g, am I? I'll not wake the
way I often do and find that it is all a dream, will I?" He caught at
the lapel of O'Connor's coat and searched his face.

"No, your dreams are true at last, Dave Henderson. Come, old friend,
take a drink of this to steady you. It's all coming out right now."

Tears streamed down the face of the man rescued from a living grave. He
dashed them away impatiently with a shaking hand. "I used to be as game
as other men, young man, and now you see what a weakling I am. Don't
judge me too hard. Happiness is a harder thing to stand than pain or
grief. They've tried to break my spirit many a time and they couldn't,
but you've done it now with a word."

"You'll be all right as soon as you are able to realize it. I don't
wonder the shock unnerves you. Have you anything you want to take out of
here with you before you leave forever?"

Pathetically the prisoner looked round on his few belongings. Some of
them had become endeared to him by years of use and association, but
they had served their time. "No, I want to forget it all. I came in with
nothing. I'll take out nothing. I want to blot it all out like a hideous
nightmare."

Bucky ordered Colonel Gabilonda to bring up from his cell General Valdez
and the other arrested suspects. They reached the office at the same
time as Mike O'Halloran, who greeted them with the good news that the
day was won. The Megales faction had melted into mist, and all over the
city a happy people was shouting for Valdez.

"I congratulate you, general. We have just telegraphed the news over the
State that Megales has resigned and fled. There can be no doubt that you
will be elected governor to-morrow and that the people's party will win
the day with an unprecedented vote. Glory be, Chihuahua is at last free
from the heel of tyranny. Viva Valdez! Viva Chihuahua libra!"

Bucky at once introduced to General Valdez the American prisoner who had
suffered so long and unjustly. He recited the story of the abduction of
the child, of Henderson's pursuit, of the killing of the trooper, and of
the circumstantial evidence that implicated the Texan and upon which he
was convicted. He then drew from his pocket a signed and attested copy
of the confession of the knife thrower and handed it to the general.

Valdez looked it over, asked an incisive question or two of Bucky, heard
from Henderson his story, and, after a few moments' discussion of the
matter with O'Halloran, promised a fre