This man, whom he never thought
to see again in his whole life was standing here, in his own adobe.
"Now you know me!" Pancho went on. "Ah! my frand! 'Ow glad I am for to see
you some more! Pedro! Venustiano! Ees my friend! Sabbe! Orders like my own!
Serve 'im as you would me!" He went to Gilbert and frankly embraced him in
the Latin fashion. "Eet's 'ell of a good thing I reckernize you!" he
laughed, hugging his old friend close. He could never forget his kindness
that night so many years ago; and to think he had run across his deliverer
now!
Everyone was relieved. Their troubles would now be ended.
"And you ain't going to rob him, after all?" Uncle Henry piped up.
"Rob 'im? Rob my frand?" Lopez repeated.
"Ain't you?" Uncle Henry cried.
The bandit looked at him, wonder in his eyes. "No! _Ciertamente_ no!"
"Hooray!" the old man yelled, and would have risen in his chair could he
have done so.
"Say, who the 'ell is that?" said Lopez, addressing himself to Gilbert.
"He's my uncle," young Jones answered.
"Uncle?" the bandit said, unbelieving.
"Uncle Henry," old man Smith wanted it to be straight.
"He shall go free," Lopez announced.
Hardy thought this a good omen.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165