The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

DONE BROWN. ‘Possibly. But I’m going to play a safe game. Now, this is what I’ve thought: suppose you did succeed in get- ting the Puffer off the mud—would she float?” ‘She might—for a while.” . ‘Now, [ll tell you what to do. Ill manage the prison business, somehow. It won't do any good, even if you are with me, if the thing falls through. No use your being shot. You can help me more outside. Quinchincha has — how many men at his command? ”’ “One hundred,” grunted the old Quicha. ‘Very well. I am not planning a revolution. Get as many men and strong boats as you can; hire a tug, if there is such a thing: or get to Amalpa and hire a coasting steamer to come and pull the tub out of the mud. See how much she is injured, and patch it up. Keep Quinchincha with you until you hear from me.” ‘And what will you do?” ‘IT shall, of course, go to the prison and present Savanilla’s order to the alcaid. If the order is at once recog- nized and obeyed, I shall walk out with Innors, his wife, and Nellie.” ‘But you don’t seem to be. over- confident.” “There are Magnuz and Fonseca to be reckoned with.” “That’s so. Well, Quinch, it’s up to vou and me to float the sieve. Think we can do it?” “Can pull it out of the mud,” said the Quicha with a grin. In the public square of Choluteca I parted from them, and Wakler, with apprehensions of coming trouble, sisted on shaking hands, with a pro- visional good-by. Alone I rode to the prison. The jail of Choluteca certainly was not an imposing affair. Central American prisons, it was rectan- gular in shape, and went some of them one better by having a tower at each corner that ran up two or three stories higher than the main portion. On three sides it was surrounded by a wall, which began at the front towers and extended a considerable distance the same as the front, then running parallel with the sides far to the rear, making in- Like almost all - 591 on each side and at the back a large enclosure. The soldiers that guarded the prison were stationed at the main entrance, where the officer in command had a Rt- tle office. The guard was armed, but did not do sentry duty. Most of them were gambling. When I dismounted at the main en- trance, a dozen sprang toward me and demanded my business. “IT have an order from Governor Sa- vanilla to the al/catd,” I said. I was conducted at once to the officer in Charge, and after 1 had shown him the order, he escorted me himself to the alcaid, or governor of the prison. The alcaid received the order, read it about half a dozen times, frowned at first, and then seenfed to fall off into a dream. _ “T do- not know what Senors Mag- nuz and Fonseca will say to this,” he said. “But is Savanilla not higher authority than they?” I asked. I had feared this very thing. ‘“Yes—yes— Oh, sevor, I shall obey the governor’s command. I have a fam- ily. I have no wish to be shot. I will release the prisoners in your care. After that, you must take care of yourselves.” ‘Well, that is all I’ve asked you. to do, and all the governor has com- manded,” I said. There was treachery in the air. I smelled it. ‘“ Enter here,” he said. He led me into a large, ill-furnished room, which was the prison office. I sat down. He disappeared, and soon reap- peared with Innors. But, Heavens! It was not the Innors I had known. was wasted, pallid, weak. “Great Heavens, Ford!” he cried. “Is it you who has worked this miracle? How is my wife? And Nellie?” ““T don’t know. I haven’t seen them. They’ll be here in a minute. The alcaid is after them now.” “Ford! Ford!’ he moaned in an- guish. ‘ You don’t mean that my wife and Nellie are Aere in this hell?” ‘“Yes— Hush— Be cheerful. they come.” | For a moment, when the two women entered, I thought Ford would collapse. in Here NOOO He (CO