Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, June 13, 1917, Page 7

“Pe AS the SUNSET "Oy REX BEACH Author of ‘The Spoilers,” “The Iron Trail,” “The Silver Horde,” Etc. Cree Clare © Bont SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I—Set afoot and alone by an accident in the desert near the Rio Grande Mrs. Alaire Austin, mistress of Las Pal- mas and La Feria ranches, meets Dave | Law, Texas Ranger, 4 water hole and is compelled to spend the night there with him, as he is in ambush for a murderer @nd cannot leave his post CHAPTER Il--Next day at evening the murderer appears wit! & companion CHAPTER IIIi—Law captures the mur- | derer but is compelled to kill his compa jon, Panfilo Sanchez, who happens to @ cousin of Mrs. Austin’s horsebreaker, Jose Sanchez. } CHAPTER IV—At Las Palmas Alaire | tells her husband, Ed, that his carousals | and inebriety must stop. Her cattle | nt La Feria, the Mexican ranch, are con- | fiscated by’ Longorio, Mexican federal general, and she finds that it is because Wd has been helping the rebel junta CHAPTER V--On her way to La Feria Mexico Alaire meets Longorio, who | falls in love with her and agrees to settle for the confiscated stock. “Mr. Austin’s business occupies his time; this is my own concern. | um not the only practical woman in Tex- as.” Longorie appeared to be daboriously digesting this statement. le sald at last. “When you heard this—yon cume, eh? Wou came into Mexico, where we are fightin; killing each other? Well! That spirit. You are wonderful, superb! He smiled, showing the whitest and evenest teeth. Such extravagant homage was ei- barrassing, yet no woman could be wholly displeased by admiration so spontaneous and intense as that which Longorio manifested in every look and word. Alaire knew the susceptibility of Mexican men, and wis immune to ordinary flattery; yet there was some- thing exeiting about this martial herd's complete captivation, To have charmed him to the point of bewildemvent was a unique triumph, and under his hup- ery eyes she felt an adventurous thrill. While he and Alaire were talking the prssengers had tr. turned to their seats; they were shouting good-bys to the soldiers opposite; the conductor ap- proached and informed the general of his train orders. Longorio favored nim with x show stare. “You may go when I teave, sy said he. “$i, senor.’ But—” The general uttered a sharp excin- mation of anger, at which the conduc tor backed away, expressing by voice and gesture his most hearty approval of the change of plan. “We mustn't held the train,” Alsire raid quickly. “I will arrange te see you in Nuevo Pueblo when I return.” Longorio smiled brilllantiy and lft- ed a brown hand. “No, no! I am a selfish man; I refuse to deprive myself of this pleasure. Now about these cattle.” He thought for a moment, and his tone altered as he said: “Senora, there seems to be an unhappy compli- cation in our way, and this we must remove. First, may I ask, are you a friend to our cause?” “Iam an American, but what hus that to do with my ranch and my eattie? This is something that con- cerns no one except you and me.” Longorio was plainiy flattered by her words, and took no trouble to bide his pleasure. “Ah! If that were ouly true! We would arrange ever to of is your satisfaction without another “Why Did You Take My Cattle?” word.” His admiring gaze seemed to envelop her, and its warmth was un- mistakuble. “Why did you take my cattle? demanded, stubbornly. she \TY x dramatic surprises. “I wus coming band to that. un Your hus: | senora, is indele- | active nent Aly “d with some und I. was at spirit “Wi La Ferin be then two people, he longs to me.” Nevertheless his cor table, nt evil men e Hed to hir For the first ti had watched } nliar fascination, let is rez “Probably Lougorio w ob. cour rymun with Now she said, | y piys heed to Senor We do not consider him.” Alauire turned upon her with a sharp | exclimation conscious meauwhile that the woniia’s tone, even more than her words. hud enlightened Longorio | extent. His lifted brows were} eloquent of surprise and curiosity, but | he held his tongu i “Aim Toto understand, to} some then, that elt rob me because of my husbund’s uc ton?” Alnire ; “No, T shall help.” enthusiustically, “It shall be the ob- ject of my life to serve you, and you and IT shall arrange this matter satis factorily. 1h fluence, believe me. Duty calls me to Nuevo Pueblo, and you sball returo with me as the guest of my yovernment.” He rose to his feet, but his eagerness soon gave plaice to disappointment, “Thank you,” said Alafre, “bur I must first go to Lu Feria and get an | the facts.” “Senora ! Longorio berined | It is a wretched journey. ble waved a contemptuous ges- ture at the cur, crowded to congestion. | “There is no food; you have no one to wait upon you. In my company you | will be sufe. Upon my honor, you will enjoy the highest courtesy- “Of course. But I must go on I hnve woiores ana Jose to 10K urrer me.” Allaire indierted Sanchez. who had edged bis way very close and now stood with admixing eyes fixed upon ‘his hero. “Yes, ani genern!,” eagerly, “I am here.” Longorlo serutinized “the horse- direaker critically. “Your name is—?" “Jone Sanchez.” “You look like x ‘brave fellow.” Jose swelled at this praise. aud uo doubt would .bave made suitable an- swer, but his employer held out her and, und General Longorio bent over 4t, raising it to kis lips. He called one of bis subordinates closer and ordered that a Leutenart and -six soldiers he detached te act #s an escort to Mrs. Austin’s party. “Senora, the hours will drag until I may see you agate and be of further service. Mean- while I shall be tortured with radiant dreams. Go with God!” For a second time be bowed and kissed ‘the bund he held, then, taking Jose Sanchez inti- mately by the arm, he turned io the door. Dolores collagsed into ber seat with an exclamation. “Caramba! ‘The mun is a demon! Aud such eyes. ‘Uf!" Dolores was laterrupted ‘by Longo- rio’s vaice beneath the open window. The general stood, cap in hand, hold- ing up to Alaire a solitary wildflower which he hud plucked beside the track. “Seel™ he cried. “It is the color of your adorable eyes—bive Ilke the sapphire gem.” He placed the deli- cate bloom in Alaire'’s fingers apd was gone, “Cuidado!” breathed Dolores. ““Dhere 1s blood on it; the blood of innocents. He wil! burn for 4 million years in bell. | that man.” j Jose Sanchez came plowing into} Alaire’s car, tremendously © excited. “Look, senora!" he cried. “Look what | the general gave me,” and he proudly displayed Longorio’s service revolver. Around Jose’s waist was the cartridge belt and holster that went with the weapon. “With his own hands he! Duckled it about me, and he suid, ‘Jose, something tells me you are a! deyil for bravery. Guard your mistress with your life, for if any mishap be-j falls her T shall cut out your heart | with my own hands.’ Those were his; very words, senora. Curamba! There! is a mun to die for.” Nor was this the last of Longorio’s Shortly after the} train had got under way the lieutenant in command of Alaire’s: guard brought) her a small package, saying: “The general commanded me to hand | you this, with his deepest regard.” Alaire accepted the object curiously. It was small and heavy and wrapped) in several leaves torn from a notebook, | and it proved to be nothing less than | the splendid diamond-and-ruby ring she had admired. “God protect us, now!” murmured Dolores, crossing herself devoutly. Jose exctaimed, CHAPTER VI. | Blaze Jones and His Neighbors. Blaze Jones rode up to his front gate} and dismounted in the shade of the big! ebony tree. He stepped back and ran! approving e) r another anim. an tethe youths of his own, his guze linger fondly on tt | mare | was a p |a good saddle and a good gun. | As he « up the walk he he | Paloma laugh, and his own face light} ! ened, for his daughter's merriment w: | contagious, Then as he mounted the le and turned the corner of 1 4 | “gallery” he uttered a hear t ‘ | e Law! Where i ‘ | did you drop from?” {| Law uncoiled himself and took | ranchinan’s hand. “Hello aze! I | been ordered down here to yp yout | straight.” | | “Pshaw! Now who's been giving} | Initted promptly to stnolder out. | people. | Sympathizer,” Law ventured. ed theFe. OF of this day were irse the yourl «{ nothing like the and yet—Blaze let highbred nd her equipment—h ut les son who knew a good horse, | | you orders, Dave? “Why. I'm with the Rangers.” | “Never knew a word of it. heard you was filibustering with the Muderis : Blaze seated hi BY j sich where the bre 1¢ He was u big, bearlike, » rthy with f sqt of a tragedian eurly hair, which line over his left Jones wu i character, a local landmurk, ‘This purt « is had grown up with Blaze} and he possess i r ence to the artif s 1d m 1ers, door man, “So you'r nd got notches on your doaund lit a tiny cig er than a wheat straw. you'd ought to) make a right able thief-catcher, Dave, | only for your size Vre too long for | a man and you ain't long enough for a snake. Still, have trouble 1 reckon a thief would | getting out of your reac | and or you got close to him— How inuny Inen bave you killed?” “Counting Mexicuns?” Law with u sinile inquired | “Nobody counts them.” “Not many.” | “That's good.” Blaze uedided and j relit his cigarette, which he had per- “The force ain't what it was. ost of the | hoys nowndays join so they can ride s G i Y He a horse cross-lots, pack a pair of | pee id pad arewalsetes mout whol guns, and give rein to the predilections | : ae 2) LORE EET, <j 7 * with on honest. humoreas pair of of a vicious They're bad : ! ey Sree Coe | brown eyes. During dinner she di¢ “There arent many,” suid Paloma. | wes eee er see ie pre eres “Dave tells me the whole force has ae Aah Sa ao ae cies been cut down to sixteen,’ = st ft Ana hema =a a sd “That's plent her father averred. Piven ALOR SUE AIOE IS SOUURNE CAS “It's like when Cap'n Bill McDonald was sent to stop a riot in Dallas. He came to town lone, nud when the citl- tens asked him where his men was, he sald ‘Ain't I enough? There's only one riot. Are you workin’ up a case Dave?” “Um-ui—yes! People are missing 6! lot of stock hereabouts.” “It's these blamed refugees from the wer! A Mexican has to steal some thing or he gets run down and pore. If It ain't stock, it’* something else.” Dave Law’s duties as a Ranger rest- ed lightly upon him; his instructions! we:+ vague, and he had a lelsurely method of “working up” his evidence, | Since he knew that Blaze possessed a thorough knowledge of this section and its people, it was partly business which had brought him to the Jones home this afternoon. Strictly speaking, Blaze was not a rancher. He had speculated heavily tn raw lands, and for several years past he had devoted his energies to a gi- gantic. colonizution scheme. It was by no means a small operation in which he wus engaged. The venture had taken foresight, courage, infinite hard work; Blaze was burdened with re-| sponsibilities that would have broken down-a man of wenker fiber. i But his pet relaxation was reminis-! cence. His own experience hud been! wide, he knew everybody tn his part | of the state, and although events fn) his telling were sometimes colored by his rich tinagination, the tnformation! he could give was often of the great- | est value—as Dave Law knew. j After a time:the latter said, casually, “Tell me something about Tad Lewis.” Blaze looked up quickly. “Wat do you want to: know?’ “Anything. Everything.” “Tad owns # right nice ranch be- tween here and Las Palmas,” Blaze said cautiously. Paloma broke out impatiently. “Why | den‘'t you say what you think?” Then to Dave: “Tad Lewis ts a bad neigh-| bor, and always has been. There's a ford on his place, and we think he knows more about ‘wet’ cattle than | he cares to tell.” | “It’s a good place ‘to cross stock at low water.” her father agreed, “und | Lewis’ Jand runs back from the Rio | Guonde in its old Spanish form. It's | a natural outlet for those brush-coun- ; (try runchos. Lut I haven't anything | against Tad except a natural dislike. | He stands well with some of our best so Tm probably wrong. I usu- ally am.” “You can't cull Ed Austin one of our best people,” sharply objected Paloma. “They claim that arms are being smuggled ucross to-the rebels, Dave, and, if it's true, Ed Austin—” | “Now, Palomu,” her father remon- | strated mildly. “The regulars and the} river guards watched Lewis’ ranch till the embargo was lifted, and they never | Saw-eanything.” “I believe Austin is a strong rebel “Sure! And him and the Lewis out- }ft are amigos. If you go pirootin’ | around Tad’s place you're more’n apt |to make yourself unpopular, Dave, I'd grieve some to see you in a wooden | kimono. Tad's too well fixed to steal attle, and if he = arms it's be cause he’s a ‘ Gringo’ Bim- self—married_ you knavw “| guest to stuy : ) said: | When mie Jones and } both | their | with thein, and | was xlad to aecept. Dave “After supper I'm our town.” B g£ to show you Us the finest city in seuth Texw ind grow- jing like a weed. All we need is g farmer Those we've got are nic | back- ature students who leaped a drug counter expecting to ‘light in the lap of luxury. In the last outfit we sold there wasn't three men that knew which end of 2 mule to put the collar on. But they'll learn. Nature's with ‘em, and so am 1. God supplies ‘em with all the fresh air and sunshine they need, and when they want aby- thing else they come te Old Blaze. Ain't that right, Paloma?” you're In town; I want you to see how I cringe.” In spite of Blaze’s plaintive tone it was patent that he was inordinately proud of Paloma and well content with his serfdom. level prairie on all sides. me—except Paloma, und she used to sleep with a shotgun at her bedside.” “You sure have been a responsibil- Ity to her.” . ut I'm as safe now as if I was in church.” Law ventured to remark that of Blaze’s enemies had grown fat prosecuting their feuds, but this was u subject which the elder man inva- riably found embarrassing, he said: and now “Yes, father.” Paloma Jones had developed won- derfully since Dave Law had last seen “Pshkaw! I never wax the blood- letter p Me think, I'm as xentle as a sheep.” Then to escape further cu- riosity on that point, he suggested that in the mesquite. “I'm glad to hear Jonesville is pros perous,” he told his host. “And they gay you're in everything.” “That's right; and prosperity’s no mame for it. Everybody wants Blaze to have 2 finger in the ple. I'm inter- ested in the bank, the sugar mill, the hardwure store, the kee plant— Say, the ice plant’s a luxury for a town this size. D'you knew what I made out of it last year?” “T've no idea.” | “Twenty-seven thousand dollars!” The father of Jonesville spoke proud- ly, impressively, and then through habit called upon bis daughter for verification. “Didn't 1, Paleina?” Miss Paloma’s answer was nnexpect- ed, and came with equal emphasis: “No, you didn’t, father. ‘The miserable thing lost money.” Blaze was only momentarily dis- mayed. Then he joined his visitor's laughter. “How can a man get along without the co-operation of his own household?” he inquired maively. “May- be it was next year Lo was thinking about.” Thereafter he confined him- self to statements which required ne corroboration. Dave had long since learned that to hold Blaze Jones to n strict accouut- ability with fact was to reb his seu- clety of its greatest charm. A slavish accuracy In figures, an arid lack of imagination, reduces conversation to {the insipidness of flat wine, and Blaze’s talk was never dull. He was 4 keen, shrewd, practical man, but some- where In his being there was con- cealed a tremendous, Jopsided sense | of humor which took the form of 4 bewildering imagery. An attentive au- dlence was enough for him, and, once his fancy was in full swing, there was no Iimit to his outrageous exaggera- tions. A light of credulity in a hear- er’s eye filled him with prodigious mirth, and it Is doubtful if bis listen- ers ever derived a fraction of the amusement from his fabrications that he himself enjoyed. Palomu's spirit of contradiction was the only fly in his ointment; now that his daughter was old enough to “keep books” on him, much of the story-teller’s joy was denied him. | Of course his proclivities oceasion- | ally led to misapprehensions ; chance | nequaintanees who recognized him al an artfn? romancer were Hable to con- sider him generally untruthful. But | even in this misconception Blaze took a quiet delight, secure in the now! | “ige that all who knew him well re- rded him as a rock of integrity. ’ au matter of fact, his genuine exploits were quite as sensationnl as those of his manufacture. When, after supper, Blaze had hitched a pair of driving mules to his buckbourd, preparatory te showing his guest the glories of Jonesville, Dave “Paloma’s getting mighty pretty.” | “She’s as pretty as a blue-bonnet flower,” he father agreed. “And she | runs me around something scandalous. I ain't got the freedom of a peon.” | Blaze sighed snd his shaggy head. “You know me, Dave; I never used to be scared of nobody. Well, it's shook different now. She rides me with a Spanish bit, and my soul ain't own.” With a sude ghtening of h gloom, he added: “ bt ! you're going us sith | Structure, square, White and unprote | almost perfect security, they reund out their riotous evening with a game of pool. . . . . . . ° The vext morn at breakfast Pa- Joma announced, ‘father, you must | help Dave hunt down these cattle thieves.” “Ain't that sert of a big order?” Blaze queried. “Perhaps, but you're the very man to do it. Ricardo Guzrwan is the only person who knows the Lewis gang as well as you do.” Jones shook bis hena aoupituny. “Don Ricardo has been working up bis own private feud with that outfit. If I was the kind that went looking for a fight, I wouldn't have paid freight on myself from the Panhundle down here. I could bave got one right at home, ! any morning before brenkfast.” “HRicurdo Guzman is something of a Diack sheep himself” Luw spoke up. Pshaw! He's all right. 1 reckon he has changed a few brands in his ume, but so has everybody else. Why, that’s how “Old Ed’ Austin got his start. If a cowman tells you he never stole anything, he's either a good liar ora bad roper. But Ricurdo's going straight enough now.” “He has lost bis share of stock loma explained, “and he'll work you if father asks him, with Dave—" * Pa- with You go slong “Vm too busy.” Blaze demurred, “and { aint feeling good. 1 bad bad dress night me here dressinuker at want you sround That new sbruptly from the table. “LT reckon business can wait, Hustle up, lave.” A few moments Inter, as they were saddling their horses, he Inmens “What did [ tell you? He {ns, on ie dodge from a dressmaker. I spose I've got to live like a rond-ageut now, till something happens.” . . . . . . . Don Ricardo Guzman was an Ameri- cun, but he spoke no English. An ae- cident of birth had made him a citizen of the United States—his father hnvy- ing owned a runch which lay north insteud of south of the Rio Grande. Inasmuch as the property had fallen to Ricardo, his sons, too, were Yan- kees in the eyes of the law. But in all other respects Don Rieardo and his family differed not at all from the many Guzmans who lived across the border. The Guzman ranch comprised a goodly number of acres, and, live stock multiply rapidly, its owner had in some sort prospered. On the bank of a resaca—a former bed of the Rio Grande—stood the house, an adobe t- ed from the sun by shrub or tre Te hind it were some brush corrals aud a few seattered mud jacals, in which | Hyed the help. Ricardo had just risen from a siests when his two visitors rode up, and he made therm welcome with the best hy had. In the cool of the afternoon Ei- cardo rode with his visitors, and then cordial relations ng now lished, he began to divulge infermation of value to Law. Yes, he had endured many depreda- tions from thieves, It was shameful. but doubtless God willed that a certain amount of stealing should go on in the world, The evildoers were cer- tainly favored by nature, in this loeal- ity, for the great expanst of brush country to the north and east offered d the river, y from pur- The beeves were since es to the south. guve immuni suit or prosecution. | driven north into the wilderness, ut the horses went to Mexico, Ww war had createg "The market for them, federals hud plenty of money to mounts. Whom did Don Ricardo suspect? The old man was noncommittal. Suspici was one thing, proof was quite another; and conviction was diffi- | Don Ricardo was not a Mexiean. jin these war tim “Just the sun ru bet he'd sleep! ter if the Lewis outfit was cleaned «| ny | he ne t | my Jonesville prove to be a typical Texus town of the modern variety, and altogether different to the picturea | frontier vill: All in all, the th was much like that of 2 prospe a orderly thern farming town, To its | happy f vr it sccmed well-nigh per | i fect, a its destiny roused | dest ent! We pe | Odd Fel M. tue I | theater. w aring and disc tric plane; ! ducted 1 Kirst National | bank. of whi! was a proud but | somewhat ornamental director; then | |} to the st romill, the ice plant and | other poluts of equally novel interest. , x he went Jones hailed by friends for ev segbeily med to know him and to want to ke his hand. | Some town and some body of men, | he inqui finally, and Dave | eed: | “Yes, She's got a grand framework, | Ble Shell be most aus big as Worth when jou ten her uy | Jones waved his buggy whip in ¢ wide cirele tl took in the miles cult under the best of circumstances. Why, even a cow's recognition of her nen calf was not evidence for a court, and i s were easily proved, Unless ‘aught In the very Dios !—one could not be for- Who could tell where por on guard. mutlefactors would strikes next? in Mexico one could afford to an undesirable neighbor without so much formality. But, thank God} No, he was a good American citizen. It was something to make him sleep well * Dave ventured, and Blaze agreed. Guzman caught his encmy’s name, and neds “Ah? 'T) n verguenzal He sells artis to the ideleristas and horses to the tosistas, Perhaps he steals} Who knows?” i » doesn't need to steal Jones argued. ‘+! But who is so rich that he be richer? Lewis employs the whole blamed state to grow in, | men who are poor, and he hhnself ts And, Dave, I haven't got an enemy In | tbeve nothing. 1, too, am a friend of jthe place! It wasn't muny years ago | the rebels, Danehite, the Liberator, that certain people allowed I'd never | Was 2 suint, and I give money to the live to raise this town. Why, it used | patriets who fight for his memory. } to be that nobody dared ride with | But 1 do not aid the tyrant Potosi with my other hand. and who is richer, for Instance, than Senor Eduardo Aus- tin?” “You surely don't accuse him of ouble-deating with the rebels?” Blaze | inquired curiously. none |} in | mmuc uit ‘i doen't know. He ts a friend of Tad Lewis, and there are strange sto- ries afloat. Just what these stories were, how- ever, Ricardo would not say, feeling, perhaps that he had already sald too The three men spent that eve- together, and In the morning » rede Lome, leaving the Ranger behind for the time being as Guzman's guest. Dave putin the next two days riding the pastures, famillarizing himself ning | with the country, and talking with the few men he met. About all he discoy- | erea, however, was the fact that the Guzman range pot only adjoined some of Lewis’ leased land, but also was | bounded for several miles by the Las | Palmas fence. Tr was plensant to spend the days | among the shy brush-cattle, with Bes- |sle Belle for company. The mare seemed to enjoy the excursions as much as her owner. Her eyes and ears were ever alert; she tossed her head and snorted when a deer broke cover or a jackrabbit seuttled out of her path; she showed a friendly interest In the awkward calves which stood and eyed her with such amazement and then galloped stifMy off with tatls high arched. Law had muny times un- dertaken to break Bessie Bette of that habit of Minging her head high at sud- den sounds, but she was nervous and inquisitive, and this was the one thing upon which she satntadined a feminine obstinacy, On the second evening the Ranger rode home through a drizzle that had materialized after a tong, threatening afternoon ond now promised to be- come a real raj Riearde met him ut the door to say: “You bring good fortune with you, senor, for the land is thirsty. To-mor- De row, if this rain holds, we shatl ride together—-you, Pedro and Those thieves do th stealing when they leave no tracks The sky was leaden, the rain still fell in the morning when Dave and his two companions set out Until afternoon the rode, thelr stickers dripping, swaying to the tireless fox- trot of thelr steaming horses, their eyes engaged in a watehful servtiny, At last Pedro, who was ahead, reined In and pointed; the others saw where the barbed-wire strands of the fence they had been following were’ clipped. A number of horse and ealf! tracks led through the opening, and after an examination Riearde. an- nounced: . “There are two men. They have} come and gone neck and nec “That is Las Palmas, isn't it?” with the calves tied Law indicated the pasture into whieh the trall led. | her ond son toswered, “Si, se- For « time the Ranger Jounged side wise In his suddle, studying the coun- try before him. Perhaps a half-mile awiy a long, unrrow pateh of woods, with the tops of occasional oaks showing, ran parsllel with the fence for a conside Ve distance, “They took them in yonder, te brand,” he said, straightening him “Muybe we'll be In time.” de‘by side the three men rode off mins lind, following the tracks fo the nearest point of woods: there Law stopped to give bis directi “Pedro, you ride down this side; Ricardo, you skirt the outside. T shall keep to the middle. for T shall go slowly.” With n dubious shake of the hend Ricardo rode away, while Dave guided Bessie Belle inte the gro t ce? Tomorrow) Mahaffey & Cooper Validating by the Foot or the Claim. Wyo. Prices ‘Reasonable Arminto, Walk your horses. . —"~— “ss ~ © ees = 8 EE = hum