Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

THROUGH RABAT’S EYES. Also, during those many months of tour- ing through Europe, although she had de- termined that she would never give up Mor- den, yet she had been conscious of a desire that in some extraordinary way he would prove himself the heroic figure which she nourished, aS any woman does, in her mmnermost heart. And behold! Had he not done so? So it was that in spite of a perpetual ache in her back as she stretched in futile attempt to gain momentary surcease, was there nothing save pure joy! “Your lover he no like your father,” murmured Rabbit’s voice in the back of her. “No! No! You’re wrong. Mr. Baird is very fond of my father,” whispered Eileen hastily, and wondered why she had protested. “No,” insisted Rabbit. ‘“ You young, you not know. Mohammed he know. He say father he never like lover for him daughter, and lover he never like father for him girl. Sure. He knows cos he have four, five, six, seven wifes. He wise man.” ‘* Nonsense!” asserted Eileen, smilmg to herself. ‘And I think your Mohammed was a very bad man.”’ ‘“Mohammed!” exclaimed Rabbit aghast. “He most wise man ever was. By Sin- fooloosir! Why he bad man?”’ he persisted. ‘‘ Cos he have plenty wife, huh? If he not have plenty wife how he know about wo- mans, huh? S’posin’ Rabbit he only drink one drink; he drink only red wine. How he know white wine good, too? One wo- man brandy, one woman red wine, one wo- man white wine, one woman beer. Rabbit no like beer. Rabbit like wine—” Then suddenly: ‘‘ You white wine!”’ ‘“T am!” gasped Eileen. ‘‘ For mercy’s sake, what do you mean?” ‘‘T know,” said the strange voice behind her. “TI drink all wines.” “Oh, you awful creature!” exclaimed Eileen laughing. ‘““Awf’lly strawdin’ry creature!” asserted Rabbit proudly. “ Awf’lly strawdin’ry! I see back of your neck. Fine! Jus’ like white grape wine. All you jus’ like white wine; also I smell ’briating—’toxicating! Oh, boy!” “Morden!” called Eileen, more than half 6 ARGosy 3h complimented by Rabbit’s simile, ‘“ this strange creature says I smell! I’m lke white wine! Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?” “ What!”’ said Morden, smiling. ‘ What did you say, Eileen?”’ ‘I say,” interposed Rabbit swiftly, ‘“‘ you girl he smell jus’ like white wine!” Eileen laughed. Came Rabbit’s swift whisper: ‘‘ Whaffor you say fool words? your lover he want kill! Sure! Nazarene no good make love. much. Yessir!” ‘Don’t be ridiculous!” said Eileen be- tween laughter. ‘‘ Morden, now he says you want to kill him because he says I smell like white wine! Did you ever!” ‘Tf you try to make love to my girl,” said Morden smiling, “ I'll surely have to punch your head; you knew that, Rabbit?” ‘Punch my head?” echoed Rabbit. ‘No, sir! Ino make love your girl. You my frien’, huh? Awf'ly strawdin’ry! Rab- bit like wine; but ike brandy more better. When Rabbit want make love your girl he jus’—” Rabbit gestured across his throat, grinning cheerfully. ‘‘ Then he take your girl ‘long his other wifes. That Mohammed way, yessir.” Foolish as he felt it to be, Morden shud- dered, realizing indeed how easy it would be for Rabbit to have carried out his threat had he so willed. Ridiculous but—almost_ automatically he glanced down the trail ahead. ‘‘ How far to Tangiers now, Rabbit?” he demanded. ‘Allah, he knows!” returned Rabbit enigmatically, as i reading Morden’s thoughts and desiring to tease him. “You mos’ awf’lly funny woman!” as- serted Rabbit conversationally, when Mor- den by reason of his slower steed Kad fallen back a little. “Your lover he not know what good wine! Then I tell vou something, you talk like crazy girl, make much trouble. Mohammed woman he no talk like that, he say nothing. He jus’ think an’ laugh.” ‘That’s why you have to lock them up in the harem,” retorted Eileen, smiling. “Sure,” assented Rabbit. ‘“ Cos Mo- hammed man he know womans. Yessir.” Now Woman Talk too COMiIcloo @) (©)