ly de one, an' I not know him ver' vell yet. Maybe he
teach me vat you mean some day. He talk better, not like a fool, an'
he not try to make me bad. Is dat eet, senorita?"

"Yes; who is it you mean?"

"He? Oh! it vas most odd, yet I do not laugh, senorita, I know not
vy, but he make me to feel--vat you calls eet?--si, de respect; I tink
him to be de good man, de gentle. He was at de 'Little Yankee' too. I
vonder vas all good out at de 'Little Yankee'? _Sapristi_! he vas such
a funny man to talk--he sputter like de champagne ven it uncorked. I
laugh at him, but I like him just de same, for he act to me like I vas
de lady, de ver' fine lady. I never forget dat. You know him,
senorita? So big like a great bear, vis de beautiful red hair like de
color of dis dress. No? He so nice I just hate to have to fool him,
but maybe I get chance to make eet all up some day--you tink so?
Merciful saints! Ve are queer, ve vomens! Eet vas alvays de voman vat
does like de vay you do, hey? Ve vas mooch fools all de time."

"Yes, we are 'much fools'; that seems ordained. Yet there are true,
noble men in this world, Mercedes, and blessed is she who can boast of
such a friendship. This Mr. Winston is one, and, perhaps, your
stuttering giant may prove another." She caught at a straw of hope in
thus interesting the girl. "So he is at the 'Little Yankee'? and you
wish to serve him? Then listen; he is in danger also if this scheme of
revenge carries--in danger of his life. Dynamite does not pick out one
victim, and permit all others to escape."

"Dynamite?"

"That was Farnham's threat, and God knows he is perfectly capable of
it. Now, will you aid me?"

The young Mexican girl stood staring with parted lips.

"Help you how? Vat you mean?"

"Warn the men of the 'Little Yankee.'"

The other laughed behind her white teeth, yet with no mirth in the
sound.

"Ah, maybe I see, senorita; you try make a fool out me. No, I not play
your game. You try turn me against Senor Farnham. I tink you not
catch Mercedes so."

"You do not believe me?"

"_Sapristi_! I know not for sure. Maybe I help, maybe I not. First I
talk vis Senor Farnham, an' den I know vether you lie, or tell true.
Vatever ees right I do."

"Then permit me to pass."

Miss Norvell took a resolute step forward, clasping her skirts closely
to keep them from contact with the dusty scenery crowding the narrow
passage. The jealous flame within the b