The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

DROPPING INTO MEXICO. The Mexican dropped the saddle on the horse’s back. “Senors,” he cried, “it is what I feared. They have quarreled, the senor and the Villistas. He has shut the door in their faces; my place is no longer here.” But Jones did not need to be told. The cry: ‘Death to the traitor to Mexico!” was sufficient. Stung by some insult the hot-blooded old senor had come to odds with the bandits. It was probable the crash they had heard was the slamming of the door in the faces of those who crowded the veranda. The Villistas would force.an entrance, and their vengeance would be merciless. Jose was making for the front door of the stable; in another moment he would be gone, hastening to defend his master. Jones did not hesitate. “Wait!” he called sharply in Spanish; then to Robinson: ‘We have brought about this situation, the house must be de- fended—come on!” Following the half-breed they ran across the intervening space to the rear of the main building; in another moment they were inside and Jose had bolted the door behind them. From the veranda came a chorus of angry voices, blows on the door and the clatter of spurred feet. “How many can we count on in this business? I suppose the peons will side with those fellows out there?” Jones asked of their guide. “There is the sezor, my son, Francisco, and Estaban,” Jose explained. “That makes six, counting ourselves, and the odds are probably three or four to one, but the advantage is temporarily ours; we can settle with a bunch of those bandits anyway, before they get us,” said the lieutenant grimly. He turned to Robinson. ‘We are in for it and taking desperate chances, but there is no other way. Re- member this: these Mexicans are cowards when it comes to a stand-up fight, and a few well-directed shots will send them scurrying to cover. Our greatest danger lies in their setting fire to the house or 96 rushing us from several quarters at once. But if they do not number more than a dozen or so, that is not probable until they receive reinforcements. If Villa is not here it is in our favor. How near is a garrison of Carranza’s men?” he asked of Jose. “At Galeana, senor, fifteen miles,” the half-breed replied. ‘They are our only hope; if we can keep these fellows off until morning and get word to them they may arrive in time to rescue us.”’ He repeated this in Spanish. ‘“‘Can you get a messenger through to Galeana? It will weaken our force by one, but it is our only chance.” “Yes,” said Jose, “I will go to Galeana; it is not for nothing the senor once saved my life. I will bring the soldiers here to rescue him.” | “Good!” said Jones, ‘“‘and haste is nec- essary.” He laid his hand on the half- breed’s shoulder. “Ride like the devil, man, if you would save your master and the senorita.” The tumult on the veranda was increas- ing; a shot rang out, and a second fol- lowed it. “Go down the hall, it is the door at the other end,” instructed the Mexican. He slipped the bolt and disappeared. Jones fastened the door again, and at that instant the other door at the further end of the passage opened. The light from the front room revealed the two Ameri- cans; the person who had opened the door uttered an exclamation, and the barrel of a revolver gleamed in the yellow rays. It was the girl, Pepita, who confronted them. She recognized the intruders even as Jones uttered the cry not to fire; but for a moment she did not lower the revolver. Then her hand dropped to her side; the face of Bilbao appeared behind her. “You are here?” said he shortly. He manifested no surprise; in the last quarter of an hour he had aged five years, but his eyes shone brightly and a flash heightened the sallow color of his cheeks. It was the fever of excitement, and per- haps despair. COMMICLOOOLK (C@)