The Argosy — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

£K " THE PRIZE OF THE MISSING GOLD MINE. 233 came onpdiite Hechicera’s house, and at his halloo the witch appeared at the door. He asked her if all was well at the house of Senor Montoya. ‘' Hechicera,’’ he said, ‘‘ I have found the Cincha Larga.”’ ‘You come in a good time,’’ she said. ‘‘ Don Enrico Gallego is here to claim the senorita. It is said that their marriage is arranged for Christmas, and the announcement will be made tomorrow. Don Albino will be sur- prised to see you. It has been said by some that you were killed by Indians, and few besides Lola believed that you would ever return.’’ Campthorne bade the witch good night+ rather hastily, passed on tos the plaza, and entering Don Albino’s court yard, halted his mule before the door and knocked, The mayordomo appeared at the door, and he had to look a second time before he recognized the young prospector, with his beard of ten weeks’ growth, and rough garments, sadly the worse for wear. ‘Oh, so you are back,’’ said Manuel, greeting Campthorne not over cor- dially. ‘‘ The people will be surprised to see you. Your pleasure, senor ?’’ “I wish to see Don Albino at once,’’ said Campthorne shortly. He meant to waste no time in making his position known. ‘“ He is much engaged,”’ said the mayordomo. ‘‘ He is transacting busi- ness of importance with Don Enrico Gallego. Tomorrow is ‘I must see Don Albino now,’’ said Campthorne, and his tone made the mayordomo start. ‘‘I have things to take from my mule. Lend a hand, homobre.’’ But the mayordomo stood still, shaking his head; so Campthorne cast loose the end of the packing rope, unwound its (actinos from the mule, and dumped the pack down before the door. He put one of the carivas sack’ of ore upon Manuel’s shouider. ‘Carry that, hombre,’”’ he said, and lifted the other sack to his own shoulder. ‘‘ Now show me the way to the alcalde. Is hein the dining room ?”’ ‘* Yes, senor, but——’’ All right, I know the way.’’ Followed by Manuel, quaking beneath his load, Campthorne strode to the dining room, gave a thundering knock at the door, and, without waiting for an invitation to enter, pushed it open. Don Albino Montoya and Don Enrico Gallego were seated at the supper table with a bottle of Rio Grande wine between them. Don Albino rose from his seat frowning, but, unheeding his indignation, Campthorne set his sack of ore upon the table, and motioned to the mayordomo to do likewise with the one he carried. He opened the sack, and emptied from it a half peck of ore upon the table. ‘Don Albino Montoya,’’ he said with dignity, ‘‘ will you favor me by bringing your specimen of Cincha Larga ore.”’ Influenced by the sight of the ore, and, still more by Campthorne’s man- ner, Don Albino’s black look’ became infused with interest and repressed curiosity. He bowed to Don Enrico, said ‘‘ Excuse me, senor,’’ and went from the room. Seon he returned with a parcel in his hand, and unrolled from its buckskin wrapper his precious specimen. ‘“Senor Montoya,’’ said Campthorne, ‘‘ do me the honor to conipare your specimen with these I have brought.’’ In hushed suspense, with every face Conmicelaool< (S@)