Suddenly she started from his embrace. "But Pereo!--Harry--tell me
quick--no one-nobody can think that this poor demented old man
could--that Dr. West was--that--it's all a trick--isn't it? Harry--
speak!"
He was silent for a moment, and then said, gravely, "There were
strange men at the fonda that night, and--my father was supposed to
carry money with him. My own life was attempted at the Mision the
same evening for the sake of some paltry gold pieces that I had
imprudently shown. I was saved solely by the interference of one
man. That man was Pereo, your mayordomo!"
She seized his hand and raised it joyfully to her lips. "Thank you
for those words! And you will come to him with me at once; and he
will recognize you; and we will laugh at those lies; won't we,
Harry?"
He did not reply. Perhaps he was listening to a confused sound of
voices rapidly approaching the cottage. Together they stepped out
into the gathering night. A number of figures were coming towards
them, among them Faquita, who ran a little ahead to meet her
mistress.
"Oh, Dona Maruja, he has escaped!"
"Who? Not Pereo!"
"Truly. And on his horse. It was saddled and bridled in the
stable all day. One knew it not. He was walking like a cat, when
suddenly he parted the peons around him, like grain before a mad
bull--and behold! he was on the pinto's back and away. And, alas!
there is no horse that can keep up with the pinto. God grant he
may not get in the way of the r-r-railroad, that, in his very
madness, he will even despise.
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