e a-goin' to take him to
Cuivaca tomorrow."

Neither Barbara nor her father seemed to enthuse much. To them an
American was an American here in Mexico, where every hand was against
their race. That at home they might have looked with disgust upon this
same man did not alter their attitude here, that no American should take
sides against his own people. Barbara said as much to Grayson.

"Why this fellow's one of Pesita's officers," exclaimed Grayson. "He
don't deserve no sympathy from us nor from no other Americans. Pesita
has sworn to kill every American that falls into his hands, and this
fellow's with him to help him do it. He's a bad un."

"I can't help what he may do," insisted Barbara. "He's an American, and
I for one would never be a party to his death at the hands of a Mexican,
and it will mean death to him to be taken to Cuivaca."

"Well, miss," said Grayson, "you won't hev to be responsible--I'll take
all the responsibility there is and welcome. I just thought you'd like
to know we had him." He was addressing his employer. The latter nodded,
and Grayson turned and left the room. Outside he cast a sneering laugh
back over his shoulder and swung into his saddle.

In front of the men's quarters he drew rein again and shouted Eddie's
name. Shorter came to the door.

"Get your six-shooter an' a rifle, an' come on over to the office. I
want to see you a minute."

Eddie did as he was bid, and when he entered the little room he saw four
Mexicans lolling about smoking cigarettes while Grayson stood before
a chair in which sat a man with his arms tied behind his back. Grayson
turned to Eddie.

"This party here is the slick un that robbed the bank, and got away
on thet there Brazos pony thet miserable bookkeepin' dude giv him. The
sergeant here an' his men are a-goin' to take him to Cuivaca in the
mornin'. You stand guard over him 'til midnight, then they'll relieve
you. They gotta get a little sleep first, though, an' I gotta get
some supper. Don't stand fer no funny business now, Eddie," Grayson
admonished him, and was on the point of leaving the office when a
thought occurred to him. "Say, Shorter," he said, "they ain't no way
of gettin' out of the little bedroom in back there except through this
room. The windows are too small fer a big man to get through. I'll tell
you what, we'll lock him up in there an' then you won't hev to worry
none an' neither will we. You can jest spread out them Navajos there and
go