The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

GOLD GRABBERS. “Are you badly hurt, Mr. Bremer- ton?” she asked softly. “No,” he answered shortly. “It was cowardly to set a pack of hood- lums upon an unarmed man like that.” “ T agree with you, and as soon as I heard of it I came here. I want to help you, to be your friend. May I have the chance? ” There was a wistfulness in her voice which did not escape him. Lacey’s warning still rang in his ears, however, and he thought she was playing a part —for purposes of her own. “Clear out,’ he called roughly, “and leave me to myself. That's all I ask of you.” “Are you able to get back to your hotel? ’’ she persisted. 66 Yes.” He staggered to his feet. Swaying drunkenly, he was compelled to lay hold of a tree and support himself. “Madre ma,’ the girl breathed, “ how you must have been beaten! Oh, the fiends, the cowards!” She clasped her hands convulsively. “ And you think—you think that J had a hand in this contemptible night’s work!”’ He could not see her face, there in the shadow, but her voice went through the phases of sympathy and indignation and reproach. Her acting was superb. “ There’s no guesswork,” said he sternly; “it’s all a matter of fact. You’re a woman, and I don’t want to forget that in my talking with you. Will you go?” “Tn a little while. I can’t leave you like this. Are you still intending to go out to the Mariquita Mine, Mr. Brem- erton? ” _ “Tf you and your father have any idea you can scare me, you will have to guess again. I’m going to the mine, and I'll get the goods on those who settled for Griggsby and sent Lacey to the hospital. Tell your father that. I don’t suppose I have any more sand than Griggsby or Lacey, but I’m tougher, and I’m going to last long enough to do the work that brings me here.” 491 A breath like a sigh came from the dark, slender figure confronting Brem- erton. “Tf you were not suffering,’ said the girl, “if I did not know you were in physical pain, I could tell you things which would make a change in your plans. I think you are a man of cour- age, and the brave are usually just. I can imagine that what you have heard about my father and me has not caused you to feel very friendly toward us; but don’t be hasty. Reserve judgment, Mr. Bremerton.”’ “A man whe will trap another with a crowd of hoodlums, as your father trapped me, wants anything but jus- tice. If he had his deserts he would probably be in the Phoenix jail this minute; and, for all I know, you’d be there with him. You can’t handle me as you did Lacey, or—” The word flashed at him daggerlike. A: temper the girl had carefully con- cealed up to that moment darted, keen and sharp, to the surface of her nature. For an instant Bremerton was sur- prised, and then he reflected that his rough speaking had torn away the mask and given him a glimpse of the real Mariquita Mallory. There was a throb of sorrow and undernote of grief shuddering through that blaze of anger, but it passed him. “ Don’t say something,” the girl went on in a stifled voice, “that you may one day be sorry for. I am here to help you—let me repeat that again.” “ And let me repeat that I want none of your help. While I am at the Mari- quita, the less I see of your father and you the better.”’ After a brief space Mariquita stepped to her horse and laid a hand on the bit. Then she led the animal close to Brem- erton. “ Get into the saddle,” she said crisp- ly, “ and ride to your hotel. Leave the horse at the post in front, and I will either come after him myself or send for him.” Her persistence irritated Bremerton. COMicdoo S CO@