Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

$6 grown to love her—she’s been stanch and faithful—oh, you couldn’t understand! ”’ she broke off. Gordon-Channing was about to make a rejoinder, when Larsen reappeared. The man strode quickly forward and touched his cap as he addressed the officer. “‘ They are signaling from the Victim—the Vict’rine, sir,” he said. Gordon-Channing turned once. more to the girl. “‘ Katrina, won’t you be sensible and come over to my ship with me?” he begged. Katrina shook her head slowly, but de- cidedly. “T shall remain here.” For a moment the young Englishman re- garded her. Then, touching his cap, he turned, followed by Larsen, and went quietly aft and down the ladder to the well- Ideck.; _ Katrina walked over to the railing and leaned there, watching the small boat pull away from the Barbuda’s side. She waved ther hand gently to Gordon-Channing, as he looked back over his shoulder, but he merely motioned a curt return. Thorpe joined the girl. They stood as they had stood many times, their elbows almost touching, looking over the side. “Why didn’t you go?” he asked. Katrina shrugged. “I didn’t want to. I prefer to stay here with my small family. Those sailors would never have taken as good care of the sheep as we have taken. You know it!” she said earnestly. ‘ Be- sides, I love the good old ship. I’m—I’m almost sorry we are—rescued!” A quick mist rising in her eyes, she turned and left Thorpe’s side. It was not the second mate who returned with a handful of men. It was the mate. He set his men to work getting the towing- lines ready. Katrina was puzzled about herself. Clay —-Clay, about whom she had been dreaming since the old days when he and she had built a dream together aboard the Magda- lena—Clay was here with her. She should have been thrilled. She wasn’t. She was Just dismayed. She hadn’t responded to the glances from his blue eyes. There had been no keen joy at the touch of his hand. 4 ah, zs OF ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ™~ She found herself strangely dead—it wag’ the only word she could think of—dead ta him. | The Victorine was steaming slowly Ber- mudaward, the Barbudd. in tow. Downie had sent over'a man to preparé meals for the small party aboard the dis- abled ship. This did away with Katrina’s ‘ housework.” ‘There were no more funny meals to scrape together from the odds and ends in the lazaretto. There was no more setting of the table for two—no more wash< ing of dishes for Thorpe to dry. There was no more work of any sort for her willing hands to do. Gordon-Channing had laughed at the idea of keeping bright-work cleaned en ¢ derelict. In fact, Gordon-Channing had talked down everything that had made life a thing of joy for the two who had found a home aboard the ship. Thorpe avoided the bridge. He avoided the entire forward part of the ship except the bridge-casing, where he occasionally stole to caress the sheep or to feed them, He spent much of his time in his room or aft on the well-deck, smoking his pipe. E€ was here Katrina found him, the second day the Victorine had them in tow. She stood . beside him a moment before he motioned her. She looked up at his profile and found if stern—there was an expression on his faca — such as she had seen the day she had first spoken to him. That was the time he had been thinking of ending it all. ‘Katrina's breath caught. “Larry!” Her voice was low, buf Thorpe heard it. He turned toward her, and she was shocked by the expression in his eyes. ‘‘ Larry, what is the matter? Why have you taken to avoiding me? Have I said or done anything? Qh, it seems as if everything were changed since the. Vic; torine found us! Please tell me what ig the matter?” Thorpe answered her gently. I haven’t been avoiding you. I’ve stepped out of the way because your friend didn’t. take kindly to me. I had no desire to ins trude upon your renewal of an old friend: ship.” \ Katrina’s eyes searched his face for UN CORIC OOO e Captain f “ Nothing. S a (CO