ke
that!" she exclaimed. She longed for Lopez to turn and look at her; yet she
longed, oddly enough, that he would not do so in the next second. It would
be as difficult for her, as for him, if they saw each other. Her heart went
out to him--this friend of Gilbert's--and hers.

Bradley hated this show of feminine weakness. "Why can't I take him like
that? Do you think I'm going to nurse an invalid like him around these
parts?" He took the canteen from one of his men. "Here," he said, handing
it back to Pell.

"That's all right. Keep it; you may need it later on," said Pell, as though
the jug were his to give away.

"Much obliged," the ranger thanked him, nothing loath. "Come on, Bloke.
Good-night. We got him!"

He gave the bandit a shove, and two other rangers grasped him by either
arm. In a twinkling they were gone, had mounted their horses and were
galloping away in the starlight.

So everything was over and done with! Lucia was heart-broken for Lopez. She
came back into the room, murmuring:

"Lopez! Lopez captured!" There were tears in her eyes.

Pell paced the room with new strength. His eyes were now sinister.

"Fortunately for us, my dear," he said. "For now we are certain not to be
disturbed while working out a sensible solution of our little problem." He
had forgotten the pain in his head. He lighted a cigarette, casually,
slowly. "You will of course sue for divorce," he went on, blowing a ring to
the ceiling and watching it ascend. "But there'll be no difficulty about
that. I shall not contest," he added magnanimously.

She grasped at the straw. "You won't?" She almost believed him now.

"You'd win, anyway," her husband said. "But there _is_ the question of
alimony."

Gilbert swerved about. He detested the word. "Alimony!" he cried.

"An attractive woman never gets the worst of it in court," Pell coldly
stated. "Suppose we settle that--right here and now. It will give you ready
money. And it will save me from having to pay perhaps a greater sum--later.
That is...."

Gilbert was incensed. "We don't want your money!" he cried. And Lucia
treated the suggestion with the scorn it deserved.

Pell looked at them both. "No? Well, in that case, I suppose there's
nothing more to be said."

"And we are free to go?" Lucia cried, unbelieving.

Her husband puffed again. "Why not? I know I shan't stop you." Suddenly he
dropped his cigarette, leaned heavily against the table, swayed a bit, and
put his hand