he English chaplain can marry us. We will then
cut off to England. On the arrival of Russell I will go to him and
demand my wife's property. If he refuses to disgorge I will at once
commence legal proceedings against him, and by way of preliminary I
will give the scoundrel a horsewhipping."

"This arrangement is all very well; but what about the lady? Will she
consent?"

"Consent? Why, she'll jump at the chance," said Ashby, confidently.

"She must be very fond of you."

"Fond of me? Why, she's perfectly infatuated about me."

"Good!" said Harry. "Well, my boy, I'm your man. You want me for war
and for peace, so here am I--your second at the duel and your
groomsman at the wedding."

CHAPTER IV.

HOW THE RAILWAY TRAIN COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP.

Very early on the following morning Ashby was up and out. He walked
over the town in all directions, with a strange, furtive watchfulness
in his eyes, as though on the lookout for some one. Who was the
object of his search? Was it Katie, whose answer to his proposal had
not yet been given? Was it Dolores, whom he had tracked on the
previous evening? Or was it his rival Lopez, with whom he had yet to
stand in mortal conflict? Whichever it was did not appear, for Ashby
was doomed to be unsuccessful, and to return to his inn a baffled
man. Barely time enough was now left him to snatch a hasty repast,
after which he hurried to the station.

The place was thronged. Passengers were arriving, and the train was
filling rapidly. Ashby stood, as he had stood on the previous day,
watching. Singularly enough, Lopez also, like himself, was again on
the lookout, for he could see him scowling in the distance. No words,
however, passed between them, and the challenge which Lopez had
threatened was not yet forthcoming. At length the patience of both
was rewarded.

A cab drove up. The broad face of Russell was seen through the
window. The rest of the party were inside. But, to Ashby's amazement,
he saw Harry Rivers riding outside with the driver. As the cab
stopped, Rivers leaped lightly down, and opened the cab door himself.
Then old Russell got out. Then Harry assisted Mrs. Russell to
descend. After this he assisted Katie out of the cab, and Ashby saw
that she looked as fresh, as bright, and as blooming as a rose, that
she showed not a trace of care or anxiety, and that she was as
sprightly and coquettish as ever.

"Confound the fellow!" growled Ashby to himself, as he wond