At
last he strode up to Leslie and extended his burden.
"Here," he said, harshly, "she's yours. I surrender her."
Leslie drew back. "No, you don't! I wouldn't touch her for a
thousand dollars!" he cried.
But Lopez was firm. He spoke in a tone of command: "Do as I tell
you. Take her. A fine outrage, to steal a baby! What are we going
to do with her? We can't send her back--the town is crazy. I've no
doubt I shall hear from this."
In spite of Leslie's choking protests, in spite of his feeble
resistance, Lopez pressed the noisy stranger into his arms, then
turned to his men and directed them to be off.
Branch remained motionless. He was stupefied; he held the baby
gingerly, not daring to put it down, dreading to keep it; his eyes
were rolling, he began to perspire freely. Stretching a timid,
detaining hand toward Lopez, he inquired, huskily, "What shall I
do with her?"
"God knows. I don't," snapped the officer. "I shall have to think,
but meanwhile I hold you responsible for her. Come now, we must be
going."
Leslie swallowed hard; his face became overspread with a sicklier
pallor. "What'll I do--when she gets HUNGRY?"
Lopez could not restrain a smile. 'You should have thought about
that, compadre. Well, I know where there is a milk cow not three
leagues from here. I'll send a man to borrow it from the owner and
drive it to our camp.
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