The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

234 he did not desire to be the means of bringing another unnecessarily. He bowed to Jimmy, explained something rapidly to the shivering complainant, and then motioned to Jimmy’s guards to stand back. With elaborate courtesy, el capitan apolo- gized to Jimmy—at least, Jimmy as- sumed that he was apologizing—and with a dignified gesture he halted the official's effusive flow of language. Still furious, Jimmy made his way back to the hotel and entered the court- yard. Just inside the gate he stopped abruptly, for, seated by the’ fountain was the young woman who had been responsible for his adventure. Beside her stood a man in white linen, and in his hand he held a pink envelope. Jimmy frowned. Then, as the man came quickly toward him, holding out the note, Jimmy swore. Angrily he struck the letter from the man’s out- stretched hand, and, without giving heed to the fellow’s astonished pro- test, quickly crossed the court to where the young woman was sitting. At his approach she arose in alarm, but Jimmy did not pause until he stood directly before her. “Do you speak English?” he asked. Timidly she shook her head and looked wonderingly at him, unable to comprehend his attitude. Then, see- ing the look in his eyes, she gave a scream of terror. Before Jimmy could speak again the courtyard was full of men, guests, servants, and police. In a rage, Jimmy faced them all, too much upset to ex- plain his difficulties for the moment. To the hotel proprietor he finally be- gan to relate all that had happened, exclaiming that he would leave the hotel immediately rather than submit to such pestering any longer, Excitedly the young woman spoke to the proprietor, and vainly attempt- ed to make her side of the case known to those who only understood English. “It’s an outrage!’ cried Jimmy, stamping his foot. “I tell you I won't be bothered like this any longer!” THE ARGOSY. Just then an admirer of the seforita ‘stepped through the crowd, and, rising on tiptoe, slapped Jimmy squarely on the cheek. Like a flash Jimmy seized and hurled him into the fountain. In an instant the place was in an uproar. The seforita screamed, the servants began to shout, and the crowd gathered closer about Jimmy. Then the group drew back. Some one had sent for el capitan de policia, and now he appeared, a tall American following at his heels. “Do you want to go into the foun- tain, too?’ Jimmy cried. But the tall American pushed for- ward, smiling, and signed to Jimmy to restrain himself for a moment. “What’s all the row?” he asked. “Tam the American consul.” “Thank Heaven—a white man at last!” exclaimed Jimmy with a sigh of relief. Then. he quickly told the new arrival what had taken place. The consul laughed and conferred with el capitan, who promptly de- manded that the shivering note-bearer produce the missive Jimmy had re- fused to receive. Tearing it open, the consul glanced at it, and with a chuckle turned it over to Jimmy, signing to him to read it. “Will the gracious sefor lend the bearer two dollar American?” Jimmy read in astonishment. The note was signed ‘‘ Pedro Martinez,” the name of the persistent messenger. At first Jimmy was inclined to laugh. Then he remembered the pink envel- ope and its bearer, who had adopted this novel means of soliciting alms. That he .\vas sure had been sent by the senorttc. His vanity never suggested anything else. The consul asked for it. It was ‘produced, the proprietor explaining that the man who had. offered it to Jimmy was a clerk in the hotel. Taking the pink note in his hand, Jimmy gave it one look, and then flushed deeply in his embarrassment. The post - mark was East Orange, and the handwriting was his wife’s. CoOMmicbook CO