enda, you see. I also said, if I remember, that she
was the undoubted owner of almost boundless wealth and when I had gone
after her and won her consent to selling a half-interest in the Pool
itself----"

"Oh!" Willa cried, wincing as if he had struck her a blow. "You wrote
that about Tia Juana! And I--I--oh, how blind I was! How wickedly,
cruelly blind!"

"Now it is I who do not understand." He shrugged. "What does it
matter, anyway? I never succeeded in finding Tia Juana or in something
else which was of even more moment to me. Gentleman Geoff trusted me,
however, and I have fulfilled that trust. Now I am free to take up my
own fight again."

Willa held out her hand timidly.

"You will allow me to wish you luck, even if I may not thank you?" she
asked. "I--I have much to explain and you much to forgive, but we
shall meet again in Mexico."

He bowed formally.

"It appears to be inevitable. Fate seems to compel me to ignore your
request that I obliterate myself from the scene," he added whimsically.
"I will try not to intrude upon you more than I must, however, Miss
Murdaugh."

"Yes!" she responded softly. "In spite of my blindness and your pride,
fate seems to have appointed you to the permanent job of knight-errant
to the maiden in distress, hasn't it, Mr. Duenna?"

When the door had closed behind him, she stood quite still in the
middle of the floor where he had left her. That letter, that
portentous letter which Angie had spitefully put into her willing,
credulous hands had referred to Tia Juana, not to herself. How plain
it all was, now, and how ruthlessly, unjustly she had driven him from
her! And he? He had repaid her flouting of him by tireless devotion
and a measureless service! Ah, but she would make amends!

Then a whimsical, tender light flooded her face. Cinderella had come
into her own again; the prince had found her and fitted on the slipper
just when she had been most sure that he had gone from her forever! He
was a very haughty and hurt and angry prince, to be sure, but there had
been that in his eyes which told her that she might win him back
despite the bitter misunderstanding. The old fairy tale was coming
true, after all!

CHAPTER XXIV

THE LOST SOULS' TREASURE

On a certain bright February morning Ben Hallock puffed up the Calle
Rivera and across the plaza of Limasito as fast as his battered jitney
could carry him and rushed into Baggott's hotel with an an