The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-07-29
Good Enemies.

As the shadows deepencd across the
twis ing trail which Marsden followed
and 10 sign Of human habitation had
yet appeared, lie began to realize that he
had been a tritle too impetuous i'll setting
out alone over strange roads, when the
day was already advanced.
This is what get for knowing more
than anybody else, he reflected, philoso,
| phically, pcering into The tangled vege,
the end of his journey was near, but
finding only more shadows. and an i'll.
| creasingly difficult path. 81 believe these
hills and valleys were especially designed
I for unsuspccting strangers to get lost III.
Now may have the pleasure of camping
out in this tropical wilderness all night,
on an empty stomach, and catching the
ducc knows how many fcvers, providing
that mythical brigand doesn't catch me.
If he comes, shall try 10 make it pleasant
| for him"
| He pushed ahead rapidly, seeking a
mere promising spot inr his lonely camp.
Instinctively his hand went to his re-
volvers as he remembered the good old
! American gold in his belt.
The bushes at the side of the path
rustled ominously, and as his horse SHE'D,
Marsdcn's revolver flashed up and
e!camcd dafkly out OF the shadows, the
swish 0! something driving swiftly
! through the air, and Alarsdcn dropped
like Il log, under = crushing blow on his
head.
The report of his revolver echoed
through the hills, and an impatient
Spanish curse answered, rs Il man step
ped out from the bushes and seized the
| frightened horse, for Senior GGnzales,
hait-hrcd by birth and b!igand by proies-
! sion. was Il gentleman who cschcwed
loud noises, prcicrring 10 do his work
quietly, like some low-flying night-bird
| in search of prey. Then, with ungentle
hands, he jerkcd Marsden up into the
}
| forward, and together they picked their
WAY through the dark woods, the watch
full brigaud keeping eye and car alert for
danger, and the still shivering horse,
with the limp dead weight strapped down
on his back.
When consciousness ut last came to
to Marsden, he lay dazrd and uucomprc-
hendng for some minutes, in the corner
where lie had been thrown, trying to fit
| himself back to his own identity, and his
identity to the surroundings in which lie
found himself The blow on his head had
left it bewildcred and dizzy, with an all
pervading ache. but,as he light ofrcas on
ing consciousness filtered back into his
mind, dull resentment took hold of
him. His right shoulder was wrcnched
and horribly sore from his fall, and his
captor had bound him with distinct
disregard for his physical comfort
1t was dark in the corner where he lay,
| but slowly lie made out the walls of a
hut, and then, as the sound of deep drawn
brcaths came TO his ears he followed it
to the rough bead, vaguely outlined in
the far corner. Awoman, entering quiet
", had thrown herself downward across
it, and the sound of her sm0thercd sobs
came painfully 70 AIarsden across the
little room.
1t needed but this strange touch to put
all his faculties on the alert, and not Il
movement BETRAYED his return to con-
seriousness as The woman presently arose
| and went outside.
Through the open door his eyes followed
her, and SAW his captor standing by 4
small fire. The pickering light danced on
| the mans face and struck ont cleaning
| lights from sinister looking machete
! laid across his arrl, but his attention was
centcrcd ON Mavsdcn's rcvolvcrS, which
he was examining with infinite satisfac-
ton. Marsden's wrath rose to boiling
point, and he ground his teeth inpotent-
Is as he watched.
| The woman came forward and began
mechanical preparations for a meal, and
| Marsden saw that the face which bert
over the fire was Young and comcly,
although dsfigurcd by recent tears.
Presently she stopped and stood close to
| the man.
"You will do it, Pedro:? You will
premise me this much"
Marsdcn'S Spanish was lame and halt
ing at best, but he strained his ears TO
catch and understand her words wonder
ing what this could mean. Her youth
fully round face worked painfully as size
looked up at Pedro, her hands on her
chest and her eyes burning insistcntly
into his. He did not move nor repulse
her, but the cultural rumble ofhis answer
convened no intelligence to the listening
! prisoner Her voice, although low, was
clearer, and Marsdcn's blood tinGled with
Il sense of impending tragedy as she step
ped back and threw out her arms i'll an
uuconSciously dramatic gesture.
"Pcdro, | have been agood wife to YOU.
left all that had to go with you, and
my fathers curse followed me, and its on
me yet. Have | ever reproacIled you
with these things, or raised my voice
against whatever YOU chose to do? You
will do this one thing for Tic, Pedro? Or
l would do ii myself, oh, SO gladly, il
there were danger for you-if you would
but let mel You will notch, you can
not leave TIE here like Il dog,
Her voice broke huskily in "A storm OF
| nasSinnntr tears and she fled hack into