The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

A PERUVIAN PARADISE. 5 “Phen I fall in with the Indians from whom you rescued me. ‘They were kind to me at first ; but when they see this’’—he pointed to the tattoo mark again—‘‘ Carramba/ they all like fiends. The mark was placed there soon after I was captured. Het is a sign known to all the Indes of the Andes. Only for eet I would ‘3 He stopped and looked searchingly into their faces. ‘You would what?’’ demanded Ford. ‘“T would go back an’ secure some of the lost wealth of the Incas !’’ Fitch pressed forward. ‘See ’ere,’' he said eagerly. ‘‘If a man could fix it so nobody would see that mark, would you risk it ?’’ ‘Can you do that, senor ?’’? demanded the Spaniard, his eyes flashing. ‘Hi believe so,’’ returned the trader. ‘‘ Hi’ve got some grease paint in one of my packs—such as hactors use. I carry a little of everything. Hi believe Hicould make you hup so that your mother wouldn’t know you.’’ ‘“Tf you can do this, senor Sa Rodriguez looked about at the two younger men, studying their eager faces carefully. “Will you all t’ree go?’’ he said. ‘‘ There is enough and to spare for all. Het is dangerous. Death lurks not alone in savage foes, but in the trails, the torrents to be crossed, the precipices to be scaled. But the prize— tink of the prize! Wealth beyond your dreams, senors! Will you go?” CHAPTER JIIJ.—A FRIGHTFUL CATASTROPHE. KeETH and Ford looked at each other questioningly. Tio the latter the venture suggested by the Spaniard appeared very alluring for its own sake ; to Keeth, the struggling young civil engineer, the possibility of finding wealth such as Rodriguez declared he had seen was indeed tempting. It was true that the story the Spaniard told sounded visionary—in fact, seemed impossible in the year of grace, eighteen ninety odd. But Rodriguez appeared honest ; his words rang true ; and, stronger evidence than all, there were the bars of yellow gold before them. There was no discounting them. Keeth reached out and grasped Jose Rodriguez’ hand. ‘“T’ll go with you,’’ he said. ‘‘’There’s my hand on it.’’ ‘‘ And you; senors?’’ inquired the Spaniard, turning to Kinsale and the excited trader. “If Keeth is willing to risk it, 7/am,’’ declared Ford. ‘“An’ as for me,’’ said the Cockney, wiping his forehead furiously with the bandanna, ‘‘ you couldn’t keep me hout of it. Bob Fitch ’ll never refuse a chance to make ’is fortune, Hi ’ope.’’ ‘But I thought you didn’t believe in any of these yarns about the Incas, and all that sort of thing,’’ suggested Ford slyly. “That's hall right, young man, that’s hall right,’’ responded the trader, with some asperity. ‘‘ Mabbe Hi don’t believe in every cock an’ bull story Hi ’ear; but Hi believe in solid gold bars like ¢hem,’’ and he handled the - yellow metal caressingly. ComicaoolK< (S@)