Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

514 -the upturned collar of his ragged coat tight about his throat, caught her gaze. It was suggestive, in some way, of the bestiality of his whole presence. Her eye traveled over him to the bits of sacking tied about the lower parts of his legs, over his trousers, like leggings. She had seen tramps often enough, but never had she had anything but a feeling of pity for them—until now. This closer associa- tion with.the breed, and the menace that it carried, was different. She still clung to ‘the thought that the man would not actu- ally injure her. Her chin firm, she took a tentative step. She ignored his demand for the lavaliere. ‘““ Get out of my way,” she said sharply. He took the cigar butt from his mouth, and rolled the soggy mess between thumb and forefinger. “The: jewelry,” he nodded. From the tail of his eye he marked Dorothy. He could not waste too much time. She might recover her nerve at any minute, and speed for aid. “ The jewelry, an’ y'can go.” sae Again he advanced. Jacqueline stopped. She could not permit him to touch her. She retreated slowly as he came on. ** Look out,” he said suddenly, halting. “Wre gettin’ near the edge, girly—you'll fall over.” That would be going too far—to drive her off the rock. The side to which she had withdrawn before him was only a twenty-foot drop, but even that might kill her. He didn’t want a murder charge against him. | Startled by the nearness of this added danger, Jacqueline glanced over her shoul- der. Another step and she would have been over the edge and tumbling to serious injury at least. | It was then that the closeness of the corner in which she was impressed her. The determination of the man crowded its way into her understanding. She saw that if she were to escape she must fight. She gaged his bulk. He was not much taller than she, but he was probably fifty pounds heavier. Once she got into his grip she would have little chance, but if she could evade him she could outrun him. She. had learned at basketball. THE ARGOSY. Anxiously she looked again to see whether Dorothy had gone. Dorothy had _ not moved, and with an impatient motion Jacqueline concluded to press matters to an end. She gathered herself for a shifty jump To the right she had a space of fifteen feet or so. -To the left there was only a few feet be- tween her and the chasm. ‘She was tens- ing to throw herself to the right, then swing in the opposite direction, as the tramp sprang to meet her feint. Craftily he guessed what was in her mind. | “Look out, girly,” he repeated. 6c YV re—”’ His words caused her to look round once more. While her gaze was averted he rushed and seized her, pulling her away from the brink. As his arm encircled her, Jacqueliné pressed her elbows against his chest to fend him off, and rained her fists on his face. Cursing while he turned his head from her blows, he dragged her toward the center of the rock. His free hand tore down her arm, and he hugged her close to him, pinioning her, and reaching for the diamonds that had ex- cited his cupidity. Then it was that the situation passed beyond control. Shuddering and gasping with horror at the touch of his foul hands, at the contami- nating pressure of his body against her own, the girl struggled desperately. Smashing her head forward, she brought blood to his lips. Snarling in fury, he brought his right hand to her throat and thrust her head back, at the same time bending her body beneath his weight. So he held her, his bloated face glaring | close to hers. And with the warmth of her supple young body playing upon his senses, his face became more hideous as his tongue ranged slowly over his lips in a slavery mingling of tobacco juice and blood. Jacqueline’s brain reeled at what she saw in the brute’s face. Only then did it come to her that she was in serious dan- ger—that she was fighting for—everything! Her distended eyes saw, monstrously magnified, the bloated face that moved (S| Q) mM DOOK