The Argosy, August 1905 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

Sal ale a ‘ we ss on who Rees it. hody. Ife raised his hands to loosen the dreadful pressure upon his windpipe, when a stunning blow on the temple almost deprived him of consciousness. He struggled feebly; the blow was re- peated, a quiver passed through his body, and, freed from the grasp upon his throat, he sank limply to the floor. Haddon stepped carefully over the body and stopped in the dimly lighted hall. “To the right,” he whispered, and the artilleryman obeyed silently. The Virginian turned, closed the door and bolted it. Then, drawing the cowl well down over his face, he walked to the front door and passed through it. The greater portion of the crowd in the street had disappeared, for, the window of the prisoner’s chamber having been covered, no further interest attached to the neighborhood. Haddon passed down the steps and walked slowly away from the few who remained gathered under the window. When he had gone some distance his steps quickened. He turned into another street, traversed it rapidly, almost ran through a short alley, and came once more into a broader and dimly lighted thoroughfare. He no longer wore the brown cassock, but appeared to be a guerrillero wander- ing aimlessly about the town. Por a thousand paces or more he sauntered over the uneven stones, looking straight into the faces of those he met, and once uttering a round Spanish oath as a citizen jostled him. After a time he came opposite a building from the door and windows of which lights were shining. This place he entered without cere- mony and glanced about the low- eeilinged room. This room contained a number of tables, at several of which men were seated. Haddon crossed over to one of the tables and sat down opposite the man This man was Ser- Bradley, who was passing his time blowing rings of tobacco smoke to- "exan looked keenly into his ace. What he read there had been successful- — 1— As to that I do not the barred window in the stone house of Chalco. Tn the mean time Haddon was exam- ining the other oceupants of the room, Only one was a soldier, already more than half drunk; the others were swarthy-skinned ‘civilians, each intent upon his own business. The Virginian turned to his com- anion. “Well,” said he, “ has anything oc- eurred ? ” “Only that I have nearly fallen asleep,” answered the Texan wearily. “ And the horses? ” “Oh, they are in a shed yonder, where we may sleep if we desire.” “Perhaps later, but now there is something to do.” “JT was beginning to fear I should take root here,” responded the Texan dryly. “ Even that soldier over there is too drunk to enter into an argument.” Haddon arose and was turning toward the door when there was the clatter of hoofs without, the rattle of a saber, and a Mexican cavalryman almost hurled himself through the doorway. He glanced quickly about the room, saw what it contained, and addressed Had- don. “T am seeking Captain Valeno, senor; have you seen him to-night?” he demanded. “ No, senor,” replied Haddon; “ if he is here, I have not * The Mexican cavalryman uttered an oath, “I have searched for him in twenty places, for his presence is imperative, There is the devil to pay at head- quarters,” “And how is that?” Haddon ven- tured. The Mexican shrugged his shoul- ders. “And you askme? If you had been there you would understand well enough. It was only half an hour ago a eoeasiee returned to the town and in its midst was his excellency, the General Santa Anna, eae ae As God is my witness, it is rm they found him bound with + lying helpless near the ander is in cComicbooks.co