Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

ol THE DERELICT. ment. ‘He stretched out his arms toward her. ‘“‘ Katrina!” he said wonderingly. “I never knew I loved you until | found you in his arms! Katrina—it was as if he had stolen something of mine—mme/ Then I knew. Oh, my dear! You—I love you so!” And then she felt his arms around her— gentle arms, but arms that held in them a feeling of eternity. She yielded, raised her head until her face touched his. Her arms _ went slowly up, about his neck. Eight bells had just gone, next morning, when Katrina came out on deck. She was dressed in something soft and clingy and womanly, and her eyes were soft, too, as they found Thorpe’s watching for her. They met with a long gaze and a slight touching of hands. ‘* Katrina!” the man breathed. are a different woman this morning! radiant, radiant creature! ” Her eyes met his bravely. ' _**T’m happier than I’ve ever been,” she answered simply. “Happy?” Thorpe choked. happy I want to live forever!” They turned to the rail and leaned against it, looking toward the far horizon. So they stood until interrupted -by the man who acted as steward for them. He touched his cap and told them breakfast was wait- “ You You c¢ I’m SO ing. “ Has the mate eaten?” Thorpe asked. _ The man grinned broadly. ‘“ The mate isn’t aboard, sir.” Katrina and Thorpe started. “What do you mean?” Thorpe ques- tioned. “ He signaled the Victim early this morn- ing, sir. You must have been sleeping hard (The U v 93 or you'd have heard him getting away in the small boat. Said he needed medical attention. He’s gone to the Victim, and the second mate is in charge here.” Apain the man grinned at Thorpe. “ Excuse me for saying so, sir, but you sure got one awful wallop in your fists, to put the mate down and out. He’s a husky, himself. He looked—” At a motion from Thorpe, the man was silenced. But he grinned as at.a pleasant remembrance as he went inside. Katrina turned and looked into Thorpe’s eyes. “ My dear,” he said lightly, answering her unspoken question, ‘he deserved it. He said something.” He paused, then laughed gently, gladly. ‘I have found out something very valuable to me!” he said as they started toward the dining-saloon. ““ What is that?” ‘‘ That I’m no longer ‘ Physically unfit ’!”” Thorpe replied, his eyes dancing. Katrina squeezed his arm and pressed her cheek against his coat-sleeve. As they reached the entrance, Thorpe stopped her and looked down into her eyes with mock sternness. “No more cities for me! We'll gO to California, and can have elbow room. We can have a little place somewhere in the wilds—and raise sheep and things.” “Things ’!”? she questioned, softly. He caught her hands to his breast, his eyes misting over. ‘ Katrina!” he whispered tenderly. _ She felt her tears rising, but she smiled through them. “ Life is wonderful!” she breathed fervently. ‘I want to teach an- other generation to love it!” And they went into breakfast as the look- out on the Victorine sang out: ‘“‘ Land-ho!” end.) U U LOVE IS NOT BLIND BY EMILY BRAMHALL [OVE is not blind, but, seeing, He smiles, he beckons, pleads. They are the blind who follow, _Unseeing, where Love leads. COLL OOO UN S (CO