Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

CLAIMED. feur, who already had his directions, closed the door, and in another moment they. were rolling down the Drive. ‘“‘ Leilah wanted to come,” continued the old man composedly, “and I don’t jest reckon it’s for you to forbid or command my gal from doin’ anything she and me choose for her to do. Understand?” ‘* [—guess so.”’ Numb weariness was on him again, and it was pleasant to lean back in soft cush- ions and feel the warm, delicately fragrant nearness of—of some girl he had once known, pitied, and adored. But that, of course, had all been a very long time ago. ° “‘ Fog!” snarled a voice. ‘‘ Cuss it, we'll have to lay in the river till she clears. Might as well have stayed to home!”’ Again roused for a moment, Vanaman saw that the car windows were blanketed with thick white mist, through which the lights of. shops and street lamps glowed in hazy, shifting change. They were in the lower part of the city now, and nearing the docks. 3 3 Presently the car had_rolled through an. open gateway and part way down the long reach of a public wharf. It came to a stand, and the chauffeur appeared at the door. “Will you get out here, sir?” ‘“‘ How in time do I know?” snapped his employer. ‘“ Ain’t ye got any sense at all, Murphy? They’s four or five stairways to this wharf.. Walk along and find which one the Nagaina’s launch is waiting at. I give orders,”’ he added as the man moved off on his mission, ‘ that the launch was to meet us here round nine o'clock. It’s 8.45 now, and she ought to be on hand—somewheres. Cuss the fog! Can’t hardly see ten foot through it down here.” Murphy returned and climbed back to the driver’s seat. “A little further along, Mr. Robinson,”’ he informed over his shoulder, and threw in the clutch. A few seconds later and they had halt- ed again. The tall, dim figure of a man loomed grayly beside the door.. He opened it without waiting for the chauffeur. ~ “This is Mr. Robinson? We are ready for you, sir.” 557 The voice was low, deep, and well modu- lated, though the fog lent it a muffled and far-away sound. “Help me out, can’t ye?” came Robin- son’s eternal snarl. ‘“ That’s better. ye, ain’t ye got any sense to grab my arm that way? Ye durn near broke it!” “T beg your pardon, sir.” The dim figure relaxed its overpowerful grip and stood back a pace or so. Leilah, who was nearest the door on this side, stepped lightly out and turned. ‘Dr. Vanaman? Uncle Jesse, I believe the doctor is ill! He hasn’t moved nor spoken since we left the house.” “Nonsense! Jest asleep again, I reck~ on. Hey, doctor, wake up!” He leaned in and shook at Vanaman’s knee. ‘““T’m coming.” He had heard every word spoken, but because of the heavy drowsiness that was on him had preferred to sit quiet. Some- thing was wanted of him now, it appeared. .He managed to stumble out on the wharf and stand there stupidly quiescent. “‘Where’s that bag? Why, ye left it on the seat! Humph! Well, so Jong as you’re too durn sleepy to know what you’re about, I reckon Ill keep charge of it my- self. That’s all, Murphy. Take the car home—and mind! Don’t ye dasst use up my good tires and gasoline joy-riding round while I’m gone.” “No, sir.” Murphy had touched his cap and was slowly backing along the comparatively nar- row wharf. The head-lamps cast funnel- shaped cones of light through the slowly drifting’ strata of river mist, and one of these cones rested for a long moment on the dim figure that had met the car. The head was bare, the face heavily bearded, and the man seemed to be wrapped in a long, gray cloak. Then his deep, muffled tories were. speaking again: “Will you come aboard now, sir? Every- thing has been prepared, and we are ready to sail with the outgoing tide.” “Sail?” repeated Robinson, Nagaina’s a steamer, ain’t she?” “Oh, yes. But I have been long—very long—asso- “ The Durn. mn (S| Q) NOOK The Nagaina is a steamer.