Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

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8 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY step, and turned to face her, with a question in his eyes. Lucy Allerton, blushing, held out both her hands to him. "You asked me, a few moments ago," said she, "whether I had learned to care for you a little. It is more than that. I think I have always loved you, too. Your sort of man was also my ideal. I — I am proud to call you my knight. And I will give you a token, if you wish it, to carry with you on this mission into Africa on which you are bound." His eyes alight, Alec drew her into his arms. "What is it to be." he asked — "this token ?" "My brother," Lucy answered. She repeated the story which George had just told her of his disgrace. "Will you take him with you and make a man of him, for my sake?" Alec's face grew grave. "It will be taking him into danger," he warned. "I cannot tell what the feelings of the natives will be toward us. And then there is the unhealthiness of the climate to be thought of; the rigors of day-long tramps through the wilderness, all sorts of hardships to be undergone. You are not afraid to send him through that?" "I am not afraid," she answered simply, "if he is with you." And Alec, as he bent to seal their betrothal with the first kiss, promised that he would take her brother with him and do all that lay in his power to effect his reformation. "Gad, but it's hot !" George Allerton spoke petulantly. He sat with Alec McKensie and Doctor Adamson, an old friend of Alec's, who had accompanied him on most of his expeditions into the unexplored regions of the globe, in a tent in the heart of the African jungle. Alec, who was writing, and the doctor, who was mending the strap of one of his leather puttees, both ignored the young man's remark. After a moment or two of silence, George demanded: "Can't I have a drink?" Alec looked up, with a frown. Hitherto George Allerton had pleaded on his knees before the explorer for his drink almost as a child, and this was the first time he had asked even this boldly. Was he returning to his old self? "You've already had your day's allotment of brandy from the medicine chest, with the rest of us," he said sternly. "It's all you'll get." At that moment, the tent flap lifted, and the other member of the party entered. "The chief of the tribe wants to see you, McKensie," announced Mclnnery in a surly tone. "It's for some custom or other these tribes insist on following, to speed the departing guest. We're all expected to attend." Alec rose, putting away his writing materials, and went toward the opening of the tent, followed by Doctor loved, due to the dimness of the i ] terior of the tent. With a shrug, 1] t went out after Mclnnery and DoctJ Adamson. George was alone. He g up, after a moment, and tiptoed to til medicine chest. "I'm going to have a drink," he rau tered to himself, "and a good stiff on too !" ■ He drew the cork out of a thre i quarters-full bottle of brandy, ar' raised it to his lips. The first drink w; followed by another, and that by a thir A half hour later, he hurled the empr] bottle to the ground. His cheeks wei flushed, and his eyes glittered with a George had pleaded on his knees before the explorer, almost as a child. Adamson. Looking back over his shoulder at George Allerton, Alec inquired : "Coming, George?" . "No, I'm not !" snapped the young man. "You and the doctor and Mclnnery go ahead. I'll stay here, out of the heat." Alec did not detect the crafty light in the eyes of the brother of the girl he unnatural brightness — he was hopelessh drunk. Swaying unsteadily as he stood in the center of the tent, George smiled tipsily at some thought that occurred to him. "Why not?" he murmured thickly, half aloud. "We're going to clear out of here this afternoon — Alec's work is