The Argosy, August 1905 — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

dreaded guerrilla leader by interfering with what he believed to be his advance A quarter of an hour later Haddon and the Texan were clear of Chaleo and making toward the north. On each side of the highway were the smoldering campfires and silent forms of hundreds of Santa Anna’s soldiers. Those who stood guard over their sleeping comrades heard the sound of horses’ hoofs upon the road, but such noises, by night and day, were common in the neighborhood of Chalco. CHAPTER XI. THE CONQUERING OF A DICTATOR. Axwost at the very moment when the two Americans, riding northward over the Acapulco road, were passing the last group of campfires, a startling incident was taking place some miles in their rear. Could Lieutenant Haddon have wit- nessed what was occurring in a certain room of a house. on the outskirts of Chalco, the problem with which he was struggling would have seemed more intricate and difficult of satisfactory solution. In the opinion of the guard sta- tioned at the door opening between the veranda and the building itself in which General Santa Anna had taken up his residence an unusual thing had taken place. This was the third visit within half a dozen hours of the same officer. It was well understood throughout the army that between certain officers and Santa Anna no love wag wasted, and one of these officers was the guerrilla leader, Mazatlan. It had even been rumored that these two cordially hated each other, but that the geferal, understanding the value of the daring cavalryman in annoying the Americans, hesitated to deprive himself of so important an assistant. Except upon a direct order, however, Mazatlan was never seen at headquarters, and on 1 occasions his visits were as brief ard detailed to watch the en- a ch led into Santa Anna’s et ef P a hee \ i THE ARGOSY. your hand upon those fir ‘eae presence knew that Mazatlan had been summoned after the general’s return from his trying experience on the Aca- pulco road. : It was also known that he had again visited headquarters in company with Captain Valeno an hour later. What was the Mexican’s surprise, therefore, when some time after midnight he was confronted by the disfigured face of the euerrilla ? ~ He felt sure that a third order had not summoned Mazatlan to an inter- view, yet for the third time he passed through the door which would admit him into Santa Anna’s private apart- ment. ~ Having passed the sentinel, the vis- itor walked straight to the foot of the stairs which led up to the second story of the building and mounted there quietly. he sleeping chamber of Santa Anna was on the second story, and after his second interview with Mazatlan the general had retired to his room. He was already partially undressed when a low knocking upon the door brought an impatient expression to his lips. Judging the person without to be an orderly come with a message of impor- tance, he gave the sharp command to enter: The door opened to admit the form of the unwelcome visitor. By the dim light of the single candle which burned in the chamber Santa Anna caught a glimpse of the scarred face of the in- truder, and a look of surprise crossed his countenance. This surprise gave place to blank as- tonishment and something more when, having entered the room, his visitor closed the door softly, and, coolly turn- ing the key in the lock, dropped it into the folds of hig sash. Then for the first time he turned and looked full in the face of the dictator of Mexico. Santa Anna started and took a step toward the table upon which lay his pis- tols, but a stern command uttered in a cold voice by the man who confronted him checked the movement abrupth ‘Stand where you are. TI ha to ask a few questions. ~ mye * # | ' ~ cee —_\. — MH comicbooks.com