Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

110 At that Louis Gaillard spoke: ‘‘And what, may I ask, am I supposed to affix my namé to?” The smaller brother of the pair turned and regarded the questioner with a look full of insolence. ‘““To what we place_before you,” said he. ‘““But no harm can be done in telling you, since it will make no difference in the result. You will sign deeds delivering your estate to my excellent brother, José.”” And the speaker made a mocking bow to the prisoner. ““What, are you so_ selfsacrificing?”’ Gaillard retorted. ‘‘ Don’t you share in the plunder, my fat little thief? Aren’t you to dip your hand in the honey-pot also and lick your fingers while your grave-digger of a brother licks his? I swear I never saw such magnanimity.”’ “You fail to understand,” Emilio re- marked with a sneering smile. | “Then perhaps you'll make the matter clear to me.” Emilio grimaced. | ‘Well, it’s scarcely necessary, but since it may make your joy in our happiness greater, I’ll go so far as to grant your wish. The Barbanera brothers prosper. José, who receives the Gaillard estate, will marry Felipa Zorrilla; I marry Isabel, under favor of her respected grandparent, and also by her own wish, and obtain the Zorriila, property. You-——presto—vanish. But it will be announced, however, that having grown weary of altercations on the one hand and of plantation life on the other, why, you sold your property and departed for a residence in, say, Paris.” ‘A most imaginative fable.” “Is it not, my dear, stupid Gaillard? Time gives counsel, you see. First, I thought it sufficient merely to be rid of you, but deliberation taught,me how that rid- dance might be turned into gold for the purse of deserving José here. A _ very blessed thing for the community and the region, too. Strife will cease. The ancient quarrel of the Gaillards and the Zorrillas will be forgotten; and the joined banners of the brothers Barbanera, figuratively speaking, will float peacefully over the two properties. Is not that a charming picture?” THE ARGOSY. “Too charming to seem an actuality. Let me ask, does that old scoundrel who sits yonder in his house, pulling at his beard and hatching deviltry, approve of this Utopia as you draw it? Report has always said Hernando would demand that whoever married his granddaughter should adopt the name of Zorriila. But I presume that wouldn’t stick a little rogue like you.” _ “I. shall marry Isabel Zorrilla, yet not change my name,” Emilio smirked. “ Old Hernando has assented. Henceforth the name of Barbanera shall be in the ascen=— dant.” The vanity of the little beast would have been laughable had it not been so disgust- ing, or so like being justified by after results. As matters stood, it appeared very much as if the Barbaneras were in the ascendant, as if their schemes should come to fruition, as if their crime should give them wives and wealth. Old Hernando might prefer to see one of his relations marry his granddaughter in- stead of another. But that the man, unless he had grown senile, however much he hated Gaillard, could lower his stiff pride to participate in a diabolical plot to secure’ his enemy’s estate for a Barbanera, seemed utterly impossible, unbelievable. Fight for what he claimed as his own, yes; take life in defense of it, yes; scheme and plan to outwit Gaillard in the matter of this little island, and. continue to hate him, yes; but these were things that ran with what Hernando Zorrilla considered his rights and his honor. But to engage in an out-and-out murder and theft for what had never belonged to him, nor to which he had never laid claim —that hardly fitted the character of even Gaillard’s chief enemy. Yet these Barbaneras, who, it was easy to see, would stop at nothing, might have in- sinuated themselves into the old Spaniard’s confidence, poisoned his mind with false charges against Gaillard, persuaded him, worked on his ancient prejudice, and at length won his assent and assistance by deception. Or was that not needed? Did the spirit of a devil lurk in the old man’s heart? After all these years, was this his enemy’s true nature? Was even his pride cComiclbooks.com