Kendric went back to his chair from which he eyed Rios narrowly. The
Mexican's look was full of craft.

"Let's have it, Rios. What now?"

"What I said to you earlier in the evening came from the heart," said
Rios. "That without my help you cannot leave; that you may have that
help. For a price."

His utterance was incisive; his voice, eager and quick, filled the
room. Evidently he had no fear of eavesdroppers. Kendric stared at
him curiously.

"For a double-dealing gentleman you have considerable assurance," he
grunted. "You don't seem to care who hears."

Rios waved an impatient hand.

"I know what I am about," he retorted. "La Senorita Zoraida is in her
own rooms where she entertains one of your friends while the other
cools his heels in her anteroom. I have assurance, yes; because just
now I am the man of the hour! Your destiny and that of your
compatriot, Miss Betty, as well as the destinies of your two friends
and perchance of yet others, lies in my hand."

"You talk big when Zoraida's eyes are not on you," said Kendric.

Rios stared insolently, then shrugged and made for himself a tiny white
paper _cigarita_.

"I talk big because I can, as you say north of the border, 'deliver the
goods.' Do you wish to go free?"

"Since you ask it," said Kendric drily, "yes. I've got no stomach for
your crowd here."

"And you would like to take with you the pretty little Betty?" Rios's
eyes were full of insinuation. Kendric felt an impulsive desire to
kick him but for the time kept his head and witheld his boot.

"Speak on, Senor Man of the Hour," he jeered. "Somehow I'm not
particularly sleepy yet. If you've really got anything to say let's
have it."

"It is this: The treasure you have come so far to find will never be
yours. Mine it may be; if not mine, then Zoraida's. On my honor it
will never go into your hands or those of Barlow."

"Your honor," laughed Kendric, "fits well in your mouth, Ruiz Rios, but
rides light in the scales."

"You mean you would want proof?" Rios was imperturbable. "It may be
given you in due time, but only when it is too late for you to make any
stock out of it. Now, for what you know, I offer you your own safety
and that of Miss Betty. Have I not marked how you look at her?" He
laughed in his turn.

"If this is all you have to say," answered Kendric, "suppose you shut
the door from the outside?"

For just now, while he had thought of other matters, he