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revived in her manner。
〃I show dislike of Dona Rosita？〃 stammered Demorest； in surprise。
〃Come； Joan；〃 he added； with a forgiving smile； 〃you don't mean to
imply that I dislike her because I couldn't get up a thrilling
interest in an old story I've heard from every gossip in the pueblo
since I can remember。〃
〃It's not an old story to HER；〃 said Joan； dryly； 〃and even if it
were； you might reflect that all people are not as anxious to
forget the past as you are。〃
Demorest drew back to let the shaft glance by。 〃The story is old
enough； at least for her to have had a dozen flirtations； as you
know； since then；〃 he returned gently； 〃and I don't think she
herself seriously believes in it。 But let that pass。 I am sorry I
offended her。 I had no idea of doing so。 As a rule； I think she
is not so easily offended。 But I shall apologize to her。〃 He
stopped and approached nearer his wife in a half…timid； half…
tentative affection。 〃As to my forgetfulness of the past； Joan；
even if it were true； I have had little cause to forget it lately。
Your friend； Corwin〃
〃I must insist upon your not calling him MY friend； Richard；〃
interrupted Joan； sharply； 〃considering that it was through YOUR
indiscretion in coming to us for the buggy that night； that he
suspected〃
She stopped suddenly； for at that moment a startled little shriek；
quickly subdued； rang through the garden。 Demorest ran hurriedly
down the steps in the direction of the outcry。 Joan followed more
cautiously。 At the first turning of the path Dona Rosita almost
fell into his arms。 She was breathless and trembling； but broke
into a hysterical laugh。
〃I have such a fear come to meI cry out！ I think I have seen a
man； but it was nothingnothing！ I am a fool。 It is no one
here。〃
〃But where did you see anything？〃 said Joan； coming up。
Rosita flew to her side。 〃Where？ Oh； here！everywhere！ Ah； I am
a fool！〃 She was laughing now； albeit there were tears glistening
on her lashes when she laid her head on Joan's shoulder。
〃It was some fancysome resemblance you saw in that queer cactus；〃
said Demorest； gently。 〃It is quite natural； I was myself deceived
the other night。 But I'll look around to satisfy you。 Take Dona
Rosita back to the veranda； Joan。 But don't be alarmed； dearit
was only an illusion。〃
He turned away。 When his figure was lost in the entwining foliage；
Dona Rosita seized Joan's shoulder and dragged her face down to a
level with her own。
〃It was something！〃 she whispered quickly。
〃Who？〃
〃It wasHIM！〃
〃Nonsense；〃 groaned Joan； nevertheless casting a hurried glance
around her。
〃Have no fear；〃 said Dona Rosita quickly； 〃he is goneI saw him
pass awayso！ But it was HEHuanson。 I recognize him。 I forget
him never。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Have I the eyes？ the memory？ Madre de Dios！ Am I a lunatico too？
Look！ He have stood thereso。〃
〃Then you think he knew you were here？〃
〃Quien sabe？〃
〃And that he came here to see you？〃
Dona Rosita caught her again by the shoulders； and with her lips
to Joan's ear； said with the intensest and most deliberate of
emphasis：
〃NO！〃
〃What in Heaven's name brought him here then？〃
〃You！〃
〃Are you crazy？〃
〃You！ you！ YOU！〃 repeated Dona Rosita； with crescendo energy。 〃I
have come upon him here； where he stood and look at the veranda；
absorrrb of YOU。 You movehe fly。〃
〃Hush！〃
〃Ah； yes！ I have said I give him to you。 And he came； Bueno；〃
murmured Dona Rosita； with a half…resigned； half…superstitious
gesture。
〃WILL you be quiet！〃
It was the sound of Demorest's feet on the gravel path； returning
from his fruitless search。 He had seen nothing。 It must have been
Dona Rosita's fancy。
〃She was just saying she thought she had been mistaken；〃 said Joan；
quietly。 〃Let us go init is rather chilly here； and I begin to
feel creepy too。〃
Nevertheless； as they entered the house again； and the light of the
hall lantern fell upon her face； Demorest thought he had never but
once before seen her look so nervously and animatedly beautiful。
CHAPTER III
The following day； when Mr。 Ezekiel Corwin had delivered his
letters of introduction； and thoroughly canvassed the scant
mercantile community of San Buenaventura with considerable success；
he deposited his carpet…bag at the stage office in the posada； and
found to his chagrin that he had still two hours to wait before the
coach arrived。 After a vain attempt to impart cheerful but
disparaging criticism of the pueblo and its people to Senor Mateo
and his wifewhose external courtesy had been visibly increased by
a line from Demorest； but whose confidence towards the stranger had
not been extended in the same proportionhe gave it up； and threw
himself lazily on a wooden bench in the veranda； already hacked
with the initials of his countrymen； and drawing a jack…knife from
his pocket； he began to add to that emblazonry the trade…mark of
the Panaceaas a casual advertisement。 During its progress；
however； he was struck by the fact that while no one seemed to
enter the posada through the stage office； the number of voices in
the adjoining room seemed to increase； and the ministrations of
Mateo and his wife became more feverishly occupied with their
invisible guests。 It seemed to Ezekiel that consequently there
must be a second entrance which he had not seen； and this added to
the circumstance that one or two lounging figures who had been
approaching unaccountably disappeared before reaching the veranda；
induced him to rise and examine the locality。 A few paces beyond
was an alley； but it appeared to be already blocked by several
cigarette…smoking； short…jacketed men who were leaning against its
walls； and showed no inclination to make way for him。 Checked； but
not daunted； Ezekiel coolly returned to the stage office； and
taking the first opportunity when Mateo passed through the rear
door； followed him。 As he expected； the innkeeper turned to the
left and entered a large room filled with tobacco smoke and the
local habitues of the posada。 But Ezekiel； shrewdly surmising that
the private entrance must be in the opposite direction； turned to
the right along the passage until he came unexpectedly upon the
corridor of the usual courtyard； or patio； of every Mexican
hostelry； closed at one end by a low adobe wall； in which there was
a door。 The free passage around the corridor was interrupted by
wide partitions； fitted up with tables and benches； like stalls；
opening upon the courtyard where a few stunted fig and orange trees
still grew。 As the courtyard seemed to be the only communication
between the passage he had left and the door in the wall； he was
about to cross it； when the voices of two men in the compartment
struck his ears。 Although one was evidently an American's； Ezekiel
was instinctively convinced that they were speaking in English only
for greater security against being understood by the frequenters of
the posada。 It is unnecessary to say that this was an innocent
challenge to the curiosity of Ezekiel that he instantly accepted。
He drew back carefully into the shadow of the partition as one of
the voices asked
〃Wasn't that Johnson just come in？〃
There was a movement as if some one had risen to look over the
compartment； but the gathering twilight completely hid Ezekiel。
〃No！〃
〃He's late。 Suppose he don't comeor back out？〃
The other man broke into a grim laugh。 〃I reckon you don't know
Johnson yet； or you'd understand this yer little game o' his is
just the one idea o' his life。 He's been two years on that man's
track； and he ain't goin' to back out now that he's got a dead sure
thing on him。〃
〃But why is he so keen about it； anyway？ It don't seem nat'ral for
a business man built after Johnson's style； and a rich man to boot；
to go into this detective business。 It ain't the reward； we know
that。 Is it an old grudge？〃
〃You bet！〃 The speaker paused； and then in a lower voice； which
taxed Ezekial's keen ear to the uttermost； resumed： 〃It's said up
in Frisco that Cherokee Bob knew suthin' agin Johnson way back in
the States； anyhow； I believe it's understood that they came acros