har--and her
darter, I reckon--a reg'lar pink fairy! She kem in only a minute, and
they sorter hustled her out ag'in--for darn my skin ef she didn't look
as much out o' place in that smoky old garlic-smellin' room as an angel
at a bull-fight. And what got me--she was ez white ez you or me, with
blue eyes, and a lot o' dark reddish hair in a long braid down her back.
Why, only for her purty sing-song voice and her 'Gracias, senor,'
you'd hev reckoned she was a Blue Grass girl jest fresh from across the
plains."

A little amused at his foreman's enthusiasm, Mr. Grey gave an
ostentatious whistle and said, "Come, now, Richards, look here! Really!"

"Only a little girl--a mere child, Mr. Grey--not more'n fourteen if a
day," responded Richards, in embarrassed depreciation.

"Yes, but those people marry at twelve," said the editor, with a
laugh. "Look out! Your appreciation may have been noticed by some other
admirer."

He half regretted this speech the next moment in the quick flush--the
male instinct of rivalry--that brought back the glitter of Richards's
eyes. "I reckon I kin take care of that, sir," he said slowly, "and I
kalkilate that the next time I meet that chap--whoever he may be--he
won't see so much of my back as he did."

The editor knew there was little doubt of this, and for an instant
believed it his duty to put the matter in the hands of the police.
Richards was too good and brave a man to be risked in a bar-room fight.
But reflecting that this might precipitate the scandal he wished to
avoid, he concluded to make some personal investigation. A stronger
curiosity than he had felt before was possessing him. It was singular,
too, that Richards's description of the girl was that of a different and
superior type--the hidalgo, or fair-skinned Spanish settler. If this
was true, what was she doing there--and what were her relations to the
Ramierez?

PART II

The next afternoon he went to the fonda. Situated on the outskirts of
the town which had long outgrown it, it still bore traces of its former
importance as a hacienda, or smaller farm, of one of the old Spanish
landholders. The patio, or central courtyard, still existed as a
stable-yard for carts, and even one or two horses were tethered to the
railings of the inner corridor, which now served as an open veranda to
the fonda or inn. The opposite wing was utilized as a tienda, or
general shop,--a magazine for such goods as were used by the Mexican
inhab