The Argosy, October 1906 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

THE ARGOSY. ae It has that general appearance from _-where I sit!” I snapped. “ But if it is only a pee joke, it’s high time it Pe = : = Neither ar am I a burlone nenoret: a — _ +Tt. matters nothing to me what you are. I demand that you restore the = ~- American lady at once to her friends, who must by now have arrived at their Often enough to let us hold a guide's ae certificate.” —— = ‘And at other tances ae & ed inter- ested in spite of my fear for Doris. = “ At other times—we find honest toil.” “As in this instance ?”’ “ Quite so.” “ And you expect me to turn over my watch and ee — you won't 28 = = ‘rendezvous outside. the grotto. After them.” : that you can come back and settle our "The signore is pieced to insult me. * = affair.” I have no such vulgar desires. I fly for s= ——.-“ The signore excites himself to no higher game.’ Se a __-purpose over me companion. She is His meaning flashed on me, and I 3 p= quite safe.” stared at him, incredulous. =~ ee Bee ee Your men took her back?” I cried: EO don’t mean to say you are going : in quick relief. : to hold us for ransom?” I exclaimed. “Seer Unfortunately, that was not possi- “ This is the twentieth century, you fool! ble. But she is safe and will be treated ‘Such BEES can't be done eee : ___with respect. It is better that way and: dtaly?= =< = : a ___ will make less trouble for us later on,” he “No? Perhaps the signore “bees added, as if anxious to assure me that best. Perhaps not. But we shall try. = __Doris’s safety was due to no sentimental There are many places under the moun- __weakness on the part of himself or his tain where our guests can be safely hid- = a accomplices. : den while certain friends. of ours tactful- —- — -“ You say you are not a sdpliteorse? 2 ._ ly arrange for the ransom. The signore = _Isaid. “What then? I’ve heard stories of foolish tourists who were carried in here and who lost their nerve and let themselves be bullied by guides into part- ing with their valuables. But you have = run up against the wrong man. Look here! My friends are outside. Tf you carry us both back safely, and at once, -you get your fee—but not a penny of tipping. If not — “ ¥our friends may or may not be outside,” he returned, » not there when you entered, Nor was - any one else in sight. And I know enough of your barbarous English lan- guage to understand from your talk with the signorina that your friends were not aware you two were going to explore the grotto; or even that you had yet arrived _ there. selves knows that you and the signorina are here. There will be no pursuit, no search. We are quite safe. Unless, of course, some of the regular guides chance to bring a party of tourists into the _ grotto. ~ them not to bring any one thus far. They are good fellows, those ace They ~ will do as we ask. “Then you are not regular guides? = “At times, when money is scarce. “but they were And we have left signs warning Hence no one on earth but our- -man. would search here for us. has the air of a foreigner of wealth. Doubtless his relatives will pay a fitting sum to have him restored to their arms. The signorina called that fat old for-. eigner ° ‘father’ this morning. He looks to be a rich banker or perhaps a states- Surely he can pay well to save his” To me it-all seems" 3 beautiful daughter. quite feasible.” : To me it seemed equally so. The one's argument appeared flawless. = None knew where we were; none - There were undoubtedly recesses where we could be guarded, forever if need be, from the outer. world. _The more especially. ‘since, as my guide hinted, the regular free quenters “of the place stood in with the aE brigands. — = eee Here was romance with a vengeance! > I had found in one hour enough to Jast- me a lifetime. | But again the thought rose before me_ of that poor, helpless girl, suffering the terrors of the lost, somewhere down here in the darkness, and the — realization = turned me cold. Se e re you See cur,” length ; And it’s my first sik tase Oe : will at once have. eS ESS —