alized that he
was tired in every muscle of his body. The street was deserted saving
the figure of a boy he saw coming toward him. As he was turning a
corner the boy's voice accosted him.

"Senor Kendric," came the call. "_Un momenta_."

Kendric waited. The boy, a half-breed in ragged clothes, came close
and peered into his face. Then, having made sure, he whipped out a
small parcel from under his torn coat.

"_Para usted_," he announced.

Kendric took it, wondering.

"What is it?" he asked. "Who sent it?"

But the boy was slouching on down the street. Kendric called sharply;
the boy hastened his pace. And when Kendric started after him the
ragamuffin broke into a run and disappeared down an alley way. Kendric
gave him up and came back to the street, tearing off the outer wrap of
the package under a street lamp. In his hand was a sheaf of bank notes
which he readily recognized as the very ones he had just now lost at
dice, together with a slip of note paper on which were a few finely
penned lines. He held them up to the light in an amazement which
sought an explanation. The words were in Spanish and said briefly:

"To Senor Jim Kendric because under his laugh he looked sad when he
lost. From one who does not play at any game with faint hearts."

His face flushed hot as he read; angrily his big hand crumpled message
and bank notes together. He glanced down the empty street; then
forgetful of bed and rest, his anger rising, he strode swiftly off
toward the hotel, muttering under his breath. The hotel-keeper he
found alone in the little room which served him as office and bed
chamber.

"I want to see Mrs. Rios," said Kendric curtly.

"You'd be meaning the Mexican lady? Name of Castelmar." He drew his
soiled, inky guest book toward him. "Zoraida Castelmar."

"I suppose so," answered Kendric. "Where is she?"

"Your name would be Kendric?" persisted the hotel-keeper. And at
Kendric's short "Yes," he pointed down the hall. "Third door, left
side. She's expecting you."

Had Kendric paused to speculate over the implication of the man's words
he would inevitably have understood the trick Ruiz Rios's companion had
played on him. But he was never given to stopping for reflection when
he had started for a definite goal and furthermore just now his wrath
was consuming him. He went furiously down the hall and struck at the
door as though it were a man who had stirred his anger by standing in