Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

906 ‘Miss Gonsalvo,” he stated, “ you won- dered why my country interferred with yours. There stands one reason. The con- ditions in this prison symbolize and de- nounce a system of government that the nations of the civilized world cannot con- done or tolerate. “They belong, these methods, in the Dark Ages. With all due respect to you, these things are impossible! Justice is a mockery here, and freedom an unheard-of thing!” Patria had never dreamed that Nelson could be aroused like this; the sincerity of his indignation could not be doubted. And she, in all her sheltered life, had never remotely visualized the actual horrors that brought so vividly to understanding the foundation of truth about Ulua’s frightful- ness, and its dungeons, that had been part and parcel of the traditions of-her up- bringing. She was conscience-stricken, shamed for herself and for her country. With illu- minating understanding she came to know that her father, with his broad humanity, was in disgrace because he revolted against a condition of state that countenanced— nay, practiced—a barbarous despotism such as this. Humble and unnerved, she asked tremendously: “Oh, Mr. Nelson! What can I do?” “Will you tell these men something for me?’’ Nelson begged. “Tell them that the United States of the North holds Vera Cruz, and that with- in two or three days at the most they will be put into better quarters until their cases can be investigated. Any that are innocent or have served their time will be released. “ This filth will be cleaned up at once. I will bring this matter to the attention of General Fenton. ‘These people may as -well understand that we don’t do things this way!” _ And Patria, profoundly moved, willingly complied. * They saw other cells, cells of torture so short and narrow and shallow that a man could neither stand upright within them nor stretch out to full length. One confined in these cells was condemned to stoop as. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. long as he remained there. Gyved chains were fast to the walls; but happily the cells were vacant. A story was current in Vera Cruz that an underground passage from the castle communicated with the city, and that sinis- ter unknown cells lay deep under the sea- scoured battlements. Nelson asked the corporal about them, but he knew nothing of their location, al- though he had heard the story and had seen a narrow passageway that led to some uninvestigated spot. He showed them the entrance. With a dim lantern they under- took its exploration. | The way descended abruptly over a foot- ing of slimy mud that sucked at their feet with sickening clutch. In the feeble rays of the lantern, fat rats lumbered out of the way, slinking into crevices at the foot of the dripping walls. The passageway thickened with gloom and oppression, and the noisome stench became almost wmbear- able. Protecting their breathing with handker- chiefs, the corporal- and Nelson pushed ahead—for Patria had remained outside— until they were halted by a blind wall. The lantern, held close to it, disclosed solid blocks of masonry pointed with mortar un- mistakably but a few days old. So the secret of the castle had been securely buried. Once more in the blazing sunshine, the contrast was painful. Nelson felt as though he had been through an inferno. He drew into his lungs great gasps of the pure air. But already the guardians of the castle were taking prophylactic measures. A gasoline pump had been installed and half a dozen prisoners under guard were direct- ing a slashing stream of sea-water from the nozzled hose into the various cells. They washed up unwholesome surges of litter and filth, and the heavy hydraulic attack beat upon foul walls from under the crumbling dirt of which materialized scrawled pictures and queer Spanish and Indian names, in mute witness to men who had once inhabited the cells in some for-— gotten time. 7 A crude presentation of the Virgin with her Infant in her arms, beneath which was JOOKS: (ECO AMINE (E@)