1 It doesn't take much argu- ment to start something. Once started, there is only one way to finish it. 2 Of course a woman was at the bottom of it - 'twas always thus. 3 However, Mary Moore, waitress in the White Star, and the most popular girl in town, was worth fighting over. . . . Wilamae Carson 4 Bully, Brand, owner of the local pool hall, and fond of Mary. . . . Les Bates. 5 Jim Gregory, foreman of the "Crazy Snake" Rancho, a devil-may-care-buckaroo that refuses to take life seriously. . . . JAMES B. WARNER 6 'Skinny' Fargo, his best friend and the 'goat' in many of Jim's wild escapades. . . . H. S. Karr 7 "An' I smiled at Mary and the big clodhopper jumped on me." 8 "I'll have to go to the office for my key." 9 The Mexican side of the border, a Fiesta is taking place at the Rancho del Rada. 10 Senorita Mercedes Aloyez, the proud Castillian daughter of Don Enrico, master of the Rancho del Rada. . . . Eleanor Fair 11 El Capitan Montoya, Com- mandant at Sonoratown, to whom she is betrothed. . . . Robert H. Gray 12 "Ah, Senorita - when your father, Don Enrico, re- turns next month from Pozo - then shall we be wed." 13 "El Capitan - my father gave you my hand - but not yet have I given you my heart." 14 "A fine oil can you are. That toss sure was the snake's hips." 15 "I leave now, Senorita, to join my men at Senora- town. Will you kiss me farewell?" 16 "My favors are not given so cheaply, El Capitan. I will race you to the cross-roads - for that kiss." 17 Pascal, a Yaqui goat-herder, of the Rancho del Rada. . . . A. Knott 18 "You get the dang steer yourself. When you come back you can buy me a pair of crutches." 19 But steers are 'onery critters - Jim and his cow-horse did their best. The long-horn beat him to it. With- out passport, without benefit of American Consul, not even pausing to say good-bye, the stampeding brute invaded the State of Sonora. 20 "You have lost, El Capitan. The brave Americano - has won the race." 21 "We were racing - for a kiss - - - " 22 "Will the El Capitan be good enough to get my horse?" 23 Jim returned to the ranch, riding upon air, dazed by the beautiful vision that knocked him for a row of hot tamales. 24 "Just because you ain't popular with the ladies, like I am, you're sore!" 25 "Gosh a'mighty! You ought to have seen her - she's a peach - a regular dog- goned peach." 26 "She's a gold-dusk maverick millin' around in a flock of chickasaw cayuses. Say, that dame - - - " 27 "Dame - - - where's that steer?" 28 "Thunderation! I plumb for- got about the blamed long- horn! The way he was runnin' he's probably down in the neighborhood of Pozo by now - - - " 29 "She's a satin-finished ten of hearts in a deck of greasy paste-boards." 30 "I knew a feller once who was ridin' for th' Lazy S - and he fell in love with a Senorita that lived across the border in Chihuahua, and - - - " 31 "And that's what'll happen to you." 32 "I'm betting he died a joyous death!" 33 "Oh, the ravens wheel, an' the coyotes squeal, An' a buzzard sets in a tree;" 34 "You're answerin'!" 35 "But a maiden fair, with midnight hair, "Is a callin' - - - a-callin' me!" 36 "Brand has threatened to kill you on sight! He's on his way here now! Please get away quick before he comes!" 37 "I'm not built for runnin', Mary. I've got bends in my legs from ridin' a horse. Reckon I'll have to stay an' take my medicine." 38 "Jim, I'd die if anything happened to you - - - " 39 "Looks like you're gettin' ready to play a harp. Ain't you ever goin' to learn that dynamite's a tame sport to foolin' around with women - - - " 40 "When Brand shows up, tell him that he'll find me here - waitin' for him." 41 "Pascal, keep you a close watch on the Senorita Mercedes as the eyes of her duenna are dim and her ears they are dull." 42 "If you are faithful - five - ten - of the brinca- dores, the little jumping beans, shall be yours." 43 "Where's Gregory?" 44 "Now, it's an even break - - -" 45 "Grab your gun, you poor excuse - I'm waitin'." 46 "I just come to warn you to get out of the country. I'm givin' you just one week to pack an' travel." 47 "Yellow!" 48 "Say, what's a nice present for the Senorita? I'm callin' on her tonight." 49 "An' you're goin' along to stand watch so that no Spiggoties pot me in the interlude." 50 The trysting place. 51 "You little black-eyed lump of Paradise, you've got my heart roped, throwed, and double-half-hitched for keeps." 52 "And sometime - you will take me - to your people?" 53 "You bet your life - sure. You and me are permanent." 54 "Ah, I like - much - the Senor Americano." 55 "We're even. I'm loco about the Senorita Mercedes." 56 "Tomorrow night the Senor Americano will return?" 57 "Nothing could keep me away. I'm for you, mi amigo, till grass grows on the ocean." 58 "Listen! Sheba was only a cross-eyed witch beside my little Queen. If she wanted the moon I'd put wings on my horse and ride to heaven." 59 "Let's get out of here quick. I've got a funny feeling up an' down my spine." 60 "Don't be foolish. If you get shot I'll see that you get a swell headstone." 61 "It is not for me, the re- venge. It is not for me Pascal, to kill! Another that pleasure shall have! 62 At the barracks of the El Capitan in Sonora- town. 63 "It is about the Senorita Mercedes - one other Americano there is and he waits. Both may be taken." 64 "Ten of my best men at once - with equipment for a week's trip." 65 "Bring along the reptil Diablo, and the Padre, there will be a marriage." 66 "And the brincadores, El Capitan - the little jumping beans - - -" 67 Six nights Senor Jim came to meet the fair Senorita while the reluctant 'Skinny' patiently stood watching by the banks of the Santa Cruz. On this, the seventh night - - - 68 "I fear, Senor - - - " 69 "Pascal, the Yaqui, has been away. Tonight he returned, bringing with him the terrible gila monster - the reptil Diablo! He looks at me - so - I am afraid - - - " 70 "Now, now, my little wild- rose sweetness, don't get shaky! Everything will pan out plumb all right." 71 "Listen Angel kid, tonight we'll get an American Padre - or a Justice of the Peace - and be married permanent and regular!" 72 "What th' hell - - - " 73 In Vallejo, other events are shaping themselves - guided by the unseen hand of Brand, the secret leader of the Night Riders. 74 "It's bite is death." 75 "Well, here's where we kiss the Angels. I hope you're satisfied." 76 "You're lover - shall feel the bite of the Reptile Diablo - - - " 77 "But before that there shall be the marriage. Senorita Mercedes, to me, El Capitan Montoya, by Padre Agonza." 78 "No, perhaps the Seno- rita would rather be the victim." 79 "I will die." 80 "So? The pleasure shall be yours." 81 "You're a hell of a brave Captain - to torture a woman! You're afraid to face a man - without a pack of your dirty wolves at your back!" 82 "El Capitan ain't no sport! He wouldn't take a chance on a cinch. He wouldn't bet on four aces - unless he had another one up his sleeve - he's afraid to take a gamble." 83 "It is a lie! El Capitan would bet life itself on the dice, the horse, the brincadore - - - " 84 "Now you're talking! Prove that you're a game sport and will gamble on the jumpers!" 85 "The stakes?" 86 "They shall be the lives of 'Skinny' and me - and the love of Senorita Mercedes - against your life!" 87 "If I win, we go free an' the Senorita goes with us - an' - El Capitan lets the reptil bite him - -" 88 "You don't care how you gamble away my life, do you?" 89 "El Capitan accepts the wager!" 90 "It might interest you to know that your friend Gregory is across the border tonight making love to a Spanish Senorita." 91 "One of my men followed him. I know where to get him when I want him." 92 "This is your last chance. Marry me and I promise to let Gregory go. Otherwise - - - " 93 "I won't - I love him - - - " 94 "Tonight your lover dies!" 95 "Take this note to Gregory - you know where to find him." 96 Certain it is when a bet is made on the brincadores the pledge must be kept: else the soul of the one who refuses shall be, in purgatory, forever as the bouncing bean - unable to find repose! 97 "I'll take the little spotted fellow - - - " 98 "The brincadore that first jumps out of the circle shall be the winner. The Padre shall referee." 99 "Go to it, you little son- of-a-seed-pod, keep moving! You're doing fine!" 100 "It is not fair! The brincadores should not be talked to!" 101 "Gosh, can't a fellow boost for his own bean." 102 "According to the rules the Senor Americano must neither talk to the bean nor tickle it with a straw to make it go quicker." 103 "It is finished - Senor Jim's bouncer is the victor!" 104 "Safely permit the Vaqueros Americanos to return again to the Rancho del Crazy Snake." 105 "Hold on a minute, El Capitan. Before you feed yourself to the gila monster tell that hombre to give us back our guns." 106 "Senorita Mercedes, to you, farewell - adios! The hand that you do not desire I shall offer to the reptil Diablo." 107 "You're too white." 108 "El Capitan, you gave me a chance for life - now I'll give you a chance for love!" 109 "Take your choice, Senorita, we're leavin' it all to you!" 110 "A boy brought it to me - I don't know anything about it." 111 "I must go in a hurry, Senorita. Let us decide this matter when I return." 112 "This may be a trap set by Brand. You had better follow." 113 "You shall watch him die!" 114 "Americano Jim is - what you call - a good sport. I will take my men and go with you." 115 "I'll wait here, you fellows get Gregory." 116 "If you come near me I'll jump!" 117 A woman's decision. 118 "For the Senor Americano - - " 119 "It is the romance, the friendship, the respect. Him I shall always - admire." 120 "But for El Capitan - my brave El Capitan - - " 121 "Now, I have discover - in my heart, it is - love." 122 "Well, you poor, love-sick calf - are you sorry the Senorita give you the gate?" 123 "No, I'm not. When those beans got to jumpin' I got to thinkin' that Mary was a pretty good sort of girl, after all." The ENDHome