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He had greeted the bandit guard by name. He seemed, indeed, as well known to these bandits as Perona himself. They stood now in a group some thirty feet away from me. I could hear their excited voices perfectly clearly.
To which Perona suavely assented. "Por Dios Señorito," he said to me, "we would not have your great government annoyed at Nareda. If there are smugglers, we will capture them of a certainty." From the Government House, it now being almost time for the midday meal, I returned to Spawn's. The rambling mud walls of the Inn stood baking in the noonday heat when I arrived.
"Go after her, Phil! Got her bound and gagged, have they? Going to marry her to this Perona? Like the Middle Ages?" I had never seen this side of Hanley. "Get her if you want her. Get her out of there. Take her to Markes No, I wouldn't trust anybody in Nareda! Take her into the uplands behind the village. But keep away from that mine! Have you got flash-fuses?" "Yes."
"And so he has walked away from you? I think I am a fool to mix myself with you two." Perona retorted, "I have made you rich, De Boer. Think what you like; to-night is the end of our partnership. Only, you do what I have told you to-night." "Hah! How can I? Your American has flown his trap." This guard this Gutierrez, as Spawn had called him was listening with interest.
The fellow really knew nothing. Or if he did, he was diplomatic enough not to jeopardize his post by babbling of it to me. He said: "Perona is Spawn's friend. Why not? His daughter to marry: that will make him a son-in-law." He laughed. "An old fool, but not such a fool either. Spawn is rich." "His daughter. Has he a daughter?" "The little Jetta. You haven't seen her? Well, that is not strange.
I had believed that Perona was plotting against Spawn, meeting these bandits in this secret place; I had just heard them planning to attack Spawn's mine to rob it of the treasure doubtless, which I knew was stored there. But I realized now it was not a plot against Spawn. He had come here swiftly to join Perona and tell him that I, their intended victim, was missing.
I am no fool. I will be careful of it." Spawn, talking by private audiphone, to Perona. The colloquy came to an abrupt end. "... Might eavesdrop? By hell, you are right!" I heard the click as Spawn and Perona broke connection. Spawn came from his room. But he was not quick enough. I slipped away before he saw me. In the living room I had time to be calmly seated with a lighted cigarette.
A minute or two had passed. Perona was still talking vehemently. I was losing it: not a word was audible. Yet I felt that if I could hear Perona now, much that Hanley and I wanted to learn would be made clear to us. My little microphone receiver could be adjusted for audible air vibrations.
Never can I tell what Spawn will choose to take offense at." We rambled upon other subjects. Later, he said, "We work not at night. But Spawn, he is here often at night, with his friend, the Señor Perona." That caught my attention. "I met Perona this morning," I said quickly. "Is he a partner of Spawn's?" "If he is so, I never was told it. But much he is here at night." "Why at night?"
De Boer ... and a good chance for you to make the money." "But will they pay?" "Of course they will pay. Big. A ransom princely." "And why, Perona? Why princely? Who is this fellow so important?" "He is with rich business men, I tell to you." "A private citizen?" "... And a private citizen, of a surety. Fool! Have you come to be a coward, De Boer?" "Pah!"
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