Blaze agreed.  “She’s sure poisonous to strangers.”  Then he looked over the car critically.  “These automobiles are all right, but whenever I want to go somewhere and get back I take a team of hay-burners.  Mules don’t puncture.  The first automobile Paloma had nearly scared me to death.  On the road to Brownsville there used to be a person who didn’t like me—­we’d had a considerable unpleasantness, in fact.  One day Paloma and I were lickety-splittin’ along past his place when we had a blow-out.  It was the first one I’d ever heard, and it fooled me complete—­comin’ right at that particular turn of the road.  I sure thought this party I spoke of had cut down on me, so I r’ared up and unlimbered.  I shot out three window-lights in his house before Paloma could explain.  If he’d been in sight I’d have beefed him then and there, and saved six months’ delay.  No, gas-buggies are all right for people with strong nerves, but I’m tuned too high.”

“Father has never learned to drive a car without yelling ‘Gee’ and ‘Haw,’” laughed Paloma.  “And he thinks he has title to the whole road, too.  You know these Mexicans are slow about pulling their wagons to one side.  Well, father got mad one day, and when a team refused him the right of way he whipped out his revolver and fired.”

Blaze smiled broadly.  “It worked great.  And believe me, them Greasers took to the ditch.  I went through like a hot wind, but I shot up sixty-five ca’tridges between here and town.”

“Why didn’t Mrs. Austin ask you to stay all night at Las Palmas?” the girl inquired of Dave.

“She did.”

“Wonderful!” Paloma’s surprise was evidently sincere.  “I suppose you refused because of the way Ed treated you?  Well, I’d have accepted just to spite him.  Tell me, is she nice?”

“She’s lovely.”

This vehement declaration brought a sudden gleam of interest into the questioner’s eyes.

“They say she has the most wonderful gowns and jewels, and dresses for dinner every night.  Well”—­Paloma tossed her head—­“I’m going to have some nice clothes, too.  You wait!”

“Now don’t you start riggin’ yourself up for meals,” Blaze said, warningly.  “First thing I know you’ll have me in a full-dress suit, spillin’ soup on my shirt.”  Then to his guest he complained, feelingly:  “I don’t know what’s come over Paloma lately; this new dressmaker has plumb stampeded her.  Somebody’d ought to run that feline out of town before she ruins me.”

“She is a very nice woman,” complacently declared the daughter; but her father snorted loudly.

“I wouldn’t associate with such a critter.”

“My!  But you’re proud.”