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It was four o'clock in the morning when Billy dismounted in front of Jose's
hut. He pounded on the door until the man came and opened it.
"Eh!" exclaimed Jose as he saw who his early morning visitor was, "you got
away from them. Fine!" and the old man chuckled. "I send word to Pesita
two, four hours ago that Villistas capture Capitan Byrne and take him to
Cuivaca."
"Thanks," said Billy. "Pesita wants you to send Esteban to him. I didn't
have no chance to tell you last night while them pikers was stickin'
aroun', so I stops now on my way back to the hills."
"I will send Esteban tonight if I can get him; but I do not know. Esteban
is working for the pig, Grayson."
"Wot's he doin' fer Grayson?" asked Billy. "And what was the Grayson guy
doin' up here with you, Jose? Ain't you gettin' pretty thick with Pesita's
enemies?"
"Jose good friends everybody," and the old man grinned. "Grayson have a job
he want good men for. Jose furnish men. Grayson pay well. Job got nothin'
do Pesita, Villa, Carranza, revolution--just private job. Grayson want
senorita. He pay to get her. That all."
"Oh," said Billy, and yawned. He was not interested in Mr. Grayson's
amours. "Why didn't the poor boob go get her himself?" he inquired
disinterestedly. "He must be a yap to hire a bunch o' guys to go cop off a
siwash girl fer him."
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"It is not a siwash girl, Senor Capitan," said Jose. "It is one beautiful
senorita--the daughter of the owner of El Orobo Rancho."
"What?" cried Billy Byrne. "What's that you say?"
"Yes, Senor Capitan, what of it?" inquired Jose. "Grayson he pay me furnish
the men. Esteban he go with his warriors. I get Esteban. They go tonight
take away the senorita; but not for Grayson," and the old fellow laughed.
"I can no help can I? Grayson pay me money get men. I get them. I no help
if they keep girl," and he shrugged.
"They're comin' for her tonight?" cried Billy.
"Si, senor," replied Jose. "Doubtless they already take her."
"Hell!" muttered Billy Byrne, as he swung Brazos about so quickly that the
little pony pivoted upon his hind legs and dashed away toward the south
over the same trail he had just traversed.
CHAPTER XV
AN INDIAN'S TREACHERY
THE Brazos pony had traveled far that day but for only a trifle over ten
miles had he carried a rider upon his back. He was, consequently, far from
fagged as he leaped forward to the lifted reins and tore along the dusty
river trail back in the direction of Orobo.
Never before had Brazos covered ten miles in so short a time, for it was
not yet five o'clock when, reeling with fatigue, he stopped, staggered and
fell in front of the office building at El Orobo.
Eddie Shorter had sat in the chair as Barbara and Billy had last seen him
waiting until Byrne should have an ample start before arousing Grayson and
reporting the prisoner's escape. Eddie had determined that he would give
Billy an hour. He grinned as he anticipated the rage of Grayson and the
Villistas when they learned that their bird had flown, and as he mused and
waited he fell asleep.
It was broad daylight when Eddie awoke, and as he looked up at the little
clock ticking against the wall, and saw the time he gave an exclamation of
surprise and leaped to his feet. Just as he opened the outer door of the
office he saw a horseman leap from a winded pony in front of the building.
He saw the animal collapse and sink to the ground, and then he recognized
the pony as Brazos, and another glance at the man brought recognition of
him, too.
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"You?" cried Eddie. "What are you doin' back here? I gotta take you now,"
and he started to draw his revolver; but Billy Byrne had him covered before
ever his hand reached the grip of his gun.
"Put 'em up!" admonished Billy, "and listen to me. This ain't no time fer
gunplay or no such foolishness. I ain't back here to be took--get that out
o' your nut. I'm tipped off that a bunch o' siwashes was down here last
night to swipe Miss Harding. Come! We gotta go see if she's here or not,
an' don't try any funny business on me, Eddie. I ain't a-goin' to be taken
again, an' whoever tries it gets his, see?"
Eddie was down off the porch in an instant, and making for the ranchhouse.
"I'm with you," he said. "Who told you? And who done it?"
"Never mind who told me; but a siwash named Esteban was to pull the thing
off for Grayson. Grayson wanted Miss Harding an' he was goin' to have her
stolen for him."
"The hound!" muttered Eddie.
The two men dashed up onto the veranda of the ranchhouse and pounded at
the
door until a Chinaman opened it and stuck out his head, inquiringly.
"Is Miss Harding here?" demanded Billy.
"Mlissy Hardie Kleep," snapped the servant. "Wally wanee here flo
blekfas?", and would have shut the door in their faces had not Billy
intruded a heavy boot. The next instant he placed a large palm over the
celestial's face and pushed the man back into the house. Once inside he
called Mr. Harding's name aloud.
"What is it?" asked the gentleman a moment later as he appeared in a
bedroom doorway off the living-room clad in his pajamas. "What's the
matter? Why, gad man, is that you? Is this really Billy Byrne?"
"Sure," replied Byrne shortly; "but we can't waste any time chinnin'. I
heard that Miss Barbara was goin' to be swiped last night--I heard that she
had been. Now hurry and see if she is here."
Anthony Harding turned and leaped up the narrow stairway to the second
floor four steps at a time. He hadn't gone upstairs in that fashion in
forty years. Without even pausing to rap he burst into his daughter's
bedroom. It was empty. The bed was unruffled. It had not been slept in.
With a moan the man turned back and ran hastily to the other rooms upon
the
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second floor--Barbara was nowhere to be found. Then he hastened
downstairs
to the two men awaiting him.
As he entered the room from one end Grayson entered it from the other
through the doorway leading out upon the veranda. Billy Byrne had heard
footsteps upon the boards without and he was ready, so that as Grayson
entered he found himself looking straight at the business end of a
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