un in her. The priest had
scarcely read the letter when Don Mario appeared at the parish house.

"_Bien, Padre_," he began smoothly, but without concealing the malice
which lurked beneath his oily words, "Padre Diego sends for the little
Carmen, and bids me arrange to have her conveyed at once to Banco. I
think Juan will take her down, is it not so?"

Jose looked him squarely in the eyes. "No, senor," he said in a voice
that trembled with agitation, "it is not so!"

_"Hombre!"_ exclaimed Don Mario, swelling with suppressed rage. "You
refuse to give Diego his own child?"

"No, _senor_, but I refuse to give him a child that is not his."

"_Caramba!_ but she is--he has the proofs! And I shall send her to him
this day!"

The Alcalde shrilled forth his rage like a ruffled parrot. Jose seized
him by the shoulders and, turning him swiftly about, pushed him out
into the road. He then entered the rear door of Rosendo's house and
bade Dona Maria keep the child close to her.

A few minutes later Fernando Perez appeared at Jose's door. He was
municipal clerk, secretary, and constable of Simiti, all in one. He
saluted the priest gravely, and demanded the body of the child Carmen,
to be returned to her proper father.

Jose groaned inwardly. What could he do against the established
authority?

"_Bien, Padre_," said Fernando, after delivering his message, "the
hour is too late to send her down the river to-day. But deliver her to
me, and she shall go down at daybreak."

"Listen," Jose pleaded desperately, "Fernando, leave her here
to-night--this is sudden, you must acknowledge--she must have time to
take leave of Dona Maria--and--"

"_Senor Padre_, the Alcalde's order is that she go with me now. I must
obey."

Jose felt his control oozing fast. Scarce knowing what he did, he
quickly stepped back through the rear door, and going to Rosendo's
house, seized a large _machete_, with which he returned to face the
constable.

"Look you, Fernando," he cried, holding the weapon menacingly aloft,
"if you lay a hand on that girl, I will scatter your brains through
yonder _plaza_!"

_"Caramba!"_ muttered the constable, falling back. "_Bien_," he
hastily added, "I will make this report to the Alcalde!" With which he
beat an abrupt retreat.

Jose sank into a chair. But he hastily arose and went into Rosendo's
house. "Dona Maria!" he cried excitedly, "leave Carmen with me, and do
you hurry through the town and see if Juan is here