stantial dinner for two.

"Senor," she protested, as the waiter left the box, "I have no money, no
way to repay you for this, you understand?"

"I understand," he answered, quickly; "I want no return for this. Miss
Underwood wished me to find you, and help you, if I could."

"Yes, I know; you are the Senorita's friend."

"And your friend also, if I can help you."

"You saved his life that night, Senor; I do not forget," the woman said,
with peculiar emphasis.

"Yes, I undoubtedly saved the scoundrel from a summary vengeance;
possibly I might not have done it, had I known what the alternative
would be. Where is that man now?" he asked, with sudden directness.

"I do not know, Senor; he tells me nothing, but I have heard he went
south some time ago."

The entrance of the waiter with their orders put a temporary stop to
conversation. The woman ate silently, regarding Mr. Britton from time to
time with an expression of childlike wonder. When her hunger was
appeased, and she seemed inclined to talk, he said,--

"Tell me something of yourself. When and where did you marry that man?"

"We were married in Mexico, seven years ago."

"Your home was in Mexico?"

"No, Senor, my father owned a big cattle ranch in Texas. Senor Walcott,
as you call him here, worked for him. He wanted to marry me, but my
father opposed the marriage. We lived close to the line, so we went
across one day and were married. My father was very angry, but I was his
only child, and by and by he forgave and took us back."

"Do I understand you that Walcott is not this man's real name?" Mr.
Britton interposed.

"His name is Jose Martinez, Senor."

"But is he not a half-breed? I have understood his father was an
Englishman."

"His father was an Englishman, but no one ever knew who he was, you
understand, Senor? Afterwards his mother married Pablo Martinez, and her
child took his name. That was why my father opposed our marriage."

"I understand," said Mr. Britton; "but he claims heavy cattle interests
in the South; how did he come by them?"

"My father's, all of them;" she replied. "He and my father quarrelled
soon after we went there to live. Then we came away north; we lived for
a while in this State,"--she paused and hesitated as though fearing she
had said too much, but Mr. Britton's face betrayed nothing, and she
continued: "Then, in a year or so, we went south and he and my father
quarrelled again. My father was found dead on the plai