The Argosy, August 1905 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

“ To summon the third reserve,” ven- . tured the landlord. ans “That wasit. And why, then, are we here?” demanded the cavalryman. Before Perote could reply a startled ery escaped the first soldier. He was examining the lining of his jacket, in which appeared a rent a foot long. He turned fiercely upon the amazed Perote. “So it was you? Now I begin to understand—why we have been asleep. You are a spy in the pay of the Ameri- cans.” He stooped and picked up the wine bottle, at the mouth ef which he smelled carefully. “A thousand devils!” he eried, and yanked his short saber from its scab- bard. Senor Perote retreated toward the ? open door. The man whose jacket had been cut open would surely have at- tacked him with the saber had not the second cavalryman interfered. i “ Wait!” cried he. “If he has hid- : den the: paper and you kill him, we may | not be able to find it.” Then, drawing a pistol, he covered the i trembling landlord. |! “The paper, senor,” he said coldly. / a . Perote crossed himself so rapidly that he almost dropped the candle. “IT know nothing of a paper. God is my witness,senors, this is not my doing,” he stammered. * Do you deny we have been drugged { in this aceursed hole of an inn?” } The click of the pistol hammer so in- creased Perote’s fright that he began to i shake as one strieken by palsy. iF “Tam a patriot.” was all he could ‘he murmur. “So it seems,” said the man holding iy the revolver; “and, being a friend to ‘ Mexico, you took the opportunity to drug our wine and steal a government document. If you do not return the paper, we will kill you here. If you do return the paper, you shall have the benefit of a trial before judges at the capital. It is all one to us which you choose.” > The landlord fell upon his knees. st was only to save you from being faker, and killed by the Americans T permitted Sefior Urrea to drug the ~ ee ine,” he sobbed, a ae ae : i i” 3 ‘; Min e : -* < » a ’ — « ? el . THE ARGOSY. The cavalrymen exchanged glances. “ Senor Urrea?” they repeated in a breath. “Tt was Senor Urrea who told me of the danger you would run did you pro- ceed to Chalco after nightfall. There are bands of Americans lurking beside the highway.” “But who the devil is this Senor Urrea? Was it he, then, who took the paper?” demanded the cavalrymen. The muzzle of the pistol no longer threatened Perote, so he became calmer, “ Sefior Urrea is in the confidence of General Santa Anna,though under ordi- nary circumstances | would not mention it. Many times he has passed through the lines of the invader as water passes through a sieve. If he has taken a paper from you, I know nothing of it; God is my witness that I speak the truth. It was Senor Urrea himself who warned me that you would be seized on the road to Chaleo, and in that case the third re- serve would not receive the order to hasten to Santa Anna’s assistance.” The trembling landlord jerked out the words piecemeal. “And where is this Urrea?” de- manded the cavalrymen. “God alone knows. He has vanished completely,” replied the landlord weakly. The elder of the two soldiers turned to his companion, “It is plain this fellow is either a fool or is lying wonderfully,” said he coldly. “ In any case, it is through him we find ourselves ruined.” Then, with a terrible oath: “For the contents of that paper the Americans would willingly give your weight in silver. If it falls into. the hands of General Taylor, Santa Anna and our army will be eut in a thousand pleees.” “And we will be flogged to death in the public square at the capital,” added his companion fiercely. Perote’s eyes rolled so that only the whites were visible. “ But it was to summon the third re- ferve you ride to Chaleo; you yourself so told me, sefor, , you carried a paper of such valy earns a such value to the even with my life,” he cried, ot comicboo wae Se ~ fy x . Had you but said . have defended you, _? ate af Fa ® ks.com — ~ f