Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

LUCK. hold him if you can. D’ye hear? Hold him if you can!” : “Tf he cares it will not be hard. me again, if—” “Shut up. What’s that again?” The sound was closer now and unmistak- ably something other than the moan of the wind. Jacqueline turned in great excitement to Mary: | ‘“ When did Mc—when did the man that was talkin’ to you in the dark disappear? Had he heard that sound down the gorge?” Tell “Yes. I think so. And then he—’’ “My God!” “What is it?” “Pierre, and he’s calling for—d’you hear?” Clear and loud, though from a great distance, the wind carried up the sound and the echo preserved it: ‘“ McGurk!” “ McGurk!” repeated Mary. ‘ Was it he who—” “Yes, fool! And you brought him up here with you, and brought his death to Pierre. What ‘Il you do to save him now? Pierre!” She turned and fled out among the trees, and after her ran Mary, calling, like the other: “ Pierre!” CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE WAITING. FTER that call first reached him, clear to his ears though vague as a murmur at the ear of Mary, McGurk swung to the saddle of his white horse, and galloped down the gorge like a veritable angel of death. The end was very near, he felt, yet the chances were at least ten to one that he would miss Pierre in the throat of the gorge, for among the great boulders, tall as houses, which littered it, a thousand men might have passed and repassed and never seen each other. Only the calling of Pierre could guide him surely. The calling had ceased for some moments, and he began to fear that he had overrun his mark and missed Pierre in the heart of the pass, when, as he rounded a mighty D153 boulder, the shout ran ringing in his very ears: ‘‘ McGurk!” and a horseman swung into view. ‘“ Here!” he called in answer, and stood with his right hand lifted, bringing his horse to a sharp halt, like some ancient cavalier stopping in the middle of the battle to exchange greetings with a friend- ly foe. The other rider whirled alongside, his sombrero’s brim flaring back from his fore- head, so that McGurk caught the glare of the eyes beneath the shadow. “So for the third time, my friend—” said McGurk. “Which is the fatal one,” answered Pierre. “ How will you die, McGurk? On foot or on horseback?” ‘On the ground, Pierre, for my horse might stir and make my work messy. I love a neat job, you know.” ‘“ Good.” They swung from the saddles and stood facing each other. ‘“ Begin!”? commanded McGurk. no time to waste.” ‘““T’ve very little time to look at the liv- ing McGurk. Let me look my fill before the end.”’ “Then look, and be done. coming to meet me.”’ The other grew marvelously calm. “She is with you, McGurk?” ‘“* My dear Pierre, I’ve been with her ever since she started up the Old Crow.” “ T’ve I’ve a lady ‘It will be easier to forget her. Are you ready?” “So soon? Come, man, there’s much for us to say. Many old times to chat over.” ‘IT only wonder,” said Pierre, “‘ how one death can pay back what you’ve done. Think of it! Ive actually run away from you and hidden myself away among the hills. I’ve feared you, McGurk!” He said it with a deep astonishment, as a grown man will speak of the way he feared darkness when he was a child. Me- Gurk moistened his white lips. The white horse pawed the rocks as though impatient to be gone. “Listen,” said Pierre, ‘‘ your horse grows ‘* restive. Suppose we stand here—it’s a Gomicbooks:com