The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

96 Jones came forward and looked into the room, which was lighted by a single lamp, burning on a center-table. His trained eye, searching for methods of defense, took in every detail: the heavy oaken door barred on the inside, the two wide windows over which thick wooden shutters had been drawn and bolted down. Beside Bilbao and the girl there were two others who had faced the bandits; one was a young Mexican, a beardless youth | the pallor of whose face showed ghastly in the lamplight. The other was a man. of middle age, with straight black hair which fell to his broad shoulders, and a complex- ion swarthy as an Indian’s. Each was armed with a rifle, and two others leaned against the wall between the windows; on the table was a little pile of ‘cartridges. Suddenly a shower of splinters flew in- ward from the oaken door, and a bit of plaster dropped from the wall opposite; the crash of the discharge came from the veranda. “Tt is the fourth shot they have fired,” said Bilbao unemotionally. ‘And the walls?” Jones demanded. “Are of stone.” “Then if we keep out of range of the door and windows their bullets can harm no one. How many do you think are out there, senor?” “Ten, a dozen, perhaps more; I have no means of knowing, and there are the peons,” replied the old Mexican. “We need not count the peons; and how many other entrances to the house are there, senor?” . “The door through which you enter and three windows, except those on the upper floor,”’ Bilbao answered. “And you have left them unguarded?” Jones turned upon the two Mexicans. ‘“‘Go quickly and bolt the shutters; then one of you remain at the back door!” he ordered peremptorily. Order was succeeding chaos; the Mexi- cans left the room hurriedly. Jones stripped off his heavy aviator jacket, for the atmosphere of the room was stifling. THE ARGOSY. “IT think we can hold them off until morning, and at the first daylight they will scatter to cover,” said he encouragingly. ‘Jose is already on the way to Galeana, and within a few hours we may look for a rescuing party from the garrison.”’ Under his breath he added: “If Jose gets through!” A volley of blows resounded against the door. ‘“Open!”’ a voice demanded; “it is the gringoes we seek, senor; you will not be harmed.” Jones caught up one of the rifles leaning against the wall,. stepped before the door and fired three times in rapid succession. The bullets splintered the panel; there was a cry of pain outside, terrible curses and the noise of booted feet beating a hasty retreat. “A little of their own medicine,” mut- tered the lieutenant. He replaced the spent shells from the supply on the table and looked at his companions across the room, through the haze of drifting powder smoke. The girl, white faced, was standing beside her father. “Senorita,” said Jones, “the second floor is unguarded, and those fellows may take it into their head to climb upon the roof of the veranda. If you will show me the way we must close the shutters up there; the senor and Robinson can handle the situa- tion here until we return.” He had assumed command. The girl looked at her father and the old Mexican nodded; without a word she left the room and Jones, carrying the rifle, followed. In the hall at the top of the stairs a lamp burned dimly; the American saw that this corridor ran through the center of the building, and that on either side were several doors. The girl opened one. “This is the room directly over the roof of the veranda, which does not extend be- low the windows of the others,” she ex- plained. “Hold the light just outside the door, but not in line with the window,” directed her companion. CORMICLOOOLK (C@)