"
"Huerta! Huerta!" fairly screamed Santiago. "He is not the
governor of Mexico."
"No," from Billie. "He calls himself the provisional president.
In reality he is a dictator."
"He is a murderer!" shouted the thoroughly excited man.
"Then what are you worrying about? All that the Americans want is
to get rid of Huerta. They don't want Mexico. Didn't you know
that, Santiago?"
"What? Who calls me Santiago? I am Ixtazhl, Prince of the Aztecs
and guardian of the treasures of Montezuma. Who calls me
Santiago?"
In his excitement he rested the stock of his rifle upon the floor
and bent upon Billie a gaze so fierce as greatly to disconcert
him for the moment.
But Billie was not a lad to be easily unnerved and after a moment
he replied calmly:
"I call you by the only name I know. It was the one you used on
the Rio Grande when you sent me on a mission to Pancho Villa."
"Villa! Villa!" repeated Santiago, as though trying to recall
something that had passed from his memory. "Villa! Where have I
heard that name before?"
"On the Rio Grande is all I can tell you. Do you remember Don
Rafael?"
At mention of the name the expression on Santiago's face changed
again, this time to one of fiercest rage.
"Don Rafael!" he cried.
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