Billie had by this time gathered his wits and in a
twinkling the mad-man was disarmed.
"Shall we bind him?" asked Adrian as they came forward.
"No, indeed," replied Billie as the now helpless man sank down
upon the chair. "He isn't dangerous."
"What's it all about?" queried Donald.
"Oh, nothing much! He simply wanted to make me his heir and marry
me to his daughter."
Donald and Adrian cast an admiring gaze upon Lucia, who was now
kneeling at her father's side.
"Well," said Adrian in an aside, "I don't see why you should
object to that."
"Who said I objected?" demanded Billie. "It is the young woman
who objects."
"But whoever supposed he had a daughter?" said Donald.
"Not I," from Billie. "But this is certainly a queer mess."
Then to Lucia: "How long has he been in this way, Senorita?"
"Only a few days. Since this trouble with the Americanos."
"But how could that affect him?"
"It is a long story, senor. For years he has been trying to
overthrow the government. When Madero was made president, he was
happy. Then came that awful tragedy, by which Madero was killed.
Since that time he has not been himself. But when it became
evident that the United States would interfere he became as you
have seen him to-day.
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