The Argosy, August 1905 — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

THE ARGOSY. came plain to the Americans. He pro- posed to yisit the old stone prison. The streets about the old building were practically deserted. A soldier stood guard upon the steps of the prison, for the order written by Santa Anna had been delivered by the orderly, and the luckless Mexiean who had admitted A the supposed priest to the prisoner’s tt chamber lay in one of the rooms. Ma- 2% zatlan spoke sharply to this guard and fi passed into the building. Haddon and the Texan stationed themselves in the shadow of a house on the opposite side . of the street. ie They proposed to be on hand when the guerrilla leader concluded his visit of inspection. A quarter of an hour passed. It was well past midnight, and the effect of their day’s ride and the strenuous hours in Chaleo were beginning to tell upon the Americans. A few hours’ sleep would have refreshed them wonderfully, ; but sleep was out of the question even for a moment. Suddenly an interruption to their in- activity came from an unexpected quar- ter. The quiet of the gloomy street was broken by the sound of approaching horses. Irom the direction of General Santa Anna’s headquarters appeared the \4 forms of several riders who, approaching the stone house at a slow trot, pulled up before the door. The first, evidently an officer, addressed the guard sharply. ry “Is Senor Mazatlan in there?” he ie demanded. —_ The soldier answered in the affirma- -e tive. The Mexican officer dismounted \ and entered the building hurriedly. In ; ae a few mimutes he reappeared, accompa- —— nied by the guerrilla leader. The lat: ter glanced at the horsemen sitting motionless in their saddles. “We might ride to my quarters, where we should be in private, but that would take time, and you say the mes- sage is important. There is no one on the farther side of the street; let us go there,” said he sharply. _______ It was too late for the Americans: to cae leave their hiding-place without being Been. tly by the two Mexicans and oldiers. If they endeav- * : re * 7. ea © ha ‘ * es a movement would be followed by a com- mand to halt, and serious consequences ight ensue. “: it, on the other hand, they remained where they were, Mazatlan and his com- panion would see them crouching in the shadow. It was just here that the quick wit and coolness of Lieutenant Haddon came to the rescue. Within a few feet of the spot where he and the Texan were standing was a depression in the wall. This depression extended a couple of feet below the surface of the street, and would afford a possible hiding-place for a person of small stature. The Virgin- ian knew that to attempt to conceal himself in this place would be out of the question, but Sergeant Bradley was a small man. To meet Mazatlan face to face was what he least desired, but to meet him alone was preferable to having the Mexicans come suddenly upon two men hiding in the shadow. He remembered Santa Anna had told the guerrilla that one of the men who had waylaid him upon the Acapuleo road was tall, while his companion was much smaller. Coming suddenly upon such a combination, and under such cireum- stances, the guerrilla leader’s conclusion would be obvious. Mazatlan and his companion were already descending the steps of the old stone house, and what was to be done must be accomplished quickly. Haddon seized the Texan by the arm and pointed to the depression in the wall. Sergeant Bradley understood and obeyed without a moment’s hesitation. He dropped below the surface of the street into the shallow hollow, where, lying flat upon his back, he was effectually hidden by the darkness. Could any one have pierced this dark- | ness, it would have been observed that i the oceupant of this shallow grave held a cocked pistol in his hand. Mazatlan and the Mexican officer were half-way across the street, when there eet suadony before them a man who stretched himself vigorously, rubbed his eyes, and ae ses atasekal evident pod Se fellow had been sleep ing on the doorstep of the darken te a7 | i ~ =<] _— i oo — a « cComicbooks.com —