e day's wages
counted off your debt. There now, get along with you to the timber
cutting."

The administrador brightened on perceiving Driscoll. "How was His Mercy?
How had His Mercy passed the night? How----"

"Where," interposed Driscoll, "might one find the nearest stage to
Mexico?"

Almost nowhere, was the reply. What with the French intervention and
guerrillas, the Compania de Diligencias had about suspended its service
altogether. "Then," said Driscoll, "could we hire some sort of a rig
from you?" The administrador believed so, though he regretted
continuously that Their Mercies must be leaving so soon.

With a nod of thanks Driscoll turned curiously to the loaded shelves,
and gazed at the bolts of manta, calico, and red flannel. "Jiminy
crickets," he burst forth, "is there anybody on this ranch who can sew?"

Yes, the wife of one of the clerks was a passable seamstress. She did
such work for the Donas at the House.

"And can she do some to-day, and can you send it on to overtake me by
to-morrow?"

Most certainly.

Then Driscoll invested in a number of varas of calico print. It was the
best available. But the light blue flowering was modest enough, and
there was even a cheery freshness about it that called up mellowing
recollections of bright-eyed Missouri girls. Yet each time he thought of
the costumes he had ordered, he blushed until his hair roots tingled.

Intent once more on departure, Din Driscoll hastened back to the House.
But he only learned that Jacqueline and Berthe were not up yet. He
mumbled at such looseness in discipline, until he remembered that they
were not troopers, but girls. And since girls are to be waited for, he
did it in his own room. From his saddlebags he laid out shaving
material. The Old Brigade had advised these things, while speculating
with dry concern on what was correct among emperors. After much sharp
snapping of eyes, for the razor pulled, the clean line of his jaw
emerged from lather and stubble. "Just in case any emperor should happen
in," he tried to explain it, taking a transparently jocose manner with
himself.

Eight o'clock! Even civilized people do not stay abed that late! Yet he
found only Berthe in the dining room. She had come on a foraging
expedition. He watched the little Bretonne's deft arranging of a
battered tray, and offered droll suggestions until she began to suspect
that he really did not mean them. Berthe was a nice girl with soft brown
hair, an