latial dwelling with servants in livery, the
blue waters of the Gulf, the white of dancing sails. He spoke of a
peace which was going to be declared between warring factions below the
border within thirty days, of the magnificence to be Francisco Villa's,
of the position to be occupied by Jim Galloway at Villa's side. His
planned development of a gold-mine he mentioned merely casually.

And then at length when Florrie was prepared for the passionate
declaration he humbled himself at her feet, lifted his hands to her in
supplication, told her in burning words of his love. Whether the man
did love her with all of the strength of his nature or whether he but
meant to strike through her at John Engle, the richest man of this
section of the State, it was for Jim Galloway alone to know. Certainly
not for Florrie, who listened wide-eyed. . . . Once she thought that
he was about to sweep her up into his arms; they had lifted suddenly
from his sides. She had drawn back, crying sharply: "No, no!" But he
had waited, had again grown deeply deferential, swerving immediately to
further vividly colored pictures of life as it might be, of power and
pomp, of a secure position from which a man and a woman might direct
policies of state, shaping the lives of other men and women.

And in the end of that ardent interview Jim Galloway's caution was
still with him, his knowledge of the girl's nature clear in his mind.
He did not ask her answer; he merely sought a third opportunity to
speak with her, suggesting that upon the next night she slip out and
meet him. He would have a horse for her, one for himself; they could
ride for a half-hour. He had so much to tell her.

Perhaps a much more important factor than she realized in her action
was Florrie's new riding-habit. It had been acquired but three days
before and she knew very well just how she looked in it. There would
be a moon, almost at the full. The full moon and the new riding-habit
were the allies given by fate to Jim Galloway.

Besides all of this, she had not seen Elmer Page for a month. Further,
she knew that Elmer had gone riding upon at least one occasion with a
girl of Las Palmas, Superintendent Kemble's daughter. And finally,
there lies much rich adventure in just doing that which we know we
should leave alone. So Florrie, while her mother and father thought
that she had gone early to bed, was on her way to meet Galloway.

They rode out of the cottonwood frin