The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

PAY-DAY. IN PALAOR. “* He will have left much money?” “Tt is certain.” “ And many notes and papers?” “Fhe lieutenant has locked them in his safe.” Julian asked many questions, but re- ceived little light. He went on his way, leaving Basilio to continue his song- making. Basilio was not troubling his head ahout the hunt for the man-slayer. He felt himsélf safe. Suspicion might point in another quarter. That was no affair of his. Another man might be tried, con- demned, hanged. What matter? Men died every day. One more or less was of little consequence. The important thing was to remain unsuspected and forget old Cospito, who was dead and so gould not testify before the Amer- ican judge. The murder provided Marker and his men with much to do. Also, there was talk of a raid threatened by several hill bandits who had resumed operations after months of enforced quiescence. Here were opportunities to prove his efficiency, and Marker worked night and day to make good. Eidith’s parting words had filled him with new hope. He told himself he would be willing to wait through any period she might stipulate, but deep down in his heart he felt the yearning’ which he knew would demand a speedy wedding. Meanwhile, his twofold man - hunt- ing duties helped him to keep his prom- ise not to go near the bungalow or the schoolhouse for a week. He counted the hours, the minutes, which still divided him from her. Also, he kept his promise to talk to young Don Julian. Marker met the half-breed by acci- dent on the afternoon of the second day of waiting and working. Santos tried to avoid him; he feared the strong arm of the American. But the latter gripped him, and— just in time—remembered that his hands were shackled by the girl’s com- 677 mand, They itched to pitch into the dissipated little yellow coward, who writhed away from him. Marker curbed his anger and. spoke with deadly coolness. “Listen to me, Master Santos,” he said. ‘“ You have been annoying a young lady; I won’t mention her name in your filthy ears. But if you as much as look at her when she passes you again, Dll shake the last breath of life out of you. You savvy?” “Yes, seftors the sevior must be mis- taken, I will not-look near her,” Juhan whimpered. His hands and legs shook with fright. * See you don’t,” Marker said, walk- ing on and leaving the half-breed mop- ping the sweat from his brow, “Don Jultan looks sick,” Paulina said, coming along the trail with an earthen pitcher of water balanced on her head. Miss Edwards’s servant ap- proached the mestiso from the direc- tion in which the lieutenant had gone. Santos was doubly exasperated. The girl must have witnessed his humilia- tion. She would tell her mistress, of course, and he, Julian, would be laughed at again. Paulina would gossip. The whole countryside would know how he had quatled before the arm, feared the very tongue, of the American. “ It is nothing,” he answered, hurry- ing away. Paulina laughed and almost dropped her pitcher. As soon as she reached the bungalow she hastened to the veranda, where Miss Edwards was sitting, reading. “It was so funny, Sefiorita Edeeth. So frightened he looked; and the Serior Lieutenant just shook one great finger at him and spoke to him so soft and quiet. But you could see he meant it—oh, yes, every word.” “Meant what? Who was fright- ened? What in the world are you talk- ing about, girl?” “Why, Don Julian to be sure, seiio- rita. And he shook both legs, and the sweat was rolling off him like water COMicdoo S CO@