Hope was buoyant in the young man's heart. For the first time he held his sweetheart in his arms. She clung to him, as a woman ought to her lover, palpitant, warm, and helpless. Of course they would find this pestiferous American who had caused her so much worry. And then he--Manuel--would claim his reward.
"Do you think so ... really? You're not just saying so because ...?" Her olive cheek turned the least in the world toward him.
Manuel trod on air. He felt that he could have flown across the range on the wings of his joy.
"I feel sure of it, niña." Daring much, his hand caressed gently the waves of heavy black hair that brushed his cheek.
Almost in a murmur she answered him. "Manuel, find him and save him. Afterward ..."
"Afterward, alma mia?"
She nodded. "I'll ... do what you ask."
"You will marry me?" he cried, afraid to believe that his happiness had come at last.
"Yes."
"Valencia, you love me?"
She trod down any doubts she might feel. Was he not the one suitable mate for her of all the men she knew?
"How can I help it. You are good. You are generous. You serve me truly." Gently she disengaged herself and wiped her eyes with a lace kerchief. "But we must first find the American."
"I'll find him. Dead or alive I'll bring him to you. Dear heart, you've given me the strength that moves mountains."
A little smile fought for life upon her sad face. "You'll not have strength unless you eat. Poor Manuel, I think you lost your breakfast. I ordered luncheon to be ready for us early. We'll eat now."
A remark of Manuel during luncheon gave his vis-à-vis an idea.
"Mr. Davis is most certainly thorough. I never saw a town so plastered with bills before," he remarked.
Valencia laid down her knife and fork as she looked at him. "Let's offer a reward for Pablo and Sebastian--say, a hundred dollars. That would bring us news of them."
"You're right," he agreed. "I'll get bills out this afternoon. Perhaps I'd better say no incriminating questions will be asked of those giving us information."
Stirred to activity by the promise of such large rewards, not only the sheriff's office and the police, but also private parties scoured the neighboring country for traces of the missing man or his captors. Every available horse in town was called into service for the man-hunt. Others became sleuths on foot and searched cellars and empty houses for the body of the man supposed to have been murdered. Never in its history had so much suspicion among neighbors developed in the old-town. Many who could not possibly be connected with the crime were watched jealously lest they snap up one of the rewards by stumbling upon evidence that had been overlooked.