“It’s true, friend, every word of it. You’ll live to ride the range again and count your cattle on the free hillside. Come with me up to the office and we’ll talk more of it.” “But may I? Will they let me?” trembled Henderson, fearful lest his cup of joy be dashed from him. “I’m not dreaming, am I? I’ll not wake the way I often do and find that it is all a dream, will I?” He caught at the lapel of O’Connor’s coat and searched his face. “No, your dreams are true at last, Dave Henderson. Come, old friend, take a drink of this to steady you. It’s all coming out right now.” Tears streamed down the face of the man rescued from a living grave. He dashed them away impatiently with a shaking hand. “I used to be as game as other men, young man, and now you see what a weakling I am. Don’t judge me too hard. Happiness is a harder thing to stand than pain or grief. They’ve tried to break my spirit many a time and they couldn’t, but you’ve done it now with a word.” “You’ll be all right as soon as you are able to realize it. I don’t wonder the shock unnerves you. Have you anything you want to take out of here with you before you leave forever?” Pathetically the prisoner looked round on his few belongings. Some of them had become endeared to him by years of use and association, but they had served their time. “No, I want to forget it all. I came in with nothing. I’ll take out nothing. I want to blot it all out like a hideous nightmare.” Bucky ordered Colonel Gabilonda to bring up from his cell General Valdez and the other arrested suspects. They reached the office at the same time as Mike O’Halloran, who greeted them with the good news that the day was won. The Megales faction had melted into mist, and all over the city a happy people was shouting for Valdez. “I congratulate you, general. We have just telegraphed the news over the State that Megales has resigned and fled. There can be no doubt that you will be elected governor to-morrow and that the people’s party will win the day with an unprecedented vote. Glory be, Chihuahua is at last free from the heel of tyranny. _Viva Valdez! Viva Chihuahua libre!_” Bucky at once introduced to General Valdez the American prisoner who had suffered so long and unjustly. He recited the story of the abduction of the child, of Henderson’s pursuit, of the killing of the trooper, and of the circumstantial evidence that implicated the Texan and upon which he was convicted. He then drew from his pocket a signed and attested copy of the confession of the knife thrower and handed it to the general. Valdez looked it over, asked an incisive question or two of Bucky, heard from Henderson his story, and, after a few moments’ discussion of the matter with O’Halloran, promised a free pardon as his first official act after being elected to the governorship, in case he should be chosen.