Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE. She laughed happily. ‘You’re so strong and brave, Jim,” she murmured, and ran from the room, halting in the doorway long enough to add: “‘ Wait for me, big Jim. I’m going to dress up for you.” Then she was gone, and Hardwick, for- getting the cool way in which she brought down a charging lion at twenty paces— after he had missed—forgetting that she had taken care of herself against just as great a menace as the one which now threatened her —preened himself on the fact that she had appealed to him for help. IX. Over half an hour elapsed before Katje returned to the room, and so engrossed was Hardwick with his reveries that he did not look up until she had crossed the floor and: was standing before him. Then he gasped with astonishment and admiration. Katje—the betrousered tomboy—had vanished; Inkoosikaas was like a figment of the imagination, for the girl who now stood before him was neither, yet had the attributes of both. The simple lines of the tight-fitting, dark green velvet dress she wore revealed what the boyish garments had concealed, and her figure was alluring in her soft femininity. The angular awkwardness of the girl she had appeared to be now gave place to soft curves and graceful undulations. Her eyes shone mistily, hér lips parted ever so slight- ly, showing pearly white teeth. Hardwick wondered that he had not noticed her teeth before, they were so perfect; he wondered, too, that the grace of her carriage had not registered on his mind—that of all her charms he had been conscious only of her musical voice. “Well,” she said tremulously, “don’t , you like me this way? Must I wear those patched abominations forever?” But before he could answer the door burst open, and Ginger Dick rushed in, crying: 3 “Say, missy, say cull, Smithers and Isaacs—”’ Then he stopped short and looked at Katie wonderingly. He blinked, rubbed 205 his eyes, and looked again. Still disbe- lieving, he walked up to the girl and around her; he fingered the material of her dress. “ Blimme!” he ejaculated softly. “ S’elp me, but hit’s ’er. Hand she’s got shoes an’ stockings hon. ’Pon my Sam hif she ain’t.”’ Katje laughed softly, and Ginger Dick looked relieved. “ Yus,” he said flatly. ‘“ Now I knows hit’s ‘er. Know that larf anywhere, Hi would.” Then, remembering his errand, he went on: “As I was a-sayin’ Smithers hand Isaacs are*coming with fifty ugly blacks ’oo ‘ook as hif they mean business.” “ We’re expecting them,” Hardwick said grimly, “Oh, we hare, are we? And since w’en ‘ave we gone hinto partnership with the lady, cully? My—but ain’t she a oner! Then perhaps you knows, Mr. Inkoosikaas Hardwick, that none of her people hare to be seen. There ain’t a ’ealthy man in the kraal—honly a few old graybeards and kids and women. There ain’t a man fit ter ’old a spear hin the plice. W’ere are the men, I wants ter know?” “They are obeying my orders, Ginger,”’ the girl said quietly. ‘“‘ When the time comes they’ll be ready to do whatever I want them to do. They have been waiting for this for a long time!” “Oh! That’s diff’runt. But ’ow about hus? Id feel safer hif I had a revolver and plenty of cartridges.” Hardwick looked at Katie. ‘TI think we ought to be armed—dear,”’ he said. “Dear, he says,” Ginger Dick chor- tled. Katje indicated a door at the rear of the room. ‘“ The revolvers and lots of cartridges are in that room, Ginger,” she said. ‘ Go and help yourself. You, too, Jim, and stay there until I call for you. I’ll meet Smithers and Tsaacs alone.” “You'll be careful, Katje?”’ was reluctant to leave her. “Very careful, big Jim,’ she smiled re- assuringly. Outside there was the sound of tramp- ing feet, then a white man’s voice raised in Hardwick S COnNICLOO© (C@