The Argosy, September 1915 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

ONE-CYLINDER SAM. He led her down the veranda-steps and out among the lantern-lit trees. ‘They walked slowly and in silence for a minute, until Rosalind felt she was safe from possible* observers at the hotel. ‘Then she whipped her hand from his sleeve and drew a pace away from him. Carefully she measured him with a glance which rested longest upon the monogrammed tie. ‘“Now I wish to know exactly what this means,’ she said sharply. “Tt means just what happened,” he answered, smiling. She shook her head. She knew bet- ter than that, and she feared even more. “Ts this what you meant —- in that note?” “You mean where I said, ‘ Just wait ’?” ves “No, indeed; this is just a sort of extra, thrown in. When I said, ‘ Just wait’ I meant it. ‘Time’s not up yet— just wait.” He grinned. “Then I demand that you explain what it does mean.”’ “Why, I told you what it meant, ma’am. It meant that I wanted to dance—with you.” ‘* Never!” “But youre unjust to yourself. Honest, that’s exactly what I came for, and it’s exactly what I’ve done. And if you'll only let me have one more dance —a hesitation — I'll do almost anything in the world for you. Yes, T’ll give you a free ride in my launch.” Rosalind shuddered. “You came here for another pur- pose,” she said. “T see it’s no use trying to make you believe,” stehed Sam. “You will be thrown out if the serv- ants find you.” “ ’That’s a risk, of course. But it’s worth it—for a dance, ma’am.” “You may even be arrested.” ‘“That’s possible, too—but I’ve had one dance anyway.” 295 “I shall not permit you,” she went on, ignoring him, “to do what you came here to do.” “Which is—” “To rob people!” The boatman stared at her, then broke into a laugh. “You are here disguised—made up as a guest.” | “ Wrong, ma’am,” he assured her. “[’m a man—made up as a gentle- man.”’ “You came here to steal. know it!” “ Raffles, eh? ‘That’s not a bad idea now. I hadn’t thought of it; honest I hadn't. But now you propose it—” “T didn’t!” “But you certainly did, ma’am. You've put the idea into my head when I hadn’t the least notion of it. That makes you a sort of—” He shrugged resignedly. “You're always snapping me up with that word,” he complained. ‘‘ You go and hand me an idea and then when I get ready to do something with it you tell me to stop.” “ Will you tell me why you persist— in annoying me?” -“Do IL? Why, I didn’t think you were annoyed at all, back there while we were dancing. You even asked me not to turn you back into the scramble again, but to keep on as your partner.” “T never! You—” “That's what you started to ask any- how, ma’am. you thanked me for doing it.” She flushed crimson. “ But I intended to do it anyway,” he added complacently. ‘“ I wasn’t go- ing to lose a chance like that. ‘They don’t come often. I knew the minute I Jaid eyes on you that you could dance.” She hastily changed the subject. “My handkerchief—where did you get it?” she demanded. “ Found it in my boat; lucky of me, too. Id forgotten a tie. How does it look? ”’ You COMICLOOKS Because you remember — (C@)