The Argosy, November 1908 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

586 Namona’s relatives up near the San Jacitos. That was a long distance for her to travel, and she had been riding all night and must need sleep. What to do I didn’t know. Yet to leave her in the mound was entirely out of the question. The day was almost gone. If I hoped to get her out of that place before dark I must think of something soon. And I was still trying to hit on a plan when I reached my house. It was already dusk. Two horses stood before the door. When I entered I saw a tall old Mex- ican sitting by the side of Hernandez, and another, of a lower order, standing near. “Ha! So you are the fellow who has helped my daughter, and almost killed the man she is to marry!”’ the elderly Mex- ican cried, leaping to his feet and drawing a revolver. ‘I will show you to meddle with my family affairs.” I was appalled. Now, Miss Bonilla would have to stay in the old ruin. “Steady, there,” I said. ‘‘ Go-a little slow. First it will be polite to introduce yourself. My name is John Denny.” ‘‘T care not what your name! ”’ he blus- tered. ‘And you already know mine. I demand my daughter.” ‘‘T have not seen your daughter.” ‘Liar! Do you mean to tell me that she did not meet you on the road and ask you to give her shelter? ” ‘Ves, she did that. And I brought her here and told an Indian woman— that man’s wife—to hide her. She did hide her. Then the Yaquis stole her, and I have been looking for your daughter. But I have not set eyes on her face since.” He looked at me suspiciously. “ Better put up your revolver,” I went on. ‘Two can play at that game, and, remember, you are in my house unasked. Permit me to ask how you happened to come here? ”’ “T did not think last night when Sefior Hernandez started after my daughter that the chase would be long. I forgot that she had the fastest horse around. This morning, feeling alarmed for all, I started out myself. I met some of the Yaquis returning, and they gave me an account of what had taken place.” “Well, did they have the woman with them?” Moqui THE ARGOSY. i Yes.”’ “You have some influence with the Yaquis, I presume, although they are a warlike and ungovernable race.” ‘Fortunately circumstances are such that the Yaquis are my friends. I have befriended them in the past, and they appreciate it.”’ “Very goed. You know, then, that there is bad blood between them and the Mogquis of this country.” “I have heard it spoken of. never seen a demonstration of it.” “You would have seen one had you been here this morning. But what I was going to say is this: Your daughter is under the care of the Moquis of the San Jacintos. And they are influenced by me, just as the Yaquis are by you. Now we will understand each other. If you ever expect to see the senorita alive again, not a hair of Namona’s head must be harmed.” “Good!” grunted Sam. ‘Do you mean to put a miserable In- dian woman against my daughter as a hostage?’ demanded Bonilla angrily. “You heard what I said, and I mean every word of it.” “By Heaven, you are an impudent American! ” “I told him the same thing,” said Her- nandez weakly. “Tt is so. You are a very impudent American,” continued Bonilla, ‘‘ But, as you say the Moquis have my daughter, and you control the Moquis, it will do me no good to kill you.” ‘Provided you could do it,” I added. I have ‘““T can shoot quick and straight. And I can talk pretty straight, too. Let me tell you this: I don’t want you here.” Bonilla stared. “You are hospitable, sever.” “IT didn’t want Hernandez here. Had he skiddooed when I told him, there would have been no shooting.” ‘“ Had he—had he what ?”’ “Skiddoo, in the new universal. lan- guage, means to walk rapidly or ride at full trot. Now, listen. I have had about all I can stand of you people from over the border. I’ve been in Vallecita, and I have met many nice people there. But you two don’t meet with my approval.” “Well—but Hernandez is wounded. He cannot ride a horse.” CoOMmicboolkxs.com