Uncle Joe;
"an' he's stubborn as a mule, Adam is. He says it'll be forgotten, an'
if we make a play like that it'll raise th' devil."

"When her safety is at stake?" sharply demanded Tom.

"He says she ain't in no danger. Him an' Armijo is real friendly. Adam
is th' one man th' Americans in this town depend on ter git 'em a little
justice. I've been arguin' with him tonight, an' I aim to keep on
arguin'; but he's set. I know Adam."

Tom cursed and arose to his feet. "An' _I_ know _Armijo_! I know his
vile history like a book, for I took pains to learn it. His whole career
is built on treachery, sheep-stealin', double-dealin' and assassination.
He robbed Chavez of thousands of sheep--even stealing them and selling
them back to their rightful owner. He sold one little flock back to
Chavez over a dozen times, an' had stolen it from him in th' beginnin'.
Then he dealt _monte_ and made a pile. Then he was made chief custom
house officer in this town, got caught at some of his tricks an' kicked
out. Governor Perez put another man in his place. The condition of
politics in Mexico worked in Armijo's favor and he stirred up a ferment,
headed a conspiracy, raised a force of about a thousand Mexicans an'
Pueblo Indians up at La Canada, and when Perez moved against him Perez's
troops went over to Armijo and the old governor had to flee to this
town, and out of it on th' jump. With him went a score or so of his
personal friends; but the next day the little party was caught, more
than a dozen of them put to death, an' Perez was murdered in the
outskirts of this town and his body dragged around through the streets.
Armijo had not shown his hand openly and the new governor was one of the
active leaders of the insurrection. This did not suit Armijo, who was
playing for big stakes, and he started another revolution, adopted
Federalism for a cloak, drove the insurgent governor from the city,
later shot him and, after declaring himself governor, had his
appointment made official by the Federal government at Mexico City, and
ever since has played tyrant without a check. That's Adam Cooper's
so-called friend. That's the man he trusts. God help Adam; an' God help
Armijo if he harms Patience Cooper!"

His friends nodded, for they knew that he spoke the truth; and Uncle Joe
thoughtlessly lit another cigar before he remembered its make. "Adam's
last cent is sunk out here," he remarked. "He says he ain't goin' to
turn himself inter a pauper