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her husband's； and to have her French corrected in a matter of fact
way by this recent pupil of the priests； was really too bad！
Perhaps he even looked down upon Susy！ She smiled dangerously but
suavely。
〃You must have worked so hard to educate yourself from nothing； Mr。
Brant。 You couldn't read； I think； when you first came to us。 No？
Could you really？ I know it has been very difficult for Susy to get
on with her studies in proportion。 We had so much to first
eradicate in the way of manners； style； and habits of thought which
the poor child had picked up from her companions； and for which SHE
was not responsible。 Of course； with a boy that does not signify；〃
she added； with feline gentleness。
But the barbed speech glanced from the young man's smoothly smiling
abstraction。
〃Ah； yes。 But those were happy days； Mrs。 Peyton；〃 he answered；
with an exasperating return of his previous boyish enthusiasm；
〃perhaps because of our ignorance。 I don't think that Susy and I
are any happier for knowing that the plains are not as flat as we
believed they were； and that the sun doesn't have to burn a hole in
them every night when it sets。 But I know I believed that YOU knew
everything。 When I once saw you smiling over a book in your hand； I
thought it must be a different one from any that I had ever seen；
and perhaps made expressly for you。 I can see you there still。 Do
you know；〃 quite confidentially； 〃that you reminded meof course
YOU were much youngerof what I remembered of my mother？〃
But Mrs。 Peyton's reply of 〃Ah； indeed；〃 albeit polite； indicated
some coldness and lack of animation。 Clarence rose quickly； but
cast a long and lingering look around him。
〃You will come again； Mr。 Brant；〃 said the lady more graciously。
〃If you are going to ride now； perhaps you would try to meet Mr。
Peyton。 He is late already； and I am always uneasy when he is out
alone；particularly on one of those half…broken horses； which they
consider good enough for riding here。 YOU have ridden them before
and understand them； but I am afraid that's another thing WE have
got to learn。〃
When the young man found himself again confronting the glittering
light of the courtyard； he remembered the interview and the soft
twilight of the boudoir only as part of a pleasant dream。 There was
a rude awakening in the fierce wind； which had increased with the
lengthening shadows。 It seemed to sweep away the half…sensuous
comfort that had pervaded him； and made him coldly realize that he
had done nothing to solve the difficulties of his relations to Susy。
He had lost the one chance of confiding to Mrs。 Peyton；if he had
ever really intended to do so。 It was impossible for him to do it
hereafter without a confession of prolonged deceit。
He reached the stables impatiently； where his attention was
attracted by the sound of excited voices in the corral。 Looking
within； he was concerned to see that one of the vacqueros was
holding the dragging bridle of a blown； dusty； and foam…covered
horse； around whom a dozen idlers were gathered。 Even beneath its
coating of dust and foam and the half…displaced saddle blanket；
Clarence immediately recognized the spirited pinto mustang which
Peyton had ridden that morning。
〃What's the matter？〃 said Clarence； from the gateway。
The men fell apart； glancing at each other。 One said quickly in
Spanish：
〃Say nothing to HIM。 It is an affair of the house。〃
But this brought Clarence down like a bombshell among them； not to
be overlooked in his equal command of their tongue and of them。
〃Ah！ come； now。 What drunken piggishness is this？ Speak！〃
〃The padron has beenperhapsthrown；〃 stammered the first speaker。
〃His horse arrives；but he does not。 We go to inform the senora。〃
〃No； you don't！ mules and imbeciles！ Do you want to frighten her to
death？ Mount； every one of you； and follow me！〃
The men hesitated； but for only a moment。 Clarence had a fine
assortment of Spanish epithets； expletives； and objurgations；
gathered in his rodeo experience at El Refugio； and laid them about
him with such fervor and discrimination that two or three mules；
presumably with guilty consciences； mistaking their direction；
actually cowered against the stockade of the corral in fear。 In
another moment the vacqueros had hastily mounted； and； with Clarence
at their head； were dashing down the road towards Santa Inez。 Here
he spread them in open order in the grain； on either side of the
track； himself taking the road。
They did not proceed very far。 For when they had reached the
gradual slope which marked the decline to the second terrace；
Clarence； obeying an instinct as irresistible as it was
unaccountable； which for the last few moments had been forcing
itself upon him； ordered a halt。 The casa and corral had already
sunk in the plain behind them； it was the spot where the lasso had
been thrown at him a few evenings before！ Bidding the men converge
slowly towards the road； he went on more cautiously； with his eyes
upon the track before him。 Presently he stopped。 There was a
ragged displacement of the cracked and crumbling soil and the
unmistakable scoop of kicking hoofs。 As he stooped to examine them；
one of the men at the right uttered a shout。 By the same strange
instinct Clarence knew that Peyton was found！
He was； indeed； lying there among the wild oats at the right of the
road； but without trace of life or scarcely human appearance。 His
clothes； where not torn and shredded away； were partly turned inside
out； his shoulders； neck； and head were a shapeless； undistinguishable
mask of dried earth and rags； like a mummy wrapping。 His left boot
was gone。 His large frame seemed boneless； and； except for the
cerements of his mud…stiffened clothing； was limp and sodden。
Clarence raised his head suddenly from a quick examination of the
body； and looked at the men around him。 One of them was already
cantering away。 Clarence instantly threw himself on his horse； and；
putting spurs to the animal； drew a revolver from his holster and
fired over the man's head。 The rider turned in his saddle； saw his
pursuer； and pulled up。
〃Go back；〃 said Clarence； 〃or my next shot won't MISS you。〃
〃I was only going to inform the senora；〃 said the man with a shrug
and a forced smile。
〃I will do that；〃 said Clarence grimly； driving him back with him
into the waiting circle； then turning to them he said slowly； with
deliberate； smileless irony； 〃And now； my brave gentlemen；knights
of the bull and gallant mustang hunters；I want to inform YOU that
I believe that Mr。 Peyton was MURDERED； and if the man who killed
him is anywhere this side of hell； I intend to find him。 Good！ You
understand me！ Now lift up the body；you two； by the shoulders；
you two； by the feet。 Let your horses follow。 For I intend that
you four shall carry home your master in your arms； on foot。 Now