n with her eyes:

"What trouble now?"

Then John told their story speedily and suggested that some of the men
ride to the mesa and attend to what was needful. Also, repeated
Jessica's opinion about the chapel, with which the lady instantly
agreed; then, clasping her daughter's hand very close, returned with
her to the porch and began to fold away her sewing.

But both Aunt Sally, when she came and heard the news, and the little
girl asked:

"Why do you put it away, mother, dear? If Pedro is happy now, as we
believe, why shouldn't we be, too? All the rest must have their
holiday, and I think--I think he'd like to have me look nice. He
always did."

"Jessie is right, Gabriell'. Things do happen terrible upsettin'
lately, seems to me; but by the time you and me get to be a hundred
odd, I reckon we shan't care a mite whether folks wear red and white
dresses or horrid humbly ones. I'm goin' on just the same as ever, for
that's the only way I'll ever keep my common senses in this spooky
place. I knew when they two started off, left hoof foremost, they was
ridin', to trouble; and this morning my hen chicken crowed to beat
any rooster I ever heard, and that's a sure sign of death."

"Aunt Sally, don't!" protested Mrs. Trent, glancing anxiously at her
daughter's face. But she need not have feared; for the child smiled
back upon her, serene and happy, despite the traces of tears that
still marked her bright eyes.

"It's all right, mother, dear; and I'm thinking how glad Pedro must be
now, to have found all those he'd so long outlived. He just went to
sleep, you see, alone, and waked up with them around him. I think it
was beautiful--beautiful; and his last deed was to find me and to tell
you how you could grow rich if you want to. Where are the little boys,
I wonder?"

They presently appeared, in wild excitement, having been at the men's
quarters when John rode thither to impart his news and directions; yet
in this excitement was not a vestige of grief. They seemed to feel
relieved of some dread, and Ned more than once punched Luis,
whispering shrilly enough for all to hear:

"We can do it now, and not get caught! Yes, siree! We can do it now!
Don't you tell!"

And Luis responded by an ecstatic hug and the customary echo:

"Do it now; don't you tell! Yes, siree!"

John Benton had nearly covered the distance to Marion, when he
perceived two men slowly advancing toward him along the level road.
For a moment, engros