On
their way back he endured his young friend's banter absent-
mindedly, but as they neared Asensio's house he startled Jacket by
saying, "Can you manage to find a pick-ax or a crowbar?"
Jacket's eyes opened; he stopped in the middle of the dusty road.
"What did you see down there, compadre? Tell me."
"Nothing much. Just enough to make me want to see more. Do you
think you can steal some sort of a tool for me?"
"I can try."
"Please do. And remember, say nothing before Asensio or his wife."
Rosa met O'Reilly just inside the door, and at sight of her he
uttered an exclamation of surprise, for during his absence she had
removed the stain from her face and discarded that disfigurement
which Evangelina had fitted to her back prior to their departure
from the Pan de Matanzas. She stood before him now, straight and
slim and graceful--the Rosa of his dreams, only very thin, very
fragile. Her poor tatters only enhanced her prettiness, so he
thought.
"Rosa dear! Do you think this is quite safe?" he ventured,
doubtfully.
Evangelina, who was bending over her husband, straightened herself
and came forward with a smile upon her black face.
"She is beautiful, eh? Too beautiful to look at? What did I tell
you?"
Rosa was in delightful confusion at O'Reilly's evident surprise
and admiration. "Then I'm not so altogether changed?" she asked.
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