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could be properly secured and guarded. As they rode away from the dilapidated

hut of the Indian the old man stood silhouetted against the rectangle of dim light

which marked the open doorway, and shook his fist at the back of the departing

ranch foreman.

"El cochino!" he cackled, and turned back into his hut.

At El Orobo Rancho Barbara walked to and fro outside the ranchhouse. Within

her father sat reading beneath the rays of an oil lamp. From the quarters of the

men came the strains of guitar music, and an occasional loud laugh indicated the

climax of some of Eddie Shorter's famous Kansas farmer stories.

Barbara was upon the point of returning indoors when her attention was

attracted by the approach of a half-dozen horsemen. They reined into the

ranchyard and dismounted before the office building. Wondering a little who

came so late, Barbara entered the house, mentioning casually to her father that

which she had just seen.

The ranch owner, now always fearful of attack, was upon the point of

investigating when Grayson rode up to the veranda and dismounted. Barbara and

her father were at the door as he ascended the steps.

Good news!" exclaimed the foreman. "I've got the bank robber, and Brazos, too.

Caught the sneakin' coyote up to--up the river a bit." He had almost said "Jose's;"

but caught himself in time. "Someone's been cuttin' the wire at the north side of

the north pasture, an' I was ridin' up to see ef I could catch 'em at it," he

explained.

He is an American?" asked the boss.

Looks like it; but he's got the heart of a greaser," replied Grayson. "Some of

Villa's men are with me, and they're a-goin' to take him to Cuivaca tomorrow."

Neither Barbara nor her father seemed to enthuse much. To them an American

was an American here in Mexico, where every hand was against their race. That

at home they might have looked with disgust upon this same man did not alter

their attitude here, that no American should take sides against his own people.

Barbara said as much to Grayson.

"Why this fellow's one of Pesita's officers," exclaimed Grayson. "He don't deserve

no sympathy from us nor from no other Americans. Pesita has sworn to kill every

American that falls into his hands, and this fellow's with him to help him do it.

He's a bad un."

256

The Mucker