The Argosy, August 1905 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

Pea Yes, senor, I will plese you merey— the mercy you denied me when I lay bound upon the floor of my own house. Had you killed me then you would have been mereiful—that mercy T will grant you, Captain Valeno.” He raised the knife and struck down- ward. At the first blow the man upon the ground shrieked wildly. After the. second he lay perfeetly stall. The spell was broken. Sergeant Bradley sprang to his feet and raised his pistol. Its muzzle covered the man who was wiping the blade of his knife upon the jacket of the victim. The Texan’s finger pressed the trigger, but no flash or report answered the falling of the hammer. The weapon refused to be discharged. Sergeant Bradley uttered a sharp oath and hurled the useless weapon into the bushes, but if it was his intention to attack the man before him with his knife it was too late. Sefior Perote darted away with the swiftness of a mountain wildeat and was at the foot of the hill before the Texan realized he was gone. Leaning forward, he watched the hazy figure hastening across the level gronud which lay between the elevation anv the silent inn. A slight noise sounded be- hind him; he turned quickly, the knife held ready for defense, but there was no need to use it. ‘two men were pushing through the undergrowth, and the first was Lieuten- ant Haddon. “In God’s name,” demanded the Vir- ginian breathlessly, “ what has taken place? Have you”been attacked? ” “No; but I have seen the devil, dressed like a Mexican. You will find two dead men lying over there,” an- swered the Texan dryly. fle seized Haddon by the arm. “J have seen many strange things and have gone through some myself, but to see a Mexican officer murder in cold blood two of his own followers startles one a little. That is what has just oc- curred. Do you know who has been here? Mazatlan! If it were not for that corpse yonder I should believe I had been dreaming.” He glanced curiously at the man who was, ganding Relkaed the Virginian. es Ge _ “You have found some one?” said “Tt is Anderson, and over yonder the road i is black with our own cavalry-. men,’ was Haddon’s unexpected an- swer. For a moment Sergeant Bradley re- mained perfectly quiet, an expression of bewilderment on his face. “God knows, sir, there has never been weak-minded ones in my family, but I have seen that over there, and now I am to believe a miracle has happened. I have searcely taken my eyes from that inn for four hours, and during that time no one has left it, yet you tell me this is the man who barricaded himself behind its walls.” “Which is the truth. And who do you think led him so unexpectedly ont of that trap? It was Mazatlan!” re- plied the Virginian. The Texan passed his fingers through his hair. “Tell me that our army is already in the capital of Mexico. * It only requires that to convince me that the moonlight has turned my brain. A moment ago I saw this guerrillero leader slay his own officer, and now you tell me it was he who took the man he wished to kill out of that house.” “You are not mad, for that is just what has happened. You know that this inn was a very old one and that many of the old houses in Mexico are provided with secret entrances and exits. Anderson was in there watching the doors and windows when a step sounded in the room next to the one he oceupied. The next moment a man appeared in the doorway—a man whose face was disfigured by dreadful sears. “Tt was Mazatlan?” muttered the Texan. “Who else? Anderson would have shot him, when the fellow spoke. “* Lower your pistol,senor,for I have come to take you out of this place. Be- hind the house are waiting those who will save you from the guerrilleros. One is the Senor Haddon?” “In God’s name! Mazatlan knows that we are here? *’ broke in the Texan. | “Tt would appear so, else a could not — have told Anderson. At any ra comicbooks.com