d down the road in clouds of dust
shooting into the air as they rode. Boys who would have run their legs
off to obey a whim of Harrison spat contemptuously upon the face of the
"Gringo cabrone."

Drawn by the hubbub, Captain Holcomb hurried from his house. He looked
down at the lifeless body four soldiers were carrying away and turned to
Pasquale for an explanation.

The general handed him the papers that proved Harrison's guilt. "I have
executed a traitor, captain. The dog would have sold us out to Farrugia.
Is his punishment not just?"

Holcomb looked the papers over and handed them back to his chief. "He
got what was coming to him," he answered quietly.

"I have witnesses to show that he was drawing his revolver to
assassinate me at the very moment he was shot. My men were just in
time."

"It was fortunate for you your men happened to be so handy," replied
the American officer with just a suggestion of dryness.

For Holcomb knew, just as Yeager did, that the scene had been set by
Pasquale for the killing. His men had been stationed in the windows
above, unknown to the victim. The heavyweight had been tempted to reach
for his weapon by the certainty that he had come to the end of the
passage. Doing so, he had given the signal for his own death. Had he
failed to do this, the Mexican general would have sprung the trap
himself in another minute. Fortunately this had not been necessary.
Pasquale was in a position to prove to the United States Government, in
case it became inquisitive, that when the man had been confronted with
his guilt he had tried to kill him and had been shot down red-handed.

Half an hour later Holcomb came into his house and found Steve cleaning
a pair of revolvers. The captain tossed his hat on the bed and sat down.

"Up to us, looks like," he commented.

Yeager nodded silently.

"Harrison hadn't a look-in. The old scoundrel had the cards stacked,"
continued the officer.

"Yep. Chad sat in against a cold deck. He made a big mistake when he let
the old man take the play."

"Everything fixed for to-night?"

"Far as it can be. We've just got to take a big chance and trust to luck
being with us," answered Steve.

"Guess you'll have to make your own luck. I spoke to Pasquale about a
game here to-night. He grabbed at the bait. Said he would bring Culvera
and Ochampa. I'll make a long session of it so as to give you all the
time you need."

"Better have a boy here to serve the liquor an