"She's sure some whirlwind, as Laddy calls her. Come,
let's go in and meet the wife."
The house was long, like a barracks, with porch extending all the
way, and doors every dozen paces. When Dick was ushered into a
sitting-room, he was amazed at the light and comfort. This room
had two big windows and a door opening into a patio, where there
were luxuriant grass, roses in bloom, and flowering trees. He heard
a slow splashing of water.
In Mrs. Belding, Gale found a woman of noble proportions and
striking appearance. Her hair was white. She had a strong,
serious, well-lined face that bore haunting evidences of past
beauty. The gaze she bent upon him was almost piercing in its
intensity. Her greeting, which seemed to Dick rather slow in
coming, was kind though not cordial. Gale's first thought, after
he had thanked these good people for their hospitality, was to
inquire about Mercedes. He was informed that the Spanish girl
had awakened with a considerable fever and nervousness. When,
however, her anxiety had been allayed and her thirst relieved, she
had fallen asleep again. Mrs. Belding said the girl had suffered
no great hardship, other than mental, and would very soon be
rested and well.
"Now, Gale," said Belding, when his wife had excused herself to
get supper, "the boys, Jim and Laddy, told me about you and the
mix-up at Casita. I'll be glad to take care of the girl till it's
safe for your soldier friend to get her out of the country.
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