The Argosy, June 1904 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

494 while her own hands shipped froin the branch. “Once more! ‘l'ry again, for God’s sake!” he breathed hoarsely. She opened her eyes. The coat dan- eled within her reach. She Iet go of the branch with one hand and caught the tail of the coat. Then she seized it with her other hand. Lynn’s arm still helped sustain her. “Cling with all your might!” he cried. Then: “ [aul up!” He felt her drawn out of his arms. Tis other hand sought the support of the branch just in time to keep its brother from slipping. And then, but half conscious, he swung there for an- other eternity—until the tail of the coat dangled in reach again. “Grab hold!” a voice shouted from above, and he had never thought that Chris Gregory’s tones would sound sweet to him! A Jittle later he lay on the side of the road, with Miss Hawley’s face bend- ing over him. Her eyes glowed, her lips trembled, and there were tears on her cheeks. “God bless you, Mr. Lynn!” murmured. “ You saved my life!” The perfume of her breath fanned his own lips. We forgot that anybody else was near for that second. His own eves must have told her what lay deep In his heart. “Oh!” she eried softly, and drew back, a blush mounting from her throat to where the dark hair waved over her tenrples. “What's the matter—has he faint- ed?” demanded Gregory’s votee, and then Jiynn’s view of Bertha’s lovely features was blotted out by the form of the American. she “By Jove, old man!” Chris ex- claimed. “* You're all right. Wasn’t that a narrow squeak, though § ead Lynn pulled himself together, sat up, saw the boy who had climbed down the declivity now coming up again with the wreck of one of Miss Hawley’ s bas- kets in his hand, and grinned feebly. “He's broke 7is neck, missis; poor hold Mase ain’t never goin’ ter drag me 'y you about town hany more. Hand all on account o’ that hauto machine!” and the voungster spoke with fecling. PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG THE ARGOSY. “The poor creature!” cried Miss Ilawley, recovering her voice. “ Are you sure he is out of his sufferings? ” “ Dead has ’e can be, missis. Hand the cart all im flinders.” The chauifeur, who, with his coat and blinkers off, looked much more human, now advanced. “I can’t tell you how sorry T am for this accident,” he said to Bertha. “And vou, sir—I hope you are not in- jured ?” “Pil be all right when I get my wits together,’ Lynn replied. “ Are you perfec tly safe, Miss Lawley?” “Thanks to you—and to our friends here who drew us up-—I am all right,” she replied, including all three young men in a glorious smile. “You will let me drive you both home?” said the chauffeur. “That is the least I ean do to make am ends. My name is Orrin Levering. You, | be- lieve, must be Miss Bertha Hawley, daughter of the—ah—iron-monger at Pebbleton? ” he added, addressing the oor. “JT have heard your name, replied. “ Yes, my father.” “T was going to Padstow, Mr. Jackson ITawley is so shall go right through Pebbleton. And_ this gentleman af “tam staying in Pebbleton,” Lynn hastened to sa He wanted io get around introducing Gregory and being introduced himeelt if he could. Tle saw trouble ahead of luin, now that Chris had followed him to elke eorner of the world. “My friend here, Mr. Christopher iregory, of the United States, is tour- ing this part of the country,” Lev ering went on. “You are an American, too, T believe?” “Why,” exclaimed Chris, bursting into a laugh, “Lynn and I are old friends. Born and brought up in the sare town—QGarford, Connecticut. We came* over together last month, but somehow we lost each other ad Lymn broke in. “Mr. Gregory speaks quite to the point,” he said, ‘having risen and taken the cap which the boy had found for him. ‘ But Miss Hawley must be much shaken. Suppose we go right along? COMiIcloo re) ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED