The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

940 iny life? Is it that they suspect? Shall I fly—-for your safety and mine?” ‘““ Mira, Pedro!’ chuckled the prest- dente, ‘ Patience and fear not; we shall play a trick that will save you and make us rich. Hark to my plan!” And he told the outlaw, briefly, hur- riedly—told him of the dead man, of his strange resemblance to Salazar; told him how easy it would be to fool the mad Americanos and collect the fat reward, which should be divided between them—as they had always di- vided. It would mean ease for both—the races, the cockpit, the baillerimas and joy unceasing, and for Salazar it would also mean safety from pursuit— freedom! “But first show me this body that you say might pass for mine,” breathed Salazar, and the presidente lit a can- dle, and held it over the dead man’s face. The outlaw stooped and looked and shrank quickly back—nervous and as- tonished. ‘Then stealthily—unseen by his friend—he crossed himself and edged slowly away from the corpse. “Ts it not as your face?” whispered the presidente triumphantly. ce Ste” “And my plan will work, think?” “ Seguro, si.” “hen quick. Let us act as | ex- plained. It is a long ride to Manila, and the sun is hot. [ wish there was ite.” = 20 Salazar gave the presidente his ring, some letters he had received, ‘and a cheap watch with his initials on the case—all to be put on the dead man's body. : Arid Salazar had a gold tooth in front, where it showed ‘plainly. So the presidente took gilded tmfoil from a Manila cigar, twisted up a bit like a crown, and pressed and molded it firm- ly over a corresponding tooth in the dead man’s mouth, and then stood back and looked, first at the dead man and you THE ARGOSY., then at his friend. Jé was ar artistic finishing touch—the resemblance was startling. But during all this—though.the busy presidente noted it not—-Salazar kept his distance from the corpse, back from the candle light, near an open window, where a fresh breeze blew in from over the rustling banana plants. Besides his wish to shun the dead man, he felt safer with his face in the dark and near an open window from which he might flee quickly should he have to. He recalled vividly that in this same house—only a week before— he had lain cramped and breathless for long, tense hours, while the presidente persuaded Captain Marsh, of the con- stabulary, that the outlaw Salazar had not been in that barrio for months— that he was hiding now at San Mateo, . miles and miles away. He was.a hunt- ‘ed man, was Pedro, and ever on the alert. He was glad when the presidente said all was ready and called men to take the body. He hid himself ha- stily as the bearers stumbled -in -and lifted the body, still on the plank, and carried it off the waiting banca. With a whispered word of -parting the presidente, who had lagged behind, told him adios and followed out into the night. He could not trust others with the body. It was agreed that Pedro should re- main hidden until the moon had set— when the darkness would covee his re- treat to his hiding-place in the hills up river. The banca party embarked quickly. Stalwart banqueros, squatting low in their long, narrow craft, worked their short, spoonbill paddles easily, ‘rip- plingly, sending the banca speeding down stream under their powerful, skilful strokes. At the river’s mouth they changed to another craft, a larger, catamaran banca, with a sail and outriggers of bamboo. Before the freshening lake wind they made good time. Hour after hour, as they splashed <S) Gomichoo (COVA