"I hardly think I have a friend here who will be willing to lend me money," smiled Merry. "Unless somebody does so, I cannot play. That being the case, I reckon I'll keep out of it."
Sam laid a hand on the butt of his revolver.
"You can't play none of that with us!" he declared fiercely. "We knows how you found the money afore, an' you'll find it ag'in. Come, be lively."
Frank looked the man over.
"You could get blood from a turnip easier than money from me," he declared.
Then, as Red Sam seemed about to draw his weapon, Gonchita chipped in, crying:
"Don't do it, Sam! I have you cover' weez my peestol! I weel shoot!"
The men were astonished, for Gonchita had drawn a pistol and had it pointed at the head of Red Sam, while in her dark eyes there was a deadly gleam.
"What in blazes is the matter with you?" snarled Red Sam, looking at her over his shoulder.
"You hear what Gonchita say," she purred, a flush in her brown cheeks. "She mena de busineeze."