The Argosy, August 1905 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

an ene oo ‘but whole regi- ee were pushing toward the cap- 1 Haddon turned to the others in the room. “It is as he says. Sefor Porste has aided us in many ways. Already Gen- eral Taylor has trusted him.” He turned to the Mexican. “ And now, senor, surely you will re- main with us? To-night’s work will tell Santa Anna what’s in your heart.” Senor Perote smiled grimly. *T do not fear Santa Anna, senor. Perhaps I alone of all Mexico do not fear him. - Your army is marching on the capital. It may be permitted that I serve you further.” The man upon the floor had remained motionless for some minutes, though his eyes were fixed in a dreadful stare upon the face of Senor Perote. The surgeon bent over him and thrust his hand beneath the braided jacket, over the heart. For a moment he re- mained in this attitude lstening. ** He is dead,” said he gravely. A strange expression crossed the face of Senor Perote. He advanced a step and stood gazing down upon the livid double sear whieh erossed the features of the dead guerrilla leader. His lips quivered; he turned silently and re- traced his steps to the door. Upon the threshold he stopped. “Ts it not as I said, sehors?” said he in a quiet voice. “ Such scars accom- THE grave.” Ife passed out into the moonlight and none in the room followed. It‘ seemed almost that the man who had been speaking lay dead upon the floor. 7 oe * cd For many years after the capital had fallen and the northern invaders re- crossed the Rio Grande strangers who visited a certain part of Mexico heard a curious tale. It was said that in the mountain fast- ness, beyond the lonely pass of Cerro Gordo, there dwelt in a rude hut hidden in the chaparral a terrible old man. This strange hermit never came into a town or near a place of habitation. It was held by some that he was a holy man who was working out a pen- ance by a life of solitude, and that the blessed privilege was permitted him. to wear upon his person the figure of an in- delible cross. Others asserted, however, that the lone hermit had been guilty of an un- | pardonable wickedness, and that God had punished him by marking him: for- ever, so that all men might see and know. These conflicting opinions had doubt- less found their source in the report brought from the mountains by a hunter who had met the man in a desolate ravine of Resaca de la Palma. He had seen his face—a face horribly disficured by two livid scars, beginning near the center of the chin and extend- ing upward to a point a little below the lobe of each ear. PANSIBES. Sort as silk or satin And lovelier to behold . In their blended beauty Of purple and of gold! *Mid the gentle moonlight - With no LOH Tee 8 OF as, pany him who bears them even to the | ot ae comicbooks.com