〃Dick；　think；　think！　　With　Mercedes　also　it　was　love　at　first　sight。　My　plan　is　to　marry　her　and　get　her　farther　to　the　interior；　away　from　the　border。　　It　may　not　be　easy。　　She's　watched。　　So　am　I。　It　was　impossible　to　see　her　without　the　women　of　this　house　knowing。　At　first；　perhaps；　they　had　only　curiosityan　itch　to　gossip。　　But　the　last　two　days　there　has　been　a　change。　　Since　last　night　there's　some　powerful　influence　at　work。　　Oh；　these　Mexicans　are　subtle；　mysterious！　　After　all；　they　are　Spaniards。　　They　work　in　secret；　in　the　dark。　　They　are　dominated　first　by　religion；　then　by　gold；　then　by　passion　for　a　woman。　　Rojas　must　have　got　word　to　his　friends　here；　yesterday　his　gang　of　cutthroat　rebels　arrived；　and　to…day　he　came。　　When　I　learned　that；　I　took　my　chance　and　left　camp　I　hunted　up　a　priest。　　He　promised　to　come　here。　　It's　time　he's　due。　　But　I'm　afraid　he'll　be　stopped。〃
  〃Thorne；　why　don't　you　take　the　girl　and　get　married　without　waiting；　without　running　these　risks？〃　said　Dick。
  〃I　fear　it's　too　late　now。　　I　should　have　done　that　last　night。　You　see；　we're　over　the　line〃
  〃Are　we　in　Mexican　territory　now？〃　queried　Gale；　sharply。
  〃I　guess　yes；　old　boy。　　That's　what　complicates　it。　　Rojas　and　his　rebels　have　Casita　in　their　hands。　　But　Rojas　without　his　rebels　would　be　able　to　stop　me；　get　the　girl；　and　make　for　his　mountain　haunts。　　If　Mercedes　is　really　watchedif　her　identity　is　known；　which　I　am　sure　is　the　casewe　couldn't　get　far　from　this　house　before　I'd　be　knifed　and　she　seized。〃
  〃Good　Heavens！　　Thorne；　can　that　sort　of　thing　happen　less　than　a　stone's　throw　from　the　United　States　line？〃　asked　Gale；　incredulously。
  〃It　can　happen；　and　don't　you　forget　it。　　You　don't　seem　to　realize　the　power　these　guerrilla　leaders；　these　rebel　captains；　and　particularly　these　bandits；　exercise　over　the　mass　of　Mexicans。　A　bandit　is　a　man　of　honor　in　Mexico。　　He　is　feared；　envied；　loved。　In　the　hearts　of　the　people　he　stands　next　to　the　national　idolthe　bull…fighter；　the　matador。　　The　race　has　a　wild；　barbarian；　bloody　strain。　　Take　Quinteros；　for　instance。　　He　was　a　peon；　a　slave。　He　became　a　famous　bandit。　　At　the　outbreak　of　the　revolution　he　proclaimed　himself　a　leader；　and　with　a　band　of　followers　he　devastated　whole　counties。　　The　opposition　to　federal　forces　was　only　a　blind　to　rob　and　riot　and　carry　off　women。　　The　motto　of　this　man　and　his　followers　was：　　'Let　us　enjoy　ourselves　while　we　may！'
  〃There　are　other　bandits　besides　Quinteros；　not　so　famous　or　such　great　leaders；　but　just　as　bloodthirsty。　　I've　seen　Rojas。　　He's　a　handsome；　bold　sneering　devil；　vainer　than　any　peacock。　　He　decks　himself　in　gold　lace　and　sliver　trappings；　in　all　the　finery　he　can　steal。　　He　was　one　of　the　rebels　who　helped　sack　Sinaloa　and　carry　off　half　a　million　in　money　and　valuables。　　Rojas　spends　gold　like　he　spills　blood。　　But　he　is　chiefly　famous　for　abducting　women。　the　peon　girls　consider　it　an　honor　to　be　ridden　off　with。　　Rojas　has　shown　a　penchant　for　girls　of　the　better　class。〃
  Thorne　wiped　the　perspiration　from　his　pale　face　and　bent　a　dark　gaze　out　of　the　window　before　he　resumed　his　talk。
  〃Consider　what　the　position　of　Mercedes　really　is。　　I　can't　get　any　help　from　our　side　of　the　line。　　If　so；　I　don't　know　where。　The　population　on　that　side　is　mostly　Mexican；　absolutely　in　sympathy　with　whatever　actuates　those　on　this　side。　　The　whole　caboodle　of　Greasers　on　both　sides　belong　to　the　class　in　sympathy　with　the　rebels；　the　class　that　secretly　respects　men　like　Rojas；　and　hates　an　aristocrat　like　Mercedes。　　They　would　conspire　to　throw　her　into　his　power。　　Rojas　can　turn　all　the　hidden　underground　influences　to　his　ends。　　Unless　I　thwart　him　he'll　get　Mercedes　as　easily　as　he　can　light　a　cigarette。　　But　I'll　kill　him　or　some　of　his　gang　or　her　before　I　let　him　get　her。　。　。　。　This　is　the　situation；　old　friend。　　I've　little　time　to　spare。　　I　face　arrest　for　desertion。　　Rojas　is　in　town。　I　think　I　was　followed　to　this　hotel。　　The　priest　has　betrayed　me　or　has　been　stopped。　　Mercedes　is　here　alone；　waiting；　absolutely　dependent　upon　me　to　save　her　fromfrom。。。。She's　the　sweetest；　loveliest　girl！。。。In　a　few　momentssooner　or　later　there'll　be　hell　here！　　Dick；　are　you　with　me？〃
  Dick　Gale　drew　a　long；　deep　breath。　　A　coldness；　a　lethargy；　an　indifference　that　had　weighed　upon　him　for　months　had　passed　out　of　his　being。　　On　the　instant　he　could　not　speak；　but　his　hand　closed　powerfully　upon　his　friend's。　　Thorne's　face　changed　wonderfully；　the　distress；　the　fear；　the　appeal　all　vanishing　in　a　smile　of　passionate　gratefulness。
  Then　Dick's　gaze；　attracted　by　some　slight　sound；　shot　over　his　friend's　shoulder　to　see　a　face　at　the　windowa　handsome；　bold；　sneering　face；　with　glittering　dark　eyes　that　flashed　in　sinister　intentness。
  Dick　stiffened　in　his　seat。　　Thorne；　with　sudden　clenching　of　hands；　wheeled　toward　the　window。
  〃Rojas！〃　he　whispered。
  Chapter　II
  Mercedes　Castaneda
  The　dark　face　vanished。　　Dick　Gale　heard　footsteps　and　the　tinkle　of　spurs。　　He　strode　to　the　window；　and　was　in　time　to　see　a　Mexican　swagger　into　the　front　door　of　the　saloon。　　Dick　had　only　a　glimpse；　but　in　that　he　saw　a　huge　black　sombrero　with　a　gaudy　band；　the　back　of　a　short；　tight…fitting　jacket；　a　heavy　pearl…handled　gun　swinging　with　a　fringe　of　sash；　and　close…fitting　trousers　spreading　wide　at　the　bottom。　　There　were　men　passing　in　the　street；　also　several　Mexicans　lounging　against　the　hitching…rail　at　the　curb。
  〃Did　you　see　him？　　Where　did　he　go？〃　whispered　Thorne；　as　he　joined　Gale。　　〃Those　Greasers　out　there　with　the　cartridge　belts　crossed　over　their　breaststhey　are　rebels。〃
  〃I　think　he　went　into　the　saloon；〃　replied　Dick。　　〃He　had　a　gun；　but　for　all　I　can　see　the　Greasers　out　there　are　unarmed。〃
  〃Never　believe　it！　　There！　　Look；　Dick！　　That　fellow's　a　guard；　though　he　seems　so　unconcerned。　　See；　he　has　a　short　carbine；　almost　concealed。。。。There's　another　Greaser　farther　down　the　path。　　I'm　afraid　Rojas　has　the　house　spotted。〃
  〃If　we　could　only　be　sure。〃
  〃I'm　sure；　Dick。　　Let's　cross　the　hall；　I　want　to　see　how　it　looks　from　the　other　side　of　the　house。〃
  Gale　followed　Thorne　out　of　the　restaurant　into　the　high…ceiled　corridor　which　evidently　divided　the　hotel；　opening　into　the　street　and　running　back　to　a　patio。　　A　few　dim；　yellow　lamps　flickered。　A　Mexican　with　a　blanket　round　his　shoulders　stood　in　the　front　entrance。　Back　toward　the　patio　there　were　sounds　of　boots　on　the　stone　floor。　Shadows　flitted　across　that　end　of　the　corridor。　　Thorne　entered　a　huge　chamber　which　was　even　more　poorly　lighted　than　the　hall。　　It　contained　a　table　littered　with　papers；　a　few　high…backed　chairs；　a　couple　of　couches；　and　was　evidently　a　parlor。
  〃Mercedes　has　been　meeting　me　here；〃　said　thorne。　　〃At　this　hour　she　comes　every　moment　or　so　to　the　head　of　the　stairs　there；　and　if　I　am　here　she　comes　down。　　Mostly　there　are　people　in　this　room　a　little　later。　　We　go　out　into　the　plaza。　　It　faces　the　dark　side　of　the　house；　and　that's　the　place　I　must　slip　out　with　her　if　there's　any　chance　at　all　to　get　away。〃
  They　peered　out　of　the　open　window。　　The　plaza　was　gloomy；　and　at　first　glance　apparently　deserted。　　In　a　moment；　however；　Gale　made　out　a　slow…pacing　dark　form　on　the　path。　　Farther　down　there　was　another。　　No　particular　keenness　was　required　to　see　in　these　forms　a　sentinel…like　stealthiness。
  Gripping　Gale's　arm；　Thorne　pulled　back　from　the　window。
  〃You　saw　them；〃　he　whispered。　　〃It's　just　as　I　feared。　　Rojas　has　the　place　surrounded。　　I　should　have　taken　Mercedes　away。　　But　I　had　no　timeno　chance！　　I'm　bound！。。。There's　Mercedes　now！　　My　God！。。。Dick；　thinkthink　if　there's　a　way　to　get　her　out　of　this　trap！〃
  Gale　turned　as　his　friend　went　down　the　room。　　In　the　dim　light　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　stood　the　slim；　muffled　figure　of　a　woman。　When　she　saw　Thorne　she　flew　noiselessly　down　the　stairway　to　him。　He　caught　her　in　his　arms。　　Then　she　spoke　softly；　brokenly；　in　a　low；　swift　voice。　　It　was　a　mingling　of　incoherent　Spanish　and　English；　but　to　Gale　it　was　mellow；　deep；　unutterably　tender；　a　voice　full　of　joy；　fear；　passion；　hope；　and　love。
  Upon　Gale　it　had　an　unaccountable　effect。　　He　found　himself　thrilling；　wondering。
  Thorne　led　the　girl　to　the　center　of　the　room；　under　the　light　where　Gale　stood。　　She　had　raised　a　white　hand；　holding　a　black…laced　mantilla　half　aside。　　Dick　saw　a　small；　dark　head；　proudly　held；　an　oval　face　half　hidden；　white　as　a　flower；　and　magnificent　black　eyes。
  Then　Thorne　spoke。
  〃MercedesDick　Gale；　an　old　friendthe　best　friend　I　ever　had。〃
  She　swept　the　mantilla　back　over　her　head；　disclosing　a　lovely　face；　strange　and　striking　to　Gale　in　its　pride　and　fire；　its　intensity。
  〃Senor　Galeah！　　I　cannot　speak　my　happiness。　　His　friend！〃
  〃Yes；　Mercedes；　my　friend　and　yours；〃　said　Thorne；　speaking　rapidly。　〃We'll　have　need　of　him。　　Dear；　there's　bad　news　and　no　time　to　break　it　gently。　　the　priest　did　not　come。　　He　must　have　been　detained。　　And　listenbe　brave；　dear　MercedesRojas　is　here！〃
  She　uttered　an　inarticulate　cry；　the　poignant　terror　of　which　shook　Gale's　nerve；　and　swayed　as　if　she　would　faint。　　Thorne　caught　her；　and　in　husky　v