Bandit Love

Nauseated by Tony's piteous exhibition of craven terror, Myra turned

away from him in loathing and contempt as the men released him.

"Oh, you coward!" she burst out passionately. "I was so sure you would

stand the test and would not fail me that I promised I would marry this

devil in your presence if you were dastard enough to offer to give me

to him to save your own skin. All these preparations for torture were

only bluff to test your courage and your love. You have failed me,

Tony, in my hour of greatest need, and I hate and despise you. I would

give myself to any bandit now rather than marry you!"

"I hold you to your promise, señorita," cried Cojuelo. "You will marry

me here and now in the presence of Señor Standish.... Come hither,

Padre Sancho, and perform the marriage service."

A fat little bald-headed man, dressed in a greasy black cassock and

carpet slippers, shuffled forward and addressed some questions to Myra

in a wheezy voice.

"He is asking if you are willing to marry me," Cojuelo interpreted.

"Yes, I will keep my promise and marry you in the presence of the man

who has failed me," said Myra, and flashed a glance at Standish that

made him quail.

"Here, I say! I--I didn't realise it was bluff," faltered Standish.

"I'll do anything... Cojuelo, I'll pay you fifty thousand if only

you'll----"

"Proceed with the ceremony, Padre Sancho," interrupted Cojuelo; and the

monk opened his book and began to gabble unintelligibly in his wheezy

voice. Presently he paused and addressed a question to the hooded

figure.

"I will," said Cojuelo, and took Myra's listless hand in his own. "You

Myra, will also answer 'I will,' when the Padre asks you. This ring,

which I took from the finger of Don Carlos de Ruiz, will serve for the

present."

"Myra, for heaven's sake----" broke in Tony Standish, but Myra paid no

heed to him.

"I will," she answered firmly, in response to the priest's

unintelligible question.

It struck her suddenly that the priest did not appear to be treating

the ceremony seriously, and the thought flashed into her mind that

possibly "Padre Sancho" was only one of the brigands deputed by Don

Carlos to play a part, and the whole proceeding was as much bluff as

had been the preparations to torture Tony Standish.

"Is he fooling me again?" wondered Myra, as Padre Sancho gabbled

through the rest of the service, closed his book and raised his right

hand as if bestowing a blessing, whereupon some of the brigands behind

and around him began to cheer. They cheered more lustily still when

their hooded chief put his arm round Myra's shoulders with an air of

possession.