Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

242 mean more to us than those we have had,” he responded. ‘“ I’ve a passion for beauti- ful things.” He walked up to her, and she saw that he had a small box in his hand. “‘ Here’s one of the beautiful things of the world.”” Removing the cover, he laid the little box in her lap. On a bed of white velvet lay an emerald, a wonderful stone, in a simple setting of platinum, attached to an_ exquisitely wrought platinum chain. “How beautiful!’ Georgette murmured, lifting the gem from the velvet. ‘‘ How simply magnificent!” Trench took a candlestick from the man- tel and held it so that the flame lit the facets of the emerald. For some time they watched the play of light in the beautiful jewel. Then Trench replaced the candlestick, and, taking the necklace from Georgette, fastened it about her throat. ‘“‘QOh!” she cried in delight. mean to give this to me?” He smiled at her. ‘ Where could I find any one else it would adorn so well?” “ Louis,” she said, looking down at the scintillant green gem, “ you are a prince! You do things magnificently! Did you pluck this from the sea?”’ ‘I made the sea give it to me.” He picked up a three-legged bamboo stool that stood near the fireplace, placed it close to her, and sat down. ‘“ You like it better than the jade, do you?”’ “ Don’t speak of jade! dare wear it in Freehaven.” ‘You shall wear it when you come out here to my paradise, Georgette. You shall slip it into your pocket, and put it on when you come up from the landing. And I shall feast my eyes on it as it lies against your throat.” His hand took hers, upturned on the chair arm, and he pressed it. She made no response, but did not draw her hand away. “My golden girl!” he whispered. ‘“ You shall come here to me often, and then you shall stay!” “What do I know about you, Louis? Really, very little. Suppose you go away as mysteriously as you came?” “Do you But Tl never ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, ‘But I shan’t. Or, if I do, I shall take you with me.” ‘To sea? Tell me about the sea, about your voyages.” “ Be satisfied with what I’ve brought you from them.” ‘““The emerald? Did you find an island where they grow on trees? Or did you make the natives give their jewels to you?” He smiled. ‘“ Perhaps. I’ve handled na- tives. But that’s all in the past. I’ve for- gotten about it.” . “You haven’t; or you wouldn’t enjoy this paradise so much.” His hand stole about her shoulder, he was drawing her to him. ‘ However that may be, I intend to enjoy it now.” “Yes,” she said. ‘ But, Louis, wait.” And dexterously, so that she hardly seemed to have made any movement, she slipped her shoulder from his grasp. ‘* Why should I wait, sweetheart?’ ‘ Because,” she said, looking at him level- ly, “I think you are a wise man. You said that your vision was of a beautiful girl with brains.” “Exactly,” he agreed, smiling. “What would you think of my wits if I didn’t use them now, Louis?” His brow clouded. ‘What do you want?” he demanded. ‘“ Only,” she said thoughtfully, ‘“‘ to know you better.” “ By Heaven, that you shall, you glorious creature!” But she held him off. Quick as a flash she had the crimson rose in her hand and thrust it into his face. ‘ No, no!” she com- manded. ‘““1’m hungry for you!” “Wait!” Her eyes were her defense. She kept him at bay, held him, knew ‘that her instinct was right, that this man, no matter how evil he had been in the past, would not take her against her will. He had a stand- ard for women; strange as it might be, he valued them the more for having the strength to check him. Trench moved away; got up, and poured himself‘a glass of whisky from a decanter. He drank this slowly, looking at the fire. Georgette, with quivering fingers, dropped GOMIIGoOO S (C@) nn