Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

TIGER. muttering his excuses, he began to dance again, with Sylvia I.ester looking up to him with a frown of wonder. At least, that col- lision had banished the vision once more, and he would pav thrice as great a price for that. Turning in the dance, he found himself looking straight into the eves of the man who danced behind him. It was Billy Phipps, with a face as rosy as a girl’s, but instantly the face of Billy went out, and in its place grew a sinister countenance, with the sallow skin like old parchment, drawn tight over the cheek-bones, the nose aquiline, the chin cruelly strong, the mouth sneering, and keen eyes. The Baboon! He closed his eyes hard, and when he opened them again the mist was gone: but once more only for an instant. Sylvia Les- ter was speaking; and the high, small voice changed to a lower pitch, velvet soft, caress- ing, a quality that plucked at his heart-. Mary Dover! It was the hurdy-gurdy. still rattling in the street, pouring out the music. A fiend turned it. <A fiend transformed the face of Sylvia to the loveliness of Marv Dover. A fiend changed the face of every man to the grin of the Baboon. What were all these girls? False notes, a little sharp, a little flat. They jangled on the ear: they had not that rounded perfection, that flaw- less tone of Mary Dover. He stopped at the corner of the room. ‘“ Miss Lester,” he said, * will you for- give me? 1am ill.” “Let me get something for you. It's your heart,”’ said the girl, terrified. ° I saw it come over you, the change.” ‘Ves, yes. It’s my heart.” “How awful! Let me—--” ‘Never mind. [ll leave vou here and get home.” At the sight of him coming both his mother and Mrs. Harding rose. A mutter- Ing of excuses, regrets, and then they were ‘qutside in the street. On the way home his ‘mother took his hand and looked steadily finto his face. , “ Jack,” she said, ‘‘ you aren’t ill. What is it?” t “Ym not ill,’’ he answered. * But there's )Mania that has hold on me.” 6 A 369 * What is it?” * \ horrible thing I’m ashamed of. I an. going to face it out tenight--this mania.” CHAPTER XXIII. BLINISIE LIZ. OT a night since his service with Jack Lodge began had Sanford closed his eves before the master was soundly asleep, and therefore on his return, Jack lound his body-servant waiting, and since the night was grown chilly there was a pleasant fire snapping on the hearth. The hardest thing he had before him was to tell Sanford of his resolution, so he stood in tront of the blaze jerking at his gloves “and scowling at the valet. As for the latter, he went about swiitly inaking the last preparations for the mas- ter’s comfort, setting out slippers, dressing- robe. a glass of sherry wine, and an apple on a tray; until at length this prolonged silence made him tum sharply about. What he found in the eves of Jack made his own widen. * You look more as if you were about to start on a party than as if you’d just come back from one, sir,” and he laughed un- easily. | * You're always right in a pinch. San- turd, I’m about to make a trip.” * Good!” nodded Sanford eagerly. ‘‘ Do we get a night train, sire” “Tm traveling alone to-night. And {here’s no train.” The Tangle!” breathed Sanford. Right. Hurry out those old rags. 1 'll he away in ten minutes.” Vhe terror in the face of Sanford partial- ly gave place to a gleam of cunning. ‘Sorry, sir. I thought you were done with the old things, you know, and I had them burned.” The devil!” | ‘“But perhaps the morning will be soon enough?” For he had known many of Jack’s im- pulses to burn out overnight. ‘I can get a new outfit then, sir.” He turned away. - * One minute,” called Jack. cCoOmiclbooks.€©