cedes sprang up blushing with pretty, penitent manner and moving
white hands eloquent of her condition.

"Oh, Mercedes--don't go!" cried Thorne, as she stepped to the door.

"Senor Dick will stay. He is not mucha malo for you--as I am."

Then she smiled and went out.

"Good Lord!" exclaimed Thorne. "How I love her. Dick, isn't she the
most beautiful, the loveliest, the finest--"

"George, I share your enthusiasm," said Dick, dryly, "but Mercedes
isn't the only girl on earth."

Manifestly this was a startling piece of information, and struck Thorne
in more than one way.

"George," went on Dick, "did you happen to observe the girl who saved
your life--who incidentally just fetched in your breakfast?"

"Nell Burton! Why, of course. She's brave, a wonderful girl, and
really nice-looking."

"You long, lean, hungry beggar! That was the young lady who might
answer the raving eulogy you just got out of your system.... I--well,
you haven't cornered the love market!"

Thorne uttered some kind of a sound that his weakened condition would
not allow to be a whoop.

"Dick! Do you mean it?"

"I shore do, as Laddy says."

"I'm glad, Dick, with all my heart. I wondered at the changed look you
wear. Why, boy, you've got a different front.... Call the lady in, and
you bet I'll look her over right. I can see better now."

"Eat your breakfast. There's plenty of time to dazzle you afterward."

Thorne fell to upon his breakfast and made it vanish with magic speed.
Meanwhile Dick told him something of a ranger's life along the border.

"You needn't waste your breath," said Thorne. "I guess I can see.
Belding and those rangers have made you the real thing--the real
Western goods.... What I want to know is all about the girl."

"Well, Laddy swears she's got your girl roped in the corral for looks."

"That's not possible. I'll have to talk to Laddy.... But she must be a
wonder, or Dick Gale would never have fallen for her.... Isn't it
great, Dick? I'm here! Mercedes is well--safe! You've got a girl!
Oh!.... But say, I haven't a dollar to my name. I had a lot of money,
Dick, and those robbers stole it, my watch--everything. Damn that
little black Greaser! He got Mercedes's letters. I wish you could
have seen him trying to read them. He's simply nutty over her, Dick.
I could have borne the loss of money and valuables--but those
beautiful, wonderful letters--they're gone!"

"Cheer up. You have the girl. B