fe. Instead he walked hurriedly through
the yard. Just as the two officers neared the barn the door was seen to
slide on its roller.

"Keep them from closing that door, Overton!" cried Captain Foster. Hal
bounded forward, thrusting his right foot in the crack just in time to
prevent the door closing.

"I'll help you push that door open again," cried the captain. Between
them they succeeded, driving the door back, wide open, revealing two
scowling young Mexican hostlers.

"You g'way!" snarled one of them in a surly tone.

"Where's your master, Pedro Guarez?" demanded Captain Foster.

"Dunno. He far away. G'way. I wanta close this door."

"Don't you attempt to do it," warned Captain Foster stiffly. "Mr.
Overton, stand here and see that these fellows don't close the door. I'm
going to, look around inside."

Just as Captain Foster stepped into the barn a rear door of the house
opened quickly. A Mexican, rather better dressed than the average, ran
hastily across the yard.

"Here," he cried, in good English, though he panted as he reached the
barn, "you must leave. You have no right here!"

"Only Pedro Guarez can tell me that," retorted the captain.

"But I am Pedro Guarez."

"Then you're the man I want to see," returned Captain Foster, fixing
Guarez with his keen eyes. "I am going to look through your barn and I
may ask you a lot of questions."

"I shall not answer, if you do. Get out! You have no right here!"

"Then get a policeman, and get him here to arrest me," smiled the
captain.

A murmuring of excited voices was heard out in the road, after which,
half a dozen Mexicans came hurriedly into the yard. They quickly crowded
around the door.

"You have a good many friends interested in your affairs, Mr. Guarez,"
insinuated the captain. "But come on; I am going through the barn."

"I cannot say that it will be safe," retorted Guarez, with an expressive
shrug of his shoulders.

"Safe?" echoed Captain Foster sternly. "That's a question that an
American soldier never asks."

"Just as you will, then, Senor Capitain," returned Guarez. "I protest,
but I cannot fight you--alone."

"And you'd better stop all that talk of fighting, too," warned the
captain. "Come, if you want to go through with me."

Just then about a score more of excited Mexicans poured into the yard.

"You see," cautioned Guarez. "You will stir up a lot of trouble, Senor
Capitain."

"Mr. Overton, don't let any of the rabble come into t