Dave loped out of the thicket and straight across the clearing to
the Morales house. Leaving Montrosa's reins hanging, he opened the
door and entered without knocking. Rosa appeared in the opening to
another room, her eyes wide with fright at this apparition, and
Dave saw that she was dressed in her finest, as if for a holiday
or for a journey.
"Where's your father?" he demanded.
"He's gone to Sangre de Cristo. What do you want?"
"When did he go?"
"This morning, early. He--"
"Who's been here since he left?"
Rosa was recovering from her first surprise, and now her black
brows drew together in anger. "No one has come. You are the first.
And have you no manners to stride into a respectable house--?"
Dave broke in harshly: "Rosa, you're lying. Jose Sanchez has been
here within an hour. Where is he?" When the girl only grew whiter
and raised a hand to her breast, he stepped toward her, crying,
"Answer me!"
Rosa recoiled, and the breath caught in her throat like a sob.
"I'll tell you nothing," she said in a thin voice. Then she began
to tremble. "Why do you want Jose?"
"You know why. He killed Don Eduardo, and then be rode here.
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