enewed at his
words.

The eyes of the Anglo-Saxon grew grave.

"How is Don Manuel to-night?"

"Better. Thank Heaven."

"That's what the doctor told me."

Dick propped himself on an elbow and looked directly at her, that
affectionate smile of his on his face.

"Miss Valdes, do you know, ever since I've been well enough, I've been
hoping that if one of us had to cross the Great Divide it would be me?"

Her troubled eyes studied him.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it would seem more right that way. I came here and made all
this trouble in the valley. I insulted him. I had in mind another hurt
to him that we won't discuss just now. Then, when it comes to a
showdown, he just naturally waltzes into Hades and saves my life for me
at the risk of his own. No, ma'am, I sure couldn't have stood it if he
had died."

"I'm glad you feel that way," she answered softly, her eyes dim.

"How else could I feel, and be a white man? I tell you, it makes me feel
mean to think about that day I threw him in the water. Just because I'm
a great big husky, about the size of two of him, I abused my strength
and----"

"Just a moment," the girl smiled. "You are forgetting he struck you
first."

"Oh, well! I reckon I could have stood that."

"Will you be willing to tell him how you feel about it?"

"Will I? Well, I guess yes."

The young woman's eyes were of starry radiance. "I'm so glad--so happy.
I'm sure everything will come right, now."

He nodded, smiling.

"That's just the way I feel, Miss Valencia. They couldn't go wrong,
after this--that is, they couldn't go clear wrong."

"I'm quite certain of that."

"I want to go on record as saying that Manuel Pesquiera is the gamest
man I know. That isn't all. He's a thoroughbred on top of it. If I live
to be a hundred I'll never be as fine a fellow. My hat's off to him."

There was a mist in her soft eyes as she poured a glass of ice water for
him. "I'm so glad to hear you say that. He _is_ such a splendid fellow."

He observed she was no longer wearing the solitaire and thought it might
be to spare his feelings. So he took the subject as a hunter does a
fence.

"I wish you all the joy in the world, Miss Valdes. I know you're going
to be very happy. I've got my wedding present all picked out for you,"
he said audaciously.

She was busy tidying up his dresser, but he could see the color flame
into her cheeks.

"You have a very vivid imagination, Mr. Gordon."

"Not