The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

168 “ Good, sweetheart. We'll meet it all with a laugh, as we agreed;” and, not keeping the prince waiting more than another quarter of an hour, I left her happy, blushing, loving—and resigned. ‘““J have appointed ten o’clock,” he said as I joined him. “Very well.” I should have said “Very well” if he had named midnight or four in the morning. “TI wish you to understand that I shall do all I can to help you—now,” he said pointedly. “That’s all right.” , My head was still in the clouds. In an hour or so Helga would be my wife. “T shall wish to know where you will be.” “ God bless my soul, I hadn’t thought about that,” I exclaimed. ‘“ We shall stay at the Imperial. Oh, and I’ve no clothes! They are at the palace. You see, 1t’s a little sudden.” ““My man, Pierre, is at your service, monsieur.” | “T wish you’d let him get them to the Imperial; or shall I “I will see to 1t. There is one thing, of course, M. Denver. You will make | no attempt to see his majesty.” “T’ve only got an hour and a half.” ‘““I mean to-morrow, of course,” he. exclaimed testily. “No, I’d better not, I suppose.” “To-morrow I shall have vour route carefully prepared, with full instruc- tions to all on the way to help you for- ward with all speed.” “Yes, I suppose you’re as anxious as I am to get the thing ended and done with.” “You will find I can be as firm a friend as I can be a resolute enemy. I wish to be your friend, monsieur, for my august master’s sake.” “You’ve done pretty well as an enemy, prince; let’s hope the future will show us the other side.” “Then for the present, good-night.” “For the present? ” ae | shall, of course, be at the cere- mony.’ I didn’t want him there: but as I would rather be married to Helga in his presence than not married to her at all, I said nothing. Besides, I was not in a critical mood. THE ARGOSY. I was sufficiently practical to re- member to go to the hotel and engage rooms; and on the way I stopped at a jeweler’s and bought a ring. And, hav- ing done that, I hunted up Harold Mar- vyn and induced him to consent to be at the wedding. Then I drove to the prison where I'rank Siegel was confined. I produced the order for his release, arranged all the preliminaries, and then told them to show me straight to the prisoner, as I wished to take the news to him myself. “ Hello, what in thunder brings you here?” he exclaimed as I entered. “Tve brought the order for your re- lease, old man.’ His face fell and he looked the re- verse of pleased, “I hope youre just monkeying. I don’t want any release,” he said in a tone of such irritation that I laughed. “Sorry, but you’ve got to come. I’m going to be married in about half an hour, and I want you to be best man.” He took it so coolly that I could have kicked him. “Of course that makes a difference. But it strikes me you’re using me some, Harper. Who’s the——” You know. Met her in the train.” “Oh, the nihilist. Sounds all right. Where?” ““In the prison.” “Gee! That'll make good copy.” And that seemed its best recommen- dation in his eyes. “You take it very lightly,” I said with a smile. “Well, you see, it’s your marriage, not mine.” And with that we left the cell. CHAPTER XXIX. A LAST PRECAUTION. _It was a quaint ceremony, our mar- riage. The clock was close on the stroke of ten when Siegel and I reached the pris- on, and Marvyn was already waiting for us in the room in which Helga and I had seen each other. He shook hands with Siegel and con- gratulated him. DOO (COL YN S COL