Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 4, 1926 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

EXCITEMENT TRAIL. girl: ‘“ Take me there. Quickly—you un- derstand. And take care that we meet no one on the way—or—”’ His pistol pressed meaningly against her ribs. ‘You are the senor who killed Don En- rique?”’ she asked. “Tm the guy,” Rusty curtly informed her; .“* Let's go.” ‘“ Gladly will’ I aid you, senor. Don Enrique—I hate him.” “Popular sort of cuss, Henry,’’, was Rusty’s grim thought. ‘‘ Everybody speaks so well of him.” . He put up his pistol, but as a measure of precaution kept a grasp on the servant’s dress. At this time he trusted no one save himself. “Lead on, muchacha. No harm will come to you.” ‘“ Yes, but we must be very quiet, senor. Come with me.” “T get you,” Rusty whispered. His guide conducted him across the patio to a portion of the hacienda at some little distance from their starting point. As they entered the building the maid placed a finger on her lips, a totally needless warn- ing for quiet. Through the .dark she led him, Rusty managing to gather no more than a vague notion of their®course. At length they emerged on a lighted hall; before a certain door the girl stopped. “ Sefiorita Rosita is within,’ she whis- pered. Rusty listened closely; the murmur of voices reached his ears, and the sound of sobs. His fingers closed on the knob, slow- ly turning it; the door proved to be un- locked, and suddenly he flung it wide open, striding into the room. Three persons were there—Rosita, her father, and an elderly woman who filled Rosita’s description well enough to be Tia Maria. Evidently a stormy session had been in progress. Don Eugenio exploded with a sharp sputter of exclamations like pistol shots. “Vou!” he gasped. ‘ What business of hell is this?” Rosita sprang up with a glad little cry, and an instant later was in Rusty’s arms. This 379 ‘“Oh, my Rus-tee!”’ she sobbed happily. ‘T should have known you would not fail to come.” ‘“T couldn’t leave without you, Rosita, he whispered. ‘‘ But we’ve got to show speed. This the only door to your room?” Breathlessly she nodded. “T ought to lock ’em up,” and he in- dicated her father and aunt. ‘“ Where’s the key?” Tia Maria had almost collapsed. Evi- dently the least she expected from this des- perate Americano was instant death. “The key—eet ees in my father’s pock- et. You weel not hurt heem, Rus-tee!” Rosita pleaded. ‘“‘ He has been so cruel and heartless to me, but he ees yet my father.” “I wouldn’t touch a hair of his head, Rosita,” he told her softly. ‘All I want of him now is that key.” He got it from Perenzo’s plump person, his demand backed by a display of the big six-shooter. “You are going with this common cow- boy—this rider from the cattle ranges?” Perenzo demanded of his daughter. “Yes, my father,” she murmured. cannot help it; I love him.” ‘You are then no child of mine!” and Don Eugenio spat forth the words venom- ously. “I cast you off! Not one peso of my fortune shall be yours—no, not were it to save you from death by starvation!” “Now, I’m sorry to hear that,” said Rusty, with a glint of sardonic humor in his eyes. “ But I don’t reckon Rosita ’Il miss your money. You been figuring I was a range rider. Well, I am, but I’m also the son of old Dan Towers, north of the line. He’s put a hundred thousand dol- lars in a bank for the girl I marry. Guess she won’t have to wash the dishes and cook meals.” \ ‘““ Believe him not, Rosita! He lies!” “ Adios, father-in-law!” called Rusty, and he shut and locked the door. “ Quick!” he said to Rosita. “ Get us away from here. I’ve got a horse waiting.” A howl of rage burst from within, ac- companied by the shrill treble of Tia Maria, who had at last found her voice and was using it vigorously. 93 ae | COMIC OOO KS Gol