you were a girl I could put you in
the convent school here," he reflected aloud.

Again that swift, deep blush irradiated the youth's cheeks. "Why can't I
go with you?" he asked shyly.

The ranger laughed. "Mebbe you think I'm going on a picnic. Why, I'm
starting out to knock the chip off Old Man Trouble's shoulder. Like as
not some greaser will collect Mr. Bucky's scalp down in manyana land.
No, sir, this doesn't threaten to be a Y. P. S. C. E. excursion."

"If it is so dangerous as that, you will need help. I'm awful good at
making up, and I can speak Spanish like a native."

"Sho! You don't want to go running your neck into a noose. It's a
jail-break I'm planning, son. There may be guns a-popping before we
get back to God's country--if we ever do. Add to that, trouble and then
some, for there's a revolution scheduled for old Chihuahua just now, as
your uncle happens to know from reliable information."

"Two can always work better than one. Try me, Bucky," pleaded the boy,
the last word slipping out with a trailing upward inflection that was
irresistible.

"Sure you won't faint if we get in a tight pinch, Curly?" scoffed
O'Connor, even though in his mind he was debating a surrender. For he
was extraordinarily taken with the lad, and his judgment justified what
the boy had said.

"I shall not be afraid if you are with me."

"But I may not be with you. That's the trouble. Supposing I should be
caught, what would you do?"

"Follow any orders you had given me before that time. If you had not
given any, I would use my best judgment."

"I'll give them now," smiled Bucky. "If I'm lagged, make straight for
Arizona and tell Webb Mackenzie or Val Collins."

"Then you will take me?" cried the boy eagerly.

"Only on condition that you obey orders explicitly. I'm running this
cutting-out expedition."

"I wouldn't think of disobeying."

"And I don't want you to tell me any lies."

"No."

Bucky's big brown fist caught the little one and squeezed it. "Then it's
a deal, kid. I only hope I'm doing right to take you."

"Of course you are. Haven't you promised to make a man of me?" And again
Bucky caught that note of stifled laughter in the voice, though the big
brown eyes met his quite seriously.

They took the train that night for El Paso, Bucky in the lower berth and
his friend in the upper of section six of one of the Limited's Pullman
cars. The ranger was awake and up with the day. For a couple of hours
he s