Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 4, 1926 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

EXCITEMENT TRAIL. Hidden by shrubbery which clustered close around the veranda, Rusty drew near. “Rosita!” he called in a low tone. “ Rosita!” At the sound of his voice the girl start- ed violently, almost in affright, one hand pressing against her breast. Forgetful of the attentive caballero at her side, she quickly stepped down from the veranda, peering expectantly into the shadows. “Who ees there?” she asked softly. “ Who calls thus to Rosita?” “Not a ghost anyway,” Rusty chuc- kled. ‘“ Who’d you think it was?” ' “Oh!” Rosita gasped. ‘ Rus-tee. But where did you come from, amigo mio?” ““ [ve been hunting you all over Mexico,” Rusty said reproachfully, as she came close to him. “ Have you forgotten that night Wwe met?” “No, Rus-tee, I have not forgotten. There are many theengs we must talk about, you and I. One moment, Rus-tee, while I excuse myself to thees other friend who waits.” : She returned to the veranda, speaking for a moment in Spanish to her partner, who bowed formally and withdrew. “Come!” and Rosita slipped her hand within his arm, leading him to a rustic table and chairs at a little distance from the hacienda. She sat down, facing him with ‘a smile. “What have you to say for yourself? You have waited long in coming, Rus-tee, my friend.” Despite the smile, a note of sad- ness lingered in Rosita’s voice. Rusty was quite perturbed at this. at- tack. “But why didn’t you meet me as you promised?” he faltered. “I hung around that place for days.” ““T am so sorry, Rus-tee. But for me to come—eet was impossible. Oh, eet was a terrible time. Thees Tia Maria, she learns how I go upon the streets, and when She tells my father, he ees furious. Never have I seen heem so angry. Early the next morning must we all return home so queekly. How then can I keep my ren- dezvous with my friend? But you—you must have known I could not come. Why did you not follow me?” 365 “1 wanted to,” Rusty confessed mis- erably, “ but I didn’t even know your full name, or where you lived. No one would tell me. I nearly went mad with longing ior you, Rosita. But that’s all past and gone. Now I’ve found you, you won’t es- Cape me again so easily.” ‘How did you at the last find where I was?” she whispered. ‘“ T was riding on the trail of some cattle rustlers that ran steers from a ranch up north of the border. This afternoon I met an old padre who told me of the baile. So here I am, carissima mia.” She smiled at the words of endearment, at the earnestness that underlay them, but in her smile was that same indefinite trace of sadness. In the joy of finding her again Rusty failed to notice it. ‘“ I s’pose you live somewhere near here,” he remarked. ‘Naturally you’d be at this baile.” Her eyes opened wide in dismay. “Then you do not yet know, my friend?” : ‘“ Know?” Rusty echoed, at last vaguely aware that something might after all be wrong. “ Know what?” ‘““ My name ees Rosita Perenzo. Eet ees my father, the Don Eugenio Perenzo, who gives this baile.” ‘Mighty decent of him,” Rusty -mur- mured appreciatively, perceiving no cause for alarm in Rosita’s admission. “ He did not send me a-special bid, but just the same I’m pleased to be among those pres- ent.” “And you have not heard—why—he has invited all the people here to-day?” She ignored the light-hearted gayety of his tone. ‘““Why, no. sita?”’ ‘ Eet ees to celebrate my betrothal,” she murmured, her face averted. ‘‘ To-morrow I am to be married.” “What!” The word came from Rusty’s lips like a bullet. “Eet ees true, amigo mio. My hand has been promised to thees man since I was What’s it all about, Ro- a little child. Such is a custom among my | people, you know.” “Who’s the man?” Rusty growled, (E@) comichoolke i : he lid! iu Vitek vse The