Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1920)

Photoplay Magazine 41 Margaret uttered a quick, cry and ran to her husband, putting her arms on his shoulder. "But if it wasn't safe for them, it isn't safe for you," she exclaimed. Armstrong kissed her dispassionately on the forehead and put her aside. "But it is my duty," he said, hurrying into his climbing clothes. Duty! Again duty! Always duty! And duty to some one else who was sick or dying or in danger, with never a thought for their own love that was dying for want of his care! Margaret left the room and went to sit alone on the piazza. Her hands were icy cold and her eyes burned with fever. Her cheeks flushed red with the shame of her chagrin. When Armstrong came to bid her good-by and tel.l her that the rescue party would not return until the following day, she kissed him with eyes that did not see. She went back into the hotel without waiting to watch him up the path and wave a farewell. Lieutenant Von Steuben was up and about early the following morning. Before the curio shop where he had been the morning previous with Margaret and her hu.sband was fairly open the officer was there bargaining with the deaf old dealer for the boa which Margaret had admired. Von Steuben returned to his room and awaited his time until the halls were empty and every guest on the floor save Margaret had gone down to breakfast. Then he stepped cautiously to her door, box in hand. The lieutenant's low rap interrupted Margaret in her dressing. Thinking it one of the maids, she tossed back the locks please go ! " In Ker desperation, shp would liave promised anything. Sepp looked at the officer ■with accusing eyes. With a halfsmothered oath. Von Steuben turned to his own room again. she was brushing, threw a chiffon negligee about her shoulders and unlocked the door. The Austrian wedged the toe of his boot in the narrow opening and flung the door open. When Margaret saw who was outside she tried to slam the door shut again. But Von Steuben had taken a step forward. With one hand he reached the satiny box around the edge of the door. "See," he said, "I think of you the first thing in the morning." Almost without thinking Margaret took the box in her hand and looked at it uneasily, scarcely knowing what to say. Von Steuben took her silence for an acceptance. He squeezed himself through the door, closed it again and stood with his back against it." Margaret set down the box and ordered the officer from her room. He grinned insinuatingly. "Well., lady, I am here." He reached forward suddenly, grasped Margaret's arm and drew her to him. She struggled to be loose, but he held her powerless. She dared not scream. "Please let me go — please — please," she gasped. For answer Von Steuben circled her head with his arm, forced up her chin and kissed her full on the mouth. "That's better than a husband who doesn't love you, isn't it?" he gloated. "What if he should come novi' — there, I hear him." Margaret fought in Von Steuben's arms as they heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Von Steuben dropped his hol.d and stood tense and still with Margaret. But the footsteps want past and died away. Presently a door slammed down the hall. Von Steuben, coward that he was. was glad to leave. But to save his face, he crushed Margaret more closely to him and whispered, "But I'll not let you go until you promise that I may come again sometime when we can be alone." "I promise, I promise," Margaret answered eagerly. "Only please go now, go, go." In her desperation she woul.d have promised anything. Von Steuben left the room jauntily with the air of a man who has won. Margaret sat down to stare at herself, very white and shaken, in the mirror. Half an hour later she was aroused by the tolling of the churchbell. She went to the window. The villagers were hastening toward the path down which the rescue party would come. She hastily threw on her clothes and ran to join the people. It was a solemn procession that came winding down the narrow path. The rescuers carried improvised biers on which lay the three boastful Americans. Dr. Armstrong and Sepp followed in the rear. As Margaret watched the saddened group come toward her her overwrought nerves gave way. Erich Von Steuben, who had followed her from the hotel, rushed to her side and caught her in his arms as she fell in a dead faint. The commotion drew the attention of the people away from the approaching party. Some one called to Dr. Armstrong. He strode to the knot of people gathered about, brushed them aside and took Margaret's limp form from the Austrian's arms, carrying her to the Croce Bianca. (Continued on page 126)