Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

232 stances it is doubtful if Red would have in- terested Gertrude. He was not of her world. He was not sufficiently attractive to draw her. He lacked the conversational gifts which enabled Campbell to make his way. They might have crossed the ocean on the same ship without her meeting him or evincing the slightest interest in him. But here was a man who had set up a barrier between himself and a spoiled and pampered young beauty. He wouldn’t speak to her if they were the last people in the world. At least she must make him change his mind about this. He must be forced to meet her and become interested in her. Then she could forget him. And so the first night of the voyage of the Durania, two young persons from far corners of the United States, who had never met until that day, who had not exchanged a word, but who had come into active con- flict nevertheless, lay in their respective staterooms each thinking about the other and trying to hate each other. If Rod had known that the proud beauty who had treated him so badly was wasting an evening thinking about him, that she felt humiliated in discovering that he had not been pursuing her with his attentions, he probably would have improved in his mind, And had she known that her action had hurt and humiliated Rod and not amused bim; that despite his brave words he was irresistibly attracted to her, and that most of his despondence was due to his belief that he never would get to know and be friends with her, she would have smiled and gone to sleep. Curiously enough his cabin was directly below hers. They were within eight feet of each other during the whole time. CHAPTER XI. ROD TURNS MISOGYNIST. OWARD came down to the state- room about ten o’clock. Mary, being unchaperonéd on board was com- pelled to be more circumspect than the girls who had mothers or aunts, and she aban- doned the full moon and her amusing com- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. panion on the stroke of four bells. He found Rod lying in his berth undressed but not asleep, “Well, old man, while you were mooning down here [ was meeting your proud little friend. Her name is Gertrude Thomas. She comes from Boston, which explains her ici- ness. [ fixed things for you pretty well.” “There is nothing to fix. I hate the sight of the girl.” “You were pretty clammy about the deck chair incident.” “Tt was none of your business.” ** Don’t be so ugly. I explained it.” “There was nothing to explain.” “Oh, wasn’t there! Do you know what she thought?” “Tm not interested.” “Oh, yes you are. She supposed that you had bribed the steward to place your chair alongside of hers.” Rod swung his legs out of his berth and stood upright on the floor in h*s pyjamas. “Say that again.” Howard obliged. “Well, of all the things in the world! What kind of a fellow does she think I am?” He was white with fury. Howard blundered along. “I told her that the thing was impossible. I secured the deck chairs and as I had never seen her nor knew her name I couldn’t have done the trick. And, of course, you knew nothing about it.” ‘“ Why in hell didn’t you mind your own business? What right have you got to be apologizing for me and fixing things for me? What do I care what that vain little snob thinks? I don’t want to be acquainted with her; I hope I never set eyes on her again. Who does she think she is that I should be following her about, letting her wipe her feet on me and treat me like a hunk of mud? You keep away from her, do you hear, and don’t you dare to bring me near her. As far as I am concerned she doesn’t exist and if she were to come to me with tears in her eyes pleading for forgiveness I’d turn my back on her and walk away.” “ Bully for you. That’s the spirit. Down with the blooming Yankees, male, female and their young.” GEomichbooks (E@)