Pablo repeated stupidly, "Miss Valdes--the _senorita_?"
The keen, hard eyes of Gordon did not lift for an instant from those of
the other man. "That's what I said."
It occurred to the Mexican that this was a chance to do a stroke of
business for his mistress. He would show the confident _Americano_ what
place he held in her regard.
His shoulders lifted in a shrug. "You are clevair, _Senor_. How do you
know the _senorita_ knows?"
"This is her house. She told you to bring me here."
Pablo was surprised. "So? You know it is her house?"
"Surest thing you know."
"The _senorita_ trusts me. She is at the ranch."
"But you are acting under her orders?"
"If the _senor_ pleases."
Dick turned his back to the wall again. His heart was bitter within him.
He had thought her a sportsman, every inch a thoroughbred. But she had
set her peons to spy on him and to attack him--ten to one in their
favor--so that she might force him to sign away his rights to her. Very
well. He would show her whether she could drive him to surrender,
whether she could starve him into doing what he did not want to do.
The younger Mexican wakened Sebastian late in the afternoon and left him
to guard the prisoner while he went into the town to hear what rumors
were flying about the affair. About an hour later he returned, bringing
with him some provisions, a newspaper, and a handbill.
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