Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

186 bed, with Joe holding a cup of hot, strong black coffee to his lips. “ Drink this, old man; it “ll fix you up!” said Joe, as with an arm under his shoul- ders he raised him up. He drank the coffee, and lay back again, tired and weak. ‘“ Guess I must have faint- ed, Joe! Feel like somebody handed me a knockout.” “Oh, youll be all right in a few min- utes! You ain’t et anything this mornin’. Soon as you’ve had this you'll be feelin’ fine.” He brought over a tray holding rolls and a soft boiled egg. After the light breakfast Larry felt bet- ter. When Joe came in again he was up and standing near the window. ‘“* Well, how’re you by this time? to talk business?”’ “Yes. Feeling fine. you have to say.” “You look kind o’ peekid, but I guess you're all right. Come along with me. I want you to meet a friend.” Larry followed him down the corridor almost to the end, where, pausing in front of a heavy door, Joe knocked loudly. A large man about fifty years old, dressed in the uniform of a general in the Honduras army, answered the knock. Evidently he was expecting them. “Vou have been delayed, Don Jose!” he said as they entered. ‘Is this the young man of whom you spoke?” “ Yes, general. This is the engineer, Mr. Larry Simms. Larry, this is General Agui- lar.” Strength and firmness characterized the hand which clasped Larry’s. The general indicated chairs near a large table and asked the two to be seated. Larry was favorably impressed with this man, of whom he had heard much—the constitutional President of Honduras, al- though at present in exile here in Guate- mala. Aguilar favored the Spanish type in looks and manner. Great dignity marked his Ready Let’s hear what bearing. His straight iron gray hair was brushed back from a broad, square fore- head. An aquiline nose, firm mouth, and strong chin gave his face a determined ex- pression, while a slow smile which lighted ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. up his features at intervals made it at- tractive. ‘““Sehor Simms, your friend, Don Jose, has asked me to give you a commission on my staff. Have you ever had any military training?” ‘Yes, sir—three years in the university cadets.” ‘“ Ever hold a commission?” ‘“ T was the captain of my company, sir.” “Very good! Sometimes it is worth a great deal to know something about fenc- ing. We rely a great deal on the machete down here. Can you handle a sword?” ‘“T won the fencing trophy the last year I was in college,” admitted Larry, blushing slightly. The general seemed highly pleased with his answers. “I will give you a commission as captain, if you care to accept. We are leaving in a few hours for the frontier. If you join us, I will make you a member of my staff.” Larry grasped at the offer. Here was a chance to break away from his old life— to enter new fields. The spirit of adven- ture which ever attaches itself to an army in action filled him with hope and a deter- mination to overcome the weakness which was the cause of his ruin. Somehow the wings of his imagination sped upward from the momerit he accepted. It was as though for one brief instant the sun had broken through the shadows, re- vealing distant sun-kissed peaks far above the valley in which he stood. He returned to his own quarters and started packing. In a blanket roll he placed a few necessary articles of clothing to take with him, and then instructed Braulio to carry his trunk to Panama Joe’s place. He left no message for Carmencita, nor did he inform any one of his inten- tions. ‘“‘T am starting a new life,” he told him- self. ‘ All the old ties must be broken off. Poor kid! I must be careful to leave no way for her to find out where I have gone, or she might make good that threat to follow. After a while she will forget her ‘Laree.’ Well, she’s been a good little pal, but there is no other way.” Braulio was curious to know where his COMmiclboo @) SS CO) nn