Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

56 daring to look at the girl, realizing that he had blundered and stammered something ridiculous. She would hate him now! She would think he was a fool for imagining such things! “Oh damn!” he groaned. “Go on,” she said shyly. “I never dreamed you could say such things.” He turned to her with sudden eagerness, hope in his eyes. ‘‘ Do you mean that you care for me just a little? That way?” ‘““J—I don’t know. It’s all so strange. So wonderful! So unexpected! But I do like you. I think you are the kindest, brav- est man I’ve ever known.” He was covering both her hands with kisses. Fire seemed to run through his veins. His eyes flashed and he cried: “ My God, I could fight the whole world for you, now. I’d like to stand up against all South America! One at a time or all together! After what you said, girl, I'd knock ’em cold!” Frightened by his burst of passion she pulled her hands away and he released her gently. ‘Don’t worry, Margot, I’m not going to rush you. Take your time. But gee! It’s grand to know that you like me —even a little.” “T do like you very much — but oh, George, I’m so terrified. I need your help!” “Tl look after you, all right! Don’t worry!” The light from the street lamp illumin- ated his face, white and shining with the joy of that moment. At the same instant a prowling cat-like figure ran lightly from the curb, sped alongside the car for a mo- ment and then sprang upon the running board. George started up in his seat with a cry of rage but the intruder whispered: “Hist! Don’t make a racket. You know me. I’ve got something to tell you!” CHAPTER XIII. THE WAY OUT. T’S you, Jean Lenoir! Get inside the the car! Keep on to Gian’ Bori’s house!” he called to the chauffeur. Then to Jean, ‘“‘ What are you doing here?” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Sure, it’s me, boss,” replied the waiter from_Café La Scala. “I was lookin’ for you. Your sister sent me. We held the crowd back with that apache dance but Valdez is wild. He swears he’ll get you and the girl, too.” “That guy’s lucky if he only knew it,” growled George. ‘“ This time, if I was to hit him, I’d croak him sure.” ‘* You’d better lay low for a while. Valdez is a big boss here in Rio. He was swear- ing he’d have you both in jail, you and Miss Dalby. Likely he’s got the police after you by now.” “Me in jail? What can he have against me?” cried Margot in terror. But George became serious. Jail in Rio was an ugly matter for an unprotected girl —and a dancer in a café could be locked up on any trumped-up charge. Such women were at the mercy of the police. “You haven’t done anything wrong,” he explained to Margot. “ But just the same that fellow could lock you up as a vagrant. Your guardian is no good. Guy Dalby would play right into the hands of Valdez. A girl in your profession needs some one to look after her.” “Oh, if I could only get away from this horrible, horrible place!”” Margot was al- most in tears. “1 think I see a way out. Listen, Mar- got. You. would be a lot safer from the police as a married woman. Give me a legal right to protect you, and I’ll see you through. After all, Gian’ Bori is my part- ner. We are both business men in this town, and old Bori has friends among the politicians, too. Valdez wouldn’t dare to throw you into jail without any charge, if you were the wife of Gian’ Bori’s part- ner.” ** But, George, how can I say ‘ yes.’ You know I told you that I don’t care for you that way—not yet—” “1’m not asking anything of you, girl. I swear all I want is just to protect you.” “Do you really mean that?” “I do. mean it! Things will be just as they are between us. I'll keep on hoping just the same, but you will be free—ab- solutely free—until you tell me that you are ready to be my wife.” COMMICLOOOkKS (C@)