astonishing celerity, and
had arrived at the riverine town just as a large steamer was docking.
The purser supplied him with the drug, and he immediately started on
his return.

The Alcalde set out to deliver the drug to Rosendo; but not finding
him at home, looked in at the parish house. Jose and Carmen were deep
in their studies.

"A thousand pardons, _Senor Padre_, but I have the medicine you
ordered for Rosendo," placing the small package upon the table.

"You may set it down against me, Don Mario," said Jose.

"No!" exclaimed the Alcalde, "this must not be charged to the
parish!"

"I said to me, _amigo_," replied the priest firmly.

"It is the same thing, Padre!" blurted the petty merchant.

The priest's anger began to rise, but he restrained it. "Padre Diego
is no longer here, you must remember," he said quietly.

"But the parish pays your debts; and it would not pay the full value
of this and Juan's trip," was the coarse retort.

"Very well, then, Don Mario," answered Jose. "You may charge it to
Rosendo. But tell me first how much you will place against him for
it."

The Alcalde reflected a moment. "The quinine will be five _pesos oro_,
and Juan's trip three additional. Is it not worth it?" he demanded,
blustering before Jose's steady gaze. "If Rosendo had been really sick
it would have saved his life!"

"Then you do not believe he was dangerously ill?" asked Jose with some
curiosity.

"He couldn't have been really sick and be around to-day--could he?"
the Alcalde demanded.

The priest glanced at Carmen. She met the look with a smile.

"No," he said slowly, "not _really_ sick." Then he quickly added:

"If you charge Rosendo eight _pesos_ for that bit of quinine, Don
Mario, you and I are no longer working together, for I do not take
base advantage of any man's necessities."

The Alcalde became confused. He was going too far. "_Na, Senor
Padre_," he said hastily, with a sheepish grin. "I will leave the
quinine with you, and do you settle the account with Juan." With which
he beat a disordered retreat.

Jose was thankful that, for a few months, at least, he would have a
powerful hold on this man through his rapacity. What would happen
when the Alcalde at length learned that Rosendo was not searching for
Don Ignacio's lost mine, he did not care to conjecture. That matter
was in other hands than his, and he was glad to leave it there. He
asked now only to see each single step as he progressed.