The Argosy — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

. 254 THE ARGOSY. ““You would wish to be the friend of Giralda?’’ she asked, still playing the coquette. ‘“A thousand times—when I learn that the wish is hers also.’” I have always said that there never were two eyes which could invite to flirtation as the eyes of Giralda, the gipsy girl. ‘‘I am your friend for the sake of her who sent you,’’ she answered simply. ‘‘I shall be your friend always—Captain Falconer.”’ ‘You know me, then! ’’ ‘“ Madre de Dios—if I know you! Are you not the soldier who hascome to serve the prince? Are you not the friend of my friend ? Bueno, we ride together presently, and then you shall say if I know you.’’ I seized her by the wrists—acting upon an impulse not to be avoided— and drew her close to me. ‘“‘ Little friend,’’ I said, ‘‘ this has been a week of things I do not under- stand, but Giralda at least is no mystery until now. ‘Tell me what you mean when you say that we ride together? ”’ ‘‘ Sefior,’’ she said, becoming serious and lifting her childish face so close to mine that Icould feel her warm breath upon my cheek, ‘‘I cannot speak of these things, here and now, where twenty may watch us. But this is the message I am to deliver—that you meet me at the prison gate when midnight is striking, and that thence we ride to the prince. You will not fail me, sefior ?”’ I answered her bya kiss upon her pretty lips. Fora moment she lay snug in my strong arms; then slipped from them very cleverly and was lost in the black shadows between the pillars of the great church. But she left me with her command still ringing in my ears ; and it seemed to me when she was gone, that the mystery of my journey was the greater for her message. Max Pemberton. (TO BE CONTINUED. ) , SEPTEMBER. SEPTEMBER comes across the hills ; Hark to her welcome, strong and free The diapason of the sea, The treble music of the rills, A flush dyes every vine and tree, The sunlit land with rapture thrills ; This is the autumn’s jubilee ! Septeniber comes across the hills. Fragrance with lavish hand she spills ; Magician of the year is she, To whom all nature bends the knee. Announced by woodland scents and trills, September comes across the hills ! Eomicbooks