The Argosy, September 1915 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

ONE-CYLINDER SAM. ship after me, or an ultimatum,. or something else just as bad.” There was a hurried consultation among the four strangers, with evi- dences of disagreement. It ended when the man in command turned upon Sam with a stern visage. “Hereafter,” he said, “you enter Canadian waters or ports at your own risk. In the name of the English gov- ernment I warn you. I also authorize you toextend the same warning to the man Heinrich Schmidt. If he is found north of the international boundary-line let him look out for him- self. That applies to you, your boat, and any passengers you may have aboard.” Marjorie Winter turned pale. ‘But really,” she ventured timidly, “T’m very sure that none of us is against you, sir. See—these are for Belgians.” She held up a half-finished sock. The man who sounded the warning did not look at it. He gave a sharp command and the boat with the Brit- ish ensign snorted off across the river. “ T think we will go home now,” ob- served Rosalind. Without a word Sam started his engine. \ It was a silent party that returned to Witherbee’s Island. Rosalind was glad it was so. The affair was at once too big with possibilities and too neb- ulous as to facts for idle gossip. To the best of her knowledge she had never seen a spy. She wondered if she were really looking at one now. He did not look like one. Nor, for that matter, did Morton, who might well be expected to display interest at the very least if it were true that Sam and the Schmidt man were making voyages into Canadian ports that might end in nooses. First a common thief, next a smug- geler—now a spy! Rosalind found pleasurable excitement in her thoughts. Gertrude Witherbee was on the wharf when the launch came in. She was waving a yellow envelope at Rosalind. 4 A 273 “Telegram for you!” she called. Rosalind took the message and read as follows: Will arrive some time this evening. WILLIAMS, Reginald Williams, the persistent one, was coming! Rosalind gasped. Not that she minded Williams or his persistence. He was well enough in his way, and he could always be prop- erly discouraged. She had no fears on that point. But Reginald was the bracelet man! ‘And the bracelet was now upon the smoothly tanned arm of Gertrude. And Reginald would see it—and rec- ognize it. And he would wonder and ask questions and blurt something. There would be explanations and reve- lations and— Rosalind shuddered, and pondered the matter deeply. “It simply cannot be claimed aloud. ~ “What can’t be, dear?” asked Ger- trude.: “Why — oh, nothing. I was just doing some oral thinking.” Gertrude smiled wisely. She knew { she ex- . about Reginald. And she knew—or thought she knew—that Reginald would ask again, and that, as Rosa- lind said, it simply could not be. CHAP TER-X. WHAT REGGY DREW. MBS. WITHERBEF, driven into a corner by an angry Rosalind, confessed that somewhere in the back of her mind there may have been a lurking purpose when_ she Reggy Williams to become a member of her summer household. Not being subtle in the least, Mrs. Witherbee in- terpreted the wrath of Rosalind at its face value. Hence, she sustained a shock within an incredibly short space of time. “It was a most thoughtless thing,” said Rosalind sternly. COPMICLOOOKS invited (E@)