d Gordon.

Valencia, in the privacy of one of the hotel parlors, broke down and
wept for the first time. Manuel tried to comfort her by taking the girl
in his arms and petting her. She submitted to his embrace, burying her
face in his shoulder.

"Oh, Manuel, I'm a--a murderess," she sobbed.

"You're a goose," he corrected. "Haven't you from the first tried to
save this man from his own rashness? You're not to blame in any way,
Val."

"Yes ... Yes," she sobbed. "Pablo and Sebastian would never have dared
touch him if they hadn't known that I'd quarreled with him. It all comes
back to that."

"That's pure nonsense. For that matter, I don't believe he's dead at
all. We'll find him, as gay and insolent as ever, I promise you."

Hope was buoyant in the young man's heart. For the first time he held
his sweetheart in his arms. She clung to him, as a woman ought to her
lover, palpitant, warm, and helpless. Of course they would find this
pestiferous American who had caused her so much worry. And then
he--Manuel--would claim his reward.

"Do you think so ... really? You're not just saying so because ...?" Her
olive cheek turned the least in the world toward him.

Manuel trod on air. He felt that he could have flown across the range on
the wings of his joy.

"I feel sure of it, _nina_." Daring much, his hand caressed gently the
waves of heavy black hair that brushed his cheek.

Almost in a murmur she answered him. "Manuel, find him and save him.
Afterward ..."

"Afterward, _alma mia?_"

She nodded. "I'll ... do what you ask."

"You will marry me?" he cried, afraid to believe that his happiness had
come at last.

"Yes."

"Valencia, you love me?"

She trod down any doubts she might feel. Was he not the one suitable
mate for her of all the men she knew?

"How can I help it. You are good. You are generous. You serve me truly."
Gently she disengaged herself and wiped her eyes with a lace kerchief.
"But we must first find the American."

"I'll find him. Dead or alive I'll bring him to you. Dear heart, you've
given me the strength that moves mountains."

A little smile fought for life upon her sad face. "You'll not have
strength unless you eat. Poor Manuel, I think you lost your breakfast. I
ordered luncheon to be ready for us early. We'll eat now."

A remark of Manuel during luncheon gave his vis-a-vis an idea.

"Mr. Davis is most certainly thorough. I never saw a town so plastered
with bills before," he rem