Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

402 He was secretly trembling lest the paper wallet be discovered in his possession, when he would be believed a thief. He had robbed the Barbanera brothers’ trunk, no blinking that fact. Should the old Spanish hildago find what he carried, and examine its contents, Jerry’s goose would immediate- ly be ceoked. Therefore, escape he must at the first chance. Zerriila led the way along the corridor and dewn. the staircase and thence into a large room, still lighted by a huge chan- delier with innumerable glass pendants, though the hour was late. Here steod José Barbanera, as if brooding on matters solemn and melanchely, his arms felded, his beard- ed chin upon his breast. “Sit down, yeung man,” Zerrilla com- manded, peinting at a seat. And he began to speak rapidly in Spanish to the man with folded arms. When he had finished, he again addressed Meffat: ‘“‘ You'll be in this gentleman’s charge. Make no effert to es- cape. I’ve explained to him the circum- stances under which you are here and the conditions on which you will be released, but he has my instructions to take such measures as he deems necessary should you seek to violate the conditions. The Zorrilla hand can be heavy and its punishment swift.” With this threat the old Spaniard again went up to his bed. In his final werds, in the flash of his black eyes, Jerry read the man’s high pride and arrogant will that ne weight of years could diminish or weaken. Where he ruled, he was determined to rule as. he pleased, as his race had ruled before him. : Jerry looked at his keeper. ‘Good evening,” said he, smiling. A slight inclination of the Barbanera’s head acknowledged the greeting. ‘“ Do you not speak English?” Jerry pur- sued. ‘“When I desire,” came in that tengue. “ At this moment I have not the desire. Therefore, kindly remain silent.”’ ‘““T thought possibly we might occupy the time by a little chat,” said the young fel- low. ‘‘ However, if you’re inclined to medi- tation, go straight ahead; I'll not interrupt you.” THE ARGOSY. ‘No, you'll not interrupt me. No one interrupts José Barbanera except at his peril,” came in grave tones. ‘* Never?” “ Never. And new silence.” ‘“ But you areuse my curiosity—” ‘‘ Silence!” the other ordered, harshly. Jerry decided that this was not exactly the occasion to amuse himself with the man’s idiosyncrasies, and therefore toek a chair, not the ene indicated by Zorrilla, but another placed nearer a window. Out ef the corners of his eyes he gazed at that win- dew longingly. He would have given much to be on the ether side of it, with what he held wrapped in his ceat. If he had considered himself in a ticklish position with such evidence when in the company of the master of the house, his present situatien was infinitely worse. Did the great cutthrcat standing guard over him ebtain but a glance at the wallet, the deuce would be to pay. Undoubtedly the fellow would forget all about instructions, and recognizing the property, would hurl himself at Jerry; which would bring about a struggle in which Moffat weuld never have a chance against the man’s great talons. They were big hands, those of this Bar- banera. Each finger seemed enormous, with long joints and huge knuckles, covered on the backs with a growth of bristlelike hairs. With such hands one should be able te rend leather, break oak clubs, snap ropes, crush bones, bend steel. Once they closed on a man’s throat, that man might then and there abandon hope. And the fellow, to cap the matter, had a quick and watchful eye as well, notwith- standing his voice was heavy and his air grave. Jerry thought less and less favorably of making a break for liberty. The minutes dragged by. At the end of a quarter of an hour Anita Carley on a sudden walked into the room; and it may be doubted if she were expecting to find any one there, for she gave a start, expect- ing least of all to find the youth whom she supposed safe at home. She stared at Jerry, then at José Barbanera. Then without a word passing, she disappeared again, while an odd expression flickered on the face of cComiclbooks.com