Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

‘4 2 ard, Italian blade or rapier of Toledo— n r which holy city is Polan, my birth- no My errand is to seek employment wherever it may be found.” “You are a renegade?” queried Spence. The glittering eyes flamed at him, then laughed. “Ha! I was captured by the Moors, caballero, saved my head by a less essen- tial sacrifice, became an officer in their army, and made enough money to pur- chase my freedom. I am now seeking serv- ice as a guard or guide, for I know all the roads. Hire me, caballero! All the army knows me, and I can be of much service to you.” Spence regarded the man. There were many renegades, and this Barbarroja was more than a mere braggart, or he would not .be traveling alone in Christian garb. The aX 5 i ’ P cis Beans 5 fellow could be useful in a dozen capacities, particularly if he were well known among the Moors. “Done. I am Captain Spence, with safe conduct from the Dey of Algiers. Journey with us to Tlemcen. If you are no liar, I shall talk wages with you there. Is that agreeable?” “ Perfectly, Senor Capitan!” Barbarroja gestured grandly in assent. “ And I do not care to answer questions.” “Nor I to ask, caballero!” With a shrug, the renegade turned his horse to the ford again. Spence called up his party. On the far- ther bank Barbarroja waited, his glittering eyes scrutinizing them, then he waved his _ wide hat and set out in the van. Spence sent the two Spahis to bear the fellow com- pany, and rode beside Mistress Betty, tell- ing her how he had engaged the man. To his surprise, the girl frowned thoughtfully. “There are evil men on the roads,” she hE: misdoubt me that this rene- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. girl beside him than of the red-bearded ruffian ahead, rode onto the south and felt well pleased with fate. CHAPTER YV. “ Wert theu the devil, and wor’st it on thy horn, it should be challenged!” FTER nightfall the party rode into Tlemcen, a great circuit cf ruins in- closing a small walled space, perched disconsolately amid remnants of forgotten kingdoms. Barbarroja undertook to lead them to a quiet tavern, where they would meet no unpleasant questioning. A cunning rogue was this, and evidently known to the city guards, whom he passed with a friendly hail. He led them through filthy, narrow streets, and near the ruinous mosque of El Haloui, knocked at a small doorway. A cautious wicket opened, and presently the door was swung ajar by a greasy fellow whom Spence took for a Levantine renegade. The place proved decent enough. For Mistress Betty was secured in an upstairs chamber; a room opening from this, with a balcony overlooking the street, served Spence and Yimnah. A third room sufficed Barbarroja and the Spahis. Returning from his inspection, Spence joined the party be- low. Leaving the three men to unsaddle he led the girl and Yimnah up the narrow stairs that ascended from the courtyard. The host waited at the head of the stairs to light them. As they came to the upper gallery en- circling the courtyard Mistress Betty stum- bled. She caught the arm of Spence to save herself, but the cowl of her burnoose was jerked away, revealing in the lantern- light her features. And, in the shadows be- hind their host, Spence ‘caught sight of an- other face turned upon them—a ghastly ) face, twisted awry, with a purple b kK like a Pai over the pak eye. e = ie — $ Pemiebeoks com