Bandit Love

"Don Carlos, but this is news indeed!" cried the Commandante excitedly.

"El Diablo Cojuelo dead! Ten thousand congratulations, my dear Don

Carlos! Congratulations to you, also, Señor Standish, on ridding my

country of such a dangerous pest. To shoot a brigand in his own den

was indeed conduct worthy of a gallant Englishman!"

"Oh--er--thanks," stammered Tony, avoiding looking at Myra. "Why the

deuce didn't you tell us this before, Don Carlos?"

CONCLUSION The officers had taken their leave after much handshaking and bowing.

Left alone with Don Carlos, Standish, and with Lady Fermanagh, who had

been a silent and puzzled witness of the proceedings, Myra suddenly

felt her self-possession deserting her, and fled back to her own room.

"Why did I lie to save him?" she breathed, as she flung herself down on

her knees by the bedside and buried her face. "Why?"

She did not need to ask the question. Her heart had given her the

answer. She knew she had lied to save the man she loved.

There came a knock at the door, and she started up, hastily dabbing her

eyes and trying to control herself.

"Come in," she called faintly, after a pause, as the knock was repeated.

The door opened, and Don Carlos entered. He was pale, but his dark

eyes were shining with happiness.

"Myra, darling," he said huskily, and stopped, overcome by emotion.

He held out his arms.... Deep was calling unto deep. Love was

calling. And Myra Rostrevor answered the call. She was in the arms of

her lover, her conqueror, returning his passionate kisses with a

fervour equal to his own.

"I love you, Carlos, I love you," she whispered between kisses. "I

love you although you have been such a brute. If I had denounced you

as El Diablo Cojuelo, what would have happened?"

"I should have confessed, then killed myself," Carlos answered.

"Without you, beloved, life meant nothing to me. I staked all in the

hope that you would prove you loved me, and I won! I feared that

although I had made you mine I had failed to win your heart. Say again

that you love me, dear heart, and will love me always."

"I love you, darling, I love you with all of me," Myra murmured,

kissing him passionately. "I realise now that I have loved you for a

long time, and was only afraid to confess myself conquered because I

feared you only wanted to win me to gratify your pride.... Am I really

your wife, dear?" she added, breathless and blushing, as she disengaged

herself at last from his embrace.