The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

582 “In that largest hut over there.” He pointed as he spoke, and the blood curdled inside-of me. as I thought of sweet, dainty Nellie Innors living in a hog-pen like that. ‘There was no sign of comfort. I dismounted and went .inside, which was easy enough, for the door was open and sagged on a broken hinge. If there had been furniture it had been carried away. “This is hell,” I said, trying to remain calm. I knew that whether I was a ruined man or not I had work to do before | left the west coast. I had already reached a determination that Nellie Innors would go with me, or I would not go alive. “Don’t you know where Mrs. Innors and Nellie went?” I asked Wakler. ‘No, not for sure. I know they couldn’t stay here.” ‘“[T should say not. But I don’t see why you don’t know more about them.” “Well, you must understand, Mr. Ford, I wasn’t here. My work wasn’t in Estalona. I was captain of the boat— the “Puffer. My work was all in the bay or up and down the Choluteca.”’ ; ‘’ But what did they use the boat for?” ‘Well, mostly for pleasure excursions and fishing and entertaining the gov- ernor and other big guns when they came to inspect the works and not progress.” ‘Progress! Did you say progress? Where is it?”’ ‘“ Nowhere. But it would have been progress all right if they had let Innors alone.” ‘“ What was the last word you had with Innors? What did he think?” ‘* He was too sick to think much. But, of course, you know the concession is forfeited.” ‘Forfeited ? ” ‘Sure. ‘The terms ‘and conditions were distinctly stated. A certain amount of improving must be done each year. A certain amount of mining must be done: on which output a certain percentage must be paid into the treasury of Hon- duras. But nothing had been done. “Instead of improvements that will pay the government for the concession, they have cut down and ruined several million feet of the best pine; and where is it? ~ Where is the school they boasted about? There it is—that miserable hut THE ARGOSY. with half a roof. No teacher was ever engaged, and nobody ever intended to engage one. In any case, where are the scholars ? ‘“Where is the sawmill that was to employ a hundred white settlers? The logs were hauled for it, and Magnuz sold the lot to the governor of the department. The governor was an innocent party. Magnuz told him the company wasn’t going to build the sawmill, ard I reckon he told the truth for once.” ‘And you say your boat is a wreck?” ‘No, she isn’t a wreck. But she lies nose in the safd on Caros Island.” “Where is that?” “In Fonseca Bay, about ten miles _from Tigre Island.” “Can't you get her off?” “Not single-handed.. I’m pilot and captain. I can’t be engineer as well.” “Where is the engineer?” “Oh, he’s dead. His name was Jake- son. He got into a muss at Choluteca with a native about a game of cards, and after a few shots were passed around [ had no engineer.”’ “Now, where is the prison in which Innors is kept?” “Tn Choluteca.” ‘Then, it is altogether likely that Mrs. Innors and Nellie are there in order to be near him.” = “J don’t know. I doubt it, though. In the first place, it wouldn’t do them any good, for they don’t let you see for- eign prisoners here. And, in the second place, they wouldn’t be likely to put themselves in the way of Magnuz and Fonseca.” “True. But we must go to Choluteca and begin our searching there.” ‘ But what about the inventory?” ‘“ T’ve taken it. The result is nothing. Come along.” CHAPTER IV. PLAIN WORDS. As Wakler and I rode into Choluteca I was not impressed with the size, the beauty or the cleanliness of tne place. The streets were narrow and crooked. Every gutter was’ an open drain. Al- though situated on the bank of the river, with a natural incline toward it, there CO OO (©