ng about a square deal I reckon I have got to
give you one. Now, what would you think a square deal, Curly? Would it
be square for me to let my friend O'Halloran stand all the risk of this
and then me take the reward when Henderson has been freed by him? Would
that be your notion of the right telling?"

"I didn't say that, though I don't see why you have to mix yourself
up in his troubles. Why should you go out and kill these soldiers that
haven't injured you?"

"I'm not going to kill any of them," he smiled "Besides, that isn't the
way I look at it. This fellow Megales is a despot. He has made out
to steal the liberty of the people from them. President Diaz can't
interfere because the old rascal governor does everything with that
smooth, oily way of his under cover of law. It's up to some of the
people to put up a good strong kick for themselves. I ain't a bit sorry
to give them the loan of my foot while they are doing it."

"Then can't I go, too? I don't want to be left alone here and you away
fighting."

Bucky's eyes gleamed. He dared an experiment in an indifferent drawl.
"Whyfor don't you want to stay alone, kid? Are you afraid for yourself
or for me?"

His partner's cheeks were patched with roses. Shyly the long, thick
lashes lifted and let the big brown eyes meet his blue ones. "Maybe I'm
afraid for both of us."

"Would you care if one of their pills happened along in the scrimmage
and put me out of business? Honest, would you?"

"You haven't any right to talk that way. It's cruel," was the reply that
burst from the pretty lips, and he noticed that at his suggestion the
roses had died from soft cheeks.

"Well, I won't talk that way any more, little partner," he answered
gaily, taking the small hand in his. "For reasons good. I'm fire-proof.
The Mexican bullet hasn't been cast yet that can find Bucky O'Connor's
heart."

"But you mustn't think that, either, and be reckless," was the next
injunction. The shy laugh rang like music. "That's why I want to go
along, to see that you behave yourself properly."

"Oh, I'll behave," he laughed; for the young man found it very easy to
be happy when those sweet eyes were showing concern for him. "I've got
several good reasons why I don't aim to get bumped off just yet. Heaps
of first-rate reasons. I'll tell you what some of them are one of these
days," he dared to add.

"You had better tell me now." The gaze that fell before his steady eyes
was both shy and eage