be all right
in your country, but it won't go here!"

He threw a protecting arm around Lucia, who was panting and pale. He pulled
his gun, and aimed it at Pedro's head. "Drop it!" he cried. Pedro obeyed
like lightning. The gun fell to the floor with a vibrating crash.

Then Gilbert covered Lopez. "If this is a trick--" he cried.

"Trick for what?" the bandit wanted to know. He nodded to Pedro. "Get ze
men. 'E will not shoot!"

Enraged beyond control, young Jones cried out: "For the last time! You mean
it? I know what you've tried to do, and I'm grateful; but there's one thing
that I must do!" Still the gun was leveled at the bandit's head.

"What's that?" nonchalantly.

"Protect her!" Gilbert said, drawing Lucia closer to his heart.

Lopez smiled again. "You will not shoot."

"I will--if I must!"

"Oh, ze wolf in ze sheep's overcoat!" the bandit smirked.

"I will! I warn you!"

"Gil!" cried Lucia, in mortal terror.

"It's your life or his, and I'm damned if it's yours! I'll give you just
three seconds to get out of here! Now," and there was a fire in his eyes
that could deceive no one, "you hear me? One--two ..."

"Don't shoot!" cried the bandit. And he laughed outright, almost doubling
up with mirth.

"It was a trick?" Gilbert asked, beginning to see light.

"_Si._ Ah, my frand, I 'ave make ze man from you at last! Fine man what
would kill for 'is woman!" He patted him on the shoulder.

Gilbert looked at him seriously, and the terrible realization came to him.
"I _would_ have killed you! Yes, I _would_ have killed you--and you are my
friend!"

Lopez saw how earnest he was. "I know. And it makes me very 'appy. For at
last you 'ave became ze man of intelligence--like me. You could not leave
'er go now, could you?"

Gilbert looked at the relieved Lucia. "No!" he cried.

"You not question ze what you call Destiny, do you?" Lopez said.

"No."

"Zen for you I am Destiny, to beat 'ell!" He walked toward the door.

There was a whistle outside. Pedro had drifted into the night. The stars
poured their miracle of beauty into the room as Pancho Lopez flung the door
wide.

"Well, no more of zat!" he said. "I must go--to leave you to live and love!
No, you shall not zank me," as Gilbert started to speak. "Ees I shall zank
you, for 'ere in your quiet 'ome you 'ave give me ze most peaceful day I
'ave spend in years." He smiled his captivating smile, and for the first
time took his sombrero from his head. H