Adventure Magazine Cover, December 18, 1919 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

The Seven Cities of Cibola “What do you say? Fonseca killed? By whom? Is this true?” “As true as gospel.” “Who killed him, where?” “On the night after the tax-gather- ing,” said Andres, grimly. “They found him with my cloak about his head and your dagger between his shoulders.” Mercedes looked at him with the stony glance of total incomprehension. “They accused me, of course. Then they looked for you. But you had dis- appeared. What became of you?’ “T_do—not—know—oh, you must be- lieve me, Don Andres. I have no recol- lection of anything that took place that night after 1 went to bed till I waked on the plains under a skin tent in the hands of our Indians.” Andres looked at her astounded. “They accused me,” he said again. “T see. Then when you were cleared and I was absent they of course blamed me for it—I—God in heaven!” She clutched her temples and stepped back from him. “What is it?” he asked. “It can not be—and yet——”’ Her voice grew tense with fear and her grip on Andres’ arm tightened till it hurt. “T do not epneialeer anything that took place from the moment I went to my room till I woke as from a hideous dream and found myself a prisoner in the hands of the savages. If I am ac- cused of this murder, who will believe my story? And is it not possible that in that time when i do not remember what I did, that ~ “Having first tdken my cloak,” said Andres coolly—‘“no, no! It lies deeper than that. Let me get on with the story. We can settle all that later. Well, then, the fiscal, thank God, being dead, Coro- nado left Culiacan and we with him. We saw by the trail where your fight took place and I found your glove.. Coro- nado went on with the main body but detached a small party to follow you and rescue you. So. we followed your nail and here we are.’ “Followed the trail? you?” “The saints were kind and you left a and how and. How céuuld 97 good trail—in places. We came out in sight of the city yesterday and wondered how we could get word with you when God sent you here. I left Xicotl and ' Fray Marco out yonder on the plain while I came in to steal some ferage for the horse. I took off my shoes so that none could track me to our place. I felt sure you were in the town, but I knew not how to reach you.” He kissed her hand again, sired “How came you here this merning ?”’ he asked in turn. She told him. .“Can you leave the city again this évenirig—after dark?” he asked, “Yes. I will have to do so.’ “Then listen! I will get back to the party as rapidly as I can. We will gather what food we can and fill the water- bags, and rest and feed the horse all day. The others will stay where they are now, in the sand crater eight miles out on the plain. When you come out tonight at sundown I will be at this very ~ spot. Try to bring a little salt and flour with you, for we are like to need it. You must be very. careful. . These are the people who killed the negro Este- vanico, the man who accompanied Fray Marco.” “But,” she said, puzzled, _ Pray Marco went to Cibola. This i is “Acoma, one of the Seven Cities of Cibola or Fray Marco is a liar—and I have my doubts. No, no. Fray Marco did not mean to lie, but he saw the place in a vision, and that vision grew like an air plant—on nothing. I must go now! Look how the day comes on the desert. Remember, this very place at sunset.” She stood still and watched his tall figure fade away among the shadows ; then she turned, took up her empty sieve and went back to the city. xX HAT eight miles of sandy desert trail was like a pleasure jaunt to the happy Andres. [Ever since the trailers had topped that distant ridge of hills - looking toward the city, he had cudgeled his brain to find some sensible method of procedure. He was sure the girl was in the town, i a oe ey ROLLS | comicbooks SAY SUibk at ed ck whsayy 2, Lae “Hts