The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

A CUBAN HOLD UP. How the leisurely jaunt of two opinionated Americans was subjected to an interruption as shocking to their nerves as it was galling to their pride—The panacea developed from a mystery. WE met them first at Matanzas, in the pretty plaza, across the marble pavement of which they were leisurely strolling ; two most ravishing Cubanas, tall and lissome, dark of eye and brunette as to complexion. They were not alone, for, sometimes behind them, sometimes by their side, walked a portly gray haired and white mustached gentleman, of dignified bearing and exceedingly haughty air. They, too, had an atmosphere of aristocratic breeding ; but did not appear to our experienced eyes (leaving their escort out of the personal equation), to be absolutely impregnable. I fear we must have stared, for the escort glared at us most uncompromisingly, and they gave us one astonished glance, out of the corners of their beautiful eyes, and then demurely looked the other way. Only a glance; but it wasa duplex, binocular one, and it took our breath away for the space of half an hour, during which we seemed deprived of the power of speech. ‘That this was something unusual, may be inferred from the fact that we had safely weathered several seasons at Newport and Narragansett Pier, and had never ‘‘turned a hair.’’ But these two were a type all by themselves, we told our- selves, when we had regained our hotel and compared our impressions of the morning. We met them a second time the very next morning; not on this earth, but beneath it, at the yawning mouth of the cave Bella-mar, where a party had gathered to explore the secret recesses of that wondefful cavern. Scene of yesterday re-enacted ; pleading, perhaps bold glances from young men; repellent look from elderly gentleman, chaste reserve on part of the young ladies ; so we went into the crystal cavern unrecognized and unacquainted. The Bella-mar is a Mammoth Cave in miniature; same dark corridors, stalactitic pillars, crystal grottoes, unfathomed lakes; and finally, same ‘‘ fat man’s purgatory,’’ or narrow passage between immovable rocks. We had proceeded well enough up to this point ; but here occurred an accident: One of the young ladies fainted, right in mid-passage of the purgatorial pass. There was instant outcry for some sort of restorative, and fortunately I had with me a “‘ pocket pistol,’’ filled with that liquor ‘‘ which cheers, likewise inebriates,’’ and which I at once handed to the Cuban gentleman. Promptly applied to the young lady’s lips, the generous liquor had the requisite effect, and, after she had recovered, the flask was returned, accompanied with thanks, ornately, profusely even, expressed, by the Cuban gentleman. It may have been that I expected some sort of recognition for this opportune assistance ; but if so, I was destined to disappointment, for the Cubans left (H) 3 ecomichbook