Bucky's eyes rested for a moment almost tenderly on Frances. "I reckon
he is better worth knowing," he said.

"Indeed! And you so brave, and patient, and good?" she mocked.

"Oh! Am I all that?" asked Bucky easily.

"So I have been given to understand."

Out of the corner of his eye O'Connor caught the embarrassed,
reproachful look that Frances gave her audacious friend, and he found it
easy to fit quotation marks round the admirable qualities that had just
been ascribed to him. He guessed himself blushing a deux with his little
friend, and also divined Miss Carmencita's roguish merriment at their
confusion.

"I AM all those things you mentioned and a heap more you forgot to say,"
claimed the ranger boldly, to relieve the situation. "Only I didn't know
for sure that folks had found it out. My mind's a heap easier to know
I'm being appreciated proper at last."

Under her long, dark lashes Miss Carmencita looked at him in gentle
derision. "I'm of opinion, sir, that you get all the appreciation that
is good for you."

Bucky carried the war into the enemy's country. "Which same, I expect,
might be said of Chihuahua's most beautiful belle. And, talking of
Senor Valdez reminds me that I owe a duty to his father, who is confined
here. I'll be saying good night ladies."

"It's high time," agreed Miss Megales. "Talking of Senor Valdez,
indeed!"

"Good night, Curly said."

"Good night, Bucky."

To which, in mocking travesty, added, in English, Miss Carmencita, who
seemed to have an acute attack of Shakespeare:

"Good night, good night; parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good night till It be morrow."

CHAPTER 16. JUAN VALDEZ SCORES

The first thing Bucky did after leaving the two young women was to go
down in person with one of the guards to the cell of David Henderson.
The occupant of the cell was asleep, but he woke up when the two men
entered.

"Who is it?" he demanded.

"Webb Mackenzie's man come to release you," answered Bucky.

The prisoner fell to trembling like an aspen. "God, man, do you mean
it?" he begged. "You wouldn't deceive an old man who has lived fifteen
years in hell?"

"It's true, friend, every word of it. You'll live to ride the range
again and count your cattle on the free hillside. Come with me up to the
office and we'll talk more of it."

"But may I? Will they let me?" trembled Henderson, fearful lest his cup
of joy be dashed from him. "I'm not dreamin