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Bucky O'Connor - A Tale of the Unfenced 国境

by

William MacLeod Raine

To My Brother

EDGAR C. RAINE

MY DEAR WANDERER:

I 令状 your 指名する on this page that you may know we 持つ／拘留する you not いっそう少なく in our thoughts because you have heard and answered again the call of the frozen North, have for the time disappeared, swallowed in some of its untrodden wilds. As in those old days of 59 Below On 大当り, the long Winter night will be of interminable length. 武装した with this 公式文書，認める of introduction then, Bucky O'Connor 申し込む／申し出s himself, with the best 屈服する of one Adventurer to another, as a companion to while away some few of those lonely hours.

March, 1910, Denver.

CHAPTER 1. ENTER "BEAR-TRAP" COLLINS

She had been aware of him from the moment of his みごたえのある 入り口, though no slightest 調印する of 利益／興味 manifested itself in her indolent, incurious 注目する，もくろむs. Indeed, his abundant and picturesque area was so vivid that it would have been difficult not to feel his presence anywhere, let alone on a 旅行 so monotonous as this was 証明するing to be.

It had been at a water-戦車／タンク, 近づく Socorro, that the 限られた／立憲的な, churning furiously through brown Arizona in 追跡 of a lost half-hour, jarred to a sudden 停止（させる） that shook sleep from the drowsy 注目する，もくろむs of bored 乗客s. Through the window of her Pullman the young woman in Section 3 had glimpsed a bevy of angry train 公式の／役人s eddying around a sturdy 人物／姿／数字 in the 中心, whose strong, lean 長，率いる rose confidently above the 圧力（をかける）. There was the momentary whirl of a scuffle, out of the 絡まる of which 発射 a brakeman as if propelled from a catapult. The circle parted, 小衝突d aside by a pair of lean shoulders, muscular and 幅の広い. Yet a few moments and the owner of the shoulders led 負かす／撃墜する the aisle to the 空いている section opposite her a 行列 whose tail was composed of 抗議するing trainmen.

"You had no 権利 to 旗 the train, 郡保安官 Collins, and you'll have to get off; that's all there is to it," the conductor was explaining testily.

"Oh, that's all 権利," returned the 違反者／犯罪者 with 平易な good nature, making himself at home in Section 4. "Tell the company to send in its 法案. No use jawing about it."

"You'll have to get off, sir."

"That's 権利--at Tucson."

"No, sir. You'll have to get off here. I have no 当局 to let you ride."

"Didn't I hear you say the train was late? Don't you think you'd arrive earlier at the end of your run if your choo-choo got to puffing?"

"You'll have to get off, sir."

"I hate to disoblige," murmured the owner of the jingling 刺激（する）s, the dusty corduroys, and the big, gray hat, putting his feet leisurely on the cushion in 前線 of him. "But doesn't it occur to you that you are a man of one idea?"

"This is the Coast 限られた／立憲的な. It doesn't stop for anybody--not even for the 大統領，／社長 of the road."

"You don't say! 井戸／弁護士席, I ce'tainly 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる the 栄誉（を受ける） you did me in stopping to take me on." His slight drawl was やめる devoid of 関心.

"But you had no 権利 to 旗 the train. Can't you understand ANYTHING?" groaned the conductor.

"You explain it again to me, sonny. I'm surely 厚い in the haid," soothed the 侵入者, and listened with bland good-humor to the 公式の／役人's flow of 抗議する.

"井戸／弁護士席--井戸／弁護士席! 混乱に陥れる／中断させるd the whole transcontinental traffic, didn't I? And me so innocent, too. Now, this is how I 人物／姿／数字d it out. Here's me in a hurry to get to Tucson. Here comes your train a-foggin'--also and likewise hittin' the high 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs for Tucson. Seemed like we せねばならない travel in company, and I was some 疑わしい she'd forget to stop unless I flagged her. Wherefore, I 空気／公表するd my bandanna in the summer 微風."

"But you don't understand." The conductor began to explain もう一度 as to a dull child. "It's against the 法律. You'll get into trouble."

"Put me in the calaboose, will they?"

"It's no joke."

"井戸／弁護士席, it does seem to be worrying you," Mr. Collins 譲歩するd. "Don't mind me. 解放する／自由な your mind proper."

The conductor, ちらりと見ることing about nervously, noticed that 乗客s were smiling 概して. His 公式の／役人 dignity was 存在 chopped to mince-meat. 支援する （機の）カム his 悩ますd gaze to the imperturbable Collins with the brown, sun-baked 直面する and the 注目する，もくろむs blue and untroubled as an Arizona sky. Out of a holster 大（公）使館員d to the sagging belt that circled the corduroy trousers above his hips gleamed the butt of a revolver. But in the last 分析 the 武器 of the occasion was 純粋に a moral one. The 状況／情勢 was one not covered in the company's 支配する 調書をとる／予約する, and in the absence of explicit orders the trainman felt himself unequal to that unwavering gaze and careless 宙に浮く. Wherefore, he 退却／保養地d, muttering 脅しs of what the company would do.

"Now, if I had only known it was against the 法律. My 厚い haid's always roping trouble for me," the plainsman confided to the Pullman conductor, with twinkling 注目する，もくろむs.

That 公式の／役人 unbent. "Talking about 厚い 長，率いるs, I'm glad my porter has one. If it weren't アイロンをかける-plated and 巡査-riveted he'd be needing a doctor now, the way you stood him on it."

"No, did I? Ce'tainly an 事故. The nigger must have been in my way as I climbed into the car. Took the kink out of his hair, you say? Here, Sam!" He 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd a 法案 to the porter, who was rolling affronted 注目する，もくろむs at him. "Do you reckon this is big enough to plaster your 負傷させるd feelings, boy?"

The white smile flashed at him by the porter was a 領収書 for 賠償金 paid in 十分な.

郡保安官 Collins' perception of his neighbor across the aisle was more frank in its 利益／興味 than the girl's had been of him. The level, fearless gaze of the outdoors West looked at her unabashed, 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるing 速く her points as they impinged themselves upon his 賞賛. The long, lithe lines of the わずかな／ほっそりした, supple 団体／死体, the languid grace 行方不明の hauteur only because that seemed 不十分な 価値（がある） while, the unconscious pride of self that fails to be 不快な／攻撃 only in a young woman so 井戸／弁護士席 equipped with good looks as this one indubitably was the rider of the plains had appraised them all before his 注目する，もくろむs 解任するd her from his consideration and began a casual 査察 of the other 乗客s.

Inside of half an hour he had made himself persona grata to everybody in the car except his dark-注目する，もくろむd neighbor across the way. That this dispenser of smiles and cigars decided to leave her out in the 配当 of his attentions perhaps spoke 井戸／弁護士席 for his discernment. Certainly responsiveness to the geniality of casual fellow 乗客s did not impress Mr. Collins as likely to be an 優れた, 質 in her. But with the drummer from Chicago, the young 採掘 engineer going to Sonora, the two shy little English children just in 前線 of him traveling to 会合，会う their father in California, he 設立する intuitively ありふれた ground of 利益／興味. Even Major Mackenzie, the engineer in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the large irrigation 事業／計画（する） 存在 built by a company in southern Arizona, relaxed at one of the plainsman's humorous tales.

It was after Collins had half-depopulated the car by 主要な the more jovial spirits 支援する in search of liquid refreshments that an 都市の clergyman, now of Boston but 以前は of Pekin, Illinois, professedly much 利益／興味d in the 郡保安官's touch-and-go manner as 推定では やめる characteristic of the West, dropped into the 空いている seat beside Major Mackenzie.

"And who might our energetic friend be?" he asked, with an ingratiating smile.

The young woman in 前線 of them turned her 長，率いる ever so わずかに to listen.

"Val Collins is his 指名する," said the major. "いつかs called '耐える-罠（にかける） Collins.' He has always lived on the frontier. At least, I met him twelve years ago when he was riding mail between Aravaipa and Mesa. He was a boy then, certainly not over eighteen, but in a desperate fight he had killed two men who tried to 停止する the mail. Cow-puncher, 行う／開催する／段階-driver, 鉱夫, trapper, 郡保安官, rough rider, 政治家，政治屋--he's past master at them all."

"And why the 呼称 of '耐える-罠（にかける）,' may I ask?" The smack of pulpit oratory was not often 行方不明の in the edifying discourse of the Reverend Peter Melancthon Brooks.

"井戸／弁護士席, sir, that's a story. He was trapping in the Tetons about five years ago thirty miles from the nearest ranch-house. One day, while he was setting a 耐える-罠（にかける）, a slide of snow 急落（する），激減（する）d 負かす／撃墜する from the tree 支店s above and 解放する／自由なd the spring, catching his 手渡す between its jaws. With his feet and his other 手渡す he tried to open that 罠（にかける） for four hours, without the slightest success. There was not one chance in a million of help from outside. In point of fact, Collins had not seen a human 存在 for a month. There was only one thing to do, and he did it."

"And that was?"

"You probably noticed that he wears a glove over his left 手渡す. The 推論する／理由, sir, is that he has an 人工的な 手渡す."

"You mean--" The Reverend Peter paused to lengthen his delicious thrill of horror.

"Yes, sir. That's just what I mean. He 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd his 手渡す off at the wrist with his 追跡（する）ing-knife."

"Why, the man's a hero!" cried the clergyman, with unction.

Mackenzie flung him a disgusted look. "We don't go much on heroes out here. He's game, if that's what you mean. And able, too. Bucky O'Connor himself isn't any smarter at に引き続いて a 追跡する."

"And who is Bucky O'Connor?"

"He's the man that just ran 負かす／撃墜する Fernendez. Think I'll have a smoke, sir. Care to join me?"

But the Pekin-Bostonian preferred to stay and 手早く書き留める 負かす／撃墜する in his 公式文書，認める-調書をとる／予約する the story of the beartrap, to be used later as a sermon illustration. This may have been the 推論する／理由 he did not catch the quick look that passed without the slightest flicker of the eyelids between Major Mackenzie and the young woman in Section 3. It was as if the old officer had wired her a message in some code the cipher of which was known only to them.

But the 郡保安官, returning at the 長，率いる of his cohorts, caught it, and wondered what meaning might 嘘（をつく） 支援する of that swift ちらりと見ること. Major Mackenzie and this dark-注目する，もくろむd beauty 提起する／ポーズをとるd before others as strangers, yet between them lay some freemasonry of understanding to which he had not the 重要な.

Collins did not know that the aloofness in the 注目する，もくろむs of 行方不明になる Wainwright--he had seen the 指名する on her 控訴-事例／患者--gave way to horror when her ちらりと見ること fell on his gloved 手渡す. She had a swift, shuddering 見通し of a grim-直面するd man, jaws 始める，決める like a vise, 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスing at his wrist with a 追跡（する）ing-knife. But the engaging impudence of his 注目する，もくろむ, the rollicking laughter in his 発言する／表明する, shut out the picture 即時に.

The young man 再開するd his seat, and 行方不明になる Wainwright her listless 査察 of the 飛行機で行くing stretches of brown 砂漠. Dusk was beginning to 落ちる, and the porter presently lit the lamps. Collins bought a magazine from the newsboy and relapsed into it, but before he was 井戸／弁護士席 adjusted to reading the 限られた／立憲的な 続けざまに猛撃するd to a second unscheduled 停止（させる）.

即時に the magazine was thrown aside and Collins' curly 長，率いる thrust out of the window. Presently the 長，率いる 再現するd, 同時に with the 割れ目 of a revolver, the first of a 爆発させるing fusillade.

"Another of your impatient 国民s eager to 利用する the unspeakable convenience of 早い 輸送," 示唆するd the clergyman, with ponderous jocosity.

"No, sir; nothing so 違法な," smiled the cattleman, a whimsical light in his daredevil 注目する，もくろむs. He leaned 今後 and whispered a word to the little girl in 前線 of him, who at once led her younger brother 支援する to his section.

"I had hoped it would 証明する to be more コースを変えるing experience for a tenderfoot," condescended the gentleman of the cloth.

"It's ce'tainly a 楽しみ to be able to gratify you, sir. You'll be 権利 pleased to know that it is a train 持つ／拘留する-up." He waved his 手渡す toward the door, and at the word, as if waiting for his cue, a masked man appeared at the end of the passage with a revolver in each 手渡す.

CHAPTER 2. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

"手渡すs up!"

There was a （犯罪の）一味 of crisp menace in the 悪意のある 発言する／表明する that was a 刺激（する） to obedience. The 全員一致の show of 手渡すs 投票（する）d "Aye" with a 迅速な precision that no 量 of 演習 could have compassed.

It was a 状況／情勢 that might have made for laughter had there been 観客s to 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる. But of whatever amusement was to be had one of the 犠牲者s seemed to 持つ／拘留する a monopoly. Collins, his arm around the English children by way of 慰安, 申し込む／申し出d a sardonic smile at the びっくり仰天 his 告示 and its fulfillment had created, but 非，不，無 of his fellow 乗客s were in the humor to 答える／応じる.

The shock of an 地震 could not have blanched ruddy 直面するs more surely. The Chicago drummer, fat and florid, had disappeared 完全に behind a buttress of the company's upholstery.

"God bless my soul!" gasped the Pekin-Bostonian, dropping his eyeglass and his accent at the same moment. The 狼狽 in his 直面する 設立する a reflection all over the car. 行方不明になる Wainwright's 手渡す clutched at her breast for an instant, and her color ebbed till her lips were ashen, but her neighbor across the aisle noticed that her 注目する，もくろむs were 安定した and her 人物／姿／数字 緊張した.

"脅すd stiff, but game," was his mental comment.

"Gents to the 権利 and ladies to the left; line up against the 塀で囲むs; everybody waltz." called the man behind the guns, with grim humor.

The 乗客s fell into line as directed, Collins with the 残り／休憩（する）.

"You're calling this dance, son; it's your say-so, I guess," he 譲歩するd.

"Keep still, or I'll shoot you 十分な of 穴を開けるs," growled the autocrat of the 大砲.

"Why, sure! Ain't you the real thing in 足緒 Jameses?" soothed the 郡保安官.

At the sound of Collins' 発言する／表明する, the masked man had started perceptibly, and his 権利 手渡す had jumped 今後 an インチ or two to cover the （衆議院の）議長 more definitely. Thereafter, no 事柄 what else engaged his attention, the gleaming 注目する，もくろむs behind the red bandanna never wandered for a moment from the big plainsman. He was taking no 危険s, for he remembered the 説 現在の in Arizona, that after Collins' 金物類／武器類 got into 活動／戦闘 there was nothing left to do but 工場／植物 the 死んだ and collect the 保険. He had personal 推論する／理由s to know the 根底となる 正確 of the colloquialism.

The train-conductor fussed up to the masked 無法者 with a ludicrous 試みる／企てる at 当局. "You can't 略奪する the 乗客s on this train. I'm not 責任がある the 表明する-car, but the coaches--"

A 弾丸 almost grazed his ear and 粉々にするd a window on its way to the 砂漠.

"Drift, you red-haired son of a Mexican?" ordered the man behind the red bandanna. "Git 支援する to that seat real 誘発する. This here's 課税 without 代表."

The conductor drifted as per suggestion.

The minutes ticked themselves away in a 緊張した 緊張する 示すd by 続けざまに猛撃するing hearts. The 無法者 stood at the end of the aisle, watching the 郡保安官 alertly.

"Why doesn't the music begin?" volunteered Collins, by way of conversation, and 引用するd: "On with the dance. Let joy be unconfined."

A dull 爆発 answered his question. The 強盗団の一味 were blowing open the 安全な in the 表明する-car with dynamite, 未解決の which the 略奪するing of the 乗客s was at a 行き詰まり.

A second masked 人物／姿／数字 joined his companion at the end of the passage and held a hurried conversation with him. Fragments of their low-発言する／表明するd talk （機の）カム to Collins.

"Only thirty thousand in the 表明する-car. Not a red cent on the old man himself."

"Where's the 残り／休憩（する）?" The irritation in the newcomer's 発言する／表明する was pronounced.

Collins slewed his 長，率いる and raked him with keen 注目する，もくろむs that 行方不明になるd not a 詳細（に述べる）. He was 確かな that he had never seen the man before, yet he knew at once that the 削減する, wiry 人物／姿／数字, so clean of build and so gallant of 耐えるing, could belong only to Wolf Leroy, the most ruthless 無法者 of the 南西. It was written in his jaunty insolence, in the flashing 注目する，もくろむs. He was a handsome fellow, white-toothed, 黒人／ボイコット-haired, lithely tigerish, with masterful mouth and 注目する，もくろむs of steel, so far as one might 裁判官 behind the white mask he wore. 警報, cruel, fearless from the 長，率いる to the heel of him, he looked the very devil to lead an 企業 so lawless and so desperate as this. His vigilant 注目する，もくろむs swept contemptuously up and 負かす／撃墜する the car, 残り／休憩（する）d for a moment on the young woman in Section 3, and （機の）カム 支援する to his partner.

"Bah! A flock of sheep--tamest bunch of spring lambs we ever struck. I'll send Scott in to go through them. If anybody gets gay, 減少（する） him." And the 無法者 turned on his heel.

Another of the highwaymen took his place, a stout, squat 人物／姿／数字 in the flannel shirt, 刺激（する）s, and chaps of a cow-puncher. It took no second ちらりと見ること to tell Collins this bandy-legged fellow had been a rider of the 範囲.

"Come, gentlemen, get a move on you," Collins implored. "This train's 予定 at Tucson by eight o'clock. We're more than an hour late now. I'm 持つ／拘留するing 負かす／撃墜する the 職業 of 郡保安官 in that same town, and I'm awful anxious to get a posse out after a bunch of train-robbers. So 燃やす the 勝利，勝つd, and go through the car on the jump. Help yourself to anything you find. Who steals my purse takes trash. 'Tis something, nothing. 'Twas 地雷; 'tis his. That's 権利, you'll find my roll in that left-手渡す pocket. I hate to have you take that gun, though. I meant to run you 負かす／撃墜する with that same old Colt's reliable. Oh, 井戸／弁護士席, just as you say. No, those kids get a 解放する／自由な pass. They're going out to 会合，会う papa at Los Angeles, boys. See?"

Collins' running 解雇する／砲火／射撃 of comment had at least the 影響 of 回復するing the color to some cheeks that had been washed white and of snatching from the 無法者s some 部分 of their sense of 支配するing the 状況／情勢. But there was a 隠すd vigilance in his 注目する，もくろむs that belied his 平易な impudence.

"That lady across the aisle gets a pass, too, boys," continued the 郡保安官. "She's 脅すd stiff now, and you won't bother her, if you're white men. Her watch and purse are on the seat. Take them, if you want them, and let it go at that."

行方不明になる Wainwright listened to this 対話 silently. She stood before them 冷静な／正味の and imperious and unwavering, but her 直面する was 無血の and the pulse in her beautiful soft throat ぱたぱたするd like a caged bird.

"Who's doing this 職業?" 需要・要求するd one of the 持つ／拘留する-ups, wheeling savagely on the impassive officer "Did I say we were going to bother the lady? Who's doing this 職業, Mr. 郡保安官?"

"You are. I'd hate to be messing the 職業 like you--持つ／拘留するing up the wrong train by mistake." This was a 発射 in the dark, and it did not やめる 攻撃する，衝突する the bull's-注目する，もくろむ. "I wouldn't 信用 you boys to 略奪する a 女／おっせかい屋-roost, the amateur way you go at it. When you get through, you'll all go to drinking like blue blotters. I know your 肉親，親類d--hell-bent to spend what you cash in, and every mother's son of you in the pen or with his toes turned up inside of a month."

"Who'll put us there?" gruffly 需要・要求するd the bowlegged one.

Collins smiled at him with 信用／信任 superb "Mebbe I will--and if I don't Bucky O'Connor will--those of you that are left alive when you go through 狙撃 each other in the 支援する. Oh, I see your finish to a fare-you-井戸／弁護士席."

"Cheese it, or I'll bump you off." The first out 法律 drove his gun into the 郡保安官's ribs.

"That's all 権利. You don't need to punctuate that 発言／述べる. I line up with the sky-操縦する and chew the cud of silence. I 単に 手配中の，お尋ね者 to でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる up to you how this thing's going to turn out. Don't come 支援する at me and say I didn't 警告する you, sonnie."

"You make my 長，率いる ache," snarled the bandy-legged 無法者 sourly, as he passed 負かす／撃墜する with his 解雇（する）, 蓄積するing 尊敬の印 as he passed 負かす／撃墜する the aisle with his 解雇（する）, 蓄積するing 尊敬の印 as he went.

The red-kerchiefed robber whooped when they （機の）カム to the car conductor. "Dig up, Mr. Pullman. Go way 負かす／撃墜する into your ジーンズs. It's a 権利 smart 楽しみ to コースを変える the plunder of your bloated 会社／団体 支援する to the people. What! Only fifty-seven dollars. Oh, dig deeper, Mr. Pullman."

The drummer 与える／捧げるd to the 解雇（する） eighty-four dollars, a diamond （犯罪の）一味, and a gold watch. His 手渡すs were trembling so that they played a tattoo on the sloping 天井 above him.

"What's the 事柄, Fatty? Got a 冷気／寒がらせる?" 問い合わせd one of the robbers, as he deftly swept the plunder into the 解雇（する）.

"For--God's sake--don't shoot. I have--a wife--and five children," he stammered, with chattering teeth.

"No race 自殺 for Fatty. But whyfor do they let a sick man like you travel all by his 孤独な?"

"I don't know--I--Please turn that 武器 another way."

"Plumb chuck 十分な of malaria," soliloquized the owner of the 武器, playfully running its 商売／仕事 end over the Chicago man's anatomy. "Shakes worse'n a pair of dice. Here, Fatty. 負担 up with quinine and whisky. It's sure good for 冷気／寒がらせるs." The man behind the bandanna 厳粛に 手渡すd his 犠牲者 支援する a dollar. "令状 me if it cures you. Now for the sky-操縦する. No white 半導体素子s on this plate, parson. It's a 出資／貢献 to the 貧困の heathen. You want to be generous. How much do you say?

The man of the cloth reluctantly said thirty dollars, a Lincoln penny, and a silver-plated watch 相続するd from his fathers. The watch was 拒絶する／低下するd with thanks, the money 受託するd without.

The Pullman porter （機の）カム into the car under compulsion of a revolver in the 手渡す of a fourth 無法者, one in a 黒人／ボイコット mask. His trembling finger pointed out the satchel and 控訴-事例／患者 of Major Mackenzie, and under orders he carried out the baggage belonging to the irrigation engineer. Collin 観察するd that the 強盗 in the 黒人／ボイコット mask was so nervous that the revolver in his 手渡す quivered like an aspen in the 勝利，勝つd. He was slenderer and much shorter than the Mexican, so that the 郡保安官 decided he was a mere boy.

It was just after he had left that three 発射s in 早い succession rang out in the still night 空気／公表する.

The red-bandannaed one and his companion, who had 明らかに been waiting for the signal, 退却／保養地d backward to the end of the car, still keeping the 乗客s covered. They flung 速く two or three 弾丸s through the roof, and under cover of the smoke slipped out into the night. A moment later （機の）カム the thud of galloping horses, more 発射s, and, when the patter of hoofs had died away--silence.

The 郡保安官 was the first to break it. He thrust his brown 手渡すs 深い into his pockets and laughed--laughed with the joyous, rollicking abandon of a tickled schoolboy.

"Hysterics?" 投機・賭けるd the 採掘 engineer sympathetically.

Collins wiped his 注目する，もくろむs. "Call 'em anything you like. What pleases me is that the reverend gentleman should have had this コースを変えるing experience so 誘発する after he was wishing for it." He turned, with 関心, to the clergyman. "満足させるd, sir? Did our little entertainment please, or wasn't it up to the 示す?"

But the 輸送（する）d native of Pekin was game. "I'm やめる 満足させるd, if you are. I think the 事件／事情／状勢 cost you a hundred dollars or so more than it did me."

"That's 権利," agreed the 郡保安官 heartily. "But I don't grudge it--not a cent of it. The show was 価値（がある） the price of admission."

The car conductor had a broadside ready for him. "Seems to me you 発射 off your mouth more than you did that big gun of yours, Mr. 郡保安官."

Collins laughed, and clapped him on the 支援する. "That's 権利. I'm a 正規の／正選手 phonograph, when you 勝利，勝つd me up." He did not think it necessary to explain that he had talked to make the 無法者s talk, and that he had 公式文書，認めるd the 質 of their 発言する／表明するs so carefully that he would know them again の中で a thousand. Also he had 観察するd--other things--the garb of each of the men he had seen, their 武器s, their manner, and their individual peculiarities.

The clanking car took up the rhythm of the rails as the 延期するd train 急落（する），激減（する）d 今後 once more into the night. Again the clack of tongues, 始める，決める 解放する／自由な from 恐れる, buzzed 熱望して. The glow of the afterclap of danger was on them, and in the warm excitement each forgot the 麻ひさせるing 恐れる that had but now padlocked his lips. Courage （機の）カム flowing 支援する into flabby cheeks and red 血 into hearts of water.

At the next 駅／配置する the 限られた／立憲的な stopped, and the conductor swung from a car before the wheels had 中止するd rolling and went running into the telegraph office.

"解雇する／砲火／射撃 a message through for me, Pat. The 限られた／立憲的な has been held up," he 発表するd.

"Held up?" gasped the 操作者.

"That's 権利. Get this message 権利 through to Sabin. I'm not going to wait for an answer. Tell him I'll stop at Apache for その上の 指示／教授／教育s."

With which the conductor was out again waving his lantern as a signal for the train to start. 郡保安官 Collins and Major Mackenzie had entered the office at his heels. They too had messages to send, but it was not until the train was already 急落（する），激減（する）ing into the night that the 駅／配置する スパイ／執行官 read the yellow slips they had left and 観察するd that both of them went to the same person.

"中尉／大尉／警部補 Bucky O'Connor, Douglas, Arizona," was the 演説（する）／住所 he read at the 最高の，を越す of each. His comment serves to show the opinion 一般に in the sunburned 領土 尊敬（する）・点ing one of its 国民s.

"You're wise guys, gents, both of yez. This is shure a 事例／患者 for the leftenant. It's send for Bucky quick when the 禁止（する）d begins to play," he grinned.

Sitting 負かす／撃墜する, he gave the call for Tucson, 準備の to transmitting the conductor's message to the 分割 superintendent. His fingers were just striking the first tap when a silken 発言する／表明する startled him.

"One moment, friend. No use 存在 in a hurry."

The スパイ／執行官 looked up and nearly fell from his stool. He was gazing into the end of a revolver held carelessly in the 手渡す of a masked man leaning indolently on the 反対する.

"Whe--where did you come from?" the 操作者 gasped.

"Kaintucky, but I been here a 権利 smart （一定の）期間. Why? You takin' the 国勢（人口）調査?" （機の）カム the drawling answer.

"I didn't hear youse come in."

"I didn't hear you come in, either," the man behind the mask mocked. But even as he spoke his manner changed, and crisp menace rang in his 発言する／表明する. "Have you sent those messages yet?"

"Wha--what messages?"

"Those lying on your desk. I say, have you sent them?"

"Not yet."

"手渡す them over here."

The 操作者 passed them across the 反対する without demur.

"Now reach for the roof."

Up 発射 the 駅／配置する スパイ／執行官's 手渡すs. The 強盗 ちらりと見ることd over the written sheets and commented aloud:

"Huh! One from the conductor and one from Mackenzie. I 推定する／予想するd those. But this one from Collins is ce'tainly a surprise party. I didn't know he was on the train. Lucky for him I didn't, or mebbe I'd a-put his light for good and all. Friend, I reckon we'll 抑える these messages. 軍の necessity, you understand." And with that he lightly tore up the yellow sheets and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd them away.

"The conductor will wire when he reaches Apache," the 操作者 示唆するd, not very boldly.

The 無法者 rolled a cigarette deftly and borrowed a match. "He most surely will. But Apache is seventy miles from here. That gives us an extra hour and a half, and with us 権利 now time is a heap more 価値のある than money. You may tell Bucky O'Connor when you see him that that extra hour and a half cinches our escape, and we weren't on the anxious seat any without it."

It may have been true, as the train robber had just said, that time was more 価値のある to him then than money, but if so he must have held the latter of singularly little value. For he sat him 負かす／撃墜する on the 反対する with his 支援する against the 塀で囲む and his 脚s stretched 十分な length in 前線 of him and ちらりと見ることd over the Tucson 星／主役にする in leisurely fashion, while Pat's 武器 still 事業／計画（する）d roofward.

The 操作者, beginning to get over his natural fright, could not 保留する a 気が進まない 賞賛 of this man's aplomb. There was a 確かな pantherish lightness about the 無法者's movements, a 削減する grace of 人物／姿／数字 which yet 示唆するd rippling muscles perfectly under 支配（する）／統制する, and a 静かな wariness of 注目する，もくろむ more potent than words at repressing 謀反の impulses. Certainly if ever there was a 冷静な／正味の 顧客 and one perfectly sure of himself, this was he.

"Not a thing in the 星／主役にする to-day," Pat's 訪問者 commented, as he flung it away with a yawn. "I'll let a thousand dollars of the 表明する company's money that there will be something more 利益／興味ing in it to-morrow."

"That's 権利," agreed the スパイ／執行官.

"But I won't be here to read it. My 約束／交戦s take me south. I'll make a 現在の to the 広大な／多数の／重要な 中尉／大尉／警部補 O'Connor of the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）. We're 長，率いるd south, tell him. And tell Mr. 郡保安官 Collins, too--happy to entertain him if he happens our way. If it would 残り／休憩（する） your 手渡すs any there's no 法律 against putting them in your trousers pockets, my friend."

From outside there （機の）カム a short sharp whistle. The man on the 反対する answered it, and slipped at once to the 床に打ち倒す. The door opened, to let in another masked form, but one how different from the first! Here was no 信用／信任 almost insolent in its nonchalance. The 人物／姿／数字 was slight and boyish, the manner deprecating, the brown 注目する，もくろむs shy and 縮むing He was so 明白に a novice at outlawry that 恐れる sat 激しい upon his shoulders. When he spoke, almost in a whisper, his teeth chattered.

"All ready, sir."

"The wires are 削減（する）?" 需要・要求するd his leader crisply.

"Yes, sir."

"On both 味方するs?"

"On both 味方するs."

His 長，指導者 relieved the 操作者 of the revolver in his desk, broke it, emptied out the 爆撃するs, and flung them through the window, then 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd the 武器 支援する to its owner.

"You'll not shoot yourself by 事故 now," he explained, and with that he had followed his companion into the night.

There （機の）カム to the 駅／配置する スパイ／執行官 the sound of galloping horses, growing fainter, until a 激しい silence seemed to fill the night. He stole to the door and locked it, pulled 負かす／撃墜する the window blinds, and then reloaded his revolver with feverish haste. This done, he sat 負かす／撃墜する before his 重要なs with the 武器 の近くに at 手渡す and frantically called for Tucson over and over again. No answer （機の）カム to him, nor from the other direction when he tried that. The young 強盗 had told the truth. His companions had 削減（する） the wires and so 孤立するd from the world for the time the scene of the 持つ／拘留する-up. The スパイ／執行官 understood now why the leader of the 無法者s had 栄誉（を受ける）d him with so much of his 価値のある time. He had stayed to 持つ／拘留する 支援する the 電報電信s until he knew the wires were 削減（する）.

CHAPTER 3. THE SHERIFF INTRODUCES HIMSELF

耐える-罠（にかける） Collins, 推定するing on the new intimacy born of an exciting experience 株d in ありふれた, stepped across the aisle, flung aside 行方不明になる Wainwright's impedimenta, and calmly seated himself beside her. She was a young woman 有能な of a hauteur chillier than ice to undue familiarity, but she did not choose at this moment to resent his 仮定／引き受けること of a 地盤 that had not 存在するd an hour ago. Picturesque and 慣習に捕らわれない 行為／行う excuses itself when it is garbed in picturesque and engaging manners. She had, besides, other 推論する／理由s for wanting to 会合，会う him, and they had to do with a sudden 疑惑 that 炎上d like 牽引する in her brain. She had something for which to thank him--much more than he would be likely to guess, she thought--and she was wondering, with a 殺到する of 勝利, whether the irony of 運命／宿命 had not made his pretended consideration for her the means of his undoing.

"I am sorry you lost so much, 行方不明になる Wainwright," he told her.

"But, after all, I did not lose so much as you. Her dark, 深い-pupiled 注目する，もくろむs, long-攻撃するd as Diana's, swept 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to 会合，会う his coolly.

"That's a true word. My 評判 has gone 微光ing for fair, I guess." He laughed ruefully. "I shouldn't wonder, ma'am, when 選挙 time comes 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, if the boys ain't likely to elect to 私的な life the 郡保安官 that lay 負かす／撃墜する before a bunch of miscreants."

"Why did you do it?"

His humorous ちらりと見ること roamed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the car. "Now, I couldn't think it proper for me to shoot up this sumptuous palace on wheels. And wouldn't some casual 乗客 be likely to get his lights put out when the 禁止（する）d began to play? Would you want that Boston church to be shy a preacher, ma'am?"

Her lips parted わずかに in a curve of 軽蔑（する）. "I suppose you had your 推論する／理由s for not 干渉するing."

"Surely, ma'am. I hated to have them make a sieve of me."

"Were you afraid?"

"Most men are when Wolf Leroy's ギャング（団） is on the war path."

"Wolf Leroy?"

"That was Wolf who （機の）カム in to see they were doing the 職業 権利. He's the worst desperado on the 国境--a sure enough bad proposition, I reckon. They say he's part Spanish and part Indian, but all pisen. Others say he's a college man of good family. I don't know about that, for nobody knows who he really is. But the 指名する is a byword in the country. People lower their 発言する／表明するs when they speak of him and his night-riders."

"I see. And you were afraid of him?"

"Very much."

Her 狭くするd 注目する，もくろむs looked over the strong lines of his lean 直面する and were unconvinced. "I 推定する／予想する you 設立する a better 推論する／理由 than that for not …に反対するing them."

He turned to her with frank curiosity. "I'd like real 井戸／弁護士席 to have you put a 指名する to it."

But he was 即時に aware that her 利益／興味 had been 味方する 跡をつけるd. Major Mackenzie had entered the car and was coming 負かす／撃墜する the aisle. Plainer than words his 注目する，もくろむs asked a question, and hers answered it.

The 郡保安官 stopped him with a smiling query: "攻撃する，衝突する hard, major?"

Mackenzie frowned. "The scoundrels took thirty thousand from the 表明する car, I understand. Twenty thousand of it belonged to our company. I was 推定する／予想するing to 支払う／賃金 off the men next Tuesday."

"Hope we'll be able to run them 負かす／撃墜する for you," returned Collins cheerfully. "I suppose you lay it to Wolf Leroy's ギャング（団）?"

"Of course. The work was too 井戸／弁護士席 done to leave any 疑問 of that." The major 再開するd his seat behind 行方不明になる Wainwright.

To that young woman the 郡保安官 repeated his unanswered question in the form of a 声明. "I'm waiting to learn that better 推論する／理由, ma'am."

She was 所有するd of that spice of effrontery more to be 願望（する）d than beauty. "Shall we say that you had no wish to 負傷させる your friends?"

"My friends?"

Her untender 注目する，もくろむs mocked his astonishment. "Do I choose the wrong word?" she asked, with an audacity of a courage that delighted him. "Perhaps they are not your friends--these train robbers? Perhaps they are mere casual 知識s?"

His bold 注目する，もくろむs 熟考する／考慮するd with a new 利益／興味 her superb, 確信して 青年--the rolling waves of splendid Titian hair, the lovely, subtle 注目する，もくろむs with the depths of shadowy pools in them, the alluring lines of long and supple loveliness. Certainly here was no 甘い, ingenuous 青年 all 傾向がある to blushes, but the コンビナート／複合体 相続人 of that world-old 知恵 the 女性 sex has 形態／調整d to serve as a 武器 against the strength that must be met with the wit of Mother Eve.

"You ce'tainly have a 権利 vivid imagination, ma'am," he said dryly.

"You are やめる sure you have never seen them before?" her velvet 発言する／表明する asked.

He laughed. "井戸／弁護士席, no--I can't say I am."

"Aren't you やめる sure you have seen them?'

Her 注目する，もくろむs 残り／休憩（する）d on him very 刻々と.

"You're smart as a whip, 行方不明になる Wainwright. I take off my hat to a young lady so clever. I guess you're 権利. About the 身元 of one of those masked gentlemen I'm pretty 井戸／弁護士席 満足させるd."

She drew a long breath. "I thought so."

"Yes," he went on 平等に, "I once （ーのために）とっておくd him so that I'd know him again in 事例／患者 we met."

"I beg 容赦. You--what?"

"（ーのために）とっておくd him. 人物／姿／数字 of speech, ma'am. You may not have 観察するd that the curly-長，率いるd person behind the guns was shy the forefinger of his 権利 手渡す. We had a little difficulty once when he was resisting 逮捕（する）, and it just happened that my gun fanned away his 誘発する／引き起こす finger." He 追加するd reminiscently:

"A good boy, too, Neil was once. We used to punch together on the Hashknife. A straight-up rider, the 肉親，親類d a fellow wants when Old Man Trouble comes knocking at the door. 井戸／弁護士席, I reckon he's a miscreant now, all 権利."

"They knew YOU--at least two of them did."

"I've been pirootin' around this country, boy and man, for fifteen years. I ain't 責任がある every yellow dog that knows me," he drawled.

"And I noticed that when you told them not to 略奪する the children and not to touch me they did as you said."

"Hypnotism," he 示唆するd, with a smile.

"So, not 存在 a child, I put two and two together and draw an inference."

He seemed to be struggling with his mirth. "I see you do. 井戸／弁護士席, ma'am, I've been most everything since I 攻撃する，衝突する the West, but this is the first time I've been taken for a train robber."

"I didn't say that," she cried quickly.

"I think you について言及するd an inference." The low laugh 井戸／弁護士席d out of him and broke in his 直面する. "I've been busy on one, too. It's a heap nearer the truth than yours, 行方不明になる Mackenzie."

Her startled 注目する，もくろむs and the swift movement of her 手渡す toward her heart showed him how nearly he had struck home, how certainly he had 粉々にするd her 冷静な／正味の 無関心／冷淡 of manner.

He leaned 今後, so の近くに that even in the roar of the train his low whisper reached her. "Shall I tell you why the 持つ／拘留する-ups didn't find more money on your father or in the 表明する car, 行方不明になる Mackenzie?"

She was shaken, so much so that her agitation trembled on her lips.

"Shall I tell you why your 手渡す went to your breast when I first について言及するd that the train was going to be held up, and again when your father's 注目する，もくろむs were 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing a mighty pointed question at you?"

"I don't know what you mean," she retorted, again mistress of herself.

Her gallant 耐えるing compelled his 賞賛. The scornful 注目する，もくろむs, the satirical 解除する of the nostrils, the 築く, graceful 人物／姿／数字, all flung a challenge at him. He called himself hard 指名するs for putting her on the rack, but the necessity to make her believe in him was strong within him.

"I noticed you went 権利 chalky when I 発表するd the 持つ／拘留する-up, and I thought it was because you were 脅すd. That was where I did you an 不正, ma'am, and you can call this an 陳謝. You've got sand. If it hadn't been for what you carry in the chamois 肌 hanging on the chain 一連の会議、交渉／完成する your neck you would have enjoyed every minute of the little entertainment. You're as game as they make them."

"May I ask how you arrived at this melodramatic 結論?" she asked, her disdainful lip curling.

"By using my 注目する，もくろむs and my ears, ma'am. I shouldn't have noticed your likeness to Major Mackenzie, perhaps, if I hadn't 観察するd that there was a secret understanding between you. Now, whyfor should you be passing as strangers? I could guess one 推論する／理由, and only one. There have twice been 試みる／企てるd 持つ／拘留する-ups of the paymaster of the Yuba 貯蔵所. It was to 避ける any more of these that Major Mackenzie took 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 本人自身で of 支払う／賃金ing the men. He has made good up till now. But there have been 噂するs for months that he would be held up either before leaving the train or while he was crossing the 砂漠. He didn't want to be seen taking the boodle from the 表明する company at Tucson. He would rather have the impression get out that this was just a casual visit. It occurred to him to bring along some unsuspected party to help him out. The robbers would never 推定する／予想する to find the money on a woman. That's why the major brought his daughter with him. Doesn't it make you some uneasy to be carrying fifty thousand in small 法案s sewed in your 着せる／賦与するs and hung 一連の会議、交渉／完成する your neck?"

She broke into musical laughter, natural and 平易な. "I don't happen to have fifty thousand with me."

"Oh, 井戸／弁護士席, say forty thousand. I'm no wizard to guess the exact 人物／姿／数字."

Her swift ちらりと見ること at him was almost timid.

"Nor forty thousand," she murmured.

"I should think, ma'am, you'd crinkle more than a silk-lined lady sailing 負かす／撃墜する a church aisle on Sunday."

A picture in the magazine she was toying with seemed to 利益／興味 her.

"I 推定する／予想する that's the signal for '出口 Collins.' I'll say good-by till next time, 行方不明になる Mackenzie."

"Oh, is there going to be a next time?" she asked, with (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する carelessness.

"Several of them."

"Indeed!"

He took a notebook from his pocket and wrote.

"I ain't the son of a prophet, but I'm 投機・賭けるing a 予測," he explained.

She had nothing to say, and she said it competently.

"関心ing an 投資 in futurities I'm making," he continued.

Her magazine article seemed to be beginning, 井戸／弁護士席.

"It's a little guess about how this train 強盗 is coming out. If you don't mind, I'll leave it with you." He tore the page out, put it in an empty envelope, 調印（する）d the flap, and 手渡すd it to her.

"Open it in a month, and see whether my guess is a good one."

The dusky 攻撃するs swept 一連の会議、交渉／完成する indolently. "Suppose I were to open it to-night."

"I'll 危険 it," smiled the blue 注目する，もくろむs.

"On 栄誉（を受ける）, am I?"

"That's it." He held out a big, brown 手渡す.

"You're going to try to 逮捕（する） the robbers, are you?"

"I've been thinking that way--with the help of 中尉／大尉／警部補 Bucky O'Connor, I mean."

"And I suppose you've 約束d yourself success."

"It's on the 膝s of chance, ma'am. We may get them. They may get us."

"But this 予測 of yours?" She held up the 調印（する）d envelope.

"That's about another 事柄."

"But I don't understand. You said--" She gave him a chance to explain.

"It ain't meant you should. You'll understand plenty at the proper time."

He 申し込む／申し出d her his 手渡す again. "We're slowing 負かす／撃墜する for Apache. Good-by--till next time."

The suede glove （機の）カム 今後, and was buried in his handshake.

He understood it to be an unvoiced 陳謝 of its owner for her 疑惑s, and his instinct was 訂正する. For how could her 疑問s 持つ／拘留する their ground when he had showed himself a sharer in her secret and a 後見人 of it? And how could anything 悪意のある 嘘（をつく） behind those frank, unwavering 注目する，もくろむs or consist with that long, clean stride that was carrying him so forcefully to the vestibule?

At Apache no 電報電信s were 設立する waiting for those who had been 推定する／予想するing them. Communication with the 分割 superintendent at Tucson 暴露するd the fact that no message of the 持つ／拘留する-up had yet reached him. It was an 平易な guess for Collins to find the 推論する／理由.

"We're in the 幼児 class, major," he told Mackenzie, with a sardonic laugh. "Leroy must have galloped 負かす／撃墜する the line direct to the 駅／配置する after the 持つ／拘留する-up. Likely enough he went into the 倉庫・駅 just as we went out. That gives him the other hour or two he needs to make his 逃亡 with the 略奪する. 井戸／弁護士席, it can't be helped now. If I can only reach Bucky there's one chance in fifty he can 長，率いる them off from crossing into Sonora. Soon as I can get together a posse I'll （問題を）取り上げる the 追跡する from the point of the 持つ／拘留する-up. But they'll have a whole night's start on me. That's a big 障害（者）."

From Apache Collins sent three 派遣（する）s. One was to his 副, Dillon, at Tucson. It read:

"Get together at once posse of four and outfit same for four days."

Another went to Sabin, the 分割 superintendent:

"Order special to carry posse with horses from Tucson to Big Gap. Must leave by midnight. Have 跡をつける （疑いを）晴らす."

The third was a notification to 中尉／大尉／警部補 O'Connor, of the Arizona 特別奇襲隊員s, of the 持つ／拘留する-up, 明示するing time and place of the occurrence. The 郡保安官 knew it was not necessary to 追加する that the 強盗団の一味 were probably 長，率いるing south to get into Sonora. Bucky would take that for 認めるd and do his best to cover the likely 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs of the frontier.

It was nearly eleven when the 限られた／立憲的な drew in to Tucson. Sabin was on the 壇・綱領・公約 anxiously を待つing their arrival. Collins reached him even before the conductor.

"Ordered the special, Mr. Sabin?" he asked, in a low 発言する／表明する.

The 鉄道／強行採決する man was chewing nervously on an unlit cigar. "Yes, 郡保安官. You want only an engine and one car, I suppose."

"That will be enough. I've got to go uptown now and 会合，会う Dillon. Midnight sharp, please."

"Do you know how much they got?" Sabin whispered.

"Thirty thousand, I hear, besides what they took from the 乗客s. The conductor will tell you all about it. I've got to jump to be ready."

A 失望 を待つd him in the telegrapher's room at the 倉庫・駅. He 設立する a wire, but not from the person he 推定する／予想するd. The 特別奇襲隊員 in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 at Douglas said that 中尉／大尉／警部補 O'Connor was at 旗 staff, but 未解決の that officer's return he would put himself under the orders of 郡保安官 Collins and wait for 指示／教授／教育s.

The 郡保安官 whistled softly to himself and scratched his 長，率いる. Bucky would not have waited for 指示／教授／教育s. By this time that live wire would have finished telephoning all over Southern Arizona and would himself have been in the saddle. But Bucky in Flagstaff, nearly three hundred miles from the 戦場, so far as the 現在の 緊急 went, might just 同様に be in Calcutta. Collins wired 指示／教授／教育s to the 特別奇襲隊員 and sent a third message to the 中尉／大尉／警部補.

"I 推定する／予想する I'll hear this time he's skipped over to Winslow," he told himself, with a rueful grin.

The special with the posse on board drew out at midnight sharp. It reached the scene of the ピストル強盗 before daybreak. The 負担ing board was lowered and the horses led from the car and picketed. 一方／合間 two of the men lit a 解雇する／砲火／射撃 and made breakfast while the others 荷を降ろすd the outfit and packed for the 追跡する. The first faint streaks of gray 夜明け were beginning to fleck the sky when Collins and Dillon, with a lantern, moved along the 鉄道／強行採決する bed to the little clump of cottonwoods where the 無法者s had probably lain while they waited for the 表明する. They scanned this ground インチ by インチ. The coals where their （軍の）野営地，陣営-解雇する／砲火／射撃 had been were still alive. Broken bits of food lay scattered about. Half-trampled into the ground the 郡保安官 選ぶd up a 狭くする gold chain and locket. This last he opened, and 設立する it to 含む／封じ込める a tiny photograph of a young mother and babe, both laughing happily. A の近くに search failed to 公表する／暴露する anything else of 利益／興味.

They returned to their companions, ate breakfast, and saddled. It was by this time light enough to be moving. The 追跡する was 平易な as a printed 地図／計画する, for the 反対する of the 無法者s had been haste rather than secrecy. The posse covered it 速く and without hesitation.

"Now, I wonder why this 追跡する don't run straight south instead of 耐えるing to the left into the hills. Looks like they're going to （武器などの）隠匿場所 their stolen gold up in the mountains before they 危険 crossing into Sonora. They 人物／姿／数字 Bucky'll be on the 警戒／見張り for them," the 郡保安官 said to his 副.

"I believe you've guessed it, Val. Stands to 推論する／理由 they'll want to get rid of the 略奪する soon as they can. Oh, hell!"

Dillon's disgust 証明するd 正当と認められる, for the 追跡する had lost itself in a mountain stream, up or 負かす／撃墜する which the 無法者s must have とじ込み／提出するd. A month later and the creek would have been 乾燥した，日照りの. But it was still spring. The mountain rains had not 中止するd feeding the brook, and of this the 無法者s had taken advantage to wipe out their 追跡する.

The 郡保安官 looked anxiously at the sky. "It's fixin' to rain, Jim. Don't that （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 the Dutch? If it does, that lets us out plenty."

The men they were after might have gone either upstream or 負かす／撃墜する. It was impossible to know definitely which, nor was there time to follow both. Already big 減少（する）s of rain were splashing 負かす／撃墜する.

"We'll take a chance, and go up. They're probably up in the hills somewhere 権利 now," said Collins, with characteristic 決定／判定勝ち（する）.

He had guessed 権利. A mile さらに先に upstream horses had clambered to the bank and struck deeper into the hills. But already rain was 落ちるing in a きびきびした にわか雨. The posse had not gone another ４半期/4分の1 of a mile before the 追跡する was washed out. They were now in a rough and rocky country getting every minute steeper.

"It's going to be like lookin' for a needle in a haystack, Val," Dillon growled.

Collins nodded. "We ain't got one chance in a hundred, Jim, but I reckon we'll take that chance."

For three days they 失敗d around in the hills before they gave it up. The first night, about dusk, the pursuers were without knowing it so warm that one of the 強盗団の一味 lay with his ライフル銃／探して盗む on a 激しく揺する 縁 not a 石／投石する's throw above them as they 負傷させる through a little ravine. But Collins got no glimpse of the robbers. At last he reluctantly gave the word to turn 支援する. Probably the men he 手配中の，お尋ね者 had already slipped 負かす／撃墜する to the plains and across to Mexico. If not, they might play hide and 捜し出す with him a month in the 休会s of these unknown mountains.

Next morning the 郡保安官 struck a telephone wire, tapped it, got Sabin on the line, told him of his 失敗 and that he was returning to Tucson. About the middle of the afternoon the dispirited posse reached its sidetracked special.

A young man lay stretched 十分な length on the 負担ing board, with a 幅の広い-brimmed felt hat over his 注目する，もくろむs. He wore a gray flannel shirt and corduroy trousers thrust into half-脚 laced boots. At the sound of 発言する／表明するs he turned lazily on his 味方する and watched the members of the posse swing wearily from their saddles. An amiable smile, not wholly 解放する／自由な of friendly derision, lit his good-looking 直面する.

"Oh, you 郡保安官," he drawled.

Collins swung 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, as if he had been pricked with a knife point. He 星／主役にするd an instant before he let out a shout of welcome and fell upon the 青年.

"Bucky, by 雷鳴!"

The latter got up nimbly in time to be hospitably 強くたたくd and punched. He was a lithe, slender young fellow, of medium 高さ, and he carried himself lightly with that manner of sunburned competency given only by the rough-and-宙返り／暴落する life of the outdoors West.

While the men reloaded the car he and the 郡保安官 stood apart and talked in low トンs. Collins told what he knew, both what he had seen and inferred, and Bucky heard him to the end.

"Yes, it ce'tainly looks like one of Wolf Leroy's 職業s," he agreed. "Nobody else but Leroy would have had the 神経 to follow you 権利 up to the 倉庫・駅 and put the kibosh on sending those wires. He's surely game from the toes up. Think of him sittin' there reading the newspaper half an hour after he held up the 限られた／立憲的な!"

"Did he do that, Bucky?" The 郡保安官's トン 譲歩するd 賞賛.

"He did. He's the only train robber ever in the 商売／仕事 that could have done it. Oh, the Wolf's 跡をつけるs are all over this 職業."

"No 疑問 about that. I told you I 認めるd York Neil by him 存在 shy that 誘発する／引き起こす finger I fanned off 負かす／撃墜する at Tombstone. 井戸／弁護士席, they say he's one of the Wolf's 代替要員，物s."

"Yes. I 警告するd him two months ago that if he didn't break away he'd die sudden. Somehow I couldn't 説得する him he was an awful sick man 権利 then. You saw four of these 持つ／拘留する-ups in all, didn't you, Val?"

"Four's 権利. First off Neil, then the fellow I took to be the Wolf. After he went out a bowlegged fellow （機の）カム in, and last a わずかな／ほっそりした little kid that was a sure enough amateur, the way his gun shook."

"Any notion how many more there were?"

"I 人物／姿／数字d out two more. A big gazabo in a red wig held up 霜, the engineer. He knew it was a wig because he saw long 黒人／ボイコット hair peeping out around his neck. Then there must 'a' been another in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of blowing up the 表明する car, a Mexican, from the description the messenger gives of him."

Bucky nodded. "Looks like you got it 人物／姿／数字d about 権利, Val. The Mexican is 平易な to account for. The Wolf spends about half his time 負かす／撃墜する in Chihuahua and trains with some high-class greasers 負かす／撃墜する there. 井戸／弁護士席, we'll see what we'll see. I'll 始める，決める my 特別奇襲隊員s at 一連の会議、交渉／完成するing up the 国境 towns a bit, and if I don't start anything there I'll 引き上げ（る） 負かす／撃墜する into Mexico and see what's doing. I'll count on you to run the Arizona end of it while I'm away, Val. The Wolf's outfit is a pretty wild one, and it won't be long till something begins to howl. We'll keep an 注目する，もくろむ on the 賭事ing halls and see who is 燃やすing up money. Oh, they'll leave plenty of smoke behind them," the 特別奇襲隊員 結論するd cheerfully.

"There will be plenty of smoke if we ever do 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 'em up, not to について言及する a heap of good lead that will be 流出／こぼすd," the 郡保安官 agreed placidly. "井戸／弁護士席, all I got to say is the sooner the quicker. The bunch borrowed a mighty good .45 of 地雷 I need in my biz. I kinder hanker to get it 支援する muy pronto."

"Here's hoping," Bucky nodded gayly. "I bet there will be a 権利 lively wolf 追跡（する）. Hello! The car's 負担d. All 船内に for Tucson."

The special drew out from the 味方する 跡をつける and gathered 速度(を上げる）. Soon the rhythmic 詠唱する of the rails sounded monotonously, and the plains on either 味方する of the 跡をつける swam 速く to the 後部.

CHAPTER 4. A BLUFF IS CALLED

Torpid lay Aravaipa in a 昏睡 of sunheat. Its adobe-lined streets basked in the white glare of an Arizona spring at midday. One or two Papago Indians, with their pottery wares, squatted in the shade of the buildings, but さもなければ the plaza was 砂漠d. Not even a moving dog or a lounging peon lent life to the drowsy square. Silence 深遠な and peace eternal seemed to brood over the land.

Such was the impression borne in upon the young man riding townward on a wiry buckskin that had just topped the rise which 命令（する）d the valley below. The rider 現在のd a striking enough 外見 to take and 持つ／拘留する the roving 注目する，もくろむ of any young woman in search of romance. He was a slender, lithe young Adonis of medium 高さ. His hair and eyebrows left one doubtful whether to pronounce them 黒人／ボイコット or brown, but the 注目する，もくろむs called for an 即座の 判決 of Irish blue. Every インチ of him spoke of competency--約束d mastership of any 状況／情勢 likely to arise. But when the last word is said it was the 注目する，もくろむs that 支配するd the personality. They could run the whole gamut of emotions, or they could be impervious as a 石／投石する 塀で囲む. Now they were 深い and innocent as a girl's, now they rollicked with the buoyant 青年 in them. Comrades might see them 泡ing with fun, and the next moment enemies find them opague as a leaden sky. Not the least wonder of them was that they looked out from under long 攻撃するs, soft enough for any maiden, at a world they appraised with the shrewdness of a 退役軍人.

The young man drew rein above the valley, sitting his horse in the 平易な, negligent fashion of one that lives in the saddle. A thumb was hitched carelessly in the 前線 pocket of his chaps, which pocket served also as a holster for the .45 that protruded.

Even in the moment that he sat there a change （機の）カム over Aravaipa. As a summer にわか雨 sweeps across a lake so something had ruffled the town to sudden life. From 蓄える／店s and saloons men dribbled, converging toward a ありふれた centre hurriedly.

"I reckon, Bucky, the 禁止（する）d has begun to play," the rider told himself aloud. "Mebbe we better move on 負かす／撃墜する in time for the music."

But no half-推定する／予想するd revolver 発射s 粉々にするd the stillness, even though 利益／興味 did not abate.

"There's ce'tainly something doing at the Silver Dollar this glad mo'ning. Chinks, greasers, and several other 肉親，親類d of 国民s driftin' that way, not to について言及する white men. I 推定する／予想する there will be room for you, Bucky, if you hurry before the seats are all sold out."

He cantered 負かす／撃墜する the plaza, swung from the saddle, threw the rein over the pony's 長，率いる to the ground, and jingled across the sidewalk into the 賭事ing house. It was filled with a motley （人が）群がる of 鉱夫s, vaqueros, tourists, cattlemen, Mexicans, Chinese, and a 見本 of the 残り／休憩（する） of the heterogeneous 全住民 of the 南西. Behind this assemblage the newcomer tiptoed in vain to catch a glimpse of the 原因（となる） of the excitement. Wherefore, he calmly 除去するd an almond-注目する，もくろむd Oriental from a 議長，司会を務める on which he was standing, tipped the ex-Cantonese a half dollar, and appropriated the point of vantage himself.

There was a （疑いを）晴らすd space in the corner by the roulette （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and here, his 議長，司会を務める tipped 支援する against the 塀で囲む and a glass of whisky in 前線 of him, sat a 十分に strange 見本／標本 of humanity. He was a man of about fifty years, large boned and gaunt. Dressed in fringed buckskin trousers and a silver-laced Mexican sombrero, he 影響する／感情d the long hair, the 広範囲にわたる mustache, and the ferocious 面 that are the custom of the pseudo-西部の人／西洋人s who do 商売／仕事 in the East with 偽の 医療の 治療（薬）s. Around his waist was a belt garnished with knives by the dozen. These were long and pointed, sharpened to a かみそり 辛勝する／優位. One of them was in his 手渡す 均衡を保った for a throw at the instant Bucky 機動力のある the 議長，司会を務める and looked over the 密集して packed 集まり of 長，率いるs in 前線 of him.

The 特別奇襲隊員's keen ちらりと見ること swept to the 塀で囲む and took in the 的. A わずかな／ほっそりした lad of about fifteen stood against it with his 武器 outstretched. Above and below each 手渡す and on either 味方する of the swelling throat knives quivered in the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる 塀で囲む. There was a flash of steel, and the seventh knife sank into the 支持を得ようと努めるd so の近くに to the crisp curls that a lock hung by a hair, almost 完全に 厳しいd by the blade. The boy choked 支援する a 叫び声をあげる, his big brown 注目する，もくろむs dilating with terror.

The いじめ（る） sipped at his highball and deliberately selected another knife. To Bucky's swift 査察 it was plain he had drunk too much and that a very little slip might make an end of the boy. The fascinated horror in the lad's gaze showed that he realized his danger.

"Now, f'ler cit'zens, I will continue for your 'musement by puttin' next two knives on 権利 and lef' 味方するs of his cheek. 観察する, pleash, that these will land いっそう少なく than an インチ from hish 注目する，もくろむs. As the 支持する／優勝者 knife 投げる人 in the universe I （人命などを）奪う，主張する--"

What he （人命などを）奪う，主張するd his audience had to guess, for at this instant another person took a part in the 行為／法令／行動する. Bucky had stepped lightly across the 介入するing space on the shoulders of the tightly packed （人が）群がる and had dropped as lightly to the ground in 前線 of the astonished 支持する／優勝者 of the universe.

"I reckon you've about wore out that 的. What's the 事柄 with trying a brand new one drawled the 特別奇襲隊員, his 静かな, unwavering 注目する，もくろむ 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on the bloated, mottled 直面する of the imitation "bad man."

The いじめ（る）, half seas over, leaned 今後 and gripped his knife. He was sober enough to catch the jeer running through the other's words without 存在 十分に master of himself to 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる the menace that underlay them.

"Wha's that? Say that again!" he burst out, purple to the collar line. He was not used to having beardless boys with long, soft eyelashes 干渉するing with his amusements, and a blind 激怒（する） flooded his heart.

"I 許すd that a change of 的s would 変化させる the entertainment, if you 港／避難所't any 反対s, seh," the blue-注目する，もくろむd stranger explained mildly.

"Who is this kid?" 需要・要求するd the いじめ（る）, with a sweep of his arm toward the 侵入者.

Nobody seemed to know, wherefore the 特別奇襲隊員 himself gave the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） mildly:

"Bucky O'Connor they call me."

A faint murmur of surprise soughed through the （人が）群がる, for Bucky O'Connor of the Arizona 特別奇襲隊員s was by way of 存在 a public hero just now on account of his 逮捕（する） of Fernendez, the 行う／開催する／段階 robber. But the knife 投げる人 had but lately arrived in the country. The 青年 carried with him 非，不，無 of the （ーのために）とっておくs of his 貿易（する）, unless it might be that 静かな, 安定した gaze that seemed to search the soul. His 発言する／表明する was soft and drawling, his manner almost apologetic. In the smile that （機の）カム and went was something 甘い and sunny, in his 耐えるing a gay charm that did not advertise the recklessness that 泡d from his daredevil spirit. Surely here was an 平易な 犠牲者 upon whom to vent his spleen, thought the other in his growing passion.

"You want to be my 的, do you?" he 需要・要求するd, tugging ferociously at his long mustache.

"If you please, seh."

The fellow swore a vile 誓い. "Just as you say. Line up beside the other kid."

With three strides Bucky reached the 塀で囲む, and turned.

"Let 'er go," his gentle 発言する／表明する murmured.

He was leaning 支援する easily against the 塀で囲む, his thumb hitched carelessly in the revolver pocket of his worn leather chaps. He looked at 緩和する, every jaunty インチ of him, but a big bronzed cattleman who had just 押し進めるd his way in noticed that the frosty blue 注目する，もくろむs never 解放（する）d for an instant those of the enemy.

The いじめ（る） at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する passed an uncertain を引き渡す his 直面する to （疑いを）晴らす his blurred 見通し, 均衡を保った the cruel blade in his 手渡す, and sent it flashing 今後 with incredible swiftness. The steel buried itself two インチs 深い in the soft pine beside Bucky's 長，率いる. So の近くに had it shaved him that a 減少（する） of 血 gathered and dropped from his ear to the 床に打ち倒す.

"Good 発射," commented the 特別奇襲隊員 静かに, and on the instant his revolver seemed to leap from its holster to his 手渡す. Without raising or moving his arm in the least, Bucky 解雇する／砲火／射撃d.

Again a murmur eddied through the （人が）群がる. The 弾丸 had neatly bored the いじめ（る）'s ear. He raised his 手渡す in dazed fashion and brought it away covered with 血. With 星／主役にするing 注目する，もくろむs he looked at his moist red fingers, then at his 最新の 犠牲者, who was 証明するing such an 予期しない surprise.

The big cattleman, who by this time had 押し進めるd a way with his 幅の広い shoulders to the 前線, 観察するd the two men attentively with a derisive smile on his frank 直面する. He was seeing a bluff called, and he enjoyed it.

"You'll be able to wear earrings, Mr. 支持する／優勝者 of the Universe, after I have ventilated the other," 示唆するd the 特別奇襲隊員 affably. "Come again, seh."

But his 対抗者 had had enough, and more than enough. It was one thing to browbeat a 害のない boy, やめる another to 手段 courage with a young gamecock like this. He had all the advantage of the first move. He was an 専門家 and could 運動 his first throw into the 青年's heart. But at 底（に届く） he was a coward and 欠如（する）d the 神経, if not the inclination, to kill. If he took up that devil-may-care challenge he must fight it out alone. Moreover, as his furtive ちらりと見ること went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the （犯罪の）一味 of 直面するs, he 疑問d whether a rope and the nearest telegraph 政治家 might not be his 運命／宿命 if he went the 限界. Sourly he 受託するd 敗北・負かす, 激怒（する）ing in his craven spirit at the necessity.

"Hell! I don't fight with boys," he snarled,

"So?"

Bucky moved 今後 with the curious lightness of a man spring-footed. His gaze held the other's 転換ing 注目する，もくろむs as he plucked the knife from his 対抗者's 手渡す.

"Unbuckle that belt," he ordered.

All said, the 注目する，もくろむ is a prince of 武器s. It is a moral 軍隊 more potent than the physical, and by it men may 手段 strength to a certainty. So now these two clinched and 戦う／戦いd with it till the best man won. The showman's look gave way before the stark courage of the other. His was no match for the inscrutable, unwavering 注目する，もくろむ that 命令（する）d him. His fingers began to twitch, 辛勝する／優位d slowly toward his waist. For an instant they fumbled at the buckle of the belt, which presently fell with a 動揺させる to the 床に打ち倒す.

"Now, roll yore 追跡する to the 塀で囲む. 直面する this way! 武器 out! That's good! You 残り／休憩（する） there comfortable while I take these pins 負かす／撃墜する and let the kid out."

He 除去するd the knives that hemmed in the boy and supported the half-fainting 人物／姿／数字 to a 議長，司会を務める beside the roulette （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. But always he remained in such a position as to keep the big いじめ（る） he was baiting in 見解（をとる）. The boy dropped into the 議長，司会を務める and covered his 直面する with his 手渡すs, sobbing with 深い, broken breaths. The 特別奇襲隊員 touched caressingly the crisp, fair hair that covered the 長，率いる in short curls.

"Don't you worry, bub. Now, don't you. It's all over with now. That coyote won't pester you any more. Will you, Mr. 誤った Alarm Bad Man?"

At the last words he wheeled suddenly to the showman. "You're 権利 sorry already you got so gay, ain't you? Come! Speak yore little piece, please."

He waited for an answer, and his gaze held 急速な／放蕩な to the bloated 直面する that cringed before his attack.

"What's your 指名する?"

"Jay Hardman," quavered the now 完全に sobered bad man.

"Dead 平易な jay, I reckon you mean. Now, chirp, up and tell the boy how sorry you are you got fresh with your 金物類／武器類."

"He's my boy. I guess I can do what I like with him," the man burst out 怒って. "I wasn't 傷つけるing him any, either. That's part of our show, to--"

Bucky fondled suggestively the revolver in his 手渡す. A metallic click （機の）カム to his 犠牲者.

"Don't you shoot at me again," the man broke off to 叫び声をあげる.

The Colt clipped the 宣告，判決 and the man's other ear.

"You can put in your order now for them earrings we were mentionin', Mr. Deadeasy. You see, I had to 穴をあける this one so folks would know they were mates."

"I'll put you in the pen for this," the fellow whined, in terror.

"Funny how you will get off the 支配する. We were discussin' an 陳謝 when you got to wandering in yore haid."

The mottled 直面する showed white in patches. Beads of perspiration stood out on the forehead of Hardman. "I didn't 目的（とする） to 傷つける him any. I'll be 権利 glad to explain to you "

A 弾丸 骨折って進むd a path through the long hair that fell to the showman's shoulders and snipped a lock from it.

"You don't need to explain a thing to me, seh. I'm sure 残り／休憩（する）ing 平易な in my mind. But as you were about to re-示す you're fair honin' for a chance to ask the kid's 容赦. Now, ain't I a mind reader, seh?"

A trembling 発言する／表明する stammered huskily an 陳謝.

"Better late than too late. Now, I've a good mind to take a 投票（する） whether I'd better 荷を降ろす the 残り／休憩（する） of the pills in this old reliable 薬／医学 box at you. Mebbe I せねばならない pump one into that coyote heart of yours."

The fellow went livid. "My God, you wouldn't kill an 非武装の man, would you?"

For answer the 特別奇襲隊員 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd the 武器 on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with a scornful laugh and strode up to the other. The would-be bad man towered six インチs above him, and 重さを計るd half as much again. But O'Connor whirled him 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, propelled him 今後 to the door, and kicked him into the street.

"I'd hate to waste a funeral on him," he said, as he sauntered 支援する to the boy at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

The lad was beginning to 回復する, though his breath still （機の）カム with a catch. His rag of a handkerchief was dabbing 涙／ほころびs out of his 注目する，もくろむs. O'Connor noticed how soft his 手渡すs and how delicate his features.

"This kid ain't got any more 商売／仕事 than a rabbit going around in the show line with that big scoundrel. He's one of these gentle, 激しく揺する-me-to-sleep-mother kids that せねばならない stay in the home nest and not go buttin' into this hard world. I'll bet a doughnut he's an 孤児, though."

Bucky had been brought up in the school of experience, where every student keeps his own 長，率いる or goes to the 塀で囲む. All his short life he had played a 孤独な 手渡す, as he would have phrased it. He had （選挙などの）運動をするd in Cuba as a mere boy. He had ridden the 範囲 and held his own on the ハリケーン deck of a bucking broncho. From cowpunching he had 卒業生（する）d into the 堅い little 団体／死体 of 領土の 特別奇襲隊員s at the 長，率いる of which was "Hurry Up" Millikan. This had brought him a large and 騒然とした experience in the knack of taking care of himself under all circumstances. 自然に, a man of this type, born and bred to the code of the outdoors West, could not fail of a 確かな contempt for a boy that broke 負かす／撃墜する and cried when the game was going against him.

But Bucky's contempt was tolerant, after all. He could not 否定する his sympathy to a youngster in trouble. Again he touched gently the lad's crisp curls of burnished gold.

"を締める up, bub. The worst is yet to come," he laughed awkwardly. "I reckon there's no use spillin' any more emotion over it. He ain't your dad, is he?"

The lad's big brown 注目する，もくろむs looked up into the serene blue ones and 設立する 慰安 in their strength. "No, he's my uncle--and my master."

"This is a 解放する／自由な country, son. We don't have masters if we're good Americans, though we all have to take orders from our superior officers. You don't need to serve this fellow unless you want to. That's a cinch."

The boy's troubled 注目する，もくろむs were filmed with reminiscent terror. "You don't know him. He is terrible when he is angry," he murmured.

"I don't think it," returned Bucky contemptuously. "He's the worst blowhard ever. Say the word and I'll run the piker out of town for you."

The boy whipped up the sleeve of the fancy Mexican jacket he wore and showed a long scar on his arm. "He did that one day when he was angry at me. He pretended to others that it was an 事故, but I knew better. This morning I begged him to let me leave him. He （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 me, but he was still mad; and when he took to drinking I was afraid he would work himself up to stick me again with one of his knives."

Bucky looked at the scar in the soft, 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd arm and swept the boy with a sudden puzzled ちらりと見ること that was not 疑惑 but wonder.

"How long have you been with him, kid?"

"Oh, for years. Ever since I was a little fellow. He took me after my father and mother died of yellow fever in New Orleans. His wife hates me too, but they have to have me in the show."

"Then I guess you had better やめる their company. What's your 指名する?"

"Frank Hardman. On the show 法案s I have all sorts of 指名するs."

"井戸／弁護士席, Frank, how would you like to go to live on a ranch?"

"Where he wouldn't know I was?" whispered the boy 熱望して.

"If you like. I know a ranch where you'd be 権利 welcome."

"I would work. I would do anything I could. Really, I would try to 支払う／賃金 my way, and I don't eat much," Frank cried, his 注目する，もくろむs as 控訴，上告ing as a homeless puppy's.

Bucky smiled. "I 推定する／予想する they can stand all you eat without going to the poorhouse. It's a 取引 then. I'll take you out there to-morrow."

"You're so good to me. I never had anybody be so good before." 涙／ほころびs stood in the big 注目する，もくろむs and splashed over.

"削減（する） out the water 作品, kid. You want to take a を締める and 行為／法令／行動する like a man," advised his new friend brusquely.

"I know. I know. If you knew what I have done maybe you wouldn't ask me to go with you. I--I can't tell you anything more than that," the youngster sobbed.

"Oh, 井戸／弁護士席. What's the diff? You're making a new start to-day. Ain't that 権利?"

"Yes, sir."

"Call me Bucky."

"Yes, sir. Bucky, I mean."

A 手渡す fell on the 特別奇襲隊員's shoulder and a 発言する／表明する in his ear. "Young man, I want you."

The 中尉／大尉／警部補 whirled like a streak of 雷, finger on 誘発する／引き起こす already. "I'll trouble you for yore 令状, seh," he retorted.

The man 直面するing him was the big cattleman who had entered the Silver Dollar in time to see O'Connor's victory over the showman. Now he stood serenely under Bucky's gun and laughed.

"Put up your .45, my friend. It's a peaceable 会議／協議会 I want with you."

The level 注目する，もくろむs of the young man fastened on those of the cattleman, and, before he spoke again, were 満足させるd. For both of these men belonged to the old West whose word is as good as its 社債, that West which will go the 限界 for a 原因（となる） once under taken without any thought of 退却／保養地, 関わりなく the 半端物s or the letter of the 法律. Though they had never met before, each knew at a ちらりと見ること the manner of man the other was.

"All 権利, seh. If you want me I reckon I'm here large as life," the 特別奇襲隊員 said,

"We'll 延期，休会する to the poker room upstairs then, Mr. O'Connor"

Bucky laid a 手渡す on the shoulder of the boy. "This kid goes with me. I'm keeping an 注目する，もくろむ on him for the 現在の."

"My 商売／仕事 is 私的な, but I 推定する／予想する that can be arranged. We'll take the inner room and let him have the outer."

"Good enough. Break 追跡する, seh. Come along, Frank."

Having reached the poker room upstairs, that same 私的な room which had seen many a big game in its day between the big cattle kings and 採掘 men of the 南西, Bucky's host ordered refreshments and then 広げるd his 商売／仕事.

"You don't know me, 中尉／大尉／警部補, do you?"

"I 港／避難所't that 楽しみ, seh."

"I am Major Mackenzie's brother."

"Webb Mackenzie, who （機の）カム from Texas last year and bought the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める Ranch?"

"The same."

"I'm 権利 glad to 会合，会う you, seh."

"And I can say the same."

Webb Mackenzie was so distinctively a 製品 of the West that no other segment of the globe could have produced him. Big, raw-boned, tanned to a leathery brick-brown, he was as much of the frontier as the ten thousand cows he owned that ran the 範囲 on half as many hills and draws. He stood six feet two and tipped the beam at two hundred twelve 続けざまに猛撃するs, not an ounce of which was superfluous flesh. Temperamentally, he was frank, imperious, 解放する／自由な-hearted, what men call a prince. He wore a loose tailor-made 控訴 of brown stuff and a 幅の広い-brimmed light-gray Stetson. For the 残り／休憩（する）, you may see a hundred like him at the 年一回の 在庫／株 条約 held in Denver, but you will never 会合，会う a man even の中で them with a sounder heart or better disposition.

"I've got a story to tell you, 中尉／大尉／警部補 O'Connor," he began. "I've been meaning to see you and tell it ever since you made good in that Fernendez 事柄. It wasn't your gameness. Anybody can be game. But it looked to me like you were using the brains in the 最高の，を越す of your 長，率いる, and that happens so seldom の中で 法律 officers I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to have a talk with you. Since yesterday I've been more anxious. For why? I got a letter from my brother telling me 郡保安官 Collins showed him a locket he 設立する at the place of the T. P. 限られた／立憲的な 持つ／拘留する-up. That locket has in it a photograph of my wife and little girl. For fifteen years I 港／避難所't seen that picture. When I saw it last 'twas 一連の会議、交渉／完成する my little baby's neck. What's more, I 港／避難所't seen her in that time, either."

Mackenzie stopped, swallowed hard, and took a drink of water.

"You 港／避難所't seen your little girl in fifteen years," exclaimed Bucky.

"港／避難所't seen or heard of her. So far as I know she may not be alive now. This locket is the first hint I have had since she was taken away, the very first news of her that has reached me, and I don't know what to make of that. One of the robbers must have been wearing it, the way I 人物／姿／数字 it out. Where did he get it? That's what I want to know."

"Suppose you tell me the story, seh," 示唆するd the 特別奇襲隊員 gently.

The cattleman 申し込む／申し出d O'Connor a cigar and lit one himself. For a minute he puffed slowly at his Havana, leaning far 支援する in his 議長，司会を務める with 注目する，もくろむs reminiscent and half shut. Then he shook himself 支援する into the 現在の and began his tale.

"I don't reckon you ever heard tell of Dave Henderson. It was 支援する in Texas I knew him, and he's been 行方不明の sixteen years come the eleventh of next August. For fifteen years I 港／避難所't について言及するd his 指名する, because Dave did me the dirtiest wrong that one man ever did another. 支援する in the old days he and I used to 追跡する together. We was awful 厚い, and mostly 追跡（する）d in couples. We began riding the same season 支援する on the old Kittredge Ranch, and we went in together for all the 肉親，親類d of spreeing that young fellows who are footloose are likely to do. Fact is, we ふさわしい each other from the ground up. We frolicked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a-plenty, like young colts will, and there was nothing on this green earth Dave could have asked from me that I wouldn't have done for him. Nothing except one, I reckon, and Dave never asked that of me."

Mackenzie puffed at his cigar a silent moment before 再開するing. "It happened we both fell in love with the same girl, little フランs Clark, of the 二塁打 T Ranch. Dave was a better looker than me and a more taking fellow, but somehow フランs 好意d me from the start. Dave stayed till the finish, and when he seen he had lost he stood up with me at the wedding. We had agreed, you see, that whoever won it wasn't to break up our friendship.

"井戸／弁護士席, Frankie and I were married, and in course of time we had two children. My boy, Tom, is the older. The other was a little girl, 指名するd after her mother." The cattleman waited a moment to 安定した his 発言する／表明する, and spoke through teeth 始める，決める 深い in his Havana. "I 港／避難所't seen her, as I said, since she was two years and ten months old--not since the night Dave disappeared."

Bucky looked up quickly with a question on his lips, but he did not need to word it.

Mackenzie nodded. "Yes, Dave took her with him when he lit out across the line for Mexico"

But I'll have to go 支援する to something that happened earlier. About three months before this time Dave and me were riding through a 削減（する） in the Sierra Diablo Mountains, when we （機の）カム on a Mexican who had been 負傷させるd by the Apaches. I reckon we had come along just in time to 脅す them off before they finished him. We did our best for him, but he died in about two hours. Before dying, he made us a 現在の of a 地図／計画する we 設立する in his breast pocket. It showed the 場所 of a very rich 地雷 he had 設立する, and as he had no 近づく 肉親，親類 he turned it over to us to do with as we pleased.

"Just then the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する-up （機の）カム on, and we were too busy to 支払う／賃金 much attention to the 地雷. Each of us would have 信用d the other with his life, or so I thought. But we 削減（する） the paper in half, each of us keeping one part, in order that nobody else could steal the secret from the one that held the paper. The last time I had been in El Paso I had bought my little girl a gold chain with two lockets pendent. These lockets opened by a secret spring, and in one of them I put my half of the 地図／計画する. It seemed as 安全な a place as I could 工夫する, for the chain never left the child's neck, and nobody except her mother, Dave, and I knew that it was placed there. Dave hid his half under a 激しく揺する that was known to both of us. The strange thing about the story is that my 誤った friend, in the hurry of his flight, forgot to take his section of the 地図／計画する with him. I 設立する it under the 激しく揺する next day, so that his vile treachery availed him nothing from a mercenary point of 見解（をとる）."

"Didn't take his half of the 地図／計画する with him. That's 権利 funny," Bucky mused aloud.

"We never could understand why he didn't."

"Mebbe if you understood that a heap of things might be （疑いを）晴らす that are dark now."

"Mebbe. Knowing Dave Henderson as I did, or, rather, as I thought I did, such treachery as his was almost unbelievable. He was the sweetest, sunniest soul I ever knew, and no two brothers could have been as fond of each other as we seemed to be. But there was no chance of mistake. He had gone, and taken our child with him, likely in 一致 with a 計画（する） of 復讐 long 心にいだくd by him. We never heard of him or the child again. They disappeared as 完全に as if the earth had swallowed them up. Our cook, too, left with him that evil night."

"Your cook?" It was the second comment Bucky had 投機・賭けるd, and it （機の）カム incisively. "What manner of man was he?"

"A 抱擁する, 板材ing braggart. I could never understand why Dave took the man with him."

"If he did."

"But I tell you he did. They disappeared the same night, and the 追跡する showed they went the same road. We followed them for about an hour next day, but a 強い雨 （機の）カム up and blotted out the 跡をつけるs."

"What was the cook's 指名する?"

"Jeff Anderson."

"Have you a picture of him, or one of your friend?"

"支援する at the ranch I had pictures of Dave, but I 燃やすd them after he left. Yes, I reckon we have one of Anderson, standing in 前線 of the chuck wagon."

"Send it to me, please."

"All 権利."

The 特別奇襲隊員 asked a few questions that made clearer the 状況／情勢 on the day of the kidnapping, and some more 関心ing Anderson, then fell again into the 役割 of a listener while Mackenzie 結論するd his story.

"All these years I have kept my 注目する，もくろむs open, 確信して that at last I would discover something that would help me to discover the どの辺に of my child, or, at least, give me a chance to punish the scoundrel who betrayed my 信用／信任. Yesterday my brother's letter gave the first 手がかり（を与える） we have had. I want that lead worked. Ferret this thing out to the 底（に届く）, 中尉／大尉／警部補. Get me something 限定された to go on. That's what I want you to do. Run the thing to earth, get at the facts, and find my child for me. I'll give you carte blanche up to a hundred thousand dollars. All I ask of you is to make good. Find the little girl, or else bring me 直面する to 直面する with that villain Henderson. Can you do it?"

O'Connor was strangely 利益／興味d in this story of treachery and mystery. He rose with 向こうずねing 注目する，もくろむs and held out his 手渡す. "I don't know, seh. but I'll try damned hard to do three things: find out what has become of the little girl, of Dave Henderson, and of the scoundrel who stole your baby because he thought the 地図／計画する was in the pocket."

"You mean that you don't think Dave--"

"That is 正確に／まさに what I mean. Your cook, Anderson, kidnapped the child, looks like to me. I saw that locket Collins 設立する. My guess was that the 示すs on the end of the chain were 深い teeth 示すs. The man that stole your baby tried first to 削減（する） the chain with his teeth so as to steal the chain. You see, he could not find the clasp in the dark. Then the child wakened and began to cry. He clapped a を引き渡す its mouth and carried the little girl out of the room. Then he heard somebody moving about, lost his 神経, and jumped on the horse that was waiting, saddled, at the door. He took the child along 簡単に because he had to ーするために get the chain and the secret he thought it held."

"Perhaps; but that does not 証明する it was not Dave."

"It's contributory 証拠, seh. Your friend could have slipped the chain from her neck any day, or he could have opened the locket and taken the 地図／計画する. No need for him to steal in at night. Do you happen to remember whether your little girl had any particular aversion to the cook?"

The cattleman's forehead frowned in thought. "I do remember, now, that she was afraid of him. She always ran 叫び声をあげるing to her mother when he tried to be friendly with her. He was a sour sort of fellow."

"That helps out the 事例／患者 a heap, for it shows that he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to make friends with her and she 辞退するd. He was thus 軍隊d to take the chain when she was asleep instead of playing with her till he had discovered the spring and could 簡単に take the 地図／計画する."

"But he didn't know anything about the 地図／計画する. He was not in our 信用／信任."

"You and your friend talked it over evenings when he was at the ranch, and other places, too, I 推定する／予想する."

"Yes, our talk 肉親，親類d of gravitated that way whenever we got together."

"井戸／弁護士席, this fellow overheard you. That's probable, at least."

"But you're ignoring the important fact. Dave disappeared too that night, with my little girl."

Bucky 削減（する） in はっきりと with a question. "Did he? How do you know he disappeared WITH her? Why not AFTER? That's the theory my mind is groping on just now."

"That's a blind 追跡する to me. Why AFTER? And what difference does it make?"

"All the difference in the world. If he left after the cook, you have been doing him an 不正 for fifteen years, seh."

Mackenzie leaned 今後, excitement 燃やすing in his 注目する，もくろむs. "証明する that, young man, and I'll thank you to the last day of my life. It's for my wife's sake more than my own I want my little girl 支援する. She jes' pines for her every day of her life. But for my friend--if you can give me 支援する the clean memory of Dave you'll have done a big thing for me, Mr. O'Connor."

"It's only a working theory, but this is what I'm getting at. You and Henderson had arranged to take an 早期に start on a two days' deer 追跡（する） next mo'ning. That's what you told me, isn't it?"

"We were to start about four. Yes, sir."

"井戸／弁護士席, let's suppose a 事例／患者. Along comes Dave before daybreak, when the first hooters were beginning to call. Just as he reaches your ranch he notices a horse slipping away in the 不明瞭. Perhaps he hears the little girl cry out. Anyhow, instead of turning in at the gate, he decides to follow. Probably he isn't sure there's anything wrong, but when he finds out how the horse he's after is 燃やすing the 勝利，勝つd his 疑惑s grow stronger. He settles 負かす／撃墜する to a long chase. In the 不明瞭, we'll say, he loses his man, but when it gets はしけ he 選ぶs up the 追跡する again. The 跡をつけるs lead south, across the line into Mexico. Still he keeps plodding on. The man in 前線 sees him behind and gets 脅すd because he can't shake him off. Very likely he thinks it is you on his 跡をつける. Anyhow, while the child is asleep he waits in 待ち伏せ／迎撃する, and when Henderson rides up he shoots him 負かす／撃墜する. Then he 押し進めるs on deeper into Chihuahua, and proceeds to lose himself there by changing his 指名する."

"You think he 殺人d Dave?" The cattleman got up and began to pace up and 負かす／撃墜する the 床に打ち倒す.

"I think it possible."

Webb Mackenzie's 直面する was pallid, but there was a new light of hope in it. "I believe you're 権利. God knows I hope so. That may sound a horrible thing to say of my best friend, but if it has got to be one or the other--if it is 確かな that my old bunkie （機の）カム to his death foully in Chihuahua while trying to save my baby, or is alive to-day, a skulking coward and villain--with all my heart I hope he is dead." He spoke with a 熱烈な intensity which showed how much he had cared for his 早期に friend, and how much the latter's 明らかな treachery had 削減（する） him. "I hope you'll never have a friend go 支援する on you, Mr. O'Connor, the one friend you would have banked on to a finish. Why, Dave Henderson saved my life from a bunch of Apaches once when it was dollars to doughnuts he would lose his own if he tried it. We were prospecting in the Galiuros together, and one mo'ning when he went 負かす／撃墜する to the creek to water the hawsses he sighted three of the red devils 辛勝する／優位ing up toward the cabin. There might have been fifty of them there for all he knew, and he had a （疑いを）晴らす run to the plains if he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 支援する one of the ponies and take it. Most any man would have saved his own 肌, but not Dave. He hoofed it 支援する to the cabin, under 解雇する／砲火／射撃 every foot of the way, and together we made it so hot for them that they finally gave up getting us. We were in the Texas 特別奇襲隊員s together, and pulled each other through a lot of の近くに places. And then at the end-- Why, it 傷つける me more than it did losing my own little girl."

Bucky nodded. Since he was a man and not a father, he could understand how the 傷つける would rankle year after year at the defalcation of his comrade.

"That's another kink we have got to unravel in this 絡まる. First off, there's your little girl, to find if she is still alive. Second, we must 位置を示す Dave Henderson or his 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な. Third, there's something 予定 the scoundrel who is 責任がある this. Fourthly, brethren, there's that 地図／計画する section to find. And lastly, we've got to find just how this story you've told me got mixed with the story of the ピストル強盗 of the 限られた／立憲的な. For it ce'tainly looks as if the two hang together. I take it that the thing to do is to run 負かす／撃墜する the ギャング（団） that held up the 限られた／立憲的な. Once we do that, we せねばならない find the 重要な to the mystery of your little girl's 見えなくなる. Or, at least, there is a chance we shall. And it's chances we've got to 賭事 on in this thing."

"Good enough. I like the way you go at this. Already I feel a heap better than I did."

"If the cards 落ちる our way you're going to get this thing settled once for all. I can't 約束 my news will be good news when I get it, but anything will be better than the 不確定 you've been in, I take it," said Bucky, rising from his 議長，司会を務める.

"You're 権利 there. But, wait a moment. Let's drink to your success."

"I'm not much of a sport," Bucky smiled. "Fact is, I never drink, seh."

"Of course. I remember, now. You're the good bad man of the West," Mackenzie answered amiably. "井戸／弁護士席, I drink to you. Here's good 追跡（する）ing, 中尉／大尉／警部補."

"Thank you."

"I suppose you'll get 権利 at this thing?"

"I've got to take that kid in the next room out to my ranch first. I won't stand for that knife 投げる人 making a slave of him."

"What's the 事柄 with me taking the boy out to the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める with me? My wife and I will see he's looked after till you return."

"That would be the best 計画（する）, if it won't trouble you too much. We'd better keep his どの辺に 静かな till this fellow Hardman is out of the country."

"Yes, though I hardly think he'd be fool enough to show up at the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める. If my vaqueros met up with him prowling around they might show him as warm a welcome as you did half an hour ago."

"A chapping would sure do him a heap of good," grinned Bucky, and so 解任するd the 支持する／優勝者 of the World from his mind.

CHAPTER 5. BUCKY ENTERTAINS

Bucky began at once to tap the 地下組織の wires his 公式の／役人 position made accessible to him. These ran over Southern Arizona, Sonora, and Chihuahua. All the places to which 犯罪のs or frontiersmen with money were wont to 訴える手段／行楽地 were 報告（する）／憶測d upon. For the 特別奇襲隊員's experience had taught him that since the men he 手配中の，お尋ね者 had money in their pockets to 燃やす gregarious impulse would 運動 them from the far silent places of the 砂漠 to the roulette and faro （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs where the wolf and the lamb disport themselves together.

The photograph from Webb Mackenzie of the cook Anderson reached him at Tucson the third day after his interview with that gentleman, at the same time that Collins dropped in on him to 問い合わせ what 進歩 he was making.

O'Connor told him of the Aravaipa episode, and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する to him the photograph he had just received.

"If we could discover the gent that sat for this photo it might help us. You don't by any chance know him, do you, Val?"

The 郡保安官 shook his 長，率いる. "Not in my rogues' gallery, Bucky."

The 特別奇襲隊員 again 診察するd the faded picture. A resemblance in it to somebody he had met recently haunted ばく然と his memory. As he looked the 不明確な／無期限の suggestion grew sharp and （疑いを）晴らす. It was a photograph of the showman who had called himself Hardman. All the trimmings were 欠如（する）ing, to be sure--the 猛烈な／残忍な mustache, the long hair, the buckskin trappings, 非，不，無 of them were here. But beyond a 疑問 it was the same shifty-注目する，もくろむd villain. Nor did it shake Bucky's 信用／信任 that Mackenzie had seen him and failed to 認める the man as his old cook. The fellow was 完全に disguised, but the camera had happened to catch that curious furtive ちらりと見ること of his. But for that O'Connor would never have known the two to be the same.

Bucky was at the telephone half an hour. In the middle of the next afternoon his reward （機の）カム in the form of a Western Union billet. It read:

"Eastern man says you don't want what is salable here."

The 中尉／大尉／警部補 削減（する） out every other word and 獲得するd the wheat of the message:

"Man you want is here."

The 電報電信 was 示すd from Epitaph, and for that town the 特別奇襲隊員 and the 郡保安官 entrained すぐに.

Bucky's 注目する，もくろむ searched in vain the 壇・綱領・公約 of the Epitaph 倉庫・駅 for Malloy, of the 特別奇襲隊員s, whose wire had brought him here. The 原因（となる） of the latter's absence was soon made （疑いを）晴らす to him in a 公式文書，認める he 設立する waiting for him at the hotel:

"The old man has just sent me out on hurry-up orders. Don't know when I'll get 支援する. 示唆する you take in the show at the オペラ house to-night to pass the time."

It was the last 宣告，判決 that caught Bucky's attention. Jim Malloy had not written it except for a 推論する／理由. Wherefore the 中尉／大尉／警部補 購入（する）d two tickets for the 業績／成果 far 支援する in the house. From the 地元の newspaper he gathered that the showman was henceforth to be a 居住（者） of Epitaph. Mr. Jay Hardman, or Signor Raffaello Cavellado, as he was known the world over by countless thousands whom he had entertained, had 購入（する）d a corral and livery stable at the corner of Main and Boothill Streets and solicited the patronage of the 国民s of Hualpai 郡. That was the 趣旨 of the 告示 which Bucky （犯罪の）一味d with a pencil and 手渡すd to his friend.

That evening Signor Raffaello Cavellado made a 広大な／多数の／重要な 攻撃する，衝突する with his audience. He swaggered through his 行為／法令／行動する magnificently, and held his 観客s breathless. Bucky took care to see that a 地位，任命する and the 郡保安官's big 団体／死体 obscured him from 見解（をとる） during the 業績／成果.

After it was over O'Connor and the 郡保安官 returned to the hotel, where also Hardman was for the 現在の staying, and sent word up to his room that one of the audience who had admired very much the artistic 業績／成果 would like the 楽しみ of drinking a glass of ワイン with Signor Cavellado if the latter would 好意 him with his company in room seven. The Signor was graciously pleased to 受託する, and followed his message of 受託 in person a few minutes later.

Bucky remained 静かに in the corner of the room 支援する of the door until the showman had entered, and while the latter was 会合 Collins he silently locked the door and pocketed the 重要な.

The 郡保安官 定評のある Hardman's condescension brusquely and without shaking 手渡すs. "Glad to 会合，会う you, seh. But you're mistaken in one thing. I'm not your host. This gentleman behind you is."

The man turned and saw Bucky, who was standing with his 支援する against the door, a bland smile on his 直面する.

"Yes, seh. I'm your host to-night. 郡保安官 Collins, hyer, is another guest. I'm glad to have the 楽しみ of entertaining you, Signor Raffaello Cavellado," Bucky 保証するd him, in his slow, gentle drawl, without 安心させるing him at all.

For the fellow was plainly disconcerted at 承認 of his host. He turned with a show of firmness to Collins. "If you're a 郡保安官, I 需要・要求する to have that door opened at once," he blustered.

Val put his 手渡すs in his pockets and tipped 支援する his 議長，司会を務める. "I ain't 郡保安官 of Hualpai 郡. My 裁判権 don't 延長する here," he said calmly.

"I'm an 非武装の man," pleaded Cavellado.

"Come to think of it, so am I."

"I reckon I'm 持つ／拘留するing all the エースs, Signor Cavellado," explained the 特別奇襲隊員 affably. "Or do you prefer in 私的な life to be 演説（する）／住所d as Hardman--or, say, Anderson?"

The showman moistened his lips and 申し込む／申し出d his tormentor a blanched 直面する.

"Anderson--a good plain 指名する. I wonder, now, why you changed it?" Bucky's innocent 注目する，もくろむs questioned him blandly as he drew from his pocket a little box and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd it on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. "Open that box for me, Mr. Anderson. Who knows? It might explain a heap of things to us."

With trembling fingers the big coward fumbled at the string. With all his fluent will he longed to resist, but the 説得力のある 注目する，もくろむs that met his so 刻々と were not to be resisted. Slowly he unwrapped the paper and took the lid from the little box, inside of which was coiled up a thin gold chain with locket pendant.

"Be seated," ordered Bucky 厳しく, and after the man had 設立する a 議長，司会を務める the 特別奇襲隊員 sat 負かす／撃墜する opposite him.

From its holster he drew a revolver and from a pocket his watch. He laid them on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する 味方する by 味方する and looked across at the white-lipped trembler whom he 直面するd.

"We had better understand each other, Mr. Anderson. I've come here to get from you the story of that chain, so far as you know it. If you don't care to tell it I shall have to mess this 床に打ち倒す up with your remains. Get one proposition into your cocoanut 権利 now. You don't get out of this room alive with your secret. It's up to you to choose."

やめる without 劇のs, as placidly as if he were discussing 鉄道／強行採決する rebates, the 特別奇襲隊員 配達するd his 最終提案. It seemed plain that he considered the 問題／発行する no 責任／義務 of his.

Anderson 星／主役にするd at him in silent horror, moistening his 乾燥した，日照りの lips with the tip of his tongue. Once his gaze 転換d to the 郡保安官 but 設立する small 慰安 there. Collins had 選ぶd up a newspaper and was 吸収するd in it.

"Are you going to let him kill me?" the man asked him hoarsely.

He looked up from his newspaper in 穏やかな 抗議する at such unreason. "Me? I ain't sittin' in this game. Seems like I について言及するd that already."

"Better not waste your time, signor, on 味方する 問題／発行するs," advised the man behind the gun. "For I plumb forgot to tell you I'm 許すing only three minutes to begin your story, half of which three has already slipped away to yesterday's seven thousand years. Without wantin' to hurry you, I 示唆する the 知恵 of a 誘発する 決定／判定勝ち（する）."

"Would he do it?" gasped the 犠牲者, with a last 控訴，上告 to Collins.

"Would he what? Oh, shoot you up. Cayn't tell till I see. If he says he will he's liable to. He always was that haidstrong."

"But--why--why--"

"Yes, it's sure a heap against the 法律, but then Bucky ain't a lawyer. I don't reckon he cares sour grapes for the 法律--as 法律. It's a 権利 利益／興味ing guess as to whether he will or won't."

"There's a heap of 事例／患者s the 法律 don't reach 誘発する. This is one of them," 与える／捧げるd the 特別奇襲隊員 cheerfully. He pocketed his watch and 選ぶd up the .45. "Any last message or anything of that sort, signor? I don't want to be unpleasant about this, you understand."

The whilom bad man's teeth chattered. "I'll tell you anything you want to know."

"Now, that's 権利 sensible. I hate to come into another man's house and clutter it up. Reel off your yarn."

"I don't know--what you want."

"I want the whole story of your kidnapping of the Mackenzie child, how （機の）カム you to do it, what happened to Dave Henderson, and 十分な directions where I may 位置を示す フランs Mackenzie. Begin at the beginning, and I'll 解雇する／砲火／射撃 questions at you when you don't make any point （疑いを）晴らす to me. Turn loose your yarn at me hot off the bat."

The man told his story sullenly. While he was on the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する-up as cook for the riders he had heard Mackenzie and Henderson discussing together the story of their adventure with the dying Spaniard and their hopes of riches from the 地雷 he had left them. From that night he had 始める，決める himself to discover the secret of its 場所, had listened at windows and at keyholes, and had once 迎撃するd a letter from one to the other. By chance he had discovered that the baby was carrying the secret in her locket, and he had 始める，決める himself to get it from her.

But his chance did not come. He could not make friends with her, and at last, in despair of finding a better 適切な時期, he had slipped into her room one night in the small hours to steal the chain. But it was 負傷させる 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her neck in such a way that he could not slip it over her 長，率いる. She had awakened while he was fumbling with the clasp and had begun to cry. 審理，公聴会 her mother moving about in the next room, he had あわてて carried the child with him, 機動力のある the horse waiting in the yard, and ridden away.

In the road he became aware, some time later, that he was 存在 追求するd. This gave him a dreadful fright, for, as Bucky had surmised, he thought his pursuer was Mackenzie. All night he 棒 southward wildly, but still his 信奉者 kept on his 追跡する till 近づく morning, when he eluded him. He crossed the 国境, but late that afternoon got another fright. For it was plain he was still 存在 followed. In the endless stretch of rolling hills he twice caught sight of a rider 選ぶing his way toward him. The heart of the 有罪の man was like water. He could not 直面する the 乱暴／暴力を加えるd father, nor was it possible to escape so dogged a 敵 by flight. An 代案／選択肢 示唆するd itself, and he 受託するd it with 沈むing courage. The child was asleep in his 武器 now, and he あわてて dismounted, picketed his horse, and stole 支援する a ４半期/4分の1 of a mile, so that the neighing of his bronco might not betray his presence. Then he lay 負かす／撃墜する in a dense mesquit thicket and waited for his 敵. It seemed an eternity till the man appeared at the 最高の，を越す of a rise fifty yards away. あわてて Anderson 解雇する／砲火／射撃d, and again. The man 倒れるd from his horse, dead before he struck the ground. But when the cook reached him he was horrified to see that the man he had killed was a member of the 田舎のs, or Mexican 国境 police. In his 有罪の terror he had 発射 the wrong man.

He fled at once, 追求するd by a thousand 恐れるs. Late the next night he reached a Chihuahua village, after having been lost for many hours. The child he still carried with him, 簡単に because he had not the heart to leave it to die in the 砂漠 alone. A few weeks later he married an American woman he met in Sonora. They 可決する・採択するd the child, but it died within the year of fever.

一方／合間, he was horrified to learn that Dave Henderson, に引き続いて hard on his 追跡する, had been 設立する bending over the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where the dead 兵士 lay, had been 逮捕（する）d by a 団体／死体 of 田舎のs, tried hurriedly, and 罪人／有罪を宣告するd to life 監禁，拘置. The 証拠 had been 純粋に circumstantial. The 弾丸 設立する in the dead 団体／死体 of the 州警察官，騎馬警官 was one that might have come from his ライフル銃／探して盗む, the バーレル／樽 of which was empty and had been recently 解雇する／砲火／射撃d. For the 残り／休憩（する）, he was a hated Americano, and, as a 事柄 of course, 有罪の. His 裁判官s took 苦痛s to see that no message from him reached his friends in the 明言する／公表するs before he was buried alive in the 刑務所，拘置所. In that horrible 穴を開ける an innocent man had been 限定するd for fifteen years, unless he had died during that time.

That, in 実体, was the story told by the showman, and Bucky's incisive questions were unable to shake any 部分 of it. As to the 行方不明の locket, the man explained that it had been broken off by 事故 and lost. When he discovered that only half the secret was 含む／封じ込めるd on the 地図／計画する section he had returned the paper to the locket and let the child continue to carry it. Some years after the death of the child, フランs, his wife had lost the locket with the 地図／計画する.

"And this chain and locket--when did you lose them?" 需要・要求するd Bucky はっきりと.

"It must have been about two months ago, 負かす／撃墜する at Nogales, that I sold it to a fellow. I was playing faro and losing. He gave me five dollars for it."

And to that he stuck stoutly, nor could he be shaken from it. Both O'Connor and the 郡保安官 believed he was lying, for they were 納得させるd that he was the 強盗 with the red wig who had covered the engineer while his companions robbed the train. But of this they had no proof. Nor did Bucky even について言及する his 疑惑 to Hardman, for it was his 意向 to turn him loose and have him watched. Thus, perhaps, he would be caught corresponding or fraternizing with some of the other 無法者s. Collins left the room before the showman, and when the latter （機の）カム from the hotel he followed him into the night.

一方／合間, Bucky went out and tapped another of his 地下組織の wires. This ran 直接／まっすぐに to the Mexican 領事 at Tucson, to whom Bucky had once done a 好意 of some importance, and from him to Sonora and Chihuahua. It led to musty old 公式の／役人 とじ込み／提出するs, to 記録，記録的な／記録するs already yellowed with age, to 法廷，裁判所 報告（する）／憶測s and 刑務所，拘置所 登録（する）s. In the end it flashed 支援する to Bucky 広大な／多数の／重要な news. Dave Henderson, 逮捕（する）d for the 殺人 of the 田舎のs policeman, was still serving time in a Mexican 刑務所，拘置所 for another man's 罪，犯罪. There in Chihuahua for fifteen years he had been lost to the world in that 地下組織の 穴を開ける, blotted out from life so effectually that few now remembered there had been such a person. It was horrible, 考えられない, but 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく true.

CHAPTER 6. BUCKY MAKES A DISCOVERY

For a week Bucky had been in the little 国境 town of Noches, called there by 脅しs of a race war between the whites and the Mexicans. Having put the quietus on this, he was returning to Epitaph by way of the Huachuca Mountains. There are still places in Arizona where 早い 輸送 can be 達成するd more expeditiously on the 支援する of a bronco than by means of the 鉄道／強行採決する, even when the latter is 利用できる. So now Bucky was taking a short 削減（する） across country instead of making the two train changes, with the consequent 必然的な 延期するs that would have been necessary to travel by rail.

He traveled at night and in the 早期に morning, to 避ける the heat of the midday sun, and it was in the evening of the second and last day that the skirts of happy chance led him to an adventure that was to 影響する／感情 his whole 未来 life. He knew a waterhole on the Del Oro, where cows were wont to たびたび（訪れる） even in the summer 干ばつ, and toward this he was making in the fag-end of the 蒸し暑い day. While still some hundred yards distant he 観察するd a spiral of smoke rising from a （軍の）野営地，陣営-解雇する／砲火／射撃 at the spring, and he at once made a more circumspect approach. For it might be any one of a 得点する／非難する／２０ of 国境 ruffians who 借りがあるd him a grudge and would be glad to 支払う／賃金 it in the silent 砂漠 that tells no tales and betrays no secrets to the inquisitive.

He flung the bridle-rein over his pony's neck and crept 今後 on foot, warily and noiselessly. While still some little way from the water-穴を開ける he was 逮捕（する）d by a sound that startled him. He could make out a raucous 発言する／表明する in 怒り／怒る and a pianissimo accompaniment of womanish sobs.

"You're 地雷 to do with as I like. I'm your uncle. I've raised you from a kid, and, by the 広大な／多数の／重要な mogul! you can't こそこそ動く off with the first good-for nothing scoundrel that makes 注目する，もくろむs at you. Thought you had slipped away from me, you white-直面するd, sniveling little idiot, but I'll show you who is master."

The 攻撃する of a whip rose and fell twice on quivering flesh before Bucky leaped into the fireglow and ひったくるd the riding-whip from the 手渡すs of the angry man who was plying it.

"Dare to touch a woman, would you?" cried the 特別奇襲隊員, swinging the whip vigorously across the 幅の広い shoulders of the man. "Take that--and that--and that, you brute!"

But when Bucky had finished with the fellow and flung him a limp, writhing 密談する／（身体を）寄せ集める of welts to the ground, three surprises を待つd him. The first was that it was not a woman he had 救助（する）d at all, but a boy, and, as the flickering firelight played on his 直面する, the 特別奇襲隊員 （機の）カム to an 予期しない 承認. The わずかな／ほっそりした lad 直面するing him was no other than Frank Hardman, whom he had left a few days before at the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める under the care of motherly Mrs. Mackenzie. The young man's 注目する，もくろむs went 支援する with instant 疑惑 to the fellow he had just punished, and his 疑惑s were 立証するd when the leaping light 明らかにする／漏らすd the 直面する of the showman Anderson.

Bucky laughed. "I ce'tainly seem to be 干渉するing in your 事件／事情／状勢s a good 取引，協定, Mr. Anderson. You may take my word for it that you was the last person in the world I 推定する／予想するd to 会合，会う here, unless it might be this boy. I left him 安全な at a ranch fifty miles from here, and I left you a staid 商売／仕事 man of Epitaph. But it seems neither of you stayed hitched. Why for this yearning to travel?"

"He 設立する me where I was staying. I was out riding alone on an errand for Mrs. Mackenzie when he met me and made me go with him. He has arranged to have me 会合，会う his wife in Mexico. The show wouldn't draw 井戸／弁護士席 without me. You know I do legerdemain," Frank explained, in his low, 甘い 発言する／表明する.

"So you had 計画（する）s of your own, Mr. Anderson. Now, that was 権利 ambitious of you. But I reckon I'll have to 干渉する with them again. Go through him, kid, and relieve him of any guns he happens to be garnished with. Might 同様に help yourself to his knives, too. He's so fond of letting them 飛行機で行く around promiscuous he might 傷つける himself. Good.

Now we can sit 負かす／撃墜する and have a friendly talk. Where did you say you was ーするつもりであるing to spend the next few weeks before I interrupted so unthinking and disarranged your 計画（する）s? I'm talking to you, Mr. Anderson."

"I was 長，率いるing for Sonora," the man whined.

What Bucky thought was: "権利 strange direction to be taking for Sonora. I'll bet my pile you were going up into the hills to 会合，会う some of Wolf Leroy's ギャング（団）. But why you were taking the kid along （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域s me, unless it was just cussedness." What he said was:

"Oh, you'll like Epitaph a heap better. I 許す you せねばならない stay at that old town. It's a real 利益／興味ing place. Finished in the adobe style and that sort of thing. The 刑務所，拘置所's real comfy, too."

"Would you like something to eat, sir?" presently asked Frank timidly.

"Would I? Why, I'm hungry enough to eat a leather mail-解雇（する）. Trot on your grub, young man, and watch my smoke."

Bucky did ample 司法（官） to the 挟むs and lemonade the lad 始める，決める in 前線 of him, but he ate with a 用心深い 注目する，もくろむ on a possible insurrection on the part of his 囚人.

"I'm a new man," he 発表するd briskly, when he had finished. "That veal loaf 挟む went sure to the 権利 位置／汚点／見つけ出す. If you had been a young lady instead of a boy you couldn't 直す／買収する，八百長をする things up more appetizing."

The lad's 直面する 紅潮／摘発するd with 当惑, 明らかに at the 特別奇襲隊員's compliment, and the latter, noticed how delicate the small 直面する was. It made an 直感的に, wistful 控訴，上告 for 保護, and Bucky felt an 半端物 little stirring at his tender Irish heart.

"Might think I was the kid's father to see what an 利益／興味 I take in him," the young man told himself reprovingly. "It's all tommyrot, too. A boy had せねばならない have more grit. I 推定する／予想する he needed that licking all 権利 I saved him from."

When Bucky had eaten, the （軍の）野営地，陣営 things were repacked for travel. Epitaph was only twenty-three miles away, and the 特別奇襲隊員 preferred to ride in the 冷静な／正味の of the night rather than sit up till daybreak with his 囚人. Besides, he could then catch the morning train from that town and save almost a day.

So hour after hour they plodded on, the 囚人 in 前線, O'Connor in the 中心, and Frank Hardman bringing up the 後部. It was an Arizona night of countless 星／主役にするs, with that peculiar soft, velvety atmosphere that belongs to no other land or time. In the distance the jagged, violet line of mountains rose in silhouette against a sky not many shades はしけ, while nearer the 冷静な／正味の moonlight flooded a land grown magical under its divine touch.

The 特別奇襲隊員 棒 with a limp 緩和する that made for 残り／休憩（する）, his 団体／死体 転換ing now and again in the saddle, so as to change the 負わせる and 避ける stiffness.

It must have been 井戸／弁護士席 past midnight that he caught the long breath of a sigh behind him. The 追跡する had broadened at that point, for they were now 負かす／撃墜する in the rolling plain, so that two could ride abreast in the road. Bucky fell 支援する and put a 同情的な 手渡す on the shoulder of the boy.

"Plumb fagged out, kid?" he asked.

"I am tired. Is it far?"

"About four miles. Stick it out, and we'll be there in no time."

"Yes, sir."

"Don't call me sir. Call me Bucky."

"Yes, sir."

Bucky laughed. "You're ce'tainly the queerest kid I've run up against. I guess you didn't 緊急発進する up in this rough-and-宙返り／暴落する West like I did. You're too soft for this country." He let his 会社／堅い brown fingers travel over the lad's curly hair and 負かす／撃墜する the smooth cheek. "There it is again. 縮むing away as if I was going to 傷つける you. I'll bet a 薄焼きパン／素焼陶器 you never licked the stuffing out of another fellow in your life."

"No, sir," murmured the 青年, and Bucky almost thought he （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd a little, chuckling laugh.

"井戸／弁護士席, you せねばならない be ashamed of it. When come 支援する from old Mexico I'm going to teach you how to put up your dukes. You're going to ride the 範囲 with me, son, and learn to stick to your saddle when the bronc and you 同意しないs. Oh, I'll bet all you need is training. I'll make a man out of you yet," the 特別奇襲隊員 保証するd his 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 cheerfully. "Will you?" （機の）カム the innocent reply, but Bucky for a moment had the sense of 存在 laughed at.

"Yes, I 'will you,' sissy," he retorted, without the least exasperation. "Don't think you know it all. 権利 now you're riding like a 木造の man. You want to take it 平易な in the saddle. There's about a dozen different positions you can take to 残り／休憩（する） yourself." And Bucky put him through a course of sprouts. "Don't sit there laughing at folks that knows a heap more than you ever will get in your noodle, and perhaps you won't be so done up at the end of a little jaunt like this," he 結論するd. And to his 結論 he presently 追加するd a postscript: "Why, I know kids your age can ride day and night for a week on the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する-up without 存在 all in. How old are you, son?"

"Eighteen."

"That's a 嘘（をつく）," retorted the 特別奇襲隊員, with 即座の frankness. "You're not a day over fifteen, I'll bet."

"I meant to say fifteen," meekly 訂正するd the 青年.

"That's another of them. You meant to say eighteen, but you 設立する I wouldn't swallow it. Now, Master Frank, you want to learn one thing 誘発する if you and I are to travel together. I can't stand a liar. You tell the truth, or I'll give you the best licking you ever had in your life."

"You're as bad a いじめ（る） as he is," the boy burst out, 紅潮／摘発するing 怒って.

"Oh, no, I'm not," （機の）カム the 特別奇襲隊員's 誘発する unmoved answer. "But just because you're such a weak little kid that I could break you in two isn't any 推論する／理由 why I should put up with any foolishness from you. I mean to see that you 行為／法令／行動する proper, the way an honest kid せねばならない do. Savvy?"

"I'd like to know who made you my master?" 需要・要求するd the boy hotly.

"You've ce'tainly been good and spoiled, but you needn't ride your high hawss with me. Here's the long and the short of it. To tell lies ain't square. If I ask you anything you don't want to answer tell me to go to hell, but don't 嘘（をつく） to me. If you do I'll punish you the same as if you were my brother, so long as you 追跡する with me. If you don't like it, 削減（する） loose and 攻撃する，衝突する the pike for yourself."

"I've a good mind to go."

Bucky waved a 手渡す easily into space. "That's all 権利, too, son. There's a heap of directions you can 攻撃する，衝突する from here. Take any one you like. But if I was as （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 as you are, I think I'd keep on the Epitaph road." He laughed his warm, friendly laugh, before the geniality of which discord seemed to melt, and again his arm went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the other's 疲れた／うんざりした shoulders with a caressing gesture that was infinitely 保護するing.

The boy laughed tremulously. "You're awfully good to me. I know I'm a cry-baby, sissy boy, but if you'll be 患者 with me I'll try to be gamer."

It certainly was strange the way Bucky's pulse quickened and his 血 tingled when he touched the little fellow and heard that velvet 発言する／表明する's soft murmur. Yes, it surely was strange, but perhaps the young Irishman's explanation was not the 訂正する one, after all. The 原因（となる） he 申し込む／申し出d to himself for this 半端物 joy and tender excitement was perfectly simple.

"I'm surely plumb locoed, or else gone soft in the haid," he told himself grimly.

But the 推論する／理由 for those queer little electric shocks that pulsed through him was probably a more elemental and primeval one than even madness.

Arrived at Epitaph, Bucky turned loose his 囚人 with a 警告を与える and made his 準備s to leave すぐに for Chihuahua. Collins had returned to Tucson, but was in touch with the 状況／情勢 and ready to 始める，決める out for any point where he was needed.

Bucky, having packed, was 直面するd with a difficulty. He looked at it, and 発言する／表明するd his perplexity.

"Now, what am I going to do with you, Curly Haid? I 推定する／予想する I had better ship you 支援する to the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める."

"I don't want to go 支援する there. He'll come out again and find me after you leave."

"Where do you want to go, then? If you were a girl I could put you in the convent school here," he 反映するd aloud.

Again that swift, 深い blush irradiated the 青年's cheeks. "Why can't I go with you?" he asked shyly.

The 特別奇襲隊員 laughed. "Mebbe you think I'm going on a picnic. Why, I'm starting out to knock the 半導体素子 off Old Man Trouble's shoulder. Like as not some greaser will collect Mr. Bucky's scalp 負かす／撃墜する in manyana land. No, sir, this doesn't 脅す to be a Y. P. S. C. E. excursion."

"If it is so dangerous as that, you will need help. I'm awful good at making up, and I can speak Spanish like a native."

"Sho! You don't want to go running your neck into a noose. It's a 刑務所，拘置所-break I'm planning, son. There may be guns a-popping before we get 支援する to God's country--if we ever do. 追加する to that, trouble and then some, for there's a 革命 scheduled for old Chihuahua just now, as your uncle happens to know from reliable （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）."

"Two can always work better than one. Try me, Bucky," pleaded the boy, the last word slipping out with a 追跡するing 上向き inflection that was irresistible.

"Sure you won't faint if we get in a tight pinch, Curly?" scoffed O'Connor, even though in his mind he was 審議ing a 降伏する. For he was extraordinarily taken with the lad, and his judgment 正当化するd what the boy had said.

"I shall not be afraid if you are with me."

"But I may not be with you. That's the trouble. Supposing I should be caught, what would you do?"

"Follow any orders you had given me before that time. If you had not given any, I would use my best judgment."

"I'll give them now," smiled Bucky. "If I'm lagged, make straight for Arizona and tell Webb Mackenzie or Val Collins."

"Then you will take me?" cried the boy 熱望して.

"Only on 条件 that you obey orders explicitly. I'm running this cutting-out 探検隊／遠征隊."

"I wouldn't think of disobeying."

"And I don't want you to tell me any lies."

"No."

Bucky's big brown 握りこぶし caught the little one and squeezed it. "Then it's a 取引，協定, kid. I only hope I'm doing 権利 to take you."

"Of course you are. 港／避難所't you 約束d to make a man of me?" And again Bucky caught that 公式文書，認める of stifled laughter in the 発言する／表明する, though the big brown 注目する，もくろむs met his やめる 本気で.

They took the train that night for El Paso, Bucky in the lower 寝台／地位 and his friend in the upper of section six of one of the 限られた／立憲的な's Pullman cars. The 特別奇襲隊員 was awake and up with the day. For a couple of hours he sat in the smoking section and discussed politics with a Chicago drummer. He knew that Frank was very tired, and he let him sleep till the diner was taken on at Lordsburg. Then he excused himself to the traveling man.

"I reckon I better go and wake up my pardner. I see the chuck-wagon is toddling along behind us."

Bucky drew aside the curtains and shook the boy gently by the shoulder. Frank's 注目する，もくろむs opened and looked at the 特別奇襲隊員 with that 欠如（する） of comprehension peculiar to one roused suddenly from 深い sleep.

"Time to get up, Curly. The nigger just gave the first call for the chuck-wagon."

An understanding of the 状況／情勢 炎上d over the boy's 直面する. He snatched the curtains from the Arizonian and gathered them tightly together. "I'll thank you not to be so familiar," he said すぐに from behind the の近くにd curtains.

"I beg your pahdon, your 王室の highness. I should have had myself 発表するd and craved an audience, I reckon," was Bucky's ironic retort; and 速く on the heels of it he 追加するd. "You make me tired, kid."

O'Connor was 運命にあるd to be "made tired" a good many times in the course of the next few days. In all the little personal intimacies Frank 所有するd a delicate fastidiousness outside the experience of the 特別奇襲隊員. He was a scrupulously clean man himself, and rather nice as to his personal habits, but it did not throw him into a 炎上 of 当惑 to 小衝突 his teeth before his fellow 乗客s. Nor did it send him into a fit if a friend happened to 減少（する） into his room while he was finishing his dressing. Bucky agreed with himself that this 超過 of shyness was foolishness, and that to indulge the boy was 単に to lay up 未来 trouble for him. A dozen times he was on the point of speaking his mind on the 支配する, but some unusual 質 of innocence in the lad tied his tongue.

"非難する it all, I'm getting to be a 正規の／正選手 old granny. What Master Frank needs is a first-class dressing-負かす／撃墜する, and here the little cuss has got me bluffed to a fare-you-井戸／弁護士席 so that I'm mum as a hooter on the nest," he 認める to himself ruefully. "Just when something comes up that needs a good 一連の会議、交渉／完成する damn I catch that big brown Sunday school 注目する，もくろむ of his, and it's Bucky 支援する to Webster's unabridged. I've got to やめる 追跡するing with him, or I'll be joining the church first thing I know. He makes me feel like I want to be good, confound the little 搾取する."

Notwithstanding the 特別奇襲隊員's 時折の moments of exasperation, the two got along swimmingly. Each of them 設立する a continued 楽しみ in delving into the other's unexplored mental 休会s. They drifted into one of those quick, spontaneous likings that are rare between man and man. Some subtle 質 of affection 泡d up like a spring in the hearts of each for the other. Young Hardman could perhaps have explained what lay at the roots of it, but O'Connor 認める that he was "buffaloed" when he 試みる／企てるd an 分析 of his unusual feeling.

From El Paso a leisurely run on the Mexican Central 太平洋の took them to Chihuahua, a quaint old city something about the size of El Paso. Both Bucky and his friend were familiar with the manners of the country, so that they felt at home の中で the 狭くする adobe streets, the lounging, good-natured peons, and the imitation Moorish architecture. They 設立する rooms at a 静かな, inconspicuous hotel, and began making their 計画（する）s for an 即座の 出発 in the event that they 後継するd in their 反対する.

At a distance it had seemed an 平易な thing to 計画（する） the escape of David Henderson and to 遂行する it by （手先の）技術, but a sight of the 激しい 石／投石する 塀で囲むs that encircled the 刑務所，拘置所 and of the 非常に／多数の 武装した guards who paced to and fro on the 塀で囲むs, put a more 冷気／寒がらせるing 面 on their chances.

"It isn't a very gay 見通し," Bucky 認める cheerfully to his companion, "but I 推定する／予想する we can pull it off somehow. If these Mexican 公式の／役人s weren't slower than molasses in January it might have been better to wait and have him 解放（する）d by 過程 of 法律 on account of Hardman's 自白. But it would take them two or three years to come to a 決定／判定勝ち（する）. They sure do hate to turn loose a gringo when they have got the hog-tie on him. Like as not they would decide against him at the last, then. Course I've got the 法律 機械／機構 grinding, too, but I'm not banking on it real 激しい. We'll get him out first any old way, then get the 政府 to O. K. the thing."

"How were you thinking of 訴訟／進行?"

"I 推定する／予想する it's time to let you in on the ground 床に打ち倒す, son. I reckon you happen to know that 負かす／撃墜する in these Spanish countries there's usually a 革命 ハッチング. There s two parties の中で the aristocrats, those for the 政府 and those ferninst. The 'ins' stand pat, but the 'outs' have always got a 革命 up their sleeves. Now, there's mostly a white man mixed up in the 事件／事情／状勢. They have to have him to run it and to shoot afterward when the 政府 勝利，勝つs. You see, somebody has to be 発射, and it's always so much to the good if they can line up gringoes instead of natives. Nine times out of ten it's an Irish-American lad that is 工学 the 計画／陰謀. This time it happens to be Mickey O'Halloran, an old friend of 地雷. I'm going to put it up to Mick to find a way."

"But it isn't any 事件／事情／状勢 of his. He won't do it, will he?"

"Oh, I thought I told you he was Irish."

"井戸／弁護士席?"

"And spoiling for trouble, of course. Is it likely he could keep his 握りこぶし out of the 蜂の巣 when there's such a gem of a chance to get stung?"

It had been Frank's suggestion that they choose rooms at a hotel which open into each other and also connect with an 隣接するing pair. The 推論する／理由 for this had not at first been 明らかな to the 特別奇襲隊員, but as soon as they were alone Frank explained.

"It is very likely that we shall be under 監視 after a day or two, 特に if we are seen around the 刑務所，拘置所 a good 取引，協定. 井戸／弁護士席, we'll slip out the 支援する way to-night, disguised in some other 装備する, come boldly in by the 前線 door, and rent the rooms next ours. Then we shall be able to go and come, either as ourselves or as our neighbors. It will give us a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 more liberty."

"Unless we should get caught. Then we would have a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 いっそう少なく. What's your notion of a 装備する-up to disguise us, kid?"

"We might have several, in 事例／患者 of 緊急s. For one thing, we could easily be street showmen. You can do fancy 狙撃 and I can do sleight-of-手渡す tricks or tell fortunes."

"You would be a gipsy lad?"

The youngster blushed. "A gipsy girl, and you might be my husband."

"I'm no play actor, even if you are," said Bucky. "I don't want to be your husband, thank you."

"All you would have to do is to be sullen and rough. It is 平易な enough."

"And you think you could pass for a girl? You're わずかな／ほっそりした and soft enough, but I'll bet you would give it away inside of an hour."

The boy laughed, and 発射 a swift ちらりと見ること at O'Connor under his long 攻撃するs. "I appeared as a girl in one of the 行為／法令／行動するs of the show for years. Nobody ever 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that I wasn't."

"We might try it, but we have no 着せる／賦与するs for the part."

"Leave that to me. I'll buy some to-day while you are looking the ground over for our first 強襲，強姦 an the impregnable 要塞."

"I don't know. It seems to me pretty risky. But you might buy the things, and we'll see how you look in them. Better not get all the things at the same 蓄える／店. Sort of scatter your 購入（する）s around."

They separated at the door of the hotel, Frank to choose the 構成要素s he needed, and O'Connor to look up O'Halloran and get a 許す to visit the 刑務所，拘置所 from the proper 当局. When the latter returned triumphantly with his 許す he 設立する the boy busy with a needle and thread and surrounded by a litter of dress-making 構成要素.

"I'm altering this to fit me and 直す／買収する，八百長をするing it up," he explained.

"宗教上の smoke! Who taught you to sew?" asked Bucky, in surprise.

"My aunt, Mrs. Hardman. I used to do all the plain sewing on my 衣装s. Did you see your friend and get your 許す?"

"You bet I did, and didn't. Mickey was out, but I left him a 公式文書，認める. The other thing I pulled off all 権利. I'm to be 許すd to visit the 刑務所，拘置所 and make a careful 査察 of it at my leisure There's nothing like a pull, son."

"Does the 許す say you are to be 許すd to steal any one of the 囚人s you take a fancy to? asked Frank, with a smile.

"No, it forgot to say that. When do you 推定する／予想する to have that toggery made?"

"A good 取引，協定 of it is already made, as you see. I'm just making a few changes. Do you want to try on your 控訴?"

"Is THIS 地雷?" asked the 特別奇襲隊員, 選ぶing up with smiling contempt the rather gaudy blouse that lay on a 議長，司会を務める.

"Yes, sir, that is yours. Go and put it on and we'll see how it fits."

Bucky returned a few minutes later in his gipsy uniform, with a deprecating grin.

"I'll have to stain your 直面する. Then you'll do very 井戸／弁護士席," said Frank, patting and pulling at the 着せる／賦与するs here and there. "It's a good fit, if I do say it that chose it. The first thing you want to do when you get out in it is to roll in the dust and get it 国／地域d. No respectable gipsy wears new 着せる／賦与するs. Better have a 涙／ほころび or two in it, too."

"You ce'tainly should have been a girl, the way you take to 着せる／賦与するs, Curly."

"Making up was my 商売／仕事 for a good many years, you know," returned the lad 静かに. "If you'll step into the other room for about fifteen minutes I'll show you how 井戸／弁護士席 I can do it."

It was a long half-hour later that Bucky 強くたたくd on the door between the rooms. "Pretty nearly ready, kid? Seems to me it is taking you a 雷鳴ing long time to get that outfit on."

"How long do you think it せねばならない take a lady to dress?"

"Ten minutes is long enough, and fifteen, say, if she is going to a dance. You've been thirty-five by my Waterbury."

"It's plain you never were married, Mr. Innocent. Why, a girl can't 直す／買収する，八百長をする her hair in いっそう少なく than half an hour."

"井戸／弁護士席, you got a wig there, ain't you? It doesn't take but about five seconds to stick that on. Hurry up, gringo! I'm clean through this old newspaper."

"Read the 宣伝s," （機の）カム saucily through the door.

"I've read the durned things twice."

"Learn them by heart," the 甘い 発言する／表明する advised.

"Oh, you go to Halifax!"

にもかかわらず, Mr. Bucky had to wait his comrade's 楽しみ. But when he got a 見通し of the result, it was so little what he had 推定する／予想するd that it left him 星／主役にするing in amazement, his jaw fallen and his 注目する，もくろむs incredulous.

The 見通し swept him a low 屈服する. "How do you like Bonita?" it 需要・要求するd gaily.

Bucky's 注目する，もくろむs circled the room, to make sure that the boy was not hidden somewhere, and （機の）カム 支援する to 残り／休憩（する） on his surprise with a look that was almost びっくり仰天. Was this vivid, dazzling creature the boy he had been patronizing, lecturing, 約束ing to thrash any time during the past four days? The thing was unbelievable, not yet to be credited by his jarred brain. How incredibly blind he had been! What an idiot of sorts! Why, the 示すs of sex sat on her beyond any 可能性 of 疑問. Every line of the わずかな／ほっそりした, lissom 人物／姿／数字, every curve of the soft, undulating 団体／死体, the sweep of 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd arm, of 次第に減少するing waist-line, of 井戸／弁護士席-turned ankle, 与える／捧げるd 証拠 of what it were folly to ask その上の proof. How could he have ever seen those lovely, soft-攻撃するd 注目する，もくろむs and the delicate little 手渡すs without 有罪の判決 coming home to him? And how could he have heard the low murmur of her 発言する／表明する, the catch of her sobs, without knowing that they were a 否定 of masculinity?

She was dressed like a Spanish dancing girl, in short kilts, red sash, and jaunty little cap placed sidewise on her 長，率いる. She wore a wig of 黒人／ボイコット hair, and her 直面する was stained to a dusky, gipsy hue. Over her thumb hung castanets and in her 手渡す was a tambourine. Roguishly she began to sway into a slow, rhythmic dance, （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing time with her 器具s as she moved. 徐々に the 速度(を上げる） quickened to a faster time. She swung gracefully to and fro with all the lithe agility of the race she personified. No part could have been better conceived or 遂行する／発効させるd. Even 肉体的に she 陳列する，発揮するd the large, brilliant 注目する，もくろむs, the ringleted, coal-黒人／ボイコット hair, the tawny 肌, and the flashing smile that showed small teeth of dazzling ivory, characteristic of the Romanies he had met. It was a daring part to play, but the young man watching realized that she had the 解放する／自由な grace to carry it out 首尾よく. She danced the fandango to a finish, swept him another low 屈服する, and 現在のd laughingly to him the tambourine for his 寄付. Then, suddenly flinging aside the 器具, she curtsied and caught at his 手渡す.

"Will the senor have his fortune told?"

Bucky drew a handful of change from his pocket and selected a gold eagle. "I suppose I must cross your palm with gold," he said, even while his subconscious mind was running on the new 複雑化 現在のd to him by this 発見.

He was very （疑いを）晴らす about one thing. He must not let her know that he knew her for a girl. To him she must still be a boy, or their relation would become impossible. She had 信用d in her 力／強力にする to keep her secret from him. On no other 条件 would she have come with him; of so much he was sure, even while his mind groped for a 十分な 推論する／理由 to account for an impulse that might have impelled her. If she 設立する out that he knew, the knowledge would certainly 運動 her at once from him. For he knew that not the least charm of the 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の fascination she had for him lay in her 甘い innocence of heart, a fresh innocence that consisted with this gay Romany abandon, and even with a mental experience of the sordid, seamy 味方する of life as 包括的な as that of many a woman twice her age. She had been defrauded out of her childish 相続物件 of innocence, but, somehow, even in her foul 環境 the seeds of a rare personal 潔白 had 断固としてやる sprung up and 繁栄するd. Some flowers are of such native freshness that no nauseous surroundings can kill their fragrance. And this was one of them.

一方／合間, her 発言する／表明する ran on with the patter of her （手先の）技術. There was the usual dark woman to be 回避するd and the light one to be rewarded. Jealousies and 競争s played their part in the nonsense she glibly recited, and somewhere in the 未来 lay, of course, 広大な／多数の／重要な riches and happiness for him.

With a queer little 強く引っ張る at his heart he watched the dainty finger that ran so lightly over his open palm, watched, too, the bent 長，率いる so gracefully 罰金 of 輪郭（を描く） and the 直面する so 動きやすい of 表現 when the 深い 注目する，もくろむs 解除するd to his in question of the correctness of her reading. He would 行方不明になる the little partner that had 負傷させる himself so tightly 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his heart. He wondered if he would find 補償するing joy in this exquisite creature whom a few moments had taken worlds distant from him.

Suddenly tiring of her 転換, she dropped his 手渡す. "You don't say I do it 井戸／弁護士席," she 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d, aware suspiciously, at last, of his 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な silence.

"You do it very 井戸／弁護士席 indeed. I didn't think you had it in you, kid. What's worrying me is that I can never live up to such a sure enough gipsy as you."

"All you have to do is to look sour and frown if anybody gets too familiar with me. You can do that, can't you?"

"You bet I can," he answered 敏速に, with unnecessary 強調.

"And look handsome," she teased.

"Oh, that will be 平易な for me--since you are going to make me up. As a simple child of nature I'm no ornament to the scenery, but art's a heap 改善するing いつかs."

She thought, but did not say, that art would go a long way before it could show anything more pleasing than this rider of the plains. It was not alone his 直面する, with the likable blue 注目する，もくろむs that could say so many things in a minute, but the gallant 緩和する of his 耐えるing. Such a springy lightness, such sinewy grace of undulating muscle, were rare even on the frontier. She had once heard Webb Mackenzie say of him that he could whip his 負わせる in wildcats, and it was 平易な of belief after seeing how surely he was master of the dynamic 力／強力にする in him. It is the 緊急 that 精査するs men, and she had seen him rise to several with a 準備完了 that showed the stuff in him.

That evening they slipped out unobserved in the dusk, and a few minutes later a young gipsy and his bride 現在のd themselves at the inn to be put up. The scowling young Romany was particular, considering that he spent most nights in the open, with a sky for a roof. So the master of the inn thought when he 拒絶するd on one pretense or another the first two rooms that were shown him. He 手配中の，お尋ね者 two rooms, and they must connect. Had the innkeeper such apartments? The innkeeper had, but he would very much like to see the price in 前進する if he was going to turn over to guests of such light baggage the best accommodations in the house. This 存在 satisfactorily arranged, the young gipsies were left to themselves in the room they had rented.

The first thing that the man did when they were alone was to roll a cigarette, which 操作／手術 he finished deftly with one 手渡す, while the other swept a match in a circular 動議 along his trousers 脚. In very fair English the Spanish gipsy said: "You ce'tainly せねばならない learn to smoke, kid. Honest, it's more 慰安 than a wife."

"How do you know, since you are not married?" she asked archly.

"I been noticing some of my poor unfortunate friends," he grinned.

CHAPTER 7. IN THE LAND OF REVOLUTIONS

The knock that sounded on the door was neither gentle nor apologetic. It sounded as if somebody had flung a baseball bat at it.

O'Connor smiled, remembering that soft tap of yore. "I reckon--" he was beginning, when the door opened to 収容する／認める a 訪問者.

This 証明するd to be a 抱擁する, red-haired Irishman, with a 直面する that served just now 単に as a setting for an irresistible smile. The owner of the 炎上ing 長，率いる looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する in surprise on the pair of Romanies and began an 即座の 陳謝 to which a sudden blush served as accompaniment.

"Beg 容赦. I didn't know The damned dago told me " He stopped in 混乱, with a 捨てる and a 屈服する to the lady.

"Sir, I 需要・要求する an explanation of this most unwarrantable 侵入占拠," spoke the 特別奇襲隊員 haughtily, in his best Spanish.

A patter of soft foreign vowels flowed from the stranger's 当惑.

"You durned old hawss-stealing greaser, cayn't you talk English?" drawled the gipsy, with a grin.

The other's mouth fell open with astonishment He 星／主役にするd at the わずかな／ほっそりした, dusky young Spaniard for an instant before he fell upon him and began to 続けざまに猛撃する his 団体／死体 with jovial 握りこぶしs.

"You would, would you, you old pie-eating 詐欺! Try to fool your Uncle Mick and make him think you a greaser, would you? I'll learn yez to play horse with a fullgrown, able-団体／死体d white man." He punctuated his points with short-arm 揺さぶるs that Bucky laughingly parried.

"Before ladies, Mick! 港／避難所't you forgot your manners, Red-haid?"

速く Mr. O'Halloran （機の）カム to 紅潮／摘発するd rigidity. "Madam, I must still be わびるing. The surprise of 会合 me friend went to me 長，率いる, I shouldn't wonder."

Bucky 二塁打d up with 明らかな mirth. "Get into the other room, Curly, and get your other togs on," he ordered. "Can't you see that Mick is going to 落ちる in love with you if he sees you a minute longer, you young rascal? 引き上げ（る）!"

"Don't you talk that way to a lady, Bucky," 警告するd O'Halloran, again blushing vividly, after she had disappeared into the next room. "And I want to let yez have it 権利 off the bat that if you've been 主要な that little Mexican senorita into trouble you've got a quarrel on with マイク O'Halloran."

"Keep your shirt on, old 解雇する／砲火／射撃-eater. Who told you I was wronging her any?"

"Are you married to her?"

"You bet I ain't. You see, Mick, that handsome lady you're going to lick the stuffing out of me about is only a plumb ornery sassy young boy, after all."

"No!" 否定するd Mick, his 注目する，もくろむs two excited 尋問-points. "You can't stuff me with any such fairy-tale, me lad."

"All 権利. Wait and see," 示唆するd the 特別奇襲隊員 easily. "Have a smoke while you're 落ちるing out of love."

"You young 四肢, I want you to tell me all about it this very minute, before I punch 穴を開けるs in yez."

Bucky lit his cigar, leaned 支援する, and began to tell the story of Frank Hardman and the knife-投げる人. Only one thing he omitted to tell, and that was the 有罪の判決 that had come home to him a few moments ago that his little comrade was no boy, but a woman. O'Halloran was a chivalrous Irishman, a daredevil of an adventurer, with a pure love of freedom that might very likely in the end bring him to 直面する a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of 負担d carbines with his 支援する to a 塀で囲む, but Bucky had his reticencies that even loyal friendship could not break 負かす／撃墜する. This girl's secret he meant to guard until such time as she chose of her own 解放する／自由な will to tell it.

Frank returned just as he finished the tale of the knife episode, and Mick's frank open 注目する，もくろむs （刑事）被告 him of idiocy for ever having supposed that this lad was a woman. Why, he was a little fellow not over fifteen--not a day past fifteen, he would 断言する to that. He was, to be sure, a slender, girlish young fellow, a good 取引，協定 of a sissy by the look of him, but 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく a sure enough boy. 納得させるd of this, the big Irishman 解任するd him 敏速に from his thoughts and 充てるd himself to Bucky.

"And what are yez doing 負かす／撃墜する in greaser land? Thought you was rustling cows for a living somewheres in sunburnt Arizona," he grinned amiably.

"Me? Oh, I （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する on 商売／仕事. We'll talk about that presently. How's your one-hawss 革命 getting along, Reddy? I hope it's 権利 peart and healthy."

O'Halloran's 注目する，もくろむs flashed a 警告, with the slightest nod in the world toward the boy.

"Don't worry about him. He's straight as a string and knows how to keep his mouth shut. You can tell him anything you would me." He turned to the boy sitting 静かに in an inconspicuous corner. "Mum's the word, Frank. You understand that, of course?"

The boy nodded. "I'll go into the next room, if you like."

"It isn't necessary. 解雇する／砲火／射撃 ahead, マイク."

The latter got up, tiptoed to each door in turn, flung it suddenly open to see that nobody was 秘かに調査するing behind it, and then turned the lock. "I have use for me 長，率いる for another year or two, and it's just 同様に to see that nobody is 秘かに調査するing. You understand, Bucky, that I'm 危険ing me life in telling you what I'm going to. If you have any 疑問s about this lad--" He stopped, keen 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on Frank.

"He's as 安全な as I am, マイク. Is it likely I would take any 危険s about a thing of that sort with my old bunkie's 堅い neck 招待するing the hangman?" asked O'Connor 静かに.

"Good enough. The kid looks stanch, and, anyhow, if you 保証（人） him that's enough for me." He 受託するd another of the 特別奇襲隊員's cigars, puffed it to a red glow, and leaned 支援する to smile at his friend. "Glory, but it's good to see ye, Bucky, me bye. You'll never know how a man's 注目する，もくろむs ache to see a straight-up white man in this land of greasers. It's the God's truth I'm telling ye when I say that I 港／避難所't had a scrimmage with me 手渡すs since I （機の）カム here. The only idea this forsaken country has of 交流ing compliments is with a knife in the dark." He shook his 炎上ing 長，率いる 残念に at the deplorably lost 条件 of a country where the shillalah was unknown as a social 会・原則.

"If I wasn't tied up with this Valdez bunch I'd get out to-morrow, and いつかs I have half a mind to pull out anyhow. If you've never been associated, me lad, with half a dozen most divilishly polite senors, each one of them watching the others out of the corner of his slant 注目する，もくろむs for 恐れる they are going to betray him or assassinate him first, you'll never know the joys of life in this 平和的な and contented land of indolence. Life's 負担d to the guards with 不確定s, so eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow you hang, or your friend will carve ye in the 支援する with a knife, me old priest used to say, or something like it. 'Tis 確かな he must have had in mind the Spanish-American, my son."

"Which is why you're here, you old 詐欺," smiled Bucky. "You've got to 不平（をいう）, of course, but you couldn't be dragged away while there's a chance of a 列／漕ぐ／騒動. Don't I know you of old, Reddy?"

"Anyway, here I am, with me neck so 近づく to the rope it 公正に／かなり aches いつかs. If you have any inclinations toward 自殺, I'll be glad to introduce ye to me 革命の friends."

"Thank you, no. The fact is that we have a little 私的な war of our own on 手渡す, マイク. I was thinking maybe you'd like to enlist, old filibuster."

"Is the 支払う／賃金 good?"

"Nothing a day and find yourself," answered Bucky 敏速に.

"No reasonable man could ask fairer than that," agreed O'Halloran, his grin 拡大するing. "井戸／弁護士席, then, what's the 列／漕ぐ／騒動? Would ye like to be 独裁者 of Chihuahua or Emperor of Mexico?"

"There's an American in the 政府 刑務所，拘置所 here under a life 宣告，判決. He is not 有罪の, and he has already served fifteen years."

"He is like to serve fifteen more, if he lives that long."

"Wrong guess. I mean to get him out."

"And I'm meaning to go to 楽園 some day, but will I?"

"You're going to help me get him out, マイク."

"Who told ye that, me 楽観的な young friend?"

"I didn't need to be told."

"井戸／弁護士席, I'll not 解除する a finger, Bucky--not a finger."

"I knew you wouldn't stand to see a man like Henderson rot in a dungeon. No Irishman would."

"You needn't blarney me. I'm too old a bird to be caught with chaff. It's a dirty shame, of course, about this man Henderson, but I'm not running the 犯罪の jurisprudence of Mexico meself."

"And I said to Webb Mackenzie: 'Mickey O'Halloran is the man to see; he'll know the best way to do it as nobody else would.' I knew I could depend on you."

"You've certainly kissed the blarney 石／投石する, Mr. O'Connor," returned the revolutionist dryly. "井戸／弁護士席, then, what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing much. Get Henderson out and help us to get 安全に from the country whose 評判 you 黒人／ボイコット-注目する，もくろむ so cheerfully."

"Mercy of Hiven! Bring me the moon and a handful of 星／主役にするs, says he, as 冷静な／正味の as you please."

The 特別奇襲隊員 told the story of Henderson and Mackenzie's lost child in such a way that it lost nothing in the telling. O'Halloran was moved. "'Tis a damned shame about this man Henderson," he blurted out.

Bucky leaned 支援する comfortably and waved airily his brown 手渡す. "It's up to you," his gay, impudent 注目する，もくろむs seemed to say.

"I don't say I won't be able to help you," 譲歩するd O'Halloran. "It happens, me bye, that you've dropped in on me just before the 禁止（する）d begins to play." He lowered his 発言する／表明する almost to a whisper. "There's a 出荷／船積み of pianos 存在 brought 負かす／撃墜する the line this week. The night after they arrive I'm looking for music."

"I see. The piano boxes are filled with ライフル銃／探して盗むs and 弾薬／武器. "

"You have a mind like a tack, Bucky. ライフル銃／探して盗むs is the 偽名，通称 of them pianos. They'll make merry music once we get them through."

"That's all very 井戸／弁護士席, but have you reckoned with the 政府 at Mexico? Chihuahua isn't the whole country, Mickey. Suppose 大統領 Diaz takes a 手渡す in the game and sends 軍隊／機動隊s in on you?"

"He won't," answered the other, with a wink. "He's been seen. The 大統領，／社長 isn't any too friendly to that old tyrant Megales, who is now 知事 here. There's an 選挙 next week. The man that gets most 投票（する）s will be elected, and I'm thinking, Bucky, that the man with most ライフル銃／探して盗むs will the most 投票（する）s. Now, says Diaz, in 影響, with an 公式の／役人 wave of his 手渡す, 'Settle your own 列／漕ぐ／騒動s, gintlemen. I don't give a damn whether Megales or Valdez is 知事 of Chihuahua, 支配する, of coorse, to the will of the people.' Then he winks at Valdez wid his off 注目する，もくろむ as much as to say: 'Go in an' 勝利，勝つ, me boy; me 祈りs are supporting ye. But be sure ye do nothing too 違法な.' So there ye are, Bucky. If ould Megales was to wake up 選挙 morning and find that the 投票ing-places was in our 手渡すs, his 兵士s 武装解除するd or bought over, and everything 与える／捧げるing 滑らかに to 表明する the will of the people in electing him to take a swift 引き上げ（る） out of Chihuahua, it is likely that he might 受託する the 必然的な as the will of 運命／宿命 and make a 戦略の 退却／保養地 to climes more healthy."

"And if in the 合間 he should discover those ライフル銃／探して盗むs, or one of those slant-注目する，もくろむd senors should turn out a Benedict Arnold, what then, my friend?"

"Don't talk in that cruel way. You make me neck ache in 予期," returned O'Halloran blithely.

"I think we'll not travel with you in public till after the 選挙, Mr. O'Halloran," 反映するd Bucky aloud.

"'Twould be just 同様に, me son. My friends won't be overpopular with Megales if the cards 落ちる his way."

"If you 勝利，勝つ, I suppose we may count Henderson as good as a 解放する／自由な man?"

"It would be a pity if me pull wouldn't do a little thing like that," scoffed the conspirator genially.

"But, 勝利，勝つ or lose, I may be able to help you. We need musicians to play those pianos we're bringing in. 井戸／弁護士席, the most dependable men we can 始める，決める to play some of them are the 囚人s in the 要塞. There's likely to be a 卸売 刑務所，拘置所 配達／演説／出産 the night before the 選挙. Now, it's just probable that the lads we 解放する／自由な will fight to keep their freedom. That's why we use them. They HAVE to be true to us because, if they don't, WHICHEVER SIDE WINS 支援する they go to 刑務所，拘置所."

"Of course. I wish I could take a 手渡す myself. But I can't, because I'm a 兵士 of a friendly 力／強力にする. We'll get Henderson out the night before the 選挙 and leave on the late train. You'll have to arrange the program in time for us to catch that train. "

O'Halloran looked drolly at him. "I'm liking your 神経, young man. I pull the chestnuts out of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 for yez and, likely enough, get 燃やすd. You walk off with your chestnut, and never a 'Thank ye' for poor Mickey the catspaw."

"It doesn't look like やめる a square 取引，協定, does it?" laughed the 特別奇襲隊員. "井戸／弁護士席, we might 変化させる the program a bit. Bucky O'Connor, Arizona 特別奇襲隊員, can't stop and take a 手渡す in such a game, but I don't know anything to 妨げる a young gipsy from Spain staying over a few days."

"If you stay, I shall," 発表するd the boy Frank.

"You'll do nothing of the 肉親，親類d, seh. You'll do just as I say, によれば the 協定 you made with me when I let you come," was Bucky's curt answer. "We're not playing this game to please you, Master Frank."

Yet though the 特別奇襲隊員 spoke curtly, though he still tried to 持つ／拘留する toward his comrade 正確に the same 態度 as he had before discovering her sex, he could not put into his words the same peremptory sting that, he had done before when he 設立する that occasionally necessary. For no 事柄 how 厳しく he must seem to 取引，協定 with her to 避ける her own 疑惑s as to what he knew, 同様に as to keep from 誘発するing those of others, his heart was telling a very different story all the time. He could see again the dainty grace with which she had danced for him, heard again that low 発言する／表明する breaking into a merry 麻薬を吸うing lilt, warmed once more to the living, elusive smile, at once so tender and mocking. He might 始める，決める his will to 保存する an even 前線 to her gay charm, but it was beyond him to 支配（する）／統制する the thrills that 発射 his pulses.

CHAPTER 8. FIRST BLOOD!

Occasionally Alice Mackenzie met Collins on the streets of Tucson. Once she saw him at the hotel where she was staying, 深い in a discussion with her father of ways and means of running 負かす／撃墜する the robbers of the 限られた／立憲的な. He did not, however, make the least 試みる／企てる to 押し進める their train acquaintanceship beyond the give and take of casual 迎える／歓迎するing. Without showing himself unfriendly, he gave her no 適切な時期 to 決定する how far they would go with each other. This rather piqued her, though she would probably have rebuffed him if he had 推定するd far. Of which probability Val Collins was very 井戸／弁護士席 aware.

They met one morning in 前線 of a 麻薬 蓄える／店 downtown. She carried a parasol that was lilac-trimmed, which shade was also the 優れた 公式文書，認める of her dress. She was looking her very best, and no 疑問 knew it. To Val her dainty freshness seemed to breathe the sweetness of spring violets.

"Good morning, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. 天候 like this I'm awful glad I ain't a mummy," he told her. "The world's mighty 十分な of beautiful things this glad day."

"Essay on the 評価 of Nature, by Professor Collins," she smiled.

"To be continued in our next," he 修正するd. "Won't you come in and have a sundae? You look as if you didn't know it, but the 残り／休憩（する） of us have discovered it's a 権利 warm morning."

Looking across the little （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at him over her sundae, she questioned him with innocent impudence. "I saw you and dad 深い in 計画（する）s Tuesday. I suppose by now you have all the train robbers 安全に tucked away in the 刑務所?"

"Not yet," he answered cheerfully.

"Not yet!" Her 解除するd eyebrows and the derisive flash beneath mocked politely his 信用／信任. "By this time I should think they might be 追跡（する）ing big game in deepest Africa."

"They might be, but they're not."

"What about that 投資 in futurities you made on the train? The month is more than half up. Do you see any chance of realizing?"

"It looks now as if I might be a 誤った prophet, but I feel way 負かす／撃墜する 深い that I won't. In this prophet's 商売／仕事 信用／信任 is half the 在庫／株 in 貿易（する）."

"Really. I'm very curious to know what it is you 予報するd. Was it something good?"

"Good for me," he nodded.

"Then I think you'll get it," she laughed. "I have noticed that it is the people that 推定する／予想する things--and then go out and take them--that 相続する the earth these days. The meek have been dispossessed."

"I'm glad I have your good wishes."

"I didn't say you had, but you'll get along just 同様に without them,'' she answered with a 冷静な／正味の little laugh as she rose.

"I'd like to discuss that proposition with you more at length. May I call on you some evening this week, 行方不明になる Mackenzie?"

There was a sparkle of hidden malice in her answer. "You're too late, Mr. Collins. We'll have to leave it undiscussed. I'm going to leave to-day for my uncle s ranch, the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める."

He was distinctly disappointed, though he took care not to show it. にもかかわらず, the town felt empty after her train had gone. He was glad when later in the day a message （機の）カム calling him to Epitaph. It took him at least seventy-five miles nearer her.

Before he had been an hour at Epitaph the 郡保安官 knew he had struck gold this time. Men were in town spending money lavishly, and at a rough description they answered to the ones he 手配中の，お尋ね者. Into the Gold Nugget Saloon that evening dropped Val Collins, big, blond, and jaunty. He looked far いっそう少なく the vigorous 郡保安官 out for 商売／仕事 than the gregarious cowpuncher on a search for amusement.

Del 強硬派s, an old-time friend of his 行う／開催する／段階ing days, pounced on him and dragged him to the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業, whence his ちらりと見ること fell genially on the roulette wheel and its 充てるs, wandered casually across the impassive poker and Mexican monte players, took in the enthroned musicians, who were industriously 殺人ing "La Paloma," and （機の）カム to 残り／休憩（する） for barely an instant at a distant faro （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. In the curly-haired good-looking young fellow 直面するing the 売買業者 he saw one of the men he had come 捜し出すing. Nor did he need to look for the 手渡す with the 行方不明の 誘発する／引き起こす finger to be sure it was York Neil--that same gay, merry-hearted York with whom he used to ride the 範囲, changed now to a miscreant who had elected to take the short 削減（する） to wealth.

But the man beside Neil, the dark-haired, pallid fellow from whose presence something at once formidable and 悪意のある and yet gallant seemed to breathe--the very sight of him 始める，決める the mind of Collins at work busily upon a wild guess. Surely here was a worthy 人物／姿／数字 upon whom to 始める，決める the 指名する and 評判 of the 悪名高い Wolf Leroy.

Yet the 郡保安官's 注目する，もくろむs 残り／休憩（する）d 不十分な an instant before they went traveling again, for he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to show as yet no special 利益／興味 in the 反対する of his 疑惑s. The 集会 was a motley one, picturesque in its 多様制. For here had drifted not only the 立ち往生させるd derelicts of a frontier civilization, but selected types of all the turbid elements that go to （不足などを）補う its success. Mexican, millionaire, and 鉱夫 小衝突d shoulders at the roulette-wheel. Chinaman and cow-puncher, Papago and plainsman, tourist and tailor, bucked the tiger 味方する by 味方する with a 僕主主義 設立する nowhere else in the world. The click of the wheel, the monotonous call of the croupier, the murmur of many 発言する／表明するs in 外国人 tongues, and the high-pitched jarring 公式文書，認める of boisterous laughter, were all 合併するd in a medley of 混乱 as picturesque as the scene itself.

"商売／仕事 not anyways slack at the Nugget," 投機・賭けるd Collins, to the bartender.

"No, I don't know as 'tis. Nearly always somethin' doing in little old Epitaph," answered the public quencher of かわきs, polishing the glass 最高の，を越す of the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 with a cloth.

"Playing with the lid off 支援する there, ain't they?" The 郡保安官's nod 示すd the distant faro-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

"That's 権利, I guess. Only blue 半導体素子s go."

"It's Wolf Leroy--that Mexican-looking fellow there," 強硬派s explained in a whisper. "A bad man with the gun, they say, too. 井戸／弁護士席, him and York Neil and Scott Dailey blew in last night from their 地雷, up at Saguache. Gave it out he was going to break the bank, Leroy did. 支援 that opinion usually comes high, but Leroy is about two thousand to the good, they say."

"Scott Dailey? Don't think I know him."

"That shorthorn in chaps and a yellow bandanna is the gentleman; him that's playing the wheel so constant. You don't 行方不明になる no world-beater when you don't know Scott. He's Leroy's Man Friday. Understand they've struck it rich. Anyway, they're hitting high places while the mazuma lasts."

"I can't seem to 位置を示す their 地雷. What's its brand?"

"The Dalriada. Some other guy is in with them; fellow by the 指名する of Hardman, if I recollect; just bought out a livery barn in town here."

"Queer thing, luck; strikes about as 予期しない as 雷. Have another, Del?"

"Don't care if I do, Val. It always makes me thirsty to see people I like. Anything new up Tucson way?"

The 禁止（する）d had fallen on "Manzanilla," and was rending it with variations when Collins circled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the wheel and began playing the red. He took a place beside the 屈服する-legged vaquero with the yellow bandanna knotted loosely 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his throat. For five minutes the cow-puncher …に出席するd 厳密に to his bets. Then he 悪口を言う／悪態d softly, and asked Collins to 交流 places with him.

"This place is my hoodoo. I can't 勝利，勝つ--" The 宣告，判決 died in the man's throat, became an inarticulate gurgle of 狼狽.

He had looked up and met the 安定した 注目する，もくろむs of the 郡保安官, and the surprise of it had driven the 血 from his heart. A revolver thrust into his 直面する could not have shaken him more than that serene smile.

Collins took him by the arm with a jovial laugh meant to cover their 退却／保養地, and led him into one of the curtained alcove rooms. As they entered he noticed out of the corner of his 注目する，もくろむ that Leroy and Neil were still 意図 on their game. Not for a moment, not even while the barkeeper was answering their call for アルコール飲料, did the 郡保安官 解放（する） Scott from the rigor of his 注目する，もくろむs, and when the attendant drew the curtain behind him the officer let his smile take on a new meaning.

"What did I tell you, Scott?"

"証明する it," 反抗するd Scott. "証明する it--you can't 証明する it."

"What can't I 証明する?"

"Why, that I was in that " Scott stopped 突然の, and watched the smile broaden on the strong 直面する opposite him. His dull brain had come to his 救助（する） 非，不，無 too soon.

"Now, ain't it funny how people's thoughts get to running on the same thing? Last time I met up with you there you was collecting a hundred dollars and keep-the-change cents from me, and now here you are spending it. It's ce'tinly curious how both of us are remembering that little seance in the Pullman car."

Scott took 避難 in a dogged silence. He was sweating 恐れる.

"Yes, sir. It comes up 権利 vivid before me. There was you a-trainin' your guns on me--"

"I wasn't," broke in Scott, 落ちるing into the 罠（にかける）.

"That's 権利. How come I to make such a mistake? Of cou'se you carried the 解雇（する） and York Neil held the guns."

The man 悪口を言う／悪態d 静かに, and relapsed into silence.

"Always buy your 着せる／賦与するs in pairs?"

The 郡保安官's 発言する／表明する showed only a pleasant 利益／興味, but the 無法者's 脅すd 注目する，もくろむs were puzzled at this sudden turn.

"Wearing a bandanna same color and pattern as you did the night of our jamboree on the 限られた／立憲的な, I see. That's mightily careless of you, ain't it?"

Instinctively a shaking 手渡す clutched at the kerchief. "It don't 削減（する） any ice because a 持つ／拘留する-up wears a mask made out of stuff like this "

"Did I say it was a mask he wore?" the gentle 発言する／表明する quizzed.

Scott, beads of perspiration on his forehead, 崩壊（する）d as to his 弁護. He fell 支援する sullenly to his first position: "You can't 証明する anything."

"Can't I?" The 郡保安官's smile went out like a 消すd candle. 注目する，もくろむs and mouth were 冷淡な and hard as chiseled marble. He leaned 今後 far across the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, a 確信して, 支配するing 保証／確信 painted on his 直面する. "Can't I? Don't you bank on that. I can 証明する all I need to, and your friends will 証明する the 残り／休憩（する）. They'll be 落ちるing all over themselves to tell what they know--and Mr.Dailey will be 持つ／拘留するing the 解雇（する） again, while Leroy and the 残り／休憩（する） are slipping out."

The 無法者 sprang to his feet, white to the lips.

"It's a damned 嘘（をつく）. Leroy would never--" He stopped, again just in time to bite 支援する the 自白 hovering on his lips. But he had told what Collins 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know.

The curtain parted, and a 人物／姿／数字 darkened the doorway--a slender, lithe 人物／姿／数字 that moved on springs. Out of its sardonic, devil-may-care 直面する gleamed malevolent 注目する，もくろむs which 残り／休憩（する）d for a moment on Dailey, before they （機の）カム home to the 郡保安官.

"And what is it Leroy would never do?" a gibing 発言する／表明する 需要・要求するd silkily.

Scott pulled himself together and tried to bluff, but at the look on his 長，指導者's 直面する the words died in his throat.

Collins did not 解除する a finger or move an eyelash, but with the first word a 用心深い alertness ran through him and starched his 人物／姿／数字 to rigidity. He gathered himself together for what might come.

"井戸／弁護士席, I am waiting. What it is Leroy would never do?" The 発言する／表明する carried a scoff with it, the 関わりあい／含蓄 that his very presence had stricken conspirators dumb.

Collins 申し込む／申し出d the explanation.

"Mr. Dailey was beginning a testimonial of your virtues just as you 権利 happily arrived in time to hear it. Perhaps he will now proceed."

But Dailey had never a word left. His 失敗s had been crying ones, and his 長，指導者's 脅迫的な look had 警告するd him what to 推定する／予想する. The courage oozed out of his heart, for he counted himself already a dead man.

"And who are you, my friend, that make so 解放する／自由な with Wolf Leroy's 指名する?" It was 半端物 how every word of the drawling 宣告，判決 contrived to carry a taunt and a 脅し with it, strange what a deadly menace the glittering 注目する，もくろむs 発射 前へ／外へ.

"My 指名する is Collins."

"郡保安官 of Pica 郡?"

"Yes."

The 注目する，もくろむs of the men met like rapiers, as 安定した and as searching as 冷淡な steel. Each of them was appraising the rare 質 of his 対抗者 in this duel to the death that was before him.

"What are you doing here? Ain't Pica 郡 your 範囲?"

"I've been discussing with your friend the late 持つ／拘留する-up on the Transcontinental 太平洋の."

"Ah!" Leroy knew that the 郡保安官 was serving notice on them of his 目的 to run 負かす／撃墜する the 強盗団の一味. 速く his mind swept up the factors of the 状況／情勢. Should he draw now and chance the result, or wait for a more 確かな ending? He decided to wait, moved by the consideration that even if he were 勝利を得た the lawyers were sure to draw out of the fat-brained Scott the 原因（となる） of the quarrel.

"井戸／弁護士席, that don't 利益／興味 me any, though I suppose you have to explain a heap how come they to 持つ／拘留する you up and take your gun. I'll leave you and your jelly-fish Scott to your gabfest. Then you better run 支援する home to Tucson. We don't go much on visiting 郡保安官s here." He turned on his heel with an insolent laugh, and left the 郡保安官 alone with Dailey.

The superb contempt of the man, his 準備完了 to give the 郡保安官 a chance to pump out of Dailey all he knew, served to 警告する Collins that his life was in 切迫した danger. On no hypothesis save one--that Leroy had already 非難するd them both to death in his mind--could he account for such rashness. And that the blow would 落ちる soon, before he had time to 会談する with other officers, was a corollary to the first proposition.

"He'll surely kill me on sight," Scott burst out.

"Yes, he'll kill you," agreed the 郡保安官, "unless you move first."

"Move how?"

"Against him. 保護する yourself by lining up with me. It's your only show on earth."

Dailey's 注目する，もくろむs flashed. "Then, by 雷鳴, I ain't taking it! I'm no coyote, to 一連の会議、交渉／完成する on my pardners."

"I give it to you straight. He means 殺人."

Perspiration 注ぐd from the man's 直面する. "I'll light out of the country."

The 郡保安官 shook his 長，率いる. "You'd never get away alive. Besides, I want you for 持つ／拘留するing up the 限られた／立憲的な. The safest place for you is in 刑務所，拘置所, and that's where I'm going to put you. 減少（する） that gun! Quick! That's 権利. Now, you and I are going out of this saloon by the 支援する door. I'm going to walk beside you, and we're going to laugh and talk as if we were the best of friends, but my 手渡す ain't 逸脱するing any from the end of my gun. Get that, amigo? All 権利. Then we'll take a little pasear."

As Collins and his 囚人 再現するd in the main ロビー of the Gold Nugget, a Mexican slipped out of the 支援する door of the 賭事ing-house. The 郡保安官 called 強硬派s aside.

"I want you to call a 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス for me, Del. Bring it 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the 支援する door, and arrange with the driver to whip up for the 倉庫・駅 as soon as we get in. We せねばならない catch that 12:20 up-train. When the 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス gets here just show up in the door. If you see Leroy or Neil hanging around the door, put your 手渡す up to your tie. If the coast is （疑いを）晴らす, just move off to the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 and order something."

"Sure," said 強硬派s, and was off at once, though just a thought unsteady from his たびたび（訪れる） libations.

Both 手渡すs of the big clock on the 塀で囲む pointed to twelve when 強硬派s appeared again in the doorway at the 後部 of the Gold Nugget. With a wink at Collins, he made straight for the cocktail he thought he needed.

"Now," said the 郡保安官, and すぐに he and Dailey passed through the 支援する door.

即時に two 発射s rang out. Collins lurched 今後 to the ground, 製図／抽選 his revolver as he fell. Scott, 新たな展開ing from his しっかり掴む, ran in a crouch toward the alley along the 影をつくる／尾行する of the buildings. 発射s spattered against the 塀で囲む as his pursuers gave chase. When the Gold Nugget vomited from its 後部 door a 急ぐ of humanity eager to see the trouble, the noise of their footsteps was already dying in the distance.

強硬派s 設立する his friend leaning against the 支援する of the 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス, his revolver smoking in his 手渡す.

"For God's sake, Val!" 叫び声をあげるd 強硬派s. "Did they get you?"

"穴をあけるd my 脚. That's all. But I 推定する／予想する they'll get Dailey."

"How come you to go out when I signaled you to stay?"

"Signaled me to stay, why--"

Collins stopped, unwilling to 非難する his friend. He knew now that 強硬派s, having mixed his drinks earlier in the evening, had mixed his signals later.

"Get me a horse, Del, and 一連の会議、交渉／完成する up two or three of the boys. I've got to get after those fellows. They are the ones that held up the 限られた／立憲的な last week. Find out for me what hotel they put up at here. I want their rooms searched. Send somebody 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the corrals, and let me know where they stabled their horses. If they left any papers or saddle-捕らえる、獲得するs, get them for me."

Fifteen minutes later Collins was in the saddle ready for the chase, and only waiting for his volunteer posse to join him. They were just starting when a 脅すd Chinaman ran into the plaza with the news that there had been 狙撃 just 支援する of his laundry on the 辛勝する／優位 of town and that a man had been killed.

When the 郡保安官 reached the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す, he lowered himself from the saddle and limped over to the 黒人／ボイコット 集まり 密談する／（身体を）寄せ集めるd against the 塀で囲む in the 有望な moonlight. He turned the riddled 団体／死体 over and looked 負かす／撃墜する into the 直面する of the dead man. I was that of the 無法者, Scott Dailey. That the 団体／死体 had been 完全に searched was evident, for all around him were scattered his 所持品. Here an old letter and a 解雇（する） of タバコ, its contents emptied on the ground; there his coat and vest, the linings of each of them ripped out and the pockets emptied. Even the boots and socks of the man had been 除去するd, so 徹底的な had been the search. Whatever the 殺害者s had been looking for it was not money, since his purse, still 公正に／かなり 井戸／弁護士席 lined with 米国紙幣s, was 設立する behind a cactus bush a few yards away.

"What in time were they after?" frowned Collins. "If it wasn't his money--and it sure wasn't--what was it? I ce'tainly would like to know what the Wolf 手配中の，お尋ね者 so 非難するd bad. Guess I'll not follow Mr. Leroy just now till my 脚 is in better 形態／調整. Maybe I had better 調査／捜査する a little bit 一連の会議、交渉／完成する town first."

The 団体／死体 was taken 支援する to the Gold Nugget and placed on a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, 未解決の the arrival of the undertaker. It chanced that Collins, looking absently over the （人が）群がる, glimpsed a gray felt hat that looked familiar by 推論する／理由 of a frayed silver 禁止（する）d 設立する it. Underneath the hat was a Mexican, and him the 郡保安官 ordered to step 今後.

"Where did you get that hat, Manuel?"

"My 指名する is Jose--Jose Archuleta," 訂正するd the olive-hued one.

"I ain't worrying about your 指名する, son. What I want to know is where you 設立する that hat."

"In the alley off the plaza, senor."

"All 権利. Chuck it up here."

"Muy bien, senor." And the dusty hat was passed from 手渡す to 手渡す till it reached the 郡保安官.

Collins ripped off the silver 禁止（する）d and tore out the sweat-pad. It was an off chance--one in a thousand--but 価値（がある） trying 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく. And a moment later he knew it was the chance that won. For sewed to the inside of the discolored sweat-pad was a little （土地などの）細長い一片 of silk. With his knife he carefully 除去するd the （土地などの）細長い一片, and 設立する between it and the leather a 倍のd fragment of paper closely covered with 令状ing. He carried this to the light, and made it out to be a memorandum of direction of some sort. Slowly he （一定の）期間d out the 貧しく written words:

From Y. N. took Unowhat. Went twenty yards strate for big 激しく揺する. Eight feet direckly west. Fifty yards in direcksion of suthern Antelope Peke. Then eighteen to nerest cotonwood. J. H. begins hear.

Collins read the scrawl twice before an inkling of its meaning （機の）カム home to him. Then in a flash his brain was lighted. It was a memorandum of the place where Dailey's 株 of the plunder was buried.

His confederates had known that he had it, and had 危険d 逮捕（する） to make a 徹底的な search for the paper. That they had not 設立する it was 予定 only to the fact that the 殺人d man had lost his hat as he scurried 負かす／撃墜する the streets before them.

The doctor, having arrived, 診察するd the 負傷させる and 示唆するd an anaesthetic. Collins laughed.

"I reckon not, doc. You 一連の会議、交渉／完成する up that lead pill and I'll 耐える the grief without ノックアウト 減少（する）s."

While the doctor was 調査（する）ing for the 弾丸 宿泊するd in his 脚, the 郡保安官 熟考する／考慮するd the memorandum 設立する in Dailey's hat. He 設立する it blind, disappointing work, for there was no 明確に 示すd starting-point. Bit by bit he took it:

From Y. N. took Unowhat.

This was （疑いを）晴らす enough, so far as it went. It could only mean that from York Neil the writer had taken the plunder to hide. But--WHERE did he take it? From what point? A starting-point must be 設立する somewhere, or the memorandum was of no use. Probably only Neil could 供給（する） the needed （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）, now that Dailey was dead.

Went twenty yards strate for big 激しく揺する. Eight feet direckly west. Fifty yards in direcksion of suthern Antelope Peke. Then eighteen to nerest cotonwood.

All this was plain enough, but the last 宣告，判決 was the puzzler.

J. H. begins hear.

Was J. H. a person? If so, what did he begin. If Dailey had buried his plunder, what had J. H. left to do?

But had he buried it? Collins smiled. It was not likely he had 手渡すd it over to anybody else to hide for him. And yet--

He clapped his 手渡す 負かす／撃墜する on his 膝. "By the jumping California frog, I've got it!" he told himself. "They hid the 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of what they got from the 限られた／立憲的な all together. Went out in a bunch to hide it. Blind-倍のd each other, and took turn about blinding up the 追跡する. No one of them can go get the 略奪する without the 残り／休憩（する）. When they want it, every one of these 覚え書き must be Johnny-その場で／直ちに before they can dig up the mazuma. No wonder Wolf Leroy searched so 徹底的な for this bit of paper. I'll bet a stack of blue 半導体素子s against Wolf's chance of heaven that he's the sorest train-robber 権利 this moment that ever 穴をあけるd a car-window."

Collins laughed softly, nor had the smile died out of his 注目する，もくろむs when 強硬派s （機の）カム into the room with （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） to the point. He had made a 一連の会議、交渉／完成する of the corrals, and discovered that the 無法者s' horses had been put up at Jay Hardman's place, a 宙返り／暴落する-負かす／撃墜する 料金d-駅／配置する on the 辛勝する／優位 of town.

"Jay didn't take kindly to my questions," 強硬派s explained, "but after a little 激しく揺する-me-to-sleep-mother talk I soothed him 負かす／撃墜する some, and 削減（する） the 追跡する of Wolf Leroy and his partners. The old man give me several 見本／標本s of langwidge unwashed and uncombed when I told him Wolf and York was 無法者s and train-robbers. Didn't believe a word of it, he said. 'Twas just like the fool officers to jump an innocent party. I told Jay to keep his shirt on--he could turn his wolf lose when they でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd up that he was in it. 井戸／弁護士席, sir! I plumb thought for a moment he was going to draw on me when I said that. Say he must be the fellow that's in on that 地雷, with Leroy and York Neil. He's a big, long-haired guy."

Collins' 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd to slits, as they always did when he was thinking intensely. Were their 疑惑s of the showman about to be 正当化するd? Did Jay Hardman's 利益／興味 in Leroy have its source 単に in their 存在 birds of a feather, or was there a more direct community of lawlessness between them? Was he a member of Wolf Leroy's murderous ギャング（団）? Three men had joined in the chase of Dailey, but the 跡をつけるs had told him that only two horses had galloped from the scene of the 殺人 into the night. The inference left to draw was that a 地元の 共犯者 had joined them in the chase of Scott, and had slipped 支援する home after the 行為 had been finished.

What more likely than that Hardman had been this 共犯者? 強硬派s said he was a big long-haired fellow. So was the man that had held up the engineer of the 限られた／立憲的な. He was--"J. H. begins hear." Like a flash the ill-written scrawl jumped to his sight. "J. H." was Jay Hardman. What luck!

The doctor finished his work, and Collins 実験（する）d his 脚 gingerly. "Del, I'm going over to have a little talk with the old man. Want to go along?"

"You bet I do, Val"--from Del 強硬派s.

"You mustn't walk on that 脚 for a week or two yet, Mr. Collins," the doctor explained, shaking his 長，率いる.

"That so, doctor? And it nothing but a nice clean flesh-負傷させる! Sho! I've a 取引，協定 more 信用／信任 in you than that. Ready, Del?"

"It's at your 危険 then, Mr. Collins."

"Sure." The 郡保安官 smiled. "I'm living at my own 危険, doctor. But I'd a heap rather be alive than daid, and take all the 危険 that's coming, too. But since you make a point of it, I'll do most of my walking on a bronco's 支援する."

They 設立する Mr. Hardman just 現れるing from the stable with a saddle-pony when they 棒 into the corral. At a word from Collins, 強硬派s took the 警戒 to の近くに the corral gate.

The fellow held a 用心深い position on the さらに先に 味方する of his horse, the while he ripped out a raucous string of 悪口雑言s.

"Real fluent, ain't he?" murmured 強硬派s, as he began to circle 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to 側面に位置する the enemy.

"Stay 権利 there, Del 強硬派s. Move, you redhaided son of a brand blotter, and I'll pump 穴を開けるs in you!" A ライフル銃／探して盗む leveled across the saddle 強調するd his 感情s.

"Plumb hospitable," grinned 強硬派s, coming 敏速に to a 停止（させる）.

Collins 棒 slowly 今後, his 手渡す on the butt of the revolver that still lay in its scabbard. The Winchester covered every step of his 進歩, but he neither 急いでd nor 滞るd, though he knew his life hung in the balance. If his steely blue 注目する，もくろむs had 解放（する）d for one moment the wolfish ones of the villain, if he had hesitated or hurried, he would have been 発射 through the 長，率いる.

But the 注目する，もくろむs of a 勇敢に立ち向かう man are the king of 武器s. Hardman's fingers itched at the 誘発する／引き起こす he had not the courage to pull. For such an unflawed 神経 he knew himself no match.

"Keep 支援する," he 叫び声をあげるd. "Damn it, another step and I'll 解雇する／砲火／射撃!"

But he did not 解雇する／砲火／射撃, though Collins 棒 up to him, dismounted, and threw the end of the ライフル銃／探して盗む carelessly from him.

"Don't be 無分別な, Hardman. I've come here to put you under 逮捕（する） for robbing the T. P. 限られた／立憲的な, and I'm going to do it."

The indolent, contemptuous drawl, so 解放する／自由な of even a suggestion of the 緊張する the 郡保安官 must have been under, 完全にするd his victory. The fellow lowered his ライフル銃／探して盗む with a peevish 誓い.

"You're barkin' up the wrong tree, Mr. Collins."

"I guess not," retorted the 郡保安官 easily. "Del, you better relieve Mr. Hardman of his ballast. He ain't really fit to be 信用d with a 武器, and him so excitable. That Winchester （機の）カム awful 近づく going off, friend. You don't want to be so careless when you're playing with 小火器. It's a habit that's liable to get you into trouble."

Collins had not shaved death so closely without feeling a reaction of boyish gaiety at his adventure. It 泡d up in his talk like effervescing soda.

"Now we'll go into a 委員会 of the whole, gentlemen, 延期，休会する to the stable, and have a little game of 'Button, button, who's got the button?' You first, Mr. Hardman. If you'll kindly shuck your coat and vest, we'll begin button-追跡（する）ing."

They diligently searched the miscreant without hiding anything 付随するing to "J. H. begins hear."

"He's bound to have it somewhere," asseverated Collins. "It don't stand to 推論する／理由 he was making his 逃亡 without that paper. We got to be more 徹底的な, Del."

強硬派s, under the direction of his friend, ripped up linings and tore away pockets from 着せる／賦与するing. The saddle on the bronco and the saddle-一面に覆う／毛布s were also torn to pieces in vain.

Finally 強硬派s scratched his 投票 and looked 負かす／撃墜する on the 難破. "I hate to 収容する／認める it, Val, but the old fox has got us （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域; it ain't on his person."

"Not unless he's got it under his 肌," agreed Collins, with a grin.

"Maybe he ate it. Think we better operate and find out?"

An idea 攻撃する，衝突する the 郡保安官. He walked up to Hardman and ordered him to open his mouth.

The jaws 始める，決める like a vise.

Collins poked his revolver against the の近くにd mouth. "断言する for us, old bird. Get a move on you."

The mouth opened, and Collins 挿入するd two fingers. When he withdrew them they brought a 始める，決める of 誤った teeth. Under the plate was a tiny rubber 捕らえる、獲得する that stuck to it. Inside the 捕らえる、獲得する was a paper. And on it was written four lines in Spanish. Those lines told what he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know. They, too, were part of a direction for finding hidden treasure.

The 郡保安官 wired at once to Bucky, in Chihuahua. Translated into plain English, his cipher 派遣（する） meant: "Come home at once. 追跡する getting red hot."

But Bucky did not come. As it happened, that young man had other fish to fry.

CHAPTER 9. "ADORE HAS ONLY ONE D."

After all, adventures are to the adventurous. In this prosaic twentieth century the Land of Romance still beckons to eager 注目する，もくろむs and gallant hearts. The rutted money-grabber may 否定する till he is a 神経-racked counting-machine, but 青年, even to the end of time, will laugh to 軽蔑（する） his 悲観論主義 and 投機・賭ける with elastic heel where danger and mystery 申し込む／申し出 their 疑わしい hazards.

So it was that Bucky and his little comrade 設立する nothing of dulness in the 使節団 to which they had 充てるd themselves. In their 仕事 of winning freedom for the American immured in the Chihuahua dungeon they already 設立する themselves in the heart of a web of intrigue, the 火刑／賭けるs of which were so high as to carry life and death with them in the balance. But for them the sun shone brightly. It was enough that they played the game and 株d the 危険s together. The jocund morning was in their hearts, and brought with it an augury of success based on nothing so humdrum or 有形の as 推論する／理由.

O'Connor carried with him to the grim 要塞 not only his 許す for an 査察, but also a 公式文書，認める from O'Halloran that was even more potent in 影響. For 陸軍大佐 Ferdinand Gabilonda, warden of the 刑務所，拘置所, had a shrewd 疑惑 that a 陰謀（を企てる） was under way to 倒す the 人気がない 行政 of Megales, and though he was an office-支えるもの／所有者 under the 現在の 政府 he had no 反対 to ingratiating himself with the 対立, 供給するing it could be done without 妥協ing himself 率直に. In other words, the warden was sitting on the 盗品故買者 waiting to see which way the cat would jump. If the 謀反のs 証明するd the stronger party, he meant to throw up his hat and shout "Viva Valdez." On the other 手渡す, if the 政府 party 鎮圧するd them he would show himself fussily active in に代わって of Megales. Just now he was 発揮するing all his 外交 to 持続する a pleasant 関係 with both. Since it was 完全に possible that the big Irishman O'Halloran might be the man on horseback within a very few days, the 陸軍大佐 was all suave words and honeyed smiles to his friend the 特別奇襲隊員.

Indeed he did him the unusual 栄誉（を受ける） of a 本人自身で 行為／行うd 査察. Gabilonda was a fat little man, with a soft, purring 発言する／表明する and a pompous manner. He 噴出するd with the courteous volubility of his nation, explaining with 広大な／多数の／重要な gusto this and that 詳細（に述べる） of the work. Bucky gave him outwardly a deferent ear, but his 警報 mind and 注目する，もくろむs were scanning the 囚人s they saw. The 特別奇襲隊員 was trying to find in one of these scowling, 反抗的な 直面するs some resemblance to the picture his mind had made of Henderson.

But Bucky looked in vain. If the man he 手配中の，お尋ね者 was の中で these he had changed beyond 承認. In the end he was 軍隊d to ask Gabilonda plainly if he would not take him to see David Henderson, as he knew a man in Arizona who was an old friend of his, and he would like to be able to tell him that he had seen his friend.

Henderson was breaking 石／投石する when O'Connor got his first glimpse of him. He continued to swing his 大打撃を与える listlessly, without looking up, when the door opened to let in the warden and his guests. But something in the 特別奇襲隊員's 安定した gaze drew his 注目する，もくろむs. They were dull 注目する，もくろむs, and sullen, but when he saw that Bucky was an American, the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 of 知能 flashed into them.

"May I speak to him?" asked O'Connor.

"It is against the 支配するs, senor, but if you will be 簡潔な／要約する--" The 陸軍大佐 shrugged, and turned his 支援する to them, in order not to see. It must be said for Gabilonda that his capacity for blinking what he did not think it judicious to see was enormous.

"You are David Henderson, are you not?" The 特別奇襲隊員 asked, in a low 発言する／表明する.

Surprise filtered into the dull 注目する，もくろむs. "That was my 指名する," the man answered 激しく. "I have a number now."

"I come from Webb Mackenzie to get you out of this," the 特別奇襲隊員 said.

The man's 注目する，もくろむs were no longer dull now, but 炎上ing with 憎悪. "悪口を言う／悪態 him, I'll take nothing from his 手渡すs. For fifteen years he has let me rot in hell without 解除するing a 手渡す for me."

"He thought you dead. It can all be explained. It was only last week that the mystery of your 見えなくなる was solved."

"Then why didn't he come himself? It was to save his little girl I got myself into this place. If I had been in his shoes I would have come if I'd had to はう on my 手渡すs and 膝s."

"He doesn't know yet you are here. I wrote him 簡単に that I knew where you were, and then I （機の）カム at once." Bucky ちらりと見ることd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する warily at the fat 陸軍大佐 gazing placidly out of the 閉めだした window. "I mean to 救助（する） you, and I knew if he were here his impulsiveness would 廃虚 everything."

"Do you mean it? For God's sake! don't 嘘（をつく） to me. If there's no hope for me, don't say there is." The 囚人's 発言する／表明する shook and his 手渡すs trembled. He was only the husk of the man he had been, but it did Bucky's heart good to see that the germ of life was still in him. 支援する in Arizona, on the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める Ranch, with the 解放する／自由な 勝利，勝つd of the plains （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing on his 直面する, he would 選ぶ up again the old 立ち往生させるs of his broken life, would again learn to love the lowing of cattle and the 早期に morning call of the hooter to his mate.

"I mean it. As sure as I stand here I'll get you out, or, if I don't, Webb Mackenzie will. We're calling the 事柄 to the attention of the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs 政府, but we are not going to wait till that time to 解放する／自由な you. Keep up your courage, man. It is only for a little time now."

涙／ほころびs leaped to the 囚人's 注目する，もくろむs. He had been a game man in the dead years that were past, 非，不，無 gamer in Texas, and he could still 直面する his jailers with an impassive 直面する; but this first kindly word from his native land in fifteen years to the man buried alive touched the fount of his emotions. He turned away and leaned against the grating of his 独房, his 長，率いる 残り／休憩（する）ing on his forearm. "My God! man, you don't know what it means to me. いつかs I think I shall go mad and rave. After all these years But I know you'll fail--It's too good to be true," he finished 静かに.

"I'll not fail, though I may be 延期するd. But I can't say more. Gabilonda is coming 支援する. Next time I see you it will be to take you out to freedom. Think of that always, and believe it."

Gabilonda 屈服するd urbanely. "If the senor has seen all he cares to of this department we will return to the office," he 示唆するd suavely.

"Certainly, 陸軍大佐. I can't 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる too much your 親切 in 許すing me to 熟考する／考慮する your system so carefully."

"Any friend of my friend the Senor O'Halloran is 心にいだくd 深く，強烈に in my heart," （機の）カム 支援する the smiling 陸軍大佐, with a wave of his plump, soft 手渡す.

"I am 栄誉（を受ける）d, sir, to receive such consideration at the 手渡すs of so distinguished a 兵士 as 陸軍大佐 Gabilonda," 屈服するd Bucky 厳粛に, in his turn, with the most flowery Spanish he could 召集（する）.

There was another half-hour of the 相互の 交流 of compliments before O'Connor could get away. Alphonse and Gaston were 公正に／かなり outdone, for the Arizonian, with a smile hidden 深い behind the solemnity of his blue 注目する，もくろむs, gave as good as he got. When he was at last 公正に／かなり in the safety of his own rooms he gave way to limp laughter while 述べるing to his little friend that most ceremonious parting.

"He 圧力（をかける）d me to his manly bay window, Curly, and 許すd he was plumb tickled to death to have met me. Says I, coming 支援する equal strong, 'twas the most glorious day of my life."

"Oh, I know YOU," answered young Hardman, with a smile.

"A friend of his friend O'Halloran--"

"Mr. O'Halloran was here while you were away. He seemed very anxious to see you; said he would call again in an hour. I think it must be important."

（機の）カム at that instant O'Halloran's ungentle knock, on the heels of which his red 長，率いる （機の）カム through the open door.

"You're the very lad I'm wanting to see, Bucky," he 発表するd, and followed this 宣言 by locking all the doors and beckoning him to the 中心 of the room.

"Is that 堅い neck of yours aching again, Reddy?" 問い合わせd his friend whimsically.

"It is that, me bye. There's the very divil to 支払う／賃金," he whispered.

"Cough it out, マイク."

"That tyrant Megales is の上に our game. Somebody's 漏れるd, or else he has a 秘かに調査する in our 会議s--as we have in his, the ould scoundrel."

"I see. Your 秘かに調査する has told you that his 秘かに調査する has 報告（する）／憶測d to him--"

"That the guns are to be brought in to-night. He has sent out a guard to bring them in 安全に to him. If he gets them, our game is up, me son, and you can bet your last nickle on that."

"If he gets them! Is there a chance for us?"

"Glory be! there is. You see, he doesn't know that we know what he has done. For that 推論する／理由 he sent out only a guard of forty men. If he sent more we would 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う what he was doing, ye see. That is the way the old fox 推論する／理由d. But forty--they were able to slip out of the city on last night's train in 非軍事の's 着せる／賦与するs and their 武器 in a couple of 棺s."

"Why didn't he send a couple of hundred men 率直に, and at the same time 逮捕（する） you all?"

"That doesn't 控訴 his 調書をとる／予約する at all. For one thing, he probably doesn't know all of us, and he doesn't want to 捕らえる、獲得する half of us and throw the 残り／休憩（する） into 即座の 反乱. It's his play not to 軍隊 the 問題／発行する until after the 選挙, Bucky. He 支配（する）／統制するs all the 選挙 機械／機構 and will have himself 宣言するd reelected, the old scamp, notwithstanding that he's the most 人気がない man in the 明言する／公表する. To precipitate trouble now would be just foolishness, he argues. So he'll just 逮捕（する） our 武器, and after the 選挙 give me and my friends 静かな hell. Nothing public, you know--just unfortunate 暗殺s that he will 悔いる exceedingly, me bye. But I have never yit been assassinated, and, on 原則, I 反対する to 存在 trated so. It's very destructive to a man's 未来 usefulness."

"And so?" laughed the 特別奇襲隊員.

"And so we've arranged to take a few lads up the line and have a train 持つ／拘留する-up. I'm the robber-in-長，指導者. Would ye like to be second in 命令（する） of the lawless ruffians, me son?"

Bucky met his twinkling 注目する，もくろむ gaily. "Mr. O'Connor is debarred from taking part in such an outrageous 事件／事情／状勢 by international etiquette, but he knows a gypsy lad would be 権利 glad to join, I reckon."

"いじめ（る） for him. If you'll kindly have him here I'll come around and collect him this evening at eight-thirty sharp."

"I hope you'll 供給する a pleasant entertainment for him."

"We'll do our best," grinned the revolutionist. "Music 供給するd by Megales' 割れ目 軍の 禁止（する）d. A lively and enjoyable occasion 保証（人）d to all who …に出席する. Your friend will 会合，会う some of the smartest officers in the 明言する／公表する. It 約束s to be a most sumptuous 事件／事情／状勢."

"Then my friend 受託するs with 楽しみ."

After the conspirator had gone, Frank spoke up. "You wouldn't go away with him and leave me here alone, would you?"

"I ce'tainly shouldn't take you with me, kid. I don't want my little friend all 発射 up by greasers."

"If you're going, I want to go, too. Supposing-- if anything were to happen to you, what could I do?"

"Leave the country by the next train. Those are the orders."

"You're always talking about a square 取引，協定. Do you think that is one? I might say that I don't want YOU 発射. You don't care anything about my feelings." The soft 発言する／表明する had a little break in it that Bucky loved.

He walked across to his partner, that rare, tender smile of his in his 注目する，もくろむs. "If I'm always talking about a square 取引，協定 I reckon I have got to give you one. Now, what would you think a square 取引，協定, Curly? Would it be square for me to let my friend O'Halloran stand all the 危険 of this and then me take the reward when Henderson has been 解放する／自由なd by him? Would that be your notion of the 権利 telling?"

"I didn't say that, though I don't see why you have to mix yourself up in his troubles. Why should you go out and kill these 兵士s that 港／避難所't 負傷させるd you?"

"I'm not going to kill any of them," he smiled "Besides, that isn't the way I look at it. This fellow Megales is a despot. He has made out to steal the liberty of the people from them. 大統領 Diaz can't 干渉する because the old rascal 知事 does everything with that smooth, oily way of his under cover of 法律. It's up to some of the people to put up a good strong kick for themselves. I ain't a bit sorry to give them the 貸付金 of my foot while they are doing it."

"Then can't I go, too? I don't want to be left alone here and you away fighting."

Bucky's 注目する，もくろむs gleamed. He dared an 実験 in an indifferent drawl. "Whyfor don't you want to stay alone, kid? Are you afraid for yourself or for me?"

His partner's cheeks were patched with roses. Shyly the long, 厚い 攻撃するs 解除するd and let the big brown 注目する，もくろむs 会合，会う his blue ones. "Maybe I'm afraid for both of us."

"Would you care if one of their pills happened along in the scrimmage and put me out of 商売／仕事? Honest, would you?"

"You 港／避難所't any 権利 to talk that way. It's cruel," was the reply that burst from the pretty lips, and he noticed that at his suggestion the roses had died from soft cheeks.

"井戸／弁護士席, I won't talk that way any more, little partner," he answered gaily, taking the small 手渡す in his. "For 推論する／理由s good. I'm 解雇する／砲火／射撃-proof. The Mexican 弾丸 hasn't been cast yet that can find Bucky O'Connor's heart."

"But you mustn't think that, either, and be 無謀な," was the next （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令. The shy laugh rang like music. "That's why I want to go along, to see that you behave yourself 適切に."

"Oh, I'll behave," he laughed; for the young man 設立する it very 平易な to be happy when those 甘い 注目する，もくろむs were showing 関心 for him. "I've got several good 推論する／理由s why I don't 目的（とする） to get bumped off just yet. Heaps of first-率 推論する／理由s. I'll tell you what some of them are one of these days," he dared to 追加する.

"You had better tell me now." The gaze that fell before his 安定した 注目する，もくろむs was both shy and eager.

"No, I reckon I'll wait, Curly," he answered, turning away with a long breath. "井戸／弁護士席, we better go out and get some grub, tortillas and frijoles, don't you think?"

"Just as you like." The lad's breath was coming a little 急速な／放蕩な. They had been on the 辛勝する／優位 of some moment of intimacy that Bucky's partner both longed for and dreaded. "But you have not told me yet whether I can go with you."

"You can't. I'm sorry. I'd like first-率 to take you, if you want to go, but I can't do it. I hate to disappoint you if you're 始める，決める on it, but I've got to, kid. Anything else you want I'll be glad to do."

He 追加するd this last because Frank looked so broken. hearted about it.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席." Swift as a flash （機の）カム the 需要・要求する: "Tell me these heaps of first-率 推論する／理由s you were について言及するing just now."

Under the sun-tan he 紅潮／摘発するd. "I reckon I'll have to make another exception, Curly. Those 推論する／理由s ain't 熟した yet for telling."

"Then if you are--if anything happens--I'll never know them. And you 約束d you would tell me--you, who pretend to hate a liar so," she scoffed.

"Would it do if I wrote those 推論する／理由s and left them in a 調印（する）d envelope? Then in 事例／患者 anything happened you could open it and 満足させる that 強健な curiosity of yours." He 認めるd that he had 罠にかける himself, and he was making the best 取引 left him.

"You may 令状 them, if you like. But I'm going to open the letter, anyway. The 推論する／理由s belong to me now. You 約束d."

"I'll make a new を取り引きする you, then," he smiled. "I'll take awful good care of myself to-night if you'll 約束 not to open the envelope for two weeks unless--井戸／弁護士席, unless that something happens that we ain't 推定する／予想するing."

"Call it a week, and it's a 取引."

"Better say when we're 支援する across the line again. That may be inside of three days, if everything goes 井戸／弁護士席," he threw in as a bait.

"Done. I'm to open the letter when we cross the line into Texas."

Bucky shook the little 手渡す that was 申し込む／申し出d him and wished mightily that he had the 権利 to celebrate with more 熱烈な demonstrations.

That afternoon the 特別奇襲隊員 wrote with a good 取引，協定 of labor the letter he had 約束d. It appeared to be a difficult thing for him to 配達する himself even on paper of those good and 十分な 推論する／理由s. He made and destroyed no いっそう少なく than half a dozen 開始s before at last he was 公正に／かなり off. 一方／合間, Master Frank, busy over some alterations in Bucky's gypsy 控訴, took 楽しみ in deriding with that 甘い 発言する／表明する the 悩ますd 特派員.

"It might be a love letter from the 苦痛s you take with it. Would you like me to come and help you with it?" the 下水管 railed merrily.

"I ain't used to letter 令状ing much," わびるd the scribe, wiping his bedewed brow, which had suddenly gone a shade more 紅潮／摘発するd.

"明らかに not. I 推定する／予想する, from the time you give it, the result will be a literary classic."

"Don't you 乱す me, Curly, or I'll never get done," implored the 拷問d 特別奇襲隊員.

"You're doing 井戸／弁護士席. You've only been an hour and a half on six lines," the tormentor mocked.

Womanlike, she was やめる at her 緩和する, since he was very far indeed from 存在 at his. Yet she had a problem of her own she was trying to decide.

Had he discovered, after all, that she was not a boy, and had his 推論する／理由s--the ones he was trying to tell in that 乱すing letter--anything to do with that 発見? Such a theory accounted for several things she had noticed in him of late. There was an 追加するd 尊敬（する）・点 in his manner for her. He never now 侵略するd the room 認めるd as hers without a 明確な／細部 招待, nor did he seem any longer to chafe at the little personal 示すs of fastidiousness that had at first appeared to annoy him. To be sure, he ordered her about, just as he had been in the habit of doing at first. But it was 考えられる that this might be a generous blind to cover up his knowledge of her sex.

"How do you （一定の）期間 guessed--one s or two?" he presently asked, out of the throes of composition.

She （一定の）期間d it, and 追加するd demurely: "Adore has only one d"

Bucky laid 負かす／撃墜する his pen and pretended to glare at him. "You young rascal, what do you mean by bothering me like that? 行為／法令／行動する like that, you young imp, and you'll never grow up to be a gentleman."

Their ちらりと見ることs caught and held, the minds of each of them busy over that last 予測 of his. For one long instant masks were off and both were trying to find an answer to a question in the 注目する，もくろむs opposite. Then 任意に each gaze 解放（する）d the other in a 混乱 of 甘い shame. For the （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing of a 攻撃する, soul had looked into naked soul, all disguise stripped from them. She knew that he knew. Yet in that instant when his secret was surprised from him another secret, sweeter than the morning song of birds, sang its way into both their hearts.

CHAPTER 10. THE HOLD-UP OF THE M. C. P. FLYER

Agua Negra is twelve miles from Chihuahua as the crow 飛行機で行くs, but if one goes by rail one 新たな展開s 一連の会議、交渉／完成する thirty sinuous miles of rough 山地の country in the 降下／家系 from the pass to the 資本／首都 of the 明言する／公表する. The ten men who slipped singly or by twos out of the city in the 不明瞭 that evening and met at the rendezvous of the Santa Dolorosa 使節団 did not travel by rail to the pass, but followed a horseback 追跡する which was not more than half the distance.

At the 使節団 O'Halloran and his friend 設立する gathered half a dozen Mexicans, one or two of them 堅い old 選挙運動者s, the 残り／休憩（する） young fellows eager for the excitement of their first active service.

"Is Juan Valdez here yet?" asked O'Halloran, peering around in the gloom.

"Not yet; nor Manuel Garcia," answered a young fellow.

Bucky was introduced to those 現在の under the 指名する of Alessandro Perdoza, and presently also to the two 行方不明の members of the party who arrived together a few moments later. Juan Valdez was the son of the 候補者 who was …に反対するing the reelection of Megales, and Manuel Garcia was his bosom friend, and the young man to whom his sister was engaged. They were both excellent types of the honorable aristocratic young Mexican. They were lightly built, swarthy your men, 所有するd of that perfect grace and 儀礼 which can be 設立する at its best in the Spanish races. Gay, handsome young cavaliers as they were, filled with the pride of family, Bucky thought them almost ideal companions for such a harebrained adventure as this. The 特別奇襲隊員 was a social 民主主義者 to the 骨髄. He had breathed in with the 南西 微風s the 有罪の判決 that every man must stand on his own 底（に届く）, 関わりなく adventitious circumstance, but he was not fool enough to think all men equal. It had been his experience that some men, by grace of the strength in them, were born to be masters and others by their 証拠不十分 to be servants. He knew that the best any civilization can 申し込む／申し出 a man is a chance. Given that, it is up to every man to find his own niche.

But though he had no sense of deference to what is known as good 血, Bucky had too much horse sense to resent the careless, half-indifferent 迎える／歓迎するing which these two young sprouts of aristocracy bestowed on the 残り／休憩（する） of the party. He understood that it was the natural 製品 of their education and of that of the others.

"Are we all here?" asked Garcia.

"All here," returned O'Halloran briskly. "Rodrigo will guide the party. I ride next with Senor Garcia. Perdoza and Senor Valdez will bring up the 後部. 今後, gentlemen, and may the 宗教上の Virgin bring a happy termination to our adventure." He spoke in Mexican, as they all did, though for the next two hours conversation was 大部分は 一時停止するd, 借りがあるing to the difficulty of the precipitous 追跡する they were に引き続いて.

Coming to a bit of the road where they were able to ride two abreast, O'Connor made comment on the smallness of their number. "O'Halloran must have a good 取引，協定 of 信用／信任 in his men. Forty to ten is rather 激しい 半端物s, is it not, senor?"

"There are six more to join us at the pass. The wagons have gone 一連の会議、交渉／完成する by the road and the drivers will 補助装置 in the attack."

"Of course it is all in the surprise. I have seen three men 停止する a train with five hundred people on it. Once I knew a ギャング（団） to stick up a treasure train with three ひどく 武装した guards 保護するing the gold. They got them 権利, with the 減少（する） on them, and it was good-by to the mazuma."

"Yes, if they have had any 警告 or if our 計画（する）s slip a cog anywhere we shall be 撃退するd to a certainty."

By the light of a moon struggling out from behind rolling clouds Bucky read eleven-thirty on his watch when the party reached Agua Negra. It was still thirty minutes before the Flyer was 予定, and O'Halloran 性質の／したい気がして his 軍隊s with explicit directions as to the course to be followed by each 詳細（に述べる）. Very 速く he sketched his orders as to the 現在の disposition of the wagons and the groups of 攻撃者s. When the train slowed 負かす／撃墜する to 除去する the 障害s they placed on the 跡をつける, Garcia and another young man were to 命令（する） parties covering the train from both 味方するs, while Rodrigo and one of the drivers were to cover the engineer and the 消防士.

O'Halloran himself, with Bucky and young Valdez, 棒 速く in the direction of the approaching train. At Concho the engine would take on water for the last stiff climb of the ascent, and here he meant to board the train unnoticed, just as it was pulling out, ーするために 強調する the surprise at the proper moment and （判決などを）下す 抵抗 useless. If the 州警察官，騎馬警官s were all together in the car next the one with the boxes of ライフル銃／探して盗むs, he calculated that they might perhaps be taken unawares so はっきりと as to （判決などを）下す 流血／虐殺 unnecessary.

Concho was two miles from the 首脳会議, and when the three men galloped 負かす／撃墜する to the little 駅／配置する the headlight of the approaching engine was already 明白な. They tied their horses in the mesquit and lurked in the 厚い 小衝突 until the engine had taken water and the signal for the start was given Then O'Halloran and Bucky slipped across in the 不明瞭 to the train and swung themselves to the 壇・綱領・公約 of the last car. To Valdez, very much against his will, had fallen the 仕事 of taking the horses 支援する to Agua Negra Since the 跡をつける 負傷させる 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 味方する of the mountain in such a way as to cover five miles in making the 首脳会議 from Concho, the young Mexican had ample time to get 支援する to the scene of 活動／戦闘 before the train arrived.

The big Irishman and Bucky 残り／休憩（する）d 静かに in the 影をつくる／尾行するs of the 支援する 壇・綱領・公約 for some time. Then they entered the last car, passed through it, and on to the next. In the sleeper they met the conductor, but O'Halloran 静かに paid their fares and passed 今後. As they had hoped, the whole 詳細（に述べる） of forty men were in a special car next to the one 含む／封じ込めるing the 武器 consigned to Michael O'Halloran, importer of pianos.

中尉／大尉／警部補 Chaves, in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 詳細（に述べる） sent out to see that the ライフル銃／探して盗むs reached 知事 Megales instead of the men who had paid for them, was finding his assignment exceedingly uninteresting. There was at Chihuahua a 確かな 黒人／ボイコット-注目する，もくろむd dona with whom he had 推定する／予想するd to enjoy a pleasant evening's flirtation. It was confounded luck that it had fallen to him to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 護衛する for the guns. He had 耐えるd in consequence an unpleasant day of dusty travel and many hours of 退屈 through the evening. Now he was cross and sleepy, which latter might also be said of the 兵士s in general.

He was connected with a 確かな Arizona outfit which of late had been making money very 速く. If one more クーデター like the last could be pulled off 安全に by his friend Wolf Leroy he would 辞職する from the army and settle 負かす／撃墜する. It would then no longer be necessary to bore himself with such 詳細（に述べる）s as this.

There was, of course, no necessity for alertness in his 現在の assignment. The 対立 was scarcely mad enough to 試みる／企てる taking the guns from forty 武装した men. Chaves devoutly hoped they would, in order that he might get a little glory, at least, out of the 事件／事情／状勢. But of course such an 期待 would be ridiculous. No, the 旅行 would continue to be humdrum to the end, he was wearily 保証するd of that, and その結果 試みる／企てるd to steal a half hour's sleep while propped against a window with his feet in the seat opposite.

The gallant 中尉／大尉／警部補 was awakened by a 停止 of the drumming of the wheels. 開始 his 注目する，もくろむs, he saw that the train was no longer in 動議. He also saw--and his consciousness of that fact was much more 激烈な／緊急の--the 縁 of a revolver about six インチs from his forehead. Behind the revolver was a man, a young Spanish gypsy, and he was 申し込む／申し出ing the officer very good advice.

"Don't move, sir. No 原因（となる） for 存在 uneasy. Just sit 静かな and everything will be serene. No, I wouldn't reach for that revolver, if I were you."

Chaves cast a hurried 注目する，もくろむ 負かす／撃墜する the car, and at the end of it beheld the 抱擁する Irishman, O'Halloran, 支配するing the 状況／情勢 with a pair of revolvers. Chaves' lambs were 範囲d on either 味方する of the car, their 手渡すs in the 空気／公表する. 支援する （機の）カム the 中尉／大尉／警部補's gaze to the impassive 直面する in 前線 of him. Taken by and large, it did not seem an auspicious moment for 獲得するing glory. He decided to take the advice bestowed on him.

"Better put your 手渡すs up and 投票（する） with your men. Then you won't be tempted to play with your gun and commit 自殺. That's 権利, sir. I'll relieve you of it if you don't 反対する."

Since the 中尉／大尉／警部補 had no 反対s to 申し込む／申し出, the smiling gypsy 所有するd himself of the revolver. At the same instant two more men appeared at the end of the car. One of them was Juan Valdez and another one of the mule-skinners. 同時に with their 入り口 rang out a most disconcerting fusillade of small 武器 in the 不明瞭 without. Megales' 軍の 禁止（する）d, as O'Halloran had facetiously dubbed them to the 特別奇襲隊員, arrived at the impression that there were about a thousand 謀反のs encompassing the train. Chaves choked with 激怒（する）, but the 残り／休憩（する） of the 命令（する） 産する／生じるd to the 状況／情勢 very tranquilly, with no 願望（する） to 申し込む／申し出 themselves as 的s to this crackling 爆発 of Colts. Muy bien! After all, Valdez was a better man to serve than the fox Megales.

速く Valdez and the wagon driver passed 負かす／撃墜する the car and gathered the 武器s from the seats of the 州警察官，騎馬警官s. Raising a window, they passed them out to their friends outside. 一方／合間, the sound of an axe could be heard 乱打するing at the door of the next car, and presently the 衝突，墜落 of 後援ing 支持を得ようと努めるd 発表するd that an 入り口 had been 軍隊d.

"Breaking furniture, I reckon," drawled Bucky, in English, for the moment forgetful of the part he was playing. "I hope they'll be all 権利 careful of them pianos and not mishandle them so they'll get out of tune."

"So, senor, you are American," said Chaves, in English, with a 悪意のある smile.

O'Connor shrugged, answering in Spanish: "I am Romany. Who shall say, whether American, or Spanish, or Bohemian? All nations call to me, but 非，不，無 （人命などを）奪う，主張する me, senor."

The 中尉／大尉／警部補 continued to smile his meaning grin. "Yet you are American," he 固執するd.

"Oh, as you please. I am what you will, 中尉／大尉／警部補."

"You speak the English like a native."

"You are complimentary."

Chaves 解除するd his eyebrows. "For believing that you are in 衣装, that you are wearing a disguise, Mr. American?"

Bucky laughed 完全な, and 申し込む／申し出d a gay retort. "Believe me, 中尉／大尉／警部補, I am no more disguised as a gypsy than you are as a 兵士."

The Mexican officer 紅潮／摘発するd with 怒り／怒る at the suggestion of contempt in the careless 発言する／表明する. His generalship was discredited. He had been outwitted and made to 産する／生じる without a blow. But to have it flung in his teeth with such a debonair insolence threw him into a fury.

"If you and I ever 会合，会う on equal 条件, senor, God pity you," he ground out between his 始める，決める jaws.

Bucky 屈服するd, answering the furious 怒り／怒る in the man's 直面する as much as his words. "I shall try to be careful not to 申し込む／申し出 myself a sheath for a knife some dark night," he scoffed.

A whistle blew, and then again. The revolver of Bucky rang out almost on the same instant as those of O'Halloran. Under cover of the smoke they slipped out of the car just as Rodrigo leaped 負かす／撃墜する from the cab of the engine. Slowly the train began to 支援する 負かす／撃墜する the incline in the same direction from which it had come. The orders given the engineer were to move 支援する at a snail's pace until he reached Concho again. There he was to remain for two hours. That Chaves would 服従させる／提出する to this O'Halloran did not for a moment 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う.

But the 跡をつける would be kept 妨害するd till six o'clock in the morning, and a 十分な guard would wait in the underbrush to see that the 権利 of way was not （疑いを）晴らすd. In the 合間 the wagons would be 押し進めるing toward Chihuahua as 急速な／放蕩な as they could be hurried, and the 残り／休憩（する） of the riders would guard them till they separated on the 郊外s of the town and slipped 静かに in. ーするために forestall any telegraphic communication between 中尉／大尉／警部補 Chaves and his superiors in the city, the wires had been 削減（する）. On the 直面する of it, the guns seemed to be 安全な. Only one thing had O'Halloran forgotten. Eight miles across the hills from Concho ran the line of the Chihuahua Northern.

CHAPTER 11. "STONE WALLS DO NOT A PRISON MAKE."

The two young Spanish aristocrats 棒 in 前進する of the 軍用車隊 on the return trip, while O'Halloran and Bucky brought up the 後部. The roads were too rough to 許す of 早い travel, but the teams were 押し進めるd as 急速な／放蕩な as it could 安全に be done in the dark. It was necessary to get into the city before daybreak, and also before word reached Megales of the クーデター his enemies had made. O'Halloran calculated that this could be done, but he did not want to run his 利ざや of time too 罰金.

"When the 知事 finds we have 再度捕まえるd the 武器, will he not have all your leaders 逮捕（する）d today and thrown into the 刑務所，拘置所?" asked the 特別奇襲隊員.

"He will--if he can lay 手渡すs on them. But he had better catch his hare before he cooks it. I'm thinking that 非，不，無 of us will be at home to-day when his men come with a polite 招待 to go along with them."

"Then he'll spend all day 強化するing his position. With this 警告 he will be a fool if he can't make himself 安全な・保証する before night, when the army is on his 味方する."

"Oh, the army is on his 味方する, is it? Now, what would you say if most of the officers were ready to come over to us as soon as we 宣言する ourselves? And ye speak of 強化するing his position. The beauty of his position, me lad, from our point of 見解（をとる）, is that he doesn't know his weak places. He'll be the most undeceived man in the 明言する／公表する when the 実験（する） comes--unless something goes wrong."

"When do you 提案する to attack the 刑務所，拘置所?"

"To-night. To-morrow is 選挙 day, and we want all the byes we can on 手渡す to help us out."

"Do you 推定する／予想する to throw the 刑務所，拘置所 doors wide open--let every scoundrel in Chihuahua loose on the public."

"We couldn't do that, since half of them are loose already," retorted O'Halloran dryly. "And as for the 残り／休憩（する）--we 推定する／予想する to make a 選択, me son, to 少しのd out a few choice ruffians and keep them behind the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s. But if ye know anything about the 刑務所，拘置所s of this country, you're 知らせるd, sir, that half the poor fellows behind 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s don't belong there so much as the folk that put them there. I'm Irish, as ye are yourself, and it's me instinct to fight for the under dog. Why shouldn't the lads rotting behind those 塀で囲むs have another chance at the game? By the mother of Moses! they shall, if マイク O'Halloran has anything to say about it."

"You ce'tainly 行為／行う your lawful 選挙s in a beautifully lawless way," grinned the 特別奇襲隊員.

"And why not? Isn't the 法律 made for man?"

"For which man--Megales?"

"ーするために give the greatest liberty to each individual man. But here comes young Valdez riding 支援する as if he were in a bit of a hurry."

The filibuster 棒 今後 and talked with the young man for a few minutes in a low 発言する／表明する. When he 再結合させるd Bucky he nodded his 長，率いる toward the young man, who was again 長，率いるd for the 前線 of the column. "There's the best lad in the 明言する／公表する of Chihuahua. He's a Mexican, all 権利, but he has as much sense as a white man. He doesn't mix 問題／発行するs. Now, the lad's in love with Carmencita Megales, the prettiest 黒人／ボイコット-注目する，もくろむd lass in Mexico, and, by the same 記念品, so is our friend Chaves, who just gave us the guns a little while ago. But Valdez is a man from the heel of him to the 長，率いる. 行方不明になる Carmencita has her nose in the 空気／公表する because Juan doesn't snuggle up to ould Megales and flatter him the same way young Chaves does. So the lad is persona 非，不，無 grata at 法廷，裁判所 with the lady, and that tin 兵士 who gave up the guns without a blow gets the lady's smiles. But it's my opinion that, for all her haughty ways, 行方不明になる would rather have our honest fighting lad than a roomful of the imitation toy 肉親，親類d."

A couple of miles from the 郊外s of the city the wagons separated, and each was driven to the 割り当てるd place for the hiding of the ライフル銃／探して盗むs till night. At the 辛勝する／優位 of the town Bucky made 手はず／準備 to join his friend again at the monument in the centre of the plaza within fifteen minutes. He was to bring his little partner with him, and O'Halloran was to take them to a place where they might 嘘（をつく） in hiding till the time 始める，決める for the rising.

"I would go with ye, but I want to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 荷を降ろすing. Don't lose any time, lad, for as soon as Megales learns of what has happened his fellows will scour the town for every mother's son of us. Of course you have been under 監視, and it's likely he'll try to 捕らえる、獲得する you with the 残り／休憩（する） of us. It was a 広大な／多数の／重要な piece of foolishness me forgetting about the line of the Chihuahua Northern and its telegraph. But there's a chance Chaves has forgot, too. Anyway, get 支援する as soon as you can; after we're hidden, it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack to put his fat finger on us."

Bucky went singing up the stairway of the hotel to his room. He was keen to get 支援する to his little friend after the hazards of the night, eager to see the brown 注目する，もくろむs light up with joy at sight of him and to hear the soft 発言する／表明する with the 追跡するing inflection drawl out its shy questions. So he took the stairs three at a time, with a song on his lips and in his heart.

"'Tis you shall 統治する, shall 統治する alone My dark Rosaleen! My own Rosaleen! 'Tis you shall have the golden 王位, 'Tis you shall 統治する, and 統治する alone My dark Rosaleen!"

O'Connor, somewhat out of breath, was humming the last line when he passed through the gypsy apartments and opened his own door, to 会合，会う one of the surprises of his life. Yet he finished the 詩（を作る）, though he was looking 負かす／撃墜する the バーレル／樽s of two revolvers in the 手渡すs of a pair of 州警察官，騎馬警官s, and though 中尉／大尉／警部補 Chaves, very much at his 緩和する, sat on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する dangling his feet.

Bucky's sardonic laughter rang out gayly. "I ce'tainly didn't 推定する／予想する to 会合，会う you here, 中尉／大尉／警部補. May I ask if you have wings?"

"Not 正確に／まさに, senor. But it is やめる possible you may have before twenty-four hours," （機の）カム the swift retort.

"利益／興味ing, if true," 発言／述べるd the 特別奇襲隊員 carelessly, 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするing his gloves on the bed. "And may I ask to what I am indebted for the 楽しみ of a visit from you?"

"I am returning your call, sir, and at the very earliest 適切な時期. I 保証する you that I have been in the city いっそう少なく than ten minutes, Senor whatever-you-choose-to-call-yourself. My promptness I leave you to admire."

"Oh, you're 誘発する enough, 中尉／大尉／警部補. I noticed that when you 手渡すd over your gun to me so lamblike." He laughed it out flippantly, buoyantly, though it was on his mind to wonder whether the choleric little officer might not kill him out of 手渡す for it.

But Chaves 単に 倍のd his 武器 and looked 厳しく at the American with a manner very theatrical. "Miguel, 武装解除する the 囚人," he ordered.

"So I'm a 囚人," mused Bucky aloud. "And whyfor, 中尉／大尉／警部補?"

"Stirring up insurrection against the 政府. The 囚人 will not talk," 法令d his captor, a frowning gaze 試みる／企てるing to 鎮圧する him.

But here the popinjay officer reckoned without his host, for that gentleman had the most indomitable 注目する，もくろむs in Arizona. It was not necessary for him to 強化する his will to 会合，会う the other's attack. His manner was still lazy, his gaze almost insolent in its indolence, but somewhere in the blue 注目する，もくろむs was that which told Chaves he was his master. The Mexican might impotently 反逆者／反逆する--and did; he might 料金d his vanity with the swiftness of his 復讐, but in his heart he knew that the moment was not his, after all, or that it was his at least with no 楽しみ unalloyed.

"The 囚人 will not talk," repeated Bucky, with drawling mockery. "Sure he will, general. There's several things he's awful curious to know. One of them is how you happen to be Johnnie-その場で／直ちに so opportune."

The 中尉／大尉／警部補's dignity melted before his vanity. Having so excellent a chance to sun the latter, he 配達するd himself of an oration. After all, silent contempt did not appear to be the best 武器 to 雇う with this impudent fellow.

"Senor, no Chaves ever forgets an 侮辱. Last night you, a ありふれた American, 侮辱d me grossly--me, 中尉／大尉／警部補 Ferdinand Chaves, me, of the bluest Castilian 血." He struck himself 劇的な on the breast. "I 服従させる／提出する, senor, but I 公約する 復讐. I 約束d myself to spit on you, to spit on your 星／主役にするs and （土地などの）細長い一片s, the 旗 of a nation of dirty 仲買人s. Ha! I do so now in spirit. The hour I have longed for is come."

Bucky took one step 今後. His 注目する，もくろむs had grown opaque and flinty. "Take care, you cur."

速く Chaves hurried on without 圧力（をかける）ing the point. He had a prophetic 見通し of his neck in the vise 支配する of those brown, sinewy 手渡すs, and, though his men would afterward kill the man, small good would he get from that if the life were already squeezed out of him.

"And so what do I do? I think, and having thought I 行為／法令／行動する with the swiftness of a Chaves. How? I ride across country. I 掴む a 手渡す car. My men pump me to town on the roadbed of the Northern. I telephone to the hotels and find where Americans are staying. Then I come here like the 勝利，勝つd, 逮捕（する） your friend, and send him to 刑務所，拘置所, 逮捕（する） you also and send you to the gallows."

"That's real 肉親，親類d of you, general," replied Bucky, in irony sportive. "But you really are putting yourself out too much for me. I reckon I'll not trouble you to go so far. By the way, did I understand you to say you had 逮捕（する）d a friend of 地雷?"

Indifferently he flung out the question, if his 発言する／表明する were 索引 of his feeling, but his heart was pumping faster than it 普通は ought.

"He is in 刑務所，拘置所, where you will すぐに join him. 兵士s, to the commandant with your 捕虜."

If Bucky had had any idea of 試みる／企てるing escape, he now abandoned it at once. The place of all places where he most ardently 願望（する）d to be at that moment was in the 刑務所，拘置所 with his little comrade. His 願望（する） marched with that of Chaves so far, and the latter could not hurry him there too 急速な／放蕩な to 控訴 him.

One feature of the 状況／情勢 made him chuckle, and that was this: The fiery 中尉／大尉／警部補, 意図 first of all on his 復讐, had given first thought to the 逮捕（する） of the man who had made mincemeat of his vanity and （判決などを）下すd him a possible 支配する of ridicule to his fellow officers. So eager had he been to 遂行する this that he had failed as yet to 通知する his superiors of what had happened, with the result that the 逮捕（する）d guns had been 安全に 密輸するd in and hidden. Bucky thought he could 信用 O'Halloran to see that he did not stay long behind 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s and bolts, unless indeed the game went against that sanguine and most cheerful plotter. In which event--井戸／弁護士席, that was a contingency that would certainly 証明する embarrassing to the 特別奇襲隊員. It might indeed turn out to be a good 取引，協定 more than embarrassing in the end. The thing that he had done would 耐える a plain 指名する if the Megales 派閥 won the day--and the 罰 for it would be 平易な to guess. But it was not of himself that O'Connor was thinking. He had been in tight places before and squeezed 安全に out. But his little friend, the one he loved better than his life, must somehow be extricated, no 事柄 how the cards fell.

The 特別奇襲隊員 was taken at once before General Carlo, the 最高位の army officer at Chihuahua, and, after a sharp 予選 examination, was committed to 刑務所，拘置所. The impression that O'Connor got of Carlo was not a 安心させるing one. The man was a 軍の despot, 明らかに, and a stickler for discipline. He had a hanging 直面する, and, in the Yaqui war, had won the 愛称 of "the butcher' for his merciless 治療 of 逮捕（する）d natives. If Bucky were to get the same short shrift as they did--and he began to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う as much when his 裁判，公判 was 始める，決める for the same day before a 軍の 法廷--it was time for him to be setting what few worldly 事件／事情／状勢s he had in order. Technically, Megales had a 合法的な 権利 to have him put to death and the impression ぐずぐず残るd with Bucky that the sly old 知事 would be likely to do that very thing and later be 十分な of profuse 悔いるs to the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs 政府 that inadvertently a 国民 of the 広大な／多数の／重要な 共和国 had been punished by mistake.

Bucky was 登録（する）d and 領収書d for at the 刑務所，拘置所 office, after which he was 行為／行うd to his 独房. The 回廊（地帯）s dripped as he followed under ground the guide who led the way with a flickering lantern. It was a gruesome place to 熟視する／熟考する as a 永久の abode. But the young American knew that his stay here would be short, whether the termination of it were liberty or the gallows.

Reaching the end of a 狭くする, crooked 回廊（地帯） that sloped downward, the turnkey 打ち明けるd a ponderous アイロンをかける door with a 抱擁する 重要な, and one of the guards に引き続いて at Bucky's heels, 押し進めるd him 今後. He fell 負かす／撃墜する two or three steps and （機の）カム to a sprawling heap on the 床に打ち倒す of the 独房.

From the 最高の，を越す of the steps （機の）カム a derisive laugh as the door swung to and left him in utter 不明瞭.

Stiffly the 特別奇襲隊員 got to his 膝s and was about to rise when a sound stopped him. Something was panting in 深い breaths at the other 味方する of the 独房. A shiver of terror went goose-quilling 負かす／撃墜する O'Connor's 支援する. Had they locked him up with some wild beast, to be torn to pieces? Or was this the ghost of some previous occupant? In such blackness of gloom it was 平易な to believe, or, at least, to imagine impossible conceptions that the light of day would have scattered in an instant. He was afraid--afraid to the 骨髄.

And then out of the 不明瞭 （機の）カム a small, trembling 発言する／表明する: "Are you a 囚人, too, sir?"

Bucky 手配中の，お尋ね者 to shout aloud his 救済--and his delight. The sheer joy of his laughter told him how 不正に he had been 脅すd. That 発言する／表明する--were he sunk in twice as 深い and dark an inferno--he would know it の中で a thousand. He groped his way 今後 toward it.

"Oh, little pardner, I'm plumb tickled to death you ain't a ghost," he laughed.

"It is--Bucky?" The question joyfully answered itself.

"権利 guess. Bucky it is."

He had 持つ／拘留する of her 手渡すs by this time, was trying to peer 負かす／撃墜する into the happy-brown 注目する，もくろむs he knew were scanning him. "I can't see you yet, Curly Haid, but it's sure you, I reckon. I'll have to pass my を引き渡す your 直面する the way a blind man does," he laughed, and, 大いに daring, he followed his own suggestion, and let his fingers wander across her crisp, 厚い hair, 負かす／撃墜する her soft, warm cheeks, and over the saucy nose and laughing mouth he had often longed to kiss.

Presently she drew away shyly, but the lilt of happiness in her 発言する／表明する told him she was not 感情を害する／違反するd. "I can see you, Bucky." The last word （機の）カム as usual, with that 甘い, hesitating, 上向き inflection that made her familiarity wholly intoxicating, even while the comradeship of it left room for an 解釈／通訳 either of gay mockery or something deeper. "Yes, I can see you. That's because I have been here longer and am more used to the 不明瞭. I think I've been here about a year." He felt her shudder. "You don't know how glad I am to see you."

"No gladder than I am to feel you," he answered gayly. "It's 価値（がある） the price of admission to find you here, girl o'地雷."

He had forgotten the pretense that still lay between them, so far as words went when they had last parted. Nor did it yet occur to him that he had swept aside the 条約 of her 存在 a boy. But she was vividly aware of it, and aware, too, of the 需要・要求する his last words had made for a 承認 of the 関係 that 存在するd in feeling between them.

"I knew you knew I was a girl," she murmured.

"You knew more than that," he challenged joyfully.

But, in woman's way, she ignored his frontal attack. He was going at too impetuous a 速度(を上げる） for her 不本意. "How long have you known that I wasn't a boy--not from the first, surely?"

"I don't know why I didn't, but I didn't. I was sure locoed," he 自白するd. "It was when you （機の）カム out dressed as a gypsy that I knew. That explained to me a heap of things I never had understood before about you."

"It explained, I suppose, why I never had licked the stuffing out of any other kid, and why you did not get very far in making a man out of me as you 約束d," she mocked.

"Yes, and it explained how you happened to say you were eighteen. By mistake you let the truth slip out. Course I wouldn't believe it."

"I remember you didn't. I think you 伝えるd the impression to me 外交上 that you had 疑問s."

"I said it was a 嘘（をつく）," he laughed. "I sure do 借りがある you a heap of 陳謝s for 存在 so plumb dogmatic when you knew best. You'll have to sit 負かす／撃墜する on me hard once in a while, or there won't be any living with me."

Blushingly she did some more ignoring. "That was the first time you 脅すd to give me a whipping," she 解任するd aloud.

"My goodness! Did I ever talk so foolish?"

"You did, and meant it."

"But somehow I never did it. I wonder why I didn't."

"Perhaps I was so frail you were afraid you would break me."

"No, that wasn't it. In the 支援する of my haid somewhere there was an instinct that said: 'Bucky, you chump, if you don't keep your 手渡すs off this kid you'll be 権利 sorry all your life.' Not 存在 given to many ideas, I paid a heap of 尊敬（する）・点 to that one."

"井戸／弁護士席, it's too bad, for I probably needed that whipping, and now you'll never be able to give it to me."

"I shan't ever want to now."

Saucily her merry 注目する，もくろむs 発射 him from under the long 攻撃するs. "I'm not so sure of that. Girls can be mighty 悪化させるing."

"That's the way girls are meant to be, I 推定する／予想する," he laughed. "But fifteen-year-old boys have to be herded 支援する into line. There's a difference."

She 救助（する）d her 手渡すs from him and led the way to a （法廷の）裁判 that served for a seat. "Sit 負かす／撃墜する here, sir. There are one or two things that I have to explain." She sat 負かす／撃墜する beside him at the さらに先に end of the （法廷の）裁判.

"This light is so 薄暗い, I can't see you away over there," he pleaded, moving closer.

"You don't need to see me. You can hear me, can't you?"

"I reckon."

She seemed to find a difficulty in beginning, even though the 不明瞭 helped her by making it impossible for him to see her 当惑. Presently he chuckled softly. "No, ma'am, I can't even hear you. If you're talking, I'll have to come closer."

"If you do, I'll get up. I want you to be really earnest."

"I never was more earnest in my life, Curly."

"Please, Bucky? It isn't 平易な to say it, and you mustn't make it harder."

"Do you have to say it, pardner?" he asked, more 本気で.

"Yes, I have to say it." And 速く she blurted it out. "Why do you suppose I （機の）カム with you to Mexico?"

"I don't know." He grappled with her suggestion for a moment. "I suppose--you said it was because you were afraid of Hardman."

"井戸／弁護士席, I wasn't. At least, I wasn't afraid that much. I knew that I would have been やめる 安全な next time with the Mackenzies at the ranch."

"Then why was it?"

"You can't think of any 推論する／理由?" She leaned 今後 and looked 直接／まっすぐに into his 注目する，もくろむs--注目する，もくろむs as honest and as blue as an Arizona sky.

But he stood unconvicted--nay, acquitted. The one 推論する／理由 she had dreaded he might 申し込む／申し出 to himself had evidently never entered his 長，率いる. Whatever guesses he might have made on the 支配する, he was plainly guiltless of thinking she might have come with him because she was in love with him.

"No, I can't think of any other 推論する／理由, if the one you gave isn't the 権利 one."

"やめる sure?"

"やめる sure, pardner."

"Think! Why did you come to Chihuahua?"

"To run 負かす／撃墜する Wolf Leroy's ギャング（団） and to get Dave Henderson out of 刑務所，拘置所."

"Perhaps there is a 推論する／理由 why I should want him out of 刑務所，拘置所, a better 推論する／理由 than you could かもしれない have."

"I don't savvy it. How can there be? You don't know him, do you? He's been in 刑務所，拘置所 almost ever since you were born." And on 最高の，を越す of his last 声明 Bucky's 注目する，もくろむs began to open with a new light. "Good heavens! It can't be possible. You're not Webb Mackenzie's little girl, are you?"

She did not answer him in words, but from her neck she slipped a chain and 手渡すd it to him. On the chain hung a locket.

The 特別奇襲隊員 struck a match and 診察するd the trinket. "It's the very 行方不明の locket. See! Here's the other one. Compare them together." He touched the spring and it opened, but the match was 燃やすd out and he had to light another. "Here's the 地雷 地図／計画する that has been lost all these years. How did you get this? Have you always had it? And how long have you known that you were フランs Mackenzie?"

His questions 宙返り／暴落するd out one upon another in his excitement.

She laughed, answering him categorically. "I don't know, for sure. Yes, at least a 広大な／多数の／重要な many years. いっそう少なく than a week."

"But--I don't understand--"

"And won't until you give me a chance to do some of the talking," she interrupted dryly.

"That's 権利. I reckon I am getting off left foot first. It's your powwow now," he 譲歩するd.

"So long as I can remember 正確に／まさに I have always lived with the man Hardman and his wife. But before that I can ばく然と 解任する something different. It has always seemed like a 肉親，親類d of fairyland, for I was a very little こども then. But one of the things I seem to remember was a 甘い, 肉親，親類d-注目する，もくろむd mother and a big, laughing father. Then, too, there were horses and lots of cows. That is about all, except that the chain around my neck seemed to have some 関係 with my 早期に life. That's why I always kept it very carefully, and, after one of the lockets broke, I still kept it and the funny-looking paper inside of it."

"I don't understand why Hardman didn't take the paper," he interrupted.

"I suppose he did, and when he discovered that it held only half the secret of the 地雷 he probably put it 支援する in the locket. I see you have the other part."

"It was lost at the place where the robbers waited to 停止する the T. P. 限られた／立憲的な. Probably you lost it first and one of the robbers 設立する it."

"Probably," she said, in a queer 発言する／表明する.

"What was the first 手がかり（を与える） your father had had for many years about his little girl. He happened to be at Aravaipa the day you and I first met. I guess he took a fancy to me, for he asked me to take this 事例／患者 up for him and see if I couldn't 位置を示す you. I ran Hardman 負かす／撃墜する and made him tell me the whole story. But he lied about some of it, for he told me you were dead."

"He is a born liar," the girl commented. "井戸／弁護士席, to get on with my story. Anderson, or Hardman, as he now calls himself, except when he uses his 行う／開催する／段階 指名する of Cavallado, went into the show 商売／仕事 and took me with him. When I was a little bit of a girl he used to use me for all sorts of things, such as a 的 for his knife throwing and to sell 薬／医学 to the audience. Lots of people would buy because I was such a morsel of a creature, and I suppose he 設立する me a 製図／抽選 card. We moved all over the country for years. I hated the life. But what could I do?"

"You poor little lamb," murmured the man. "And when did you find out who you were?"

"I heard you talking to him the night you took him 支援する to Epitaph, and then I began to piece things together. You remember you went over the whole story with him again just before we reached the town."

"And you knew it was you I was talking about?"

"I didn't know. But when you について言及するd the locket and the 地図／計画する, I knew. Then it seemed to me that since this man Henderson had lost so many years of his life trying to save me I must do something for him. So I asked you to take me with you. I had been a boy so long I didn't think you would know the difference, and you did not. If I hadn't dressed as a girl that time you would not know yet."

"Maybe, and maybe not," he smiled. "Point is, I do know, and it makes a heap of difference to me."

"Yes, I know," she said hurriedly. "I'm more trouble now."

"That ain't it," he was beginning, when a thought brought him up short. As the daughter of Webb Mackenzie this girl was no longer a penniless outcast, but the heiress of one-half 利益／興味 in the big 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める Ranch, with its fifteen thousand 長，率いる of cattle. As the first he had a perfect 権利 to love her and to ask her to marry him, but as the latter--井戸／弁護士席, that was やめる a different 事件／事情／状勢. He had not a cent to bless himself with outside of his little ranch and his salary, and, though he might not question his own 動機s under such circumstances, there would be plenty who would question them for him. He was an 独立した・無所属 young man as one could find in a long day's ride, and his pride rose up to padlock his lips.

She looked across at him in shy surprise, for all the 切望 had in an instant been sponged from his 直面する. With a hard, impassive countenance he dropped the 手渡す he had 掴むd and turned away.

"You were 説--" she 示唆するd.

"I reckon I've forgot what it was. It doesn't 事柄, anyhow."

She was 傷つける, and 深く，強烈に. It was all very 井戸／弁護士席 for her to try her little wiles to 延期する him, but in her heart she longed to hear the words he had been about to say. It had been very 甘い to know that this brown, handsome son of Arizona loved her, very restful to know that for the first time in her life she could trustfully let her 証拠不十分 lean on the strength of another. And, more than either, though she いつかs smilingly pretended to 否定する it to herself, was the ultimate fact that she loved him. His 発言する／表明する was music to her, his presence joy. He brought with him 日光, and peace, and happiness.

He was always so reliable, so little the 犠牲者 of his moods. What could have come over him now to change him in that swift instant? Was she to 非難する? Had she unknowingly been at fault? Or was there something in her story that had 冷気／寒がらせるd him? It was characteristic of her that it was herself she 疑問d and not him; that it never occurred to her that her hero had feet of clay like other men.

She felt her heart begin to swell, and choked 支援する a sob. It wrung him to hear the little breath catch, but he was a man, strong-willed and resolute. Though he dug his finger nails into his palms till the flesh was 削減（する） he would not give way to his 願望（する）.

"You're not angry at me--Bucky?" she asked softly.

"No, I'm not angry at you." His 発言する／表明する was 冷淡な because he dared not 信用 himself to let his tenderness creep into it.

"I 港／避難所't done anything that I ought not to? Perhaps you think it wasn't--wasn't nice to--to come here with you."

"I don't think anything of the 肉親，親類d," his hard 発言する／表明する answered. "I think you're a prince, if you want to know."

She smiled a little wanly, trying to 説得する him 支援する into friendliness. "Then if I'm a prince you must be a princess," she teased.

"I meant a prince of good fellows" "Oh!" She could be stiff, too, if it （機の）カム to that.

And at this inopportune moment the 重要な turned 厳しく and the door swung open.

CHAPTER 12. A CLEAN WHITE MAN'S OPTION

The light of a lantern coming 負かす／撃墜する the steps blinded them for a moment. Behind the lantern peered the yellow 直面する of the turnkey. "売春婦, there, Americano! They want you up above," the man said. "The generals, and the 陸軍大佐s, and the captains want a little talk with you before they hang you, senor."

The two 兵士s behind the fellow cackled merrily at his wit, and the encouraged turnkey tried again.

"We shall trouble you but a little time. Only a few questions, senor, an order, and then poco tiempo, after a short walk to the gallows--楽園."

"What--what do you mean?" gasped the girl whitely.

"Never mind, muchacho. This is no 事件／事情／状勢 of yours. Your turn will come later. Have no 恐れる of that," nodded the wrinkled old parchment 直面する.

"But--but he hasn't done anything wrong."

"売春婦, 売春婦! Let him explain that to the generals and the 陸軍大佐s," croaked the old fellow. "And that you may explain the sooner, senor, hurry--let your feet 飛行機で行く!"

Bucky walked across to the girl he loved and took her 手渡すs in his.

"If I don't come 支援する before three hours read the letter that I wrote you yesterday, dear. I have left matches on that （法廷の）裁判 so that you may have a light. Be 勇敢に立ち向かう, pardner. Don't lose your 神経, whatever you do. We'll both get out of this all 権利 yet."

He spoke in a low 発言する／表明する, so that the guards might not hear, and it was in 肉親，親類d that she answered.

"I'm afraid, Bucky; afraid away 負かす／撃墜する 深い. You don't half believe yourself what you say. I can't stand it to be here alone and not know what's going on. They might be--be doing what that man said, and I not know anything about it till afterward." She broke 負かす／撃墜する and began to sob. "Oh, I know I'm a dreadful little coward, but I can't be like you--and you heard what he said."

"Sho! What he says is nothing. I'm an American 国民, and I reckon that will carry us through all 権利. Uncle Sam has awful long 武器, and these greasers know it. I'm 推定する／予想するing to come 支援する here again, little pardner. But if I don't make it, I want you, just as soon as they turn you loose, to go straight to your father's ranch."

"Come! This won't do. Look alive, senor," the turnkey ordered, and to 強調する his words reached a 手渡す 今後 to pluck away the sobbing lad. Bucky caught his wrist and 強化するd on it like a vise. "手渡すs off, here!" he 命令（する）d 静かに.

The man gave a howl of 苦痛 and nursed his 手渡す gingerly after it was 解放（する）d.

"Oh, Bucky, make him let me go, too," the girl wailed, 粘着するing to his coat.

Gently he unfastened her fingers. "You know I would if I could, Curly; but it isn't my say-so."

And with that he was gone. Ashen-直面するd she watched him go, and as soon as the door had の近くにd groped her way to the （法廷の）裁判 and sank 負かす／撃墜する on it, her 直面する covered with her 手渡すs. He was going to his death. Her lover was going to his death. Why had she let him go? Why had she not done something--thought of some way to save him?

The 特別奇襲隊員's guards led him to the 軍の （警察，軍隊などの）本部 in the next street from the 刑務所，拘置所. He 観察するd that nearly a whole company of 田舎のs formed the 護衛する, and this led him to 結論する that the 政府 party was very uneasy as to the 状況／情勢 and had taken 警戒s against a possible 試みる／企てる at 救助（する）. But no such 試みる／企てる was made. The sunny streets were pretty 井戸／弁護士席 砂漠d, except for a few lounging peons hardly 利益／興味d enough to be curious. The 空気／公表する of peace, of order, sat so incongruously over the plaza that Bucky's heart fell. Surely this was the last place on earth for a 革命 to make any 前進 of consequence. His friends were hidden away in 穴を開けるs and cellars, while Megales 支配するd the 状況／情勢 with his 軍隊／機動隊s. To 推定する／予想する a 逆転 of the 状況／情勢 was surely madness.

Yet even while the thought was in his mind he caught a glimpse in a doorway of a man he 認めるd. It was Rodrigo, one of his 同盟（する）s of the previous night's escapade, and it seemed to him that the man was trying to tell him something with his 注目する，もくろむs. If so, the meaning of his message failed to carry home, for after the 特別奇襲隊員 had passed he dared not look 支援する again.

So far as the 裁判，公判 itself went, O'Connor hoped for nothing and was the いっそう少なく disappointed. One ちらりと見ること at his 裁判官s was enough to 納得させる him of the futility of 期待. He was tried by a 法廷，裁判所-戦争の 統括するd over by General Carlo. Beside him sat a 陸軍大佐 Onate and 中尉／大尉／警部補 Chaves. In 非，不，無 of the three did he find any room for hope. Carlo was a hater of Americans and a butcher by temperament and choice, Chaves a personal enemy of the 囚人, and Onate looked as grim an old scoundrel as Jeffreys the hanging 裁判官 of James Stuart. 知事 Megales, though not technically a member of the 法廷，裁判所, was 現在の, and took an active part in the 起訴. He was a stout, swarthy little man, with 黒人／ボイコット, beady 注目する，もくろむs that snapped restlessly to and fro, and from his manner to the officers in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 裁判，公判 it was plain that he was a despot even in his own 公式の／役人 family.

The 法廷，裁判所 did not trouble itself with forms of 法律. Chaves was both 主要な／長／主犯 証言，証人／目撃する and 裁判官, notwithstanding the 抗議する of the 囚人. Yet what the 中尉／大尉／警部補 had to 申し込む／申し出 in the way of 証言 was so tinctured with bitterness that it must have been plain to the veriest novice he was no fit 裁判官 of the 事例／患者.

But Bucky knew 同様に as the 裁判官s that his 裁判，公判 was a 単に perfunctory 形式順守. The 判決 was decided ere it began, and, indeed, so eager was Megales to get the farce over with that several times he interrupted the 訴訟／進行s to 勧める haste.

It took them just fifteen minutes from the time the young American was brought into the room to find him 有罪の of 背信 and to decide upon 即座の 死刑執行 as the fitting 罰.

General Carlo turned to the 囚人. "Have you anything to say before I pronounce 宣告，判決 of death upon you?"

"I have," answered Bucky, looking him straight in the 注目する，もくろむs. "I am an American, and I 需要・要求する the 権利s of a 国民 of the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs."

"An American?" Incredulously Megales 解除するd his eyebrows. "You are a Spanish gypsy, my friend."

The 特別奇襲隊員 was 公正に／かなり caught in his own 罠（にかける）. He had donned the gypsy masquerade because he did not want to be taken for what he was, and he had 後継するd only too 井戸／弁護士席. He had played into their 手渡すs. They would, of course, （人命などを）奪う，主張する, in the event of trouble with the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs, that they had supposed him to be what his 衣装 布告するd him, and they would be able to make good their pretense with a very decent 外見 of candor. What an idiot of sorts he had been!

"We understand each other perfectly, 知事. I know and you know that I am an American. As a 国民 of the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs I （人命などを）奪う，主張する the 保護 of that 旗. I 需要・要求する that you will send すぐに for the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs 領事 to this city."

Megales leaned 今後 with a thin, cruel smile on his 直面する. "Very 井戸／弁護士席, senor. Let it be as you say. Your friend, Senor O'Halloran, is the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs 領事. I shall be very glad to send for him if you can tell me where to find him. Having 商売／仕事 with him to-day, I have despatched messengers who have been unable to find him at home. But since you know where he is, and are in need of him, perhaps you can 補助装置 me with （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） of value."

Again Bucky was 公正に／かなり caught. He had no 推論する／理由 to 疑問 that the 知事 spoke truth in 説 that O'Halloran was the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs 領事. There were in the city as 永久の 居住（者）s not more than three or four 国民s of the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs. With the political instinct of the Irish, it would be very characteristic of O'Halloran to work his "pull" to 安全な・保証する for himself the 任命. That he had not happened to について言及する the fact to his friend could be accounted for by 推論する／理由 of the fact that the 義務s of the office at that place were few and unimportant.

"We are waiting, senor. If you will tell us where we may send?" hinted Megales.

"I do not know any more than you do, if he is not at home."

The 知事's 注目する，もくろむs glittered. "Take care, senor. Better sharpen your memory."

"It's pretty hard to remember what one never knew," retorted the 囚人.

The Mexican tyrant brought his clinched 握りこぶし slowly 負かす／撃墜する on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in 前線 of him. "It is necessary to remember, sir. It is necessary to answer a few questions. If you answer them to our satisfaction you may yet save your life."

"Indeed!" Bucky swept his fat 本体，大部分／ばら積みの scornfully from 長，率いる to foot. "If I were what you think me, do you suppose I would betray my friends?"

"You have no 選択, sir. Answer my questions, or die like a dog."

"You mean that you would not think you had any 選択 if you were in my place, but since I'm a clean white man there's an 選択. By God! sir, it doesn't take me a whole lot of time to make it, either. I'll see you rot in hell before I'll play Judas."

The words rang like a bell through the room, not loud, but （疑いを）晴らす and vibrant. There was a long instant's silence after the American finished speaking, and as his 注目する，もくろむs swept from one to another of the enemy Bucky met with a surprise. On 陸軍大佐 Onate's 直面する was a haggard look of 恐れる--surely it was 恐れる--that 解除するd in 救済 at the young man's 勇敢に立ち向かう challenge. He had been dreading something, and the dread was 解除するd. Onate! Onate! The 特別奇襲隊員's memory searched the past few days to 位置を示す the 指名する. Had O'Halloran について言及するd it? Was this man one of the officers 推定する／予想するd to join the 対立 when it 宣言するd itself against Megales? He had a vague recollection of the 指名する, and he could have heard it only through his friend.

"Was Juan Valdez a member of the party that took the ライフル銃／探して盗むs from 中尉／大尉／警部補 Chaves and his 護衛する?"

Bucky laughed out his contempt.

"Speak, sir," broke in Chaves. "Answer the 知事, you dog."

"If I speak, it will be to tell you what a cur I think you."

Chaves 紅潮／摘発するd 怒って and laid a 手渡す on his revolver. "Who are you that play dice with death, like a fool?"

"My 指名する, seh, is Bucky O'Connor."

At the words a 確かな 恐れる, followed by a look of 勝利, passed over the 直面する of Chaves. It was as if he had had an unpleasant shock that had 即時に 証明するd groundless. Bucky did not at the time understand it.

"Why don't you shoot? It's about your size, you pinhead, to kill an 非武装の man."

"Tell all you know and I 約束 you your life." It was Megales who spoke.

"I'll tell you nothing, except that I'm Bucky O'Connor, of the Arizona 特別奇襲隊員s. Chew on that a while, 知事, and see how it tastes. Kill me, and Uncle Sam is liable to ask mighty loud whyfor; not because I'm such a mighty big toad in the puddle, but because any man that stands under that 旗 has 支援する of him the biggest, best, and gamest country on God's green footstool." Bucky spoke in English this time, straight as he could send it.

"In that 事例／患者, I think 宣告，判決 may now be pronounced, general."

"I 警告する you that the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs will exact vengeance for my death."

"Indeed!" Politely the 知事 smiled at him with a malice almost devilish. "If so, it will be after you are dead, Senor Bucky O'Connor, of the Arizona 特別奇襲隊員s."

陸軍大佐 Onate leaned 今後 and whispered something to General Carlo, who shook his 長，率いる and frowned. Presently the 黒人／ボイコット 長，率いる of Chaves joined them, and the three were in excited discussion. 武器 waved like signals, as is usual の中で the Latin races who talk with their 手渡すs and expressive shrugs of the shoulders. Outvoted by two to one, Onate 控訴，上告d to the 知事, who （機の）カム up and listened, frowning, to both 味方するs of the 審議. In their excitement the 発言する／表明するs raised, and to Bucky （機の）カム snatches of phrases that told him his life hung in the balance. Carlo and Chaves were for having him 遂行する／発効させるd out of 手渡す, at 最新の, by sunset. The latter was 特に vindictive. Indeed, it seemed to the 特別奇襲隊員 that ever since he had について言及するd his 指名する this man had 始める，決める himself more malevolently to compass his death. Onate 持続するd, on the other 手渡す, that their 囚人 was 価値（がある） more to them alive than dead. There was a chance that he might 弱める before morning and tell secrets. At worst they would still have his life as a card to 持つ／拘留する in 事例／患者 of need over the 長，率いる of the 反逆者／反逆するs. If it should turn out that this was not needed, he could be 遂行する／発効させるd in the morning 同様に as to-night.

It may be conceived with what 苦悩 Bucky listened to the whispered conversation and waited for the 決定／判定勝ち（する） of the 知事. He was a game man, 公式文書，認めるd even in a country famous for its 勇敢な 国民s, but he felt strangely weak now as he waited with that leather-crusted 直面する of his bereft of all 表現.

"Give him till morning to 弱める. If he still stays obstinate, hang him in the 夜明け," decided the 知事, his beady 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on the 囚人.

Not a flicker of the eyelid betrayed the Arizonian's emotion, but for an instant the world swam dizzily before him. 安全な till morning! Before then a hundred chances might change the 現在の of the game in his 好意. How brightly the 日光 flooded the room! What a glorious world it was, after all! Through the open window 注ぐd the rich, 十分な-throated song of a meadow lark, and the 重荷（を負わせる） of its blithe song was, "How good is this life the mere living."

CHAPTER 13. BUCKY'S FIRST-RATE REASONS

How long フランs Mackenzie gave herself up to despair she never knew, but when at last she resolutely took herself in 手渡す it seemed hours later. "Bucky told me to be 勇敢に立ち向かう, he told me not to lose my 神経," she repeated to herself over and over again, 製図／抽選 慰安 from the memory of his warm, vibrant 発言する／表明する. "He said he would come 支援する, and he hates a liar. So, of course, he will come." With such argument she tried to 静める her wild 恐れるs.

But on 最高の，を越す of all her 安心s would come a swift, blinding 見通し of gallant Bucky 存在 led to his death that crumpled her courage as a 大打撃を与える might an empty egg 爆撃する. What was the use of her pretending all was 井戸／弁護士席 when at that very moment they might be 殺人ing him? Then in her agony she would pace up and 負かす／撃墜する, wringing her 手渡すs, or would （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 them on the 石／投石する 塀で囲むs till the soft flesh was bruised and bleeding.

It was in the reaction, after one of these paroxysms of despair, that in her groping for an 錨，総合司会者 to make 急速な／放蕩な her courage she thought of his letter.

"He said in three hours I was to read it if he didn't come 支援する. It must be more than three hours now," she said aloud to herself, and knew a fresh dread at his 長引かせるd absence beyond the 限界 he had 始める，決める.

In point of fact, he had been gone いっそう少なく than three-４半期/4分の1s of an hour, but in each one of them she had lived a lifetime of 苦痛 and died many deaths.

By snatches she read her letter, a 宣告，判決 or a fragment of a 宣告，判決 at a time as the light served. Luckily he had left a 事例／患者 nearly 十分な of matches, and one after another of them dropped, charred and 燃やすd out, before she had finished reading. After she had read it, her first love letter, she must needs go over it again, to learn by heart the 甘い phrases in which he had 支持を得ようと努めるd her. It was a commonplace 公式文書，認める enough, far more 中立の than the strong, virile writer who had 欠如（する）d the cunning to 送信する／伝染させる his feeling to 署名／調印する and paper. But, after all, it was from him, and it told the divine message, however haltingly. No wonder she 燃やすd her little finger tips from the 炎上 of the matches creeping nearer unheeded. No wonder she 圧力（をかける）d it to her lips in the 不明瞭 and dreamed her happy dream in those few moments when she was lost in her love before cruel realities 圧力（をかける）d home on her again.

"I told you, Little Curly Haid, that I had first-率 推論する／理由s for not wanting to be killed by these Mexicans. So I have, the best 推論する／理由s going. But they are not 熟した to tell you, and so I 令状 them.

"I guessed your secret, little pardner, 権利 away when I seen you in a girl's outfit. If I hadn't been blind as a bat I would have guessed it long since, for all the time my feelings were telling me mighty loud that you were the lovingest little kid Bucky had ever come across.

"I'll not leave you to guess my secret the way you did me yours, dear Curly, but 権利 誘発する I'll 始める，決める 負かす／撃墜する adore (with one D) and say you 攻撃する，衝突する the bull's-注目する，もくろむ that time without 推定する／予想するing to. But if I was 説 it I would not use any French words sweetheart, but plain American. And the word would be l-o-v-e, without any D's. Now you have got the straight of it, my dear. I love you--love you--love you, from the 栄冠を与える of that curly hear to the 単独のs of your little feet. What's more, you have got to love me, too, since I am,

"Your 未来 husband,

"BUCKY O CONNOR.

"P. S.--And now, Curly, you know my first-率 推論する／理由s for not meaning to get 発射 up by any of these Mexican fellows."

So the letter ran, and it went to her heart 直接／まっすぐに as rain to the thirsty roots of flowers. He loved her. Whatever happened, she would always have that 慰安. They might kill him, but they could not take away that. The words of an old Scotch song that Mrs. Mackenzie sang （機の）カム 支援する to her:

"The （期間が）わたる o' life's nae large eneugh, Nor 深い enough the sea, Nor braid eneugh this 疲れた／うんざりした warld, To part my love frae me."

No, they could not part their hearts in this world or the next, and with this sad 慰安 she flung herself on the rough bed and sobbed. She would grieve still, but the wildness of her grief and despair was gone, scattered by the knowledge that however their troubles eventuated they were now one in heart.

She was roused after a long time by the sound of the 抱擁する 重要な grating in the lock. Through the opened door a 人物／姿／数字 descended, and by an illuminating swing of the turnkey's lantern she saw that it was Bucky. Next moment the door had の近くにd and they were in each other's 武器. Bucky's stubborn pride, the remembrance of the riches which of a sudden had transformed his little partner into an heiress and 始める，決める a high 塀で囲む of 分離 between them, these were swept clean away on a 広大な／多数の／重要な wave of love which took Bucky off his feet and left him breathless.

"I had almost given you up," she cried joyfully.

Again he passed his 手渡す across her 直面する. "You've been crying, little pardner. Were you crying on account of me?"

"On account of myself, because I was afraid I had lost you. Oh, Bucky, isn't it too good to be true?"

The 特別奇襲隊員 smiled, remembering that he had about fourteen hours to live, if the Megales 派閥 勝利d. "Good! I should think it is. いじめ（る）! I've been famished to see Curly Haid again."

"And to know that everything is going to come out all 権利 and that we love each other."

"That's 権利 good 審理，公聴会 and most ce'tainly true on my 味方する of it. But how do you happen to know it so sure?" he laughed gayly.

"Why, your letter, Bucky. It was the dearest letter. I love it."

"But you weren't to read it for three hours," he pretended to reprove, 持つ／拘留するing her at arm's length to laugh at her.

"Wasn't it three hours? It seemed ever so much longer."

"You little rogue, you didn't play fair." And to punish her he drew her soft, supple 団体／死体 to him in a の近くに embrace, and for the first time kissed the 甘い mouth that 産する／生じるd itself to him.

"Tell me all about what happened to you," she bade him playfully, after speech was again in order.

"Sure." He caught her 手渡す to lead her to the （法廷の）裁判 and she winced involuntarily.

"I 燃やすd it," she explained, 追加するing, with a ripple of shy laughter: "When I was reading your letter. It doesn't really 傷つける, though."

But he had to see for himself and make much over the little blister that the 炎上 of a match 明らかにする／漏らすd to him. For they were both very much in love, and, in consequence, 泡ing over with the foolishness that is the greatest 相続するd 知恵 of the ages.

But though her lover had acquiesced so 敏速に to her 需要・要求する for a 十分な account of his adventures since leaving her, that young man had no 意向 of 申し込む／申し出ing an unexpurged 版 of them. It was his hope that O'Halloran would 嵐／襲撃する the 刑務所，拘置所 during the night and 影響 a 救助（する）. If so, good; if not, there was no need of her knowing that for them the new day would 勧める in fresh 悲しみ. So he gave her an account of his 裁判，公判 and its 詳細（に述べる）s, told her how he had been 罪人／有罪を宣告するd, and how 陸軍大佐 Onate had fought warily to get the 宣告，判決 of 死刑執行 延期するd ーするために give their friends a chance to 救助（する） them.

"When Megales 再拘留（者）d me to 刑務所，拘置所 I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to let out an Arizona yell, Curly. It sure seemed too good to be true."

"But he may want the 宣告，判決 carried out some time, if he changes his mind. Maybe in a week or two he may take a notion that " She stopped, plainly sobered by the 恐れる that the good news of his return might not be final.

"We won't cross that 橋（渡しをする） till we come to it. You don't suppose our friends are going to sit 負かす／撃墜する and 倍の their 手渡すs, do you? Not if I've got マイク O'Halloran and young Valdez sized up 権利. Fur is going to begin to 飛行機で行く pretty soon in this man's country. But it's up to us to help all we can, and I reckon we'll begin by taking a 予選 調査する of this wickiup."

Wickiup was distinctly good, since the word is used to 適用する to a frail Indian hut, and this 独房 was nothing いっそう少なく than a tomb built in the solid 激しく揺する by blowing out a 議会 with dynamite and covering the 前線 with a solid sheet of アイロンをかける, into which a door fitted. It did not take a very long 調査 to 証明する to Bucky that escape was impossible by any 出口 except the door, which meant the same thing as impossible at all under 現在の 条件s. Yet he did not 産する／生じる to this opinion without going over every インチ of the 塀で囲むs many times to make sure that no secret パネル盤 opened into a tunnel from the room.

"I reckon they want to keep us, Curly. Mr. Megales has sure got us real 安全な this time. I'd be plumb discouraged about breaking 刑務所，拘置所 out of this cage. It's ce'tainly us to stay hitched a while."

About dark tortillas and frijoles were brought 負かす／撃墜する to them by the facetious turnkey, who was …を伴ってd as usual by two guards.

"Why don't my little birdies sing?" he asked, with a wink at the 兵士s. "One of them will not do any singing after daybreak to-morrow. 売春婦, 売春婦, my larks! Tune up, tune up!"

"What do you mean about one not singing after daybreak?" asked the girl, with 注目する，もくろむs dilating.

"What! Hasn't he told you? Senor the 特別奇襲隊員 is to be hanged at the 夜明け unless he finds his tongue for 知事 Megales. 売春婦, 売春婦! Our birdie must speak even if he doesn't sing." And with that as a parting 発射 the man clanged the door to after him and locked it.

"You never told me, Bucky. You have been trying to deceive me," she groaned.

He shrugged his shoulders. "What was the use, girlie? I knew it would worry you, and do no good. Better let you sleep in peace, I thought."

"While you kept watch alone and waited through the long night. Oh, Bucky!" She crept の近くに to him and put her 武器 around his neck, 持つ／拘留するing him tight, as if in the hope that she could keep him against the untoward 運命／宿命 that was reaching for him. "Oh, Bucky, if I could only die for you!"

"Don't give up, little friend. I don't. Somehow I'll slip out, and then you'll have to live for me and not die for me."

"What is it that the 知事 wants you to say that you won't?"

"Oh, he wants me to sell our friends. I told him to go climb a 巨大（な） cactus."

"Of course you couldn't do that," she sighed 残念に.

He laughed. "井戸／弁護士席, hardly, and call myself a white man."

"But--" She blanched at the 代案／選択肢. "Oh, Bucky, we must do something. We must-- we must."

"It ain't so bad as it looks, honey. You want to remember that マイク O'Halloran is on deck. What's the 事柄 with him knocking out a home run and bringing us both in. I put a heap of 信用／信任 in that red-haided Irishman," he answered cheerfully.

"You say that just to--to give me courage. You don't really think he can do anything," she said wanly.

"That's just what I think, Curly. Some men have a way of getting things done. When you look at O'Halloran you feel this, the same as you do when you look at Val Collins. Oh, he'll get us out all 権利. I've been in several tighter 穴を開けるs than this one." His について言及する of Collins 示唆するd a 転換, and he took up a いっそう少なく 苦しめるing 主題 lightly. "Wonder what Val is doing at this 正確な moment. I'll bet he's beginning to make things warm for Wolf Leroy's bunch of miscreants. We'll have the robbers of the 限られた／立憲的な behind the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s within two weeks now, or I 行方不明になる my guess."

He had 後継するd in コースを変えるing her attention better than he had dared to hope. Her big 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on his much as if he had raised for her some forgotten spectre.

"That's another thing I must tell you. I didn't think to before. But I want you to know all about me now. Don't think me bad, Bucky. I'm only a girl. I couldn't help myself," she pleaded.

"What is it you have done that is so awful?" he smiled, and went to gather her into his 武器.

She stayed him with a gesture of her 手渡す. "No, not yet. Mebbe after you know you won't want to. I was one of the robbers of the 限られた／立憲的な."

"You--what!" he exclaimed, for once struck dumb with sheer amazement.

"Yes, Bucky. I 推定する／予想する you'll hate me now. What is it you called me--a miscreant? 井戸／弁護士席, that's what I am."

His 武器 slipped 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her as she began to sob, and he gentled her till she could again speak. "Tell me all about it, little Curly." he said.

"I didn't go into it because I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to. My master made me. I don't know much about the others, except that I heard the 指名するs they called each other."

"Would you know them again if you saw them? But of course you would."

"Yes. But that's it, Bucky. I hated them all, and I was in mortal 恐れる all the time. Still--I can't betray them. They thought I went in 自由に with them--all but Hardman. It wouldn't be 権利 for me to tell what I know. I've got to make you see that, dear."

"You'll not need to argue that with me, honey. I see it. You must keep 静かな. Don't tell anybody else what you've told me."

"And will they put me in the 刑務所 when the 残り／休憩（する） go there?"

"Not while Bucky O'Connor is alive and kicking," he told her confidently.

But the form in which he had 表明するd his feeling was unfortunate. It brought them 支援する to the menace of their 状況／情勢. Neither of them could tell how long he would be alive and kicking. She flung herself into his 武器 and wept till she could weep no more.

CHAPTER 14. LE ROI EST MORT; VIVE LE ROI

When the news reached O'Halloran that Megales had 得点する／非難する／２０d on the 対立 by 逮捕（する）ing Bucky O'Connor, the Irishman swore fluently at himself for his oversight in forgetting the Northern Chihuahua. So far as the success of the 謀反のs went, the loss of the 特別奇襲隊員 was a 事柄 of no importance, since O'Halloran knew 井戸／弁護士席 that nothing in the way of useful （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） could be cajoled or 脅すd out of him. But, 本人自身で, it was a blow to the filibuster, because he knew that the 知事 would not hesitate to 遂行する／発効させる his friend if his fancy or his 恐れるs ran that way, and the big, red-長，率いるd Celt would not have let Bucky go to death for a dozen teapot 革命s if he could help it.

"And do you think you're fit to run even a 寄付 party, you 広大な／多数の／重要な, 失敗ing gumph?" マイク asked himself, in disgust. "You a conspirator! You a leader of a 革命! By the ghost of Brian Boru, you had better run along 支援する to the 幼稚園 class."

But he was not the man to let grass grow under his feet while he hesitated how to 治療（薬） his mistake. すぐに he got in touch with Valdez and a few of his party, and decided on a bold counterstroke that, if successful, would …に反対する a checkmate to the 知事's check and would also make unnecessary the unloosing of the 明言する／公表する 囚人s on the 充てるd 長，率いるs of the people.

"But mind, gentlemen," said Juan Valdez plainly, "the 知事 must not be 負傷させるd 本人自身で. I shall not 同意 to any 暴力／激しさ, no 事柄 what the 問題／発行する. その上に, I should like to be given 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the palace, ーするために see that his wants are 適切に 供給するd for. We cannot afford to have our movement discredited at the 手始め by unnecessary 流血／虐殺 or by any wanton 乱暴／暴力を加えるs."

O'Halloran smothered a smile. "やめる 権利, senor. Success at all hazards, but, if possible, success with peace. And, 約束, 支配する to the 是認 of the 残り／休憩（する） of those 現在の, I do hereby 任命する you keeper of the 知事's person and his palace, 同様に as all that do dwell therein, 含むing his man servants, his maid servants, and his daughter. We 持つ／拘留する you 本人自身で 責任がある their 安全な keeping. See that 非，不，無 of them 心にいだく the enemy or give 援助（する） and 慰安 to them." The Irishman finished, with a 幅の広い smile that seemed to say: "Begad, there's a （疑いを）晴らす field. Go in and 勝利，勝つ, me bye."

Nothing could be done in 幅の広い daylight, while the 軍隊／機動隊s of the 政府 party patrolled the streets and were 用意が出来ている to pounce on the first 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs that poked their noses out of the 穴を開けるs where they were hidden. にもかかわらず, their 秘かに調査するs were busy all day, 報告（する）／憶測ing to the 対立 leaders everything that happened of 利益／興味. In the course of the day General Valdez, the father of Juan, was 逮捕（する）d on 疑惑 of complicity and thrown into 刑務所，拘置所, as were a 得点する／非難する／２０ of others thought to be in touch with the Valdez 派閥. All day the 軍隊／機動隊s of the 知事 were fussily busy, but 非，不，無 of the real leaders of the 謀反のs was taken. For General Valdez, though he had been selected on account of his 正直さ and 広大な／多数の／重要な 人気 to 後継する Megales, was unaware of the 陰謀（を企てる） on foot to retire the 独裁者 from 力／強力にする.

It was just after nightfall that a 農業者 drove into Chihuahua with a wagonload of alfalfa. He was 停止（させる）d once or twice by guards on the streets, but, after a very cursory 査察, was 許すd to pass. His 大勝する took him past the 支援する of the 知事's palace, an impressive 石／投石する 事件／事情／状勢 surrounded by beautiful grounds. Here he stopped, as if to fasten a 強く引っ張る. Out of the hay 宙返り／暴落するd fifteen men 武装した with ライフル銃／探して盗むs and revolvers, all of them 存在 careful to leave the wagon on the 味方する farthest from the palace.

"Now, me lads, we're all heroes by our talk. It's up to us to make good. I can 約束 one thing: by this time to-morrow we'll all be live 愛国者s or dead 反逆者s. Which shall it be?"

O'Halloran's 結論するing question was a 単に rhetorical one, for without waiting for an answer he started at the 二塁打 toward the palace, taking advantage of the dense shrubbery that 申し込む／申し出d cover up to the last twenty yards. This last was covered with a 急ぐ so 早い that the guard was surprised into a 降伏する without a 抗議する.

二塁打 guard was on 義務 on account of the 緊張するd 状況／情勢, but the officer in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金, having been won over to the Valdez 味方する, had taken care to 選ぶ them with much 苦痛s. As a consequence, the 謀反のs met friends in place of enemies, and within three minutes controlled fully the palace. Every 入り口 was at once の近くにd and guarded, so that no news of the 逆転 could reach the 軍の 兵舎.

So silently had the palace been taken that, except the guards and one or two servants held as 囚人s, not even those living within it were aware of anything unusual.

"Senor Valdez, you are 任命するd to 通知する the senorita that she need not be alarmed at what has occurred. Senor Garcia will 行為／法令／行動する as captain of the day, and 許す nobody to leave the building under any pretext whatever. I shall 本人自身で put the tyrant under 逮捕（する）. Rodrigo and Jose will …を伴って me."

O'Halloran left his subordinates at the door when he entered the apartments of the 知事. The outer room was empty, and the Irishman passed through it to the inner one, where Megales was accustomed to take his after-dinner siesta.

To-night, however, that gentleman was in no mood for 平和的な reflection followed by slumber. He was on the 辛勝する／優位 of a 火山, and he knew it. The question was whether he could 持つ／拘留する the lid on without an 爆発. General Valdez he dared not 率直に kill, on account of his fame and his 人気, but that pestilent Irishman O'Halloran could be assassinated and so could several of his 同盟（する）s--if they only gave him time. That was the rub. The general 不満 at his 支配する had been no secret, of course, but the activity of the 派閥 …に反対するing him, the boldness and daring with which it had 危険d all to 倒す him, had come as so 完全にする a surprise that he had been unprepared to 会合，会う it. Everywhere to-night his guards covered the city, ready to 鎮圧する 反乱 as soon as it showed its 長，率いる. Carlo was in personal 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 軍隊／機動隊s, and would remain so until after the 選挙 to-morrow, at which he would be 宣言するd 正式に reelected. If he could keep his 手渡すs on the reins for twenty-four hours more the worst would be past. He would give a good 取引，協定 to know what that mad Irishman, O'Halloran, was doing just now. If he could once get 持つ／拘留する of him, the 対立 would 崩壊（する） like a house of cards.

At that 正確な moment in walked the mad Irishman pat to the Mexican's thought of him.

"Buenos noches, excellency. I understand あそこの have been looking for me. I am, senor, yours to 命令（する）." The big Irishman brought his heels together and gave a mocking 軍の salute.

The 知事's first thought was that he was a 犠牲者 of treachery, his second that he was a dead man, his third that he would die as a Spanish gentleman ought. He was pale to the 注目する，もくろむs, but he lost no whit of his dignity.

"You have, I suppose, taken the palace," he said 静かに.

"As a 貸付金, excellency, 単に as a 貸付金. After to-morrow it will be returned you in the event you still need it," replied O'Halloran blandly.

"You 推定する／予想する to 殺人 me, of course?"

The big Celt looked shocked. "Not at all! The 公式発表s may perhaps have to 報告（する）／憶測 you accidentally killed or a 犠牲者 of 自殺. 本人自身で I hope not."

"I understand; but before this lamentable 事故 happens I beg leave to 保証する myself that the palace really is in your 手渡すs, senor. A mere 形式順守, of course." The 知事 smiled his thin-lipped smile and touched a bell beside him.

Twice Megales 圧力（をかける）d the electric bell, but no 整然とした appeared in answer to it. He 屈服するd to the 必然的な.

"I 認める you 勝利者, Senor O'Halloran. Would it （判決などを）下す your victory いっそう少なく embarrassing if I were to give you 構成要素 すぐに for that 公式発表 on 自殺?" He asked the question やめる without emotion, as courteously as if he were 提案するing a stroll through the gardens.

O'Halloran had never liked the man. The Irish in him had always boiled at his tyranny. But he had never disliked him so little as at this moment. The fellow had pluck, and that was one 確かな パスポート to the revolutionist's 好意.

"On the contrary, it would 苦しめる me exceedingly. Let us reserve that 公式発表 as a 残念な 可能性 in the event that いっそう少なく 激烈な 対策 fail."

"Which means, I infer, that you have need of me before I pass by the Socratic method," he 示唆するd, still with that pale smile 始める，決める in granite "I shall depend on you to let me know at what 正確な hour you would like to order an epitaph written for me. Say the word at your convenience, and within five minutes your 公式発表 関心ing the late 知事 will have the 長所 of truth."

"Begad, excellency, I like your spirit. If it's my say-so, you will live to be a hundred. Come the cards are against you. Some other day they may 落ちる more pat for you. But the jig's up now."

"I am very much of your opinion, sir," agreed Megales.

"Then why not make 条件?"

"Such as--"

"Your life and your friends' lives against a graceful capitulation."

"Our lives as 囚人s or as 解放する／自由な men?"

"The 最大の freedom 両立できる with the circumstances. Your friends may either leave or remain and 受託する the new order of things. I'm afraid it will be necessary for you and General Carlo to leave the 明言する／公表する for your own safety. You have both many enemies."

"With our personal 所有／入手s?"

"Of course. Such 所有物／資産／財産 as you cannot 井戸／弁護士席 take may be left in the 手渡すs of an スパイ／執行官 and 性質の／したい気がして of later."

Megales 注目する，もくろむd him 辛うじて. "Is it your opinion, on 栄誉（を受ける）, that the general and I would reach the 境界s of the 明言する／公表する without 存在 assassinated?"

"I 誓約（する） you my 栄誉（を受ける） and that of Juan Valdez that you will be 安全に 護衛するd out of the country if you will 同意 to a disguise. It is only fair to him to say that he stands strong for your life."

"Then, sir, I 受託する your 条件 if you can make it plain to me that you are strong enough to take the city against General Carlo."

From his pocket O'Halloran drew a typewritten 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） and 手渡すd it to the 知事, who ちらりと見ることd it over with 利益／興味.

"These army officers are all with you?"

"As soon as the word is given."

"You will 容赦 me if I ask for proof?"

"Certainly. Choose the 指名する of any one of them you like and send for him. You are at liberty to ask him whether he is 誓約（する）d to us."

The 知事 drew a pencil-示す through a 指名する. O'Halloran clapped his 手渡すs and Rodrigo （機の）カム into the room.

"Rodrigo, the 知事 願望（する）s you to carry a message to 陸軍大佐 Onate. He is 令状ing it now. You will give 陸軍大佐 Onate my compliments and ask him to make as much haste as is convenient."

Megales 調印するd and 調印（する）d the 公式文書，認める he was 令状ing and 手渡すd it to O'Halloran, who in turn passed it to Rodrigo.

"陸軍大佐 Onate should be here in fifteen minutes at the farthest. May I in the 合間 申し込む／申し出 you a glass of ワイン, 独裁者 O'Halloran?" At the Irishman's smile, the Mexican 知事 急いでd to 追加する, 誤解 him purposely: "Perhaps I assume too much in taking the part of host here. May I ask whether you will be 知事 in person or by 副, senor?"

"You do me too much 栄誉（を受ける）, excellency. Neither in person nor by 副, I 恐れる. And, as for the glass of ワイン--with all my heart. Good アルコール飲料 is always in order, whether for a funeral or a marriage."

"Or an abdication, you might 追加する. I drink to a successful 統治する, Senor 独裁者: Le roi est mort; vive le roi!"

The Irishman filled a second glass. "And I drink to 知事 Megales, a 勇敢に立ち向かう man. May the cards 落ちる better for him next time he plays."

The 知事 屈服するd ironically. "A 勇敢に立ち向かう man certainly, and you might 追加する: 'Who loses his 火刑／賭ける without striking one honest blow for it.' "

"We play with stacked cards, excellency. Who can forestall the treachery of 信用d associates?"

"Sir, your 陳謝 for me is very generous, no いっそう少なく so than the 条件 you 申し込む／申し出," returned Megales sardonically.

O'Halloran laughed. "井戸／弁護士席, if you don't like my explanations I shall have to let you make your own. And, by the way, may I 投機・賭ける on a delicate personal 事柄, your excellency?"

"I can 否定する you nothing to-night, senor," answered Megales, mocking at himself.

"Young Valdez is in love with your daughter. I am sure that she is fond of him, but she is very loyal to you and 侮辱する／軽蔑するs the lad. I was thinking, sir, that--"

The Spaniard's 注目する，もくろむ flashed, but his answer （機の）カム suavely as he interrupted: "Don't you think you had better leave Senor Valdez and me to arrange our own family 事件／事情／状勢s? We could not think of troubling you to …に出席する to them."

"He is a good lad and a 勇敢に立ち向かう."

Megales 屈服するd. "Your 推薦 goes a long way with me, senor, and, in truth, I have known him only a small 事柄 of twenty years longer than you."

"Never a more loyal youngster in the land."

"You think so? A 事柄 of 鮮明度／定義s, one may suppose. Loyal to the 権限を与えるd 政府 of his country, or to the 反逆者／反逆するs who would 不法に 倒す it?"

"Egad, you have me there, excellency. 'Tis a question of point of 見解（をとる）, I'm thinking. But you'll never tell me the lad pretended one thing and did another. I'll never believe you like that milksop Chaves better."

"Must I choose either a fool or a knave?"

"I 疑問 it will be no choice of yours. Juan Valdez is an ill man to 否定する what he 始める，決めるs his heart on. If the lady is willing--"

"I shall give her to the knave and wash my 手渡すs of her. Since 背信 栄えるs she may at last come 支援する to the palace as its mistress. Quien sabe?"

"いっそう少なく likely things have happened. What news, Rodrigo?" This last to the messenger, who at that moment appeared at the door.

"陸軍大佐 Onate …に出席するs, senor."

"Show him in."

Onate was plainly puzzled at the 召喚するs to …に出席する the 知事, and mixed with his perplexity was a very evident 苦悩. He ちらりと見ることd quickly at O'Halloran as he entered, as if asking for 指導／手引, and then as questioningly at Megales. Had the Irishman played Judas and betrayed them all? Or was the クーデター already played with success?

"陸軍大佐 Onate, I have sent for you at the request of 知事 Megales to 始める，決める his mind at 残り／休憩（する） on a 乱すing point. His health is failing and he considers the advisability of retiring from the active cares of 明言する／公表する. I have 保証するd him that you, の中で others, would, under such circumstances, be in a friendly relation to the next 行政. Am I 訂正する in so 保証するing him?"

Megales pierced him with his beady 注目する，もくろむs. "In other words, 陸軍大佐 Onate, are you one of the 反逆者s 伴う／関わるd in this 反乱?"

"I prefer the word 愛国者, senor," returned Onate, 紅潮／摘発するing.

"Indeed I have no 疑問 you do. I am answered," he exclaimed scornfully. "And what is the price of patriotism these days, 陸軍大佐?"

"Sir!" The 陸軍大佐 laid his 手渡す on his sword.

"I was 単に curious to know what position you would 持つ／拘留する under the new 行政."

O'Halloran choked a laugh, for by chance the 知事 had 攻撃する，衝突する the nail on the 長，率いる. Onate was to be 国務長官 under Valdez, and this was the bait that had been dangled temptingly under his nose to induce a desertion of Megales.

"If you mean to 反映する upon my 栄誉（を受ける） I can 保証する you that my 良心 is （疑いを）晴らす," answered Onate blackly.

"Indeed, 陸軍大佐, I do not 疑問 it. I have always admired your 良心 and its adaptability." The 知事 turned to O'Halloran. "I am 満足させるd, 上級の 独裁者. If you will 許す me--"

He walked to his desk, 打ち明けるd a drawer, and drew 前へ／外へ a parchment, which he 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd across to the Irishman. "It is my （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限 as 知事. 許す me to place it in your 手渡すs and put myself at the service of the new 行政."

"If you will kindly 令状 公式文書，認めるs, I will send a messenger to General Carlo and another to 陸軍大佐 Gabilonda requesting their 出席. I think 事件／事情／状勢s may be quickly arranged."

"You are irresistible, senor. I 急いで to obey."

Megales sat 負かす／撃墜する and wrote two 公式文書，認めるs, which he turned over to O'Halloran. The latter read them, saw them 公式に 調印（する）d, and 派遣（する）d them to their 目的地s.

When Gabilonda was 発表するd, General Carlo followed almost at his heels. The latter ちらりと見ることd in surprise at O'Halloran.

"Where did you catch him, excellency?" he asked.

"I did not catch him. He has caught me, and, incidentally, you, general," answered the sardonic Megales.

"In short, general," laughed the big Irishman, "the game is up. "

"But the army--You 港／避難所't 降伏するd without a fight?"

"That is 正確に what I have done. Cast your 注目する，もくろむ over that paper, general, and then tell me of what use the army would be to us. Half the officers are with the enemy, の中で them the 愛国的な 陸軍大佐 Onate, whom you see 現在の. A 抵抗 would be futile, and would only result in useless 流血／虐殺."

"I don't believe it," returned Carlo bluntly.

"Seeing is believing, general," returned O'Halloran, and he gave a little nod to Onate.

The 陸軍大佐 left the room, and two or three minutes later a bell began to （死傷者）数.

"What does that mean?" asked Carlo.

"The call to 武器, general. It means that the old 政権 is at an end in Chihuahua. VIVA VALDEZ."

"Not without a struggle," cried the general, 急ぐing out of the room.

O'Halloran laughed. "I'm afraid he will not be able to give the countersign to Garcia. In the 合間, excellency, 未解決の his return, I would 示唆する that you 通知する 陸軍大佐 Gabilonda to turn over the 刑務所，拘置所 to us without 抵抗."

"You hear your new 独裁者, 陸軍大佐," said Megales.

"容赦 me, your excellency, but a written order--"

"Would relieve you of 責任／義務. So it would. I 令状 once more."

He was interrupted as he wrote by a 広大な／多数の／重要な shout from the plaza. "VIVA VALDEZ!" （機の）カム 明確に across the night 空気／公表する, and presently another that stole the color from the cheek of Megales.

"Death to the tyrant! Death to Megales!" repeated the 知事, after the shouts reached them.

"I 恐れる, Senor 独裁者, that your 誓約（する） to see me across the frontier will not avail against that mad-dog 暴徒." He smiled, waving an airy 手渡す toward the window.

The Irishman 始める，決める his bulldog jaw. "I'll get you out 安全に or, begad! I'll go 負かす／撃墜する fighting with you."

"I think we are likely to have 利益／興味ing times, my dear 独裁者. Be sure I shall watch your doings with 利益／興味 so long as your friends 許す me to watch anything in this 現在の world." The 知事 turned to his desk and continued the letter with a 会社／堅い 手渡す. "I think this should relieve you of 責任／義務, 陸軍大佐."

By this time General Carlo had reentered the room, with a crestfallen 直面する.

O'Halloran had been thinking 速く. "知事, I think the safest place for you and General Carlo, for a day or two, will be in the 刑務所，拘置所. I ーするつもりである to put my friend O'Connor in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of its 弁護, with a 信頼できる 命令（する）. There is no need of word reaching the 暴徒 as to where you are hidden. I 自白する the ４半期/4分の1s will be 狭くするs but--"

"No narrower than those we shall 占領する very soon if we do not 受託する your suggestion," smiled Megales. "Buertos! Anything to escape the 圧力（をかける）ing attentions of your friends outside. I ask only one 好意, the 貸付金 of a revolver, in order that we may disappoint the mad dogs if they overpower the guard of Senor O'Connor."

あわてて O'Halloran rapped out orders, gathered together a little 軍隊 of five men, and 用意が出来ている to start. Both Carlo and Megales he furnished with revolvers, that they might put an end to their lives in 事例／患者 the worst happened. But before they had started Juan Valdez and Carmencita Megales （機の）カム running toward them.

"Where are you going? It is too late. The palace is surrounded!" cried the young man. "Look!" He swept an excited arm toward the window. "There are thousands and thousands of frenzied people calling for the lives of the 知事 and General Carlo."

Carlo shook like a leaf, but Megales only smiled at O'Halloran his wintry smile. "That is the trouble in keeping a mad dog, senor. One never knows when it may get out of leash and bite perhaps even the 手渡す that 料金d it."

Carmencita flung herself, sobbing, into the 武器 of her father and filled the palace with her 叫び声をあげるs. Megales 手渡すd her over 敏速に to her lover.

"To my 私的な office," he ordered briskly. "Come, general, there is still a chance."

O'Halloran failed to see it, but he joined the little group that hurried to the 私的な office. Megales dragged his desk from the corner where it 始める，決める and touched a spring that opened a パネル盤 in the 塀で囲む. Carlo, blanched with 恐れる at the 脅しs and 悪口を言う／悪態s that filled the night, sprang toward the passageway that appeared.

Megales plucked him 支援する. "One moment, general. Ladies first. Carmencita, enter."

Carlo followed her, after him the 知事, and lastly Gabilonda, 涙／ほころびing himself from a whispered conversation with O'Halloran. The パネル盤 swung の近くにd again, and Valdez and O'Halloran 解除するd 支援する the desk just as Garcia （機の）カム running in to say that the 暴徒 would not be 否定するd. すぐに O'Halloran threw open a French window and stepped out to the little railed porch upon which it opened. He had the chance of his life to make a speech, and that is the one thing that no Irishman can resist. He flung out from his revolver three 発射s in 早い succession to draw the attention of the 暴徒 to him. In this he 後継するd beyond his hopes. The word ran like wildfire that the mad Irishman, O'Halloran, was about to 配達する a message to them, and from all 味方するs of the building they 注ぐd to hear it. He spoke in Mexican, 速く, his 広大な／多数の／重要な bull 発言する／表明する reaching to the 最大の 限定するs of the （人が）群がる.

"Fellow lovers of liberty, the hour has struck that we have worked and prayed for. The glorious redemption of our 明言する／公表する has been 遂行するd by your 愛国的な 手渡すs. An hour ago the tyrants, Megales and Carlo, slipped out of the palace, 機動力のある swift horses, and are galloping toward the frontier."

A roar of 激怒（する）, such as a tiger disappointed of its kill might give, rose into the night. Such a terrible cry no man made of flesh and 血 could hear directed at him and not tremble.

"But the 追跡 is already on. Swift riders are in chase, with orders not to spare their horses so only they 逮捕（する） the 逃げるing despots. We 推定する／予想する confidently that before morning the tyrants will be in our 手渡すs. In the 合間, let us show ourselves worthy of the liberty we have won. Let us neither 解雇（する） nor 略奪する, but show our 広大な／多数の／重要な 大統領，／社長 in the City of Mexico that not ruffians but an 乱暴／暴力を加えるd people have driven out the 抑圧者s."

The 抱擁する Celt was swimming into his periods beautifully, but it was very 明らかな to him that the 暴徒 must have a vent for its 蓄える／店d excitement. An inspiration 掴むd him.

"But one sacred 義務 calls to us from heaven, my fellow 国民s. Already I see in your glorious 直面するs that you behold the 義務. Then 今後, 愛国者s! To the plaza, and let us 涙／ほころび 負かす／撃墜する, let us destroy by 解雇する／砲火／射撃, let us 絶滅する the statue of the dastard Megales which defaces our fair city. 国民s, to your 愛国的な 義務!"

Another wild yell rang skyward, and at once the fringes of the （人が）群がる began to 消える plazaward, its centre began to heave, its 側面に位置するs to 動かす. Three minutes later the grounds of the palace were again dark and empty. The Irishman's oratory had won the day.

CHAPTER 15. IN THE SECRET CHAMBER

The escaping party groped its way along the passage in the 塀で囲む, 負かす／撃墜する a rough, 狭くする flight of 石／投石する steps to a second tunnel, and along this 地下組織の way for several hundred yards. Since he was the only one familiar with the path they were 横断するing, the 知事 took the lead and guided the others. At a distance of perhaps an eighth of a mile from the palace the tunnel forked. Without hesitation, Megales kept to the 権利. A 石／投石する's throw beyond this point of 相違 there began to be 明らかな a perceptible 降下／家系 which 終結させるd in a 石／投石する 塀で囲む that 封鎖するd 完全に the way.

Megales reached up and put his 負わせる on a rope 一時停止するd from the roof. Slowly the solid masonry swung on a pivot, leaving room on either 味方する for a person to squeeze through. The 知事 設立する it a tight fit, as did also Gabilonda.

"I was more slender last time I passed through there. It has been several years since then," said the 知事, giving his daughter a 手渡す to 補助装置 her through.

They 設立する themselves in a small 議会 fitted up as a living room in a simple way. There were three plain 議長，司会を務めるs, a bed, a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and a dresser, 同様に as a cooking stove.

"This must be の近くに to the 刑務所，拘置所. We have been coming in that direction all the time. It is strange that it could be so 近づく and I not know of it," said the warden, looking around curiously.

Megales smiled. "I am the only person alive that knew of the 存在 of this room or of the secret passage until half an hour ago. I had it built a few years since by Yaquis when I was warden of the 刑務所，拘置所. The other end, the one 開始 from the palace, I had finished after I became 知事."

"But surely the men who built it know of its 存在."

Again Megales smiled. "I thought you knew me better, Carlo. The Yaquis who built this were 非難するd raiders. I 延期するd their 死刑執行 a few months while they were working on this. It was a convenience both to them and to me."

"And is also a convenience to me," smiled Carlo, who was beginning to 回復する from his terror.

"But I don't やめる understand yet how we are to get out of here except by going 支援する the way we （機の）カム," said Gabilonda.

"Which for some of us might 証明する a 危険に unhealthy 旅行. True, 陸軍大佐, and therefore one to be 避けるd." Megales stepped to the 塀で囲む, spanned with his fingers a space from the 床に打ち倒す above a 共同の in the masonry, and 圧力（をかける）d against the 固める／コンクリート. インチ by インチ the 塀で囲む fell 支援する and opened into a lower 回廊（地帯） of the 刑務所，拘置所, the very one indeed which led to the 独房 in which Bucky and his love were 拘留するd. 慎重に the Spaniard's ちらりと見ること traveled 負かす／撃墜する the passage to see it was empty before he opened the パネル盤 door more than enough to look through. Then he beckoned to Gabilonda. "Behold, 疑問ing Thomas!"

The warden gasped. "And I never knew it, never had a 疑惑 of it."

"But this only brings us from one 刑務所，拘置所 to another," 反対するd the general. "We might be penned in here 同様に as at the 城."

"Even that contingency has been 供給するd for. You noticed, perhaps, where the tunnel forked. The left 支店 runs 負かす／撃墜する to the river-wash, and by ten minutes' digging with the 道具s lying there one can 軍隊 an 出口."

"Your excellency is certainly a wonder, and all this done without 誘発するing the least 疑惑 of anybody," admired the warden.

"The wise man, my dear 陸軍大佐, 準備するs for 緊急s; the fool 信用s to his luck," replied the 知事 dryly.

"Are we to stay here for the 現在の, 陸軍大佐?" broke in the 知事's daughter. "And can you furnish accommodations for the 残り／休憩（する） of us if we stay all night, as I 推定する／予想する we must?"

"My dear senorita, I have accommodations and to spare. But the trouble is that your presence would become known. I should be the happiest' man alive to put my all at the accommodation of Chihuahua's fairest daughter. But if it should get out that you are here--" Gabilonda stopped to shrug his fat shoulders at the prospect.

"We shall have to stay here, or, at least, in the lower tier of 独房s. I'm sorry, Carmencita, but there is no other course 両立できる with safety," decided Megales 敏速に.

The warden's 直面する （疑いを）晴らすd. "That is really not a point for me to decide, 知事. This young American, O'Connor, is now in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 刑務所，拘置所. I must 解放（する） him at once, and shall then bring him here to 会談する with you as to means of safety."

Bucky's 注目する，もくろむs opened wide when Gabilonda and Megales （機の）カム alone and without a lantern to his 独房. In the 不明瞭 it was impossible to 認める them, but once within the の近くにd 独房 the warden produced a dark lantern from under his coat.

"Circumstances have arisen that make the 最大の vigilance necessary," explained the warden. "I may begin my explanations by congratulating you and your young friend. Let me 申し込む／申し出 a thousand felicitations. Neither of you are any longer 囚人s."

If he 推定する／予想するd either of them to 落ちる on his neck and weep 涙／ほころびs of 感謝 at his pompous 告示, the 陸軍大佐 was disappointed. From the 不明瞭 where the 特別奇襲隊員's little partner sat on the bed （機の）カム a 深い sigh of 救済, but O'Connor did not wink an eyelash.

"I may 結論する, then, that マイク O'Halloran has been getting in his work?" was his 冷静な／正味の reply.

"正確に／まさに, senor. He is the man on horseback and I travel 進行中で," smiled Megales.

Bucky looked him over coolly from 長，率いる to foot. "Still I can't やめる understand why your ex-excellency does me the 栄誉（を受ける） of a personal visit."

"Because, senor, in the course of human events Providence has seen fit to 逆転する our positions. I am now your 囚人 and you my jailer," explained Megales, and urbanely 追加するd a whimsical question. "Shall you have me hanged at 夜明け?"

"It would be a 楽しみ, and, I reckon, a 義務 too. But I can't 約束 till I've seen マイク. Do some more explaining, 陸軍大佐. I want to know all about the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する-up O'Halloran is boss of. Did he make a 権利 good gather?"

The subtleties of American humor baffled the little Mexican, but he 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd the main drift of the 特別奇襲隊員's query, and narrated with much gesticulation the story of the クーデター that O'Halloran had pulled off in 逮捕（する）ing the 政府 leaders.

"It was an exceedingly neat piece of 戦略," its 犠牲者 認める. "I would give a good 取引，協定 to have the 特権 of hanging your red-長，率いるd friend, but since that is 否定するd me, I must be 感謝する he does not take a fancy to hang me."

"In 事例／患者 he doesn't, your excellency," was Bucky's addendum.

"I understand he has decided to 国外追放する me," retorted Megales lightly. "It is perhaps better politics, on the whole, better even than a knife in the 支援する."

"Unless 噂する is a lying jade, you should be a good 裁判官 of that, 知事," said the American, 注目する，もくろむing him 厳しく.

Megales shrugged. "One of the 刑罰，罰則s of fame is that one gets credit for much he does not deserve. There was your immortal General Lincoln, a wit so famous in your country that every good story is fathered upon him, I understand. So with your humble servant. Let a man 遂行する his vendetta upon the 団体／死体 of an enemy, and behold! the world cries: 'A 犠牲者 of Megales.'"

"Still, if you deserve your 評判 as much as our immortal General Lincoln deserves his, the world may be 容赦d for an 時折の error." O'Connor turned to the warden. "What does he mean by 説 that he is my 囚人? Have you a message for me from O'Halloran, 陸軍大佐?"

"It is his 願望（する）, senor, that, 未解決の the 現在の uncertain 明言する／公表する of public opinion, you 受託する the 命令（する） of the 刑務所，拘置所 and 持つ／拘留する 安全な all persons 拘留するd here, 含むing his excellency and General Carlo. He 願望（する）d me to 保証する you that as soon as is possible he will arrive to 会談する with you in person."

"Good enough, and are you a 囚人, too, 陸軍大佐?"

"I did not so understand Senor O'Halloran."

"If you're not you have to earn your grub and lodgings. I'll 任命する you my 副, 陸軍大佐. And, first off, my orders are to lock up his excellency and General Carlo in this 独房 till morning."

"The 独房, Senor O'Connor, is damp and 不正に ventilated," 抗議するd Gabilonda.

"I know that a heap better than you do, 陸軍大佐," said Bucky dryly. "But if it was good enough for me and my pardner, here, I reckon it's good enough for them. Anyhow, we'll let them try it, won't we, Frank;"

"If you think best, Bucky."

"You bet I do."

"And what about the 知事's daughter?" asked Gabilonda.

"You don't say! Is she a guest of this tavern?"

The 陸軍大佐 explained how they had reached the 刑務所，拘置所 and the circumstances that had led to their hurried flight, while the 特別奇襲隊員 whistled the 空気／公表する of a cowboy song, his mind busy with this new 段階 of the 事例／患者.

"She's one of these here Spanish blue-血d senoritas used to guitar serenades under her window. Now, what would you do with her in a 刑務所，拘置所, Bucky?" he asked himself, in humorous 狼狽; but even as he 反映するd on it his roving 注目する，もくろむ fell on his friend. "The very thing. I'll take Curly Haid in to her and let them 落ちる in love with each other. You're liable to be some busy, Bucky, and shy on leisure to entertain a lady, let alone two."

And so he arranged it. Leaving the former 知事 and General Carlo in the 独房 just vacated by them, フランs and he …を伴ってd Gabilonda to the secret room behind the 回廊（地帯） 塀で囲む.

All three parties to the introduction that followed 定評のある 内密に to a surprise. 行方不明になる Carmencita had 推定する／予想するd the friend of big, rough, homely O'Halloran to 似ている him in 肉親，親類d, at least. Instead, she looked on a bronzed young Apollo of the saddle with something of that same lithe grace she knew and loved in Juan Valdez. And the shy boy beside him--why, the darling was 甘い enough to kiss. The big, brown, helpless 注目する，もくろむs, the blushing, soft cheeks, the 刈る of 厚い, light curls were 詳細（に述べる）s of an extraordinarily taking picture. Really, if these two were fair 見本／標本s, Americans were not so bad, after all. Which 結論 Juan Valdez's fondness for that race may have helped in part to form.

But if the young Spanish girl 設立する a little 現在の of 楽しみ in her surprise, Bucky and his friend were aware of the same sensation. All the charm of her race seemed summed up in Carmencita Megales. She was of blue 血, every feature and 動議 told that. The 罰金, 平易な 始める，決める of her 長，率いる, the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 in the dark, 激しい-攻撃するd 注目する，もくろむs, the sweep of dusky chin and cheek and throat certified the same story. She had, too, that coquettish hint of 不確定, that charm of mystery so 致命的な in its 誘惑する to 追求（する），探索（する）ing man. Even 肉体的に the contradiction of sex attracted. Slender and lissom as a fawn, she was yet a creature of exquisitely 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd curves. Were her 注目する，もくろむs brown or 黒人／ボイコット or--in the sunlight--touched with a gleam of 巡査? There was always 不確定. But much more was there 解雇する／砲火／射撃, a 質 that seemed to flash out from her inner self. She was a child of whims, a 犠牲者 of her moods. Yet in her, too, was a 熱烈な 忠義 that made fickleness impossible. She knew how to love and how to hate, and, にもかかわらず her impulses, was 有能な of 降伏する 完全にする and irrevocable.

All of this Bucky did not read in that first moment of 会合, but the shrewd judgment behind the level blue 注目する，もくろむs （機の）カム to an 評価 概略で just. Before she had spoken three 宣告，判決s he knew she had all her sex's という評判の capacity for 不正 同様に as its characteristic flashes of generosity.

"Are you one of the men who have rebelled against my father and 試みる／企てるd to 殺人 him?" she flashed.

"I'm the man he 非難するd to be hanged tomorrow morning at 夜明け for helping Juan Valdez take the guns," retorted Bucky, with a laugh.

"You are his enemy, and, therefore, 地雷."

"I'm a friend of Michael O'Halloran, who stood between him and the 暴徒 that 手配中の，お尋ね者 to kill him."

"Who first plotted against him and seduced his officers to betray him," she quickly replied.

"I reckon, ma'am, we better agree to 同意しない on politics," said Bucky good-naturedly. "We're sure liable to see things different from each other. Castile and Arizona don't look at things with the same 注目する，もくろむs."

She looked at him just then with very beautiful and scornful ones, at any 率. "I should hope not."

"You see, we're living in the twentieth century up in the sunburned 明言する／公表する," said Bucky, with smiling aplomb.

"Indeed! And we poor Chihuahuans?"

"When I see the ladies I think you're ce'tainly in the golden age, but when I break into your politics, I'm some reminded of that Richard Third fellow in the Shakespeare play."

"Referring, I 推定する, to my father?" she 需要・要求するd haughtily.

"In a general way, but 除去するing the most objectionable points of the king fellow."

"You're very 肉親，親類d." She interrupted her 軽蔑（する） to ask him where he meant her to sleep.

He ちらりと見ることd over the room. "This might do 権利 here, if we had that bed 空気／公表するd."

"Do you 推定する／予想する to put me in アイロンをかけるs?"

"Not 権利 away. 陸軍大佐, I'll ask you to go to the office and 通知する me as soon as Senor O'Halloran arrives." He waited till the 陸軍大佐 had gone before 追加するing: "I'm going to leave this boy with you, senorita, for a while. He'll explain some things to you that I can't. In about an hour I'll be 支援する, perhaps sooner. So long, Curly. Tell the lady your secret." And with that Bucky was out of the room.

"Your secret, child! What does he mean?"

The 炎上 of color that swept into the cheeks of フランs, the 控訴，上告 in the shamed 注目する，もくろむs, held Carmencita's surprised gaze. Then coolly it traveled over the girl and （機の）カム 支援する to her 燃やすing 直面する.

"So that's it, is it?"

But the 軽蔑（する） in her 発言する／表明する was too much for フランs. She had been 裁判官d and 非難するd in that 冷静な／正味の 星／主役にする, and all the woman in her 抗議するd at its 不正.

"No, no, no!" she cried, running 今後 and catching at the other's 手渡す. "I'm not that. You don't understand."

Coldly Carmencita 解放する／撤去させるd her 手渡す and wiped it with her kerchief. "I understand enough. Please do not touch me."

"May I not tell you my story?"

"I'll not trouble you. It does not 利益／興味 me."

"But you will listen?" implored the other.

"I must ask to be excused."

"Then you are a heartless, cruel woman," 炎上d フランs. "I'm good--as good as you are." The color patched her cheek and ebbed again. "I wouldn't 扱う／治療する a dog as you do me. Oh, cruel, cruel!"

The surprising extravagance of her 抗議する, the despair that rang in the fresh young 発言する／表明する, caught the 利益／興味 of the Mexican girl. Surely such a heart-broken cry did not consist with 犯罪. But the facts--when a young and pretty girl masquerades through the country in the garb of a boy with a handsome young man, not much room for 疑問 is left.

フランs was quick to see that the 問題／発行する was 再開するd. "Oh, senorita, it isn't as you think. Do I look like--" She broke off to cover with her 手渡すs a 直面する in which the pink and white warred with 補欠／交替の／交替する success. "I ought not to have come. I ought never to have come. I see that now. But I didn't think he would know. You see, I had always passed as a boy when I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to."

"A remarkably pretty one, child," said 行方不明になる Carmencita, a smile dimpling her cheeks. "But how do you mean that you had passed as a boy?"

フランs explained, giving a 早い sketch of her life with the Hardmans during which she had appeared every night on the 行う／開催する／段階 as a boy without the deception 存在 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd. She had cultivated the tricks and ways of boys, had tried to dress to carry out the impression, and had always 後継するd until she had made the mistake of putting on a gypsy girl's dress a couple of days before.

Carmencita heard her out, but not as a 裁判官. Very 早期に in the story her 疑問s fled and she succumbed to the mothering instinct in her. She took the American girl in her 武器 and laughed and cried with her; for her imagination 掴むd on the romance of the story and delighted in its fresh unconventionality. Since she had been born Carmencita's life had been ordered for her with precision by the 法律s of caste. Her 環境 wrapped her in so that she must follow a 始める，決める and beaten path. It was, to be sure, a flower-strewn one, but often she impotently rebelled against its very orderliness. And here in her 武器 was a 犠牲者 of that adventurous romance she had always longed so passionately to know. Was it wonder she 設立する it in her heart to both love and envy the 支配する of it?

"And this young cavalier--the Senor Bucky, is it you call him?--surely you love him, my dear."

"Oh, senorita!" The blushing 直面する was buried on her new friend's shoulder. "You don't know how good he is."

"Then tell me," smiled the other. "And call me Carmencita."

"He is so 勇敢に立ち向かう, and 患者, and good. I know there was never a man like him."

行方不明になる Carmencita thought of one and demurred silently. "I'm sure this paragon of lovers is at least part of what you say. Does he love you? But I am sure he couldn't help it."

"いつかs I think he does, but once--" フランs broke off to ask, in a pink 炎上: "How does a lover 行為／法令／行動する?"

行方不明になる Carmencita's laughter rippled up. "Gracious me, have you never had one before."

"Never."

"井戸／弁護士席, he should make 詩（を作る）s to you and pretty speeches. He should sing serenades about undying love under your window. Bonbons should 砲撃する you, roses make your rooms a bower. He should be ardent as Romeo, 充てるd as a knight of old. These be the 調印するs of a true love," she laughed.

フランs' 直面する fell. If these were the 記念品s of true love, her 特別奇襲隊員 was 非，不，無. For not one of the symptoms could 公正に／かなり be said to fit him. Perhaps, after all, she had given him what he did not want.

"Must he do all that? Must he make 詩（を作る）s?" she asked blankly, not 存在 able to associate Bucky with poetasting.

"He must," teased her tormentor, running a saucy 注目する，もくろむ over her boyish garb. "And why not with so fair a Rosalind for a 支配する?" She broke off to 引用する in her pretty, uncertain English, acquired at a convent in the 部隊d 明言する／公表するs, where she had …に出席するd school:

"From the east to western Ind, No jewel is like Rosalind. Her 価値（がある） 存在 機動力のある on the 勝利，勝つd, Through all the world 耐えるs Rosalind.

All the pictures, fairest lin'd, Are but 黒人／ボイコット to Rosalind. Let no 直面する be kept in mind But the fair of Rosalind."

So your Shakespeare has it, does he not?" she asked, 逆戻りするing again to the Spanish language, in which they had been talking. But swift on the heels of her raillery （機の）カム repentance. She caught the dispirited girl to her embrace laughingly. "No, no, child! Nonsense ripples from my tongue. These follies are but for a carpet lover. You shall tell me more of your Senor Bucky and I shall make no sport of it."

When Bucky returned at the 満期 of the time he had 始める，決める himself, he 設立する them with their 武器 twined about each other's waists, whispering the 信用／信任s that every girl on the threshold of womanhood has to tell her dearest friend.

"I reckon you like my pardner better than you do me," smiled Bucky to 行方不明になる Carmencita.

"A 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 better, sir, but then I know him better."

Bucky's 注目する，もくろむs 残り／休憩（する）d for a moment almost tenderly on フランs. "I reckon he is better 価値（がある） knowing," he said.

"Indeed! And you so 勇敢に立ち向かう, and 患者, and good?" she mocked.

"Oh! Am I all that?" asked Bucky easily.

"So I have been given to understand."

Out of the corner of his 注目する，もくろむ O'Connor caught the embarrassed, reproachful look that フランs gave her audacious friend, and he 設立する it 平易な to fit quotation 示すs 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the admirable 質s that had just been ascribed to him. He guessed himself blushing a deux with his little friend, and also divined 行方不明になる Carmencita's roguish merriment at their 混乱.

"I AM all those things you について言及するd and a heap more you forgot to say," （人命などを）奪う，主張するd the 特別奇襲隊員 boldly, to relieve the 状況／情勢. "Only I didn't know for sure that folks had 設立する it out. My mind's a heap easier to know I'm 存在 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がるd proper at last."

Under her long, dark 攻撃するs 行方不明になる Carmencita looked at him in gentle derision. "I'm of opinion, sir, that you get all the 評価 that is good for you."

Bucky carried the war into the enemy's country. "Which same, I 推定する／予想する, might be said of Chihuahua's most beautiful belle. And, talking of Senor ,Valdez reminds me that I 借りがある a 義務 to his father, who is 限定するd here. I'll be 説 good night ladies."

"It's high time," agreed 行方不明になる Megales. "Talking of Senor Valdez, indeed!"

"Good night, Curly Haid."

"Good night, Bucky."

To which, in mocking travesty, 追加するd, in English, 行方不明になる Carmencita, who seemed to have an 激烈な／緊急の attack of Shakespeare:

"Good night, good night; parting is such 甘い 悲しみ That I shall say good night till It be morrow."

CHAPTER 16. JUAN VALDEZ SCORES

The first thing Bucky did after leaving the two young women was to go 負かす／撃墜する in person with one of the guards to the 独房 of David Henderson. The occupant of the 独房 was asleep, but he woke up when the two men entered.

"Who is it?" he 需要・要求するd.

"Webb Mackenzie's man come to 解放（する） you," answered Bucky.

The 囚人 fell to trembling like an aspen. "God, man, do you mean it?" he begged. "You wouldn't deceive an old man who has lived fifteen years in hell?"

"It's true, friend, every word of it. You'll live to ride the 範囲 again and count your cattle on the 解放する／自由な hillside. Come with me up to the office and we'll talk more of it."

"But may I? Will they let me?" trembled Henderson, fearful lest his cup of joy be dashed from him. "I'm not dreaming, am I? I'll not wake the way I often do and find that it is all a dream, will I?" He caught at the lapel of O'Connor's coat and searched his 直面する.

"No, your dreams are true at last, Dave Henderson. Come, old friend, take a drink of this to 安定した you. It's all coming out 権利 now."

涙／ほころびs streamed 負かす／撃墜する the 直面する of the man 救助（する）d from a living 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な. He dashed them away impatiently with a shaking 手渡す. "I used to be as game as other men, young man, and now you see what a weakling I am. Don't 裁判官 me too hard. Happiness is a harder thing to stand than 苦痛 or grief. They've tried to break my spirit many a time and they couldn't, but you've done it now with a word."

"You'll be all 権利 as soon as you are able to realize it. I don't wonder the shock unnerves you. Have you anything you want to take out of here with you before you leave forever?"

Pathetically the 囚人 looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する on his few 所持品. Some of them had become endeared to him by years of use and 協会, but they had served their time. "No, I want to forget it all. I （機の）カム in with nothing. I'll take out nothing. I want to blot it all out like a hideous nightmare."

Bucky ordered 陸軍大佐 Gabilonda to bring up from his 独房 General Valdez and the other 逮捕（する）d 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs. They reached the office at the same time as マイク O'Halloran, who 迎える／歓迎するd them with the good news that the day was won. The Megales 派閥 had melted into もや, and all over the city a happy people was shouting for Valdez.

"I congratulate you, general. We have just telegraphed the news over the 明言する／公表する that Megales has 辞職するd and fled. There can be no 疑問 that you will be elected 知事 to-morrow and that the people's party will 勝利，勝つ the day with an 前例のない 投票（する）. Glory be, Chihuahua is at last 解放する／自由な from the heel of tyranny. Viva Valdez! Viva Chihuahua libra!"

Bucky at once introduced to General Valdez the American 囚人 who had 苦しむd so long and 不正に. He recited the story of the 誘拐 of the child, of Henderson's 追跡, of the 殺人，大当り of the 州警察官，騎馬警官, and of the 状況証拠 that 巻き込むd the Texan and upon which he was 罪人／有罪を宣告するd. He then drew from his pocket a 調印するd and attested copy of the 自白 of the knife 投げる人 and 手渡すd it to the general.

Valdez looked it over, asked an incisive question or two of Bucky, heard from Henderson his story, and, after a few moments' discussion of the 事柄 with O'Halloran, 約束d a 解放する／自由な 容赦 as his first 公式の／役人 行為／法令／行動する after 存在 elected to the 知事／長官の職, in 事例／患者 he should be chosen.

The 投票（する） next day amply 正当化するd the hopes of O'Halloran and his friends. The whole ticket, sent out by telegraph and messengers throughout the 明言する／公表する, was triumphantly elected by large 大多数s. Only in one or two out-of-the-way places, where the news of the 落ちる of Megales did not arrive in time to 影響する／感情 the 投票（する）ing, did the old 政府 party make any showing worthy of consideration.

It was after Valdez's 選挙 had been made 確かな by the returns that O'Halloran and Juan Valdez 地位，任命するd to the 刑務所，拘置所 and visited father and daughter. They separated in the lower 回廊（地帯）, one to visit the 敗北・負かすd 知事, the other 行方不明になる Carmencita. The problem before Juan Valdez was to induce that young woman to remain in Chihuahua instead of …を伴ってing her father in his flight. He was a good 闘士，戦闘機, and he meant to 勝利，勝つ, if it were a 可能性. She had tacitly 認める that she loved him, but he knew that she felt that 忠義 需要・要求するd she stay by her father in his flight.

When O'Halloran was 認める to the 独房 where the 知事 and the general were staying he laughed aloud.

"約束, gentlemen, is this the best accommodation 知事 Valdez can furnish his guests? We must 嘆願（書） him to 改善する the 衛生設備 of his hotel."

"We are 存在 told, one may suppose, that General Valdez is the newly elected 知事?"

"権利, your excellency, elected by a large 大多数 to 後継する the late 知事 Megales."

"Late!" The former 知事 解除するd his eyebrows. "Am I also 存在 told that necessity 需要・要求するs the 地位，任命するing of the 自殺 公式発表, after all?"

"Not at all. Sure, I gave you me word, excellency. And that is one of the 推論する／理由s why I am here. We have arranged to run a special 負かす／撃墜する the line to-night, ーするために 避ける the 危険 of the news 漏れるing out that you are still here. Can you make your 手はず／準備 to take that train, or will it hurry your packing too much?"

Megales laughed. "I have nothing to take with me except my daughter. The 残り／休憩（する） of my 所有／入手s may be 今後d later."

"Oh, your daughter! 井戸／弁護士席, that's pat, too. What about the lad, Valdez?"

"Are you his 代表者／国会議員, senor?"

"Oh, he can talk for himself. " O'Halloran grinned. "He's doing it 権利 now, by the same 記念品. Shall we interrupt a tete-a-tete and go 支払う／賃金 our compliments to 行方不明になる Carmencita? You will want to find out whether she goes with you or stays here."

"Assuredly. Anything to escape this 洞穴."

行方不明になる Carmencita was at that moment 繰り返し言うing her everlasting 決意 to go wherever her father went. "If you think, sir, that your faithlessness to him is a 推薦 of your 約束d faithfulness to me, I can only wish you more light on the feelings of a daughter," she was 知らせるing Valdez, when her father slipped through the パネル盤 door and stood before her.

"Brava, senorita!" he 拍手喝采する, with subtle irony, clapping his 手渡すs. "Brava, brava!"

That young woman swam blushingly toward him and let her 直面する disappear in an embrace.

"You see, one can't have everything, Senor Valdez," continued Megales lightly. "For me, I cannot have both Chihuahua and my life; you, it seems, cannot have both your successful 革命 and my daughter. "

"Your excellency, she loves me. Of that I am 保証するd. It 残り／休憩（する）s with you to say whether her life will be spoiled or not. You know what I can 申し込む／申し出 her in 新規加入 to a heart 十分な of devotion. It is enough. Shall she be sacrificed to her 忠義 to you?" the young man 需要・要求するd, with all the ardor of his warm-血d race.

"It is no sacrifice to love and obey my father," （機の）カム a low murmur from the former 知事's shoulder.

"Since the world began it has been the 法律 of life that the young should leave their parents for a home of their own," Juan 抗議するd.

"So the Scripture says," agreed Megales sardonically. "It その上の counsels to love one's enemies, but, I think, omits について言及する of the enemies of one's father."

"Sir, I am not your enemy. Political exigencies have thrown us into different （軍の）野営地，陣営s, but we are not so small as to let such incidentals come between us as a 決定的な 反対 in such a 事柄."

"You argue like a lawyer," smiled the 知事. "You forget that I am neither 裁判官 nor 陪審／陪審員団. Tyrant I may have been to a fickle people that needed a 会社／堅い 手渡す to 支配する them, but tyrant I am not to my only daughter."

"Then you 同意, your excellency?" cried Valdez joyously.

"I neither 同意 nor 辞退する. You must go to a more final 当局 than 地雷 for an answer, young man."

"But you are willing she should follow where her heart leads?"

"But certainly."

"Then she is 地雷," cried Valdez.

"I am not," replied the girl indignantly over her shoulder.

Megales turned her till her unconsenting 注目する，もくろむs met his. "Do you want to marry this young man, Carmencita?"

"I never told him anything of the sort," she 炎上d.

"I didn't やめる ask what you had told him. The question is whether you love him."

"But no; I love you," she blushed.

"I hope so," smiled her father. "But do you love him? An honest answer, if you please."

"Could I love a 反逆者／反逆する?"

"No Yankee answers, muchacha. Do you love Juan Valdez?"

It was Valdez that broke triumphantly the moment's silence that followed. "She does. She does. I （人命などを）奪う，主張する the 同意 of silence."

But victory spoke too 未熟に in his 発言する／表明する. Cried the proud Spanish girl passionately: "I hate him!"

Megales understood the 質 of her hate, and beckoned to his 未来 son-in-法律. "I have some 手はず／準備 to make for our 旅行 to-night. Would it 苦しめる you, senor, if I were to leave you for a while?"

He slipped out and left them alone.

"井戸／弁護士席?" asked O'Halloran, who had remained in the 回廊（地帯）.

"I think, Senor 独裁者, I shall have to make the trip with only General Carlo for a companion," answered the Spaniard.

The Irishman swung his hat. "Hip, hip, hurrah! You're a gentleman I could find it in me heart to both love and hate, 知事."

"And you're a gentleman," returned the 知事, with a 屈服する, "I could find it in my heart to hang high as Haman without love or hate."

Michael linked his arm in that of his excellency.

"Sure, you're a broth of a lad, Senor Megales," he said irreverently, in good, 幅の広い Irish brogue. "Here, me bye, where are you hurrying?" he 追加するd, catching at the sleeve of フランs Mackenzie, who was slipping 静かに past.

"Please, Mr. O'Halloran, I've been up to the office after water. I'm taking it to Senorita Carmencita."

"She doesn't want water just now. You go 支援する to the office, son, and stay there thirty minutes. Then you take her that water," ordered O'Halloran.

"But she 手配中の，お尋ね者 it as soon as I could get it, sir."

"Forget it, kid, just as she has. Water! Why, she's drinking nectar of the gods. Just you do as I tell ye."

フランs was puzzled, but she obeyed, even though she could not understand his meaning. She understood better when she slid 支援する the パネル盤 at the 満期 of the allotted time and caught a glimpse of Carmencita Megales in the 武器 of Juan Valdez.

CHAPTER 17. HIDDEN VALLEY

Across the 砂漠 into the hills, where the sun was setting in a 広大な／多数の／重要な splash of crimson in the saddle between two distant 頂点（に達する）s, a bunch of cows 追跡するd ひどく. Their tongues hung out and they panted for water, stretching their necks piteously to low now and again. For the heat of an Arizona summer was on the baked land and in the 空気／公表する that palpitated above it.

But the end of the 旅行 was at 手渡す and the cowpuncher in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 運動 relaxed in the saddle after the 平易な fashion of the vaquero when he is under no 緊張. He did not any longer cast swift, anxious ちらりと見ることs behind him to make sure no 追跡 was in sight. For he had reached safety. He knew the 'Open sesame' to that 激しく揺する 塀で囲む which rose sheer in 前線 of him. Straight for it he and his companion took their gather, swinging the cattle adroitly 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a 広大な／多数の／重要な 厚板 which 隠すd a gateway to the secret canon. Half a mile up this defile lay what was called Hidden Valley, an inaccessible 退却／保養地 known only to those who たびたび（訪れる）d it for nefarious 目的s.

It was as the man in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 circled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to 長，率いる the lead cows in that a faint 発言する／表明する carried to him. He stopped, listening. It （機の）カム again, a 乾燥した，日照りの, parched call for help that had no hope in it. He wheeled his pony as on a half dollar, and two minutes later caught sight of an exhausted 人物／姿／数字 leaning against a cottonwood. He needed no second guess to surmise that she was lost and had been wandering over the sandy 砂漠 through the hot day. With a shout, he loped toward her, and had his water 瓶／封じ込める at her lips before she had 回復するd from her glad surprise at sight of him.

"You'll feel better now," he soothed. "How long you been lost, ma'am?"

"Since ten this morning. I （機の）カム with my aunt to gather poppies, and somehow I got separated from her and the 装備する. These hills look so alike. I must have got turned 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and mistaken one for another."

"You have to be awful careful here. Some one せねばならない have told you," he said indignantly.

"Oh, they told me, but of course I knew best," she replied, with quick 軽蔑（する） of her own self-十分なこと.

"井戸／弁護士席, it's all 権利 now," the cowpuncher told her cheerfully. He would not for a thousand dollars have told her how 近づく it had come to 存在 all wrong, how her life had probably depended upon that faint wafted call of hers.

He put her on his horse and led it 今後 to the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where the cattle waited at the gateway. Not until they （機の）カム 十分な upon them did he remember that it was dangerous for strange young women to see him with those cattle and at the gateway to the Hidden canon.

"They are my uncle's cattle. I could tell the brand anywhere. Are you one of his riders? Are we の近くに to the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める Ranch?" she cried.

He flung a quick ちらりと見ること at her. "Not very の近くに. Are you from the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める?"

"Yes. I'm Mr. Mackenzie's niece."

"Major Mackenzie's daughter?" 需要・要求するd the man quickly.

"Yes." She said it with a touch of annoyance, for he looked at her as a man does who has heard of her before. She knew that the story had been bruited far and wide of how she had passed through the 手渡すs of the train robbers carrying thirty thousand dollars on her person. She had no 疑問 that it was in this 関係 her 救助者 had heard of her.

He drew off to one 味方する and called his companion to him.

"Hardman, you ride up to the ranch and tell Leroy I've just 設立する 行方不明になる Mackenzie wandering around on the 砂漠, lost. Ask him whether I'm to bring her up. She's played out and can't travel far, tell him."

The showman 棒 on his errand and the other returned to Helen.

"You better light, ma'am. We'll have to wait here a few minutes," he explained.

He helped her dismount. She did not understand why it was necessary to wait, but that was his 商売／仕事 and not hers. Her roving 注目する，もくろむs fell upon the cattle again.

"They ARE my uncle's, aren't they?"

"They were," he 訂正するd. "Cattle change 手渡すs a good 取引，協定 in this country," he 追加するd dryly.

"Then you're not one of his riders?" Her stark 注目する，もくろむs passed over him 速く.

"No, ma'am."

"Are we far from the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める?"

"A 権利 smart distance. You've been traveling, you see, for eight or nine hours."

It occurred to her that there was something elusive, something not やめる frank, about the replies of this young man. Her ちらりと見ること raked him again and swept up the 詳細（に述べる）s of his person. One of them that impressed itself upon her mind was the absence of a finger on his 権利 手渡す. Another was that he was a walking 兵器庫. This startled her, though she was not yet afraid. She relapsed into silence, to which he seemed willing to 同意. Once and again her ちらりと見ること swept him. He looked a 堅い, 天候-beaten 西部の人／西洋人, certainly not a man whom a woman need be afraid to 会合，会う alone on the plains, but the oftener she looked the more 確かな she became that he was not a casual puncher busy at the 合法的 work of his （手先の）技術.

"Do you--live 近づく here?" she asked presently.

"I live under my hat, ma'am," he told her.

"いつかs 近づく here, いつかs not so 近づく."

This told her 正確に／まさに nothing.

"How far did you say it was to the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める?"

"I didn't say."

At the sound of a horses footfall she turned, and she saw that 反して they had been two, now they were three. The newcomer was a slender, graceful man, dark and lithe, with quick, piercing 注目する，もくろむs, 始める，決める 深い in the most 無謀な, sardonic 直面する she had ever seen.

The man 屈服するd, with a sweep of his hat almost derisive. "行方不明になる Mackenzie, I believe."

She met him with level 注目する，もくろむs that 自白するd no 恐れる.

"Who are you, sir?"

"They call me Wolf Leroy."

Her heart sank. "You and he are the men that held up the 限られた／立憲的な.''

"If we are, you are the young lady that （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 us out of thirty thousand dollars. We'll collect now," he told her, with a silky smile and a glitter of white, even teeth.

"What do you mean? Do you think I carry money about with me?"

"I didn't say that. We'll put it up to your father."

"My father?"

"He'll have to raise thirty thousand dollars to redeem his daughter." He let his bold 注目する，もくろむs show their 賞賛. "And she's 価値（がある） every cent of it."

"Do you mean--" She read the flash of 勝利 in his ribald 注目する，もくろむs and broke off. There was no need to ask him what he meant.

"That's what I mean 正確に／まさに, ma'am. You're welcome to the 歓待 of Hidden Valley. What's ours is yours. You're welcome to stay as long as you like, but I reckon YOU'RE NOT WELCOME TO GO WHENEVER YOU WANT TO--not till we get that thirty thousand."

"You talk as if he were a millionaire," she told him scornfully.

"The major's got friends that are. If it's a 対決 he'll dig the dough up. I ain't a bit worried about that. His brother, Webb, will come through."

"Why should he?" She stood as straight and unbending as a young pine, courage regnant in the very 宙に浮く of the 罰金 長，率いる. "You daren't 害（を与える） a hair of my 長，率いる, and he knows it. For your life, you daren't."

His 注目する，もくろむs glittered. Wolf Leroy was never a 安全な man to fling a challenge at. "Don't you be too sure of that, my dear. There ain't one thing on this green earth I daren't do if I 始める，決める my mind to it. And your friends know it."

The other man broke in, 平易な and unmoved. "持つ／拘留する yore hawses, cap. We got no call to be 脅すing this young lady. We keep her for a 身代金 because that's 商売／仕事. But she's as 安全な here as she would be at the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める. She's got York Neil's word for that."

The Wolf snarled. "The word of a miscreant. That'll 慰安 her a heap. And York Neil's word don't always go up here."

The cowpuncher's 安定した 注目する，もくろむs met him. "It'll go this time."

The girl gave her 支持する／優勝者 a 静かな little nod and a low "Thank you." It was not much, but enough. For on the frontier "white men" do not war on women. Her instinct gave just the 権利 manner of 扱う／治療するing his help. It assumed that since he was what he was he could do no いっそう少なく. Moreover, it had the 予期しない 影響 of spurring the Wolf's vanity, or something better than his vanity. She could see the 戦う／戦い in his 直面する, and the passing of its evil, 悪意のある 表現.

"Beg your 容赦, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. York's 権利. I'll 追加する my word to his about your safety. I'm a wolf, they'll tell you. But when I give my word I keep it."

They turned and followed through the gateway the cattle which Hardman and another rider were 運動ing up the canon. Presently the 塀で囲むs fell 支援する, the gulch opened to a saucer-形態／調整d valley in which nestled a little ranch.

Leroy 示すd it with a wave of his 手渡す. "Welcome to Hidden Valley, 行方不明になる Mackenzie," he said cynically.

"Afraid I'm likely to wear my welcome out if you keep me here until my father raises thirty thousand dollars," she said lightly.

"Don't you worry any about that. We need the 精製するing 影響（力）s of ladies' society here. I can see York's a heap 改善するd already. Just to teach us manners you're 価値（がある） your board and keep." Then hardily, with a 広範囲にわたる gesture toward the 疲れた／うんざりした cattle: "Besides, your uncle has sent up a 出資／貢献 to help keep you while you visit with us."

York laughed. "He sent it, but he didn't know he was sending it."

Leroy 降伏するd his room to 行方不明になる Mackenzie and put at her service the old Mexican woman who cooked for him. She was a silent, taciturn creature, as wrinkled as leather parchment and about as handsome, but Alice 設立する safety in the very knowledge of the presence of another woman in the valley. She was の中で robbers and cutthroats, but old Juanita lent at least a touch of domesticity to a 状況／情勢 that would さもなければ have been impossible. The girl was very uneasy in her mind. A 冷淡な dread filled her heart, a 恐れる that was a good 取引，協定 いっそう少なく than panic-terror, however. For she 信用d the man Neil even as she 不信d his captain. Miscreant he had let himself be called, and doubtless was, but she knew no 害（を与える） could 生じる her from his companions while he was alive to 妨げる it. A 安心 of this （機の）カム to her that evening in the fragment of a conversation she overheard. They were passing her window which she had raised on account of the heat when the low 発言する／表明するs of two men （機の）カム to her.

"I tell you I'm not going, Leroy. Send Hardman," one said.

"Are you running this outfit, or am I, Neil?"

"You are. But I gave her my word. That's all there's to it."

Alice was aware that they had stopped and were 直面するing each other tensely.

"Go slow, York. I gave her my word, too. Do you think I'm 許すing to break it while you're away?"

"No, I don't. Look here, Phil. I'm not looking for trouble. You're major-domo of this outfit What you say goes--except about this girl. I'm a white man, if I'm a scoundrel."

"And I'm not?"

"I tell you I'm not sayin' that," the other answered doggedly.

"You're hinting it awful loud. I stand for it this time, York, but never again. You butt in once more and you better reach for your 金物類／武器類 同時の. Stick a pin in that."

They had moved on again, and she did not hear Neil's answer. にもかかわらず, she was 慰安d to know she had one friend の中で these desperate 無法者s, and that 慰安 gave her at least an hour or two of broken, nappy sleep.

In the morning when she had dressed she 設立する her room door 打ち明けるd, and she stepped outside into the 日光. York Neil was sitting on the porch at work on a broken 刺激（する） ひもで縛る. Looking up, he nodded a casual good morning. But she knew why he was there, and 感謝 井戸／弁護士席d up in her heart. Not a young woman who gave way to every impulse, she 産する／生じるd to one now, and shook 手渡すs with him. Their 注目する，もくろむs met for a moment and he knew she was thanking him.

An 注目する，もくろむ derisive 証言，証人／目撃するd the handshake. "An 同盟 against the teeth of the wolf, I'll bet. Good mo'ning, 行方不明になる Mackenzie," drawled Leroy.

"Good morning," she answered 静かに, her 手渡すs behind her.

"Sleep 井戸／弁護士席?"

"Would you 推定する／予想する me to?"

"Why not, with York here doing the virgin-knight 行為／法令／行動する outside your door?"

Her puzzled 注目する，もくろむs discovered that Neil's 直面する was one blush of 当惑.

"He slept here on the po'ch," explained Leroy, amused. "It's a 広大な／多数の／重要な fad, this outdoor sleeping. The doctors recommend it strong for sick people. You wouldn't think to look at him York was sick. He looks plumb husky. But looks are 権利 deceptive. It's a fact, 行方不明になる Mackenzie, that he was so sick last night I wasn't dead sure he'd live till mo'ning."

The 注目する，もくろむs of the men met like rapiers. Neil said nothing, and Leroy dropped him from his mind as if he were a trifle and 充てるd his attention to Alice.

"Breakfast is ready, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. This way, please."

The 無法者 led her to the dining room, where the young woman met a fresh surprise. The （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する was white with immaculate linen and shone with silver. She sat 負かす／撃墜する to breakfast food with cream, followed by quail on toast, bacon and eggs, and really good coffee. Moreover, she discovered that this terror of the 国境 knew how to 扱う his knife and fork, was not deficient in the little niceties of （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する decorum. He talked, and talked 井戸／弁護士席, ignoring, like a perfect host, the relation that 存在するd between them. They sat opposite each other and ate alone, waited upon by the Mexican woman. Alice wondered if he kept 独房監禁 明言する／公表する when she was not there or ate with the other men.

It was evening before Hardman returned from the 使節団 upon which he had been sent in place of the obstinate Neil. He 報告（する）／憶測d at once to Leroy, who （機の）カム smilingly to the place where she was sitting on the porch to tell her his news.

"Webb Mackenzie's going to raise that thirty thousand, all 権利. He's 約束d to raise it inside of three days," he told her triumphantly.

"And shall I have to stay here three whole days?"

He looked with half-shut, smoldering 注目する，もくろむs at her slender exquisiteness, compact of a strange charm that was both 井戸／弁護士席-bred and gypsyish. There was a 不十分な-隠すd passion in his gaze that troubled her. More than once that day she had caught it.

"Three days ain't so long. I could stand three months of you and wish for more," he told her.

Lightly she turned the 支配する, but not without a 冷気／寒がらせる of 恐れる. Three days was a long time. Much might happen if this wolf slipped the leash of his civilization.

It was next day that an 出来事/事件 occurred which was to 影響する／感情 the course of events more than she could guess at the time. A bunch of wild hill steers had been driven 負かす／撃墜する by Hardman, Reilly, and Neil in the afternoon and were inclosed in the corral with the cows from the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める Ranch. Just before sunset Leroy, who had been away all day, returned and sauntered over from the stable to join Alice. It struck the girl from his 紅潮／摘発するd 外見 that he had been drinking. In his 注目する，もくろむ she 設立する a wild devil of lawlessness that 始める，決める her heart 続けざまに猛撃するing. If Neil and he 衝突／不一致d now there would be 殺人 done. Of that she felt sure.

That she 始める，決める herself to humor the Wolf's whims was no more for her own safety than for that of the man who had been her friend. She 抑制（する）d her 恐れるs, clamped 負かす／撃墜する her startled maiden modesty, parried his 前進するs with light words and gay smiles. Once Neil passed, and his 注目する，もくろむs asked a question. She shook her 長，率いる, unnoticed by Leroy. She would fight her own 戦う／戦い as long as she could. It was to コースを変える him that she 提案するd they go 負かす／撃墜する to the corral and look at the wild cattle the men had driven 負かす／撃墜する. She told him she had heard a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 about them, but had never seen any. If he would go with her she would like to look at them.

The 無法者 was 即時に at her service, and they sauntered across. In her 手渡す the girl carried a の近くにd umbrella she had been using to keep off the sun.

They stood at the gate of the corral looking at the long-legged, shaggy creatures, as wild and as active almost as hill deer. On horseback one could pass to and fro の中で them without danger, but in a の近くにd corral a man on foot would have taken a chance. Nobody knew this better than Leroy. But the アルコール飲料 was still in his 長，率いる, and even when sober he was 無謀な beyond other men.

"They need water," he said, and with that opened the gate and started for the windmill.

He sauntered carelessly across, with never a ちらりと見ること at the dangerous animals の中で which he was 投機・賭けるing. A 広大な／多数の／重要な bull pawed the ground lowered its 長，率いる, and made a 急ぐ at the unconscious man. Alice called to him to look out, then whipped open the gate and ran after him. Leroy turned, and, in a flash, saw that which for an instant filled him with a deadly paralysis. Between him and the bull, 直接／まっすぐに in the path of its 急ぐ, stood this slender girl, defenseless.

Even as his revolver flashed out from the scabbard the 無法者 knew he was too late to save her, for she stood in such a position that he could not 攻撃する，衝突する a 決定的な 位置／汚点／見つけ出す. Suddenly her umbrella opened in the 直面する of the animal. 脅すd, it 始める，決める its feet wide and slithered to a 停止（させる） so の近くに to her that its chorus pierced the silk of the umbrella. With one 手渡す Leroy swept the girl behind him; with the other he pumped three 弾丸s into the forehead of the bull. Without a groan it keeled over, dead before it reached the ground.

Alice leaned against the アイロンをかける support of the windmill. She was so white that the man 推定する／予想するd her to 沈む 負かす／撃墜する. One ちらりと見ること showed him other cattle pawing the ground 怒って.

"Come!" he ordered, and, putting an arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her waist, he ran with her to the gate. Yet a moment, and they were through in safety.

She leaned against him helpless for an instant before she had strength to 解放する／撤去させる herself. "Thank you. I'm all 権利 now."

"I thought you were going to faint," he explained.

She nodded. "I nearly did."

His 直面する was colorless. "You saved my life."

"Then we're やめるs, for you saved 地雷," she answered, with a shaken 試みる／企てる at a smile.

He shook his 長，率いる. "That's not the same at all. I had to do that, and there was no 危険 to it. But you chose to save me, to 危険 your life for 地雷."

She saw that he was 大いに moved, and that his emotion had swept away the 影響s of the liquid as a fresh 微風 does a 霧.

"I didn't know I was 危険ing my life. I saw you didn't see."

"I didn't think there was a woman alive had the pluck to do it--and for me, your enemy. That what you count me, isn't it--an enemy?"

"I don't know. I can't やめる think of you as friend, can I?"

"And yet I would have 保護するd you from any danger at any cost."

"Except the danger of yourself," she said, in low 発言する／表明する, 会合 him 注目する，もくろむ to 注目する，もくろむ.

He 受託するd her 是正 with a groan, an wheeled away, leaning his 武器 on the corral 盗品故買者 and looking away to that saddle between the 頂点（に達する） which still glowed with sunset light.

"I 港／避難所't met a woman of your 肉親，親類d before in ten years," he said presently. "I've lived on you looks, your 動議s, the inflections of your 発言する／表明する. I suppose I've been 餓死するd for that sort of thing and didn't know it till you （機の）カム. It's been like a glimpse of heaven to me." He laughed 激しく: and went on: "Of course, I had to take to drinking and let you see the devil I am. When I'm sober you would be as 安全な with me as with York. But the excitement of 会合 you-- I have to ride my emotions to death so as to drain them to the uttermost. Drink 刺激するs the imagination, and I drank."

"I'm sorry."

Her 発言する／表明する said more than the words. He looked at her curiously. "You're only a girl. What do you know about men of my sort? You have been wrappered and 避難所d all your life. And yet you understand me better than any of the people I 会合，会う. All my life I have fought with myself. I might have been a gentleman and I'm only a wolf. My appetites and passions, stronger than myself dragged me 負かす／撃墜する. It was Kismet, the 運命 任命するd for me from my birth."

"Isn't there always hope for a man who knows his 証拠不十分s and fights against them?" she asked timidly.

"No, there is not," （機の）カム the 厳しい answer. "Besides, I don't fight. I 産する／生じる to 地雷. Enough of that. It is you we have to consider, not me. You have saved my life, and I have got to 支払う／賃金 the 負債."

"I didn't think who you were," her honesty compelled her to say.

"That doesn't 事柄. you did it. I'm going to take you 支援する to your father and straight as I can."

Her 注目する，もくろむs lit. "Without a 身代金?"

"Yes."

"You 支払う／賃金 your 負債s like a gentleman, sir."

"I'm not coyote all through."

She could only ignore the hunger that 星／主役にするd out of his 注目する，もくろむs for her. "What about your friends? Will they let me go?"

"They'll do as I say. What kicking they do will be done mostly in 私的な, and when they're away from me."

"I don't want to make trouble for you."

"You won't make trouble for me. If there's any trouble it Will be for them," he said grimly.

Neither of them made any 動議 toward the house. The girl felt a strange impulse of tenderness toward this man who had traveled so 急速な／放蕩な the road to 破壊. She had seen before that 深い hunger of the 注目する，もくろむs, for she was of the type of woman that 持つ／拘留するs a strong attraction for men. It told her that he had looked in the 直面する of his happiness too late--too late by the many years of a misspent life that had 法令d inexorably the character he could no longer change.

"I am sorry," she said again. "I didn't see that in you at first. I misjudged you. One can't label men just good or bad, as the 小説家s used to. You have taught me that--you and Mr. Neil."

His low, sardonic laughter rippled out. "I'm bad enough. Don't make any mistake about that, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. York's different. He's just a good man gone wrong. But I'm plain miscreant."

"Oh, no," she 抗議するd.

"As bad as they make them, but not wolf （疑いを）晴らす through," he said again. "Something's happened to me to-day. It won't change me. I've gone too far for that. But some morning when you read in the papers that Wolf Leroy died with his boots on and everybody in sight 登録（する）s his opinion of the 死んだ you'll remember one thing. He wasn't a wolf to you--not at the last."

"I'll not forget," she said, and the quick 涙／ほころびs were in her 注目する，もくろむs.

York Neil （機の）カム toward them from the house. It was plain from his manner he had a joke up his sleeve.

"You're 手配中の，お尋ね者, Phil," he 発表するd.

"手配中の，お尋ね者 where?"

"You got a 訪問者 in there," Neil said, with a grin and a jerk of his thumb toward the house. "（機の）カム 失敗ing into the draw sorter 偶発の-like, but some curious. So I asked him if he wouldn't light and stay a while. He thought it over, and 人物／姿／数字d he would."

"Who is it?" asked Leroy.

"You go and see. I ain't giving away what your Christmas 現在のs are. I 目的（とする） to let Santa surprise you a few.

行方不明になる Mackenzie followed the 無法者 長，指導者 into the house, and over his shoulder glimpsed two men. One of them was the Irishman, Cork Reilly, and he sat with a Winchester across his 膝s. The other had his 支援する toward them, but he turned as they entered, and nodded casually to the 無法者. Helen's heart jumped to her throat when she saw it was Val Collins.

The two men looked at each other 刻々と in a long silence. Wolf Leroy was the first to speak.

"You damn fool!" The swarthy 直面する creased to an evil smile of derision.

"I ce'tainly do seem to butt in かなりの, Mr. Leroy," 認める Collins, with an answering smile.

Leroy's square jaw 始める，決める like a vise. "It won't happen again, Mr. 郡保安官."

"I'd hate to 賭事 on that 激しい," returned Collins easily. Then he caught sight of the girl's white 直面する, and rose to his feet with outstretched 手渡す.

"Sit 負かす／撃墜する," snapped out Reilly.

"Oh, that's all 権利 I'm shaking 手渡すs with the lady. Did you think I was 招待するing you to 演習 a 穴を開ける in me, Mr. Reilly?"

CHAPTER 18. A DINNER FOR THREE

"I thought we bumped you off 負かす／撃墜する at Epitaph," Leroy said.

"Along with Scott? 井戸／弁護士席, no. You see, I'm a 正規の／正選手 cat to kill, Mr. Leroy, and I couldn't conscientiously join the angels with so lame a story as a game laig to explain my coming," said Collins cheerfully.

"In that 事例／患者--"

"Yes, I understand. You'd be willing to 融通する with a 穴を開ける in the haid instead of one in the laig. But I'll not trouble you."

"What are you doing here? Didn't I 警告する you to …に出席する to your own 商売／仕事 and leave me alone?"

"Seems to me you did 負担 me up with some good advice, but I plumb forgot to follow it."

The Wolf 悪口を言う／悪態d under his breath. "You （機の）カム here at your own 危険, then?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I did and I didn't," 訂正するd the 郡保安官 easily. "I've got a five-thousand 政策 in the Southeastern Life 保険 Company, so I reckon it's some 危険 to them. And, by the way, it's a company I can recommend."

"Does it insure against 自殺?" asked Leroy, his masked, smiling 直面する 隠すing thinly a ruthless 目的.

"And against hanging. Let me 堅固に 勧める you to take out a 政策 at once," （機の）カム the 誘発する retort.

"You think it necessary?"

"やめる. When you and York Neil and Hardman made an end of Scott you threw ropes 一連の会議、交渉／完成する your own necks. Any locoed tenderfoot would know that."

The 郡保安官's unflinching look met the 無法者's 黒人／ボイコット frown serene and （疑いを）晴らす-注目する，もくろむd.

"And would he know that you had committed 自殺 when you ran this place 負かす／撃墜する and （機の）カム here?" asked Leroy, with silken cruelty.

"井戸／弁護士席, he せねばならない know it. The fact is, Mr. Leroy, that it hadn't 侵入するd my think-戦車／タンク that this was your hacienda when I （機の）カム 無所属の政治家ing in."

"Just out riding for your health?"

"Not 正確に／まさに. I was looking for 行方不明になる Mackenzie. I 削減（する） her 追跡する about six miles from the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める and followed it where she wandered around. The 追跡する led 直接／まっすぐに away from the ranch toward the mountains. That didn't make me any 平易な in my mind. So I just jogged along and elected myself an 調査／捜査するing 委員会. I arrived some late, but here I am, 権利 味方する up--and so hearty welcome that my friend Cork won't hear of my leaving at all. He don't do a thing but entertain me--never lets his attention wander. Oh, I'm the welcome guest, all 権利. No 疑問 about that."

Wolf Leroy turned to Alice. "I think you had better go to your room," he said gently.

"Oh, no, no; let me stay," she implored. "You would never--you would never--" The words died on her white lips, but the horror in her 注目する，もくろむs finished the question.

He met her gaze fully, and answered her doggedly. "You're not in this, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. It's between him and me. I shan't 許す even you to 干渉する."

"But--oh, it is horrible! for two minutes."

He shook his 長，率いる.

"You must! Please."

"What use?"

Let me see you alone

Her troubled gaze 転換d to the strong, brown, sun-baked 直面する of the man who had put himself in this deadly 危険，危なくする to save her. His keen, blue-gray 注目する，もくろむs, very searching and 安定した, met hers with a courage she thought splendid, and her heart cried out passionately against the sacrifice.

"You shall not do it. Oh, please let me talk it over with you."

"No."

"Have you forgotten already?--and you said you would always remember." She almost whispered it.

She had stung his 同意 at last. "Very 井戸／弁護士席," he said, and opened the door to let her pass into the inner room.

But she noticed that his 注目する，もくろむs were hard as jade.

"Don't you see that he （機の）カム here to save me?" she cried, when they were alone. "Don't you see it was for me? He didn't come to 秘かに調査する out your place of hiding."

"I see that he has 設立する it. If I let him go, he will bring 支援する a posse to take us."

"You could ride across the line into Mexico."

"I could, but I won't."

"But why?"

"Because, 行方不明になる Mackenzie, the money we took from the 表明する car of the 限られた／立憲的な is hidden here, and I don't know where it is; because the sun won't ever rise on a day when Val Collins will 運動 me out of Arizona."

"I don't know what you mean about the money, but you must let him go. You spoke of a service I had done you. This is my 支払う／賃金."

"To turn him loose to 追跡（する） us 負かす／撃墜する?"

"He'll not trouble you if you let him go."

A sardonic smile touched his 直面する. "A lot you know of him. He thinks it his 義務 to rid the earth of vermin like us. He'd never let up till he got us or we got him. 井戸／弁護士席, we've got him now, good and plenty. He took his chances, didn't he? It isn't as if he didn't know what he was up against. He'll tell you himself it's a square 取引，協定. He's game, and he won't squeal because we 勝利，勝つ and he has to 支払う／賃金 没収される."

The girl wrung her 手渡すs despairingly.

"It's his life or 地雷--and not only 地雷, but my men's," continued the 無法者. "Would you turn a wolf loose from your sheep pen to lead the pack to the kill?"

"But if he were to 約束 "

"We're not talking about the ordinary man--he'd 約束 anything and 嘘（をつく） to-morrow. But 郡保安官 Collins won't do it. If you think you can 新たな展開 a 約束 out of him not to take advantage of what he has 設立する out you're guessing wrong. When you think he's a quitter, just look at that cork 手渡す of his, and remember how come he to get it. He'll take his 薬／医学 proper, but he'll never はう."

"There must be some way," she cried 猛烈に,

"Since you make a point of it, I'll give him his chance."

"You'll let him go?" The joy in her 発言する／表明する was tremulously plain.

He laughed, leaning carelessly against the mantelshelf. But his 狭くするd 注目する，もくろむs watched her vigilantly. "I didn't say I would let him go. What I said was that I'd give him a chance."

"How?"

"They say he's a dead 発射. I'm a few with a gun myself. We'll ride 負かす／撃墜する to the plains together, and find a good lonely 位置／汚点／見つけ出す suitable for a graveyard. Then one of us will ride away, and the other will stay, or perhaps both of us will stay."

She shuddered. "No--no--no. I won't have it."

"Afraid something might happen to me, ma'am?" he asked, with a queer laugh,

"I won't have it."

"Afraid, perhaps, he might be the one left for the coyotes and the buzzards?"

She was white to the lips, but at his next word the 血 （機の）カム 炎上ing 支援する to her cheeks.

"Why don't you tell the truth? Why don't you; say you love him, and be done with it? Say it and I'll take him 支援する to Tucson with you 安全な as if he were a baby."

She covered her 直面する with her 手渡すs, but with two steps he had reached her and 逮捕（する）d he 手渡すs.

"The truth," he 需要・要求するd, and his 注目する，もくろむs compelled.

"It is to save his life?"

He laughed 厳しく. "Here's melodrama for you! Yes--to save your lover's life."

She 解除するd her 注目する，もくろむs to his bravely. "What you say is true. I love him."

Leroy 屈服するd ironically. "I congratulate Mr. Collins, who is now やめる 安全な, so far as I am 関心d. 一方／合間, lest he be jealous of your absense, shall we return now?"

Some word of sympathy for the 無謀な scamp trembled on her lips, but her instinct told her would 持つ／拘留する it 侮辱 追加するd to 傷害, and she left her pity unvoiced.

"If you please."

But as he heeled away she laid a timid 手渡す on his arm. He turned and looked grimly 負かす／撃墜する at the working 直面する, at the 甘い, soft, pitiful 注目する，もくろむs brimming with 涙／ほころびs. She was pure woman now, all the caste pride 解散させるd in yearning pity.

"Oh, you lamb--you precious lamb," he groaned, and clicked his teeth shut on the poignant 苦痛 of his loss.

"I think you're splendid," she told him. "Oh, I know what you've done--that you are not good. I know you've wasted your life and lived with your 手渡す against every man's. But I can't help all that. I look for the good in you, and I find it. Even in your sins you are not petty. You know how to rise to an 適切な時期."

This man of contradictions, forever the creature of his impulses, gave the 嘘（をつく） to her last words by signally failing to rise to this one. He snatched her to him, and looked 負かす／撃墜する hungry-注目する，もくろむd at her 甘い beauty, as fresh and fragrant as the wild rose in the copse.

"Please," she cried, 緊張するing from him with shy, 脅すd 注目する，もくろむs.

For answer he kissed her ひどく on the cheeks, and 注目する，もくろむs, and mouth.

"The 残り／休憩（する） are his, but these are 地雷," he laughed mirthlessly.

Then, flinging her from him, he led the way into the next room. 紅潮／摘発するd and disheveled, she followed. He had 乱暴／暴力を加えるd her maiden instincts and trampled 負かす／撃墜する her traditions of caste, but she had no time to think of this now.

"If you're through explaining the 機械装置 of that Winchester to 郡保安官 Collins we'll reluctantly dispense with your presence, Mr. Reilly. We have arranged a 一時的な 条約 of peace," the 長，指導者 無法者 said.

Reilly, a 抱擁する lout of a fellow with a lowering countenance, 投機・賭けるd to expostulate. "Ye want to be careful of him. He's quicker'n chain 雷."

His 長，指導者 爆発するd with low-発言する／表明するd fury. "When I ask your advice, give it, you fat-brained son of a brand blotter. Until then padlock that mouth of yours. Vamos."

Reilly 消えるd, his 直面する a picture of impotent malice, and Leroy continued:

"We're going to the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める in the morning, Mr. Collins--at least, you and 行方不明になる Mackenzie are going there. I'm going part way. We've arranged a little 取引，協定 all by our 孤独なs, 支配する to your 是認. You get away without that 穴を開ける in your 長，率いる. 行方不明になる Mackenzie goes with you, and I get in return the papers you took off Scott and Webster."

"You mean I am to give up the 追跡（する）?" asked Collins.

"Not at all. I'll be glad to death to see you 失敗ing in again when 行方不明になる Mackenzie isn't here to beg you off. The point is that in 交流 for your freedom and 行方不明になる Mackenzie's I get those papers you left in a safety-deposit 丸天井 in Epitaph. It'll save me the trouble of sticking up the First 国家の and winging a few indiscreet 国民s of that burgh. Savvy?"

"That's all you ask?" 需要・要求するd the surprised 郡保安官.

"All I ask is to get those papers in my 手渡す and a four-hour start before you begin the 追跡（する）. Is it a 取引，協定?"

"It's a 取引，協定, but I give it to you straight that I'll be after you as soon as the four hours are up," returned Collins 敏速に. "I don't know what 魔法 行方不明になる Mackenzie used. Still, I must compliment her on getting us out mighty 平易な."

But though the 郡保安官 looked smilingly at Alice, that young woman, usually mistress of herself in all 緊急s, did not 解除する her 注目する，もくろむs to 会合，会う his. Indeed, he thought her strangely embarrassed. She was as 紅潮／摘発するd and tongue-tied as a country girl in unaccustomed company. She seemed another woman than the self-所有するd young beauty he had met a month before on the 限られた／立憲的な, but he 設立する her shy abashment charming.

"I guess you thought you had come to the end of the passage, Mr. Collins," 示唆するd the 無法者, with listless curiosity.

"I didn't know whether to order the flowers or not, but 'way 負かす／撃墜する in my heart I was 支援 my luck," Collins told him.

"Of course it's understood that you are on 仮釈放（する） until we separate," said Leroy curtly.

"Of course."

"Then we'll have supper at once, for we'll have to be on the road 早期に." He clapped his 手渡すs together, and the Mexican woman appeared. Her master flung out a 命令（する） or two in her own language.

"--poco tiempo,--" she answered, and disappeared.

In a surprisingly short time the meal was ready, 始める，決める out on a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する white with Irish linen and winking with 削減（する） glass and silver.

"Mr. Leroy does not believe at all in doing when in Rome as the Romans do," Alice explained to Collins, in answer to his start of amazement. "He's a 正規の／正選手 Aladdin. I shouldn't be a bit surprised to see electric lights come on next."

"One has to 試みる／企てる いつかs to blot out the forsaken 砂漠," said Leroy. "Try this 削減（する） of slow elk, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. I think you'll like it."

"Slow elk! What is that?" asked the girl, to make talk.

"Mr. Collins will tell you," smiled Leroy.

She turned to the 郡保安官, who first わびるd, with a smile, to his host. "Slow elk, 行方不明になる Mackenzie, is veal that has been rustled. I 推定する／予想する Mr. Leroy has 圧力（をかける）d a 逸脱する calf into our Service "

"I see," she flashed. "圧力（をかける）d veal."

The 無法者 smiled at her ready wit, and took on himself the 重荷（を負わせる） of その上の explanation. "And this particular slow elk comes from a ranch on the Aravaipa owned by Mr. Collins. York 発射 it up in the hills a day or two ago."

"Shouldn't have been 逸脱するing so far from its 範囲," 示唆するd Collins, with a laugh. "But it's good veal, even if I say it that shouldn't."

"Thank you," burlesqued the 強盗 厳粛に, with such an ironic touch of 条約 that Alice smiled.

After dinner Leroy produced cigars, and with the 許可 of 行方不明になる Mackenzie the two men smoked while the conversation ran on a topic as impersonal as literature. A 批評 of novels and plays written to illustrate the frontier was the line into which the discussion fell, and the girl from the city, listening with a vivid 利益／興味, was pleased to find that these two real men talked with point and a sense of dexterous turns. She felt a sort of proud proprietorship in their 力／強力にする, and wished that some of the tailors' models she had met in society, who held so good a conceit of themselves, might come under the （一定の）期間 of their strong, tolerant virility. Whatever the difference between them, it might be truly said of both that they had lived at first 手渡す and come in touch closely with all the elemental realities. One of them was a romantic villain and the other an unromantic hero, but her pulsing emotions morally 非難するd one no more than the other.

This was the sheer delight of her esthetic sense of fitness, that strong men engaged in a finish fight could rise to so perfect a 儀礼 that an 部外者 could not have guessed the antagonism that ran between them, 耐えるing as life.

Leroy gave the signal for breaking up by looking at his watch. "Afraid I must say 'Lights out.' It's past eleven. We'll have to be up and on our way with the hooters. Sleep 井戸／弁護士席, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. You don't need to worry about waking. I'll have you called in good time. Buenos noches."

He held the door for her as she passed out; and, in passing, her 注目する，もくろむs rose to 会合，会う his.

"--Buenos noches, senor;--I'm sure I shall sleep 井戸／弁護士席 to-night," she said.

It had been the day of Alice Mackenzie' life. Emotions and sensations, 殺到するing through her, had trodden on each other's heels. Woman-like, she welcomed the 不明瞭 to 分析する and 分類する the turbid 大混乱 of her mind. She had been swept into sympathy with an 無法者, to give him no worse 指名する. She had felt herself nearer to him than to some honest men she could 指名する who had 申し込む／申し出d her their love.

Surely, that had been bad enough, but worse was to follow. This discerning scamp had torn aside her 隠すs of maiden reserve and exposed the secret fancy of her heart, unknown before even to herself. She had 自白するd love for this big-hearted 郡保安官 and frontiersman. Here she could 嘆願d an ulterior 動機. To save his life any deception was permissible. Yes, but where lay the truth? With that insistent 需要・要求する of the 無法者 had 急ぐd over her a sudden wave of joy. What could it mean unless it meant what she would not 収容する／認める that it could mean? Why, the man was impossible. He was not of her class. She had 不十分な seen him a half-dozen times. Her first 会合 with him had been only a month ago. One month ago--

A remembrance flashed through her that brought her from the bed in a barefoot search for matches. When the candle was relit he slipped a chamoisskin pouch from her neck and from it took a 調印（する）d envelope. It was the 公式文書，認める in which the 郡保安官 on the night of the train 強盗 had written his 予測 of how the 事柄 would come out. She was to open the envelope in a month, and the month was up to-night.

As she tore open the flap it （機の）カム to her with one of her little flashing smiles that she could never have guessed under what circumstances she would read it. By the 薄暗い 炎上 of a guttering candle, in a cotton nightgown borrowed from a Mexican menial, a 囚人 of the very man who had robbed her and the 受取人 of a practical 自白 of love from him not three hours earlier! Surely here was a 状況／情勢 to beggar romance. But before she had finished reading the reality was still more unbelievable.

I have just met for the first time the woman I am going to marry if God is good to one. I am 令状ing this because I want her to know it as soon as I decently can. Of course, I am not worthy of her, but then I don't know any man that is.

So the fact goes--I'm bound to marry her if there's nobody else in the way. This isn't conceit. It is a 深い-seated certainty I can't get away from, and don't want to. When she reads this, she will think it a piece of foolish presumption. My hope is she will not always think so. Her Lover,

VAL COLLINS.

Her swift-pulsing heart was behaving very queerly. It seemed to hang delightfully still, and then jump 今後 with 半端物 little （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域s of joy. She caught a glimpse of her happy 直面する, and blew out the light for shame, groping her way 支援する to bed with the letter carefully guarded against crumpling by her 手渡す.

Foolish presumption indeed. Why, he had only seen her once, and he said he would marry her with never a by-your-leave! Wasn't that what he had said? She had to strike another match to learn the lines that had not stuck word for word in her mind, and after that another match to get a picture of the scrawl to visualize in the dark.

How dared he take her for 認めるd? But what a 熟達した way of 支持を得ようと努めるing for the 権利 man! What idiotic folly if he had been the wrong one! Was he, then, the 権利 one? She questioned herself closely, but （機の）カム to no more 限定された answer than this--that her heart went glad with a 甘い joy to know he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to marry her.

She 解決するd to put him from her mind, and in this 解決する she fell at last into smiling sleep.

CHAPTER 19. A VILLON OF THE DESERT

When Alice Mackenzie looked 支援する in after years upon the 出来事/事件s connected with that ride to the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める, it was always with a 肉親，親類d of glorified pride in her villain-hero. He had his moments, had this twentieth-century Villon, when he 代表するd not unworthily the divinity in man; and this day held more than one of them. Since he was what he was, it also held as many of his 黒人／ボイコット moods.

The start was 延期するd, 借りがあるing to a 原因（となる） Leroy had not foreseen. When York went, sleepy-注目する，もくろむd, to the corral to saddle the ponies, he 設立する the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s into the pasture let clown, and the whole remunda kicking up its heels in a paddock large as a goodsized city. The result was that it took two hours to run up the bunch of ponies and another half-hour to 削減（する） out, rope, and saddle the three that were 手配中の，お尋ね者. Throughout the 過程 Reilly sat on the 盗品故買者 and scowled.

Leroy, making an end of slapping on and cinching the last saddle, wheeled suddenly on the Irishman. "What's the 事柄, Reilly?"

"Was I 説 anything was the 事柄?"

"You've been looking it 権利 hard. Ain't you man enough to say it instead of playing dirty little three-for-a-cent tricks--like letting 負かす／撃墜する the corral-妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s?"

Reilly flung a look at Neil that plainly 需要・要求するd support, and then descended with truculent 反抗 from the 盗品故買者.

"Who says I let 負かす／撃墜する the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s? You bet I am man enough to say what I think; and if ye think I ain't got the 神経--"

His master encouraged him with ironic derision. "That's 権利, Reilly. Who's afraid? Cough it up and show York you're game."

"By 雷鳴, I AM game. I've got a kick coming, sorr."

"Yes?" Leroy rolled and lit a cigarette, his 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs 直す／買収する，八百長をするd intently on the malcontent. "井戸／弁護士席, 登録（する） it on the jump. I've got to be off."

"That's the point." The curly-長，率いるd Neil had lounged up to his comrade's support. "Why have you got to be off? We don't savvy your game, cap."

"Perhaps you would like to be major-domo of this outfit, Neil?" scoffed his 長，指導者, 注目する，もくろむing him scornfully.

"No, sir. I ain't aimin' for no such thing. But we don't like the way things are 形態／調整ing. What does all this here funny 商売／仕事 mean, anyhow?" His thumb jerked toward Collins, already 機動力のある and waiting for Leroy to join him. "Two days ago this world wasn't big enough to 持つ／拘留する him and you. 井戸／弁護士席, I git the 減少（する） on him, and then you begin to cotton up to him 権利 away. Big dinner last night--シャンペン酒 corks popping, I hear. What I want to know is what it means. And here's this 行方不明になる Mackenzie. She's good for a big 身代金, but I don't see it ambling our way. It looks darned funny."

"That's the ticket, York," derided Leroy. "Come again. Turn your wolf loose."

"Oh! I ain't afraid to say what I think."

"I see you're not. You should try stump-speaking, my friend. There's a field fox you there."

"I'm asking you a question, Mr. Leroy."

"That's whatever," chipped in Reilly.

"Put a 指名する to it."

"井戸／弁護士席, I want to know what's the game, and where we come in."

"Think you're getting the 二塁打-cross?" asked Leroy pleasantly, his vigilant 注目する，もくろむs covering them like a 武器.

"Now you're shouting. That's what I'd like 権利 井戸／弁護士席 to know. There he sits"--with another thumbjerk at Collins--"and I'm a Chink if he ain't carryin' them same two guns I took offen him, one on the train and one here the other day. I ain't sayin' it ain't all 権利, cap. But what I do say is--how about it?"

Leroy did some thinking out loud. "Of course I might tell you boys to go to the devil. That's my 権利, because you chose me to run this outfit without any advice from the 残り／休憩（する） of you. But you're such 幼児s, I reckon I had better explain. You're always worrying those fat brains of yours with 疑惑s. After we stuck up the 限られた／立憲的な you couldn't 信用 me to take care of the swag. Reilly here had to cook up a fool 計画／陰謀 for us all to hide it blindfold together. I told you straight what would happen, and it did. When Scott crossed the divide we were in a Jim Dandy of a 穴を開ける. We had to have that paper of his to find the boodle. Then Hardman gets caught, and coughs up his little recipe for helping to find hidden treasure. Who gets them both? Mr. 郡保安官 Collins, of course. Then he comes visiting us. Not 存在 a fool, he leaves the 文書s behind in a safety-deposit 丸天井. Unless I can 直す／買収する，八百長をする up a を取り引きする him, Mr. Reilly's wise play buncoes us and himself out of thirty thousand dollars."

"Why don't you let him send for the papers first?"

"Because he won't do it. 脅す nothing! Collins ain't that 肉親，親類d of a hairpin. He'd tell us to shoot and be damned."

"So you've got it 直す／買収する，八百長をするd with him?" 需要・要求するd Neil.

"You've a 長，率いる like a sheep, York," admired Leroy. "YOU don't need any brick-塀で囲む hints to 攻撃する，衝突する you. As your think-戦車／タンク has guessed, I have come to an understanding with Collins."

"But the gyurl--I 許す the old major would come 負かす／撃墜する with a 権利 smart 身代金."

"Wrong guess, York. I 許す he would come 負かす／撃墜する with a 権利 smart posse and wipe us off the 直面する of the earth. Collins tells me the major has sent for a couple of Apache trailers from the 保留（地）／予約. That means it's up to us to 引き上げ（る） for Sonora. The only point is whether we take that buried money with us or leave it here. If I make a を取り引きする Collins, we get it. If I don't, it's somebody else's gold-地雷. Anything more the 委員会 of 調査 would like to know?" 結論するd Leroy, as his 冷淡な 注目する，もくろむs raked them scornfully and （機の）カム to 残り／休憩（する） on Reilly.

"Not for 地雷," said Neil, with an apologetic laugh. "I'm 満足させるd. I just 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know. And I guess Cork 確認するs."

Reilly growled something under his breath, and turned to hulk away.

"One moment. You'll listen to me, now. You have taken the liberty to assume I was going to sell you out. I'll not stand that from any man alive. To-morrow night I'll get 支援する from Tucson. We'll dig up the 略奪する and divide it. And 権利 then we やめる company. You go your way and I go 地雷." And with that as a parting 発射, Leroy turned on his heel and went direct to his horse.

Alice Mackenzie might have searched the West with a 罰金-tooth 徹底的に捜す and not 設立する どこかよそで two such riders for an 護衛する as 盗品故買者d her that day. 肉体的に they were a pair of superb animals, each perfect after his fashion. If the fair-haired 巨大（な）, with his lean, 幅の広い shoulders and rippling flow of muscles, 本体，大部分／ばら積みのd more strikingly in a 陳列する，発揮する of sheer strength, the sinewy, tigerish grace of the dark Apollo left nothing to be 願望（する）d to the 注目する，もくろむ. Both of them had been brought up in the saddle, and each was fit to the minute for any 緊急 likely to appear.

But on this pleasant morning no 実験（する） of their 力／強力にする seemed likely to arise, and she could 熟考する／考慮する them at her 緩和する without hindrance. She had never seen Leroy look more the vagabond enthroned. For dress, he wore the ありふれた 器具／備品 of Cattleland--jingling 刺激（する）s, fringed chaps, leather cuffs, gray shirt, with kerchief knotted loosely at the neck, and revolver ready to his 手渡す. But he carried them with an 空気／公表する, an inimitable grace, that 示すd him for a prince の中で his fellows. Something of the 肉親，親類d she hinted to him in jesting paradoxical fashion, making an 試みる／企てる to 勝利，勝つ from his sardonic gloom one of his quick, flashing smiles.

He 反対するd by telling her what he had heard York say to Reilly of her. "She's a princess, Cork," York had said. "Makes my Epitaph gyurl look like a chromo beside her. Somehow, when she looks at a fellow, he feels like a whitewashed nigger."

All of them laughed at that, but both Leroy and the 郡保安官 tried to banter her by 主張するing that they knew 正確に／まさに what York meant.

"You can be very splendid when you want to give a man that whitewashed feeling; he isn't 権利 sure whether he's on the 地図／計画する or not," reproached the train-robber.

She laughed in the slow, indolent way she had, taking the straw hat from her dark 長，率いる to catch better the faint breath of 勝利，勝つd that was soughing across the plains.

"I didn't know I was so terrible. I don't think あそこの ever had any awe of anybody, Mr. Leroy." Her soft cheek 紅潮／摘発するd in 予期しない memory of that moment when he had 小衝突d aside all her maiden reserves and ravished mad kisses from her. "And Mr. Collins is big enough to take care of himself," she 追加するd あわてて, to banish the unwelcome recollection.

Collins, with his 注目する，もくろむs on the light-発射 waves that 栄冠を与えるd her vivid 直面する, wondered whether he was or not. If she had been a woman to 願望（する） in the queenly, half-insolent 無関心／冷淡 of manner with which she had first met him, how much more of charm lay in this piquant gaiety, in the warm sweetness of her softer and more pliant mood! It seemed to him she had the gift of comradeship to perfection.

They unsaddled and ate lunch in the shade of the live-oaks at El Dorado Springs, which used to be a much-たびたび（訪れる）d watering-穴を開ける in the days when （軍の）野営地，陣営 認める 栄えるd and mule-skinners freighted 供給（する）s in to 料金d Uncle Sam's pets. Two hours later they stopped again at the 辛勝する／優位 of the Santa Cruz wash, two miles from the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める Ranch.

It was while they were resaddling that Collins caught sight of a cloud of dust a mile or two away. He unslung his field-glasses, and looked long at the approaching dust-渦巻く. Presently he 手渡すd the binoculars to Leroy.

"Five of them; and that 一連の会議、交渉／完成する-bellied Papago pony in 前線 belongs to 郡保安官 Forbes, or I'm away wrong."

Leroy lowered the glasses, after a long, unflurried 査察. "Looks that way to me. 推定する／予想する I'd better be 燃やすing the 勝利，勝つd."

In a few 宣告，判決s he and Collins arranged a 会合 for next day up in the hills. He 追跡するd his 刺激（する）s through the dust toward Alice Mackenzie, and 申し込む／申し出d her his brown 手渡す and wistful smile irresistible. "Good-by. This is where you get やめる of me for good."

"Oh, I hope not," she told him impulsively. "We must always be friends."

He laughed ruefully. "Your father wouldn't indorse those unwise 感情s, I reckon--and I'd hate to bet your husband would," he 追加するd audaciously, with a ちらりと見ること at Collins. "But I love to hear you say it, even though we never could be. You're a 権利 game, stanch little pardner. I'll 支援する that opinion with the lid off."

"You should be a good 裁判官 of those 質s. I'm only sorry you don't always use them in a good 原因（となる）."

He swung himself to his saddle. "Good-by."

"Good-by--till we 会合，会う again."

"And that will be never. So-long, 郡保安官. Tell Forbes I've got a particular 約束／交戦 in the hills, but I'll be 権利 glad to 会合，会う him when he comes."

He 棒 up the draw and disappeared over the brow of the hillock. She caught another glimpse of him a minute later on the 首脳会議 of the hill beyond. He waved a 手渡す at her, half-turning in his saddle as he 棒.

Presently she lost him, but faintly the 勝利，勝つd swept 支援する to her a haunting snatch of uncouth song:

"Oh, bury me out on the 孤独な prairee, In my 狭くする 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な just six by three,"

Were the words drifted to her by the 勝利，勝つd. She thought it pathetically likely he might get the wish of his song.

To 郡保安官 Forbes, dropping into the draw a few minutes later with his posse, Collins was a 井戸／弁護士席 of misinformation literally true. Yes, he had followed 行方不明になる Mackenzie's 追跡する into the hills and 設立する her at a mountain ranch-house. She had been there a couple of days, and was about to 始める，決める out for the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める with the owner of the place, when he arrived and volunteered to see her as far as her uncle's ranch.

"I reckon there ain't any use asking you if you seen anything of Wolf Leroy's outfit," said Forbes, a 天候-beaten 西部の人／西洋人 with a shrewd, wrinkled 直面する.

"No, I reckon there's no use asking me that," returned Collins, with a laugh that deceptively seemed to 含む the older man in the joke.

"We're after them for rustling a bunch of Circle 33 cows. 井戸／弁護士席, I'll be moving. Glad you 設立する the lady, Val. She don't look 非，不，無 played out from her little trek across the 砂漠. Funny, ain't it, how she could have wandered that far and her 進行中で?"

The Arizona sun was setting in its accustomed 炎 of splendor, when Val Collins and Alice Mackenzie put their horses again toward the ranch and the rainbow-hued west. In his contented 注目する，もくろむs were 反映するd the 日光 and a serenity born of life in the wide, open spaces. They 棒 in silence for long, the gentle evening 微風 blowing in soughs.

"Did you ever 会合，会う a man of such 約束s gone wrong so utterly? He might have been anything--and it has come to this, that he is 追跡（する）d like a wild beast. I never saw anything so pitiful. I would give anything to save him."

He had no need to ask to whom she was referring. "Can't be done. Good 質s bulge out all over him, but they don't count for anything. '安定性のない as water.' That's what's the 事柄 with him. He is the slave of his own whims. Hence he is only the splendid 難破させる of a man, 十分な of all 肉親，親類d of rich outcropping 支払う／賃金-鉱石 that pinch out when you try to work them. They don't raise men gamer, but that only makes him a more dangerous 敵 to society. Same with his 忠義 and his brilliancy. He's got a haid on him that 作品 like they say old J. E. B. Stuart's did. He would run into a hundred 罠（にかける）s, but somehow he always worked his men out of them. That's Leroy, too. If he had been an ordinary 犯罪の he would have been 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd up years ago. It's his audacity, his アイロンをかける 神経, his ,good horse-sense judgment that saves his 肌. But he's ce'tainly up against it at last."

"You think 郡保安官 Forbes will 逮捕（する） him?"

He laughed. "I think it more likely he'll 逮捕（する） Forbes. But we know now where he hangs out, and who he is. He has always been a mystery till now. The mystery is solved, and unless he strikes out for Sonora, Leroy is as good as a dead man."

"A dead man?"

"Does he strike you as a man likely to be taken alive? I look to see a 劇の 出口 to the sound of 割れ目ing Winchesters."

"Yes, that would be like him," she 自白するd with shudder. "I think he was made to lead a forlorn hope. Pity it won't be one worthy of the best in him."

"I guess he does have more moments 始める，決める to music than most of us, and I'll bet, too, he has hidden way in him a 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of 'Thou shalt nots.' I read a 調書をとる／予約する once by a man 指名するd Stevenson that was sure virgin gold. He showed how every man, no 事柄 how low he 落ちるs, has somewhere in him a light that 燃やすs, some rag of 栄誉（を受ける） for which he is still fighting I'd hate to have to 裁判官 Leroy. Some men, I reckon, have to buck against so much in themselves that even 失敗 is a 肉親，親類d of success for them."

"Yet you will go out to 追跡（する） him 負かす／撃墜する?" she' said, marveling at the 幅の広い sympathy of the man.

"Sure I will. My 公式の／役人 義務 is to look out for society. If something in the machine breaks loose and goes to ripping things to pieces, the engineer has to stop the 損失, even if he has to 粉砕する the 棒 that's 原因（となる）ing the trouble."

The ponies dropped 負かす／撃墜する again into the bed of the wash, and 骨折って進むd across through the 激しい sand. After they had reached the solid road, Collins 再開するd conversation at a new point.

"It's a month and a day since I first met you 行方不明になる Mackenzie," he said, 明らかに apropos of nothing.

She felt her 血 begin to choke. "Indeed!"

"I gave you a letter to read when I was on the train."

"A letter!" she exclaimed, in 井戸／弁護士席-影響する／感情d surprise.

"Did you think it was a 調書をとる／予約する of poems? No, ma'am, it was a letter. You were to read it in a month. Time was up last night. I reckon you read it."

"Could I read a letter I left at Tucson, when it was a hundred miles away?" she smiled with 甘い patronage.

"Not if you left it at Tucson," he assented, with an answering smile.

"Maybe I DID lose it." She frowned, trying to remember.

"Then I'll have to tell you what was in it."

"Any time will do. I dare say it wasn't important."

"Then we'll say THIS time."

"Don't be stupid, Mr. Collins. I want to talk about our 砂漠 Villon."

"I said in that letter--"

She put her pony to a canter, and they galloped 味方する by 味方する in silence for half a mile. After she had slowed 負かす／撃墜する to a walk, he continued placidly, as if oblivious of an interruption:

"I said in that letter that I had just met the young lady I was 推定する／予想するing to marry."

"Dear me, how 利益／興味ing! Was she in the smoker?"

"No, she was in Section 3 of the Pullman."

"I wish I had happened to go into the other Pullman, but, of course, I couldn't know the young lady you were 利益／興味d in was riding there."

"She wasn't."

"But you've just told me "

"That I said in the letter you took so much trouble to lose that I 推定する／予想するd to marry the young woman passing under the 指名する of 行方不明になる Wainwright."

"Sir!"

"That I 推定する／予想するd--"

"Really, I am not deaf, Mr. Collins."

"--推定する／予想するd to marry her, just as soon as she was willing."

"Oh, she is to be given a 発言する／表明する in the 事柄, is she?"

"Ce'tainly, ma'am."

"And when?"

"井戸／弁護士席, I had been thinking now was a 権利 good time."

"It can't be too soon for me," she flashed 支援する, 広範囲にわたる him with proud, indignant 注目する，もくろむs.

"But I ain't so sure. I rather think I'd better wait."

"No, no! Let us have it done with once and for all."

He relapsed into a serene, abstracted silence.

"Aren't you going to speak?" she 炎上d.

"I've decided to wait."

"井戸／弁護士席, I 港／避難所't. Ask me this minute, sir, to marry you."

"Ce'tainly, if you cayn't wait. 行方不明になる Mackenzie, will you--"

"No, sir, I won't--not if you were the last man on earth," she interrupted hotly, whipping herself into a 本物の 激怒（する）. "I never was so 侮辱d in my life. It would be ridiculous if it weren't so--so outrageous. You EXPECT, do you? And it isn't conceit, but a 深い-seated certainty you can't get away from."

He had her 公正に／かなり. "Then you DID read the letter."

"Yes, sir, I read it--and for sheer, 無敵の impudence I have never seen its like."

"Now, I wish you would tell me what you REALLY think," he drawled.

Not 存在 able, for 推論する／理由s equestrian, to stamp her foot, she gave her bronco the 刺激（する）.

When Collins again 設立する conversation practicable, the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める, a white adobe 密談する／（身体を）寄せ集める in the moonlight, lay 平和的に beneath them in the alley.

"It's a 権利 quaint old ranch, and it's seen a heap of rough-and-宙返り／暴落する life in its day. If those old adobe bricks could tell stories, I 推定する／予想する they could put some of these romances out of 商売／仕事." 行方不明になる Mackenzie's covert ちらりと見ること questioned suspiciously what this 転換 might mean.

"All this country's 利益／興味ing. Take Tucson now that burg is 負担d to the roofs with live stories. It's an all-権利 商売／仕事 town, too--the best in the 領土," he continued patriotically. "She ain't so 広大な／多数の／重要な as Douglas on 鉱石 or as 不死鳥／絶品 on lungers, but when it comes, to the git-up-and-git hustle, she's there 一連の会議、交渉／完成するing up the 貿易（する） from 早期に morn till dine."

He was still expatiating in a monologue with 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な enthusiasm on the town of his choice, when they （機の）カム to the pasture 盗品故買者 of the ranch.

"Some folks don't like it--call it adobe-town, and say it's 十分な of greasers. Everybody to his taste, I say. Little old Tucson is good enough for me."

She gave a queer little laugh as he talked. She had put a タブー on his love story herself, but she resented the perfectly unmoved good humor with which he seemed to be 受託するing her 判決. She made up her mind to punish him, but he gave her no chance. As he helped her to dismount, he said:

"I'll take the horses 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the stable, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. Probably I won't see you again before I leave, but I'm hoping to 会合，会う you again in Tucson one of these days. Good-by."

She nodded a curt good-by and passed into the house. She was 悩ますd and indignant, but had too strong a sense of humor not to enjoy a joke even when it was against herself.

"I forgot to ask him whether he loves me or Tucson more, and as one of the 支配するs seems to be の近くにd I'll probably never find out," she told herself, but with a queer little 強く引っ張る of 苦痛 in her laughter.

Next moment she was in the 武器 of her father.

CHAPTER 20. BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY

To 最小限に減らす the 危険, Megales and Carlo left the 刑務所，拘置所 by the secret passage, に引き続いて the fork to the river bank and digging at the piled-up sand till they had 軍隊d an 出口. O'Halloran met them here with horses, and the three men followed the riverwash beyond the 限界s of the town and 削減（する） across by a 追跡する to a 味方するing on the Central Mexican 太平洋の 跡をつけるs. The Irishman was careful to take no chances, and kept his party in the mesquit till the headlight of an approaching train was 明白な.

It drew up at the 味方するing, and the three men boarded one of the two cars which composed it. The coach next the engine was 占領するd by a dozen 信用d 兵士s, who had 以前は belonged to the 護衛 of Megales. The last car was a 私的な one, and in it the three 設立する Henderson, Bucky O'Connor, and his little friend, the latter still garbed as a boy.

フランs was exceedingly eager to don again the 着せる／賦与するs proper to her sex, and she had 約束d herself that, once habited as she 願望（する）d, nothing could induce her ever to masquerade again. Until she met and fell in love with the 特別奇襲隊員 she had thought nothing of it, since it had been 単に a 事柄 of professional 商売／仕事 to which she had been 軍隊d. Indeed, she had いつかs enjoyed the humor of the deception. It had lent a spice o enjoyment to a life not （人が）群がるd with it. But after she met Bucky there had grown up in her a new sensitiveness. She 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be womanly, to forget her turbid past and the 転換s to which she had いつかs been put. She had been a child; she was now a woman. She 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be one of whom he need be in no way ashamed.

When their train began to pull out of the 倉庫・駅 at Chihuahua she drew a 深い sigh of 救済.

"It's good to get away from here 支援する to the 明言する／公表するs. I'm tired of 陰謀（を企てる）s and counterplots. For the 残り／休憩（する） of my life I want to be just a woman," she said to Bucky.

The young man smiled. "I reckon I must やめる trying to make you a gentleman. Fact is, I don't want you to be one any more."

She slanted a look at him to see what that might mean and another up the car to make sure that Henderson was out of 審理，公聴会.

"It was rather hopeless, wasn't it?" she smiled. "We'll do pretty 井戸／弁護士席 if we 後継する in making me a lady in course of time. I've a lot to learn, you know."

"井戸／弁護士席, you got lots of time to learn it," he replied cheerfully. "And I've got a notion tucked away in the 支援する of my haid that you 港／避難所't got such a heap to 熟考する／考慮する up. Mrs. Mackenzie will put you next to the etiquette wrinkles where you are shy."

A 影をつくる／尾行する fell on the piquant, eager 直面する beside him. "Do you think she will love me?"

"I don't think. I know. She can't help it."

"Because she is my mother? Oh, I hope that is true."

"No, not only because she is your mother."

She decided to ask for no more 推論する／理由s. Henderson, pleased at the wide stretch of plain as only one who had 行方不明になるd the open 空気／公表する for many years could be, was on the 観察 壇・綱領・公約 in the 後部 of the car, one ちらりと見ること at his empty seat showed her. There was no safety for her shyness in the presence of that proverbial three which makes a （人が）群がる, and she began to feel her heart again in panic as once before. She took at once the 開始 she had given.

"I do need a mother so much, after growing up like Topsy all these years. And 地雷 is the dearest woman in the world. I fell in love with her before, and I did not know who she was when I was at he ranch."

"I'll agree to the second dearest in the world, but I reckon you shoot too high when you say the plumb dearest."

"She is. We'll quarrel if you don't agree," trying 猛烈に to コースを変える him from the topic she knew he meant to 追求する. For in the past two days he had been so busy helping O'Halloran that he had not even had a glimpse of her. As a consequence of which each felt half-疑わしい of the other's love, and フランs felt wholly shy about 表明するing her own or even listening to his.

"井戸／弁護士席, we're 予定 for a quarrel, I reckon. But we'll 延期する it till we got more time to give it. He drew a watch from his pocket and ちらりと見ることd at it "In いっそう少なく than fifteen minutes マイク and our two friends who are making their 逃亡 will come in that door Henderson just went out of. That means we won't get a chance to be alone together, for about two days. I've got something to say to you, Curly Haid, that won't keep that long with out running my 気温 （疑いを）晴らす up. So I'm 許すing to say it 権利 now 即座の. No, you don't need to turn them brown appealers on me. It won't do a mite of good. It's Bucky to the bat and he's bound to make a 攻撃する，衝突する or strike out."

"I think I hear Mr. Henderson coming," murmured フランs, for 欠如（する） of something more 効果的な to say.

"Not him. He's hogtied to the scenery long enough to do my 商売／仕事. Now, it won't take me long if I get off 権利 foot first. You read my letter, you said?"

"Which letter?" She was 診察するing attentively the fringe of the sash she wore.

"Why, honey, that love-letter I wrote you. If there was more than one it must have been wrote in my sleep, for I ce'tainly disremember it."

He could just hear her 混乱させるd answer: "Oh, yes, I read that. I told you that before."

"What did you think? Tell me again."

"I thought you misspelled feelings."

"You don't say. Now, ain't that too bad? But, girl o' 地雷, I 推定する／予想する you were able to make it out, even if I did get the letters to milling around wrong. I meant them feelings all 権利. Outside of the （一定の）期間ing, did you have any 反対s to them,

"How can I remember what you wrote in that letter several days ago?"

"I'll bet you know it by heart, honey, and, if you don't, you'll find it in your inside vest pocket, tucked away 権利 の近くに to your heart."

"It isn't," she 否定するd, with a blush.

"Sho! Pinned to your shirt then, little pardner. I ain't particular which. Point is, if you need to refresh that ailin' memory of yours, the 文書 is--権利 handy. But you don't need to. It just says one little 宣告，判決 over and over again. All you have got to do is to say one little word, and you don't have to say it but once."

"I don't understand you," her lips 発言する／表明するd.

"You understand me all 権利. What my letter said was 'I love you,' and what you have got to say is: 'Yes'"

"But that doesn't mean anything."

"I'll make out the meaning when you say it."

"Do I have to say it?"

"You have to if you feel it."

Slowly the big brown 注目する，もくろむs （機の）カム up to 会合，会う his bravely. "Yes, Bucky."

He caught her 手渡すs and looked 負かす／撃墜する into her pure, 甘い soul.

"I'm in luck," he breathed 深く，強烈に. "In golden luck to have you look at me twice. Are you sure?"

"Sure. I loved you that first day I met you. I've loved you every day since," she 自白するd 簡単に.

十分な on the lips he kissed her.

"Then we'll be married as soon as we reach the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める."

"But you once said you didn't want to be my husband," she taunted sweetly. "Don't you remember? In the days when we were gipsies."

"I've changed my mind. I want to, and I'm in a hurry."

She shook her 長，率いる. "No, dear. We shall have to wait. It wouldn't be fair to my mother to lose me just as soon as she finds me. It is her 権利 to get 熟知させるd with me just as if I belonged to her alone. You understand what I mean, Bucky. She must not feel as if she never had 設立する me, as if she never had been first with me. We can love each other more 簡単に if she doesn't know about you. We'll have it for a secret for a month or two."

She put her little 手渡す on his arm appealingly to 勝利，勝つ his 同意. His 注目する，もくろむs 残り／休憩（する）d on it curiously, Then he took it in his big brown one and turned it palm up. Its delicacy and perfect finish moved him, for it seemed to him that in the contrast between the two 手渡すs he saw in miniature the difference of sex. His showed strength and competency and the roughness that comes of the struggle of life. But hers was strangely tender and confiding, compact of the 質s that go to （不足などを）補う the strength of the weak. Surely he deserved the worst if he was not good to her, a 保護物，者 and buckler against the 嵐／襲撃するs that must （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 against them in the 広大な／多数の／重要な adventure they were soon to begin together.

Reverently he raised the little 手渡す and kissed its palm.

"Sure, sweetheart I had forgotten about your mother's （人命などを）奪う，主張する. We can wait, I reckon," he 追加するd with a smile. "You must always 始める，決める me straight when I lose the 追跡する of what's 権利, Curly Haid. You are to be a guiding-星／主役にする to me."

"And you to me. Oh, Bucky, isn't it good?"

He kissed her again hurriedly, for the train was jarring to a 停止（させる）. Before he could answer in words, O'Halloran burst into the coach, at the 長，率いる of his little company.

"All serene, Bucky. This is the last scene, and the show went without a hitch in the 業績／成果 anywhere. "

Bucky smiled at フランs as he answered his enthusiastic friend:

"That's 権利. Not a hitch anywhere."

"And say, Bucky, who do you think is in the other coach dressed as one of the guards?"

"陸軍大佐 Roosevelt," the 特別奇襲隊員 guessed 敏速に.

"Our friend Chaves. He's escaping because he thinks we'll have him assassinated in 復讐," the big Irishman returned gleefully. "You should have seen his color, me bye, when he caught sight of me. I asked him if he'd been 減ずるd to the 階級s, and he begged me not to tell you he was here. Go in and devil him."

Bucky ちらりと見ることd at his lover. "No, I'm so plumb contented I 港／避難所't the heart."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める Ranch there was bustle and excitement. Mexicans scrubbed and scoured under the direction of Alice and Mrs. Mackenzie, and vaqueros 棒 hither and thither on bootless errands 工夫するd by their nervous master. For late that morning a telephone call from Aravaipa had brought Webb to the receiver to listen to a 電報電信. The message was from Bucky, then on the train on his way home.

"The best of news. Reach the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める tonight."

That was the message which had 乱すd the serenity of big Webb Mackenzie and had given to the motherly heart of his wife an unusual ぱたぱたする. The best of news it could not be, for the 特別奇襲隊員 had already written them of the 自白 of Anderson, which 含むd the 声明 of the death of their little daughter. But at least he might bring the next best news, （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that David Henderson was 解放する／自由な at last and his long 殉教／苦難 ended.

So all day hurried 準備s were 存在 made to receive the 栄誉（を受ける）d guests with a fitting welcome. The 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める was a big ranch, and its 歓待 was famous all over the 南西. It was やめる unnecessary to make special 成果／努力s to entertain, but Webb and his wife took that means of relieving the 緊張する on them till night.

Higher crept the hot sun of baked Arizona. It passed the zenith and began to descend toward the purple hills in the west, went behind them with a 広大な／多数の／重要な rainbow splash of brilliancy peculiar to that country Dusk （機の）カム, and died away in the 中央 of a love-concert of quails. Velvet night, with its myriad 星／主役にするs, 入り口d the land and made 魔法 of its hills and valleys.

For the fiftieth time Webb dragged out his watch and 協議するd it.

"I wish that young man had let us know which way he was coming, so I could go and 会合，会う them. If they come by the river they should be in the Box canyon by this time. But if I was to ride out, like as not they would come by the mesa," he sputtered.

"What time is it, Webb?" asked his wife. scarcely いっそう少なく excited.

He had to look again, so absent-minded had been his last ちらりと見ること at the watch. "Nine-fifteen. Why didn't I telephone to Rogers and ask him to find out which way they were coming? いつかs I'm mighty 厚い-長，率いるd."

As Mackenzie had guessed, the party was winding its way through the Box Canyon at that time of speaking. Bucky and フランs led the way, followed by Henderson and the vaquero whom Mackenzie had telephoned to guide them from Aravaipa.

"I reckon this night was made for us, Curly Haid. Even good old Arizona never turned out such a one before. I 推定する／予想する it was ordered for us ever since it was decided we belonged to each other. That may have been thousands of years ago." Bucky laughed, to relieve the 緊張, and looked up at the 乳の way above. "We're like those 星／主役にするs, honey. All our lives we have been drifting around, but all the time it had been decided by the God-of-things-as-they-are that our 軌道s were going to run together and gravitate into the same one when the 権利 time （機の）カム. It has come now."

"Yes, Bucky," she answered softly. "We belong, dear."

"Hello, here's the end of the canon. The ranch lies 権利 behind that 刺激（する）."

"Does it?" Presently she 追加するd: "I'm all a-tremble, Bucky. To think I'm going to 会合，会う my father and my mother for the first time really, for I don't count that other time when we didn't know. Suppose they shouldn't like me."

"Impossible. Suppose something reasonable," her lover replied.

"But they might not. You think, you silly boy, that because you do everybody must. But I'm so glad I'm 着せる／賦与するd and in my 権利 mind again. I couldn't have borne to 会合，会う my mother with that boys 控訴 on. Do you think I look nice in this? I had to take what I could find ready-made, you know."

Unless his 注目する，もくろむs were blinded by the glamour of love, he saw the sweetest 見通し of loveliness he had known. Such a より勝るing 奇蹟 of soft, dainty curves, such surplusage of beauty in 明らかにする throat, speaking 注目する，もくろむ, 甘い mouth, and dimpled cheeks! But Bucky was a lover, and perhaps no fair 裁判官, for in that touch of vagueness, of fairy-land, lent by the moonlight, he 設立する the world almost too beautiful to believe. Did she look NICE? How beggarly words were to 表明する feelings, after all.

The vaquero with them 棒 今後 and pointed to the valley below, where the ranch-house 密談する／（身体を）寄せ集めるd in a pellucid sea of moonlight.

"That's the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める, sir."

Presently there （機の）カム a shout from the ranch, and a man galloped toward them. He passed Bucky with a wave of his 手渡す and made 直接／まっすぐに for Henderson.

"Dave! Dave, old partner," he cried, leaping from his horse and catching the other's 手渡す. "After all these years you've risen from the dead and come 支援する to me." His 発言する／表明する was broken with emotion.

"Come! Let's canter 今後 to the ranch," said Bucky to フランs and the vaquero, thinking it best to leave the two old comrades together for a while.

Mrs. Mackenzie and Alice met them at the gate. "Did you bring him? Did you bring Dave?" the older lady asked 熱望して.

"Yes, we brought him," answered Bucky, helping フランs to dismount.

He led the girl to her mother. "Mrs. Mackenzie, can you stand good news?"

She caught at the gate. "What news? Who is this lady?"

"Her 指名する is フランs."

"フランs what?"

"フランs Mackenzie. She is your daughter, returned, after all these years, to love and be loved."

The mother gave a little throat cry, 安定したd herself, and fell into the 武器 of her daughter. "Oh, my baby! My baby! 設立する at last."

静かに Bucky slipped away to the stables with the ponies. As 静かに Alice disappeared into the house. This was sacred ground, and not even their feet should 残り／休憩（する） on it just now.

When Bucky returned to the house, he 設立する his sweetheart sitting between her father and mother, each of whom was 持つ／拘留するing one of her 手渡すs. Henderson had retired to clean himself up. Happy 涙／ほころびs were coursing 負かす／撃墜する the cheeks of the mother, and Webb 設立する it necessary to blow his nose frequently. He jumped up at sight of the 特別奇襲隊員.

"Young man, you're to 非難する for this. You've 設立する my friend and you've 設立する my daughter. Brought them both 支援する to us on the same day. What do you want? 指名する it, and it's yours, if I can give it."

Bucky looked at フランs with a smile in his 注目する，もくろむs. He knew very 井戸／弁護士席 what he 手配中の，お尋ね者, but he was under 社債s not to 指名する it yet.

"I'll 始める，決める you up in the cattle 商売／仕事, sir. I'll buy you sheep, if you prefer. I'll get you an 利益／興味 in a 地雷. Put a 指名する to what you want."

"I'm no robber. You paid the expenses of my trip. That's all I want 権利 now."

"It's not all you'll get. Do you think I'm a cheap piker? No, sir. You've got to let me grub-火刑／賭ける you." Mackenzie 強くたたくd a clinched 握りこぶし 負かす／撃墜する on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

"All 権利, seh. You're the doctor. Give me an 利益／興味 in that 地図／計画する and I'll prospect the 地雷 this summer, if I can 位置を示す it."

"Good enough, and I'll 財政／金融 the proposition. You and Dave can take half-株 in the 所有物／資産／財産. In the 合間, are you open to an 約束／交戦?"

"Depends what it is," replied Bucky 慎重に.

"My foreman's やめる on me. Gone into 商売／仕事 for himself. I'm looking for a good man. Will you be my major-domo?"

Bucky's heart leaped. He had been thinking of how he must 報告（する）／憶測 almost すぐに to HurryUp Millikan, of the 特別奇襲隊員s. Now, he could 辞職する from that 団体／死体 and stay 近づく his love. Certainly things were coming his way.

"I'd like to try it, seh," he answered. "I may not make good, but I sure would like to have a chance at it."

"Make good! Of course you'll make good. You're the best man in Arizona, sir," cried Webb extravagantly. He wheeled on his new-設立する daughter. "Don't you think so, Frankie?"

フランs blushed, but answered bravely: "Yes, sir. He makes everything 権利 when he takes 持つ／拘留する of it."

"Good. We're not going to let him get away from us after making us so happy, are we, mother? This young man is going to stay 権利 here. We never had but one son, and we are going to 扱う／治療する him as much like one as we can. Eh, mother?"

"If he will 同意, Webb." She went up to the 特別奇襲隊員 and kissed his tanned cheek. "You must 容赦 an old woman whom you've made very happy."

Again Bucky's laughing blue 注目する，もくろむs met the brown ones of his sweetheart.

"Oh, I'll 同意, all 権利, and I reckon, ma'am, it's mighty good of you to 扱う／治療する me so white. I'll sure try to please you."

Webb 強くたたくd him on the 支援する. "Now, you're shouting. We want you to be one of us, young man."

Once more that happy, wireless message of 注目する，もくろむs followed by O'Connor's assent. "That's what I want myself, seh."

Bucky 設立する a surprise waiting for him at the stables. A 激しい 手渡す descended upon his shoulder. He whirled, and looked up into the 直面する of 郡保安官 Collins.

"You here, Val?" he cried in surprise.

"That's what. Any luck, Bucky?"

They went out and sat 負かす／撃墜する on the big 激しく揺するs 支援する of the corral. Here each told the other his story, with 確かな 保留（地）／予約s. Collins had just got 支援する from Epitaph, where he had been to get the fragments of paper which told the secret of the buried treasure. He was 推定する／予想するing to 始める，決める out in the 早期に morning to 会合，会う Leroy.

"I'll go with you," said Bucky すぐに.

Val shook his 長，率いる. "No, I'm to go alone. That's the 協定."

"Of course if that's the 協定." にもかかわらず, the 特別奇襲隊員 formed a 私的な 意向 not to be far from the scene of 活動／戦闘.

CHAPTER 21. THE WOLF PACK

"Good evening, gentlemen. Hope I don't intrude on the festivities."

Leroy smiled 負かす／撃墜する ironically on the four 紅潮／摘発するd, startled 直面するs that looked up at him. 疑惑 was alive in every rustle of the men's 着せる／賦与するs. It breathed from the lowering countenances. It itched at the fingers longing for the 誘発する／引き起こす. The unending terror of a 強盗's life is that no man 信用s his fellow. Hence one betrays another for 恐れる of betrayal, or を刺すs him in the 支援する to 避ける it.

The 無法者 長，指導者 had slipped into the room so silently that the first inkling they had of his presence was that gentle, 侮辱ing 発言する／表明する. Now, as he lounged easily before them, 脚 thrown over the 支援する of a 議長，司会を務める and thumbs sagging from his trouser pockets, they looked the picture of schoolboys caught by their master in a 共謀. How long had he been there? How much had he heard? 十分な of 疑惑 and bad whisky as they were, his 確信して contempt still cowed the very men who were planning his 破壊. A minute before they had been 十分な of loud 脅しs and boastings; now they could only search each other's 直面するs sullenly for a cue.

"Celebrating Chaves' return from manana land, I reckon. That's the proper ticket. I wonder if we couldn't afford to kill another of Collins' fatted calves."

Mr. Hardman, not enjoying the derisive raillery, took a 手渡す in the game. "I 推定する／予想する the boys hadn't better touch the 郡保安官's calves, now you and him are so 厚い."

"We're 厚い, are we?" Leroy's indolent 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd わずかに as they 残り／休憩（する）d on him.

"Ain't you? It sure seemed that way to me when I looked out of that mesquit wash just above Eldorado Springs and seen you and him eating together like brothers and laughing to （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 the 禁止（する）d. You was so clost to him I couldn't draw a bead on him without 危険ing its hitting you."

"秘かに調査するing, eh?"

"If that's the word you want to use, cap. And you were enjoying yourselves proper."

"Laughing, were we? That must have been when he told me how funny you looked in the 'altogether' shedding 誤った teeth and （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） about hidden treasure."

"Told you that, did he?" Mr. Hardman incontinently dropped repartee as a 武器 too subtle, and fell 支援する on profanity.

"That's 権利 pat to the minute, cap, what you say about the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） he 漏れるs," put in Neil. "How about that （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）? I'll be plumb tickled to death to know you're carrying it in you vest pocket."

"And if I'm not?"

"Then ye are a bigger fool than I had 推定する／予想するd sorr, to come 支援する here at all," said the Irishman truculently.

"I begin to think so myself, Mr. Reilly. Why keep 約束 with a 始める，決める of swine like you?"

"Are you giving it to us that you 港／避難所't got those papers?"

Leroy nodded, watching them with 安定した, 警報 注目する，もくろむs. He knew he stood on the 辛勝する／優位 of a 火山 that might 爆発する at any moment.

"What did I tell yez?" Reilly turned savagely to the other disaffected members of the ギャング（団）. "Didn't I tell yez he was selling us out?"

Somehow Leroy's revolver seemed to jump to his 手渡す without a 動議 on his part. It lay loosely in his limp fingers, unaimed and undirected.

"SAY THAT AGAIN, PLEASE."

Beneath the velvet of Leroy's 発言する／表明する ran a 公式文書，認める more deadly than any 脅し could have been. It rang a bell for a silence in which the clock of death seemed to tick. But as the seconds fled Reilly's courage oozed away. He dared not 受託する the 招待 to reach for his 武器 and try 結論s with this debonair young daredevil. He mumbled a retraction, and flung, with a 悪口を言う／悪態, out of the room.

Leroy slipped the revolver 支援する in his holster and 引用するd, with a laugh:

"To every coward safety, And afterward his evil hour."

"What's that?" 需要・要求するd Neil. "I ain't no coward, even if Jay is. I don't knuckle under to any man. You got a 権利 to 賭け金 up with some （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）. I want to know why you ain't got them papers you 約束d to bring 支援する with you."

"And I, too, senor. I 願望（する） to know what it means," 追加するd Chaves, his 注目する，もくろむs glittering.

"That's the way to chirp, gentlemen. I 港／避難所't got them because Forbes 失敗d on us, and I had to take a pasear awful sudden. But I made an 任命 to 会合，会う Collins to-morrow."

"And you think he'll keep it?" scoffed Neil.

"I know he will."

"You seem to know a heap about him," was the 重要な retort.

"Take care, York."

"I'm not Hardman, cap. I say what I think.

"And you think?" 示唆するd Leroy gently.

"I don't know what to think yet. You're either a fool or a 反逆者. I ain't やめる made up my mind. When I find out you'll ce'tainly hear from me straight. Come on, boys." And Neil 消えるd through the door.

An hour later there （機の）カム a knock at Leroy's door. Neil answered his 許可 to enter, followed by the other trio of 紅潮／摘発するd beauties. To the 無法者 長，指導者 it was at once 明らかな with what Dutch courage they had been 防備を堅める／強化するing themselves to some 解決する. It was characteristic of him, though he knew on how 不安定な a thread his life was hanging, that disgust at the foul breaths with which they were 汚染するing the atmosphere was his first 支配的な emotion.

"I wish, 中尉／大尉／警部補 Chaves, next time you emigrate you'd bring another brand of 毒（薬） out to the boys. I can't go this stuff. Just remember that, will you?"

The 無法者 長，指導者's hard 注目する，もくろむ ran over the 反逆者／反逆するs and read them like a primer They had come to 退位させる／宣誓証言する him certainly, to kill him perhaps. Though this last he 疑問d. It wouldn't be like Neil to 計画（する） his 殺人, and it wouldn't be like the others to give him 警告 and 会合，会う him in the open. Warily he stood behind the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, watching their ぎこちない 当惑 with 平易な 保証／確信. Carefully he placed 直面する downward on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する the Villon he had been reading, but he did it without 解除するing his 注目する，もくろむs from them.

"You have 商売／仕事 with me, I 推定する."

"That's what we have," cried Reilly valiantly, from the 後部.

"Then suppose we come to it and get the room 空気／公表するd as soon as possible," Leroy said tartly.

"You're such a 非難する-up dude you'd せねばならない be a hotel clerk, cap. You're sure wasted out here.

So we boys got together and held a little 選挙. Consequence is, we--fact is, we--"

Neil stuck, but Reilly （機の）カム to his 救助（する）.

"We elected York captain of this outfit."

"To fill the vacancy created by my 辞職. Poor York! You're the sacrifice, are you? On the whole, I think you fellows have made a wise choice. York's game, and he won't squeal on you, which is more than I could say of Reilly, or the play actor, or the gentlemen from Chihuahua. But you want to watch out for a knife in the dark, York. 'Uneasy lies the 長，率いる that wears a 栄冠を与える,' you know."

"We didn't come here to listen to a speech, cap, but to 通知する you we was 不満な, and wouldn't have you run the outfit any longer," explained Neil.

"In that event, having heard the 報告（する）／憶測 of the 委員会, if there's no その上の new 商売／仕事, I 宣言する this 会合 延期，休会するd sine die. Kindly 除去する the perfume tubs, Captain Neil, at your earliest convenience."

The quartette 退却／保養地d ignominiously. They had come 用意が出来ている to gloat over Leroy's discomfiture, and he had mocked them with that insolent 緩和する of his that 始める，決める their teeth in helpless 激怒（する）.

But the 退位させる／宣誓証言するd 長，指導者 knew they had not struck their last blow. Throughout the night he could hear the low-発言する／表明するd murmur of their plottings, and he knew that if the アルコール飲料 held out long enough there would be sudden death at Hidden Valley before twenty-four hours were up. He looked carefully to his ライフル銃／探して盗む and his revolvers, 実験（する）ing several 爆撃するs to make sure they had not been tampered with in his absence. After he had made all necessary 準備s, he drew the blinds of his window and moved his 平易な-議長，司会を務める from its customary place beside the 解雇する／砲火／射撃. Also he was careful not to sit where an 影をつくる／尾行する would betray his position. Then 支援する he went to his Villon, a revolver lying on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する within reach.

But the night passed without 事故, and with morning he 投機・賭けるd 前へ／外へ to his 会合 with the 郡保安官. He might have slipped out from the 支援する door of his cabin and 伸び（る）d the canyon, by circling unobserved, up the draw and over the hogback, but he would not show by these 警戒s any 恐れる of the cutthroats with whom he had to 取引，協定. As was his scrupulous custom, he shaved and took his morning bath before appearing outdoors. In all Arizona no trimmer, more graceful 人物／姿／数字 of jaunty recklessness could be seen than this one stepping lightly 前へ／外へ to knock at the bunk-house door behind which he 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd were at least two men 決定するd on his death by treachery.

Neil （機の）カム to the door in answer to his knock and within he could see the villainous 直面するs at bloodshot 注目する，もくろむs of two of the others peering at him.

"Good mo'ning, Captain Neil. I'm on my way to keep that 任命 I について言及するd last night I'd ce'tainly be glad to have you go along. Nothing like 存在 on the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す to 妨げる 二塁打-crossing."

"I'm with you in the fling of a cow's tail. Come on, boys."

"I think not. You and I will go alone."

"Just as you say. Reilly, I guess you better saddle Two-step and the Lazy B roan."

"I ain't saddling ponies for Mr. Leroy," returned Reilly, with 厚い 反抗.

Neil was across the room in two strides. "When I tell you to do a thing, jump! Get a move on and saddle those broncs."

"I don't know as--"

"Vamos!"

Reilly sullenly slouched out.

"I see you made them jump," commented the former captain audibly, seating himself comfortably on a 激しく揺する. "It's the only way you'll get along with them. See that they come to time or pump lead into them. You'll find there's no middle way."

Neil and Leroy had hardly passed beyond the 激しく揺する-slide before the others, 疑惑 awake in their sodden brains, dodged after them on foot. For three miles they followed the broncos as the latter 選ぶd their way up the 法外な 追跡する that led to the Dalriada 地雷.

"If Mr. Collins is here, he's lying almighty low," exclaimed Neil, as he swung from his pony at the foot of the bluff from the brow of which the gray 捨てる of the 地雷 straggled 負かす／撃墜する like a 巨人's 耐えるd.

"権利 you are, Mr. Neil."

York whirled, revolver in 手渡す, but the man who had risen from behind the big 玉石 beside the 追跡する was 残り／休憩（する）ing both 手渡すs on the 激しく揺する before him.

"You're alone, are you?" 需要・要求するd York.

"I am."

Neil's revolver slid 支援する into its holster. "Mornin', Val. What's new 負かす／撃墜する at Tucson?" he said amiably.

"I understood I was to 会合，会う you alone, Mr. Leroy," said the 郡保安官 quickly, his blue-gray 注目する，もくろむs on the former 長，指導者.

"That was the 協定, Mr. Collins, but it seems the boys are on the anxious seat about these little socials of ours. They've embraced the notion that I'm selling them. I hated to have them 悩ますd with 疑問s, so I 招待するd the new majordomo of the ranch to come with me. Of cou'se, if you 反対する--"

"I don't 反対する in the least, but I want him to understand the 協定. I've got a posse waiting at Eldorado Springs, and as soon as I get 支援する there we take the 追跡する after you. Bucky O'Connor is at the 長，率いる of the posse."

York grinned. "We'll be in Sonora then, Val. Think I'm going to wait and let you shoot off my other fingers?"

Collins fished from his vest pocket the papers he had taken from Scott hat and from Webster. "I think I'll be jogging along 支援する to the springs. I reckon these are what you want."

Leroy took them from him and 手渡すd them to Neil. "Don't let us 拘留する you any longer, Mr. Collins. I know you're awful busy these days."

The 郡保安官 nodded a good day, 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する the hill on the slant, and disappeared in a mesquit thicket, from the other 味方する of which he presently 現れるd astride a bay horse.

The two 無法者s retraced their way to the foot of the hill and remounted their broncos.

"I want to say, cap, that I'm eating humble-pie in big chunks 権利 this minute," said Neil shamefacedly, scratching his curly 投票 and looking apologetically at his former 長，指導者. "I might 'a' knowed you was straight as a string, all I've seen of you these last two years. If those coyotes say another word, cap--"

An 爆発するing echo seemed to shake the mountain, and then another. Leroy swayed in the saddle, clutching at his 味方する. He pitched 今後, his 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the horse's neck, and slid slowly to the ground.

Neil was off his horse in an instant, ひさまづくing beside him. He 解除するd him in his 武器 and carried him behind a 広大な／多数の／重要な outcropping 玉石.

"It's that hound Collins," he muttered, as he propped the 負傷させるd man's 長，率いる on his arm. "By God, I didn't think it of Val."

Leroy opened his 注目する，もくろむs and smiled faintly. "Guess again, York."

"You don't mean "

He nodded. "権利 this time--Hardman and Chaves and Reilly. They 発射 to get us both. With us out of the way they could divide the treasure between them."

Neil choked. "You ain't bad 傷つける, old man. Say you ain't bad 傷つける, Phil."

"More than I can carry, York; 発射 through and through. I've been doubtful of Reilly for a long time;"

"By the Lord, if I don't get the rattlesnake for this!" swore Neil between his teeth. "Ain't there nothin' I can do for you, old pardner?"

In sharp succession four 発射s rang out. Neil しっかり掴むd his ライフル銃／探して盗む, leaning 今後 and crouching for cover. He turned a puzzled 直面する toward Leroy. "I don't savvy. They ain't 狙撃 at us."

"The 郡保安官," explained Leroy. "They forgot him, and he 二塁打d 支援する on them."

"I'll bet Val got one of them," cried Neil, his 直面する lighting.

"He's got one--or he's やめる living. That's a sure thing. Why don't you circle up on them from behind, York?"

"I hate to leave you, cap--and you so bad. Can't I do a thing for you?"

Leroy smiled faintly. "Not a thing. I'll be 権利 here when you get 支援する, York."

The curly-長，率いるd young puncher took Leroy's 手渡す in his, gulping 負かす／撃墜する a boyish sob. "I ain't been square with you, cap. I reckon after this-- when you git 井戸／弁護士席--I'll not be such a coyote any more."

The dying man's 注目する，もくろむs were lit with a beautiful tenderness. "There's one thing you can do for me, York. . . . I'm out of the game, but I want you to make a new start. . . . I got you into this life, boy. やめる it, and live straight. There's nothing to it, York."

The cowboy-強盗 choked. "Don't you worry about me, cap. I'm all 権利. I'd just as lief やめる this deviltry, anyhow."

"I want you to 約束, boy." A whimsical, half-冷笑的な smile touched Leroy's 注目する，もくろむs. "You see, after living like a devil for thirty years, I want to die like a Christian. Now, go, York."

After Neil had left him, Leroy's 注目する，もくろむs の近くにd. Faintly he heard two more 発射s echoing 負かす／撃墜する the valley, but the meaning of them was already lost to his wandering mind.

Neil dodged 速く 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the foot of the mountain with 意図 to 削減（する） off the 強盗団の一味 as they 退却／保養地d. He 設立する the 郡保安官 crouching behind a 激しく揺する 不十分な two hundred yards from the scene of the 殺人. At the same moment another 発射 echoed from 井戸／弁護士席 over to the left.

"Who can that be?" Neil asked, very much puzzled.

"That's what's worrying me, York," the 郡保安官 returned.

Together they zigzagged up the 味方する of the mountain. Twice from above there （機の）カム sounds of ライフル銃／探して盗む 発射s. Neil was the first to strike the 追跡する to the 地雷. 非，不，無 too soon for as he stepped upon it, breathing ひどく from his climb, Reilly swung 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a curve and whipped his 武器 to his shoulder. The man 解雇する／砲火／射撃d before York could 干渉する and stood watching tensely the result of his 発射. He was silhouetted against the skyline, a beautiful 示す, but Neil did not cover him. Instead, he spoke 静かに to the other.

"Was it you that killed Phil, Reilly?"

The man whirled and saw Neil for the first time. His answer was instant. Flinging up his ライフル銃／探して盗む, he pumped a 発射 at York.

Neil's retort （機の）カム in a flash. Reilly clutched at his heart and 倒れるd backward from the precipice upon which he stood. Collins joined the cowpuncher and together they stepped 今後 to the point from which Reilly had 急落（する），激減（する）d 負かす／撃墜する two hundred feet to the jagged 激しく揺するs below.

At the curve they （機の）カム 直面する to 直面する with Bucky O'Connor. Three 武器s went up quicker than the （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing of an eyelash. More slowly each went 負かす／撃墜する again

"What are you doing here, Bucky?" the 郡保安官 asked.

"Just pirootin' around, Val. It occurred to me Leroy might not mean to play fair with you, so I kinder 招待するd myself to the party. When I heard 狙撃 I thought it was you they had bushwhacked, so I sat in to the game "

"You guessed wrong, Bucky. Reilly and the others 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd on Leroy. While they were at it they 人物／姿／数字d to make a clean 職業 and bump off York, too. From what York says Leroy has got his.

The 特別奇襲隊員 turned a jade 注目する，もくろむ on the 無法者. Has Mr. Neil turned honest man, Val? Taken him into your posse, have you?" he asked, with an 辛勝する／優位 of irony in his 発言する／表明する.

The 郡保安官 laid a 手渡す on the shoulder of the man who had been his friend before he turned miscreant.

"Don't you worry about Neil, Bucky," he advised gently. "It was York 発射 Reilly, after York had 削減（する） loose at him, and I shouldn't wonder if that didn't save your life. Neil has got to stand the gaff for what he's done, but I'll pull wires to get his 罰 made light."

"Killed Reilly, did he?" repeated O'Connor. "I got Anderson 支援する there."

"That makes only one left to account for. I wonder who he is?" Collins turned absent-mindedly to Neil. The latter looked at him out of an expressionless 直面する. Even though his confederate had 証明するd 反逆者 he would not betray him.

"I wonder," he said.

Bucky laughed. "Made a mistake that time, Val."

"I plumb forgot the 状況／情勢 for a moment," the 郡保安官 grinned. "Anyhow, we better be hittin' his 追跡する."

"How about Phil?" Neil 示唆するd.

"That's 権利. One of us has ce'tainly got to go 支援する and …に出席する to him."

"You and Neil go 支援する. I'll follow up this gentleman who is escaping," the 特別奇襲隊員 said.

And so it was arranged. The two men returned from their grim work of 司法（官） to the place where the 無法者 長，指導者 had been left. His 注目する，もくろむs lit feebly at sight of them.

"What news, York?" he asked.

"Reilly and Hardman are killed. How are you feelin', cap?" The cow-puncher knelt beside the dying 無法者 and put an arm under his 長，率いる.

"発射 all to pieces, boy. No, I got no time to have you play doctor with me." He turned to Collins with a gleam of his unconquerable spirit. "You （機の）カム pretty 近づく making a clean 一連の会議、交渉／完成する-up, 郡保安官. I'm the fourth to be put out of 商売／仕事. You'd せねばならない be content with that. Let York here go."

"I can't do that, but I'll do my best to see he gets off light."

"I got him into this, 郡保安官. He was all 権利 before he knew me. I want him to get a chance now. "

"I wish I could give him a 容赦, but I can't do it. I'll see the 知事 for him though."

The 負傷させるd man spoke to Collins alone for a few minutes, then began to wander in his mind He babbled feebly of childhood days 支援する in his Kentucky home. The word most often on his lips was "Mother." So, with his 長，率いる 残り／休憩（する）ing on Neil's arm and his 手渡す in that of his friend, he slipped away to the 広大な／多数の／重要な Beyond.

CHAPTER 22. FOR A GOOD REASON

The young ladies, に引き続いて the custom of Arizona in summer, were riding by the light of the 星／主役にするs to 避ける the heat of the day. They 棒 leisurely, chatting as their ponies paced 味方する by 味方する. For though they were cousins they were getting 熟知させるd with each other for the first time. Both of them 設立する this a delightful 過程, not the いっそう少なく so because they were temperamentally very different. Each of them knew already that they were going to be 広大な／多数の／重要な friends. They had 交流d the histories of their lives, lying awake girl fashion to talk into the small hours, each omitting 確かな passages, however, that had to do with two men who were at that moment approaching nearer every minute to them.

Bucky O'Connor and 郡保安官 Collins were returning to the 激しく揺するing 議長，司会を務める Ranch from Epitaph, where they had just been to deposit twenty-seven thousand dollars and a 囚人 by the 指名する of Chaves. Just at the point where the road climbed from the plains and reached the 首脳会議 of the first stiff hill the two parties met and passed. The 特別奇襲隊員 and the 郡保安官 reined in 同時に. Yet a moment and all four of them were talking at once.

They turned toward the ranch, Bucky and フランs 主要な the way. Alice, riding beside her lover in the 不明瞭, 設立する the 弁護s upon which she had relied begin to fail her. にもかかわらず, she 召喚するd them to her support and met him 十分な 武装した with the 回避s and 複雑さs of her sex.

"This is a surprise, Mr. Collins," he was 知らせるd in her best society 発言する／表明する.

"And a 楽しみ?"

"Of course. But I'm sorry that father has been called to 不死鳥／絶品. I suppose you （機の）カム to tell him about your success."

"To brag about it," he 訂正するd. "But not to your father--to his daughter."

"That's very thoughtful of you. Will you begin now?"

"Not yet. There is something I have to tell you, 行方不明になる Mackenzie."

At the gravity in his 発言する／表明する the lightness slipped from her like a cloak.

"Yes. Tell me your news. Over the telephone all sorts of 噂するs have come to us. But even these were hearsay."

"I thought of telephoning you the facts. Then I decided to ride out and tell you at once. I knew you would want to hear the story at first 手渡す."

Her patrician manner was gone. Her 注目する，もくろむs looked their thanks at him. "That was good of you. I have been very anxious to get the facts.

One 噂する was that you have 逮捕（する）d Sir. Leroy. Is it true?"

It seemed to her that his look was one of 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な tenderness. "No, that is not true. You remember what we said of him--of how he might die?"

"He is dead--you killed him," she cried, all the color washed from her 直面する.

"He is dead, but I did not kill him."

"Tell me," she 命令（する）d.

He told her, beginning at the moment of his 会合 with the 無法者s at the Dalriada 捨てる and continuing to the last scene of the 悲劇. It touched her so nearly that she could not hear him through 乾燥した，日照りの-注目する，もくろむd.

"And he spoke of me?" She said it in a low 発言する／表明する, to herself rather than to him.

"It was just before his mind began to wander--almost his last conscious thought. He said that when you heard the news you would remember. What you were to remember he didn't say. I took it you would know."

"Yes. I was to remember that he was not all wolf to me." She told it with a little break of 涙／ほころびs in her 発言する／表明する.

"Then he told me to tell you that it was the best way out for him. He had come to the end of the road, and it would not have been possible for him to go 支援する." Presently Collins 追加するd gently: "If you don't mind my 説 so, I think he was 権利. He was content to go, やめる game and 安定した in his 平易な way. If he had lived, there could have been no going 支援する for him. It was his nature to go the 限界. The 悲劇 is in his life, not in his death."

"Yes, I know that, but it 傷つけるs one to think it had to be--that all his splendid gifts and 能力s should end like this, and that we are 軍隊d to see it is best. He might have done so much."

"And instead he became a miscreant. I reckon there was a 欠如（する） in him somewhere."

"Yes, there was a 広大な／多数の／重要な 欠如（する） in him somewhere."

They were silent for a time. She broke it to ask about York Neil.

"You wouldn't send him to 刑務所，拘置所 after doing what he did, would you?"

"Meaning what?"

"You say yourself he helped you against the other 無法者s. Then he showed you where to start in finding the buried money. He isn't a bad man. You know how he stood by me when I was a 囚人," she pleaded.

He nodded. "That goes a long way with me, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. The 知事 is a 権利 good friend of 地雷. I meant to ask him for a 容赦. I reckon Neil means to live straight 今後. He 約束d Leroy he would. He's only a wild cow-puncher gone wrong, and now he's haided 権利 he'll pull up and walk the 狭くする 追跡する."

"But can you save him from the 刑務所?"

Collins smiled. "He saved me the trouble. Coming through the Canon Del Oro in the night, he ducked. I reckon he's in Mexico now."

"I'm glad."

"井戸／弁護士席, I ain't sorry myself, though I helped Bucky 追跡（する） real 徹底的な for him."

"Father will be pleased to know you got the treasure 支援する," Alice said presently, after they had ridden a bit in silence.

"And your father's daughter, 行方不明になる Alice--is she pleased?"

"What pleases father pleases me." Her 発言する／表明する, 冷静な／正味の as the plash of ice water, might have daunted a いっそう少なく resolute man. But this one had long since 決定するd the manner of his 支持を得ようと努めるing and was not to be driven from it.

"I'm glad of that. Your father's 権利 friendly to me," he 発表するd, with composure.

"Indeed!"

"Sho! I ain't going to run away and hide because you look like you don't know I'm in Arizona. What 肉親，親類d of a lover would I be if I broke for cover every time you flashed those dark 注目する，もくろむs at me?"

"Mr. Collins!"

"My friends call me Val," he 示唆するd, smiling.

"I was going to ask, Mr. Collins, if you think you can いじめ（る） me."

"It might be a first 率 thing for you if I did, 行方不明になる Mackenzie. All your life you 港／避難所't done anything but trample on sissy boys. Now, I 推定する／予想する I'm not a sissy boy, but a fair imitation of a man, and I shouldn't wonder but you'd find me some too restless for a door-mat." His maimed 手渡す happened to be 残り／休憩（する）ing on the saddle horn as he spoke, and the story of the maiming 強調するd potently the truth of his （人命などを）奪う，主張する.

"Don't you assume a good 取引，協定, Mr. Collins, when you 暗示する that I have any 願望（する） to master you?"

"Not a bit," he 保証するd her cheerfully. "Every woman wants to boss the man she's going to marry, but if she finds she can't she's glad of it, because then she knows she's got a man."

"You are やめる sure I am going to marry you?" she asked gently--too gently, he thought.

"I'm only reasonably sure," he 知らせるd her. "You see, I can't tell for 確かな whether your pride or your good sense is the stronger."

She caught a detached glimpse of the 状況／情勢, and it made for laughter.

"That's 権利, I want you should enjoy it," he said placidly.

"I do. It's the most absurd 提案--I suppose you call it a 提案--that ever I heard."

"I 推定する／予想する you've heard a good many in your time.

"We'll not discuss that, if you please."

"I AM more 利益／興味d in this one," he agreed.

"Isn't it about time to begin on Tucson?"

"Not to-day, ma'am. There are going to be a lot of to-morrows for you and me, and Tucson will have to wait till then."

"Didn't I give you an answer last week?"

"You did, but I didn't take it. Now I'm ready for your sure-enough answer."

She flashed a look at him that mocked his 信用／信任. "I've heard about the vanity of girls, but never in my experience have I met any so colossal as this masculine vanity now on 展示（する）. Do you really think, Mr. Collins, that all you have to do to 勝利，勝つ a woman is to look impressive and tell her that you have decided to marry her?"

"Do I look as if I thought that?" he asked her.

"It is perfectly ridiculous--your absurd 態度 of taking everything for 認めるd. 井戸／弁護士席, it may be the Tucson custom, but where I come from it is not in vogue."

"No, I reckon not. 支援する there a boy 説得するs girl he loves her by 廃虚ing her digestion with candy and all sorts of ice 手はず／準備 from soda-fountain. But I'm 野蛮な enough to assume you're a woman of sense and not a spoiled schoolgirl."

The velvet night was attuned to the rhythm of her love. She felt herself, in this sea of moon romance, 存在 swept from her moorings. 星／主役にする-注目する，もくろむd, she gazed at him while she still fought again his dominance.

"You ARE 野蛮な. Would you （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 me when I didn't obey?" she asked tremulously.

He laughed in slow contentment. "Perhaps; but I'd love you while I did it."

"Oh, you would love me." She looked across under her long 攻撃するs, not as boldly as she would have liked, and her gaze fell before his. "I 港／避難所 t heard before that that was in the compact you 提案するd. I don't think you have remembered to について言及する it."

He swung from the saddle and put a 手渡す to her bridle rein.

"Get 負かす／撃墜する," he ordered.

"Why?"

"Because I say so. Get 負かす／撃墜する."

She looked 負かす／撃墜する at him, a man out of a thousand and for her one out of a hundred million. Before she was conscious of willing it she stood beside him. He 追跡するd the reins of the ponies, and in two strides （機の）カム 支援する to her.

"What--do you--want?"

"I want you. girl." His arm swept 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her, and he held her while he looked 負かす／撃墜する into her 向こうずねing 注目する，もくろむs. "So I 港／避難所't told you that I love you. Did you need to be told?"

"We must go on," she murmured weakly. "フランs and 中尉／大尉／警部補 O'Connor--"

"--Have their own love-事件／事情／状勢s to …に出席する to.

"We'll manage ours and not intrude."

"They might think--"

He laughed in 深い delight. "--that we love each other. They're welcome to the thought. I 港／避難所't told you that I love you, eh? I tell you now. It's my last trump, and 権利 here I （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する it. I'm no 砂漠 poet, but I love you from that dark 栄冠を与える of yours to those little feet that tap the 床に打ち倒す so impatient いつかs. I love you all the time, no 事柄 what mood you're in--when you flash dark angry 注目する，もくろむs at me and when you laugh in that slow, understanding way nobody else in God's world has the trick of. Makes no difference to me whether you're glad or mad, I want you just the same. That's the 推論する／理由 why I'm going to make you love me."

"You can't do it." Her 発言する／表明する was very low and not やめる 安定した.

"Why not--I'll show you."

"But you can't--for a good 推論する／理由."

"Put a 指名する to it."

"Because. Oh, you big blind man--because I love you already." She burlesqued his drawl with a little joyous laugh: "I reckon if you're 権利 始める，決める on it I'll have to marry you, Val Collins."

His arm 強化するd about her as if he would 持つ／拘留する her against the whole world. His ardent 注目する，もくろむs 所有するd hers. She felt herself grow faint with a poignant delight. Her lips met his slowly in their first kiss.

THE END

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