does as she damn please. Like
Mexico!" he ended.

The women were astounded. They had always thought of Mexico as a land of
rough-and-tumble, comic-opera revolutions; a place where one must forever
be on the lookout for trouble; where robbers were rife and the days were
nothing but a chain of abominations. A sunny, beautiful country, maybe; but
no place for a God-fearing American citizen to settle. Why, they would as
soon commit murder in Mexico as go to market.

"Haven't you any laws in Mexico?" Lucia inquired.

"We 'ave--ze best," Lopez was swift to reply.

"But you just said--" Angela started to remind him, and took a little stool
and moved close to him, seating herself upon it. She did not want him to
forget her girlish sweetness. Lopez paid no heed to her.

"They are ze best because each man makes them for 'imself. Not like New
York, where everybody tell you what you cannot do until zere is nozzing
left what you want to do."

Angela piped up: "You've been to New York?"

"When I was agent for Madero--yes. I live at ze big hotel. I 'ave planty
money. Ees no damn prohibition. I get dronk. I 'ave 'ell of a time. Sure! I
see 'im all! New York!" he smiled in recollection.

"And you didn't like it?" Angela persisted, moving her little stool even
closer to him.

"Like it? It makes me seeck! Even beautiful woman what I see 'ave 'osband
what is afraid for 'er. Each time I get dronk comes big policeman which 'it
me on ze 'ead." He smiled at the thought, "When I go to ze teatro, ees
someone which 'ide under--ze bed. Not even can I step on ze grass
because--New York! It crush ze 'eart!" He put both hands over his chest,
and looked up at the ceiling.

"Yes!" exclaimed Angela, her stool very close to him now.

"Ees a prison for ze soul!" Lopez affirmed. "A stupid, seely place, your
New York!"

"Yes!" Angela agreed again.

"For me New York can go to 'ell just as soon as she damn please!" the
bandit let out.

"Oh, Mr. Robber!" Angela cried.

"But Mexico! How different!" Lopez said, paying no more attention to Angela
than he would to a fly.

"I'm sure it is!" the girl said.

To Lucia, Lopez went on: "You shall see! Ze beautiful woman 'ave 'osband.
But shall I not 'ave beautiful woman?"

"Oh, Mr. Bandit!" Angela put in once more.

"When we get dronk, ees not policeman which will 'it us on ze 'ead, but us
which will 'it policeman on ze 'ead." Angela chuckled at this. "In ze
teatro shall not be someone which 'id