The Argosy, August 1905 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

bo Se ee ie le a en he Not ‘rntil ine reanii ‘the vicinity ‘of San Antonio will there be dang er of meeting bands of paren said he. “Which I shall take care to avoid as T-would the devil,” answered Haddon with conviction. “But if it should happen any one should desire to stop the sefior, and to ask unpleasant questions, it would be well to know how to answer,” continued Perote grimly. He took from his belt the knife and a pistol and handed them to the Amer- ican. “Thanks, my friend,” said Haddon. He put one foot in the stirrup and swung himself into the saddle. As he was in the act of gathering up the reins, Perote laid his hand upon his knee. “ A moment, senor; yeu have forgot- ten something which should not be neg- lected,” said he quietiy. Haddon checked the impulse to urge the horse forward. “Tt is the sign by which you may know me afterward; there are other Perotes in Mexico, nothing. But-a moment longer, senor,” concluded the innkeeper grimly. And at the same instant a light flared up between his fingers. The young officer looked down in mute surprise. With a quick movement Perote slipped off the bandages, and held the light so that it shone full upon his face. Haddon uttered a sharp exclamation. Across the man’s countenance the dis- figuring X showed hideously livid, framing his face, as it were, between two unsightly bars stamped upon the flesh. At that instant the light went out. CHAPTER LV. SENOR PEROTE LOSES SOME PROPERTY. Senor Perore stood several minutes in the gloom, listening to the rapidly receding sound of hoof beats upon the hard roadway. Then, as one who had carefully planned out all beforehand, he _ set about putting into action a deliber- 2 so a name signifies . * — > > = ’ * ¥ —_ ae <->” if Fey i —* = = " + * ~ 2 His first care was to take away chat ladder and return it to its place behind the house. Haying done so, he returned to the stable, reéntered it, and opened the rear door; he then passed along the line of horses, untied the halter of each one, and drove the animals inio the open air. Returning for the fourth time that night into the shed, he gathered to- gether a heap of straw, struck a light, and, bending down, deliberately applied the flame to the combustible material. Having set the spark which would destroy a portion of his own property, Perote hastened back to the inn, bolted the rear door behind him, and, making certain by glancing out of the window that the blaze from the burning straw had communicated with the woodwork of the stable, he threw off his jacket. Then, rufling his hair, he rushed. with loud cries into the main portion of the tavern, calling upon the sleeping cay- alrymen to bestir themselves. Aroused suddenly by so great a com- motion, the Mexicans appeared, intense alarm written upon their faces. The captain seized Perote by the shoulder. “In God’s name, senor, have they then returned?” he shouted to the ex- cited landlord. Senor Perote shook himself free. “How can I tell? But it is more than possible, for the barn is on fire,” he eried. At the same moment he threw open the front door. > The Mexican officer was as quick to throw himself upon the swinging portal and close it hastily. “What would you do? If the house is surrounded by the Americans they will resh in and take us where we stand,” cried he. “Out!” shouted Perote, “and fall upon them. Do you not perceive your horses will be roasted alive?” ".a2 Captain seized himself by the hair. * Mother of God! Yet we will be shot one by one as we rush forth; it is as hight as day out there.” “€ And my barn, with a quantity of fodder and half a season’s cutting of oats, is being RO cried Perote exaedy : E re? vam a . * “* = a, % un one o Gos Cori