Life — October 28, 1915 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

800 stepped back. Haughtily she faced him and spoke shrilly in an Indian dialect. Despite this, her manner reassured Lawrence. Apparentls, she was in a mad rage. In reality, she was telling Vicente to take the underground passage from Ulloa Castle to the hospital and warn Diaz. “Do this,” she was say- ing, “and I'll see no more of Fernando. You will have me—you alone—for li She ended with what seemed a torrent of invective. Vicente played his part— with his heart afire, he seemed to Lawrence merely scornful. “Hasta la vista, sefor.” Vicente, triumphant, sauntered toward the castle. “Ugh!” said La Pava, with deep loathing. “He is but carrion. Because I do not give myself to him he would destroy his rival.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Will you take me to the hospital?” “We are going there now. “Tam very tired,” she sighed, leaning against him. “I grow faint.” They walked slowly, Lawrence giving her the support of his arm. Finally, nearing the hospital, they turned into a plaza where the street lamp had been “DIE * shot down. In a flash La Pava swung under his arm, drew his pistol, wrenched herself away and covered him. “Ah! You are not so quick this time. Don't move! You Americans say you will shoot, and you do not shoot.” She fired twice, rapidly, over his head. “ But I have still four shots, and I am a Mexican.” A mounted figure, leading a second horse, whirled up and reined in with a jolt. Fernando Diaz showed his white teeth, smiling cordially, as he took the automatic from his mistress and leveled it at Lawrence. “What say you, querida? Vicente. Shall I do away gringo?” La Pava mounted as Diaz spoke. “Let him live,” she said, “for he is a brave man. Adios, seitor’ The machine guns are safe through the lines. Take my advice, teniente, and never trust a woman— Diaz's spurs dug deep, and sparks flew from the cobbles. “——Unless,” La Pava laughed back through the darkness, “unless, seitor, she loves you.” I finished with this Mother's Birthday Present By Carrie Seever IZZIE was sitting in a corner count- ing her money. “ Thirty-five, Kitty, thirty-five cents.” When Lizzie’s mother away, washing, she made her her confidant. “ Talk about mama'll be s‘prised when she gits this birthday present, My-i! Third one I'm givin’ her—when I was five I gave her peanut candy ; only she didn't come home 'til the peanuts were picked out. Second time I gave her a blue hair ribbon; blue looks nice on my red hair. Now I'm seven— twice seven an’ I won't have these freckles an’ long skirt'll cover my skinny legs, an’,” she continued, getting up and trying to stand dignifiedly, “my name'll be Elizabeth. Then I'll give mama a’ album! S'long, Kitty.” Out of the door she skipped, and down the alley toward the market. She forgot about the market when she reached the corner of the alley, for there stood a cart loaded with clocks, vases, jewelry, everything to satisfy birthday wish—even an album. Lizzie joined the crowd that had gath- ered to hear what the owner of these articles had to say, She listened a mo- ment and then danced for joy—the man, who seemed to be all stomach and voice, one’s was actually inviting them to take a twenty-five-dollar watch for five cents. “ Now, ladies and gentlemen,” said the stomach and voice, “any article on this counter for five cents—every piece o° chewing gum wins somethin’. You want to try, mister? Now, folks, watch him read the name 0’ one o’ these handsome Presents from the slip o’ paper ‘round that gum. Gold-handled umbreller? Here you ar Who's goner win the other one? Nothin’ fakey. That's right, try your luck"—to a man who was edging to the front. “Diamond stud? You're lucky—only a few more diamond studs left. Next! Anyone else? Don’t stop "cause you won a’ umbreller. That's it. Whatcher got now? Gold bracelet? Five rubies and four emeralds in it, ladies and gents.” Lizzie began to realize that she wasn't dreaming—three prizes gone already! “Lady, don’t you want this linen table cloth? Fifteen dollars retail. Or this album that plays music when you're look- in’ at your loved ones? Lizzie gasped—there was only one album. “I want to win the album, shouted. “Come right up with your nickel. Here's a gal knows a good thing even if she did swallow two teeth.” Had this remark been made about Lizzie’s teeth at another time she would have fired a red-headed retort, but now she thought only of the album. She exchanged her five pennies for the gum, and with trembling fingers unrolled the tissue paper and let the stomach and voice read the name from the slip of paper—" Lead pencil,” was announced. Poor Lizzie’s heart sank, and the stomach and voice was telling the crowd that there were a few pencils in the lot, and showed them a box containing five pencils, At this Lizzie cheered up—she decided that if no one else won those pencils and she was unlucky five more times she would still have five cents left with which to win the album. She won five more pencils, had given a last look at the last five pennies, un- rolled the slip of paper and given it to her nearest neighbor to read—‘Lead was read. ince they ain't no more pencils I'll take the album,” announced Lizzie tri- umphantly, “Got more, sissy,” said the stomach and voice, taking a few from his pocket and placing them in the box, handing one to Lizzie. The crowd jeered and left. Lizzie was too dazed to go, and, sitting on a soapbox in the alley, stared at the album. She heard the shrill whistle the stomach and voice gave, and a few minutes later saw the winners appear, returning the articles they had won. She wondered why they did this, and, as a new crowd was coming, drew closer to the cart. She listened again to the same ha- rangue and saw the umbrella-winner take another chance. She gave a start when he thundered “umbreller"—she saw through the performance, and her cheeks glowed with indignation. “Ladies and gentlemen,” she screamed, “this is a fake business—that man won a’ umbreller an’ brought it back, an’ so did the other man.” By this time she was out of reach of the stomach and voice, who threatened to knock two more teeth down her throat. But Lizzie’s voice was not out of reach, and the crowd could hear her yelling, body else wins penny lead pencils. crowd laughed and left. Lizzie waited for the next crowd, and, coming from her hiding place, gave them the same information. After the crowd had gone the stomach and voice caught Lizzie, who, while try- ing to free herself from his grasp, bumped (Continued on page 829) comicbooks.com