Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

VIALS OF HATE. and honor a pretense? Was his soul utterly black? “ And after I’ve signed over my property to your handsome brother, José, what then?” Louis inquired of Emilio. “Then,” said the latter, “ why, then you travel on the journey before mentioned, a journey to ”—he paused, smiling evilly on the prisoner; and in that smile Louis Gail- lard read his death-warrant—“ to Paris,” he concluded. Now it was Gaillard’s turn to smile. ‘Not yet are the papers signed, so don’t count too surely on a muleteer of a Barba- nera sitting in the house of my fathers,” said he. “Ah, but you will pen your name.” ‘Not for any Barbanera or Zorrilla who ever lived.” ‘‘There are means to make you,” said Emilio, lighting a cigarette and fastening his eyes on Gaillard’s face as if to read: every thought of the latter. “ We ceuld put a hot iron to your soles, for instance. But before coming to that, if strong measures are necessary, we'll lay you as you are in a boat and leave you for a few hours to the mercy of the mosquitoes. That will bend the most obstinate man, a period of reflec- tion in the marsh yonder.” Gaillard’s face disclosed nothing of the consternation he felt at this threat, for he had himself well in hand. But he knew the marsh; none better. He comprehended thoroughly just what he should suffer were his face and body submitted to the attacks of the ravenous insects haunting its grasses. And as he looked back into the little Barba- nera’s eyes, he perceived that the man would not hesitate for a instant to carry out his threat. “Why trouble to force him?” said the larger brother, José, suddenly. ‘“ If he will not sign, then we shall kill him at once. Afterward you, Emilio, can write his name with the skill you have, making it so that no one can find a difference.” ‘“Tt’s best that he sign for himself,” said Emilio, with a shake of his head. “ Later, his relations might grow suspicious if they heard nothing from or of him, institute an investigation, then a lawsuit. There are such things as handwriting experts, my good 111 brother. They -can distinguish the false from the true, even when the former is ex- cellently done. No, the signature attached to the deeds must be Gaillard’s own.” ‘““As you say, then,” was the reply. ‘“‘ You’re more learned in such matters than I, having been trained in a seminary of law.”’ ‘“‘ Never fear, José. He will sign in good time.”’ | “Very well; Tl stay and watch, while you go and prepare the papers. Leave your cigarettes with me.” Emilio emptied his cigarette-case into the ether’s outstretched hand, at the same time saying: | ‘Meditate, my stubborn-minded Gail- lard, upon the matter of mosquitoes during my absence. Imagine the feeling of one mosquito-bill inserted in your flesh, then multiply that unpleasant sensation by a hundred, next by a thousand, last by a million. It will afford you an interesting subject for thought.” Louis Gaillard’s look was both careless and contemptuous. “Oh, it’s not worth while,” said he. Your plans this time will end about where those did you made in New York. A Cuban -renegade can’t keep me long.” “Dog!” hissed Emilio. ‘Well, a Cuban dog, then, if you prefer that term,”’ said Gaillard. CHAPTER XVI. ON THE USE OF SWORDS. ; MILIO BARBANERA, with a look of limitless hate, went from the room. To judge from his face he would have been only too willing to send his prisoner that Instant to a lingering death in the marsh. But Gaillard had no apprehension for the immediate present, since the man’s greed would temper and govern any other passion. Of the two Barbanera brothers it was easy to perceive that the little Emilio pos- sessed the brains, had- devised the plot, and was the leader, though in the quality of courage one might suspect that he would fall far behind the tall and grave José. The one was a fox, the other a wolf. cComiclbooks.com