Daughter of the Sun

DA DARES

ound. It was in the shoulder and not only did not appear dangerous, but failed to explain the man's condition of coma. There was a trickle of blood across the pale forehead; Kendric pushed back the hair and

d both wounds while Bruce

t to be on hand when he opens his eyes, Bruce; for ten years I've called Twisty by the name of f

oking to have lost his boyish nature with the loss of his hope. And both rendered what they were through the wickedness of a woman. Woman? As he brooded over the devastation she had wrought he began to think of her as an evil spirit. He recalled with a sh

ar who had set her brand upon both them. His twenty-four-hour leave would expire at daybreak. He had meant to spend the evening with Bruce and then to ride ba

pledged his word, and, while it was humanly possible, he would keep it. Even were it impossible it would have been Jim Kendric's way to try. And no

e saw a steady light shining out in the fields. He stop

d the crowd to which Bruce had already lost

Thus presently he came to see what it was: a lantern tied from a low limb of a tree. Below the lantern he saw a dark object; it moved and he heard the clink of a bridle chain. Again he went forward, puzzled and curious. He made out that the saddle was empty; he could see no

horse. It was his own, the sorrel El Rey he had ridden here this morning, saddled and bridled, spurs slung to the horn. The lantern shed its

her summons to come back to her. He jerked free the tie rope and swung up into the saddle, eager and anxious to go back to her the swiftest way in order that the time might come the mor

f the house he

quickest I know how. Take decent care of Barlow; he was a real man once and may be again, if he can shake that

brought out a rifle, holding it out wordle

been this morning. A lantern was flashed in his face and over his horse. T

La Se?

; dismounting, he let the rifle slip into a hiding place in the shrubbery; another man at the front corridor took his horse. At about midnight he again entered the old adobe building. The main hall into which

not take advantage of what appeared an unusual opportunity and make his attempt at escape? Zoraida would not have counted on his returning so early; he carried

g the law with him. Or, if she had the nerve and the desire to attempt escape with him now, that was her right and he would go as far as a man could to bring her through to s

men, raised in anger. A louder word now and then brought him recognition of Ruiz Rios's voice; a sharp answer might have been from Escobar. He stopped and considered. If these men quarreled, how would it affect him? Quarrel t

music room. In a dim corner beyond the piano was a cushioned seat and on it, her hands clasped in her lap, her eyes wide with the sleeplessness and anxiety

now, the impulse to gather her up into his arms as one would a child and comfort her. Not that she was just a child. She had done her shining brown hair high up on her head; she fought wildly for an air of serene dignity; he judged her at the last of her teens. But she was none the less flower-like, all that a

words would not carry to other ears, "I wan

e saw the lips tremble before

t time Jim was conscious of his several days' growth of beard; he supposed that it was rather more than an even chance that his face was grimy and perhaps

er words but was waiting for him. "I thought that at least it would be a relief to kno

e man named Escobar spoke to me of friendship, and he is the one who gave orders to bring me here!

What ab

house. You are the lover of Se?orita Castelmar a

demanded sharply. "Tha

mad about you. And that you are a great adventurer an

m just a prisoner

ief shone in

aid. "I saw you through my window. You come

to come back. Can't you tell when a man is speaking t

ering on his. She looked at once drawn and repelled, fascinated

nt me to do?" s

told. I'm going to make a break for it. You can take the chance with me

k her head

hat to do," she

owned. Then he shru

b you up and make a bolt for it. A clean bullet is a damned sight more to my liking than the dirty paws of such as Rios and Escobar and their following. They've

I could trust yo

nger shone i

e you it will be a lot easier for me in a scrimmag

one everything for her; she would have done her purely feminine part in making home homey. That was what she was born for, the lot of the sweet tender girl who is quite content to let other girls wear mannish clothing and do mannish work. Kendric knew instinctively that Betty Gordon could have made the daintiest thing imaginable in dresses, that she would tirelessly and cheerfully nurse a sick man, that she would fight every i

in he felt as though he were addressing a poor little kid of a girl in s

ita had lied to her, carried away by a natural relish in telling all that she knew and more. A look of brightening hope surged up i

Now a sudden exclamation arrested both words and thought, a sharp cry of bitter anger and more than anger; there was rage and menace in the intonation. And then came the shot, a revolver no

Jim patted her hand reassuringly, remov

. I'll see whi

the door was thrown open and Ruiz R

ot himself," he said.

aring, her face white. Then she looked pleadingly t

! Let's try t

outh hardened. He closed the door

dness, Se?or Kendric," he said, s

out Kendric. "I'd do a clean job i

smi

re is plenty of time and nothing else to be done. You are kept here a

t he did not stir from the spot, awaiting Kendric's return. Nor did Kendric tarry long. Escobar was dead

the room. "But from the way you're going you won't last long e

and-I know my own!" His eyes flashed. "More, you appear interested in the charming Miss Betty Gordon. If you would

y. And th

came to Lower California to find may be worth as much, may be worth nothing. The risk is mine. Te

an Jim, spe

Betty who

end. Be sure I would be happy to see the last of you and your cousin and your kind. But the thing you ask is impossi

was not solely his to give away, were he so minded. Barlow had a claim to half and he knew there would be nothing left for Barlow once Rios scented it. Of these matter

hink. Many things might happen to a girl, a pretty girl like you, which are not pleasant for her to exper

white flower fell from her hair. Rios was going on ang

id sharply. "Now be qu

cried

re she drew back. "Before again such help i

the world no such shadows as those cast by destruction and death. And then she entered, slender and graceful in her

of his recent distress upon his face. Rather it looked more joyous, more boyish and glad than Kendric had seen it for yea