The Argosy, August 1905 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

18 THE ARGOSY. An hour or more passed. A watery moon began to climb the heavens, and a weird silence brooded over the town. The soldiers guarding the horses swore softly and looked at the somber out- lines of the silent tavern and beyond to the darker line of lofty mountains. They could imagine their comrades sleeping soundly, while they must cool their heels under the stars. Several hours passed. The guards, grown drowsy, leaned against the wall of the stable. At the farther side of the inn, beyond their range of vision, a window on the ground floor had been left open to admit the night air. Suddenly from out of this window issued a ery, which not only aroused the sentinels, but half the sleeping inhabi- tants of the town of Chalco. This cry was repeated; so piercing was it that many who heard it began to cross them- selves. A great commotion in the tavern arose, and several lights flashed out. : The officer whom Perote had accom- panied a half day’s journey northward ran against the landlord in the hallway. “In God’s name, what was that?” he asked in a trembling voice. “Tt is only God who knows, sefor,” answered the landlord in a frightened tone. ~“ But it came from the room oc- cupied by the sefor who accompanied you.” Without waiting to ask further ques- tions, the Mexican cavalry officer rushed to the door of Captain Amador’s room. it was locked, but groans sounded be- hind the panels. The officer waited a second, then put his knee against the door and burst it open. While such things were occurring in the house, the figure of a man dropped lightly from the sill of the open window to the ground and glided away in the darkness. Having gone a safe distance, the man stopped and began deliberately to clean a knife by thrusting the blade repeat- edly into the ground, When this was accomplished to his satisfaction and he had returned the weapon to his belt, he looked up, so the faint light of the moon fell upon his Ossed y white bandages, and below — " ,- in + a 4 ‘ 4 Tot ™ 47 — oe ™ ‘ » uu. ta o - the bandages the man’s lips were smiling horribly. It was Senor Perote. CHAPTER V. THE MAN WITH THE DOUBLD SCAR. Tur general pushed aside the map he was studying, and, turning upon his camp-stool, nodded to the young officer behind whom the tent flap had just fallen. What he saw was six feet of brawn and muscle, a pair of broad shoulders, surmounted by a sober, clean-cut face bronzed almost to the coppery hue of an Indian. “A splendid type of the Virginian gentleman,” commented the general mentally; then: “T have called you, Lieutenant Had- don, on a case of identification: the identification of a Mexican who claims to possess your friendship.” A look of perplexity flashed across the young officer's face. “T have had occasion to meet a good many Mexicans since coming south, sir, but as for friendship with any of them, that is another question,” said he quietly. “ However, the man insists,” an- swered the general, “and there was nothing to do but to confront him with you. A short time ago he walked de- liberately into the lines, and when stopped by the guard demanded to be taken to Lieutenant Haddon, of Har- ney’s Horse. A most unprepossessing rogue, I can assure you, sir, but the re- quest being an unusual one, I have ordered him held in readiness to meet — you here.” He struck sharply upon the table, and an orderly appeared in the tent opening, to whom the commander gave the order that the prisoner be brought again be- fore him. During the moments which followed, and during which he waited for the ap- pearance of the man who had given his name to the euard, a elearer inkling of the matter came to the Virginian, the remembrance of that wild-night’s ride ” from the little Mexican i high- road to Chalco. nn. on ae = * ~ =? J SommeweonKs-COU i %