It was for this reason that Nels, when Madeline asked him to accompany her to Chiricahua, replied, reluctantly, that he would rather follow on his horse.  However, she prevailed over his hesitancy, and with Florence also in the car they set out.  For miles and miles the valley road was smooth, hard-packed, and slightly downhill.  And when speeding was perfectly safe, Madeline was not averse to it.  The grassy plain sailed backward in gray sheets, and the little dot in the valley grew larger and larger.  From time to time Link glanced round at unhappy Nels, whose eyes were wild and whose hands clutched his seat.  While the car was crossing the sandy and rocky places, going slowly, Nels appeared to breathe easier.  And when it stopped in the wide, dusty street of Chiricahua Nels gladly tumbled out.

“Nels, we shall wait here in the car while you find Stewart,” said Madeline.

“Miss Hammond, I reckon Gene’ll run when he sees us, if he’s able to run,” replied Nels.  “Wal, I’ll go find him an’ make up my mind then what we’d better do.”

Nels crossed the railroad track and disappeared behind the low, flat houses.  After a little time he reappeared and hurried up to the car.  Madeline felt his gray gaze searching her face.

“Miss Hammond, I found him,” said Nels.  “He was sleepin’.  I woke him.  He’s sober an’ not bad hurt; but I don’t believe you ought to see him.  Mebbe Florence—­”

“Nels, I want to see him myself.  Why not?  What did he say when you told him I was here?”

“Shore I didn’t tell him that.  I jest says, ‘Hullo, Gene!’ an’ he says, ’My Gawd!  Nels! mebbe I ain’t glad to see a human bein’.’  He asked me who was with me, an’ I told him Link an’ some friends.  I said I’d fetch them in.  He hollered at thet.  But I went, anyway.  Now, if you really will see him, Miss Hammond, it’s a good chance.  But shore it’s a touchy matter, an’ you’ll be some sick at sight of him.  He’s layin’ in a Greaser hole over here.  Likely the Greasers hev been kind to him.  But they’re shore a poor lot.”

Madeline did not hesitate a moment.

“Thank you, Nels.  Take me at once.  Come, Florence.”

They left the car, now surrounded by gaping-eyed Mexican children, and crossed the dusty space to a narrow lane between red adobe walls.  Passing by several houses, Nels stopped at the door of what appeared to be an alleyway leading back.  It was filthy.

“He’s in there, around thet first corner.  It’s a patio, open an’ sunny.  An’, Miss Hammond, if you don’t mind, I’ll wait here for you.  I reckon Gene wouldn’t like any fellers around when he sees you girls.”

It was that which made Madeline hesitate then and go forward slowly.  She had given no thought at all to what Stewart might feel when suddenly surprised by her presence.

“Florence, you wait also,” said Madeline, at the doorway, and turned in alone.