"All right," said Merry. "We'll not discuss him—now." Which remark was made with a meaning look toward the Mexican lad.
Pablo was given a place at the table and a steaming cup of coffee placed before him. Corn bread and bacon, with some canned stuff, made up the breakfast, and the boy ate almost ravenously of everything given him. But he kept his hat pulled low over his eyes all the while.
After breakfast Frank sought to question Pablo further, succeeding in drawing from the boy that both[Pg 136] his father and mother were dead, and that he had lived in Holbrook with his sister, where she had seen Bill, who seemed to fascinate her. At least she had run away with the man, and, arming himself with a knife and pistol, Pablo had followed to rescue or avenge her. Chance had led him to the valley in which the Queen Mystery Mine was located.
It was rather a pathetic little story, and Merry was somewhat stirred by it.
"What could you do if you should find Bill?" he asked.
A grim look came to Pablo's soiled yet attractive face.
"I haf my peestol," he said.
"But Bill is a very bad man, and he would have a pistol, too."
"I do my best. I am not skeert of Beel."
"Well, as I happen to know something of Bill, I tell you now, Pablo, that it will be better for you if you never meet him."