The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

s 244 THE TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. ‘Then by three weeks he will be here, so you won’t have much time for your expedition if you are going to meet him when he arrives,’’ Giles remarked, and Wilton, thinking very much about other matters, did not reply. He was debating with himself whether Mary would receive his overtures in the same off hand manner as her father had done, and had just begun to urge the advisability of trying with Mary herself when Giles interrupted his thoughts. ‘You'll be asleep in a minute,’’ he exclaimed with a laugh. ‘‘Go and have a rest, and I’ll have the horses in by the time you are awake.’’ It was a pointed hint, but Wilton preferred not to accept it in view of his latest idea, and contented himself by saying that he would have a brief spell before starting. Giles showed him a stretcher and he lay down upon it, but not to sleep. His mind was far too actively engaged in scheming how he could carry out his newly formed intention of winning Mary, even in opie of her father’s objections. He wished that Farrell were near so that he could discuss the matter with him, and in deploring the fact that he was not at hand Wilton remembered Johnson. ‘‘Giles was very anxious for me to consult him on every other subject, and I’ll take his advice and see what he has to say about this,’’ Wilton thought. The decision he had come to made him more impatient than ever to be away, and rising from the stretcher he went on to the veranda again. There he found Mary, who smiled as she saw him. ‘* Father said you were worn out after last night, and were sleeping,’ she said. Had he found Giles on the veranda it is probable that he would due been on his way toJohnson’s a few minutes later, but the appearance of Mary upset all his ideas, and instead of going he now wanted to stay. ‘* Your father—he has -’ he began lamely. ‘(He has gone away to bring in a horse for you, he said, and will not be back for an hour or so. Are you going away at once ?’’ she said. ‘“Yes,’’ he answered. ‘‘’That is, soon. I want—TI have to He felt as awkward and as speechless as a log as he stood looking at her and watched the smile that played over her face. _ ‘Get help for building the hut. Yes, I heard you and father talking,’’ she said. Heard him and Giles talking! If he had been confused before he was ten times worse now as he recalled his words about her, and which she must have heard if she had listened. ‘*You heard us?’’ he exclaimed. ‘* Yes, about your going to Johnson. I’m glad you know him. He’s my best friend, I think,’’ the girl said wistfully. ‘‘Not your best,’’ Wilton said, with a twinge of jealousy in his heart. ‘‘ Well, next to father, I suppose,’’ she answered. ‘‘I’ve known him so long, and he’s so nice. Nota bit like ’? and she hesitated. ‘* Like me,’’ Wilton exclaimed. 99 (ECO nA Cel NOVO KS (E(0)