e and has no friends near. Think of your own sisters, man."

Ochampa moved restlessly in his chair. "We had better send the girl
home. She will bring us trouble else."

His superior officer flashed a quick look at him. "That is a bridge we
shall cross when we come to it. Meanwhile I say adios, Senor Yeager.
Shall I send you the padre?"

"Thanks, no! But remember this. You stake your whole future on the
treatment you give Miss Seymour. If you don't play fair with her, you
lose."

Ramon clapped his hands three times. A soldier entered the room.

"Take the Gringo back to his prison," ordered Culvera.

"The order stands, general? At sunset?" asked the man.

"It stands," assented Ramon; and turned to Ochampa: "Have you agreed on
a price for that bunch of cattle with the Flying D rustlers, major?"

CHAPTER XXVII

CULVERA RECONSIDERS

Spurred by Daisy Ellington, the star of the border Lunar Company had
kept the wires hot with messages to "the old man" in New York. To do him
justice the president of the company rose to the occasion as soon as it
was impressed upon his mind that Threewit and the others were in serious
danger. He telegraphed for Lennox to meet him in Washington and hurried
to the Capitol himself to lay the case before the senior Senator from
New York, a statesman who happened to be under political obligations to
him.

The Arizona congressional delegation was called into conference and an
appointment made to meet the President of the United States. As soon as
Lennox reached the city, he was hurried to the White House, where he
told the story before the President and the Secretary of State.

The case called for prompt action. Instructions were wired to Captain
Girard, stationed with his company at Bisbee, Arizona, to act as a
special envoy from the President to General Pasquale.

Girard, with a corporal, two saddle-horses, and a pack-horse, entrained
at once. Four hours later he was dropped at a tank station, from which
point he and the corporal struck straight into the barren desert. The
glare of the afternoon sun was slanting down upon them when they
started. Their shadows grew longer as they rode. The sun, a ball of
fire, dropped below the distant horizon edge and left a sky of wonder to
drive a painter to despair.

The gold and crimson and purple softened as the minutes passed. The
distant ridges were no longer flamed with edgings of fire. A deep purple
predominated and was lightened pr