hind the fellow cackled merrily at his wit, and the
encouraged turnkey tried again.

"We shall trouble you but a little time. Only a few questions, senor,
an order, and then poco tiempo, after a short walk to the
gallows--paradise."

"What--what do you mean?" gasped the girl whitely.

"Never mind, muchacho. This is no affair of yours. Your turn will come
later. Have no fear of that," nodded the wrinkled old parchment face.

"But--but he hasn't done anything wrong."

"Ho, ho! Let him explain that to the generals and the colonels," croaked
the old fellow. "And that you may explain the sooner, senor, hurry--let
your feet fly!"

Bucky walked across to the girl he loved and took her hands in his.

"If I don't come back before three hours read the letter that I wrote
you yesterday, dear. I have left matches on that bench so that you may
have a light. Be brave, pardner. Don't lose your nerve, whatever you do.
We'll both get out of this all right yet."

He spoke in a low voice, so that the guards might not hear, and it was
in kind that she answered.

"I'm afraid, Bucky; afraid away down deep. You don't half believe
yourself what you say. I can't stand it to be here alone and not know
what's going on. They might be--be doing what that man said, and I not
know anything about it till afterward." She broke down and began to sob.
"Oh, I know I'm a dreadful little coward, but I can't be like you--and
you heard what he said."

"Sho! What he says is nothing. I'm an American citizen, and I reckon
that will carry us through all right. Uncle Sam has awful long arms, and
these greasers know it. I'm expecting to come back here again, little
pardner. But if I don't make it, I want you, just as soon as they turn
you loose, to go straight to your father's ranch."

"Come! This won't do. Look alive, senor," the turnkey ordered, and to
emphasize his words reached a hand forward to pluck away the sobbing
lad. Bucky caught his wrist and tightened on it like a vise. "Hands off,
here!" he commanded quietly.

The man gave a howl of pain and nursed his hand gingerly after it was
released.

"Oh, Bucky, make him let me go, too," the girl wailed, clinging to his
coat.

Gently he unfastened her fingers. "You know I would if I could, Curly;
but it isn't my say-so."

And with that he was gone. Ashen-faced she watched him go, and as soon
as the door had closed groped her way to the bench and sank down on it,
her face covered with her hands