“Quickly!  Quickly!” she moaned.  “For the love of—­”

With terrific force the door was fairly jerked from its hinges and slammed to behind them.  The next moment Allan’s big body was leaning against it, as if the wall were about to fall inward upon him.  Runnels leaped forward with an exclamation, his wife stood staring, her face as white as snow.  With them was the genial gray-haired judge from Colon, whom Kirk had met at the Wayfarers Club on the night of his arrival.

“You made it!” Runnels cried, triumphantly.

“Miss Garavel!” his wife echoed.  “Thank Heaven you came!”

“Quick, the music will stop!  Judge, this is Miss Garavel—­you must marry us just as fast as you can.”

“I presume you consent?” the judge asked, with a smile at the girl.

“I—­I want to be happy,” she said, simply.  Her bosom was heaving, her pansy eyes were fastened upon the magistrate with a look of pleading that drove the smile from his lips.  She clung to Anthony’s arm as if she feared these strangers might tear him away.

“You understand, Judge, she’s of age; so am I. They want to force her to marry a man she doesn’t—­”

The muffled strains of music ceased.  There came the faint clapping of hands.

“Madre de Dios!” Miss Garavel cried.  “We are too late.”  She beat her little palms together in desperation.

There was a breathless interval.  Then the music began again, and to its throbbing measures the marriage ceremony was performed.  As the last word was pronounced, Mrs. Runnels burst into tears and hid her face against her husband’s breast.  Runnels himself held forth a shaking hand to Kirk, then patted the bride clumsily upon her shoulder.

“I know you will be happy now, Mrs. Anthony,” he said.

With an incoherent cry of delight, Kirk folded his wife in his arms, and she kissed him before them all.

“Senor, I will love you always,” she said, shyly.

During the progress of this scene, Allan Allan of Jamaica had stood frozen with amazement, a door-knob wedged firmly into the small of his back, his eyes distended and rolling; but when Mrs. Runnels collapsed, as at a signal he too dissolved in tears.

“Oh, glory to God, boss,” he sobbed, “you is a beautiful bridegroom!”

“Come, we must get back, the music has stopped again.”  Kirk turned to the judge.  “Nothing is to be said until Miss Gar—­Mrs. Anthony gives the word; you understand?  I can’t thank you all half enough.  Now, Allan, see if the coast is clear, quickly!” He was still in a panic, for there yet remained a chance of discovery and ruin.  One more instant of suspense, then the two stepped out; the door closed softly behind them and they strolled around the corner of the north wing and into the crowd.  It had all happened so quickly that even yet they were dazed and disbelieving.

“My wife!” Kirk whispered, while a tremendous rush of emotion swept over him.  She trembled in answer like a wind-shaken leaf.  “You’re mine, Chiquita!  They can’t take you away.”  His voice broke.