Warren sheaf., 1910-08-11

Snow laughed shortly. The 70.
nance Is off," he remarked without
looking around; you boys came over
and spoiled it all"
MAY I inquire what the senor is
doing here?" asked voice in perfect
ly good Spanish. 49,.
Snow wheeled around abruptly and
found himself facing heavy-set,
swarthy man, with black mustache
curled up in a fierce Kaiser Wilhelm
fashion
Snow stared at this apparition in
amazement. "Am I on your pre-
serves" he asked in Spanish.
The stranger stepped back little.
II see from your accent" he went on,
that you are an American, but, senor,
I accept no jnsolence even from an
American"
little t1ngle of amusement went
through the American. "Well, as you
have answered my question in the af-
firmative I'll tell you what I am do
ing. Some friends and have started
] out with this guitar this evening in
search of an adventure, so I stood
here playing and hoping something
would happen"
At Shows pleasant, smiling face and
ingenious explanation the stranger be.
gan to thaw.
80 you are hunting an adventure?"
responded the man, agreeably. "Would
you mind helping me? I was Just
wishing for someone to give me
little assistance in case should need
It,"
"Are you joking?" asked Snow.
"Never more serious-heres my
hand" in impulsive Spanish fashion.
Snow took it gravely what shall
I do?"
"Stand right here and play the gui.
tar" Then the man vanished
The man had hardly disappeared in
the side alley when the silken curtain
behind the grill was drawn back
little
"senor,' said voice, "did Rafael
ask you to play there?"
Snow drew near and removed his
Panama He could see a dim oval
face outlined in the black interior with
two dark splashes for eyes, but there
was quality in the voice that made
the American blunder his tune and let
it die away.
Eyes, senorita," he whispered back;
someone set me here to play"
"Then why don't you play?" asked
} the woman, with a little tremolo in
her voice.
With feeling that he was in the
midst of phantasmagoria, Snow once
more adjusted his guitar and began
strumming the tune. He had hardly
started again when he saw two white
hands clasp the brazen grills
mot that! Not that" trembled the
voice. 'Ah, mia Dios, not that"
Snow paused again abruptly. "You
know the tune-it is not a Cuban air?"
"Nor l Cuban girl, senor."
what shall I play, them"
"Anything else" There was a touch
Of pathos in her words and again that
dimly familiar quality the man had
noted all along.
He moved a trifle closer MAY l
inquire why am playing and-to
Whom?"
"You are playing in Raphaels place
so that Rafael and Maria may escape
unobserved. That is all, senor."
Snow pressed up against the grills.
He was staring fixedly into the dark
recess beyond the curtains "And to
whom?" he asked, tersely; Ito whom?''
There was broken little laugh in
side, then a shaking, silvery voice
r1ummed over the air he had just been
playing, then sang softly the first line
of the song.
"But-but i composed those words
myself" stammered Snow.
"So-so you did-Len."
"Carlotta!" trembled the American
in the uttermost surprise. "You!"
eyes, yes, my father sent me here
to-to avoid you"
well, come on-quick, Carlotta-
Well follow suit-the back way"
"But, Len," gasped the girl, "some.
one must play the guitar Rafael al.
ways Played"
Snow leaped to the middle of the
narrow street and began wildly to sig.
nal toward the dark corner. The two
Englishmen came up leisurely.
"Hurry! Hurry!" cried the Ameri
can. II need you!"
whats the matter?" asked Middle
ham, as the two followed him back tc
the window g..
"Stand here and play this guitar!'
snapped Snow. IT,.
cav, now, what do I want to stand
here and play guitar for?"
Don't ask questions! To make
them think I'm here till Senorita Car
lotta Vitrelli and I elope out the back
way" @- 30