The Argosy, June 1904 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

534 Romeo knew, perhaps better than any one else, the overwhelming mass of public opinion that Holden must en- counter if placed on trial. He had, in common with all who live the life of the road, a deep distrust of the workings of the law in criminal cases. It was an article of faith with him that when the public demands reparation for a crime which has stirred it, the police furnish a victim who is too often a vicarious sacrifice. He believed that Holden fled, not be- cause he was guilty, but because he knew he would have no chance for his life if he stayed. ‘'o appear in Santa Anita was to put his neck into a noose—indeed, there had been open talk of lynching. If it was in his power to release the prisoner, Romeo would do it. It would be the first really criminal act of his life, but neither that phase of the mat- ter nor a certain dingy heroism which it involved entered the little man’s head. He acted upon impulse, according to his lights, Holden opened his eyes and groaned. ~ Punk bent over him with a scowl. “Water!” gasped the editor. The tramp held the can to his lips. He drank weakly. “Now listen to me. Youse was too funny wit? dat fake gun an’ I called youse, see? All youse has got to do is to keep quiet—odderwise youse’ll get an- nuder t?ump on de block—youse is wort’ jus’ as much croaked as any odder way, see?” “Oh, my head,” groaned the editor. “Never mind your block—dat’ll be all right—but note what I tell youse about keepin’ your mouth shut. Dere’ll be a guy rubberin’ when I tucks youse away in your little bed under de floor, an’ he has de office (an order) to open up your pipes if you peep. I seen your mug a’vertised, an’ I’m out for de stuff, one way or annuder. It says dead or alive, see?” This last statement was a lie, but Punk threw 1t in for effect. It was lost, however, for nothing had any interest for Holden just then. His head ached as though it would split—he was sick, dizzy, and pitifully weak. PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG Conn ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE ARGOSY. When Punk proceeded to gag him with a dirty bandanna handkerchief which had recently adorned the tramp’s own throat, he made neither protest nor movement. Lifting a couple of loose boards, from which he had previously drawn the nails, Punk dragged the prisoner to the aperture and rolled him in. There were eighteen inches of space between the floor and the ground. As he replaced the boards, he heard a feeble stirring beneath; beyond that there was no sign of life—the editor might, indeed, have been in his grave. The tramp stepped to the door, and, blowing out the candle, looked upon the night, which was waning fast. In the east the darkness had already faded into the first dim streaks of dawn. He listened a minute, and then, entering the dry ditch, proceeded toward the tracks. Whither the enemy had gone, Romeo did not know, but he surmised the lat- ter’s mission to be a quest for help among his own fraternity. Therefore it behooved him to act quickly. Scrambling out from his cover, he en- tered the shanty, and, falling upon his hands and knees, groped for the loose boards under which the prisoner lay. He dared not light a match lest a back- ward glance of the enemy betray him. “Mr, Holden! ” he called cautiously. “ Mr. Holden! ” Knowing the man was gagged, he did not expect an answer; he wished merely to acquaint the other with the fact that help was at hand. A moment later he had torn up the loose boards and was struggling with the editor’s weight. Romeo was a little man, with age against him, while the editor was big of bone and long of limb. Raising him out of the coffin-shaped opening in 1 the floor was an awkward business. Staggering about in the gloom, tug- ging and panting, Romeo stepped on the end of one of the loose boards which happened to project over the hole. It shot up and fell with a slam like the report of a pistol. Romeo’s heart leaped to his throat. For a moment he stopped and listened, but, hearing nothing, his alarm sub- OO ©