Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

THE DERELICT. Bentleman’s room, I'll go wake him,” Gordon-Channing was saying. “The first room on the starboard alley- way,” Katrina heard herself answering, and somehow her voice sounded strangely dead an her own ears. Gordon-Channing started to leave, but for the first time he noticed her costume. “‘ Katrina, you poor girl!”’ he exclaimed. * You must have been through a terrific experience. Go change your things, while I find Thorpe. Youll feel better when you're dressed as you’re accustomed.” To her own amazement, the quick retort that she was accustomed to her present cos- tume rose to Katrina’s lips. It was all she could do to refrain from saying it. She let Gordon-Channing leave her without speak- ing. Then slowly she made her way down the bridge-ladder, Ben Ali held close upon her shoulder. CHAPTER IX. KATRINA STANDS BY. HE paused a moment on the prome- nade-deck and listened to Sunny sing- ing cheerily in his cage. Then she walked slowly to the forward rail and - leaned against it, listening for the bleating of her pets below. ‘ She looked out over the ‘well-deck of the battered derelict, and then toward the Victorine. She and Thorpe were to be taken off the Barbuda. The Victorine would then take the derelict in tow and reap a rich harvest of salvage: Katrina patted the rail beneath her hand. ‘* Never mind,” she whispered consoling- ly to the ship. “It may not be a trium- phant way to get back to port, but I’d rather see you going in that way than not going in at all. You’ve made a wonderful fight for life, dear old Barbu For a few moments longer she stood in silent thought. A new and peculiar feeling ‘was growing in her heart—a sudden decis- jon in her mind. Slowly she turned and went down to the saloon-deck. _ Abaft the forward house, outside the door of Lawrence Thorpe’s stateroom, Ka- ‘drina found Thorpe and Gordon-Channing 89 in anything but cordial conversation. At sight of her, they both stopped talking and turned to her. Katrina smiled straight into Thorpe’s eyes. “We seem to be rescued,” she said lightly. It was onion-\-DanaiNag who answered — her. “ Mr. Thorpe refuses to be rescued!” he snapped. Katrina’s breath caught. ‘‘ What do you mean?” Thorpe smiled, but-there was a stubborn line about his lips. ‘I have refused to abandon the Bar- buda,” he told her simply. ‘“ There is no real reason why I should. if, as this young man says, the ship is to be towed to Ber- muda, I. see no reason why I should not continue the trip aboard her.” Gordon-Channing turned impatiently to- ward Katrina. “Of course, I have no reason to insist upon Mr. Thorpe’s leaving this hulk if he chooses to remain aboard her. It will be a matter of only four or five days steaming to Bermuda. I dare say - he can stand that, since he has stood living aboard her so long already.”’” He took Ka- trina by the arm. “If you will get what- ever you wish to take with you, Katrina, we'll get you over to the Victorine, along with towing-lines. The second mate will probably come here with a couple of men and remain until we reach port.” Katrina gently disengaged her arm from his hand and stood looking aft, down the starboard alleyway and out, over the after- well deck toward the shattered remains of the poop-deck. ‘““T shall not be leaving the Barbuda, either,” she remarked simply. Lawrence Thorpe started and stared at the girl. Gordon-Channing stared at her, too, but with a different éxpression in his eyes. ‘* Katrina!” he said sharply. ‘ Have you gone mad? Why should you remain aboard this wreck, when we can make you com- fortable on the Victorine? Personally, I fail to see the attraction of the Barbuda.” ““ Naturally. You haven’t been with her, as Mr. Thorpe and I have been. We've COMmicoOokS.COnn