Since that meeting Dave had picked up considerable information about the object of his interest, and although much of this was palpably false, it had served to make her a still more romantic figure in his eyes.  Alaire now seemed to be a sort of superwoman, and the fact that she was his friend, that something deep within her had answered to him, afforded him a keen satisfaction, the greater, perhaps, because of his surprise that it could be go.  Nevertheless, he was uncomfortably aware that she had a husband.  Not only so, but the sharp contrast in their positions was disagreeable to contemplate; she was unbelievably rich, and a person of influence in the state, while he had nothing except his health, his saddle, and his horse—–­

With a desperate pang Law realized that now he had no horse.  Bessie Belle, his best beloved, lay cold and wet back yonder in the weeping mesquite.  He found several cubes of sugar in his pocket, and with an oath flung them from him.  Don Ricardo’s horse seemed stiff-gaited and stubborn.

Dave remembered how Mrs. Austin had admired the mare.  No doubt she would grieve at the fate that had befallen her, and that would give them something to talk about.  His own escape would interest her, too, and—­Law realized, not without some natural gratification, that he would appear to her as a sort of hero.

The mist and an early dusk prevented him from seeing Las Palmas itself until he was well in among the irrigated fields.  A few moments later when he rode up to the out-buildings he encountered a middle-aged Mexican who proved to be Benito Gonzalez, the range boss.

Dave made himself known, and Benito answered his questions with apparent honesty.  No, he had seen nothing of a sorrel horse or a strange rider, but he had just come in himself.  Doubtless they could learn more from Juan, the horse-wrangler, who was somewhere about.

Juan was finally found, but he proved strangely recalcitrant.  At first he knew nothing, though after some questioning he admitted the possibility that he had seen a horse of the description given, but was not sure.  More pressure brought forth the reluctant admission that the possibility was almost a certainty.

“What horse was it?” Benito inquired; but the lad was non-committal.  Probably it belonged to some stranger.  Juan could not recollect just where or when he had seen the pony, and he was certain he had not laid eyes upon the owner.

“Devil take the boy!  He’s half-witted,” Benito growled.

But Dave changed his tactics.  “Oiga!” he said, sternly.  “Do you want to go to jail?” Juan had no such desire.  “Then tell the truth.  Was the horse branded?”

“Yes.”

“With what brand?”

Juan had not noticed.

“With the ‘K.T.’ perhaps?” That was the Lewis brand.

“Perhaps!”

“Where is it now?”

Juan insolently declared that he didn’t know and didn’t care.