Despite the Ranger captain's easy assumption of command, the
strain of the situation had not subsided, and Longorio drew swift
attention to himself when he said:
"It is fortunate that I chanced to learn of this matter. You have
done me a great service, Senor Law, for I came to Romero purposely
to examine into the death of this unfortunate man. But I could
learn nothing; nobody knew anything whatever about the matter, and
so I became convinced that it amounted to little. Now--behold! I
discover that I was deceived. Or--perhaps there still may be a
mistake."
Blaze Jones thrust his daughter aside and advanced toward the
speaker. "There's no mistake," he declared, belligerently. "I
don't make mistakes when I go grave-robbin'. Don Ricardo was shot
by your men. He had five thousand dollars on him, or he should
have had, and he was an American citizen. Your Colonel Blanco
covered the body, but he'll have a hell of a job coverin' the
facts. It's time we came to a showdown with your murderin' outfit,
and I aim to see if we've got a government in this country."
"Heaven guided my hand," devoutly breathed the general. "It is
regrettable that you used this means when a word to me would have
served the purpose, for--it is no trivial matter to desecrate a
Mexican graveyard.
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