"Well--I'll be--" The sheriff broke his sentence midway, to stare at Bryton in amazement. "What the devil is it to you?" he demanded. "Arteaga is no bosom friend of yours, is he?"
"Not that I know of. If the boy doesn't go, I go! The girl may be dying, and the help she wants, she's going to get. Speak up!"
He was in the saddle, and the sheriff, with one look at him, walked back to the group.
"Boy, do you carry only a message to Don Rafael Arteaga?" he demanded, "or is it a written letter?"
"A letter," said he, sullenly, "and Doña Ana raise the hell if you don't let me take it."
"Ah! The Doña Ana! I thought so. Doña Ana is an interesting little lady. Let me see the letter."
The man hesitated, but finally pulled the letter from his pocket. The sheriff took it and walked back to Bryton.
"I'm humoring your queer notion all I know how," he observed; "for I want you south with us instead of taking the back trail. You read Spanish; the letter is not sealed. Read it."
Bryton read it aloud, slowly. Ana had not minced her words.
"For the love of God, come quick to Raquel. Among us, some way, I think we have killed her. That she is too good for you is no reason that you should let her ride alone with a heart-break. I think myself she does not want to live any more,--and no medicine cures that. Maybe you cannot cure it either, but it is your place to be here if she dies.
"You see," said Bryton, handing it back. "I told you."
"I see," conceded the sheriff. "It reads all right, but there is always a chance of--" He folded the paper thoughtfully, and stared hard at the ground. "This is all a ticklish business, Bryton, and if Flores's friends have got wind of this little _pasear_ of ours, they may send all sorts of scare messages where they will do most good. These greasers have tricks of their own, and most of them are cousins--see?"
"I see; but that is not a message of that sort. Does the boy take it, or do I?"
"The boy takes it, and I'll send a man with him to be sure he takes that message and no other; and you, if you are so keen for the road, can ride south and investigate before Cousin Ana can expect any reply to her message."
"That's it! You've got the best horse in the bunch. If the whole outfit rides in, they'll get scared, but one man alone on his way to San Juan, that looks all right. You may chance on things worth while, when we finally catch up."