The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRUTE, THE LADY, AND TI. gerous an occupation. I was not sur- prised to hear that it had been a case of expediency. Her father, it seemed, had gone into aeronautics in an experimental way. And he had made discoveries, too, so the girl said. And as is quite often the case, some one else had reaped the benefits. Her mother had died when she was a child, and they two had been all in all to each other. The time had come when, owing to his expenditures, Norcross’s only asset was his balloon, and he had been obliged to enter into the business of flying as a livelihood. He had gone up alone at first, but one day he had been blown away much as we were now being carried. All the follow- ing night the girl had waited for news of him, and then and there she had resolved that if he returned safely, never should he make another flight without her, and she had kept her word. And now the memory of her own an- guish on that other night brought home to her what his present grief must be at the thought of her predicament. She bowed her head, and I realized that she was silently weeping. I tried to comfort her as best I could. Her father would know from experience that we would carry across the lake. He must have seen, too, that she was not alone. Immediately on landing we would make our way to the nearest telegraph station and send him news of our safety. How near that station would be, I did not venture to suggest. Poor child! Between her anxiety and the strenuous day she had been through, she was worn out. Presently her head drooped forlornly. She swayed unstead- ily to the occasional spinning of the bal- loon. She lurched against me at last, and, fearful that she would slip from her seat, I put an arm about her shoulders and held her. And then she went to sleep. It was a new experience for me. I found it a very precious one. [ felt that 111 she was given me to protect, that Provi- dence had ordered that I should be near at hand when the blast came to guard her. And I vowed that I would, if it be at the cost of my life. The time was near when I would have the opportunity. Through the long night hours I stood watch. Now and then the girl stirred un- easily; but like a tired child, settled her- self again without waking, her head on my shoulder. The Brute, too, slept on. ‘Phere was ample evidence of that in the uncouth sounds that came with unfailing regular- ity from the bottom of the car. Never had I marveled so at the immeasurable gulf between a gross man and a gentle- woman. As for myself, I had no wish to sleep at first. I was a god who had spurned the pettiness of earth and taken up his abode among the clouds. How I pitied the earthworms below! There was a peace, a dreamlike unreality, a content, the like of which I had never experienced. Never until now had I lived. It grew colder toward morning, so cold that I believe but for the warmth of the girl’s body against. mine I could not have kept from shaking with the chill of it. I looked down at the dark blotch of earth. It seemed as if it were emerging out of the mists. Over the hills astern the gloom of night was lightening. | Then I became aware of the fact that Brute Flanagan’s snoring had ceased. I looked down at him. ; He was awake, sitting in his old posi- tion with his back against the side of the car, watching the two of us with a sour grin on his ugly lips. “Got acquainted pretty quick, didn’t you?” he sneered. It was the first time I had heard him speak, and his guttural tones completed the impression his appearance had made on me. I looked at him steadily without an- swering, and his eyes fell. But the sound of his voice had roused Gomichbooks (E@)