Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

24 der would help her. What a silly farce it ‘was! She had almost despaired; the mysteri- ous, menacing will of a hundred and ten million people, working through that vague machine known as law for the moment had frightened her, shaken her nerve, brought her face to face with deportation and ruin. _And then Waldo—little Waldo, of all peo- ple—had come to save her—to snatch her from exile in a dreaded Russia where an- archy reigned. An anticlimax! An acci- dent. The accident of birth, his citizenship -~that made him an American and thus made her one. It was Veeder’s face that checked her, Veeder’s face looking as she had never seen it before. The dropped jaw, the staring black eyes, its utter imbecility of expression riveted her attention on the two men. “What was that, again?” Veeder was croaking. “ Why, just like I told you, Mr. Veeder,” THE ARGOSY. Harrison beamed. “I read every word this wife of mine said and wrote. She made me see the light. Yes, sir, she showed me what kind of a country we live in! I got down into Mexico. Served the cause, com- rade, just like you. Got to be one of Villa’s agents along the border. I’m not boasting though—all due to my wife. She taught me what kind of a country I belonged to and when I got my eyes opened I said: ‘ To hell with America!’ and I did what any real .man would of done—”’ ‘ Well—well!”” Veeder prompted, dry- lipped. | | Veeder’s sharp words and his wife’s hard gaze made the little man falter momen- tarily. ‘“Why,” he stammered, “ why, .thinking about what Zenia said—her making me see the truth that" way—lI went before a court and regularly got myself made a citizen of Mexico—gave up my American citizenship. Did that for you, Zenia!”’ WANDERLUST WATCHED the ships come in to-day From far-off ports into the bay: From out queer, heathen Hindustan, From out mysterious Turkestan, From out the distant Hebrides, _ Unchartered isles and trackless seas; | Each bark a wondrous argosy Of parrots, teak-wood, ivory; Some flung out black smoke to the breeze, Some carried masts of Norway trees; One was a Noah’s ark, and one Came battered by a pirate’s gun— And oh, their names with romance fraught! The Sylph, the Guelph, the Argonaut; Black men I. saw—huge, dark as sin— They swam in sweat and reeked of gin; I saw a captain, and he swore With choicest oaths from every shore; And there were men with grey eyes grim From gazing at the skyey rim.— I watched the ships come in to-day From far-off ports into the bay— And -I was tempted sore this day To go and be a stowaway. Bernard Guilbert Guerney. OOOLK C©