"Gone? You mean the fellow who saw Urbina and Garza together?" "Yes. He has disappeared, too--evidently frightened away." Jones was amazed. "Say, Dave," he cried, "that means your case has blown up, eh?" "Absolutely. Lewis has been selling 'wet' stock to the Federals, and he probably arranged with some of them to murder Ricardo. At any rate, that's my theory." Blaze cursed eloquently. "I'd like to hang it on to Tad; I'd sure clean house down his way if I was positive." "I sent a man over to Romero," Dave explained further. "He tells me Ricardo is dead, all right; but nobody knows how he died, or why. There's a new grave in the little cemetery above the town, but nobody knows who's buried in it. There hasn't been a death in Romero lately." The speaker watched his friend closely. "Ricardo's family would like to have his body, and I'd like to see it myself. Wouldn't you? We could tell just what happened to him. If he really faced a firing-squad, for instance--I reckon Washington would have something to say, eh?" "What are you aimin' at?" Blaze inquired. "If we had Ricardo's body on this side it would put an end to all the lies, and perhaps force Colonel Blanco to make known the real facts. It might even mean a case against Tad Lewis. What do you think of my reasoning?" "It's eighteen karat. What d'you say we go over there and get Ricardo?" Dave smiled. "That's what I've been leading up to. Will you take a chance?" "Hell, yes!" "I knew you would. All we need is a pair of Mexicans to--do the work. I liked Ricardo; I owe him something." "Suppose we're caught?" "In that case we'll have to run for it, and--I presume I'll be discharged from the Ranger service." "I ain't very good at runnin'--not from Mexicans." Blaze's eyes were bright and hard at the thought. "It's more'n possible that, if they discover us, we can start a nice little war of our own." That evening Dave managed to get his Ranger captain by long-distance telephone, and for some time the two talked guardedly. When Dave rang off they had come to a thorough understanding. It had been an easy matter for Jose Sanchez to secure a leave of absence from Las Palmas, especially since Benito was not a little interested in the unexplained disappearance of Panfilo and work was light at this time. Benito did not think it necessary to mention the horse-breaker's journey to his employer; so that Alaire knew nothing whatever about the matter until Jose himself asked permission to see her on a matter of importance. The man had ridden hard most of the previous night, and his excitement was patent. Even before he spoke Alaire realized that Panfilo's fate was known to him, and she decided swiftly that there must be no further concealment. "Senora! A terrible thing!" Jose burst forth. "God knows, I am nearly mad with grief. It is about my sainted cousin. It is strange, unbelievable! My head whirls--"