Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

390 “The ladies have been taken and are being held by a cuperior force, so that my men dared not attack, yet they have learned that a special train was waiting, senor! They have learned that the scoundrels mean to imprison the ladies in the far hills—and I have provided for the rescue!” 6¢ How?” “The large official police car waits without, with five men, senor, and nine more have been sent to follow the special should it start before we can reach it. Come, then, and it may be that, even before they can start from Puerto Carlo, the rescue may be effected. If not—” “Well?” “Tf not, we will follow by the high- road, pass the train, and await it at Las Almas! Come!” He turned toward the door, with a queer, assured little jerk, as if entirely certain that Hemmett and the rest would follow. For that matter, Mr. Hemmett did take a pace or two after him, but only to call: ‘““ Domez!”’ ‘ Senor?” “Don’t hurry away. Just wait a min- ute—like this!” Hemmett lunged! His powerful fin- gers wound suddenly about the amazed little man’s thick throat; a swing, and the chief of detectives had been flattened, face up, across the heavy table! And Mr. Hemmett, choking at him with an enthusiasm that boded ill for Domez, hissed: “Stop that gurgling! I look like an idiot, Domez—that’s evident—but there are still a few people in this abandoned hole who can’t put anything over on me, and it is your misfortune to be among the number!”’ ‘“‘ Senor!’”? squawked thickly from the throat. ‘“T want the truth, and I want it quick —and Heaven help you, Domez, if you don’t tell it! I want to kill somebody, and youre handiest! Talk, and don’t try to wriggle -loose!”’ THE ARGOSY. “The truth—the truth, senfor!’? Domez sputtered wildly. ‘‘ I—do not know the truth!” “Then I think Tl send you where they’ll get it out of you with a red-hot pitchfork!”” Hemmett stated, and the fingers tightened again. And not without effect this time, for Domez’s thick fingers gripped his hands and tugged at them as his face blackened. Domez, just as Mr. Hemmett was read- justing his grip, screamed: ‘“ Hear me, then! Hear me, senor!” “Well?” Hemmett relaxed his hold almost regretfully. “Tt is but the orders of the great senor —the Senor Jones—that I follow!” cried the detective chief, who had acquired remarkable directness of thought and speech during the last few seconds. “I speak the truth in this! I swear it! It has been said to me by the Senor Jones himself th&t the women are to be ab- ducted and that the police are not to see! He paid me much money, senor, before this thing was done.” “Don’t stop there,’ Hemmett said quickly. “Where have they been taken?” ‘ Kill me, but that I cannot tell you!” shrieked Domez. “A _ certain signal, senor—a certain signal, and I was to come and say to you that the women went to the hills. More than this I do not know, but—”’ If eyes meant anything, if waving hands and general expression meant any- thing, he was telling the truth this time. Mr. Hémmett, the fingers still on the throat, studied the pop-eyed, congested countenance for many long seconds, at last to release the little man and step away. ‘“That’s enough, Domez. here a while now.” ‘“That—that is the truth, senor!” the detective chief chattered, staggering to his feet. ‘And as for staying here, I dare not go farther now! Jones has spies, senor, even in the churches of Guanama! Jones has spies in every store, in every Street, in every stable and garage, and You'll stay comicloool C©