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"Yep, I guess I savvy," said Billy, "an' it listens all right to one My pal in on it?"

"Eh?"

"You make my frien' a captain, too?"

Pesita held up his hands and rolled his eyes in holy horror Take a gringo into his band? It was unthinkable

"He shot," he cried "I swear to kill all gringo I become savior of my country I rid her of all Americanos"

"Nix on the captain stuff fer ht one If any big stiff thinks he can croak little ol' Bridge while Billy Byrne's aroun' he's got anudder t'ink comin' Why, o?" asked Pesita

"You bet," cried Billy

Pesita thought for several minutes In his mind was a scheme which required the help of just such an individual as this stranger--so country and whose presence in a town could not by any stretch of the iination be connected in any ith the bandit, Pesita

"I tell you," he said "I let your friend go I send him under safe escort to El Orobo Rancho Maybe he help us there after a while If you stay I let hiot it in for Mig fer?" asked Billy "He's a haros run Mexico--gringos and the church Just like Huerta would have done it if they'd given hios"

"Aw, let the poor boob go," urged Billy, "an' I'll coot a wife an' kids--you wouldn't want to leave them without no one to look after theently

"Very well, Senor Captain," he said, bowing low "I let Miguel and your honorable friend go I send safe escort with them"

"Bully fer you, ol' pot!" exclaihtedly in the belief that soe of "Granavenoo" "I'll go an' tell 'em," said Billy

"Yes," said Pesita, "and say to the"

As Billy turned and walked in the direction that the soldiers had led Bridge and Miguel, Pesita beckoned to a soldier who leaned upon his gun at a short distance froeneral"--a barefooted, slovenly attempt at a headquarters orderly