The Argosy, November 1908 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

590 worry. But here I’ve got a petition from Senor Bonilla, who lives in Valle- cita, Mexico, to arrest you for abduct- ing his daughter Consuelo.” “Well, why don’t you?” “Why don’t I what?” “Arrests me.” He took a seat on a bench opposite me and filled his pipe. He looked at me queerly. “Why don’t I arrest you? nice question. I want proof. the oirkr’ ‘In the house.” ‘Your house?” “Certainly, this house, which is mine if the deeds are correct.” ‘Did you elope with her?” ‘“I did not. She met me on the trail. She was running away from her father and a fellow named .Hernandez, to whom her father was going to marry her for a consideration.” “Henrico Hernandez?” “The same.” ‘‘Well, I am not surprised that she ran away. I’ve known Hernandez a good many years. He’s a bad egg. But you can’t keep her here, you know.” ‘““T can’t send her away.” “Why not?” “She won’t go. Ask her yourself. She is a young lady of very positive That’s a Where is opinions.” ‘How old?” ‘“Oh, about eighteen.” “Gee whiz! Get her out here.” At my call the beautiful refugee came out on the porch. ‘‘ Miss Bonilla,” I Said, ‘“ this is Sher- iff Saxe, of San Diego County. Your father has sent him word that I have abducted you. It is, I suppose, an in- ternational affair that will make trou- ble.” “How can it make trouble?” asked the girl, facing Saxe. “ Nobody ran away with me. I ran away myself. Do you think I can be sold like a piece of furniture?” A grim smile played around the iron mouth of Saxe. “You've got grit, anyhow,” he said. “Now, as a man I admire that grit. But as sheriff I’m bound to see that nothing is done against the law.” ‘““Law! Does the law compel me to THE ARGOSY. marry aman I hate? ‘A man old enough ° almost to be my grandfather? Just be- cause he has discovered a mine, or claims he has?” ‘“N-no, I don’t say that. But you've run away from home, you know.” “And JI won’t go back.” “But where will you go?” “IT don’t know yet. I have no friends who will want me. The only real friends I have are Mr. Denny and Bones.”’ “ But your presence here is likely to make trouble for Mr. Denny.” “Then I will leave. I will go. Any- where, except home. I will not marry Hernandez.”’ She said it so there was no mistaking her meaning. She was determined. I looked at her, and I suppose my admiration showed in my glance. Remember, since I had been on the fig farm I had seen few women, and none at all like this girl. I had lived a lonely life. She was like a ray of sun- shine after a long siege of clouds and storm. ‘You see,” said Saxe, “as I under- stand it, a man cannot harbor a girl against the wishes of her father, be he Mexican or American, unless she is his wife. Then he can do anything.” ke Oh ! ) Consuelo glanced at me as she uttered this exclamation. I felt a tingling sensation all over me. Why not, I asked myself, if she was willing, have her for a wife to make my life in the California wilderness more cheerful ? It was not offering her much, but the circumstances were so unusual that I knew something had to be done at once. “You see,” said Saxe wisely, “ you are not of legal age. You can’t leave your father’s house and go off by your- self this way. If I am called upon to return you to your father, I’ve got to do it.” ‘Do you mean—do you mean you have come for me?” “That is just what I mean.” She stiffened. Tears came into her eyes. She turned to me. ‘“Mr. Denny,” she said, “ you know from what I have escaped. You know that I will not go back. It would be comicloooks.conn