Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

THE CARAVAN rude. Edith Rand’s frankness, however, was part of herself. Monsey eyed his cigarette. The lines of his handsome face had hardened. ‘““'Yes?”? Once more he touched her hand. “TI will tell you more. You will come to Kashmir—the garden of the earth. Your beauty will be like a jewel in a splen- did diadem. I will talk to you there.” His face was near to hers. Edith with- dfew her hand quietly and moved away. Monsey’s personality, attractive while he had been describing the wonders of India, had become suddenly unpleasant to her. She had quick instincts. She felt the vi- tality of the man, and the vigor of his will. Unafraid, she was still disturbed. ‘My aunt would be glad to see you,” she responded coolly. “ We are going to In- dia.”’ Monsey laughed. “Tt is kismet. I, also, am bound there.” “By England? Daddy is right anxious to get there, and we will cross from Que- bec.” Momentarily, Monsey’ s brow clouded. Then he smiled agreeably. _ “Voild—see how fate divides us. I go by way of the tiresome C. P. R., and the steamers of that celebrated railway.” He fell into step at her side. ‘ You travel east —TI west.” : They had come to the edge of the bul- warks. Standing on the uncertain footing, the girl was staring down at the river- front, watching the moving dots that were people five hundred feet below. Height had no terror for her. The man braced himself against the wind puffs, watching her. Outlined against a cloud-flecked sky, her flushed face and fly- ing hair were a study for the talented brush of an artist. She had moved away from his supporting arm. ‘This wind is treacherous,” he warned, but the girl did not draw back. “ Still, do not forget. I have had a dance—one. I will have another at Srinagar. Will you promise? I will wait for your coming.” Edith wondered fleetingly what was the man’s occupation in life, that he could await the travels of a woman. ‘Give me your hand on it,” he anita 15 She moved to take his hand. In that instant a fresh gust of wind swept the ram- parts. It buffeted the girl, and she swayed, with a quick cry of dismay. One slender foot, high-heeled, slipped. Edith fell to her knees on the very edge of the sheer drop to the rocks below. The icy crust of the snow afforded her no grasp, and the weight of her body drew her downward. She slipped an inch far- ther, and her cry choked to silence. Her heart fluttered and paused, and every nerve in her body tingled into swift pain. Then she felt a firm clutch on her out- stretched hand. She was jerked violently back and upward. Monsey had acted with the readiness of a man of quick wits. He had caught the girl’s hand in his own, at the same time throwing himself back upon the rampart. His free hand swept behind him, to clutch the edge of the stone wall which lined the inner facé of the fortification. By exerting his strength he pulled the girl back swiftly while she still lay upon the snow. In doing this, he had run small risk himself. Still, he had acted promptly, daringly. Edith felt herself caught around the waist and dropped through space. She closed her eyes, still feeling Monsey’s grasp. When she opened them, she looked full into the man’s face bent over hers. Monsey’s effort had caused him to lose his balance and jump down the two yards into the snow of the moat, on the side of the rampart away from the cliff. He held the girl’s body pressed close to his. Into his eyes had leaped again the hot flame. “ Kismet,” he laughed softly. For an in- stant his grasp tightened, and Edith felt his warm breath on her lips. Confused by her fall, she clung to him. Vaguely she won- dered whether he had kissed her. Then she freed herself and stood upright. Monsey stepped back, his eyes triumphant. “It is the will of the gods that I should be of service to you,” he said. ‘“ You will not forget the dance at Srinagar now, Miss Rand.” Edith walked back along the moat si- lently beside him. She was grateful, yet provoked. She could still feel the impress OF THE DEAD. cComiclbooks.com