The Argosy, August 1905 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

the deserted tavern for a night, to sur- round the place and fall upon them in the darkness. Hither of these plans could be frus- trated by a timely warning. That Mazatlan should lead an expedi- tion whose object was to wipe out the expected party of Americans was an- other mystery added to those with which the Virginian was grappling. He had, however, come to a _ conclusion, though one far from satisfactory. The Mexican was conducting his method of vengeance in his own peculiar way; secretly he aided the cause of the in- vaders of his country, but openly before the eyes of ‘his followers he was proving a stern foe to the Americans. In reaching this perplexing conclu- sion Haddon had come to a definite de- cision. It was his duty to capture this guerrilla leader and put an end to his depredations. As Mazatlan he would meet a merited punishment at the hands of the Ameri- cans, but as Perote, who had twice saved him from death as a spy, the man’s life might be spared, though he would be held a prisoner. Another phase of the mystery Had- don had considered carefully, and the true answer baffled him. Might it not be possible that the Mexican was at heart an enemy, but by professing friendship and in twice saving him, Haddon, he had hit upon a cunning plan whereby he could obtain admittance to the very headquarters of General Tay- lor himself. As Perote he could learn the plans of the hostile forees; as Mazatlan he could convey these plans to Santa Anna. Such was the uncertainty under which Had- don labored. The only true solution of the difficulty was to capture Mazatlan. For the twentieth time within an hour the American crawled to the summit of the hill. . The Texan, who by lifelong practice possessed the keener vision under such conditions, shaded his eyes with his hand. Suddenly he turned sharply and caught Haddon by the shoulder. “ Look there, sir,” said he with con- siderable excitement; “over there, Haddon followed the direction of the outstretched finger. Far away a dark blot on the landscape, a moving object, was discernible. It was, as the Texan had stated, a horseman, and he was riding toward the deserted inn. The minutes dragged slowly. The ° sun, approaching the summit of the western hills, threw a yellow glare over the uneven landscape. To the Ameri- cans, waiting impatiently, it seemed that never before had a traveler ridden so leisurely. Hach was thinking of the same thing. Was the distant horseman a Mexican or the man who had been saved from death in Chaleo? Regardless of all attempt at conceal- ment, the Texan climbed to the top of a rock and stood motionless, his eyes focused on the moving figure, Ten minutes passed, a quarter of an hour, a half, then the Texan made an excited movement. Some distance beyond the straight stretch of road which ran past the front of the inn the highway disappeared in a hollow of the plain. Sergeant Bradley had watched the horseman ride into this depression. For perhaps three minutes he was lost to view, and then something happened. The rider had entered the hollow leisurely; when he reappeared on the side nearest the inn his horse was gal- loping furiously. A cloud of dust, aris- ing lke a puff of yellow smoke, sur- rounded him. The Texan and Haddon could see that the man was urging the horse forward by every means in his power. At inter- vals he turned and looked behind him. A dozen, fifty, a hundred rods nearer, and the reason for the metamorphosis became apparent. Behind, from out the hollow, a second and a third horse- man issued, striving to overtake the first. The pursuing riders were Mexi- can querrilleros. Sergeant Bradley dropped from the. rock into the shelter of the bushes be- side Haddon. “It is the man we have been waiting for: He has obtained a horse some- where, but he cannot outride those devils who are eee as) he nS where the highwa ay dips behind the hills. it a peTRe aT, out exenLCEEy Lae Coinicbaoke com