The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-03-10


looking around; you boys came over
and spoiled It ALL"
May ] inquire what the senior is
doing here?" asked voice in perfect
ly good Spanish
Snow wheeled around abruptly and
found himself facing a heavy-set.
swarthy man. with black mustache
curled up in fierce Kaiser Wilhelm
fashion.
Snow stared at this apparition in
amazement Am | on your pre-
serves" he asked in Spanish.
The stranger stepped back a little
Il see from your accent" he went on,
that you are an American, but, senior
I accept no jnsolence even from an
American"
A little Jingle of amusement went
through the American. well, as you
have answered my question in the af-
firmative I'll tell you what / am do
ing. Some friends and l have started
out with this guitar this evening in
search OF an adventure, so | stood
here playing and hoping something
would happen"
At Shows pleasant. smiling face and
ingenious explanation the stranger be-
gan to thaw.
$50 you are hunting an adventure"
responded the man, agreeably. "Woala
you mind helping me? was just
wishing for someone to give me a
little assistance IN cage 1 should need
it,"
"Are you ioHing?" asked Snow.
Never more serious-here's my
hand" in impulsive Spanish fashion.
Snow todk it gravely. What shall
l 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
Senior" said a 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
stunning 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 Cuban air?"
'Nor | Cuban girl. senior"
What shall l 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 triae closer. May 1
inquire why l am playing and-to
whom?"
You are playing in Raphael's place
so that Rafael and Maria may escape
unobssrYed. That is all. senior"
Snow pressed up against the grills.
He was staring fxedly into the dark
recess beyond the curtains And to
whom?" he asked. tersely; ito wiom?"
There was broken little laugh in
side. then q shaking. silvery voice
nunmed over the air he had just been
playing. then sang softly the first line
of the song.
'But-but ! composed those words
myself" stammered Snow.
$3.50 you did-Len."
"Carlotta!" trembled the American
in the uttermost surprise. "You!"
Eyes. yes, my father sent me here
too 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
Englishmens came up leisurely.
Hurry! Hurry!" cried the Ameri-
can. 81 need you!"
Whats the matter?" asked Middle
ham, as the two followed him back to
the window.
Stand here and play this guitar!"
snapped Snow
Jaw, now, what do l want to
here and play guitar for?"
Don't ask questionsi
them think I'm here till
| lotta Vitrelli and ] G. a
way"
Eyes, senor~
the window
| out YOU