“Yes. It’s all right. You needn’t be afraid. I want you to do something, Melgares.”
They stepped inside the corral and Melgares bolted the door. “You saw Conrad’s mare just now?” Jenkins began. “Fine creature, isn’t she?”
“Splendid, señor. The finest I have seen in a long time.”
“I’ll warrant it! I never saw a better myself. Looks like a good traveller, doesn’t she?”
“Si, señor.”
“And a stayer, too, I guess! It wouldn’t be hard to get to the Mexican border on her back, would it?”
Melgares grinned, then shook his head. “But my family—I could not take them with me.”
“Well—see here, Melgares. Here’s fifty dollars. If you’ll get away with Conrad’s mare you can have it for your trouble. It will take your family down there all right.”
“But you, señor,—where do you come in?” He looked suspiciously at Jenkins.
“Oh, never mind me. Conrad did me a bad turn a while ago, and I’m evening up the score. That’s all I want out of it.”