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"Eh? Why, of course!" Then suddenly his sohtened and he cried: "NORINE! DO YOU MEAN IT?"

"Not you I wouldn't marry you"

"Why not? I'm perfectly well--"

"Please answer me"

Leslie settled back in his chair "I dare say soood bluff at ato be married?"

"I am"

Branch started to his feet once more, his mouth fell open "You? Nonsense!" When she nodded, his face darkened "Who is he? Soreasers"

"It is poor Esteban"

"'Poor Esteban'! Damn it, they're all poor That's the very reason he asked you He's after your , Leslie" There was a pause "I'et well"

"What will O'Reilly say?"

"I'htens me It has taken him, it will take Esteban, and--that would break my heart"

"Do you love him as much as that?"

Norine raised her eyes and in their depths Branch read her answer "Well, that ends the rest of us," he sighed "There's a Minister of Justice here, I believe; he sounds as if he could perform most any kind of a ceremony We'll find out for sure"

It so happened that the President and well-nigh the entire Provisional Cabinet were in Cubitas Leslie and Norine went directly to the fore in every way the guest of his Government and her dare-devil countryman, El Demonio He proallantly put hih he had never perforladly try his hand at it In no tihout the caet of ss Woed soldiers swept her salutes with their jipi-japa hats, children clung to her and capered by her side It was vastly e, too, for there was genuine affection and good-will behind every shter when she ran panting into Esteban's cabin, leaving Branch to wait outside

At sight of her Esteban uttered a low cry of happiness "Dearest! I've been lying in a stupor of delight The world has becoe! And how is El De to see you, but first--I've arranged everything! The President and his Cabinet are co to witness the ceremony"