The Argosy, August 1905 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

—- - ' an ars fs 7 4 f 3 : .. 46 “Had you not lied to me and thus found opportunity to rob them of cer- tain papers they would have departed as they came. I found myself lying on the floor, where they left me for dead. Do you know what happened then, senor— when I discovered what had been done to me? I swore to have revenge on the man who called himself Senor Urrea, on the fiends Amador and Valeno who pressed the burning iron into my flesh. “That oath I have in part fulfilled— perhaps you know how; but something yet remains.” As he uttered these words the face of Senor Perote became livid. Santa Anna eaught the sides of the chair for support. His eyes were fixed upon the pistol which this dreadful man held in his hand. He moistened his lips repeatedly, then murmured in a faint voice: “Surely, senor, you have not come here. to kill me—I, who am leading the soldiers of Mexico to victory?” Senor Perote laughed harshly. “Even you do not believe that, for the Americans are advancing upon the capital. But*”—he paused for a mo- ment—*“ when I swore to kill the man who called himself Sefior Urrea I did not know what position he held in Mex- ico. It may be possible, senor, that a way can be found to spare the person of General Santa Anna.” The dictator swallowed nervously. “Tt is in my power to reward you richly. Every man has his price. Tell tme yours, Senor Perote.” The ex-innkeeper shrugged his shoul- ders. “You would promise much to-night and forget to-morrow. You will per- mit me to leave your presence because you can not do otherwise. But at the first opportunity you would have me tortured. Still, being what you are, I may allow you to live.” A little of the ghastly color left the dictator’s face, but he still trembled vio- lently. “T would ask you why it was you lied to me. For what purpose did Santa » ruler of Mexico, drug and rob two officers?” asked Perote coldly. Anna pressed his lips close to- a ae ie nee . - ha THE ARGOSY. « And why do you demand to know that? Perhaps it was a personal matter,” he answered harshly. Believing he should be spared, some- thing of his self-assurance was return- ng. oy: I am awaiting an answer,” said Perote quietly. Santa Anna glanced at the stern set face above him, and he saw something there which warned him the danger was not yet passed. Perote’s lips were trembling and his deep-set eyes gleamed fiercely. He resembled some terrible monster from the mountain fastness more than a human being. “ You would ask me why I desired the papers? How can that knowledge benefit you?” asked the dictator in a hesitating voice. “Tam waiting,” replied Senor Perote once more. “ Why I took the papers from Amador and Valeno?” “rom Amador and Valeno, who tor- tured me.” “Tt was because I wished to have them in my power—to force them to serve me faithfully,” answered Santa Anna in a hoarse voice. Senor Perote smiled grimly. “And you took that way? It is easy to see what occurred. An officer en- trusted with important despatches mer- its death if he permits those despatches to be taken from him. You stole the papers from these men while they slept, therefore they merited death, having lost the papers. “It lay with you, their superior, and you spared them—so long as they agreed to serve you in all things. It was for that I was tortured in the inn on the Acapulco road. Because General Santa Anna desired to rule through fear these who would not otherwise do his bid- ding.” Several minutes of silence followed. To the man cringing in the chair they seemed an hour. Finally Perote spoke, in a voice filled with bitterness. “It was something to become a marked man—an object of loathing and pity to every one in the wo of |