Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

THREE DAYS OF IT. Mile. Zingaria swept from her room, and then I saw my unwelcome visitor start and open wide his blue eyes. And well he might have done, for the lady ran true to Durand’s description of her. She was elaborately dressed—or over- dressed—in a low-cut gown of some rich stuff. Her frizzed blond hair was piled high, and on her throat glistened a diamond necklace with a sun-burst pendant—a mat- ter costing at least fifteen thousand dollars. It was certainly a stunning piece of jewelry, but only execrable taste would permit a lady to wear such a thing on such an oc- casion. On her bare arms were bracelets and her fingers were loaded with gems. { marked the astonished looks of the few women at the table, and the icy gleam of the stones seemed to chill even Mr. Percy Dare, for he ceased his chatter. -Durand, at the head of the table, gave the actress one glance, then turned to me. ‘* Ever see such a gross exhibition?” he said, sotf®® voice. ‘“‘ Come into my room at about ten and we'll have a cigar.” I nodded. The actress made a few remarks, but little was said after her advent, though perhaps that was not the real reason. The roll of the vessel had become distressing, and even as we sat there three passengers hurriedly left the table. To my surprise and secret delight Mr. Percy Dare was one of them. Evidently he was not a good sailor, and he went directly to his room. Mille. Zingaria did not turn a hair of her blonde wig. After supper I went out, but not to the . upper deck. We had not waited to reach the Virginia capés-before encountering fog; it had already arrived but was not yet dan- gerously thick. There was nothing to see but the darkness, nothing to hear but the creaking of timbers and the roaring crash of water as the steamer’s bow sheared through the swells. The air was raw and un- At a little after ten I went to Captain Durand’s cabin. “It’s going to be an un- comfortable night, old man,” he said, push- ing a box of cigars’toward me. ‘“ Don’t think I'l] turn in unless it clears, By the bye, did you ever see such a figure as the “7ingaria cut? It strikes me that she may 9A a yA | have a purpose in making such an ass of herself—something more than a desire for mere admiration or envy.” ‘“‘ She’s a fool,” I observed. “ Doubtless. Getting used to your pro- fessional posifion?” He laughed. ‘“ Nar- row squeak for Billy, heye I told you you’d have no trouble.” I bit my tongue to keep from letting out an account of what had happened. “ All the same I'll be mighty glad when Billy comes aboard at Savannah,” I returned, and shifted the subject. -We talked or re- — mained silent, as only congenial souls may do without a feeling of constraint. The vessel rolled, the woodwork creaked. I was beginning to feel drowsy, being shy of sleep, and was just finishing a second cigar when eight bells, or midnight, was struck on deck. I said a good night to Durand and had just got to my feet when from the saloon there came a scream—an ear-piercing scream —- and it was from a woman. Though I moved quickly Durand had the door open before I could get to it. The saloon was no longer brilliantly illuminated, there now being but two night lights, one at either end of the long room. At first glance there seemed nothing to account for the cry, for the saloon was empty, but we had not stood there three seconds when the door of Mile. Zingaria’s room was thrown open and a man rushed -out. He took one glance at us; then turn- ing, fled down the apartment. The light was too dim for me to catch his features, though in an instant I knew him. I knew the old brown sweater, the dark trousers, and the rag of a cap. He was Mr. Percy Dare in his old clothes. Hardly had he vanished through the after door leading to the main deck, or waist of the vessel, when Mile. Zingaria appeared. She was wigless now, but otherwise dressed, having changed her costume for a kimono. ‘““My diamonds! My diamonds!” she moaned. Her words cleared the situation. Durand ripped out an oath and started after the fugitive, I behind him, and together we reached the main deck. I caught sight of the shadowy figure of the running man as COM Goo COlini