Evening star., 1935-03-04

VOICE CIleQ. f1dl! SOulC AClC ohA
pick up this hamper. What are gen.
tlemen to do? Wait on themselves
when there are dogs like you around?.
Stand fast! Don't move for mel!
easped Rubriz to the Kid, covertly
tearing away his mask as he spoke.
pray for me! I front them"
And he turned and walked straight
back towards the group!
"Run!" shouted one of the officers.
And Rubriz obediently ran, spring
ing forward with wonderful hghtness
in spite of the bulk of his unwieldy
body.
"The basket on the table. Stand
away, Pedro, and let this fellow do
the work"
He can't lift it," said Pedro.
Cant he, though? Look at the
shoulders of him. If they're not all
fat, he may be able to. These poor
devils have strength"
There was sudden shout as
Rubriz leaned, lifted the basket. and
slid it onto the table.
That's Mexico!" said the Oldest
of the officers. Look at the muscles
in those legs! Pull of your dirty
shirt and let's see your body, tool!
Forgive me-" painted Rubriz. Il
am called to my work. Another"
Hal! Are you working for soldiers
and question commands? Show him
the way, Pedro! Of with It'll"
Two of them grabbed the cheap
white shirt and instantly it was ripped
from the back of Rubriz.
"There!" called out the commander.
"Did tell you? Not fat, either. All
muscle-all pure strength. I'd stake
that man against mule. Where
did you get those leg muscles, man?"
In the mines, sir" said Rubriz,
his head bowed, his shaggy hair fall
ing forward.
'Look at him! He's ashamed to be
naked, even before men. What are
those white marks? Scars? Knife
cuts? Come on, and we'll find q
story in this one. Open the wine!"
That was quickly done. The
hamper was thickly packed with
wine bottles, and the corks had barely
ceased popping before glasses began
to brim and pour down wide throats
The Kid. from his corner, covered
the gay little party with two revolvers
and shifted his aim from breast to
breast, from head to head. He was
perfectly convinced now that he and
Rubriz could never escape from the
fort But if they died, so would some
of these jolly sparks.
What are these scars? What sort
Of a peon are you?" asked the COM
mander. More like damned noun
tain bandit, to my eye. Look at him
and try to remember! Haven't
seen that face on posters with a
reward for him, dead or alive?"
The nerves Of Montana prickled
through his skin. It seemed that the
next moment would be the end of
Rubriz, or the beginning of the end.
But the deep voice of the outlaw
answered: ri was hurt by a fall in
the mine, sirs. I was carrying q
basket up the ladder"
"And the damned ladder broke and
gave you q fall?" asked the COM
mander.
He leaned back little, his thin
face sneering as he stared at the
half-naked, powerful body of Mateo
Rubriz.
mo, but the forehead band that
supported the basket Of ore broke,
and the basket fell and knocked
another man off the ladder. That
man was killed by his fall"
Listen! I told you there were
stories in this lump of man."
II was only few steps from the
top Of the ladder, and as I came up
the overseer, who had seen what had
happened, hit me with the butt of
his man-whip, and that knocked me
down into the shaft again."
"You see how they treat these fel-
lows? The other man was killed, but
you lived through it. eh?"
Il was weeks in the hospital" said
Rubriz.
discipline" declared the officer.
"That's what it takes. Knock fools
over the head when they make mis-
takes, and there1l be fewer mistakes"
"There1l be more broken heads"
said Pedro.
What do you mean? Look at this
head! It would still take parcel of
breaking. Not many brains under
that shock of hair, but enough to
know how to lift hampers of wine
for his betters. And for all that he's
been through, he still has a light
enough foot and hand-a light enough
hand to steal the gold out of your
teeth while you sleep. I'll wager.
Jump up there on the table and give
us dance, you'll"