The Argosy, June 1904 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

516 into a shop, or at a woman who might or might not be pretty, according to the licutenant’s cultivated taste. He suddenly stopped and a bland sinile warmed up his features. For approaching him was a young man. This young man walked somewhat heavily, and paid little attention to any one. “ Rougiere!” exclaimed the licuten- ant, when the young man had come near him. “ You in Algiers!” “T might exclaim the. same thing in regard to you!” cried Alfred, as he wrung the hand of the licutenant. “I thought you were permanently station- ed in Paris “Tt appears that permanency and I are strangers,” said Jfournicr, with a laugh. But—has anything happened ? ” “Why—as you see—I have hap- pened. Oh, it was a trifle. You re- member Nocl?” “Yes, perfectly. “That’s just it. I had words.” “But you always did have. You never agreed, you two. Was it about a girl this time?” “What else could Noel and I quar- rel about? But this time it was seri- ous. We fought.” “A duel?” “ Indeed, yes. The snob! ” You see, Noel and J, as you know, am an expert duelist, but the laws oh, you know the laws as well as I do. Well, then, we had words in a café, and I struck him. He challenged me,for Noel never could be called a coward, what- ever else he is, and we met. I wounded him. As punishment—I am here, as you see me.” “ Not degraded in rank!” “No, rather with something of a chance for promotion. It was really not that my superiors objected. But there was the law, and Noel js a civil- ian. Those civilians—they ruin Paris now. But come! We have not met for along time. Saray’s café is not far off. Yet us go there and have a talk.” The two young men turned their steps in the same direction, and soon entered one of the most pretentious THE ARGOSY. a table, wine. “ Now,” he said, as he leaned his el- bows on the table and rested his chin in his palms, “tell me all about it. What the devil are you doing here?” “Seeing things,” replied Rougi iere, “Seeing things! You come to Al- giers to sce things! Is not the absinthe of Paris strong enough for your” and the lieutenant called for “Yes, it 1s strong enough,” said Al- fred. “But Iam not in Paris. Things have changed for me.’ “Changed? Have you had bad luck ?” “No, I have had particularly good luck.” Iournier studied Alfred for a mo- ment before he spoke. “Listen,” he said. “ For a iman who boasts of having had good luck befall him, you are a strange creature. You are paler than I ever knew you to be before. You are nervous, and there is a queer look about your eyes.’ “Oh, that is nothing. I have not been particularly well.” “Ah! That must be your good luck. You are singularly reticent about this good luck.” Fournier was not exactly the kind of man Alfred cared to speak to about a pure gitl like Marie. “ Well—it is not yet public property. But I am engaged to be married.” Fournier laughed heartily. “You! To be married! Come, that is excellent. Do I know the fortunate —the extremely fortunate—lady ? ” Alfred winced at the sarcasm. “No. It is my cousin, and she was brought wp in London.” “Oh, that rich uncle who refused to lend you money to pay your debts?” “Yes. His daughter.” “Does he know?” “ He may know, but he will sav nothing.” = Elow is that? ” ‘““ Because he’s dead.” | Iournier looked at Alfred gravely. “My friend,’ he said, “I drink to your good Iuck. But there is some- thing on your mind. You do not love this cousin, but some one else.” cafés in Algiers. “T love her well enough. She is _They sat down, on opposite sides of very pretty and rich.” PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ecomiclooolks ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED CO