The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-27
"1he GAY BANDIT y
|, y ST. Of the :, B 30 %
BY TOM GILL


Will wait but monentIto, seiior."
And scarcely more than moment
later Mendoza returned. The sefior-
ita will receive you within ten min
utes. Meanwhile accept this glass of
wine, es I'm favor" he lisped the old
Spanish courtesy.
Leisurely Morales slipped his wine
and considered things in which Men
doza had no part. At the end of ten
minutes Mendoza led him upstairs
and down the darkened hallway to
a closed door. There, with a nod
the Spaniard dismissed his guide. He
knocked softly and the door opened.
A woman in a jade kimono stood
before him.
1t may have been the velvet black
ness of her hair, or the marble white
ness of her neck, or again it may
have been the two great black eyes
that looked incuriously into his.
Whatever the cause, the tall Span
iard's own eyes frightened with
pleasure for brief second. then very
formally he bowed.
Il am Pace Morales"
"Come in, seiior."
He noticed with an artists salts
faction how low and full the voice
was. He watched her walk to the
chaise Tongue and curl up comfort
ably, and he noticed with a little
smile the jade slippers and the bare,
slender ankles. At last he seated him
self near the window.
Perhaps" Morales suggested.
you have heard of me?"
"She smiled. "Who has not?" She
watched him for a while with those
calm eyes that to him seemed yelled
either in sadness or WEAKNESS. They
even tell me men fear you. Sehor
Morales"
Men, yes-and some women"
Il wonder why7" Again their eyes
fenced.
ut may be they have sufficient
reason. But never 4 beautiful wo-
man-as you are" he added. "May
! smoker"
She held the match for him, then
asked, Il am wondering If you came
here SO early just to tell me that?''
by no means. 1t has been long
since I first sent you word asking If
! might come, and it has been some
weeks since you wrote me that I
might. Many things have prevented.
But chiefly I wished to learn about
you before l trusted you too far.
Today I come early that may 6nd
you alone, and my reason for COM
ing at all is to ask you certain ques-
tons. ! expect to pay for the an-
swers. I always pay. Both loyalty
and disloyalty I pay. but in different
coin. Sehorita, you are intelligent.
so we can put aside formalihes.
am a very powerful, = very rich man.
You are singer at Mendoza's. You
do not always desire to remain
among alkai and cactus. It may be
you dream already Of Paris, New
York, or Vienna, but to make that
dream come true one needs power
and money. nor" He paused, and
his cold eyes passed over her. n
could perhaps supply both"
The seiior is Z lover Of art1 Her
words had just the faintest sub-tinlle
Of mockery.
"You mean that in jest seAorita,
and yet in = way Of speaking. am.
But It Is not art, OF. If you will per-
NIT. it IS not even my great admira-
ton for you, that prompts this off
fer. You see, can be practical, like
you Americans"
Again the girl smiled. "Neithew
my voice nor my body. What en-
have ! to offer7
Information and aid"
what do you want to lnow!"
She reached for Z cigarette.
"Who il Et Coyoter
Her heart jumped, but the hand
that held the cigarette never wav-
cred. In contemplation she carefully
blew ont the match and hid It down.
She nodded. eyes, you would be
willing to pay for that knowledge,
wouldn't your"
SECURE. And rather handsomely"
trs y castaasD