THE SIGNATURE OF MICHELTORENA WAS IN HER OWN HANDWRITING! Yet she looked up to the lawyer with a smile: "May I take these papers for an hour to my uncle ?" Even an older and better man than the District Attorney could not have resisted those drooping lids and that gentle voice.
"Certainly." "I will return them in an hour." She was as good as her word, and within the hour dropped the papers and a little courtesy to her uncle's legal advocate, and that night took the steamer to San Francisco.
The next morning Victor Garcia, a little the worse for the previous night's dissipation, reeled into Wood's office.

"I have fears for my niece Carmen.

She is with the enemy," he said thickly.

"Look you at this." It was an anonymous letter (in Mrs.Plodgitt's own awkward fist) advising him of the fact that his niece was bought by the enemy, and cautioning him against her.
"Impossible," said the lawyer; "it was only last week she sent thee $50." Victor blushed, even through his ensanguined cheeks, and made an impatient gesture with his hand.
"Besides," added the lawyer coolly, "she has been here to examine the papers at thy request, and returned them of yesterday." Victor gasped: "And-you-you-gave them to her ?" "Of course!" "All?
Even the application and the signature ?" "Certainly,--you sent her." "Sent her?
The devil's own daughter ?" shrieked Garcia.

"No! A hundred million times, no! Quick, before it is too late.