"Señor Escobar has shot himself," he said. "Through the heart."
Betty fell back from him, step by step, her eyes staring, her face white. Then she looked pleadingly to Kendric. When he went to her side, she whispered:
"Take me away! Let's try to go now. Now!"
Ruiz Rios's eyes glittered, his mouth hardened. He closed the door behind him, watching them keenly.
"It is in my mind to do you a kindness, Señor Kendric," he said, speaking evenly and emotionlessly.
"You are a murderous cur," rapped out Kendric. "I'd do a clean job if I shot you dead in your tracks."
Rios smiled.
"Let us speak business, amigo," he said. "Moralizing is nice when there is plenty of time and nothing else to be done. You are kept here against your will. It might not fit in ill with my plans to see you go."
"I will have a look at Escobar first," said Kendric. Rios stepped aside and again threw open the door. But he did not stir from the spot, awaiting Kendric's return. Nor did Kendric tarry long. Escobar was dead already, shot through the heart, as Rios had said. A revolver lay on the ground, close to his right hand.
"You ought to hang for that," said Kendric as he came back into the room. "But from the way you're going you won't last long enough for the law to get you. Now, what have you to say to me?"