The Argosy, November 1908 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

AN ELUSIVE LEGACY. have,’ because that is the one thing you don’t know how to do.” Accordingly, ‘‘ Mrs. Grundy” having thus been whipped around a stump, the two adjourned in high feather to the dining-car, and there spent a diverting half hour or so, constructing over their sandwiches and tea all manner of fan- tastic reminiscences of their mutual ex- periences in ‘ Anyoldtown.” After that it was, of course, impossible that there should remain anything stand- offish or reserved in their respective atti- tudes. Indeed, by the end of the second day out their little fiction seemed almost to be based upon the truth, such good comrades had they become, and so long did they seem to have known each other. Happily, Dick was wise enough not to attempt to encroach upon his advantage, and the girl, seeing and admiring this restraint upon his part, was all the more open and friendly with him. More than once she would have broken away from their agreement, and told him who she was and all about herself if he had not prevented her. “No,” he would plead; “ our new ac- -quaintance will begin plenty soon enough. Let us hold to the old one while we have the chance.” And then he would draw off her at- tention by suggesting that he take an- other photograph of her. Ah, the snap-shots that were made of ‘‘ Miss Prunes-and-Prisms”’ during those four halcyon days! ‘There were snap- shots of her in the car and out of it, walking, standing, sitting, eating, drink- ing, smiling, frowning, in almost every conceivable attitude and pose, and “ then some.” It was an idyllic experience, and both of them grew a little pensive and thought- ful as they stood together on the rear platform the last night of their trip, while the train pantingly climbed the steep mountain grade toward Verdee. They had come out there to take a flash-light of some curious natural rock formations which the conductor had told them would be well worth preserving. These phenomena were just at the end of a deep cut through which they had to pass, and the official had obligingly con- sented to stand by and give the signal for the flash at just the proper moment. 623 Into the cut they rumbled slowly, and Behan, his apparatus all in readiness, stood poised for the word. But as he waited the train came to a halt with a suddenness which nearly jerked them all off their feet, and out of the darkness ahead was borne back to their ears a mélée of quick voices, and a fusillade of pistol shots. “A hold-up, by thunder!” gasped the conductor, diving back into the car. “ Those blackguards are at it again!” A hold-up. The word thrilled upon Dick’s ear like that of “tiger” to the hunter of big game. After all, the camera-fiend is but another edition of the rampant sportsman. He never thought of the possible danger. He simply realized that here was a chance for a snap-shot which would make him the envy of all his profession, and that by sheer luck he had everything ready to take it. Thrusting an elbow through the guard- rail, and, with the camera and fixings in his hands, he swung out around the side of the car and peered eagerly ahead. Up in front, by the red glow from the fire-box, he could see a shadowy group of men, with aimed rifles, evidently holding colloquy with the engineer, while other sinister forms were hurrying back toward the coaches. Just an instant he hesitated, in order to decide upon his focus; then snap he pulled his trigger, and the report banged out like a young cannon, while the flash lit up the rocky walls of the cut with an effulgence like noonday. In the glare he could see the bandits standing as men turned suddenly to stone, blinded, uncomprehending, com- pletely taken aback. Part of them, indeed, must have re- garded it as a supernatural manifesta- tion; for when he pulled the flash again he could see that some had fallen to their knees, and others were groveling, with their faces to the ground. “ Skiddoo!” a harsh voice of com- mand barked from somewhere back of the right of way. ‘ Pull your freight, fools! Can’t you see they’re ready for usd” Behan turned quickly to the direction from which the order came, and exploded another charge of magnesium; but the comicloooks.cornn