The Argosy — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

_ THE PRIZE OF THE MISSING GOLD MINE. / A tale of the ambitious father, the rich rival, the faithful maid, and the penniless lover— The apparently hopeless task ambition set penury, and the strange factor which played an important part in the outcome. “T*“HERE was a pleasant sound of fiddle and guitars on this September night at the house of Don Albino Montoya, the alcalde of Los Majones, in the Mesilla Valley. Across the light that streamed from windows and _ open doorway passed and repassed the forms of graceful dancers, whirling in the Spanish waltz. Don Albino was giving the first daz/e of. the season, and everybody was glad that the maize and grapes were ripe and the time of dancing had begun. The tune came to anend, the musicians put down their guitars and fiddles while they rested, and some of the dancers crowded to the door to get a breath of cool air. An olive skinned beauty, with a gold filigree comb in her dusky hair, peered out into the darkness, then smiled, showing teeth dazzlingly white. She ‘glided among the people gathered at the threshold, passed out upon the portal, and spoke to some one standing in the shadow of one of the great posts. | ‘“ Ah, Alejandro mzo /’’ she said, and caught him by the hands. ‘‘ Why do you stand there in the dark as if hiding? You have not been to see me or even let me know of your return. Is this as much as you care for me?”’ This with a pout of the lips and toss of the head wholly Spanish and witching. It was a stalwart man, dressed in rough miner’s clothes, whom she ad- dressed. Now as he turned his head to the girl it could be seen that he was an American and young, with a handsome open face; but the expression on it was reckless, almost to desperation. ‘“A dance is no place for me, Lola,’’ he said bitterly, though his look brightened at the girl’s presence and speech. ‘‘I’m out of luck, and merry- making is for those who are fortunate and happy.. But I came to the Jortal to have one look at you before I went away.’’ ~**Then did you fail in your last trip to the mountains?’’ she asked in a tone full of concern and sympathy. “Came back with only the clothes I wore and my weapons,’’ he answered. ‘‘ The Indians got my outfit and only barely missed getting me. I hid from them two days in the brush, and then worked back to white settlements.’’ ‘“Poor Alejandro,’’? she murmured compassionately. ‘‘So you have nothing ! And where are you staying ?”’ ‘“Old Pablo Martinez gave me my supper. I only got here this evening. I shall find a place to sleep somewhere. There isalwaysa roof for the stranger in Los Majones.”’ ) ) comicbooks co