ore particularly to one "Tall Mose" Bledsoe of Pike county who
was purple with indignation that a "saddle-colored Greaser should dare
lay hands on a white woman."

But there were also "Rube" Marmaduke of Platte, "Mac" Crittenden of
Nodaway, the "Doc" of Benton, "Cal" Grinders from the Ozarks, Clay of
Carroll, and Carroll of Clay, besides a ruddy sprinkling from the county
of Jackson. Among the latter was "Old Brothers and Sisters," a plump
little young man with cherubic eyes behind round brass spectacles. Clem
Douglas had been ordained in the M. E. Church (South), and became
thereupon the Rev. Mr. Douglas. "Old Brothers and Sisters" was a
theological degree of later acquirement, lovingly bestowed by the Iron
Brigade. But in his more recent gospel of pistol practice, Clem Douglas
was not a backslider. He was simply all things Southern to all men. Like
the others in the cabin, his hat was off, his muddy boots scraped; and
like the others, he was not unaware of the two girls.

"Rather showery out," he observed genially, wiping the mist off his
glasses, and imagining weather a livelier topic than battle.

Jacqueline did not hear. Her eyes were still on the man who had
disdained to strike Rodrigo from behind, who had flung him away instead,
as one would a dog. She stood motionless, and her face was very white.
She saw that he wore loose leather "chaps," a woolen shirt, and an old
coat, with only stained shoulder straps, green braid on dark blue, to
indicate a uniform. His wet black hair was curly. His brown eyes flashed
whimsical contempt on the resplendent guerrilla at his feet. He was the
Coincidence; he was the Storm Centre. He turned, expecting to see the
Empress, and he met her eyes. His own darkened with a new anger, and
involuntarily, he swung round, himself to kick the Mexican who had
insulted her. But a flood of memory swept over him, the memory of what
he had seen at Cuernavaca. Not for her could he touch a fallen man.

"Take him into the back room, two of you."

Red, red to the neck, he was turning to follow, when he saw Berthe.

"Miss Burt!" he exclaimed.

Heartily he shook hands with her. "It's my first chance, you know, to
mention what you did for me over a year ago. But I sure appreciate
having my life saved, you know that. There now, you're not to worry over
this present mess. We'll have it straightened out, just in no time."

He stammered as he spoke, and when he turned and left the room, his
bearing