Mercedes as he hates her. When I was
down in Durango I saw something of these peons' insane passions. Rojas
wants this girl only to have her, then kill her. It's damn strange,
boys, and even with Thorne here our troubles have just begun."

"Tom, you spoke correct," said Jim Ladd, in his cool drawl.

"Shore I'm not sayin' what I think," added Ladd. But the look of him
was not indicative of a tranquil optimism.

Thorne was put to bed in Gale's room. He was very weak, yet he would
keep Mercedes's hand and gaze at her with unbelieving eyes. Mercedes's
failing hold on hope and strength seemed to have been a fantasy; she
was again vivid, magnetic, beautiful, shot through and through with
intense and throbbing life. She induced him to take food and drink.
Then, fighting sleep with what little strength he had left, at last he
succumbed.

For all Dick could ascertain his friend never stirred an eyelash nor a
finger for twenty-seven hours. When he awoke he was pale, weak, but
the old Thorne.

"Hello, Dick; I didn't dream it then," he said. "There you are, and my
darling with the proud, dark eyes--she's here?"

"Why, yes, you locoed cavalryman."

"Say, what's happened to you? It can't be those clothes and a little
bronze on your face.... Dick, you're older--you've changed. You're not
so thickly built. By Gad, if you don't look fine!"

"Thanks. I'm sorry I can't return the compliment. You're about the
seediest, hungriest-looking fellow I ever saw.... Say, old man, you
must have had a tough time."

A dark and somber fire burned out the happiness in Thorne's eyes.

"Dick, don't make me--don't let me think of that fiend Rojas!.... I'm
here now. I'll be well in a day or two. Then!..."

Mercedes came in, radiant and soft-voiced. She fell upon her knees
beside Thorne's bed, and neither of them appeared to see Nell enter
with a tray. Then Gale and Nell made a good deal of unnecessary bustle
in moving a small table close to the bed. Mercedes had forgotten for
the moment that her lover had been a starving man. If Thorne remembered
it he did not care. They held hands and looked at each other without
speaking.

"Nell, I thought I had it bad," whispered Dick. "But I'm not--"

"Hush. It's beautiful," replied Nell, softly; and she tried to coax
Dick from the room.

Dick, however, thought he ought to remain at least long enough to tell
Thorne that a man in his condition could not exist solely upon love.

Mer