this time as she hurried away toward the other side of the room and fifty feet nearer to the apparently absorbed Peter. Neither, by the way, did he speed off in search of his own partner. Gazing after her, Horace sauntered slowly ahead—and even again Mary beckoned to the suit of armor. The Dresden China maid, as it chanced, was chatting with a medieval minstrel and a Chinese coolie just then. Twice the shin- ing vizor turned from the back of her pretty neck to Mary Emerson, and back again; and then curiosity seemed to overcome the knight’s uncertainty and he came toward Mary at last. His helmet poked forward questioningly as he stared down at her. “‘ Get me out of here!” hissed Mary. “What?” came thickly from behind the vizor. cé Quick! »P) “‘ What’s the trouble?” the knight asked mildly. ~“ Horace—Horace Steers!” said Mary. “He knows me!” “ That’s more than I can say!” laughed the knight. “ Don’t be absurd!” Mary said angrily. “T tell you—there! He’s staring again!” “ Well, if that—er—if Steers has been - bothering you, just say the word and I'll go over and brain him with my mailed fist,” said the knight, cheerfully. ‘ When a man’s fastened into a suit like this, he’s _ full of chivalry, you know, and any little thing he can do to help a lady—”’ “I wish you’d stop that nonsense and _ get me out of here!” said Mary. ‘“ Shoo him away or—or so anything you have to do, so that-he doesn’t see us leaving and doesn’t see where we go!” “Yes? And then?” “Take me across to your flat!” The suit of armor straightened up with a jerk and several small metallic creaks. - THE BRIDE. 349 “Say! What the—” was certainly what seemed to come from somewhere behind the vizor; and then, controlled again, the voice grew rather chilly: ‘Well, I don’t quite. make it, lady, but if what you want is to get out of here without having Steers see you, now’s the time.. He’s dancing with that girl in black , and she’s keeping him near the band.” ‘You come with me!”’ hissed Mary. For a moment, the knight glanced at the Dresden China maid, who still chatted with the coolie. Well—all right!” he said reluctantly. And they were on the way! Yes, stupid ' and queer though Peter had grown, peculiar though his voice sounded from behind the vizor, they were walking naturally and easily on their way to the big doors, and Mary breathed again. And: the angel in black seemed to be keeping Horace out of sight and still they were on the way! And now— “Oh!” said the Dresden China maid, appearing before them almost as if by magic. “Oh!” said the knight, and stopped with a faint rattle. “You must have forgotten that this was our dance?” the maid suggested, with hide- ous sweetness, although they had certainly showed no signs of dancing when the music started. “Yes, I—I—bhelieve I did forget it, ” the knight stammered. And the Dresden China maid was wait- ing to be taken in his arms! His iron hand dropped from Mary. Through several terrible seconds the knight wavered; then, muttering strangely toward Mary for a moment, he had taken the Dresden China lady and was dancing away with her, while Mary, deserted, pant- ing, stood alone on the floor, eyes blazing after Peter! Out of the crowd a Beggar Girl hurried to Mary’s side with a brisk: “‘ Are you one of the Motor Corps girls?” “I—no. Why?” Mary asked faintly. *‘ Big flood down the valley. The Corps is called out,” said the Beggar Maid, and sped along to the next young woman in sight. ai a) (A) Original from THE OHIO STATE UNIWEt a) 1INOO CO© mm