The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-03-18

ONO" stared at this apparition in
amazement. Am l on your nre-
serves" he asked in Spanish.
Inc stranger stepped back a little,
/ see from your accent" he went on.
mat you are an American, but senior
accept no insolence even from an
American"
little tingle of amusement went
through the American. We'll as Won
nave answered my question in the af-
hrmative I'll tell you what l am do
Ing. Some friends and l have started
out with this guitar this evening in
search of an adventure, so I stood
mere playing and hoping something
would happen" .. ....
At SHOWS pleasant, smiling face and
ingenious explanation the stranger be-
gan to thaw.
so you are hunting an, adventure
responded the man, agreeably. would
you mind helping me? was lust
wishing for someone to give me a
little assistance in case | should need
it."
Are you joking?" asked Snow.
Never more serious-here's my
hand,' in impulsive Spanish fashion.
Snow took it gravely. What shall
I do?"
Stand right here and play the gull
tar. Then the man vanished.
The man had hardly disappeared in
the side alley when the silken curtain
behind the grill was drawn back a
little.
"Senor,' 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 a quality in the voice that made
the American blunder his tune and let
it die away.
Yes, senorita," he whispered back;
someone set me here to play" p,
Then why don't you play?p asked
the woman, with little tremolo in
| her voice.
With a feeling that he was in the
midst of phantasmagoria, Snow once
more adjusted his guitar and began
STUNNING the tune. He bad hardly
started again when he saw two white
hands clasp the brazen grills.
"Not 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 I play, them"
Anything else" There was touch
of pathos in her words and again that
dimly familiar quality the man had
noted all along.
He moved a trife closer. MAY I
inquire why 1 am playing and-to
whom?"
"You are playing in Raphael's place
| so that Rafael and Maria may escape
unobserved. That is all, senior"
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 a broken little laugh in
side, then a shaking, silvery voice
nummed over the air he had just been
playing, then sang softly the first line.
"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
TOTO 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. 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 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 ! elope out the back
way"
"Yes, senors," pleaded the voice in
the window, "and If my uncle comes
out you must catch him and hold him.
Don't let him pursue u.s." They could
see her wringing her hands excitedly
in the gloom.
NOW, really, Hulley, don't this upset
a fellow, though? Snow here has
known her for at least five minutes,
hasn't he?" Then, as an afterthought,
81 can't play a guitar, you know"
But Snow thrust the instrument
into his hands. You've got to try as
a friend-a benefactor!"
Midlothian held the guitar HUXLEY