ich choked him.

There was a pause, and then North halted before her.

"I trust that you will not complicate matters by adhering to this hasty
resolution, Miss Murdaugh. It is perhaps natural that you should
resent the treatment accorded your parents, but the past is dead and I
am convinced that when you will have had time for calm, sober
reflection you will realize the absurdity of attempting to maintain
your present attitude. Fortunately the decision does not rest with
you. You cannot know your own mind, you are still a minor----"

"Yes." Billie acquiesced. "That was why I asked you, first off, just
how old I am. You'll have a tough time trying to get me out of Mexico
if I don't want to go, Mr. North. I've seen some law fights over oil
leases down here and I know how cases can be strung out. I'll be of
age in a year and four months and I reckon I can bluff you till then.
I don't know why you should be so anxious to force that money on me and
make me acknowledge myself the granddaughter of a man who didn't play
fair!"

"It is entirely for your own benefit. Surely you can see that?" The
lawyer spoke almost pleadingly. "It would be idiocy, madness to throw
away such a fortune for a quixotic idea! You have never come into
contact with young people of the class to which you really belong or
you would realize all that circumstances have deprived you of
heretofore."

"Oh, I've met one or two." The girl's lip curled. "There's a rich
young New Yorker down here now, named Wiley----"

"Indeed? Starr Wiley?" Mr. North bit his mustache. "H'm! That is
awkward, for you will inevitably encounter him again in the circle to
which your cousins belong. I had hoped--ah, that you would not be
hampered by associations or reminders of your former circumstances, but
Mr. Wiley is a friend and I will see him----"

"Not here, you won't!" growled Jim. "He's gone."

The girl wheeled upon him, her face darkening.

"Gone where?" she demanded. "What do you mean, Jim?"

"How should I know where?" The hotel-keeper shrugged. "His hacienda
is shut up tight, except for the caretaker. Reckon he's gone home for
good. It wasn't none too healthy for him around here."

Billie rose and stumbled to the window. Across the plaza beyond the
flower-market, the Blue Chip could be discerned in an unfamiliar aspect
of transformation. Scaffolding had been erected against its walls and
their cerulean expanse was being rapidly hidde