"Pedro!" Lopez called, taking out a huge ivory toothpick which he
shamelessly used.
Instantly Pedro was at the door. "_Si!_" he said.
Lopez still spoke to Lucia: "We shall have big time togezzer--at least for
a leetle while." Then he motioned to Pedro; and his men brought in the male
prisoners. "You will not worry 'bout being married, once you come wiz me."
Morgan Pell heard this last remark.
"Look here," he said, "that's my wife you're talking to!" Rage was in his
face. He didn't care whether he was this man's prisoner or not. There
should be no insults hurled at Lucia--that old, primitive feeling for his
woman was roused.
"So!" was all Lopez said, turning on Pell, and nodding his head. "Ees nice
wife--I like her. You do not mind, do you?" His hand touched Lucia's arm.
"Ees all right. I shall ask no question. You shall answer what I ask. And
as is my custom, anybody what does not tell ze truth shall be quite
suddenly--" he paused just the portion of a second--"shot."
Uncle Henry had rolled in with the rest. At this last word his chair
reared up like a frightened steed. "Shot!" he cried.
"_Si_," answered Lopez, calmly.
"You mean it?" Uncle Henry asked, unbelief in his tone.
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