Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

TIGER. ° 373 “Mary, believe me when I say that 1 didn’t want to come back here. 1 simply had to.” | ‘“ And why?” ‘* To see you again.” She had prepared herself for another out- burst, but it remained unspoken, and her lips parted slowly. ‘“ Tiger,” she whispered, “‘ you’re chiefly man, I’ll tell the world. Speak quick! What is it you want?” “Why hurry?” ‘“ Why?” She threw herself back into her chair as though his obtuseness stunned her. “Go on,” she said weakly. “ You win. If the Baboon and Larry Boynton aren’t reason enough to hurry, go ahead, take your time! But wait.” She slipped from her chair and went to the bed. From beneath the pillow she ex- tracted a blunt-nosed revolver and. brought it to him. “Take this. It’s short, but it shoots straight, and it works like an automatic. It’s got a slug that knocks ’em down, and a balance that makes you want to sing. Try it!” He shook his head. ‘‘ Tf I have a weapon like that,” he said, ‘the chances are ‘that 1’ll be tempted to use it.” She stood agape. ‘And what do -you think it’s for if it isn’t for use? Toy, maybe? Now get this straight,” she added sternly. “If one of those birds tries to croak you, you get out your gat and shoot ”’—she leaned close to him——‘‘ and shoot to kill!” He merely smiled at her. ‘ That,” he said, ‘‘is not my way. 1 don’t like the feel of a man in the sights.” ‘‘Oh,” she nodded. “ Gunshy?”’ He chuckled. * Not exactly that, but that’s not my game.” She put the gun away gloomily, and again sat down, and this time she was studying him with a sad interest. ‘“T don’t get you, Tiger. You're straight, and I like you, but even if you had a mil- lion-dollar life insurance you'd be a fool to play the game this wav. Well, go on, get what’s on your chest off again.” ‘““Y spoke to you about it yesterday.” The color flamed in her cheeks. It seemed to rise like crimson under glass, so trans- parent was her skin. ‘ Forget it, Tiger,’ she answered. “ It was—-it must have been the funny music old Sparchi was getting out of ‘his hurdy- gurdy. It sort of got me the same way. Honest, I’m not simple like that most of the time!” ‘* Do you think that was.all?”’ ‘ Tiger,” she said huskily, ‘‘ keep hold of yourself. You’re bigger than J am—and-.- don’t look at me like that!” She struck her hand across her eyes and then stared at him as if she hoped that her vision would clear. He caught himself with a great effort and strained his eyes away from hers, for while he looked ‘into them he forgot the grace of her hands, the white triangle at the base of her throat; she be- came a bodiless loveliness, and he knew that this was love. From his heart of hearts he despised himself for it, and to drive away that power which lifted him and carried him toward her he conjured up the picture of the Baboon. For a moment, at least, his mind was clear. ‘“ First,” he said, ‘ I have to tell you why [ leit the Tangle. There was only one thing that kept me here—you.”’ ** Don’t,” whispered the girl. ‘ Please!” ‘“ And then I heard something that shriv- eled up the heart in me.” “It was about me?” she asked, wide- eyed.- aa Ves,” He probed her mercilessly, but though her eyelids flickered for an instant, her glance became steady at once. She shook her head in wonder. ‘It’s true,” groaned the Tiger inwardly. ‘It’s all true, and she’s like the worst of them, only cleverer—she knows how to lie.” % ? CHAPTER XXV. THE TEST, " OU lamp me as if I were on the wire, Tiger,” she protested, laughing un- certainly, and when he stared at her, sick at heart, she rose and went to him, dropping her hands apex, his-shou'ders. nn