Dade, tired and hot from a forenoon in the saddle inspecting the horses that were to bear the burden of rodeo work, presently came clanking up to the porch and lifted the sombrero off his sweat-dampened forehead thankfully, when the shade of the vines enveloped him.

The eyes of the don dwelt pleasedly upon the tanned face of his foreman.  More and more Don Andres was coming to value the keen common-sense which is so rare, and which distinguished Dade’s character almost as much as did the kindliness that made nearly every man his friend.

The don had already fallen into the habit of presenting his orders under the guise of ideas that needed the confirmation of the majordomo, before they became definite plans; and it speaks much for those two that neither of them suspected that it was so.  Thus, Don Andres’ solution of the problem of preserving peace became the subject for a conference that lasted more than an hour.  The don was absolutely candid; so candid that he spoke upon a delicate subject, and one that carried a sting of which he little dreamed.

“One factor I cannot help recognizing,” he said slowly.  “I am not blind, nor is the senora blind, to the—­the—­friendship that is growing between Senor Jack and our daughter.  We had hoped—­but we have long been resolved that in matters of the heart, our daughter shall choose for herself so long as she does not choose one altogether unworthy; which we do not fear, for to that extent we can protect her by admitting to our friendship only those in whose characters we have some confidence.  Now that we understand each other so well, amigo, I will say that I have had some correspondence with friends in San Francisco, who have been so good as to make some investigations in my behalf.  Their Vigilance Committee,” he said, smiling, “was not the only tribunal which weighed evidence for and against your friend, nor was it the only vindication he has received.

“I am assured that in the trouble which brought him to my house he played the part of an honest gentleman fighting to uphold the principles which all honest men espouse; and while he is hot-tempered at times, and perhaps more thoughtless than we could wish, I hear no ill of him save the natural follies of high-stomached youth.

“Therefore I am willing to abide by the choice of my daughter, whose happiness is more dear to her parents than any hope they may have cherished of the welding of two families who have long been friends.  I myself,” he added reminiscently, “fled to the priest with my sweetheart as if all the fiends of hell pursued us, because her parents had chosen for her a husband whom she could not love.  Since we know the pain of choosing between a parent’s wishes and the call of the heart, we are resolved that our child shall be left free to choose for herself.  Therefore, I think our plan is a wise one; and the result must be as the saints decree.”

Dade, because he was engrossed with stifling the ache he had begun to think was dead because it had grown numb, bowed his head without speaking his assent and rose to his feet.