"Ever cross there yourself?"

"Wal, no," stroking his beard; "but Stutter come back thet way onct,

from a hunt or something. He never said nothin' when he struck in, but

yer could 'a' scraped alkali off him with a hoe, an' he drunk a whole

bucket o' water without takin' breath. So I reckon it wa'n't no

pleasure jaunt."

"Then it's got to be Stutter," decided Winston, rising to his feet,

"for we must get word to San Juan. I 'm going inside to see how Hayes

is feeling."

"I reckon thet's the ticket," agreed Hicks, gloomily, "but I 'm blamed

if I like losin' him. He 's a fightin' man, thet Stutter, after he

onct gits his blood stirred up, an' I 'm sorter expectin' a lively time

yere when it gits dark. It 'll be Farnham's last chance ter put us out

o' the way, an' he 's likely ter take it. I 'll bet Stutter won't go,

leastwise without the gal; he 's natural bull-headed, besides bein' in

love. Thet makes an ornery combination."

Within the cabin, the door closed behind him, the single small window

shedding a dim light across the apartment, Winston turned, his hand

still upon the latch, and confronted Beth Norvell and Mercedes. Their

presence there was so unexpected that the young man paused in sudden

embarrassment, ready words failing him. The two were seated close

together on rude stools beneath the window, where they had evidently

been in intimate conversation. The former, her gaze lowered upon the

floor, did not glance up; but Mercedes flashed her black eyes into his

face, recognizing his confusion, and hastening to relieve it.

Warm-hearted, impulsive, already beginning to experience the value of

true love, the young Mexican was eager to bring these two into a better

understanding. Her quick smile of welcome swept away for an instant

all memory of the other's apparent indifference.

"Ah, eet vas good you come, señor. See, ve shut up here like

prisoners; ve see nottings, ve hear nottings, ve know nottings. Now ve

make you tell us eet all, de whole story. Miladi here, she tink eet

all ver' bad; she cry, de tear yet in her eye, an' I know not vat to

tell to make her feel bettah. She 'fraid for ever'ting, but most I

tink, she 'fraid for you, señor."

Miss Norvell hastily laid her hand upon the girl's sleeve in

remonstrance, her face showing grave in the dim light.

"No, no, Mercedes; you must not say too much, or Mr. Winston will think

us both very foolish."

"Eet vas not foolish for us to vant to know, vas eet, señor?"

"Assuredly not." He walked across the narrow room, glanced into the

face of the sleeping sheriff, came back beside them, and leaned against

the wall. The movement served to yield him confidence and

self-control, to decide him as to his future course. "What is it you

are so desirous of knowing?"




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