The Argosy, August 1905 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

“He has summoned Mazatlan before him, and it is rumored that those who did the thing were guerrilleros of his command.” “And Captain Valeno?” Haddon could think of nothing else to say. “Oh, he is wanted, too. You know what the general thinks of him. If he should come in here, tell him what I have told you.” In another moment he was through the door and in the saddle. Every one in the room except the drunken soldier was upon his feet. Haddon turned to his companion, but paused at the expression upon the Texan’s face. “You heard him?” whispered Ser- geant Bradley hoarsely. “ There can be no mistake? ” * You heard what he said,” answered Haddon, making a gesture of caution. “Come, we must get out of here to headquarters.” He was thinking that Mazatlan would be there. Sergeant Bradley followed him across the room and through the door. * What ails you, man?” asked Had- don sharply. “It appears that it was Santa Anna whom we relieved of his disguise on the road out yonder, but what of that? He answered as well as another.” The Texan seemed ‘struggling to speak. “You ask me that?” he finally blurted out. “It was Santa Anna himself I held under the point of my knife, and—I did not stick 1t between his ribs. Mother of God!” Haddon began to quiet him. “We are not murderers,” said he, “and to kill a defenseless man except for an imperative reason is murder.” “ But it is not murder to kill a rep- tile. Yow were not at the Alamo,” groaned the Texan bitterly. Haddon laid his hand on his arm. * Come,” said he, * it is too late to ery over such matters; our business is at headquarters. It is Mazatlan we are after, not Santa Anna.” *“ Pardon, sir,” said the other quietly ; “but [ was thinking—well, you see, my father and two brothers were at the Alamo. Let us do as you say, and go to headquarters to get a look at this Ma- zatlan.” . CHAPTER IX. THE MAN IN THE BRAIDED JACKET. To find the headquarters of General Santa Anna was not difficult. The house in which the dictator of Mexico had established himself stood on the southern outskirts of Chaleco in the middle of a small plaza. The building was of stone, two- etoried, and was surrounded on all sides by a wide veranda. Any one walking along this veranda could look into a number of narrow windows opening into the chambers on the first floor. Haddon and his companion reached the outskirts of the plaza without being stopped or questioned. In fact, they were but a part of a considerable crowd of soldiers and civilians who, attracted by the rumor that something unusual had occurred, desired to be as near head- quarters as possible. Most of the curious ones stopped at the edge of the plaza, content to gaze across the open space at the lighted win- dows, but the two Americans had no in- tention of watching from a distance the forms of the numerous persons who con- stantly appeared and disappeared be- tween the lights and the inner fringe of the crowd. The question was to be solved, how- ever, ot how they could safely get nearer the house. The plaza was guarded; any one attempting to cross it must give a good reason for so doing before being permitted to proceed. The solution of this riddle proved to be not so difficult as at first appeared. Couriers had been despatched throughout the town to summon _ to headquarters certain officers of the Mexican army. From time to time one or another of these officers appeared and in most cases was accompanied by several aides or followers. These groups pushed their way through the crowd of curious ones, and the guards, recognizing the officers, per- mitted them to pass. The course adopted by Haddon and Sergeant Brad- ley was extremely simple. The plaza was plunged in semi-darkness, lighted .