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Mrs。 Baxter here told me SHE had sold this yer ranch nearly two
years ago to Don Jose； and now you〃
〃Stop！〃 said Mrs。 Tucker； in a voice that chilled them。
She was standing upright and rigid； as if stricken to stone。 〃I
command you to tell me what this means！〃 she said； turning only her
blazing eyes upon the woman。
Even the ready smile faded from Mrs。 Baxter's lips as she replied
hesitatingly and submissively： 〃I thought you knew already that
Spencer had given this ranch to me。 I sold it to Don Jose to get
the money for us to go away with。 It was Spencer's idea〃
〃You lie！〃 said Mrs。 Tucker。
There was a dead silence。 The wrathful blood that had quickly
mounted to Mrs。 Baxter's cheek； to Patterson's additional
bewilderment； faded as quickly。 She did not lift her eyes again to
Mrs。 Tucker's； but； slowly raising herself from her seat； said； 〃I
wish to God I did lie； but it's true。 And it's true that I never
touched a cent of the money； but gave it all to him！〃 She laid her
hand on Patterson's arm； and said； 〃Come！ let us go；〃 and led him a
few steps towards the gateway。 But here Patterson paused； and
again passed his hand over his melancholy brow。 The necessity of
coherently and logically closing the conversation impressed itself
upon his darkening mind。 〃Then you don't happen to have heard
anything of Spencer？〃 he said sadly； and vanished with Mrs。 Baxter
through the gate。
Left alone to herself； Mrs。 Tucker raised her hands above her head
with a little cry； interlocked her rigid fingers； and slowly
brought her palms down upon her upturned face and eyes； pressing
hard as if to crush out all light and sense of life before her。
She stood thus for a moment motionless and silent； with the rising
wind whispering without and flecking her white morning dress with
gusty shadows from the arbor。 Then； with closed eyes； dropping her
hands to her breast； still pressing hard； she slowly passed them
down the shapely contours of her figure to the waist； and with
another cry cast them off as if she were stripping herself of some
loathsome garment。 Then she walked quickly to the gateway； looked
out； returned to the corridor； unloosening and taking off her
wedding…ring from her finger as she walked。 Here she paused； then
slowly and deliberately rearranged the chairs and adjusted the gay…
colored rugs that draped them； and quietly re…entered her chamber。
Two days afterwards the sweating steed of Captain Poindexter was
turned loose in the corral； and a moment later the captain entered
the corridor。 Handing a letter to the decrepit Concha； who seemed
to be utterly disorganized by its contents； and the few curt words
with which it was delivered； he gazed silently upon the vacant
bower； still fresh and redolent with the delicacy and perfume of
its graceful occupant； until his dark eyes filled with unaccustomed
moisture。 But his reverie was interrupted by the sound of jingling
spurs without； and the old humor struggled back in his eyes as Don
Jose impetuously entered。 The Spaniard started back； but instantly
recovered himself。
〃So I find you here。 Ah！ it is well！〃 he said passionately；
producing a letter from his bosom。 〃Look！ Do you call this honor？
Look how you keep your compact！〃
Poindexter coolly took the letter。 It contained a few words of
gentle dignity from Mrs。 Tucker； informing Don Jose that she had
only that instant learned of his just claims upon Los Cuervos；
tendering him her gratitude for his delicate intentions； but
pointing out with respectful firmness that he must know that a
moment's further acceptance of his courtesy was impossible。
〃She has gained this knowledge from no word of mine；〃 said
Poindexter； calmly。 〃Right or wrong； I have kept my promise to
you。 I have as much reason to accuse you of betraying my secret in
this；〃 he added coldly； as he took another letter from his pocket
and handed it to Don Jose。
It seemed briefer and colder； but was neither。 It reminded
Poindexter that as he had again deceived her she must take the
government of her affairs in her own hands henceforth。 She
abandoned all the furniture and improvements she had put in Los
Cuervos to him； to whom she now knew she was indebted for them。
She could not thank him for what his habitual generosity
impelled him to do for any woman； but she could forgive him for
misunderstanding her like any other woman； perhaps she should say；
like a child。 When he received this she would be already on her
way to her old home in Kentucky； where she still hoped to be able
by her own efforts to amass enough to discharge her obligations to
him。
〃She does not speak of her husband； this woman；〃 said Don Jose；
scanning Poindexter's face。 〃It is possible she rejoins him； eh？〃
〃Perhaps in one way she has never left him； Don Jose；〃 said
Poindexter； with grave significance。
Don Jose's face flushed； but he returned carelessly； 〃And the
rancho； naturally you will not buy it now？〃
〃On the contrary； I shall abide by my offer；〃 said Poindexter；
quietly。
Don Jose eyed him narrowly； and then said； 〃Ah； we shall consider
of it。〃
He did consider it； and accepted the offer。 With the full control
of the land； Captain Poindexter's improvements； so indefinitely
postponed； were actively pushed forward。 The thick walls of the
hacienda were the first to melt away before them； the low lines of
corral were effaced； and the early breath of the summer trade winds
swept uninterruptedly across the now leveled plain to the
embarcadero； where a newer structure arose。 A more vivid green
alone marked the spot where the crumbling adobe walls of the casa
had returned to the parent soil that gave it。 The channel was
deepened； the lagoon was drained； until one evening the magic
mirror that had so long reflected the weary waiting of the Blue
Grass Penelope lay dull； dead； lustreless； an opaque quagmire of
noisome corruption and decay to be put away from the sight of man
forever。 On this spot the crows； the titular tenants of Los
Cuervos； assembled in tumultuous congress； coming and going in
mysterious clouds； or laboring in thick and writhing masses； as if
they were continuing the work of improvement begun by human agency。
So well had they done the work that by the end of a week only a few
scattered white objects remained glittering on the surface of the
quickly drying soil。 But they were the bones of the missing
outcast； Spencer Tucker！
。 。 。 。 。 。
The same spring a breath of war swept over a foul； decaying
quagmire of the whole land； before which such passing deeds as
these were blown as vapor。 It called men of all rank and condition
to battle for a nation's life； and among the first to respond were
those into whose boyish hands had been placed the nation's honor。
It returned the epaulets to Poindexter's shoulder with the addition
of a