Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, June 16, 1917, Page 7

i 2 i aa NEART AKhe GY REX BEACKA Author of “The Spoilers,” “The Iron Trail,” “The Silver Horde, Care by Harpe © brutes SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I—Set accident in th Mrs. Alaire A Mas and La Fe Law, Texas R is compelled tc him, as he is in and cannot leave CHAPTER II murderer Next day at evening the appears with a companion. CHAPTE s the mur Gerer but is « ompan- fon, Panil CHAPTER IV—At tells her husband, E and inebriety mu at La Feria, the Mexican ranch, are fiscated by Longorio, Mexican fe general, and she finds that it is be: Ed has been helping the rebel junta CHAPTER V—On her way to La Feria in Mexico Alaire meets Longorio, who falls in love with her and agrees to settle for the confiscated stock. CHAPTER VI—Entertained at their home by Blaze Jones and his daughter Paloma, Dave hears something about the Tad Lewis outfit, which is suspected of cattle stealing. With Ricardo Guzman and his boys Dave and Blaze go on a scout after cattle thieves. CHAPTER VII—Law catches two of the Lewis outfit branding a stolen calf and in a fight kills one and has his horse shot under him. He trails the other thief to Las Palmas, where he is insulted by Ed Austin, whom he knows to be very friend- dy with the Lewis outfit. Las Palmas Ala 4, that his carou stop. Her At the time of this story, relations between the United States and the es. tablished government of Mexico were such that a hostility had sprung uy between the troops fronting each other along the Rio Grande, and tn conse quence their officers no longer crossed jthe boundary, even when off duty. It jereated a flurry of suppressed excite- ment, therefore, when Luis Longorio, the autocrat of the Potosista forces, \boldly crossed the bridge, traversed ithe streets of Pueblo, and entered the ‘Hamilton hotel. From his seat in the lobby Law heard the general inquire for Mrs. Aus- tin, and then saw him ascend in the jdirection of the parlor. He rose and strolled restlessly ubout the hotel. A {half-hour passed and Longorio did not reappear; an hour dragged by, and then Dave took occasion to go to his room A glanee through the open par- Jor deor showed the foreigner in closest ;conversation with Mrs. Austin. They \were laughing; they were alone; even ‘Dolores was nowhere to be seen. He schewed several cigars viciously before realizing that he was jealous—yes, madly, unreasonably jealous. So! His divinity was not as unap- proachable as he had imagined. Doubt- less Longorio was mad over her, which explained the fellow’s willingness to help her exact reparation from his gov- ernment. Fine doings for a respect- able married woman! It was wrong, scandalous, detestable! Had Dave only known the truth, he would have gained a grim comfort from it, for Alaire Austin was not en- joying herself that evening. Her call- er stayed on interminably, and she be- came restive under the flew of his con- versation. For some reason or other, Longorio was not the romantic figure he had been; in his citizen's clothes he was only a dandified Mexican gal- lant like any number of others. The color was gone from the picture; this quixotic guerrilla hero, this elegant Ruy Blas, was nothing more than a tall, olive-skinned foreigner, whose ar- dor was distasteful. Longorio was tiresome. CHAPTER X. Jose Sanchez Swears an Oath. Jose Sanchez made use of the delay at Pueblo to institute further inquiries regarding his missing cousin, but no- where could he find the slightest trace. Jose swore an oath that he would learn the truth if it required his whole life time, and, if it should turn out that his sainted relative had indeed met with foul play—well! Jose told his ‘friewis*they could judge, by looking at him, the sort of man he was. He proud~ ly displayed Longorio’s revolver, and called it his cousin's little avenger. The weapon had slain many; it had a duty still to perform, so he said. Jose intended to confide his purpose to Mrs. Austin, but when it came time to start for Las Palmas there was a fourtii passenger in the automobile, and he was obliged to hold his tongue for the moment. Alaire was in goad humor, and expressed her relief at escaping from everything Mexican. “I haven’t seen a newspaper for ages, and I don’t know what is going on at Jonesville or anywhere else,” she confided. Dave told her of the latest develop- ents in the Mexican situation, of nome nappenings, and when she asked him about his own doings, he informed her of the affair which had brought him to Pueblo. \ Of course all three of his companions were breathlessly interested in the story of Pino Garza’s death; Dolores and Jose did not allow a word to escape them. “Caramba! It required bravery fo | ] Ae ot re ride alone into that TI > de clured. “I know Pino Garza well, and he could shoot like the devil.” “You said your horse suved your life,” Mrs. Austin went on. “How de } you me. When Dave had explained she cried, quickly, “You weren't rid ing—Be: Belle She's buried where = she dropped I've been right lonesouw sir she went way.” Aluire turned a quick glance upon the spenker to find his face set and his eyes miserable. Impulsively she aid her hand upon his arm, saying: I kn how you must feel. Do you know what has al ys been my dear- est wish? Tol talk with anl- muls and mak of them.” siniled absentmindedly. “ wonderful book about « near-sighted old Frenchman who w: cast away on a penguin tsland. He saw | the big birds walking around, and thought they were human beings.” | “How did you happen to read Ana- tole France?” Alaire asked, with a sharp stare of surprise. The Ranger stirred, but he did not meet her eyes. “Well,” said he, “I read ‘most anything I can get. A tel-| ler meets up with strange books just like he meets up with strange peop! “Not books Ike—that.” There was a brief silence. “Mr. Law, you went | to school in the East, didn’t you?|} Where The man hesitated, at which | she insisted, “Where?” Dave reluctantly turned upon her a pair of eyes in the depths of which} | | | “You Went to School Didn't You?” there lurked the “Cornell,” said he. Alulre gasped. After a while she re-}| marked, stiffly, “You have a peculiar sense o? humor.” “Now don't be otfended,” he begged her. “I'm a good deal like a chame-|} leon; I unconsciously change my color} to sult my surroundings. When we first met I saw that you took me for| one thing, and since then I've tried not to show you your mistake.” faintest twinkle, | | noon halted beside a watercourse for | he overheard Jose in conversation with |b | a broken heart.” | Inhalation. in the East,; “Why didn’t you te® me at the | thne?” she asked. “Why didn’t you report it?” iq “T'll report it when you give me per- | mission.” j “I—? What—?" She wheeled to| face him. “Think a moment. I can’t tell half the truth. And If I tell everything, | It will lead to—gossip.” “Why did you let me send you those silly books? I dare say you've had a} fine laugh at my expense?” “No!” gravely denied the man. They had come to an arroyo contain-| ing a considerable stream of muddy} water, und Luw was forced to get out to plug the carburetor and stop the oll intakes to the crank-case. This done. | Alaire ran the machine through on the self-starter. When Jose’s “Caram- bas!” and Dolores’ shrieks had sub- sided, and they were again under wuy. Mrs. Austin, it seemed, had regained! her good humor, “You will receive no more of my fa- vorite authors,” she told Dave, spite fully. “I'll keep them to read my- self. “Do you still believe in chivalry?” Alaire turned her eyes upon the} questioner, and there were no girlish illusions in them. “Do you?” she quer- fed, with a faint curl of her lip. “Why—yes.” She shook her head. “Men have changed. Nowadays they are all selt-/ ish and sordid. But—I shouldn't gen-! eralize, for I'm a notorious man-hater, | you know.” He nodded, whereupon she eyed him | speculatively. “Let us see. You are) a man—how far would you go for the! woman you loved?” “The limit!” | Mrs. Austin frowned at this light-| seeming answer. “I suppose you mean | that you would make any sacrifice?” “Yes; that’s it.” “Would you give up the woman her-! self, if you considered it your duty? “No, -There couldn't be any duty higher than love—to my way of think- ing. But you shouldn't take me as) a specimen. I'm not a good represen- tative of my sex.” “J think you are a very good one,” Aluire said quietly, and Dave realized | that no flattery was intended. | Despite the rough roads, they made | THE CASPER DAILY TRIBUNE They stopped at Various goat runcbes to inquire about Adolfo Urbina, and at Junch. Dave was refilling the radiator wnen Mrs. Austin. ‘Nowhere a trace!” horse- | ker was saying. > one has seen | Poor Rosa Morales will Me of | the hin. Alnire explained to her guest: “Jose is worried about his cou Panfilo. Ii seems he hus disappeure “Sol You are Panfilo’s cousin?’ Dave eyed the Mexican with new in terest. “gt “You remember the 1 Alaire } Went on. “He was with that fellow You arrested at the water-hole.” “Oh, y I remember him.” Wit! steady fin Dave shook some to bacco in c rette paper. He felt Alaire’s eyes upon him, and they w eloquent of inquiry, but he did not meet them. Jose frowned. “No one at I ‘ has seen him, and in Pueblo there was not a word. It is strs ntilo was in bad company wher w him.” Law finished rolling his « rette and lit it, still conscious of Aluire’s questioning gaze. “He mny have had trouble u good man,” the horse sserted. “If h dead i frown de ned to a scowl “What then?” Jose significantly patted the gift re-| volver at his hip. “This little fellow will have something to say.” Dave looked him over idly, from head to heel, then murmured: “You! would do well to go slow, compadre. | Panfilo made his own quarrel: | “We were like brothers, and I do} not know of any quarrels. But I shall | find out. I am not given to boasting, | senor, but I am a devilish bad man in| my way.” j Nothing more was said during the | luncheon, but when Alaire had finished eating and her two employees had be- gun their meal, she climbed the bank of the arroyo ostensibly to find a coo! | spot. Having succeeded, she called to| Dave: “There ts a nice breeze up here.” The Ranger's face set; rising slow- ly, he ¢climbed the bank after her.| When they stood face to face in the shade of a gnarly oak tree, Alaire | asked him point-blank: | “Where is Panfilo Sanchez?” Dave met her eyes squarely; his} own were cotd and hard. “He's where | he dropped at my second shot,” said | he. | He could hear his companton’s sharp | He did not flinch at the look she turned upon him. “He was practically unarmed! What do you cali—such an act?” Dave's lips slowly whitened, his face became stony. He felt himself piti- lessly condemned. “Ab! 1 think I understand. Mr. Law, you can be insulting—” For the first time the man lost nsus- cular control of his features; they twitched, and under their tan his cheeks became sickly yellow. “You've no right to say that,” he told | her harshly. “You've plumb over- stepped yourself, ma’am, and—I reck- on you've formed quite a wrong opin- jon, Panfilo had his six-shooter and he used it; he intended to ambush me | and release his companion, but 1} forced his hand; so it ain't what I'd call murder; I haven't lost any sleep | over it. I—" “You are utterly ruthless.” “Yes'm! I’m not what you would consider a nice person; the death of} Panfilo Sanchez means nothing what- ever to me. If you can grasp that fact, you'll see that your own reputation weighed heavier in my mind that the! lives of a dozen Mexicans—or whites, | rowed machine up to the Jones house, | a car without yelling ‘Gee’ and ‘Haw, ' morning T heard you hed returned, 8® I rode out at on You were Basue cessful?” “Our man never went to Pueblo.” “Exuetly, 1 thought as much. Hlow~ ever, I go to meet anco today, an® perhaps I shall discover something.” “What takes you over there?” Blaze inquired. “Walt until I tell you. “Tll get you there in time for basi-| “She did.” ness. We've gained a reputation for} “Wonderful!” Paloma’s surprise inhospitableness at Las Palmas that | W925 evidently sincere. “I suppose you I want to overcome. Mr. Austin ought | refused because of the way to know,” she udde bout this—mat-| you. Tell me, ter we were discussing, and I want him} “She's lovely. to meet you.” This vehem “He hus!” Dave said, shortly; and | ® sudden * at his tone Alaire looked up. | questioner it declaration brought n of interest into the “8. oe Se Da vid) y she has the most won- enor Da vite “So!" She studied his*grim face, | “They say 1 c rs : £ 5 here, brings me good fortune at every “And you quarreled?” derful gowns and jewels, and dre 4 ‘ ‘ : ; for dinner every r Well” —1I | turn. He honors my poor, thirsty “Td really p rancho with a visit and brings a glort tossed her head—“I'm going to | ‘fer to go on, ma’am | ma Tu get to Jonesville somehow.” h some nice clothes, too. You; 0US rain; then he destroys my enemies “You refuse—to stay under hit) wajey | like a thunderbolt. Nc sooner | Is thie roof?” | “Now don’t you start riggin’ your- | done than T receive from the Federals “That's about it.” | self up for meals,” Blaze said, w | @p offer for fifty of my best horses. “I'm sorry She did not ask fot} ingly. “First thing I know, you'll have} Caramba! Such a price, too. They further explanation, | me In a full-dress suit, spillin’ soup | "re in a great hurry, which tooks at The windows of Las Ps were! on my shirt.” Then to his guest he | if the expected an attack from the black, the house silent, when they! c ned, feelingty: “I don't know | © at Matamoros, 1 bope arrived at their journey’s end; Dolo} what's come over Paloma lately; this | £ these traitors are de res was fretful, and her mistress ached) new dressmaker has plumb stampeded | ted. Anyhow, the horses have gone, in every ie, When Jose had helped | her. Somebody'd ought to run that ud today 1 go to get my money ir his cou woman Into the house out of town before she ruins; gold.” Alal Si i “Who's going with you?” asked Law, “If you » going through f is a very nice woman,” com Ricardo shrugged. “Nobody. ‘These, you r t ‘ar, You can re-| placently declared the daughter; but | is no danger.” | turn ft tomor her father snorted loudly | Blaze shook his head. “They know “And dave queried | “I wouldn't associnte with such a| you are red-hot rebel. I woulda’t “Wuit y de what is| ¢ritter.” trust them.’ : hest to th ntime. Gooc “My! But you're ud.” “They know, also, that I am an night “It ain't that,” Blaze defended him-| american, like you gentlemen,” proué| saw took her extended hand. Alnige| Self “T know her h nd, and he's | yy asserted Guzman. “That makes &| was glad that he did not fondle it in| ® bad hom! He ked me UP) difference. I supported the Liberator that estable Mexican fashion of nst a waterin’ trough and told my | _Gog rest his soul!—and I secretly which she had lately experlenced s yesterday. He said Td be| aecist those who fight his assassins much; gla it the grasp of his long 1 twice and have ey children. | put so does everybody else, I am re} strong fingers was merely firm and uid T loved widows, and unless I coiving a fine price for those horses, frien When he stepped back Into W®8 Polsoned by a dark lady I'd lve 44 4¢ is worth a little risk. Now, se the car and drove off through the} © be elehty years old. If Pd had a gun) nop» ne nddressed himself to the night, she stood some time looking | 9% ™e, Td have busted him for some | Ranger, “I have brought you a lttle | after him. of the things he said. ‘A dark Indy! | present. Day and night my boys ané Sones +ukeuee dats * That's his wife. I glye you warnin’,| 7 jaye worked upon It, for we know yma, don't you ask her to stay for People like them are danger- | Ta mea ous. “You're the good heart you have. It was fip ished yesterday. See!” Ricardo un- wrapped a bundle he had fetched, dis- | playing a magnificent bridle of plait- | ed horsehair. It was cunningly wrought, and lavishly decorated with silver fittings. “You recognise those hairs?” he queried. “They came frexo the mane and tail of your bonita.” Blaze Jones had insisted thut Dave lve at his house, and the Ranger had accepted the invitation; but as it was late when the latter arrived at Jones ville, he hours’ too silly!" said Paloma. | “Nobody belleves in such things,” went to the hotel for a few! “They don't, eh? Well, he’s got rest. When he drove his bor-| ay Jouesville walkin’ around ladders, | and spittin’ through crossed fingers, and countin’ the spots on thelr nails, He interprets their dreams and locates about bres fust time, both Blaze and | Paloma we » delighted to see him. “Say, now! What you doing rolling} Jost articles.” “Bessie Belle!” Law aecepted the around in a gasoline go-devil?” the} “Maybe he can tell me where to find handsome token, then held out his elder man inquired, and Law was! 4 qoifo Urbina?” Dave sugzested. hand to the Mexican, “That was mighty fine of you, Ricardo, I— You forced to explain. “H ' roar 7 umph!,, If be can't, Tad Lewis F % couldn't have pleased me more. We're “Father has never learned to drive | can. Say, Dave, this case of yours ’”! has stirred up a lot of feelin’ ‘gainst | Sing to be friends.” laughed Paloma, “And he thinks he| Tad. ‘The prosecutin' attorney says Guzman’s delight was keen, hit has title to the whole road, too. You | he'll sure cinch him and Urbina both, | grizzled face beamed, and he showed know these Mexicans are slow about] One of Lewis’ men got on a bender | his white teeth In a smile, “Say ne pulling their w ns to one side, Well, the other night and declared Adolfo | more. What is mine is yours—my father got mad one day, and when would never come to trial.” | house, my cattle, my right hand. J team refused him the right of way, he | “What did he mean?” ; and my sons will serve you, and you whipped out his revolver and fired.” | “It may have been mescal talk, but | must come often to see us, Now Ek Blaze smiled broadly. “It worked great. And believe me, them Greasers took to the ditch. 1 went through like | a hot wind, but I shot up sixty-five Not long after breakfast Don Ricar- ca’tridges between here and town.” | do Guzman appeared at the Jones “Why didn't Mrs, Austin ask you to| house and warmly greeted his two stay all night at Las Palmas?’ the | friends, To Dave he explained: girl inquired of Dave. ' “Last night I came to town, and this must go.” He shook hands heartily and rode away, waving bis hat “There’s u good Greaser,” Blaze sald with conviction, and Dave agreed feel- ingly. “Yes! Td about him, after this.” Then he bridle in for Paloma to admi witnesses sometimes have a way of | disappearin’. I wouldn't put anything past that gang.” do anything for took the Right Here in Casper you will find a complete STATIONEY STORE, with a full line for Office and Home Why goto the outside and pay Freight and Express besides the delay? We sell UNDERWOOD and REMING- TON Typewnters, Safe Cabinets. Also all kinds of Office Filing Devices. for that matter,” “I go anywhere, everywhere. No one has ever had the effrontery to ques- tion my actions,” Alaire told him, stiffly. “And I don't alm to give ‘em a | chance.” Dave was stubborn. There was another interval of si- lence. “You heard what Jose said. What are you going to do?" Dave made a gesture of Iindiffer- ence. “It doesn’t greatly matter. I'll tell him the truth, perhaps. You might warn him against any foolishness, Jose has some sense.” The woman looked up curiously. “Don't you know how to be afraid? Haven't you any fear?” she asked. Dave's gray eyes were steady as he answered: “Yes’m! I’m afraid this | thing Is going to spoil our friendship. | I've been desperately afraid, all along, that I might have hurt your reputa- tion. Even now I'm afraid, on your account, to make public Panfilo San- chez's death. Yes’m, I know what it is to be afraid.” It became evident to Dive, as the afternoon progressed, that they would be very late In arriving at Las Palmes, and he begun to fear that his hostess would feel in duty bound to insist upon his spending the night at her home. But as if his thoughts were telepa- thic messages, she did the very thing he feared. “We won't be in before midnight,” fair time, and the miles of cactus and! she sald, “but I'll sein! you to Jones- scrawny brush rolled swiftly past. The | Ville in the morning.” morning sun swung higher, and by “Thank you, ma’am—TI'll have to go | midday the metal of the automobile | right through.” as hot as a frying pon. had heco Office Books, Envelopes, Legal Blanks, Check Protectors, Carbons, Note Books, All Kinds of Writing Material, Clips, Rubber Pads, Stamp Pads, Letter Files, Letter Trays, Ink Wells, Drawing Ink, Typewriter Supplies, I. P. Memos. and Fillers, Architects’ Scales, Engineers’ Scales, Colored Cray- ons, Penk, Ink, Corporation Books, Blue Print Papar, Waste Baskets. Corporation Seals and Rubber Stamps Made to Order. PRICES RIGHT SERVICE BETTER The Casper Stationery Co. “ON YOUR WAY TO THE POSTOFFICE”