Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

248 ‘She is marvelous,” the soldier agreed with sincere enthusiasm. The meeting of the Comrades was as- sembling. Fortune mingled among- the crowd that took the benches, searching eagerly for Kinst. At last he saw the gold- smith and grasped him by the arm. ** Well?” he questioned sharply. “Sir,” Kinst stammered, “I have an answer, I—” “What is it, quick?” “You will not forget your promise? You’ll not fail me? Anna, my woman—”’ “Tl get you back your woman; [I promise.” “When, when?” “ Three days from to-night Ill bring her to your cantonment—”’ “No, no! I am going—lI have quit that place forever. I am in the secret arsenal of the Comrades. I cannot go back there—” “Then, you know the little court behind Wolff’s Tower. There is a door in the wall—”’ “cc Yes! PP] “ Be there. Now the answer. Hurry!” “She bade me say the boat and soldiers will be sent—to-night,” whispered Kinst fearfully. ‘‘And here, she returns your token, the ring.” The goldsmith pressed into Fortune’s hand the gold ring bearing the device of a coiled serpent which he had sent with his message by way of assuring the High-born. A wild joy surged over him. He lived again. The future held a rosy promise of adventure and success. As for the Folk and their troubles; as for such things as had troubled his conscience when he looked on them through Mary’s eyes—he was quit of them all! He planned swiftly. The comrades of the Torch had impor- tant business to discuss. Plans were com- plete for assembling a great, secret meeting of all the Folk of the Under City of Man- hattan. “The place is fixed,” Zorn announced. “We have chosen a spot in the ruined tun- nels on the west side of the island, where there is a great hall left beneath the walls of that huge stone building that once the THE ARGOSY. ancients used for the swift wagons that car- ried them all about the world. “Agents from the various cantonments will be prepared to conduct their delega- tions into the old tunnels at midnight of Sunday, the third day of next month. On the day of rest the vigilance of the guard is much relaxed and there will be less dif- ficulty in assembling. In the early hours of Monday morning we will gather the greatest meeting of the Folk since the days of the Great Catastrophe, and I will be present to explain our pians. “The day is particularly significant. It will be the fourth of the month of July—a day that in a happier time of the world’s history was the sacred anniversary of the birth of freedom on this continent. May we again sanctify it in the cause of human rights!” A tremendous cheer greeted Zorn’s an- nouncement. The delegates shouted and sang in their enthusiasm. The hall fairly trembled with the uproar and the excite- ment grew intense. Finally a man—it was the long-haired weaver who had first shouted for Fortune’s death—made himself heard above the tur- moil. “Comrades!” he yelled. ‘‘ Comrades! Where is the man Fortune, Wolff’s captain? What of him? It is time he answered us. Bring him out. To-night he must join or die!” Gradually the sense of his harangue was caught up by others. There began a fu- rious clamor for Fortune. Then they discovered that Factank was gone. He had disappeared and no man knew when! When Zorn had finally quieted the in- sane rage to some semblance of order, men . were sent to solve the mystery. After some time they reported. Outside the door, at the rear of the hall of .meeting, a ouard was found, dead by strangulation. On the north beach they discovered the bodies of two of’ the beach patrol. One still lived. He gasped his testimony of a strange boat that had been seen off the isle; of sudden attack by an armed man identified as Fortune, and the bloody fight CO JOO AUG S (C@)