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what he had been before his one wild act separated them。 She had
never seen the reflection of another woman's eyes in his； the past
contained no haunting recollection of waning or alienated
affection； she could meet him again； and； clasping her arms around
him； awaken as if from a troubled dream without reproach or
explanation。 Her strong belief in this made her patient； she no
longer sought to know the particulars of his flight； and never
dreamed that her passive submission to his absence was partly due
to a fear that something in his actual presence at that moment
would have destroyed that belief forever。
For this reason the delicate reticence of the people at Los Gatos；
and their seclusion from the world which knew of her husband's
fault； had made her encourage the visits of Don Jose； until from
the instinct already alluded to she one day summoned Poindexter to
Los Cuervos； on the day that Don Jose usually called。 But to her
surprise the two men met more or less awkwardly and coldly； and her
tact as hostess was tried to the utmost to keep their evident
antagonism from being too apparent。 The effort to reconcile their
mutual discontent； and some other feeling she did not quite
understand； produced a nervous excitement which called the blood to
her cheek and gave a dangerous brilliancy to her eyes； two
circumstances not unnoticed nor unappreciated by her two guests。
But instead of reuniting them； the prettier Mrs。 Tucker became； the
more distant and reserved grew the men； until Don Jose rose before
the usual hour； and with more than usual ceremoniousness departed。
〃Then my business does not seem to be with HIM？〃 said Poindexter；
with quiet coolness； as Mrs。 Tucker turned her somewhat mystified
face towards him。 〃Or have you anything to say to me about him in
private？〃
〃I am sure I don't know what you both mean；〃 she returned with a
slight tremor of voice。 〃I had no idea you were not on good terms。
I thought you were！ It's very awkward。〃 Without coquetry and
unconsciously she raised her blue eyes under her lids until the
clear pupils coyly and softly hid themselves in the corners of the
brown lashes； and added； 〃You have both been so kind to me。〃
〃Perhaps that is the reason；〃 said Poindexter； gravely。 But Mrs。
Tucker refused to accept the suggestion with equal gravity； and
began to laugh。 The laugh； which was at first frank； spontaneous；
and almost child…like； was becoming hysterical and nervous as she
went on； until it was suddenly checked by Poindexter。
〃I have had no difficulties with Don Jose Santierra；〃 he said；
somewhat coldly ignoring her hilarity； 〃but perhaps he is not
inclined to be as polite to the friend of the husband as he is to
the wife。〃
〃Mr。 Poindexter！〃 said Mrs。 Tucker quickly； her face becoming pale
again。
〃I beg your pardon！〃 said Poindexter； flushing； 〃but〃
〃You want to say；〃 she interrupted coolly； 〃that you are not
friends； I see。 Is that the reason why you have avoided this
house？〃 she continued gently。
〃I thought I could be of more service to you elsewhere；〃 he replied
evasively。 〃I have been lately following up a certain clue rather
closely。 I think I am on the track of a confidante ofofthat
woman。〃
A quick shadow passed over Mrs。 Tucker's face。 〃Indeed！〃 she said
coldly。 〃Then I am to believe that you prefer to spend your
leisure moments in looking after that creature to calling here？〃
Poindexter was stupefied。 Was this the woman who only four months
ago was almost vindictively eager to pursue her husband's paramour！
There could be but one answer to itDon Jose！ Four months ago he
would have smiled compassionately at it from his cynical pre…
eminence。 Now he managed with difficulty to stifle the bitterness
of his reply。
〃If you do not wish the inquiry carried on；〃 he began； 〃of course〃
〃I？ What does it matter to me？〃 she said coolly。 〃Do as you
please。〃
Nevertheless； half an hour later； as he was leaving； she said； with
a certain hesitating timidity； 〃Do not leave me so much alone here；
and let that woman go。〃
This was not the only unlooked…for sequel to her innocent desire to
propitiate her best friends。 Don Jose did not call again upon his
usual day； but in his place came Dona Clara； his younger sister。
When Mrs。 Tucker had politely asked after the absent Don Jose； Dona
Clara wound her swarthy arms around the fair American's waist and
replied； 〃But why did you send for the abogado Poindexter when my
brother called？〃
〃But Captain Poindexter calls as one of my friends；〃 said the
amazed Mrs。 Tucker。 〃He is a gentleman； and has been a soldier and
an officer；〃 she added with some warmth。
〃Ah； yes； a soldier of the law； what you call an oficial de
policia； a chief of gendarmes； my sister； but not a gentlemana
camarero to protect a lady。〃
Mrs。 Tucker would have uttered a hasty reply； but the perfect and
good…natured simplicity of Dona Clara withheld her。 Nevertheless；
she treated Don Jose with a certain reserve at their next meeting；
until it brought the simple…minded Castilian so dangerously near
the point of demanding an explanation which implied too much that
she was obliged to restore him temporarily to his old footing。
Meantime she had a brilliant idea。 She would write to Calhoun
Weaver； whom she had avoided since that memorable day。 She would
say she wished to consult him。 He would come to Los Cuervos； he
might suggest something to lighten this weary waiting； at least she
would show them all that she had still old friends。 Yet she did
not dream of returning to her Blue Grass home； her parents had died
since she left； she shrank from the thought of dragging her ruined
life before the hopeful youth of her girlhood's companions。
Mr。 Calhoun Weaver arrived promptly； ostentatiously； oracularly；
and cordially； but a little coarsely。 He haddid she remember？
expected this from the first。 Spencer had lost his head through
vanity； and had attempted too much。 It required foresight and
firmness； as he himselfwho had lately made successful
〃combinations〃 which she might perhaps have heard ofwell knew。
But Spencer had got the 〃big head。〃 〃As to that womana devilish
handsome woman too！well； everybody knew that Spencer always had a
weakness that way； and he would saybut if she didn't care to hear
any more about herwell； perhaps she was right。 That was the best
way to take it。〃 Sitting before her； prosperous； weak；
egotistical； incompetent； unavailable； and yet filled with a vague
kindliness of intent； Mrs。 Tucker loathed him。 A sickening
perception of her own weakness in sending for him； a new and aching
sense of her utter isolation and helplessness； seemed to paralyze
her。
〃Nat'rally you feel bad；〃 he continued； with the large air of a
profound student of human nature。 〃Nat'rally； nat'rally you're
kept in an uncomfortable state； not knowing jist how you stand。
Ther