Part 53 (2/2)
returned Billy; ”but cuttin' the kid it was a skirt tipped it off to me where you was--the beautiful senorita of El Orobo Rancho, I think Jose called her Now are you hep?”
Bridge gave an exclamation of astonishment ”God bless her!” he said
”She did that for me?”
”She sure did,” Billy assured him, ”an' I'll bet an iron case she's a-waitin' for you there with buds o' roses in her hair an' kisses on her hed happily He was happy anyway at having rescued Bridge, and the knowledge that his friend was in love and that the girl reciprocated his affection--all of which Billy assue--only added to his joy ”She ain't a greaser is she?” he asked presently
”I should say not,” replied Bridge ”She's a perfect queen from New York City; but, Billy, she's not for enerous heart She couldn't care for me, Billy Her father is a wealthy man--he could have the pick of the land--of many lands--if she cared to marry You don't think for a minute she'd want a hobo, do you?”
”You can't most always tell,” replied Billy, a trifle sadly ”I knew such a queen once ould have chosen a mucker, if he'd a-let her
You're stuck on her, ol' e adet it Oh, say, is this the horse I let you take the night you robbed the bank?”
”Yes,” said Billy; ”sahty well-behaved one, too Why?”
”It's hers,” said Bridge
”An' she wants it back?”
”She didn't say so; but I'd like to get it to her soo,” suggested Billy
”But I can't go back,” said Bridge; ”it was Grayson, the foreman, who made it so hot for me I had to leave He tried to arrest me and send me to Villa”
”What for?” asked Billy
”He didn't like e wouldn't say that his relations with Billy had brought him into trouble
”Oh, well, I'll take it back myself then, and at the saular fellow you are, and punch in the foreo there They know you now It was some of El Orobo's men you shot up day before yesterday when you took their steers fronized the pony, and one of theht of the robbery They would be sure to get you, Billy”
Shortly the two ca slowly toward their iven up the chase, fearing that they reatly superior force, and had returned to Cuivaca
It was nearly e and Billy threw theed
”Well, well,” ie's found his Penelope,” and fell asleep
CHAPTER XIII BARBARA AGAIN
CAPTAIN BILLY BYRNE rode out of the hills the following afternoon upon a pinto pony that showed the whites of its eyes in a wicked rim about the iris and kept its ears perpetually flattened backward
At the end of a lariat trailed the Brazos pony, for Billy, laughing aside Bridge's pleas, was on his way to El Orobo Rancho to return the stolen horse to its fair owner