a favor which Pablo proceeded at once to
extend.

"_Mira_!" he called suddenly and directed Parser's attention to the
pommel of Don Mike's fancy saddle, The rawhide covering on the shank of
the pommel had been torn and scored and the steel beneath lay exposed.
"You see?" Pablo queried. "You understan', _senor_?"

"No, I must confess I do not, Pablo."

"Don Miguel is standing beside thees horse. He makes tighter the
saddle; he is tying those latigo and he have the head bent leetle hit
while he pull those latigo through the ring. Bang! Those Jap shoot at
Don Miguel. He miss, but the bullet she hit thees pommel, she go flat
against the steel, she bounce off and hit Don Miguel on top the head.
The force for keel heem is use' up when the bullet hit thees pommel,
but still those bullet got plenty force for knock Don Miguel seelly,
no?"

"Spent ball, eh? I think you're right, Pablo."

Pablo relapsed into one of his infrequent Gringo solecisms. "You bet
you my life you know eet," he said.

John Parker took a hundred dollar bill from his pocket. "Pablo," he
said with genuine feeling, "you're a splendid fellow. I know you don't
like me, but perhaps that is because you do not know me very well. Don
Miguel knows I had nothing to do with this attempt to kill him, and if
Don Miguel bears me no ill-will, I'm sure you should not. I wish you
would accept this hundred dollar bill, Pablo?"

Pablo eyed the bill askance. "What for?" he demanded.

"For the way you handled that murdering Jap. Pablo, that was a bully
job of work. Please accept this bill. If I didn't like you I would
not offer it to you."

"Well, I guess Carolina mebbeso she can use eet. But first I ask Don
Miguel if eet is all right for me take eet." He departed for the house
to return presently with an anticipatory smile on his dusky
countenance. "Don Miguel say to me, _senor_: 'Pablo, any people she's
stay my house he's do what she please.' _Gracias_, Senor Parker." And
he pouched the bill. "_Mille gracias, senor_."

"Pray, do not mention it, Pablo."

"All right," Pablo agreed. "Eef you don't like eet, well, I don' tell
somebody!"

CHAPTER XXV

Bill Conway driving up the San Gregorio in his prehistoric automobile,
overtook Kay and her mother walking home from the Mission, and drove
them the remainder of the distance back to the hacienda. Arrived here,
old Conway resurrected the stolen spark plugs and returned them to
Parker's ch