The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

‘DESERT LOOT. tection, which was nothing less than a tacit acknowledgment of her guilt? And yet, uppermost in her brain was the fear of the law, the feverish desire to fly, to lose herself, to take any means for self-acquittal except the prescribed one of facing the law. Herein lay her dread. While she knew nothing of Pete’s illegitimate operations, to what amount of trouble might she not be put to prove her innocence? In her simple way she recognized the law as a Nemesis that made no pretense at fairness, and though she remembered having heard that a wife’s position entitled her to a liberal consideration from this law, she sensed the possibility of some condition that stood to make her the scapegoat since Pete was dead. Reasoning thus, the dilemma offered little hope of solution save that of flight. She would get her bearings, find the road leading to Calaverite and follow it. There was a prospector’s camp the first night’s stop out of Dugout, she had understood Pete to say. The next min- ute Machado’s proffer of help rose in her mind like a leveled finger showing a way, and leaped into instant eminence. Now she wished that the Mexican might come, and grew restless in the thought that he might forget his ap- pointment, or be kept from fulfilling it. Later, when she opened her eyes, Dr. Lencia still occupied his seat. She could not see his face, buried as it was in his hands, but some inner sense told her that his reflections were of her, and that they were joyless ones. And, with the knowledge of this, a wave of contrition swept over her, Well she knew that she had been blind- ing herself to the real issue, that she was thrusting aside the promptings of her heart that pleaded the cause of this man. If she went, it would mean the end. Since she could not explain the reason for her departure, she must await her chance ! erate and a coward, and one that must militate against her ever again seeing him. 13 A 913 She moved, and he looked up in a preoccupied way. “T just waited up to ask you if you would care for a little lunch,” he in- formed her; “and, also, that if you should want anything during the night, not to be backward about calling me. I’ve kept a candle burning ever since you came. It’s far more cheerful than being in the dark.” Peggy found it difficult to reply. She mumbled her inability to eat and thanked him, while in the extremity of her compunction she wished ardently that he might cease his good offices, neglect her even, if only to give her sufficient excuse for leaving. Afterward she heard him moving about in the other tent, and allowed his solicitude for her comfort to expostu- late in his favor. Then, as the night closed in silent as the tomb, she sank into a deep slumber, and dreamed of the Mexican who was to be her savior and of Federal officers in quest of a contraband cache. How long she slept, she never clear- ly knew. Her first impression was a violent tugging at her sleeve, and of her name being whispered repeatedly. Awakening, her heavy eyes fell upon the figure crouching beside the bed, and, as “her understanding of who it was filtered into her brain, she shrank away with a cry of dismay. Against the wall of the tent she hud- dled, the blankets clutched close about her. It was the evil-faced Machado. He knelt, his manner suggestive of intense excitement, gesticulating madly with one black hand for silencé, and ut- tering a current of disconnected jargon in which the stipulations “Jmportante, senora!’’ and, “I go right ’way!” alone were intelligible. At last, when it seemed likely that she would listen to him, he leaned to- ward her, his shiny face alight with devilish triumph. “JT haf’ to come to-nigh’, shuah, Sefiora Gilbert. I haf’ tell you thees man here is Dr. Lencia. You know dat? Bueno! You know thees Dr. COMME OOO — (E@)