iver than I am."

Pachuca shrugged his shoulders but he turned the car. There was an ugly
look in his eyes and Polly clutched her weapon tightly. She tried to keep
her voice steady but it quavered desperately.

"If you try to do anything mean--upset the car or anything like that, I'm
going to fire--I certainly will--as sure as I'm red-headed."

The car sped on. Suddenly Pachuca's shoulders began to shake. He turned a
laughing face toward Polly.

"You are so pretty and so disagreeable," he said. "Are all Chicago ladies
like you?"

"No. Some of them are not so pretty and are more agreeable," replied the
girl, nervously. "Please--you just missed that chuck-hole!"

"Why should I care? I do not want to go to Athens."

"No, but you don't want to go to Heaven, either, do you? Or--well, you
know what I mean. I don't know how much of a jar it would take to make
this thing go off. A chuck-hole might do it."

Pachuca, evidently depressed, relapsed into silence. It was growing colder
and darker--would they never get there? However, she would not have been
Polly had she kept still.

"Senor Pachuca, what did you mean by requisitioning goods? You aren't
working for the government, are you?"

"No."

"Has another revolution broken out?"

"My dear young lady, Sonora has seceded and other states will follow.
Mexico is about to throw off Carranza and his government. Is that clear?"

"Pretty clear--only I don't understand why you should take our things."

"I am raising a regiment. When it is complete I shall lead it into the
field to fight for Mexico."

"I see. That's why you wanted our men?"

"A regiment means men, senorita."

"And our blankets and money and guns and victrola records?"

"Why not? You Americans make your profit from us, why should you not share
in our obligations? Did your generals spare the South when you had your
Civil War? War is not a pretty thing, senorita."

"They were at war with the South and they took----"

"Exactly. They took. An American has but one code of morals, and that is
to take. I do not quarrel with it, I like it. I also take."

Polly did not reply. She was tired and cold and she wanted to get home.
Her hand was cramped and shaky--her threat had not been an idle one. She
realized also that Pachuca for all his docility was only waiting the
opportunity to turn the tables on her. He was a young man most fertile in
expedients and it behooved her to be extremely vigilant. He would be q