The Argosy, November 1908 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

BY BULLET Consuelo Bonilla, the other half of the ceremony will be performed.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You'll never get her,” he “That gang is dangerous.” “Twill get her, if I have to shoot my way to her side. Do you know, Brown, that a bullet is a great persuader? ” ‘‘ T’ve heard so,” he said, as he mount- ed his horse. ‘“ But I don’t want to hear your plans. I might have to stop them.” said. CHAPTER IX. A RAID INTO MEXICO, As I watched the burly form of the justice ride out through my osage gate- way I felt myself swelling with rage. So far as my own intention, intelli- gence, and convincing thought were con- cerned, I was married to Consuelo Bo- nilla. And a gang of Yaquis, led by her father, had swooped down upon us in my own dooryard ‘and carried her away to Mexico. Sam Tamarko sat and watched me, the color rising in his cheeks. “Vou told Bonilla,” he said, “ that the girl would be safe if Namona was safe. Now they have the girl and Na- mona, too.’ “And, by Heaven!” I added, have them both back.” Strange though it may appear, the house was lonesome after she had been taken away. We had had only a supper and a breakfast together, yet she had brought such a blithesomgeness to the adobe dwelling that now the place seemed dull, dark, and silent. I got Sam fixed up so that he could stand my absence, put a saddle on my horse, and started for San Diego. I was no longer on the road than was necessary to save my horse, and when I rode into San Diego we were both cov- ered with dust and the horse with foam as well. I found Saxe without any difficulty. “Hallo! On your honeymoon?” he asked. “Honeymoon!” I taken her away.” “Taken the girl?” “Taken my wife.” 2A “we'll said, “ They've PERSUASION. 593 ‘““Come,” he said, getting himself un- twisted from the easy lounging way in which he usually sat and straightening up. “ This sounds like bad _ business, whether it is or not. You say they have taken away your wife. Do you mean the Bonilla girl?” “Yes, Consuelo.” ‘“ Now, then, who are they?” ‘Her father and a gang of Yaquis.” “Tell me all about it.” “Well, you told Brown, didn't you?” “Sure thing. Found him at Des- canso and told him you wanted him in a hurry. He said he’d go right out, Did he?” “Yes, he came. But while we were in the middle of the ceremony Bonilla and a gang of Yaquis arrived and snatched Consuelo right out of our hands.” “What did you let him do that for?” “Nobody had time to think. But what can I do now? That’s the ques- tion.” ‘What did Brown say?” ‘He said that the ceremony wasn’t completed. I could do nothing.” ‘“Hadn’t he pronounced you man and wife?” ‘“No. He hadn’t reached that.” ‘Then you can’t do anything.” “But I must do something. sider myself married to her.” “Well, you might consider yourself married to the moon, but you couldn’t I con- get the United States army excited about it.” “But there’s Sam’s wife. What about her?” ‘Oh, she’s a Moqui. I wouldn't bother much about her.” “You're a satisfying cuss. to get my wife.” ‘You'd better get a wife first. have no legal wife, have told you.” ‘“Good-by, Jim,” I said. “I came to you, thinking you could help me. Since you won't, I'll help myself.” “God helps them that help them- selves,’ he answered. ‘I'll do my best. Vl keep my mouth shut. Raid the bor- der.” On my way back home I grew angrier at every step. As I recalled the beauti- ful face of Consuelo as she sat opposite I’m going You or Brown would Ccomiclooks.conn