othing but her. I came to this abominable village more to see
her than to annoy myself over the death of Ricardo Guzman. I must see
my divinity; I must hear her blessed voice, or I shall go mad. Why do I
tell you this? Because I have decided that you shall lead me to her
to-night." The general fell silent for a moment, then, "I intend to
have her some day, Jose, and--perhaps you will be my right hand. See, I
make you my confidant because you will not dare to anger me or--Well,
my little friend, you must understand what fate would befall you in
that case. I can reach across the Rio Grande."

Amazement and then fear were depicted in Jose's face as he listened; he
asserted his loyalty vehemently.

"Yes, yes, I know you love me," the general agreed, carelessly. "But
what is far more to the point, I intend to pay well for your services.
Perhaps I shall also arrange so that you may have a reckoning with the
murderer of your cousin. What is his name?"

It was Jose's opportunity to make an impression, and he used it to the
full, telling all that he knew of the killing of Panfilo, and
describing Law with the eloquence of hatred.

Longorio listened for a time, and then held up his hand. "Enough. For
my sake, too, you shall kill him, for you have made me jealous."

"Impossible!" Jose raised protesting palms. He was sure the general was
wrong. Senora Austin was above suspicion of any kind.

"And yet this man met her in Pueblo and rode with her to Las Palmas? He
comes to see her frequently, you say?" The general bent his bright,
keen eyes upon the visitor.

"Yes. She gave him the finest horse at Las Palmas, too, and--" A new
thought presented itself to Jose. "Ho! By the way, they were alone at
the water-hole when my cousin Panfilo was shot. Now that I think of it,
they were alone together for a day and a night. I begin to wonder--"

Longorio breathed an oath and swung his long legs over the edge of the
bed. "You have poisoned my mind. A whole day and night, eh? That is
bad. What happened? What kind of a fool is her husband? I cannot bear
to think of this! See, I am beside myself. Caramba! I live in paradise;
I come flying on the wings of the wind, only to learn that my blessed
divinity has a lover. If only my excellent Blanco had shot this fellow
Law instead of that Guzman! If only I could lay hands upon him here in
Mexico! Ha! There would be something to print in the American papers."
He began to dress himself feverishly, m