The Argosy, September 1915 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

294 unknown terrors — perhaps even the Jones boy, who was circling near her with his arms full of a large lady in pink, The ominous blast sounded. “Please, if you don’t mind—’”’ Rosalind marveled to find herself speaking, then checked her tongue and flushed. A second later and she was marvel- ing again, for her partner had under- stood. They were opposite one of the big French windows that led to the porch. As easily as if the maneuver had been rehearsed they swung through the opening and whirled away from the crowded room. She glanced back and glimpsed an- other merry-go-round of couples, fated to be presently resolved into hopelessly mismated pairs. But Rosalind and the man who could truly dance went on and on, down the porch; still in the thrall of the rhythm that was so spirit- ed and compelling. “Thank you,” she said. He made no answer, save a quick pressure of her fingers. It was this silent acknowledgment of his gratitude that awakened Rosalind. Her fingers had, it is true, been pressed before, when she was taken unaware; but never by a stranger. She now remembered the pedestal she occupied in the world. She glanced upward. For several seconds her vision re- mained fixed upon the most extraor- dinary necktie she had ever seen. It was filmy and semitransparent. Also, it was ragged, frayed and rum- pled. But—and this was its really amazing feature—it was marked with her own exquisitely embroidered mono- eram! Her feet halted abruptly. She flung herself backward out of the arms of Sam, the boatman. He was smiling benignly. “ This—this—”’ ‘Has been a great pleasure,” he sup- plied, but the bow that accompanied the words was slightly satirical. Rosalind stood gasping and angry. THE ARGOSY. “You dared!” ¥ Ss, tha ame “You deliberately planned—’ “Sure I planned it. A man’s got to do some figuring in this world if he wants to get anything.” She stared at the outraged handker- chief that graced a neck about which at that moment she would willingly have passed a rope. This creature had danced’ with her. She had been in his arms! And she had been ‘seen there! “T had to break into that dance without a partner,” he explained light- ly. “It was the only way to get you; to horn in and take a chance. I knew there wasn’t any use asking you for a dance.” Her eyes blazed. Her spirit was raging, yet her wits had not deserted her. Perhaps they had not been no- ticed after all. The room was crowded and most of the dancers were heavily engrossed with their own woes. Chance might have been kind; she would soon know. Meantime it was an atrocious risk to stand there talking to him. Yet if she fled she knew not what the man might do. Probably he would follow. “T wish to. talk with you,” she said with sudden resolution. “ That ’ll be another pleasure.” “ But not here!” “ Well, there’s a lot of good talking- places down on the lawn,” he sug- vested. She nodded grimly. “Come along,” he said cheerfully. And the creature offered her his arm. She affected not to notice the insult. ” “ Better take my arm—ma‘’am. It’s customary.” She walked beside him, but did not touch him. “We'll look more like a regular couple 1f you do, ma’am.” Still she paid no heed to his advice. He halted at the top of the steps. “Tf you don’t take my arm,” he an- nounced. “ [ll grab you and shoot you right back into that dance, ma’am.” Trembling with anger, she took it. ’ COPMMICLOOOKS (E@)