The Argosy — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

“Her Francts.”’ gor Perhaps she could ! ‘Well, I scrambled out into the water like everyone else and found some sort of accommodation at the inn. At the last moment, how- ever, I changed my mind; only, worse luck, I left my ulster in the little hole of a room that I was to have occupied.” “Were you not very cold without it?” asked Mabel, finding it impossible not to betray some sympathy now that she learnt that she was really indebted to him for the room, as well as, by chance, for the coat. “Oh, yes; but then I am accustomed to the ups and downs of travel ; and the night was soon over.” ‘Did you recover your coat easily in the morning?” “At once; for the lady who had occupied the room had already left it. But now to come to the point of my story. A few days ago I looked for a letter which I had left in the pocket of my ulster, and what do you think I found written at the back of it?” Mabel could think very well and felt herself blushing hotly. ‘¢¢ Many thanks for the loan of the coat!’ ” “What a bold creature!” said Mabel, thinking, that she would’ rather say it of herself than hear it from him. ‘To her amazement all mirth vanished from his face. “Bold!” he cried, looking indignantly at her. ‘‘On the contrary, I think it was very thoughtful and sympathetic. I am sure she is a charming girl.” “Why not a charming old lady ?” “Old!” Then he smiled and looked beyond the bright, listening face as if he saw something almost as sweet. ‘No, I know that she was young. The landlord called her a Szgnorena.” ‘“‘ Everybody is called a Signorina in Italy,” said Mabel hastily, not all his championship having shaken her opinion that she had done a supremely silly thing. ‘‘The very blind beggars who stand propped up against the sunny walls of the Lung’ Arno address every woman of whom they beg as Szgnorena.”’ “No use, Miss Talbot; I have a theory about the writer of those words and you will not laugh me out of it. I do not suppose that she was a young girl, as she was alone, but she was certainly new to travelling or she would have taken the good chances with the bad ones more philosophically.” | What a description of herself, thought Mabel. ‘No, no,” he went on smilingly. “ I have my ideal and I shall keep: to it. And, what is more, if she is in Florence, sooner or later, I shall identify her.” “But you know nothing of her except her handwriting.” ‘“‘ And is not that enough ?” Looking at his keen eyes, and remembering that he was an habitué: of the Keiths’ house, Mabel felt sure that it was quite enough. And. her heart sank within her. COmicoooks.c©