Argosy (UK), January 1955 — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

136 W. R. BURNETT “Ara! Your hair!” cried Michael, and Lord Clayton glanced © at him in irritation. A young man just saved from hanging worrying about his wife’s hair! Wouldn’t it grow? “Don’t you think I make a wonderful boy? ”’ Ara demanded. “There is only one thing; or rather, two. That’s why I wear the loose jacket.”’ Lord Clayton gave a delighted whinny, and Michael stared about him with compressed lips. Oh, there’d soon be a stop put to | this sort of thing! Now they hurried down the big front steps, where Michael found the black horse waiting for him. He mounted. Trim mounted the roan. : Ara rode inside the coach with Lord Clayton. The postilion gave ashout; the driver cracked his whip, and they made off north- ward through the sleeping streets of Dublin. Michael rode knee to knee with Trim, who was wearing a corporal’s rig. ‘“‘ Why did you let Ara take such chances?” he demanded. With a sigh Trim replied: “‘ How could I prevent it, Captain? ” Michael fell silent. True, all too true. ** Besides,” said Trim after a moment, “she recruited Lord Clayton, and that was the crux of the matter.’ *T see,’ said Michael, compressing his lips again. He thought he had detected an air of undue familiarity between Clayton and Ara. And soon they had left Dublin far behind and were driving through the open country, and after a while Michael turned his horse over to Trim and got into the coach with Lord Clayton and Ara. The old Lord was asleep in the corner, worn out by days of anxiety, and Ara was in another corner, as wide awake as if it were broad morning. She was humming to herself and looking out at the dark, rolling countryside, lit only by the stars. Michael took off his helmet and his sword, and sat for some time with his arm around Ara and her head on his shoulder. ““ Weren’t you proud of me, Mick? ” she asked. ** No,” said Michael. ‘“‘ My impulse was to give you a good spanking. You might have been killed.” **T liked it,” said Ara bluntly. ‘“‘ I wanted to prove to myself that I was truly Doherty’s daughter.” “Oh,” said Michael. ‘“‘I thought it was to get me out of prison.” Ara laughed and pinched his ear and kissed him, then she said casually: ‘‘ That, too, Mick.” And the well-sprung coach swayed gently, and there was the monotonous, unending clatter of hoofs, soothing as a lullaby, and after a while they both fell into a doze, clinging to each other, while the exhausted old Lord snored dolefully in his corner. comiclooks.comnn)