Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

IN PERILOUS WAYS.* BY WILLIAM W. RUSS. The story of a knight errant’s peculiar mission—Exciting experiences of war time in Mexico— Fighting against heavy odds with friends at times indistinguishable from foes. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. After a few years of roving Maxwell Harvey, who tells the story, finds himself in El Paso, where chance brings him the acquaintance of Philip Melrose, a man from New York City well on in years. Having reason to know Harvey as a fellow possessed of courage and determina- tion, Melrose commissions him in a peculiar service—nothing less than the kidnapping of his niece from her stepfather in the city of Mexico. She is the daughter of Melrose’s brother, now dead, who married a Mexican during his consulship ; the girl has spent much of her time in the Rast at school under her uncle’s care, and now, knowing that her stepfather is trying to gain possession of her fortune, the old gentleman seeks aid in getting her away entirely from her present environment. Taking for his companion Theodore Martin, a young doctor out of patients, Harvey sets out for the capital of Mexico, which he reaches after many vicissitudes by the way, for it 1s a time of civil war. He discovers the house of Don Carlos, where the girl is kept under surveil- lance, and then, in the hope of learning something useful in regard to it and its master, he makes himself at home in a wine shop near by, seeking to gain a friendly footing with its frequenters by playing cards with a party of them. After losing steadily he wins twice, whereupon one of the fellows accuses him of cheating. ‘It’s a lie!’’ Harvey cries, the men draw knives, and then he calls for fair play, declaring that he will take any one of them alone. CHAPTER VI.—KNIFE TO KNIFE. I HAD my hand on my revolver, but did not draw. There was enough of the ‘bravo among the fellows not to fear meeting me single handed, and each one was ready enough to make the quarrel his own. But for all that they threatened to fall upon me all together. The keeper of the house saw how things stood, and was no doubt fair minded enough for one of his class, willing that a man should be killed in a fair fight, but not murdered without first being given a chance for his life. No doubt thinking that one of the bullies could deal with me single handed, he now decreed that the affair should be settled between two of us. The fellow who had accused me of cheating was willing enough to agree to this, and insisted that his companions stand back. “T will show you that a man cannot tell me to my face that I lie,” he hissed. “You first accused me of cheating,” I replied coolly. “You know that you area cheat! You came here to beat us! ” he replied. He was fairly furious, clutching at his knife, and pushing the other men back. “Leave the American tome!” he cried. “Iwill do with Fim! I will do with him!” “This story began in the November issue of THe Arcosy, which will be matled to any address on recetpt of ro cents. GOH GoOOO ‘SS (GO) awa Af