The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-10
Chapteses

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Chapter 90
THE RAID
CT HAD hoped,r Frank explained
ito make friends with the ma
tiyes and get information. through
them. The chicleros. the men who
gather chewingsgum zap, cover this
country rather thoroughly, and see
some strange things. thought. per.
haps. to learn enough through them
TO give .mesa clue to the spot where
Langton had crashed. n he fell here
they. would surely know"
He shrugged HE shoulders, and
continued:
There's not a chance, getting
anything from these buzzards, how.
ever. Nothing short Of . squad Of
men with machine-gnns could make
any Impression. II get out Of this
alive, IN coming back, no foolin'.p
He interrupted himself to smile.
Il mean. when We get out of here. q
Janice shooksher head. Her eyes
glowed and her chin. was firm. but
there was a hint Of encouragement
In her voice as she spoke.
They're terrible. They're cruel.
You should have seen" She sup
pressed asmall shiver. when they
appeared from the jungle, they
stood calmly and shot our men
down like. like. -.
"We left Merida. Mr.. Greene, Ho.
garth our director. and Wallace and
Bill Jaehne, the two cameramen.
Ortega guided US. We had eight
natives to do the work. and take
care OF the burros that carried our
costumes and film and stun. We
didn't need many props as we were
only going TO take long shots here,
and some authentic jungle footage
with native types.
I'VE trusted ortega. He said Nc
Grath, who was our production man.
had gone ahead to prepare quarters
for as. He
Il know about that. Tell You
later. What happened?"
I'VE came into one of those open
meadows. savannahs think they're
called. Without any warning. We
we're surrounded by these people
and they began shooting. It was
just az the edge OF these ruins, on
the other aide.
Il think Hogarth, and the two,
cameramen were killed instantly.
They were almost blown on their
burros. Mr.. Greena's bnrro ran
away and thr v him. At first they
thought he was dead. but found he
wasn't They were going to shoot
him then. bat they decided to take
him In With me. alive.
-As we left that spot. could hear
an occasional shc.. think they
were shooting our. poor Mexicans. =
what OF Crtega?" asked
0rahame. already knowing the an.
swer.
THAT beaati He was smoking q
clsaret when we came into the
clearing. He was smoking the same
cigaret en- we left. He watched
everything with those muddy eyes
OF bis. sitting ouietly on bis birro.
and smiling a little. | think he
would have helped the attackers II
his arm hadn't been wounded"
H" breathej Grahame. Il gave
- him that. A pity didn't hold
more 10 center"
He answered her question BY tell.
Ing her OF bis trip with 0rtega and
their parting, He spoke OF the, boy
Juan who had travelled With him TO
the spot. and OF their meeting with
McGrath.
He was bush.whacked. the same.
as pour party was. Il seema to be q
custom OF the country. As Tar as Il
can make out, these people are liv.
ing n this old city like race Of
humAh spiders. IuFsnge people in
here Tor robbery and"
He broke Oh to.stare AZ the door.
~But why dldn't they ain me,
theng They took the jewels car
ried around my neck In q channels
bag. but they seemed"
Her eyes widened as II with sud.
den thought. Her teeth caught al
her lower llp. and she drew q deep
breath. She essayed q pale smile.
Her hand reached toward Grahame
until the fingers rested upon his
arm.
'sBut wen get out Of here. won't
wei I'm not a bit worried. really.
Frank"
Good girl" The man smiled.
lie lifted his glance to meet hers.
He moved his arm outward to take
her fingers In his own, and reassure
her. Midway. bis hand paused.
Over her shoulder. and silhoutted
against the entrance. was q mans
head!
A ride crashed IN the narrow
confines OF the room the sound tat.