The Argosy, September 1915 — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

296 Rosalind was beginning to sense the futility of the interview. She was rapidly losing control of it. Yet she was anxious to prevent the man from carrying out his very obvious purpose. Robberies among the guests might en- tail risks—for her. It was scarcely possible that nobody had seen her in the company of the boatman. As she studied him however, she ad- mitted to herself that he might not have been recognized. He was very different in appearance now. But aside from the possibility that none save her- self had paid attention to him was his evident and persistent purpose to link her misfortunes with his misdeeds. She had the sensation of a captive held for ransom, yet kept in ignorance of what the ransom might be. “You must go away,” she told him firmly. “Can't, ma’am. senger to ferry.” “You must leave the grounds; go back to your boat.” “And I was just beginning to have a good time,” he said ruefully, survey- ing his costume. “T will pay you if you will go away.” ‘| haven’t asked you to. comes Reggy!” Rosalind uttered a little cry and turned swiftly. The bulky figure of Reginald Williams was moving toward them. “Tl hide,” said the boatman cheer- fully. “ Try and save another dance, will you? Don’t forget.” He slipped away from her and dis- appeared behind a thick clump of shrubbery. A moment later Reginald arrived. ‘“T’ve been looking all over for you, Rosalind,” he exclaimed. ‘“‘ What are you doing out here? ”’ “T wanted some air.” “And you came alone? ”’ “ Yes—alone.” “Tom Witherbee was looking all over for you at the end of that last dance,’ said Reggy petulantly. I've got a pas- I— Here THE ARGOSY. ‘You're not treating any of us decent- ly to-night, Rosalind. First you won’t dance, then you run away.” “T didn’t wish to come in the first place.” “But you always used to dance. You used to dance with me, too. I know [’m not much good at it, but— Oh, hang it, Rosalind! I’m having a rotten time. There isn’t a girl in the whole crowd that ‘Il dance with me. They all ask me to please sit down and talk to them, and they look at me as if there was something the matter with me." “Perhaps you're not popular, Reggy,” suggested Rosalind a little viciously. “That worries me a lot so far as the rest of the crowd are concerned. But tf I could only seem to be a little more popular with you—” “Please don’t start that again.” “Tm never going to stop it! Look here, Rosalind, it’s not fair! Why, you won't even wear that bracelet, although you said you were crazy over it.” Rosalind bit her lp and remained silent. “| haven’t said anything about it before,” continued Reggy grumblingly. “ It seemed sort of kiddish to get sore. But you wore it once and I don’t see why you can’t wear it now. You don’t have to be engaged to me to do that; it’s not like wearing a ring. Why won't you wear it?” ‘6 Why, Pip Rosalind faltered in speech, then made a little gesture of annoyance. “ There’s not another bracelet like it in the world,” he went on. “It was just made for you.” bs “Tt was made for a mummy,” cor- rected Rosalind. “She wasn’t a mummy—then. She was a live wire. I'll bet she wore it every day she took a walk around the pyramids. And don’t forget—she was a princess, Rosalind.” “T haven’t forgotten it; you won't let me. Besides, it was second hand.” That was a brutal thing for Rosalind CORNICLOOOKS (C@