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Manuel found Valencia pacing up and down the porch of the hotel in a fever of iht of him she ran forward quickly

"Where have you been? What have you done with Sebastian? Why did you leave without telling me about it?" she demanded

"One question at a ti at her "But let us hile I tell you"

She fell into step beside hi, lissom tread that came from controlled and deliberate power

"What is it you have to tell? If you were called ahy did you not leave a e for me?" she asked, a little imperiously

"I wasn't called away, Valencia You were excited and angry My opinion was that Sebastian would speak if the ht So I cut the rope that tied hih the back door of the hotel"

Her dark eyes, proud and passionate, began to smoulder But the voice hich she answered hi with me--and then you betrayed"I backed ainst your iht"

"How? What has happened? Where is Sebastian?"

"He is galloping toward the hills as fast as he can--at least I hope he is What happened is that he told me where Gordon is hidden"

"Where?"

"At your house When you were there to-day you must have passed within twenty feet of him"

"But--do you mean that Pablo and Sebastian took him there?"

"Exactly They did not foresee that you would come to town, Valencia" He added, after a moment: "I have seen Mr Gordon, talked with him, and released him At this moment he is in your brother's room, probably asleep"

All the sharpness had died out of the young woman's voice when she turned to her cousin and spoke with a huiveI drive ahead and must have ht to ignore ly, and he lifted it to his lips

"Niñathe Queen can do no wrong But I saw you were driving Sebastian to stubbornness I tried to let him see we meant to be his friends if he would let us"

"Yes, you were right Tell , please" She paused just a moment before she said quietly: "But first, what about Mr Gordon? He isuninjured?"