O'Halloran was here while you were away. He seemed very anxious to see you; said he would call again in an hour. I think it must be important.”
Came at that instant O'Halloran's ungentle knock, on the heels of which his red head came through the open door.
“You're the very lad I'm wanting to see, Bucky,” he announced, and followed this declaration by locking all the doors and beckoning him to the center of the room.
“Is that tough neck of yours aching again, Reddy?” inquired his friend whimsically.
“It is that, me bye. There's the very divil to pay,” he whispered.
“Cough it out, Mike.”
“That tyrant Megales is onto our game. Somebody's leaked, or else he has a spy in our councils—as we have in his, the ould scoundrel.”
“I see. Your spy has told you that his spy has reported to him—”
“That the guns are to be brought in to-night. He has sent out a guard to bring them in safely to him. If he gets them, our game is up, me son, and you can bet your last nickle on that.”
“If he gets them! Is there a chance for us?”
“Glory be! there is. You see, he doesn't know that we know what he has done. For that reason he sent out only a guard of forty men. If he sent more we would suspect what he was doing, ye see. That is the way the old fox reasoned. But forty—they were able to slip out of the city on last night's train in civilian's clothes and their arms in a couple of coffins.”
“Why didn't he send a couple of hundred men openly, and at the same time arrest you all?”
“That doesn't suit his book at all. For one thing, he probably doesn't know all of us, and he doesn't want to bag half of us and throw the rest into immediate rebellion. It's his play not to force the issue until after the election, Bucky. He controls all the election machinery and will have himself declared reelected, the old scamp, notwithstanding that he's the most unpopular man in the State. To precipitate trouble now would be just foolishness, he argues. So he'll just capture our arms, and after the election give me and my friends quiet hell. Nothing public, you know—just unfortunate assassinations that he will regret exceedingly, me bye. But I have never yit been assassinated, and, on principle, I object to being trated so. It's very destructive to a man's future usefulness.”
“And so?” laughed the ranger.
“And so we've arranged to take a few lads up the line and have a train hold-up. I'm the robber-in-chief. Would ye like to be second in command of the lawless ruffians, me son?”
Bucky met his twinkling eye gaily. “Mr. O'Connor is debarred from taking part in such an outrageous affair by international etiquette, but he knows a gypsy lad would be right glad to join, I reckon.”
“Bully for him. If you'll kindly have him here I'll come around and collect him this evening at eight-thirty sharp.”
“I hope you'll provide a pleasant entertainment for him.”
“We'll do our best,” grinned the revolutionist. “Music provided by Megales' crack military band. A lively and enjoyable occasion guaranteed to all who attend. Your friend will meet some of the smartest officers in the State. It promises to be a most sumptuous affair.”
“Then my friend accepts with pleasure.”
After the conspirator had gone, Frank spoke up. “You wouldn't go away with him and leave me here alone, would you?”
“I ce'tainly shouldn't take you with me, kid. I don't want my little friend all shot up by greasers.”
“If you're going, I want to go, too. Supposing—if anything were to happen to you, what could I do?”
“Leave the country by the next train. Those are the orders.”
“You're always talking about a square deal. Do you think that is one? I might say that I don't want YOU shot. You don't care anything about my feelings.” The soft voice had a little break in it that Bucky loved.
He walked across to his partner, that rare, tender smile of his in his eyes. “If I'm always talking about a square deal I reckon I have got to give you one. Now, what would you think a square deal, Curly? Would it be square for me to let my friend O'Halloran stand all the risk of this and then me take the reward when Henderson has been freed by him? Would that be your notion of the right telling?”
“I didn't say that, though I don't see why you have to mix yourself up in his troubles. Why should you go out and kill these soldiers that haven't injured you?”
“I'm not going to kill any of them,” he smiled “Besides, that isn't the way I look at it. This fellow Megales is a despot. He has made out to steal the liberty of the people from them. President Diaz can't interfere because the old rascal governor does everything with that smooth, oily way of his under cover of law. It's up to some of the people to put up a good strong kick for themselves. I ain't a bit sorry to give them the loan of my foot while they are doing it.”
“Then can't I go, too? I don't want to be left alone here and you away fighting.”
Bucky's eyes gleamed. He dared an experiment in an indifferent drawl. “Whyfor don't you want to stay alone, kid? Are you afraid for yourself or for me?”
His partner's cheeks were patched with roses. Shyly the long, thick lashes lifted and let the big brown eyes meet his blue ones. “Maybe I'm afraid for both of us.”
“Would you care if one of their pills happened along in the scrimmage and put me out of business? Honest, would you?”
“You haven't any right to talk that way. It's cruel,” was the reply that burst from the pretty lips, and he noticed that at his suggestion the roses had died from soft cheeks.
“Well, I won't talk that way any more, little partner,” he answered gaily, taking the small hand in his. “For reasons good. I'm fire-proof. The Mexican bullet hasn't been cast yet that can find Bucky O'Connor's heart.”
“But you mustn't think that, either, and be reckless,” was the next injunction. The shy laugh rang like music. “That's why I want to go along, to see that you behave yourself properly.”
“Oh, I'll behave,” he laughed; for the young man found it very easy to be happy when those sweet eyes were showing concern for him. “I've got several good reasons why I don't aim to get bumped off just yet. Heaps of first-rate reasons. I'll tell you what some of them are one of these days,” he dared to add.
“You had better tell me now.” The gaze that fell before his steady eyes was both shy and eager.
“No, I reckon I'll wait, Curly,” he answered, turning away with a long breath. “Well, we better go out and get some grub, tortillas and frijoles, don't you think?”
“Just as you like.” The lad's breath was coming a little fast. They had been on the edge of some moment of intimacy that Bucky's partner both longed for and dreaded. “But you have not told me yet whether I can go with you.”
“You can't. I'm sorry. I'd like first-rate to take you, if you want to go, but I can't do it. I hate to disappoint you if you're set on it, but I've got to, kid. Anything
