"We got orders from Brent--he's our boss---to make our talk to you,"
said Pete, glancing quickly at Brevoort.
"How did you know that I was here with my army?" queried Arguilla.
"Shucks! That's easy. It's in all the papers," asserted Pete, rather
proud of himself, despite the hazard of the situation.
Arguilla's chest swelled noticeably. He rose and strutted up and down
the room, as though pondering a grave and weighty question. Presently
he turned to Ortez. "You have heard, senor?"
Ortez nodded. And in that nod Brevoort read the whole story. Ortez
was virtually a prisoner on his own ranch. The noble captain of
Liberty had been known to use his best friends in this way.
"When will the cattle arrive at the Olla?" asked Arguilla, seating
himself.
"To-morrow, Senor Comandante. That is the word from Sam Brent."
"And you have come for the money, then?"
Pete barely hesitated. "No. Brent said there ain't no hurry about
that. He said you could figure on two hundred head"--Pete recalled
Harper's statement--"and that you would send your agent over to the
Olla with the cash.
Pages:
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357