without goin' out of our way, lookin' for a row?"
For an answer, Kendric gave his horse the spur and dashed through the gate. If a man had to tie into fifty of a hard-looking lot of devils like those saturnine henchmen of Zoraida, it would at least be a scrimmage worth a man's going down in; but Barlow was right and there was no doubt enough trouble coming without wandering afield for it.
So, close behind Escobar, they rode under the oaks and to the house. Here was a quadrangle, flanked about with white columns; through numerous arches, one saw oaken doors set into the thick walls of the shaded building. The three men dismounted; three of the men in the driveway took the horses. Escobar stepped to the broad double door directly in front of them. As his spurred boot rang on the stone floor the door opened, and Ruiz Rios opened to them. He bowed deeply, courteously, his manner cordial, his eyes inscrutable.At his invitation they entered.  He led them through a great, low-ceiled room where dim light hovered over luxurious appointments, across Oriental rugs and hardwood floors to a wide hallway.  Down this for a long way, past a dozen doors at each hand and finally into a suite looking out into the gardens from a corner of the building.  As they went in, two Mexican girls, young and pretty, with quick black eyes and in white caps and aprons, came out.  The girls dropped their eyes, curtsied and passed on, as silent as little ghosts.
"Your rooms, señores," said Rios, standing aside for them.  "When you are ready you will ring and a servant will show you to the _patio_, where I will be waiting for you.  If there is anything forgotten, you have but to ring and ask."
He left them and hurried away, obviously glad to be done with them. They went in and closed the door and looked about them.  Here were big leather chairs, a mahogany table, cigars, smoking trays, cigarets, a bottle of brandy and one of fine red wine standing forth hospitably. Through one door they saw an artistically and comfortably furnished bedroom; through another a tiled, glisteningly white bath; beyond the bath the second bedroom.
All this they marked at a glance.  Then Kendric turned soberly to his companion.
"I've known you a good many years off and on, Twisty," he said bluntly, "for the sort of man to name pardner and friend.  For half a dozen years, however, I've seen little of you.  What have those half-dozen years done to you?"
"What do you mean?" asked Barlow.
"I mean that for a mate on a crazy expedition like this I want a man I can tie to.  That means a man that turns off every card from the top, straight as they come.  A man that doesn't bury the ace.  I haven't held out anything on you.  What have you held out on me?"
Barlow looked troubled.  He uncorked the brandy bottle 

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