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wind。
〃I shall never forgive the Commander for making the Presidio so
attractive to you； dear Miss Keene； that you cannot really find
time to see your own countrymen。 Though； of course； you're not to
blame for not coming to see two frights as we must looknot having
been educated to be able to do up our dresses in that faultless
styleand perhaps not having the entire control over an
establishment like you； yet； I suppose that； even if the Alcalde
did give us carte blanche of the laundry HERE； we couldn't do it；
unaided even by Mrs。 Markham。 Yes； dear； you must let me
compliment you on your skill； and the way you make things last。 As
for me and Miss Chubb； we've only found our things fit to be given
away to the poor of the Mission。 But I suppose even that charity
would look as shabby to you as our clothes； in comparison with the
really good missionary work you and Mr。 Hurlstoneor is it Mr。
Brace？I always confound your admirers； my dearare doing now。
At least； so says that good Father Esteban。〃
But with the exception of the Alcalde and Miss Chubb； Mrs。
Brimmer's words fell on unheeding ears； and Miss Keene did not
prejudice the triumph of her own superior attractions by seeming to
notice Mrs。 Brimmer's innuendo。 She answered briefly； and entered
into lively conversation with Crosby and the Secretary； holding the
hand of Dona Isabel in her own； as if to assure her that she was
guiltless of any design against her former admirer。 This was quite
unnecessary； as the gentle Isabel； after bidding Brace； with a rap
on the knuckles； to 〃go and play；〃 contented herself with curling
up like a kitten beside Miss Keene； and left that gentleman to
wander somewhat aimlessly in the patio。
Nevertheless； Miss Keene； whose eyes and ears were nervously alert；
and who had indulged a faint hope of meeting Padre Esteban and
hearing news of Hurlstone； glanced from time to time towards the
entrance of the patio。 A singular presentiment that some outcome
of this present visit would determine her relations with Hurlstone
had already possessed her。 Consequently she was conscious； before
it had attracted the attention of the others； of some vague
stirring in the plaza beyond。 Suddenly the clatter of hoofs was
heard before the gateway。 There was a moment's pause of
dismounting； a gruff order given in Spanish； and the next moment
three strangers entered the patio。
They were dressed in red shirts； their white trousers tucked in
high boots； and wore slouched hats。 They were so travel…stained；
dusty； and unshaven； that their features were barely
distinguishable。 One； who appeared to be the spokesman of the
party； cast a perfunctory glance around the corridor； and； in
fluent Spanish； began with the mechanical air of a man repeating
some formula；
〃We are the bearers of a despatch to the Comandante of Todos Santos
from the Governor of Mazatlan。 The officer and the escort who came
with us are outside the gate。 We have been told that the
Comandante is in this house。 The case is urgent； or we would not
intrude〃
He was stopped by the voice of Mrs。 Markham from the corridor。
〃Well； I don't understand Spanish muchI may be a fool； or crazy；
or perhaps bothbut if that isn't James Markham's VOICE； I'll bet
a cooky！〃
The three strangers turned quickly toward the corridor。 The next
moment the youngest of their party advanced eagerly towards Miss
Keene； who had arisen with a half frightened joy； and with the cry
of 〃Why； it's Nell！〃 ran towards her。 The third man came slowly
forward as Mrs。 Brimmer slipped hastily from the hammock and stood
erect。
〃In the name of goodness； Barbara；〃 said Mr。 Brimmer； closing upon
her； in a slow； portentous whisper； 〃where ARE your stockings？〃
CHAPTER VI。
A MORE IMPORTANT ARRIVAL。
The Commander was the first to recover his presence of mind。
Taking the despatch from the hands of the unlooked…for husband of
the woman he loved； he opened it with an immovable face and
habitual precision。 Then； turning with a military salute to the
strangers； he bade them join him in half an hour at the Presidio；
and； bowing gravely to the assembled company； stepped from the
corridor。 But Mrs。 Markham was before him； stopped him with a
gesture； and turned to her husband。
〃James Markhamwhere's your hand？〃
Markham； embarrassed but subjugated； disengaged it timidly from his
wife's waist。
〃Give it to that gentlemanfor a gentleman he is； from the crown
of his head to the soles of his boots！ There！ Shake his hand！
You don't get such a chance every day。 You can thank him again；
later。〃
As the two men's hands parted； after this perfunctory grasp； and
the Commander passed on； she turned again to her husband。
〃Now； James； I am ready to hear all about it。 Perhaps you'll tell
me where you HAVE been？〃
There was a moment of embarrassing silence。 The Doctor and
Secretary had discreetly withdrawn； the Alcalde； after a brief
introduction to Mr。 Brimmer； and an incomprehensible glance from
the wife； had retired with a colorless face。 Dona Isabel had
lingered last to blow a kiss across her fan to Eleanor Keene that
half mischievously included her brother。 The Americans were alone。
Thus appealed to； Mr。 Markham hastily began his story。 But； as he
progressed； a slight incoherency was noticeable： he occasionally
contradicted himself； and was obliged to be sustained； supplemented；
and； at times； corrected； by Keene and Brimmer。 Substantially； it
appeared that they had come from San Francisco to Mazatlan； and；
through the influence of Mr。 Brimmer on the Mexican authorities；
their party； with an escort of dragoons； had been transported across
the gulf and landed on the opposite shore； where they had made a
forced march across the desert to Todos Santos。 Literally
interpreted； however； by the nervous Markham； it would seem that
they had conceived this expedition long ago； and yet had
difficulties because they only thought of it the day before the
steamer sailed； that they had embarked for the isthmus of Nicaragua；
and yet had stopped at Mazatlan； that their information was complete
in San Francisco； and only picked up at Mazatlan； that 〃friends〃
sometimes contradictorily known as 〃he〃 and 〃she〃had overpowering
influence with the Mexican Government； and alone had helped them；
and yet that they were utterly dependent upon the efforts of Senor
Perkins； who had compromised matters with the Mexican Government and
everybody。
〃Do you mean to say； James Markham； that you've seen Perkins； and
it was he who told you we were here？〃
〃Nonot HIM exactly。〃
〃Let me explain；〃 said Mr。 Brimmer hastily。 〃It appears；〃 he
corrected his haste with practical businesslike precision； 〃that
the filibuster Perkins； after debarking you here； and taking the
Excelsior to Quinquinambo； actually established the Quinquinambo
Government； and got Mexico and the other confederacies to recognize
its independence。 Quinquinambo behaved very handsomely； and not
only allowed the Mexican Government indemnity for breaking the
neutrality of Todos Santos by the seizure； but even compromised
with our own Government their claim to confiscate the Excelsior for
treaty violation； and paid half the value of the vessel； besides
giving information to Mexico and Washington of your whereabouts。
We consequently represent a joint commission from both countries to
settle the matter and arrange for your return。〃
〃But what I want to know is this： Is it to Senor Perkins that we
ought to be thankful for seeing you here at all？〃 asked Mrs。
Markham impatiently。
〃No； nonot that； exactly；〃 stammered Markham。 〃Oh； come now；
Susannah〃
〃No；〃 said Richard Keene earnestly； 〃by Jove！ some thanks ought to
go to Belle Montgomery〃He checked himself in sudden consternation。
There was a chilly silence。 Even Miss Keene looked anxiously at
her brother； as the voice of Mrs。 Brimmer for the first time broke
the silence。
〃May we be permitted to know who is this person to whom we owe so
great an obligation？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Brimmer； 〃She wasas I have already intimateda
friend； possibly； you know；〃 he added； turning lightly to his
companions； as if to corroborate an impression that had just struck
him； 〃perhaps aaa sweetheart of the Senor Perkins。〃
〃And how was she so interested in us； pray？〃 said Mrs。 Markham；
〃Well； you see； she had an idea that a former husband was on board
of the Excelsior。〃
He stopped suddenly； remembering from the astonished faces of Keene
and Markham that the secret was not known to them； while they；
impressed with the belief that the story was a sudden invention of
Brimmer's； with difficulty preserved their composure。 But the
women were quick to notice their confusion； and promptly
disbelieved Brimmer's explanation。
〃Well； as there's no Mister Montgom