HEART OF THE SUNSET

By Rex Beach

Author of "THE SILVER HORDE" "THE SPOILERS" "THE IRON TRAIL" Etc. 

CONTENTS

 I. THE WATER-HOLE

 II. THE AMBUSH

 III. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WATER-HOLE

 IV. AN EVENING AT LAS PALMAS

 V. SOMETHING ABOUT HEREDITY

 VI. A JOURNEY, AND A DARK MAN

 VII. LUIS LONGORIO

 VIII. BLAZE JONES'S NEMESIS

 IX. A SCOUTING TRIP

 X. A RANGER'S HORSE

 XI. JUDGE ELLSWORTH EXACTS A PROMISE

 XII. LONGORIO MAKES BOLD

 XIII. DAVE LAW BECOMES JEALOUS

 XIV. JOSE SANCHEZ SWEARS AN OATH

 XV. THE TRUTH ABOUT PANFILO

 XVI. THE RODEO

 XVII. THE GUZMAN INCIDENT

 XVIII. ED AUSTIN TURNS AT BAY

 XIX. RANGERS

 XX. SUPERSTITIONS AND CERTAINTIES

 XXI. AN AWAKENING

 XXII. WHAT ELLSWORTH HAD TO SAY

 XXIII. THE CRASH

 XXIV. DAVE LAW COMES HOME

 XXV. A WARNING AND A SURPRISE

 XXVI. THE WATER-CURE

 XXVII. LA FERIA

XXVIII. THE DOORS OF PARADISE

 XXIX. THE PRIEST FROM MONCLOVA

 XXX. THE MAN OF DESTINY

 XXXI. A SPANISH WILL

 XXXII. THE DAWN

HEART OF THE SUNSET

I

THE WATER-HOLE

A fitful breeze played among the mesquite bushes. The naked earth, where it showed between the clumps of grass, was baked plasterhard. It burned like hot slag, and except for a panting lizardhere and there, or a dust-gray jack-rabbit, startled from itscovert, nothing animate stirred upon its face. High and motionlessin the blinding sky a buzzard poised; long-tailed Mexican crowsamong the thorny branches creaked and whistled, choked andrattled, snored and grunted; a dove mourned inconsolably, and outof the air issued metallic insect cries--the direction whence theycame as unascertainable as their source was hidden. 

Although the sun was half-way down the west, its glare remaineduntempered, and the tantalizing shade of the sparse mesquite wasmore of a trial than a comfort to the lone woman who, refusing itsdeceitful invitation, plodded steadily over the waste. Stop, indeed, she dared not. In spite of her fatigue, regardless of thetorture from feet and limbs unused to walking, she must, as sheconstantly assured herself, keep going until strength failed. Sofar, fortunately, she had kept her head, and she retainedsufficient reason to deny the fanciful apprehensions whichclamored for audience. If she once allowed herself to becomepanicky, she knew, she would fare worse--far worse--and now, ifever, she needed all her faculties. Somewhere to the northward, perhaps a mile, perhaps a league distant, lay the water-hole. 

But the country was of a deadly and a deceitful sameness, devoidof landmarks and lacking well-defined water-courses. The unendingmesquite with its first spring foliage resembled a limitlesspeach-orchard sown by some careless and unbelievably prodigalhand. Out of these false acres occasional knolls and low stonyhills lifted themselves so that one came, now and then, tovantage-points where the eye leaped for great distances acrossimperceptible valleys to horizons so far away that the scatteredtree-clumps were blended into an unbroken carpet of green. To thewoman these outlooks were unutterably depressing, merely servingto reveal the vastness of the desolation about her. 

At the crest of such a rise she paused and studied the countrycarefully, but without avail. She felt dizzily for the desert bagswung from her shoulder, only to find it flat and dry; thegalvanized mouthpiece burned her fingers. With a little shock sheremembered that she had done this very thing several times before, and her repeated forgetting frightened her, since it seemed toshow that her mind had been slightly unbalanced by the heat. Thatperhaps explained why the distant horizon swam and wavered so. 

In all probability a man situated as she was would have spokenaloud, in an endeavor to steady himself; but this woman didnothing of the sort. Seating herself in the densest shade shecould find--it was really no shade at all--she closed her eyes andrelaxed--no easy thing to do in such a stifling temperature andwhen her throat was aching with drought. 

At length she opened her eyes again, only to find that she couldmake out nothing familiar. Undoubtedly she was lost; the water-hole might be anywhere. She listened tensely, and the very airseemed to listen with her; the leaves hushed their faintwhisperings; a near-by cactus held its forty fleshy ears alert, while others more distant poised in the same harkening attitude. It seemed to the woman that a thousand ears were straining withhers, yet no sound came save only the monotonous crescendo anddiminuendo of those locust-cries coming out of nowhere andretreating into the voids. At last, as if satisfied, the leavesbegan to whisper softly again. 

Away to her left lay the yellow flood of the Rio Grande, but thewoman, though tempted to swing in that direction, knew better thanto yield. At least twenty miles of barrens lay between, and shetold herself that she could never cover such a distance. No, thewater-hole was nearer; it must be close at hand. If she could onlythink a little more clearly, she could locate it. Once more shetried, as she had tried many times before, to recall the exactpoint where she had shot her horse, and to map in her mind's eyethe foot-weary course she had traveled from that point onward. 

Desert travel was nothing new to her, thirst and fatigue were oldacquaintances, yet she could not help wondering if, in spite ofher training, in spite of that inborn sense of direction which shehad prided herself upon sharing with the wild creatures, she werefated to become a victim of the chaparral. The possibility wasremote; death at this moment seemed as far off as ever--ifanything it was too far off. No, she would find the water-holesomehow; or the unexpected would happen, as it always did when onewas in dire straits. She was too young and too strong to die yet. Death was not so easily won as this. 

Rising, she readjusted the strap of the empty water-bag over hershoulder and the loose cartridge-belt at her hip, then set herdusty feet down the slope. 

Day died lingeringly. The sun gradually lost its cruelty, but apartial relief from the heat merely emphasized the traveler'sthirst and muscular distress. Onward she plodded, using her eyesas carefully as she knew how. She watched the evening flight ofthe doves, thinking to guide herself by their course, but she wasnot shrewd enough to read the signs correctly. The tracks shefound were old, for the most part, and they led in no particulardirection, nowhere uniting into anything like a trail. Shewondered, if she could bring herself to drink the blood of a jack-rabbit, and if it would quench her thirst. But the thought wasrepellent, and, besides, she was not a good shot with a revolver. Nor did the cactus offer any relief, since it was only just cominginto bloom, and as yet bore no fruit. 

The sun had grown red and huge when at last in the hard-baked dirtshe discovered fresh hoof-prints. These seemed to lead along theline in which she was traveling, and she followed them gladly, encouraged when they were joined by others, for, although theymeandered aimlessly, they formed something more like a trail thananything she had as yet seen. Guessing at their general direction, she hurried on, coming finally into a region where the soil wasshallow and scarcely served to cover the rocky substratum. A lowbluff rose on her left, and along its crest scattered Spanishdaggers were raggedly silhouetted against the sky. 

She was in a well-defined path now; she tried to run, but her legswere heavy; she stumbled a great deal, and her breath madestrange, distressing sounds as it issued from her open lips. Hounding the steep shoulder of the ridge, she hastened down adeclivity into a knot of scrub-oaks and ebony-trees, then halted, staring ahead of her. 

The nakedness of the stony arroyo, the gnarled and stuntedthickets, were softened by the magic of twilight; the air hadsuddenly cooled; overhead the empty, flawless sky was deepeningswiftly from blue to purple; the chaparral had awakened and echoednow to the sounds of life. Nestling in a shallow, flinty bowl wasa pool of water, and on its brink a little fire was burning. 

It was a tiny fire, overhung with a blackened pot; the odor ofgreasewood and mesquite smoke was sharp. A man, rising swiftly tohis feet at the first sound, was staring at the new-comer; he wasas alert as any wild thing. But the woman scarcely heeded him. Shestaggered directly toward the pond, seeing nothing after the firstglance except the water. She would have flung herself full lengthupon the edge, but the man stepped forward and stayed her, thenplaced a tin cup in her hand. She mumbled something in answer tohis greeting and the hoarse, raven-like croak in her voicestartled her; then she drank, with trembling eagerness, drenchingthe front of her dress. The water was warm, but it was clean anddelicious. 

"Easy now. Take your time, " said the man, as he refilled the cup. "It won't give out. "

She knelt and wet her face and neck; the sensation was so gratefulthat she was tempted to fling herself bodily into the pool. Theman was still talking, but she took no heed of what he said. Thenat last she sank back, her feet curled under her, her bodysagging, her head drooping. She felt the stranger's hands beneathher arms, felt herself lifted to a more comfortable position. Without asking permission, the stranger unlaced first one, thenthe other of her dusty boots, seeming not to notice her weakattempt at resistance. Once he had placed her bare feet in thewater, she forgot her resentment in the intense relief. 

The man left her seated in a collapsed, semi-conscious state, andwent back to his fire. For the time she was too tired to do morethan refill the drinking-cup occasionally, or to wet her face andarms, but as her pores drank greedily her exhaustion lessened andher vitality returned. 

It was dark when for the first time she turned her head toward thecamp-fire and stared curiously at the figure there. The appetizingodor of broiling bacon had drawn her attention, and as if no movewent unnoticed the man said, without lifting his eyes:

"Let 'em soak! Supper'll be ready directly. How'd you like youreggs--if we had any?"

Evidently he expected no reply, for after a chuckle he began towhistle softly, in a peculiarly clear and liquid tone, almost likesome bird-call. He had spoken with an unmistakable Texas drawl;the woman put him down at once for a cowboy. She settled her backagainst a boulder and rested. 

The pool had become black and mysterious, the sky was studded withstars when he called her, and she laboriously drew on herstockings and boots. Well back from the fire he had arranged aseat for her, using a saddle-blanket for a covering, and upon thisshe lowered herself stiffly. As she did so she took fuller noticeof the man, and found his appearance reassuring. 

"I suppose you wonder how I--happen to be here, " she said. 

"Now don't talk 'til you're rested, miss. This coffee is strongenough to walk on its hands, and I reckon about two cups of it'llrastle you into shape. " As she raised the tin mug to her lips hewaved a hand and smiled. "Drink hearty!" He set a plate of breadand bacon in her lap, then opened a glass jar of jam. "Here's thedulces. I've got a sort of sweet tooth in my head. I reckon you'llhave to make out with this, 'cause I rode in too late to rustleany fresh meat, and the delivery-wagon won't be 'round beforemorning. " So saying, he withdrew to the fire. 

The woman ate and drank slowly. She was too tired to be hungry, and meanwhile the young man squatted upon his heels and watchedher through the smoke from a husk cigarette. It was perhapsfortunate for her peace of mind that she could not correctlyinterpret his expression, for had she been able to do so she wouldhave realized something of the turmoil into which her presence hadthrown him. He was accustomed to meeting men in unexpected places--even in the desert's isolation--but to have a night camp in thechaparral invaded by a young and unescorted woman, to have a foot-sore goddess stumble out of the dark and collapse into his arms, was a unique experience and one calculated to disturb a person ofhis solitary habits. 

"Have you had your supper?" she finally inquired. 

"Who, me? Oh, I'll eat with the help. " He smiled, and when hisflashing teeth showed white against his leathery tan the womandecided he was not at all bad-looking. He was very tall and quitelean, with the long legs of a horseman--this latter featureaccentuated by his high-heeled boots and by the short canvascowboy coat that reached only to his cartridge-belt. His featuresshe could not well make out, for the fire was little more than abed of coals, and he fed it, Indian-like, with a twig or two at atime. 

"I beg your pardon. I'm selfish. " She extended her cup and plateas an invitation for him to share their contents. "Please eat withme. "

But he refused. "I ain't hungry, " he affirmed. "Honest!"

Accustomed as she was to the diffidence of ranch-hands, sherefrained from urging him, and proceeded with her repast. When shehad finished she lay back and watched him as he ate sparingly. 

"My horse fell crossing the Arroyo Grande, " she announced, abruptly. "He broke a leg, and I had to shoot him. "

"Is there any water in the Grande?" asked the man. 

"No. They told me there was plenty. I knew of this charco, so Imade for it. "

"Who told you there was water in the arroyo?"

"Those Mexicans at the little-goat ranch. "

"Balli. So you walked in from Arroyo Grande. Lord! It's a good tenmiles straightaway, and I reckon you came crooked. Eh?"

"Yes. And it was very hot. I was never here but once, and--thecountry looks different when you're afoot. "

"It certainly does, " the man nodded. Then he continued, musingly:"No water there, eh? I figured there might be a little. " The factappeared to please him, for he nodded again as he went on with hismeal. "Not much rain down here, I reckon. "

"Very little. Where are you from?"

"Me? Hebbronville. My name is Law. "

Evidently, thought the woman, this fellow belonged to the Eastoutfit, or some of the other big cattle-ranches in theHebbronville district. Probably he was a range boss or a foreman. After a time she said, "I suppose the nearest ranch is that Balliplace?"

"Yes'm. "

"I'd like to borrow your horse. "

Mr. Law stared into his plate. "Well, miss, I'm afraid--"

She added, hastily, "I'll send you a fresh one by Balli's boy inthe morning. "

He looked up at her from under the brim of his hat. "D'you reckonyou could find that goat-ranch by star-light, miss?"

The woman was silent. 

"'Ain't you just about caught up on traveling, for one day?" heasked. "I reckon you need a good rest about as much as anybody Iever saw. You can have my blanket, you know. "

The prospect was unwelcome, yet she reluctantly agreed. "Perhaps--Then in the morning--"

Law shook his head. "I can't loan you my horse, miss. I've got tostay right here. "

"But Balli's boy could bring him back. "

"I got to meet a man. "

"Here?"

"Yes'm. "

"When will he come?"

"He'd ought to be here at early dark to-morrow evening. " Heedlessof her dismay, he continued, "Yes'm, about sundown. "

"But--I can't stay here. I'll ride to Balli's and have your horseback by afternoon. "

"My man might come earlier than I expect, " Mr. Law persisted. 

"Really, I can't see what difference it would make. It wouldn'tinterfere with your appointment to let me--"

Law smiled slowly, and, setting his plate aside, selected a freshcigarette; then as he reached for a coal he explained:

"I haven't got what you'd exactly call an appointment. This fellerI'm expectin' is a Mexican, and day before yesterday he killed aman over in Jim Wells County. They got me by 'phone atHebbronville and told me he'd left. He's headin' for the border, and he's due here about sundown, now that Arroyo Grande's dry. Iwas aimin' to let you ride his horse. "

"Then--you're an officer?"

"Yes'm. Ranger. So you see I can't help you to get home till myman comes. Do you live around here?" The speaker looked upinquiringly, and after an instant's hesitation the woman said, quietly:

"I am Mrs. Austin. " She was grateful for the gloom that hid herface. "I rode out this way to examine a tract of grazing-land. "

It seemed fully a minute before the Ranger answered; then he said, in a casual tone, "I reckon Las Palmas is quite a ranch, ma'am. "

"Yes. But we need more pasture. "

"I know your La Feria ranch, too. I was with General Castro whenwe had that fight near there. "

"You were a Maderista?"

"Yes'm. Machine-gun man. That's a fine country over there. Seemslike God Almighty got mixed and put the Mexicans on the wrong sideof the Rio Grande. But I reckon you haven't seen much of La Feriasince the last revolution broke out. "

"No. We have tried to remain neutral, but--" Again she hesitated. "Mr. Austin has enemies. Fortunately both sides have spared LaFeria. "

Law shrugged his broad shoulders. "Oh, well, the revolution isn'tover! A ranch in Mexico is my idea of a bad investment. " He roseand, taking his blanket, sought a favorable spot upon which tospread it. Then he helped Mrs. Austin to her feet--her muscles hadstiffened until she could barely stand--after which he fetched hissaddle for a pillow. He made no apologies for his meagerhospitality, nor did his guest expect any. 

When he had staked out his horse for the night he returned to findthe woman rolled snugly in her covering, as in a cocoon. The dyingembers flickered into flame and lit her hair redly. She had laidoff her felt Stetson, and one loosened braid lay over her hardpillow. Thinking her asleep, Law stood motionless, making noattempt to hide his expression of wonderment until, unexpectedly, she spoke. 

"What will you do with me when your Mexican comes?" she said. 

"Well, ma'am, I reckon I'll hide you out in the brush till I tamehim. I hope you sleep well. "

"Thank you. I'm used to the open. "

He nodded as if he well knew that she was; then, shaking out hisslicker, turned away. 

As he lay staring up through the thorny mesquite branches thatroofed him inadequately from the dew he marveled mightily. Abright, steady-burning star peeped through the leaves at him, andas he watched it he remembered that this red-haired woman with thestill, white face was known far and wide through the lower valleyas "The Lone Star. " Well, he mused, the name fitted her; she was, if reports were true, quite as mysterious, quite as cold and fixedand unapproachable, as the title implied. Knowledge of heridentity had come as a shock, for Law knew something of herhistory, and to find her suing for his protection was quitethrilling. Tales of her pale beauty were common and not tame, butshe was all and more than she had been described. And yet why hadno one told him she was so young? This woman's youth andattractiveness amazed him; he felt that he had made a startlingdiscovery. Was she so cold, after all, or was she merely reserved?Red hair above a pure white face; a woman's form wrapped in hisblanket; ripe red lips caressing the rim of his mean drinking-cup!Those were things to think about. Those were pictures for a lonelyman. 

She had not been too proud and cold to let him help her. In herfatigue she had allowed him to lift her and to make her morecomfortable. Hot against his palms--palms unaccustomed to thetouch of woman's flesh--he felt the contact of her naked feet, asat the moment when he had placed them in the cooling water. Herfeeble resistance had only called attention to her sex--to theslim whiteness of her ankles beneath her short riding-skirt. 

Following his first amazement at beholding her had come afantastic explanation of her presence--for a moment or two it hadseemed as if the fates had taken heed of his yearnings and hadsent her to him out of the dusk--wild fancies, like these, bothermen who are much alone. Of course he had not dreamed that she wasthe mistress of Las Palmas. That altered matters, and yet--theywere to spend a long idle day together. If the Mexican did notcome, another night like this would follow, and she was virtuallyhis prisoner. Perhaps, after all--

Dave Law stirred nervously and sighed. 

"Don't this beat hell?" he murmured. 

II

THE AMBUSH

Alaire Austin slept badly. The day's hardships had left theirtraces. The toxins of fatigue not only poisoned her muscles withaches and pains, but drugged her brain and rendered the night along succession of tortures during which she experienced for asecond time the agonies of thirst and fatigue and despair. Extremephysical ordeals, like profound emotional upheavals, leaveimprints upon the brain, and while the body may recover quickly, it often requires considerable time to rest exhausted nerves. Thefiner the nervous organism, the slower is the process ofrecuperation. Like most normal women, Alaire had a surprisingamount of endurance, both nervous and muscular, but, having drawnheavily against her reserve force, she paid the penalty. Duringthe early hours of the night she slept hardly at all, and as soonas her bodily discomfort began to decrease her mind became unruly. Twice she rose and limped to the water-hole for a drink, and itwas not until nearly dawn that she dropped off into completeunconsciousness. She was awakened by a sunbeam which pierced herleafy shelter and with hot touch explored her upturned face. 

It was still early; the sun had just cleared the valley's rim andthe ground was damp with dew. Somewhere near by an unfamiliar birdwas sweetly trilling. Alaire listened dreamily until the bird-carol changed to the air of a familiar cowboy song, then she satup, queerly startled. 

David Law was watering his horse, grooming the animal meanwhilewith a burlap doth. Such attention was unusual in a stock countrywhere horses run wild, but this horse, Mrs. Austin saw, justifiedunusual care. It was a beautiful blood-bay mare, and as the womanlooked it lifted its head, then with wet, trembling muzzlecaressed its owner's cheek. Undoubtedly this attention was meantfor a kiss, and was as daintily conferred as any woman's favor. Itbrought a reward in a lump of sugar. There followed an exhibitionof equine delight; the mare's lips twitched, her nose wrinkledludicrously, she stretched her neck and tossed her head as thesweetness tickled her palate. Even the nervous switching of hertail was eloquent of pleasure. Meanwhile the owner showed hiswhite teeth in a smile. 

"Good morning, " said Mrs. Austin. 

Law lifted his hat in a graceful salute as he approached aroundthe edge of the pool, his spurs jingling musically. The marefollowed. 

"You have a fine horse, there. "

"Yes'm. Her and me get along all right. I hope we didn't wake you, ma'am. "

"No. I was too tired to sleep well. "

"Of course. I heard you stirring about during the night. " Lawpaused, and the mare, with sharp ears cocked forward, looked overhis shoulder inquisitively. "Tell the lady good morning, BessieBelle, " he directed. The animal flung its head high, then steppedforward and, stretching its neck, sniffed doubtfully at thevisitor. 

"What a graceful bow!" Mrs. Austin laughed. "You taught her that, I presume. "

"Yes'm! She'd never been to school when I got her; she was plumbignorant. But she's got all the airs of a fine lady now. SometimesI go without sugar, but Bessie Belle never does. "

"And you with a sweet tooth!"

The Ranger smiled pleasantly. "She's as easy as a rockin'-chair. We're kind of sweethearts. Ain't we, kid?" Again Bessie Belletossed her head high. "That's 'yes, ' with the reverse English, "the speaker explained. "Now you just rest yourself, ma'am, andorder your breakfast. What 'll it be--quail, dove, or cottontail?"

"Why--whatever you can get. "

"That ain't the kind of restaurant we run. Bessie Belle would surebe offended if she understood you. Ever see anybody call a quail?"

"Can it really be done?"

Law's face brightened. "You wait. " He led his mare down thearroyo, then returned, and, taking his Winchester from itsscabbard, explained: "There's a pair of 'top-knots' on that side-hill waitin' for a drink. Watch 'em run into my lap when I givethe distress signal of our secret order. " He skirted the water-hole, and seated himself with his heels together and his elbowspropped upon his spread knees in the military position for closeshooting. From where he sat he commanded an unobstructed view ofthe thicket's edge. Next he moistened his lips and uttered anindescribable low whistle. At intervals he repeated the call, while the woman looked on with interest. Suddenly out of the grassburst a blue quail, running with wings outstretched and everyfeather ruffled angrily. It paused, the man's cheeks snuggledagainst the stock of his gun, and the bark of the thirty-thirtysounded loudly. Mrs. Austin saw that he had shot the little bird'shead off. She spoke, but he stilled her with a gesture, threw in asecond shell, and repeated his magic call. There was a longer waitthis time, but finally the performance was repeated. The marksmanrose, picked up the two birds, and came back to the camping-place. 

"Kind of a low-down trick when they've just started housekeeping, ain't it?" he smiled. 

Mrs. Austin saw that both crested heads had been cleanly severed. "That is quite wonderful" she said. "You must be an unusually goodshot. "

"Yes'm. You can fool turkeys the same way. Turkeys are easy. "

"What do you say to them? What brings them out, all ruffled up?"she asked, curiously. 

Law had one of the birds picked by this time. "I tell 'em a snakehas got me. I reckon each one thinks the other is in trouble andcomes to the rescue. Anyhow, it's a mighty mean trick. "

He would not permit her to help with the breakfast, so she layback enjoying the luxury of her hard bed and watching her host, whose personality, now that she saw him by daylight, had begun tochallenge her interest. Of late years she had purposely avoidedmen, and circumstances had not permitted her to study those fewshe had been forced to meet; but now that fate had thrown her intothe company of this stranger, she permitted some play to hercuriosity. 

Physically Law was of an admirable make--considerably over sixfeet in height, with wide shoulders and lean, strong limbs. Although his face was schooled to mask all but the keenestemotions, the deftness of his movements was eloquent, betrayingthat complete muscular and nervous control which comes from lifein the open. A pair of blue-gray, meditative eyes, with awhimsical fashion of wrinkling half-shut when he talked, relieveda countenance that otherwise would have been a trifle grim andsomber. The nose was prominent and boldly arched, the ears largeand pronounced and standing well away from the head; the mouth wasthin-lipped and mobile. Alaire tried to read that bronzed visage, with little success until she closed her eyes and regarded themental image. Then she found the answer: Law had the face and thehead of a hunter. The alert ears, the watchful eyes, the predatorynose were like those of some hunting animal. Yes, that wasdecidedly the strongest impression he gave. And yet in his facethere was nothing animal in a bad sense. Certainly it showed nogrossness. The man was wild, untamed, rather than sensual, anddespite his careless use of the plains vernacular he seemed to berather above the average in education and intelligence. At anyrate, without being stupidly tongue-tied, he knew enough to remainsilent when there was nothing to say, and that was a blessing, forMrs. Austin herself was not talkative, and idle chatter distressedher. 

On the whole, when Alaire had finished her analysis she ratherresented the good impression Law had made upon her, for on generalprinciples she chose to dislike and distrust men. Rising, shewalked painfully to the pond and made a leisurely toilet. 

Breakfast was ready when she returned, and once more the man satupon his heels and smoked while she ate. Alaire could not catchhis eyes upon her, except when he spoke, at which time his gazewas direct and open; yet never did she feel free from hisintensest observation. 

After a while she remarked: "I'm glad to see a Ranger in thiscounty. There has been a lot of stealing down our way, and theAssociation men can't seem to stop it. Perhaps you can. "

"The Rangers have a reputation in that line, " he admitted. "Butthere is stealing all up and down the border, since the war. Youlost any stuff?"

"Yes. Mostly horses. "

"Sure! They need horses in Mexico. "

"The ranchers have organized. They have formed a sort of vigilancecommittee in each town, and talk of using bloodhounds. "

"Bloodhounds ain't any good, outside of novels. If beef gotscarce, them Greasers would steal the dogs and eat 'em. " He added, meditatively, "Dog ain't such bad eatin', either. "

"Have you tried it?"

Mr. Law nodded. "It was better than some of the army beef we gotin the Philippines. " Then, in answer to her unspoken inquiry, "Yes'm, I served an enlistment there. "

"You--were a private soldier?"

"Yes'm. "

Mrs. Austin was incredulous, and yet she could not well expressher surprise without too personal an implication. "I can't imagineanybody--that is, a man like you, as a common soldier. "

"Well, I wasn't exactly that, " he grinned. "No, I was about themost UNcommon soldier out there. I had a speakin' acquaintancewith most of the guard-houses in the islands before I gotthrough. "

"But why did you enlist--a man like you?"

"Why?" He pondered the question. "I was young. I guess I neededthe excitement. I have to get about so much or I don't enjoy myfood. "

"Did you join the Maderistas for excitement?"

"Mostly. Then, too, I believed Panchito Madero was honest andwould give the peons land. An honest Mexican is worth fightin'for, anywhere. The pelados are still struggling for their land--for that and a chance to live and work and be happy. "

Mrs. Austin stirred impatiently. "They are fighting because theyare told to fight. There is no PATRIOTISM in them, " said she. 

"I think, " he said, with grave deliberateness, "the majority feelsomething big and vague and powerful stirring inside them. Theydon't know exactly what it is, perhaps, but it is there. Mexicohas outgrown her dictators. They have been overthrown by the samecauses that brought on the French Revolution. "

"The French Revolution!" Alaire leaned forward, eying the speakerwith startled intensity. "You don't talk like a--like an enlistedman. What do you know about the French Revolution?"

Reaching for a coal, the Ranger spoke without facing her. "I'veread a good bit, ma'am, and I'm a noble listener. I remember good, too. Why, I had a picture of the Bastille once. " He pronounced it"Bastilly, " and his hearer settled back. "That was some calaboose, now, wasn't it?" A moment later he inquired, ingenuously, "I don'tsuppose you ever saw that Bastille, did you?"

"No. Only the place where it stood. "

"Sho! You must have traveled right smart for such a young lady. "He beamed amiably upon her. 

"I was educated abroad, and I only came home--to be married. "

Law noted the lifeless way in which she spoke, and he understood. "I'll bet you hablar those French and German lingoes like anative, " he ventured. "Beats me how a person can do it. "

"You speak Spanish, don't you?"

"Oh yes. But I was born in Mexico, as near as I can make out. "

"And you probably speak some of the Filipino dialects?"

"Yes'm, a few. "

There was something winning about this young man's modesty, andsomething flattering in his respectful admiration. He seemed, also, to know his place, a fact which was even more in his favor. Undoubtedly he had force and ability; probably his love ofadventure and a happy lack of settled purpose had led him toneglect his more commonplace opportunities and sent him first intothe army and thence into the Ranger service. The world is full ofsuch, and the frontier is their gathering-place. Mrs. Austin hadmet a number of men like Law, and to her they seemed to be thetrue soldiers of fortune--fellows who lived purely for the fun ofliving, and leavened their days with adventure. They were buoyantsouls, for the most part, drifting with the tide, resentful ofauthority and free from care; meeting each day with enthusiasticexpectancy for what it held in store. They were restless andimprovident; the world counted them ne'er-do-wells, and yet sheknew that at least their hours were full and that their names--some of them--were written large in the distant places. AlaireAustin often told herself that, had she been born a man, such alife as this might have been hers, and she took pleasure indreaming sometimes of the experience that fate, in such a case, would have brought to her. 

Being a woman, however, and being animated at this particularmoment by a peculiarly feminine impulse, she felt urged to add herown touch to what nature had roughed out. This man had been deniedwhat she termed an education; therefore she decided to put one inhis way. 

"Do you like to read?" she asked him. 

"Say! It's my favorite form of exercise. " Law's blue-gray eyeswere expressionless, his face was bland. "Why?"

"I have a great many books at Las Palmas. You might enjoy some ofthem. "

"Now that's nice of you, ma'am. Mebbe I'll look into this cattle-stealin' in your neighborhood, and if I do I'll sure comeborrowin'. "

"Oh, I'll send you a boxful when I get back, " said Alaire, andDave thanked her humbly. 

Later, when he went to move his mare into a shady spot, the Rangerchuckled and slapped his thigh with his hat. "Bessie Belle, we'regoing to improve our minds, " he said, aloud. "We're going to beliterary and read Pilgrim's Progress and Alice in Wonderland. Ibet we'll enjoy 'em, eh? But--doggone! She's a nice lady, and yourcoat is just the same color as her hair. "

Where the shade was densest and the breeze played most freely, there Dave fixed a comfortable couch for his guest, and during theheat of the forenoon she dozed. 

Asleep she exercised upon him an even more disturbing effect thanwhen awake, for now he could study her beauty deliberately, fromthe loose pile of warm, red hair to the narrow, tight-laced boots. What he saw was altogether delightful. Her slightly parted lipsoffered an irresistible attraction--almost an invitation; the heathad lent a feverish flush to her cheeks; Dave could count the slowpulsations of her white throat. He closed his eyes and tried toquell his unruly longings. He was a strong man; adventurous daysand nights spent in the open had coarsened the masculine side ofhis character, perhaps at expense to his finer nature, for it is ahuman tendency to revert. He was masterful and ruthless; lackingobligations or responsibilities of any sort, he had beenaccustomed to take what he wanted; therefore the gaze he fixedupon the sleeping woman betrayed an ardor calculated to deepen thecolor in her cheeks, had she beheld it. 

And yet, strangely enough, Dave realized that his emotions wereunaccountably mixed. This woman's distress had, of course, broughta prompt and natural response; but now her implicit confidence inhis honor and her utter dependence upon him awoke his deepestchivalry. Then, too, the knowledge that her life was unhappy, indeed tragic, filled him with a sort of wondering pity. As hecontinued to look at her these feelings grew until finally heturned away his face. With his chin in his hands he stared outsomberly into the blinding heat. He had met few women, of lateyears, and never one quite like this--never one, for instance, whomade him feel so dissatisfied with his own shortcomings. 

After a time he rose and withdrew to the shelter of another tree, there to content himself with mental images of his guest. 

But one cannot sleep well with a tropic sun in the heavens, andsince there was really nothing for her to do until the heatabated, Alaire, when she awoke, obliged the Ranger to amuse her. 

Although she was in fact younger than he, married life had maturedher, and she treated him therefore like a boy. Law did not object. Mrs. Austin's position in life was such that most men were humblein her presence, and now her superior wisdom seemed to excite theRanger's liveliest admiration. Only now and then, as if in anunguarded moment, did he appear to forget himself and speak withan authority equaling her own. What he said at such timesindicated either a remarkably retentive memory or else an abilityto think along original lines too rare among men of his kind to beeasily credited. 

For instance, during a discussion of the Mexican situation--and ofcourse their talk drifted thither, for at the moment it was theone vitally interesting topic along the border--he excused thebarbarous practices of the Mexican soldiers by saying:

"Of course they're cruel, vindictive, treacherous, but after allthere are only a hundred and forty generations between us andAdam; only a hundred and forty lifetimes since the Garden of Eden. We civilized peoples are only a lap or two ahead of theuncivilized ones. When you think that it takes ten thousandgenerations to develop a plant and root out some of its earlyheredities, you can see that human beings have a long way yet togo before they become perfect. We're creatures of environment, just like plants. Environment has made the Mexican what he is. "

Certainly this was an amazing speech to issue from a sun-brownedcowboy sitting cross-legged under a mesquite-tree. 

From under her hat-brim Alaire Austin eyed the speaker with acuriosity into which there had come a vague hostility. For themoment she was suspicious and piqued, but Law did not appear tonotice, and as he talked on her doubts gradually subsided. 

"You said, last night, that you were born on the other side?" Sheinclined her ruddy head to the west. 

"Yes'm. My father was a mining man, and he done well over thereuntil he locked horns with the Guadalupes. Old Don Enrique and himhad a run-in at the finish, over some land or something. It waswhen the Don was gobbling all the property in the state, andlaying the foundation for his big fortune. You know he hadpermission from the president to steal all the land he cared to, just like the rest of those local governors had. Well, Guadalupetried to run my people out. "

"Did he succeed?"

"No'm. He killed 'em, but they stayed. "

"Not--really?" The listener was shocked. "American citizens, too?"

"Times wasn't much different then than now. There's plenty of goodAmericans been killed in Mexico and nothing done about it, even inour day. I don't know all the details--never could get 'em, either--for I was away at school; but after I came back from thePhilippines the Madero fuss was just brewing, so I went over andjoined it. But it didn't last long, and there wasn't enoughfighting to suit me. I've been back, off and on, since, and I'veburned a good deal of Guadalupe property and swum a good many headof Guadalupe stock. "

As the morning progressed Law proved himself an interestingcompanion, and in spite of the discomforts of the situation thehours slipped past rapidly. Luncheon was a disagreeable meal, eaten while the arroyo baked and the heat devils danced on thehills; but the unpleasantness was of brief duration, and Lawalways managed to banish boredom. Nor did he seem to waste athought upon the nature of that grim business which brought him tothis place. Quite the contrary, in the afternoon he put his marethrough her tricks for Alaire's edification, and gossiped idly ofwhatever interested his guest. 

Then as the sun edged to the west and Mrs. Austin became restless, he saddled Bessie Belle and led her down the gulch into a safercovert. 

Returning, he carefully obliterated all traces of the camp. Hewatered the ashes of the fire, gathered up the tell-tale scraps ofpaper and fragments of food, and then when the place suited himfell to examining his rifle. 

Alaire watched him with interest. "Where shall I go, " she asked, "and what shall I do?"

"You just pick out a good cover beyond the water-hole and staythere, ma'am. It may be a long wait, for something may havehappened. If so we'll have to lie close. And don't worry yourselfnone, ma'am; he won't make no trouble. "

The afternoon drew to a close. Gradually the blinding white glareof the sun lessened and yellowed, the shadow of the bluffs beganto stretch out. The shallow pool lay silent, deserted save forfurtive little shapes that darted nervously out of the leaves, orfor winged visitors that dropped out of the air. 

With the sunset there came the sound of hoofs upon loose stones, branches rustled against breasting bodies, and Mrs. Austin coweredlow in her hiding-place. But it was only the advance-guard of abunch of brush cattle coming to water. They paused at a distance, and nothing except their thirst finally overcame their suspicions. One by one they drifted into sight, drank warily at the remotestedge of the tanque, then, alarmed at some imaginary sight orsound, went clattering up the ravine. 

Once again the water-hole lay sleeping. 

Alaire's retreat was far from comfortable; there was an ants' nestsomewhere near her and she thought of moving; but suddenly herbreath caught and her heart jumped uncontrollably. She crouchedlower, for directly opposite her position, and outlined againstthe sky where the sharp ridge cut it, was the figure of a mountedman. Rider and horse were silhouetted against the pearl-grayheaven like an equestrian statue. How long they had been thereAlaire had no faintest notion. Perhaps it was their coming whichhad alarmed the cattle. She was conscious that a keen and hostilepair of eyes was searching the coverts surrounding the charco. Then, as silently as it had appeared, the apparition vanishedbeyond the ridge, and Alaire wondered if the rider had takenalarm. She earnestly hoped so; this breathless vigil was gettingon her nerves, and the sight of that threatening figure had sether pulses to throbbing. The rider was on his guard, that wasplain; he was armed, too, and probably desperate. The ominouspossibilities of this ambush struck her forcibly. 

Alaire lay close, as she had been directed, praying that thehorseman had been warned; but shortly she heard again the rustleof stiff branches, and out into the opening rode a Mexican. He wasastride a wiry gray pony, and in the strong twilight Alaire couldsee his every feature--the swarthy cheeks, the roving eyes beneaththe black felt hat. A carbine lay across his saddle-horn, a riatawas coiled beside his leg, a cartridge-belt circled his waist. There was something familiar about the fellow, but at the momentAlaire could not determine what it was. 

After one swift appraising glance the new-comer rode straight tothe verge of the water-hole and dismounted; then he and his horsedrank side by side. 

It was the moment for a complete and effective surprise, butnothing happened. Why didn't Law act? Alaire bent low, strainingeyes and ears, but no command came from the Ranger. After a whilethe traveler rose to his feet and stretched his limbs. Next hewalked to the ashes of the fire and looked down at them, stirringthem with his toe. Apparently satisfied, he lit a cigarette. 

Could it be that something had gone wrong with the Ranger's plan?Had something happened to him? Alaire was startled by thepossibility; this delay was beyond her comprehension. 

Then, as if in answer to her perplexity, a second horsemanappeared, and the woman realized how simply she had been fooled. 

III

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WATER-HOLE

The new-comers exchanged a word or two in Spanish, then the secondrider flung himself from his saddle and made for the water. He waslying prone and drinking deeply when out of nowhere came a sharpcommand. 

"Oiga! Hands up, both of you!"

The first arrival jumped as if a rattlesnake had buzzed at hisback, the second leaped to his feet with an oath; they stared inthe direction whence the voice had come. 

"Drop your gun, companero!" The order was decisive; it wasdirected at the man who had first appeared, for the other had lefthis Winchester in its scabbard. 

Both Mexicans cried, as if at a cue, "Who speaks?"

"A Ranger. "

The fellow Law had addressed let fall his rifle; two pairs of darkhands rose slowly. Then the Ranger went on in Spanish:

"Anto, lower your left hand and unbuckle your belt. " Anto did ashe was told, his revolver and cartridge-belt dropped to theground. "And you, compadre, do the same. Mind you, the left hand!Now face about and walk to the charco, both of you. Good!"

Law stepped into view, his Winchester in the crook of his arm. Heemptied the three discarded weapons, then, walking to Anto'shorse, he removed the second carbine from beneath the saddle-flapand ejected its shells into his palm. 

This done, he addressed the stranger. "Now, friend, who are you, and why are you riding with this fellow?"

"My name is Panfilo Sanchez, senor. Before God, I have donenothing. " The speaker was tremendously excited. 

"Well, Panfilo, that will take some proving, " the Ranger muttered. 

"What do you say?"

The gist of this statement having been repeated in Spanish, bothprisoners burst into clamorous explanation of their presencetogether. Panfilo, it seemed, had encountered his companion purelyby chance, and was horrified now to learn that his newly madefriend was wanted by the authorities. In the midst of hisincoherent protestations Mrs. Austin appeared. 

"He is telling you the truth, Mr. Law, " she said, quietly. "He isone of my men. "

Both Mexicans looked blank. At sight of the speaker their mouthsfell open, and Panfilo ceased his gesticulations. 

Mrs. Austin went on: "He is my horse-breaker's cousin. He couldn'thave had any part in that murder in Jim Wells County, for he wasat Las Palmas when I left. "

Panfilo recovered from his amazement, removed his sombrero, andblessed his employer extravagantly; then he turned triumphantlyupon his captor. "Behold!" cried he. "There you have the truth. Iam an excellent, hard-working man and as honest as God. "

"Surely you don't want him, " Alaire appealed to Law. "He wasprobably helping his countryman to escape--but they all do that, you know. "

"All right! If he's your man, that's enough, " Dave told her. "Nowthen, boys, it will soon be dark and we'll need some supper beforewe start. It won't hurt Anto's horse to rest a bit, either. Youare under arrest, " he added, addressing the latter. "Youunderstand what that means?"

"Si, senor!"

"I won't tie you unless--"

"No, senor!" Anto understood perfectly, and was grateful. 

"Well, then, build a fire, and you, Panfilo, lend a hand. Thesenora will need a cup of tea, for we three have a long ride aheadof us. "

No time was lost. Both Mexicans fell to with a will, and in asurprisingly short time water was boiling. When it came Law's turnto eat, Alaire, who was eager to be gone, directed her employee tofetch the Ranger's horse. Panfilo acquiesced readily and buckledon his cartridge-belt and six-shooter. He was about to pick up hisrifle, too, but finding Law's eyes inquiringly fixed upon him, heturned with a shrug and disappeared down the arroyo. It was plainthat he considered his friendly relations well established andresented the Ranger's suspicion. 

"How long has that fellow been working for you?" Law jerked hishead in the direction Panfilo had taken. 

"Not long. I--don't know much about him, " Alaire confessed. Then, as if in answer to his unspoken question, "But I'm sure he's allright. "

"Is he looking up range for you?"

"N--no! I left him at the ranch. I don't know how he came to behere, unless--It IS rather strange!"

Dave shot a swift, interrogatory glance at Panfilo's travelingcompanion, but Anto's face was stony, his black eyes were fixedupon the fire. 

With an abrupt gesture Law flung aside the contents of his cup andstrode to Panfilo's horse, which stood dejectedly with reinshanging. 

"Where are you--going?" Alaire rose nervously. 

It was nearly dark now; only the crests of the ridges were plainagainst the luminous sky; in the brushy bottom of the arroyo theshadows were deep. Alaire had no wish to be left alone with theprisoner. 

With bridle-rein and carbine in his left hand, the Ranger halted, then, stooping for Anto's discarded cartridge-belt, he looped itover his saddle-horn. He vaulted easily into the seat, saying:

"I hid that mare pretty well. Your man may not be able to findher. " Then he turned his borrowed horse's head toward the brush. 

Anto had squatted motionless until this moment; he had not eventurned his eyes; but now, without the slightest warning, heuttered a loud call. It might have served equally well as asummons or as an alarm, but it changed the Ranger's suspicionsinto certainty. Dave uttered an angry exclamation, then to thestartled woman he cried:

"Watch this man! He can't hurt you, for I've got his shells. " Tohis prisoner he said, sharply: "Stay where you are! Don't move!"The next instant he had loped into the brush on the tracks ofPanfilo Sanchez, spurring the tired gray pony into vigorousaction. 

It was an uncomfortable situation in which Alaire now foundherself. Law was too suspicious, she murmured to herself; he wasneedlessly melodramatic; she felt exceedingly ill at ease as thepony's hoof-beats grew fainter. She was not afraid of Anto, havingdealt with Mexican vaqueros for several years, yet she could notforget that he was a murderer, and she wondered what she wasexpected to do if he should try to escape. It was absurd tosuppose that Panfilo, her own hired man, could be capable oftreachery; the mere suspicion was a sort of reflection upon her. 

Alaire was startled by hearing other hoof-beats now; theirdrumming came faint but unmistakable. Yes, there were two horsesracing down the arroyo. Anto, the fugitive, rose to his feet andstared into the dusk. "Sit down!" Alaire ordered, sharply. Heobeyed, muttering beneath his breath, but his head was turned asif in an effort to follow the sounds of the pursuit. 

Next came the distant rattle of loosened stones--evidently onehorse was being urged toward the open high ground--then thepeaceful quiet evening was split by the report of Law's thirty-thirty. Another shot followed, and then a third. Both Alaire andher prisoner were on their feet, the woman shaking in every limb, the Mexican straining his eyes into the gloom and listeningintently. 

Soon there came a further echo of dry earth and gravel dislodged, but whether by Law's horse or by that of Sanchez was uncertain. Perhaps both men had gained the mesa. 

It had all happened so quickly and so unexpectedly that Alairefelt she must be dreaming, or that there had been some idioticmistake. She wondered if the Ranger's sudden charge had not simplyfrightened Panfilo into a panicky flight, and she tried to put herthoughts into words the Mexican would understand, but his answerwas unintelligible. His black scowl, however, was eloquent ofuncertainty and apprehension. 

Alaire had begun to feel the strain of the situation and wastrying to decide what next to do, when David Law came riding outof the twilight. He was astride the gray; behind him at the end ofa lariat was Bessie Belle, and her saddle was empty. 

Mrs. Austin uttered a sharp cry. 

Law dismounted and strode to the prisoner. His face was black withfury; he seemed gigantic in his rage. Without a word he raised hisright hand and cuffed the Mexican to his knees. Then he leapedupon him, as a dog might pounce upon a rabbit, rolled him to hisface, and twisted the fellow's arms into the small of his back. Anto cursed, he struggled, but he was like a child in the Ranger'sgrasp. Law knelt upon him, and with a jerk of his riata securedthe fellow's wrists; rising, he set the knot with another heavethat dragged the prisoner to his knees. Next he booted Anto to hisfeet. 

"By God! I've a notion to bend a gun over your head, " Law growled. "Clever little game, wasn't it?"

"Where--? Did you--kill him?" the woman gasped. 

Alaire had never beheld such a demoniac expression as Law turnedupon her. The man's face was contorted, his eyes were blazinginsanely, his chest was heaving, and for an instant he seemed toinclude her in his anger. Ignoring her inquiry, he went to hismare and ran his shaking hands over her as if in search of aninjury; his questing palms covered every inch of glistening hidefrom forelock to withers, from shoulder to hoof, and under coverof this task he regained in some degree his self-control. 

"That hombre of yours--didn't look right to me, " he said, finally. Laying his cheek against Bessie Belle's neck, as a woman snugglesclose to the man of her choice, he addressed the mare: "I reckonnobody is going to steal you, eh? Not if I know it. No, sir; thathombre wasn't any good, was he?"

Alaire wet her lips. "Then you--shot him?"

Law laughed grimly, almost mockingly. "Say! He must be a favoriteof yours?"

"N-no! I hardly knew the fellow. But--did you?"

"I didn't say I shot him, " he told her, gruffly. "I warned himfirst, and he turned on me--blew smoke in my face. Then he took tothe brush, afoot, and--I cut down on him once more to help himalong. "

"He got away?"

"I reckon so. "

"Oh, oh!" Alaire's tone left no doubt of her relief. "He wasalways a good man--"

"Good? Didn't he steal my horse? Didn't he aim to get me at thefirst chance and free his compadre? That's why he wanted hisWinchester. Say! I reckon he--needs killin' about as much asanybody I know. "

"I can't understand it. " Alaire sat down weakly. "One of my men, too. "

"This fellow behaved himself while I was gone, eh?" Law jerked hishead in Anto's direction. "I was afraid he--he'd try something. Ifhe had--" Such a possibility, oddly enough, seemed to choke thespeaker, and the ferocity of his unfinished threat caused Mrs. Austin to look up at him curiously. There was a moment of silence, then he said, shortly: "Well, we've got a horse apiece now. Let'sgo. "

The stars had thickened and brightened, rounding the night skyinto a glittering dome. Anto, the murderer, with his ankles lashedbeneath his horse's belly, rode first; next, in a sullen silence, came the Ranger, his chin upon his breast; and in the rearfollowed Alaire Austin. 

In spite of her release from a trying predicament, the woman wasscarcely more eager to go home than was the prisoner, for whileAnto's trail led to a jail, hers led to Las Palmas, and there waslittle difference. These last two days in the open had been like aglimpse of freedom; for a time Alaire had almost lost the taste ofbitter memories. It had required an effort of will to drugremembrance, but she had succeeded, and had proven her ability toforget. But now--Las Palmas! It meant the usual thing, the sameendless battle between her duty and her desire. She was tired ofthe fight that resulted neither in victory nor defeat; she longednow, more than ever, to give up and let things take their course. Why could not women, as well as men, yield to their inclinations--drift with the current instead of breasting it until they wereexhausted? There was David Law, for instance; he was utterlycarefree, no duties shackled him. He had his horse, his gun, andhis blanket, and they were enough; Alaire, like him, was young, her mind was eager, her body ripe, and her veins full of fire. Life must be sweet to those who were free and happy. 

But the object of her envy was not so completely at peace withhimself as she supposed. Even yet his mind was in a black turmoilfrom his recent anger, and of late, be it said, these spells oftemper had given him cause for uneasiness. Then, too, there was alie upon his lips. 

Under the stars, at the break of the arroyo, three hundred yardsbelow the water-hole, a coyote was slinking in a wide circlearound the body of Panfilo Sanchez. 

IV

AN EVENING AT LAS PALMAS

Although the lower counties of southwest Texas are flat and badlywatered, they possess a rich soil. They are favored, too, by akindly climate, subtropic in its mildness. The days are long andbright and breezy, while night brings a drenching dew that keepsthe grasses green. Of late years there have been few of thosedistressing droughts that gave this part of the state an evilreputation, and there has been a corresponding increase inprosperity. The Rio Grande, jaundiced, erratic as an invalid, wrings its saffron blood from the clay bluffs and gravel canons ofthe hill country, but near its estuary winds quietly through a lowcoastal plain which the very impurities of that blood haverichened. Here the river's banks are smothered in thickets ofhuisache, ebony, mesquite, oak, and alamo. 

Railroads, those vitalizing nerve-fibers of commerce, are soscarce along this division of the border that even in this daywhen we boast, or lament, that we no longer have a frontier, thereremain in Texas sections larger than some of our Eastern stateswhich hear the sound of iron wheels only on their boundaries. Totravel from Brownsville north along the international line onemust, for several hundred miles, avail oneself of horses, mules, or motor-cars, since rail transportation is almost lacking. And onhis way the traveler will traverse whole counties where the housesare jacals, where English is a foreign tongue, and where peonsplow their fields with crooked sticks as did the ancientEgyptians. 

That part of the state which lies below the Nueces River was for atime disputed territory, and long after Texans had given theirlives to drive the Eagle of Mexico across the Rio Grande much ofit remained a forbidden land. Even to-day it is alien. It is apart of our Southland, but a South different to any other that wehave. Within it there are no blacks, and yet the whites number butone in twenty. The rest are swarthy, black-haired men who speakthe Spanish tongue and whose citizenship is mostly a matter ofform. 

The stockmen, pushing ahead of the nesters and the tillers of thesoil, were the first to invade the lower Rio Grande, and amongthese "Old Ed" Austin was a pioneer. Out of the unmapped prairiehe had hewed a foothold, and there, among surroundings as Mexicanas Mexico, he had laid the beginnings of his fortune. 

Of "Old Ed's" early life strange stories are told; like the othercattle barons, he was hungry for land and took it where or how hecould. There are tales of fertile sections bought for ten cents anacre, tales of Mexican ranchers dispossessed by mortgage, bymonte, or by any means that came to hand; stories even of some, more stubborn than the rest, who refused to feed the Austin greedfor land, and who remained on their farms to feed the buzzardsinstead. Those were crude old days; the pioneers who pushed theirherds into the far pastures were lawless fellows, ruthless, acquisitive, mastered by the empire-builder's urge for acres andstill more acres. They were the Reclaimers, the men who seized andheld, and then seized more, concerning themselves little or not atall with the moral law as applicable to both Mexican and white, and leaving it to the second generation to justify their acts, ifever justification were required. 

As other ranches grew under the hands of such unregenerate owners, so also under "Old Ed" Austin's management did Las Palnaasincrease and prosper. The estate took its name from a naturalgrove of palms in which the house was built; it comprised anexpanse of rich river-land backed by miles of range where "Box A"cattle lived and bred. In his later years the old man sold muchland, and some he leased; but when he handed Las Palmas to hisson, "Young Ed, " as a wedding gift, the ranch still remained aproperty to be proud of, and one that was known far and wide forits size and richness. Leaving his boy to work out of it a fortunefor himself and his bride, the father retired to San Antonio, whither the friends and cronies of his early days were drifting. There he settled down and proceeded to finish his allotted spanexactly as suited him best. The rancher's ideal of an agreeableold age comprised three important items--to wit, complete leisure, unlimited freedom of speech, and two pints of rye whisky daily. Heenjoyed them all impartially, until, about a year before thisstory opens, he died profanely and comfortably. He had a bigfuneral, and was sincerely mourned by a coterie of gouty oldIndian-fighters. 

Las Palmas had changed greatly since Austin, senior, painfullyscrawled his slanting signature to the deed. It was a differentranch now to what the old man had known; indeed, it was doubtfulif he would have recognized it, for even the house was new. 

Alaire had some such thought in mind as she rode up to the gate onthe afternoon following her departure from the water-hole, and shefelt a thrill of pride at the acres of sprouting corn, the densegreen fields of alfalfa so nicely fitted between their fences. They were like clean, green squares of matting spread for the feetof summer. 

A Mexican boy came running to care for her horse, a Mexican womangreeted her as she entered the wide, cool hall and went to herroom. Alaire had ridden far. Part of the night had been spent atthe Balli goat-ranch, the remainder of the journey had been hotand dusty, and even yet she was not wholly recovered from herexperience of the outward trip. 

The house servants at Las Palmas were, on the whole, well trained, and Mrs. Austin's periodic absences excited no comment; in thepresent instance, Dolores fixed a bath and laid out clean clotheswith no more than a running accompaniment of chatter concernedwith household affairs. Dolores, indeed, was superior to theordinary servant; she was a woman of some managerial ability, andshe combined the duties of personal maid with those ofhousekeeper. She was a great gossip, and possessed such a talentfor gaining information that through her husband, Benito, therange boss, she was able to keep her mistress in fairly intimatetouch with ranch matters. 

Alaire, however, was at this moment in no mood to resume thetiresome details of management; she quickly dismissed her servitorand proceeded to revel in the luxury of a cool bath, after whichshe took a nap. Later, as she leisurely dressed herself, sheacknowledged that it was good to feel the physical comforts of herown house, even though her home-coming gave her no especial joy. She made it a religious practice to dress for dinner, regardlessof Ed's presence, though often for weeks at a time she sat insolitary state, presiding over an empty table. Nevertheless, shekept to her custom, for not only did the formality help her toretain her own self-respect, but it had its influence upon theservants. Without companionship one needs to be ever upon guard toretain the nice refinements of gentle breeding, and any one whohas exercised authority in savage countries soon learns theimportance of leaving unbridged the gulf of color and of class. 

But Alaire looked forward to no lonely dinner to-night, for Ed wasat home. It was with a grave preoccupation that she made herselfready to meet him. 

Dolores bustled in for a second time and straightway launchedherself into a tirade against Juan, the horse-boy. 

"Devil take me if there was ever such a shameless fellow, " shecried, angrily. "He delights in tormenting me, and--Dios!--he islazier than a snake. Work? Bah! He abhors it. All day long hesnaps his revolver and pretends to be a bandido, and when he isnot risking bell's fire in that way he is whirling his riata andjumping through it. Useless capers! He ropes the dog, he ropes therose-bushes, he ropes fat Victoria, the cook, carrying a huge bowlof hot water to scald the ants' nest. Victoria's stomach is boiledred altogether, and so painful that when she comes near the stoveshe curses in a way to chill your blood. What does he do thismorning but fling his wicked loop over a calf's head and break offone of its little horns. It was terrible; but Senor Austin onlylaughed and told him he was a fine vaquero. "

"Has Mr. Austin been here all the time?"

"Yes. "

"Has he--drunk much?"

"Um-m. No more than common. He is on the gallery now with hiscocktails. "

"He knows I am at home?"

"I told him. "

Alaire went on dressing. After a little she asked: "Has Benitofinished branding the calves in the south pasture?"

"He finished yesterday and sent the remuda to the Six Mile. JoseSanchez will have completed the rodeo by this afternoon. Benitorode in last night to see you. "

"By the way, you know Jose's cousin, Panfilo?"

"Si. "

"Why did he leave Las Palmas?"

Dolores hesitated so long that her mistress turned upon her with alook of sharp inquiry. 

"He went to La Feria, senora. " Then, in a lowered tone: "Mr. Austin ordered it. Suddenly, without warning, he sent him away, though Panfilo did not wish to go, Benito told me all about it. "

"Why was he transferred? Come! What ails your tongue, Dolores?"

"Well, I keep my eyes open and my ears, too. I am no fool--"Dolores paused doubtfully. 

"Yes, yes!"

Dolores drew closer. "Rosa Morales--you know the girl? Her fatherworks the big pump-engine at the river. Well, he is not aboveanything, that man; not above selling his own flesh and blood, andthe girl is no better. She thinks about nothing except men, andshe attends all the bailes for miles around, on both sides of theriver. Panfilo loved her; he was mad about her. That's why he camehere to work. "

"They were engaged, were they not?"

"Truly. And Panfilo was jealous of any man who looked at Rosa. Nowyou can understand why--he was sent away. " Dolores's sharp eyesnarrowed meaningly. "Senor Ed has been riding toward the riverevery day, lately. Panfilo was furious, so--"

"I see! That is all I care to hear. " Alone, Alaire stoodmotionless for some time, her face fixed, her eyes unseeing; butlater, when she met her husband in the dining-room, her greetingwas no less civil than usual. 

Ed acknowledged his wife's entrance with a careless nod, but didnot trouble to remove his hands from his pockets. As he seatedhimself heavily at the table and with unsteady fingers shook thefolds from his napkin, he said:

"You stayed longer than you intended. Um-m--you were gone threedays, weren't you?"

"Four days, " Alaire told him, realizing with a little inward starthow very far apart she and Ed had drifted. She looked at himcuriously for an instant, wondering if he really could be herhusband, or--if he were not some peculiarly disagreeable stranger. 

Ed had been a handsome boy, but maturity had vitiated his goodlooks. He was growing fat from drink and soft from idleness; hisface was too full, his eyes too sluggish; there was an unhealthyredness in his cheeks. In contrast to his wife's semi-formaldress, he was unkempt--unshaven and soiled. He wore spurred bootsand a soft shirt; his nails were grimy. When in the city hecontrived to garb himself immaculately; he was in fact somethingof a dandy; but at home he was a sloven, and openly reveled in afreedom of speech and a coarseness of manner that were sad trialsto Alaire. His preparations for dinner this evening had beencharacteristically simple; he had drunk three dry cocktails andflung his sombrero into a corner. 

"I've been busy while you were gone, " he announced. "Been down tothe pump-house every day laying that new intake. It was a nastyjob, too. I had Morales barbecue a cabrito for my lunch, and itwas good, but I'm hungry again. " Austin attacked his meal with anenthusiasm strange in him, for of late his appetite had grown aserrant as his habits. Ed boasted, in his clubs, that he was anoutdoor man, and he was wont to tell his friends that the roughlife was the life for him; but as a matter of fact he spent muchmore time in San Antonio than he did at home, and each of hissojourns at Las Palmas was devoted principally to sobering up fromhis last visit to the city and to preparing for another. Nor washe always sober even in his own house; Ed was a heavy and aconstant drinker at all times. What little exercise he took wasupon the back of a horse, and, as no one knew better than hiswife, the physical powers he once had were rapidly deteriorating. 

By and by he inquired, vaguely: "Let's see, . .. Where did you gothis time?"

"I went up to look over that Ygnacio tract. "

"Oh yes. How did you find it?"

"Not very promising. It needs a lot of wells. "

"I haven't been out that way since I was a boy. Think you'll leaseit?"

"I don't know. I must find some place for those La Feria cattle. "

Austin shook his head. "Better leave 'em where they are, until therebels take that country. I stand mighty well with them. "

"That's the trouble, " Alaire told him. "You stand too well--sowell that I want to get my stock out of Federal territory as soonas possible. "

Ed shrugged carelessly. "Suit yourself; they're your cows. "

The meal went on with a desultory flow of small talk, during whichthe husband indulged his thirst freely. Alaire told him about theaccident to her horse and the unpleasant ordeal she had sufferedin the mesquite. 

"Lucky you found somebody at the water-hole, " Ed commented. "Whowas this Ranger? Never heard of the fellow, " he commented on thename. "The Rangers are nothing like they used to be. "

"This fellow would do credit to any organization. " As Alairedescribed how expeditiously Law had made his arrest and handledhis man, her husband showed interest. 

"Nicolas Anto, eh?" said he, "Who was his companero?"

"Panfilo Sanchez. "

Ed started. "That's strange! They must have met accidentally. "

"So they both declared. Why did you let Panfilo go?"

"We didn't need him here, and he was too good a man to lose, so--"Ed found his wife's eyes fixed upon him, and dropped his own. "Iknew you were short-handed at La Feria. " There was an interval ofsilence, then Ed exclaimed, testily, "What are you looking at?"

"I wondered what you'd say. "

"Eh? Can't I fire a man without a long-winded explanation?"Something in Alaire's expression warned him of her suspicion;therefore he took refuge behind an assumption of anger. "My God!Don't I have a word to say about my own ranch? Just because I'velet you run things to suit yourself--"

"Wait! We had our understanding. " Alaire's voice was low andvibrant. "It was my payment for living with you, and you know it. You gave me the reins to Las Palmas so that I'd have something todo, something to live for and think about, except--your actions. The ranch has doubled in value, every penny is accounted for, andyou have more money to spend on yourself than ever before. Youhave no reason to complain. "

Austin crushed his napkin into a ball and flung it from him; witha scowl he shoved himself back from the table. 

"It was an idiotic arrangement, just the same. I agreed because Iwas sick. Dad thought I was all shot to pieces. But I'm all rightnow and able to run my own business. "

"Nevertheless, it was a bargain, and it will stand. If your fatherwere alive he'd make you live up to it. "

"Hell! You talk as if I were a child, " shouted her husband; andhis plump face was apoplectic with rage. "The title is in my name. How could he make me do anything?"

"Nobody could force you, " his wife said, quietly. "You are stillenough of a man to keep your word, I believe, so long as I observemy part of our bargain?"

Ed, slightly mollified, agreed. "Of course I am; I never welched. But I won't be treated as an incompetent, and I'm tired of theseeternal wrangles and jangles. "

"You HAVE welched. "

"Eh?" Austin frowned belligerently. 

"You agreed to go away when you felt your appetite coming on, andyou promised to live clean, at least around home. "

"Well?"

"Have you done it?"

"Certainly. I never said I'd cut out the booze entirely. "

"What about your carousals at Brownsville?"

Austin subsided sullenly. "Other men have got full inBrownsville. "

"No doubt. But you made a scandal. You have been seen with--women, in a good many places where we are known. "

"Bah! There's nothing to it. "

Alaire went on in a lifeless tone that covered the seethingemotions within her. "I never inquire into your actions at SanAntonio or other large cities, although of course I have ears andI can't help hearing about them; but these border towns are hometo us, and people know me. I won't be humiliated more than I am;public pity is--hard enough to bear. I've about reached thebreaking-point. "

"Indeed?" Austin leaned forward, his eyes inflamed. His tone wasraised, heedless of possible eavesdroppers. "Then why don't youend it? Why don't you divorce me? God knows I never see anythingof you. You have your part of the house and I have mine; all weshare in common is meal-hours, and--and a mail address. You'reabout as much my wife as Dolores is. "

Alaire turned upon him eyes dark with misery. "You know why Idon't divorce you. No, Ed, we're going to live out our agreement, and these Brownsville episodes are going to cease. " Her lipswhitened. "So are your visits to the pumping-station. "

"What do you mean by that?"

"You transferred Panfilo because he was growing jealous of you andRosa. "

Ed burst into sudden laughter. "Good Lord! There's no harm in alittle flirtation. Rosa's a pretty girl. "

His wife uttered a breathless, smothered exclamation; her hands, as they lay on the table-cloth, were tightly clenched. "She's yourtenant--almost your servant. What kind of a man are you? Haven'tyou any decency left?"

"Say! Go easy! I guess I'm no different to most men. " Austin'sunpleasant laughter had been succeeded by a still more unpleasantscowl. "I have to do SOMETHING. It's dead enough around here--"

"You must stop going there. "

"Humph! I notice YOU go where YOU please. Rosa and I never spent anight together in the chaparral--"

"Ed!" Alaire's exclamation was like the snap of a whip. She roseand faced her husband, quivering as if the lash had stung herflesh. 

"That went home, eh? Well, I'm no fool! I've seen something of theworld, and I've found that women are about like men. I'd like tohave a look at this David Law, this gunman, this Handsome Harrywho waits at water-holes for ladies in distress. " Ed ignored hiswife's outflung hand, and continued, mockingly: "I'll bet he's allthat's manly and splendid, everything that I'm NOT. "

"You'd--better stop, " gasped the woman. "I can't standeverything. "

"So? Well, neither can I. "

"After--this, I think you'd better go--to San Antonio. Maybe I'llforget before you come back. "

To this "Young Ed" agreed quickly enough. "Good!" said he. "Thatsuits me. It's hell around Las Palmas, anyhow, and I'll at leastget a little peace at my club. " He glowered after his wife as sheleft the room. Then, still scowling, he lurched out to the gallerywhere the breeze was blowing, and flung himself into a chair. 

V

SOMETHING ABOUT HEREDITY

It had required but one generation to ripen the fruits of "Old Ed"Austin's lawlessness, and upon his son heredity had played one ofher grimmest pranks. The father had had faults, but they werethose of his virtues; he had been a strong man, at least, and had"ridden herd" upon his unruly passions with the same thoroughnessas over his wild cattle. The result was that he had beenuniversally respected. At first the son seemed destined to be likehis father. It was not until "Young Ed" had reached his fullmanhood that his defects had become recognizable evil tendencies, that his infirmity had developed into a disease. Like sleepingcancers, the Austin vices had lain dormant in him during boyhood;it had required the mutation from youth to manhood, and thealterative effect of marriage, to rouse them; but, once awakened, their ravages had been swift and destructive. Ed's marriage toAlaire had been inevitable. They had been playmates, and theirparents had considered the union a consummation of their ownlifelong friendship. Upon her mother's death, Alaire had been sentabroad, and there she remained while "Young Ed" attended anEastern college. For any child the experience would have been alonesome one, and through it the motherless Texas girl had growninto an imaginative, sentimental person, living in a make-believeworld, peopled, for the most part, with the best-rememberedfigures of romance and fiction. There were, of course, some fewflesh-and-blood heroes among the rest, and of these the finest andthe noblest had been "Young Ed" Austin. 

When she came home to marry, Alaire was still very much of achild, and she still considered Ed her knight. As for him, he wascaptivated by this splendid, handsome girl, whom he rememberedonly as a shy, red-headed little comrade. 

Never was a marriage more propitious, never were two young peoplemore happily situated than these two, for they were madly in love, and each had ample means with which to make the most of life. 

As Las Palmas had been the elder Austin's wedding-gift to his son, so Alaire's dowry from her father had been La Feria, a grant oflands across the Rio Grande beyond the twenty-league belt by whichMexico fatuously strives to guard her border. And to Las Palmashad come the bride and groom to live, to love, and to rear theirchildren. 

But rarely has there been a shorter honeymoon, seldom a swifterawakening. Within six months "Young Ed" had killed his wife's loveand had himself become an alcoholic. Others of his father's vicesrevived, and so multiplied that what few virtues the young man hadinherited were soon choked. The change was utterly unforeseen; itscause was rooted too deeply in the past to be remedied. Maturityhad marked an epoch with "Young Ed"; marriage had been the mile-post where his whole course veered abruptly. 

To the bride the truth had come as a stunning tragedy. She wasdesperately frightened, too, and lived a nightmare life, the whileshe tried in every way to check the progress of thatdisintegration which was eating up her happiness. The wreck of herhopes and glad imaginings left her sick, bewildered, in the faceof "the thing that couldn't. "

Nor had the effect of this transformation in "Young Ed" been anyless painful to his father. For a time the old man refused tocredit it, but finally, when the truth was borne in upon himunmistakably, and he saw that Las Palmas was in a fair way tobeing ruined through the boy's mismanagement, the old cattlemanhad risen in his wrath. The ranch had been his pride as Ed hadbeen his joy; to see them both go wrong was more than he couldbear. There had been a terrible scene, and a tongue-lashingdelivered in the language of early border days. There had followedother visits from Austin, senior, other and even bittererquarrels; at last, when the girl-wife remained firm in her refusalto divorce her husband, the understanding had been reached bywhich the management of Las Palmas was placed absolutely in herhands. 

Of course, the truth became public, as it always does. This was anew country--only yesterday it had been the frontier, and even yeta frontier code of personal conduct to some extent prevailed. Nevertheless, "Young Ed" Austin's life became a scorn and ahissing among his neighbors. They were not unduly fastidious, these neighbors, and they knew that hot blood requires more than ageneration to cool, but everything Ed did outraged them. In tryingto show their sympathy for his wife they succeeded in wounding hermore deeply, and Alaire withdrew into herself. She became almost arecluse, and fenced herself away not only from the curious, butalso from those who really wished to be her friends. In timepeople remarked that Ed Austin's metamorphosis was no harder tounderstand than that of his wife. 

It was true. She had changed. The alteration reached to the verybone and marrow of her being. At first the general pity hadwounded her, then it had offended, and finally angered her. Thatpeople should notice her affliction, particularly when she stroveso desperately to hide it, seemed the height of insolence. 

The management of Las Palmas was almost her only relief. Havingsprung from a family of ranchers, the work came easy, and she grewto like it--as well as she could like anything with that ever-present pain in her breast. The property was so large that it gaveample excuse for avoiding the few visitors who came, and the rangeboss, Benito Gonzales, attended to most of the buying and selling. Callers gradually became rarer; friends dropped away almostentirely. Since Las Palmas employed no white help whatever, itbecame in time more Mexican than in the days of "Old Ed" Austin'sownership. 

In such wise had Alaire fashioned her life, living meanwhile undera sort of truce with her husband. 

But Las Palmas had prospered to admiration, and La Feria wouldhave prospered equally had it not been for the armed unrest of thecountry across the border. No finer stock than the "Box A" was tobe found anywhere. The old lean, long-horned cattle had beeninterbred with white-faced Herefords, and the sleek coats of theirprogeny were stretched over twice the former weight of beef. Alaire had even experimented with the Brahman strain, importingsome huge, hump-backed bulls that set the neighborhood agog. People proclaimed they were sacred oxen and whispered that theywere intended for some outlandish pagan rite--Alaire by this timehad gained the reputation of being "queer"--while experiencedstockmen declared the venture a woman's folly, affirming thatbuffaloes had never been crossed successfully with domesticcattle. It was rumored that one of these imported animals costmore than a whole herd of Mexican stock, and the ranchersspeculated freely as to what "Old Ed" Austin would have said ofsuch extravagance. 

It was Blaze Jones, one of the few county residents granted accessto Las Palmas, who first acquainted himself with the outcome ofAlaire's experiment, and it was he who brought news of it to somevisiting stock-buyers at Brownsville. 

Blaze was addicted to rhetorical extravagance. His voice was loud;his fancy ran a splendid course. 

"Gentlemen, " said he, "you-all interest me with your talk aboutyour prize Northern stock; but I claim that the bigger the statethe bigger the cattle it raises. That's why old Texas beats theworld. "

"But it doesn't, " some one contradicted. 

"It don't, hey? My boy"--Blaze jabbed a rigid finger into thespeaker's ribs, as if he expected a ground-squirrel to scuttleforth--"we've got steers in this valley that are damn near thesize of the whole state of Rhode Island. If they keep on growin' Idoubt if you could fatten one of 'em in Delaware without he'dbulge over into some neighboring commonwealth. It's the God'struth! I was up at Las Palmas last month--"

"Las Palmas!" The name was enough to challenge the buyers'interest. 

Blaze nodded. "You-all think you know the stock business. You'reall swollen up with cow-knowledge, now, ain't you?" He eyed themfrom beneath his black eyebrows. "Well, some of our people thoughtthey did, too. They figured they'd inherited all there was to knowabout live stock, and they grew plumb arrogant over their wisdom. But--pshaw! They didn't know nothing. Miz Austin has bred in thatBrayma strain and made steers so big they run four to the dozen. And here's the remarkable thing about 'em--they 'ain't got as manyticks as you gentlemen. "

Some of the cattlemen were incredulous, but Blaze maintained hispoint with emphasis. "It's true. They're a grave disappointment toevery kind of parasite. "

But Alaire had not confined her efforts to cattle; she hadimproved the breed of "Box A" horses, too, and hand in hand withthis work she had carried on a series of agricultural experiments. 

Las Palmas, so people used to say, lay too far up the river to begood farming-land; nevertheless, once the pumping-plant was in, certain parts of the ranch raised nine crops of alfalfa, and cornthat stood above a rider's head. 

There was no money in "finished" stock; the border was too farfrom market--that also had long been an accepted truism--yet thiswoman built silos which she filled with her own excess fodder inscientific proportions, and somehow or other she managed to shipfat beeves direct to the packing-houses and get big prices forthem. 

These were but a few of her many ventures. She had her hobbies, ofcourse, but, oddly enough, most of them paid or promised to do so. For instance, she had started a grove of paper-shelled pecans, which was soon due to bear; the ranch house and its clump of palmswas all but hidden by a forest of strange trees, which werereported to ripen everything from moth-balls to bicycle tires. Blaze Jones was perhaps responsible for this report, for Alairehad shown him several thousand eucalyptus saplings and someornamental rubber-plants. 

"That Miz Austin is a money-makin' piece of furniture, " he oncetold his daughter Paloma. "I'm no mechanical adder--I count mostlyon my fingers--but her and me calculated the profits on themeucher--what's-their-name trees?--and it gave me a splittin'headache. She'll be a drug queen, sure. "

"Why don't you follow her example?" asked Paloma. "We have plentyof land. "

Blaze, in truth, was embarrassed by the size of his holdings, buthe shook his head. "No, I'm too old to go rampagin' after newgods. I 'ain't got the imagination to raise anything morecomplicated than a mortgage; but if I was younger, I'd organizemyself up and do away with that Ed Austin. I'd sure help him to anuntimely end, and then I'd marry them pecan-groves, and bloodedherds, and drug-store orchards. She certainly is a heart-breakin'device, with her red hair and red lips and--"

"FATHER!" Paloma was deeply shocked. 

Complete isolation, of course, Alaire had found to be impossible, even though her ranch lay far from the traveled roads and herMexican guards were not encouraging to visitors. Businessinevitably brought her into contact with a considerable number ofpeople, and of these the one she saw most frequently was JudgeEllsworth of Brownsville, her attorney. 

It was perhaps a week after Ed had left for San Antonio thatAlaire felt the need of Ellsworth's counsel, and sent for him. Heresponded promptly, as always. Ellsworth was a kindly man offifty-five, with a forceful chin and a drooping, heavy-lidded eyethat could either blaze or twinkle. He was fond of Alaire, and hissympathy, like his understanding, was of that wordless yetcomprehensive kind which is most satisfying. Judge Ellsworth knewmore than any four men in that part of Texas; information had away of seeking him out, and his head was stored to repletion withfacts of every variety. He was a good lawyer, too, and yet hisknowledge of the law comprised but a small part of that mentalwealth upon which he prided himself. He knew human nature, andthat he considered far more important than law. His mind was likea full granary, and every grain lay where he could put his handupon it. 

He motored out from Brownsville, and, after ridding himself ofdust, insisted upon spending the interval before dinner in aninspection of Alaire's latest ranch improvements. He had afatherly way of walking with his arm about Alaire's shoulders, andalthough she sometimes suspected that his warmth of good-fellowship was merely a habit cultivated through politicalnecessities, nevertheless it was comforting, and she took it atits face value. 

Not until the dinner was over did Ellsworth inquire the reason forhis summons. 

"It's about La Feria. General Longorio has confiscated my stock, "Alaire told him. 

Ellsworth started. "Longorio! That's bad. "

"Yes. One of my riders just brought the news. I was afraid of thisvery thing, and so I was preparing to bring the stock over, Still--I never thought they'd actually confiscate it. "

"Why shouldn't they?"

Alaire interrogated the speaker silently. 

"Hasn't Ed done enough to provoke confiscation?" asked the Judge. 

"Ed?"

"Exactly! Ed has made a fool of himself, and brought this on. "

"You think so?"

"Well, I have it pretty straight that he's giving money to theRebel junta and lending every assistance he can to their cause. "

"I didn't know he'd actually done anything. How mad!"

"Yes--for a man with interests in Federal territory. But Ed alwaysdoes the wrong thing, you know. "

"Then I presume this confiscation is in the nature of a reprisal. But the stock is mine, not Ed's. I'm an American citizen, and--"

"My dear, you're the first one I've heard boast of the fact, "cynically affirmed the Judge. "If you were in Mexico you'd profitmore by claiming allegiance to the German or the English or someother foreign flag. The American eagle isn't screaming very loudlyon the other side of the Rio Grande just now, and our duskyneighbors have learned that it's perfectly safe to pull his tailfeathers. "

"I'm surprised at you, " Alaire smiled. "Just the same, I want yourhelp in taking up the matter with Washington. "

Ellsworth was pessimistic. "It won't do any good, my dear, " hesaid. "You'll get your name in the papers, and perhaps causeanother diplomatically worded protest, but there the matter willend. You won't be paid for your cattle. "

"Then I shall go to La Feria. "

"No!" The Judge shook his head decidedly. 

"I've been there a hundred times. The Federals have always beenmore than courteous. "

"Longorio has a bad reputation. I strongly advise against yourgoing. "

"Why, Judge, people are going and coming all the time! Mexico isperfectly safe, and I know the country as well as I know LasPalmas. "

"You'd better send some man. "

"Whom can I send?" asked Alaire. "You know my situation. "

The Judge considered a moment before replying. "I can't go, forI'm busy in court. You could probably accomplish more than anybodyelse, if Longorio will listen to reason, and, after all, you are aperson of such importance that I dare say you'd be safe. But itwill be a hard trip, and you won't know whether you are in Rebelor in Federal territory. "

"Well, people here are asking whether Texas is in the UnitedStates or Mexico, " Alaire said, lightly, "Sometimes I hardlyknow. " After a moment she continued: "Since you know everythingand everybody, I wonder if you ever met a David Law?"

Ellsworth nodded. "Tell me something about him. "

"He asked me the same thing about you. Well, I haven't seen muchof Dave since he grew up, he's such a roamer. "

"He said his parents were murdered by the Guadalupes. "

The Judge looked up quickly; a queer, startled expression flittedover his face. "Dave said that? He said both of them were killed?"

"Yes. Isn't it true?"

"Oh, Dave wouldn't lie. It happened a good many years ago, andcertainly they both met a violent end. I was instrumental insaving what property Frank Law left, but it didn't last Dave verylong. He's right careless in money matters. Dave's a fine fellowin some ways--most ways, I believe, but--" The Judge lost himselfin frowning meditation. 

"I have never known you to damn a friend or a client with suchfaint praise, " said Alaire. 

"Oh, I don't mean it that way. I'm almost like one of Dave's kin, and I've been keenly interested in watching his traits develop. I'm interested in heredity. I've watched it in Ed's case, forinstance. If you know the parents it's easy to read theirchildren. " Again he lapsed into silence, nodding to himself. "Yes, Nature mixes her prescriptions like any druggist. I'm glad you andEd--have no babies. "

Alaire mumured something unintelligible. 

"And yet, " the lawyer continued, "many people are cursed with aninheritance as bad, or worse, than Ed's. "

"What has that to do with Mr. Law?"

"Dave? Oh, nothing in particular. I was just--moralizing. It's aprivilege of age, my dear. "

VI

A JOURNEY, AND A DARK MAN

Alaire's preparations for the journey to La Feria were made withlittle delay. Owing to the condition of affairs across the border, Ellsworth had thought it well to provide her with letters from themost influential Mexicans in the neighborhood; what is more, inorder to pave her way toward a settlement of her claim hesucceeded in getting a telegram through to Mexico City--no meanachievement, with most of the wires in Rebel hands and theremainder burdened with military business. But Ellsworth'sinfluence was not bounded by the Rio Grande. 

It was his advice that Alaire present her side of the case to thelocal military authorities before making formal representation toWashington, though in neither case was he sanguine of the outcome. 

The United States, indeed, had abetted the Rebel cause from thestart. Its embargo on arms had been little more than a pretense ofneutrality, which had fooled the Federals not at all, and it wasan open secret that financial assistance to the uprising wasrendered from some mysterious Northern source. The very presenceof American troops along the border was construed by Mexicans as athreat against President Potosi, and an encouragement to revolt, while the talk of intervention, invasion, and war had intensifiedthe natural antagonism existing between the two peoples. So it wasthat Ellsworth, while he did his best to see to it that his clientshould make the journey in safety and receive courteous treatment, doubted the wisdom of the undertaking and hoped for no practicalresult. 

Alaire took Dolores with her, and for male escort she selected, after some deliberation, Jose Sanchez, her horse-breaker. Jose wasnot an ideal choice, but since Benito could not well be spared, nobetter man was available. Sanchez had some force and initiative, at least, and Alaire had no reason to doubt his loyalty. 

The party went to Pueblo by motor--an unpleasant trip, for theroad followed the river and ran through a lonesome country, unpeopled save for an occasional goat-herd and his family, or aglaring-hot village of some half-dozen cubical houses crouching onthe river-bank as if crowded over from Mexican soil. This roadremained much as the first ox-carts had laid it out; the hillswere gashed by arroyos, some of which were difficult to negotiate, and in consequence the journey was, from an automobilist's pointof view, decidedly slow. The first night the travelers were forcedto spend at a mud jacal, encircled, like some African jungledwelling, by a thick brush barricade. 

Jose Sanchez was in his element here. He posed, he strutted, hebragged, he strove to impress his countrymen by every device. Josewas, indeed, rather a handsome fellow, with a bold insolence ofbearing that marked him as superior to the common pelador, and, having dressed himself elaborately for this journey, he made themost of his opportunities for showing off. Nothing would do himbut a baile, and a baile he had. Once the arrangements were made, other Mexicans appeared mysteriously until there were nearly ascore, and until late into the night they danced upon the hard-packed earth of the yard. Alaire fell asleep to the sounds of feetscuffling and scraping in time to a wheezy violin. 

Arriving at Pueblo on the following day, Alaire secured herpassports from the Federal headquarters across the Rio Grande, while Jose attended to the railroad tickets. On the second morningafter leaving home the party was borne southward into Mexico. 

Although train schedules were uncertain, the railroad journeyitself was similar to many Alaire had taken, except for occasionalevidences of the war. The revolution had ravaged most of northernMexico; long rows of rusting trucks and twisted car skeletonsbeside the track showed how the railway's rolling-stock hadsuffered in this particular vicinity; and as the train penetratedfarther south temporary trestles and the charred ruins of station-houses spoke even more eloquently of the struggle. Now and then asteel water-tank, pierced with loop-holes and ripped by cannonballs, showed where some detachment had made a stand. There was amilitary guard on the train, too--a dozen unkempt soldiers loadeddown with rifles and bandoliers of cartridges, and severalofficers, neatly dressed in khaki, who rode in the first-classcoach and occupied themselves by making eyes at the women. 

At its frequent stops the train was besieged by the customarycrowd of curious peons; the same noisy hucksters dealt outenchiladas, tortillas, goat cheeses, and coffee from the samedirty baskets and pails; even their outstretched hands seemed tobear the familiar grime of ante-bellum days. The coaches werecrowded; women fanned themselves unceasingly; their men snored, open-mouthed, over the backs of the seats, and the aisles werefull of squalling, squabbling children. 

As for the country itself, it was dying. The ranches were strippedof stock, no carts creaked along the highways, and the roads, likethe little farms, were growing up to weeds. Stores were empty, thepeople were idle. Over all was an atmosphere of decay, and, whatwas far more significant, the people seemed content. 

All morning the monotonous journey continued--a trial to Alaireand Dolores, but to Jose Sanchez a red-letter experience. Hecovered the train from end to end, making himself acquainted withevery one and bringing to Alaire the gossip that he picked up. 

It was not until midday that the first interruption occurred; thenthe train pulled in upon a siding, and after an interminable delayit transpired that a north-bound troop-train was expected. 

Jose brought this intelligence: "Soon you will behold the flowerof the Mexican army, " he told Alaire. "You will see thousands ofLongorio's veterans, every man of them a very devil for blood. They are returning to Nuevo Pueblo after destroying a band ofthose rebels. They had a great victory at San Pedro--thirtykilometers from La Feria. Not a prisoner was spared, senora. "

"Is General Longorio with them?" Alaire inquired, quickly. 

"That is what I came to tell you. It is believed that he is, forhe takes his army with him wherever he goes. He is a greatfighter; he has a nose for it, that man, and he strikes like thelightning--here, there, anywhere. " Jose, it seemed, was a rabidPotosista. 

But Dolores held opposite sympathies. She uttered a disdainfulsniff. "To be sure he takes his army with him, otherwise theConstitutionalistas would kill him. Wait until Pancho Gomez meetsthis army of Longorio's. Ha! You will see some fighting. "

Jose blew two fierce columns of cigarette smoke from his nostrils. "Longorio is a gentleman; he scorns to use the tricks of thatbandit. Pancho Gomez fights like a savage. Think of the cowardlymanner in which he captured Espinal the last time. What did he dothen? I'll tell you. He laid in wait and allowed a train-load ofour troops to pass through his lines toward Chihuahua; then hetook possession of the telegraph wires and pretended to be theFederal commander. He sent a lying message back to Espinal thatthe railway tracks were torn up and he could not reach Chihuahua, and so, of course, he was ordered to return. That was bad enough, but he loaded his bandits upon other trains--he locked them intofreight-cars like cattle so that not a head could be seen--and thedevil himself would never have guessed what was in those cars. Ofcourse he succeeded. No one suspected the truth until his infamousarmy was in Espinal. Then it was too late. The carnage wasterrible. But do you call that a nice action? It was nothing butthe lowest deceit. It was enough to make our soldiers furious. "

Dolores giggled. "They say he went to his officers and told them:'Compadres, we are now going into Espinal. I will meet you at thePlaza, and I will shoot the last man who arrives there. ' Dios!There ensued a foot-race. "

"It is well for him to train his men how to run fast, " said Jose, frowning sternly, "for some day they will meet Luis Longorio, andthen--you will see some of the swiftest running in all the world. "

"Yes! Truly!" Dolores was trembling with excitement, her voice wasshrill. "God will need to lend them speed to catch this army ofLongorio's. Otherwise no human legs could accomplish it. "

"Bah! Who can argue with a woman?" sneered Jose. 

Alaire, who had listened smilingly, now intervened to avert aserious quarrel. 

"When the train arrives, " she told her horse-breaker, "I want youto find General Longorio and ask him to come here. "

"But, senora!" Jose was dumfounded, shocked. "He is a greatgeneral--"

"Give him this note. " Quickly writing a few lines on a page fromher note-book, she gave him the scrap of paper, which he carefullyplaced in his hat; then, shaking his head doubtfully, he left thecar. 

Flushed with triumph, Dolores took the first occasion to enlargeupon her theme. 

"You will see what a monster this Longorio is, " she declared. "Itwas like him to steal your beautiful cattle; he would steal acrucifix. Once there was a fine ranch owned by a man who had twolovely daughters--girls of great respectability and refinement. But the man was a Candelerista. Longorio killed him--he and hismen killed everybody on the hacienda except the daughters, andthose he captured. He took them with him, and for no good purpose, either, as you can imagine. Naturally the poor creatures werenearly dead with fright, but as they rode along the elder onebegan talking with Longorio's soldiers. She made friends withthem. She pretended to care nothing about her fate; she behavedlike a lost person, and the soldiers laughed. They liked herspirit, God pity them! Finally she declared she was a famous shotwith a pistol, and she continued to boast until one of her guardsgave her his weapon with which to show her skill. Then what?Before they could hinder her she turned in her saddle and shot heryounger sister through the brain. Herself she destroyed with abullet in her breast. Every word is the sacred truth, senora. Longorio's soul is stained with the blood of those two innocents. "

"I've heard many stories like that, from both sides, " Alaire said, gravely. 

In the course of time the military train came creaking along onthe main track and stopped, to the great interest of thesouthbound travelers. It was made up of many stock cars crowdedwith cavalry horses. Each animal bore its equipment of saddle andbridle, and penned in with them were the women and the children. The soldiers themselves were clustered thickly upon the car roofs. Far down at the rear of the train was a rickety passenger-coach, and toward this Jose Sanchez made his way. 

There began a noisy interchange of greetings between the occupantsof the two trains, and meanwhile the hot sun glared balefully uponthe huddled figures on the car tops. A half-hour passed, thenoccurred a commotion at the forward end of Alaire's coach. 

A group of officers climbed aboard, and among them was one whocould be none other than Luis Longorio. As he came down thepassageway Alaire identified him without the aid of his insignia, for he stood head and shoulders above his companions and borehimself with an air of authority. He was unusually tall, at leastsix feet three, and very slim, very lithe; he was alert, keen; hewas like the blade of a rapier. The leanness of his legs wasaccentuated by his stiff, starched riding-breeches and close-fitting pigskin puttees, while his face, apart from all else, would have challenged prompt attention. 

Longorio was a young man; his cheeks were girlishly smooth and ofa clear, pale, olive tint, which sun and weather apparently werepowerless to darken; his eyes were large, bold, and brilliant; hisnostrils thin and sensitive, like those of a blooded horse. Heseemed almost immature until he spoke, then one realized with acurious shock that he was a man indeed, and a man, moreover, withall the ardor and passion of a woman. Such was Alaire's firsthasty impression of Luis Longorio, the Tarleton of Potosi's army. 

Disdain, hauteur, impatience, were stamped upon the general'scountenance as he pushed briskly through the crowd, turning hishead from side to side in search of the woman who had summonedhim. 

Not until she rose did he discover Alaire; then he halted; hiseyes fixed themselves upon her with a stare of startled amazement. 

Alaire felt herself color faintly, for the man seemed to bescanning her from head to foot, taking in every detail of her faceand form, and as he did so his expression remained unaltered. Forwhat seemed a full minute Longorio stood rooted; then the stiff-vizored cap was swept from his head; he bowed with the grace of acourtier until Alaire saw the part in his oily black hair. 

"Senora! A thousand apologies for my delay, " he said. "Caramba! Idid not dream--I did not understand your message. " He continued toregard her with that same queer intensity. 

"You are General Longorio?" Alaire was surprised to note that hervoice quavered uncertainly, and annoyed to feel her face stillflushing. 

"Your obedient servant. "

With a gesture Mrs. Austin directed Dolores to vacate her seat, and invited the General to take it. But Longorio checked themaid's movement; then with a brusque command he routed out theoccupants of the seat ahead, and, reversing the back, took aposition facing Alaire. Another order, and the men who hadaccompanied him withdrew up the aisle. His luminous eyes returnedonce more to the woman, and there was no mistaking his admiration. He seemed enchanted by her pale beauty, her rich, red hair heldhim fascinated, and with Latin boldness he made his feelingscrassly manifest. 

VII

LUIS LONGORIO

"You probably know why I wished to see you, " Alaire began. 

Longorio shook his head in vague denial. 

"It is regarding my ranch, La Feria. " Seeing that the nameconveyed nothing, she explained, "I am told that your armyconfiscated my cattle. "

"Ah yes! Now I understand. " The Mexican nodded mechanically, butit was plain that he was not heeding her words in the least. Allhis mental powers appeared to be concentrated in thatdisconcerting stare which he still bent upon her. "We confiscateeverything--it is a necessity of war, " he murmured. 

"But this is different. The ranch is mine, and I am an American. "

There was a pause. The General made a visible effort to gather hiswits. It was now quite patent that the sight of Alaire, the soundof her voice, her first glance, had stricken him with an odd semi-paralysis. As if to shut out a vision or to escape some dazzlingsight, he dosed his eyes. Alaire wondered if the fellow had beendrinking. She turned to Dolores to find that good woman wearing anexpression of stupefaction. It was very queer; it made Alaireextremely ill at ease. 

Longorio opened his eyes and smiled. "It seems that I have seenyou before--as if we were old friends--or as if I had come face toface with myself, " said he. "I am affected strangely. It isunaccountable. I know you well--completely--everything about youis familiar to me, and yet we meet for the first time, eh? How doyou explain that, unless a miracle--"

"It is merely your imagination. "

"Such beauty--here among these common people! I was unprepared. "Longorio passed a brown hand across his brow to brush away thoseperverse fancies that so interfered with his thoughts. 

In moments of stress the attention often centers upon trivialthings and the mind photographs unimportant objects. Alairenoticed now that one of Longorio's fingers was decorated with amagnificent diamond-and-ruby ring, and this interested herqueerly. No ordinary man could fittingly have worn such anornament, yet on the hand of this splendid barbarian it seemed notat all out of keeping. 

"Dios! Let me take hold of myself, for my wits are in mutiny, "Longorio continued. Then he added, more quietly: "I need notassure you, senora, that you have only to command me. Your ranchhas been destroyed; your cattle stolen, eh?"

"Yes. At least--"

"We will shoot the perpetrators of this outrage at once. Bueno!Come with me and you shall see it with your own eyes. "

"No, no! You don't understand. "

"So? What then?"

"I don't want to see any one punished. I merely want yourgovernment to pay me for my cattle. " Alaire laughed nervously. 

"Ah! But a lady of refinement should not discuss such a miserablebusiness. It is a matter for men. Bother your pretty head no moreabout it, and leave me to punish the guilty in my own way. "

She endeavored to speak in a brisk, business-like tone. "La Feriabelongs to me, personally, and I have managed it for severalyears, just as I manage Las Palmas, across the river. I am a womanof affairs, General Longorio, and you must talk to me as you wouldtalk to a man. When I heard about this raid I came to look intoit--to see you, or whoever is in charge of this district, and tomake a claim for damages. Also, I intend to see that nothingsimilar occurs again. I have delayed making representations to myown government in the hope that I could arrange a satisfactorysettlement, and so avoid serious complications. Now you understandwhy I am here and why I wished to see you. "

"Valgame Dios! This is amazing. I become more bewilderedmomentarily. "

"There is nothing extraordinary about it, that I can see. "

"You think not? You consider such a woman as yourself ordinary?The men of my country enshrine beauty and worship it. They placeit apart as a precious gift from God which nothing shall defile. They do not discuss such things with their women. Now this sordidaffair is something for your husband--"

"Mr. Austin's business occupies his time; this is my own concern. I am not the only practical woman in Texas. "

Longorio appeared to be laboriously digesting this statement. "So!" he said at last. "When you heard of this--you came, eh? Youcame alone into Mexico, where we are fighting and killing eachother? Well! That is spirit. You are wonderful, superb!" Hesmiled, showing the whitest and evenest teeth. 

Such extravagant homage was embarrassing, yet no woman could bewholly displeased by admiration so spontaneous and intense as thatwhich Longorio manifested in every look and word. It was plain toAlaire that something about her had completely bowled him over;perhaps it was her strange red hair and her white foreign face, orperhaps something deeper, something behind all that. Sex phenomenaare strange and varied in their workings. Who can explain theinstant attraction or repulsion of certain types we meet? Why doesthe turn of a head, a smile, a glance, move us to the depths? Whydoes the touch of one stranger's hand thrill us, while another'sleaves us quite impassive? Whence springs that personal magnetismwhich has the power to set the very atoms of our being into newvibrations, like a highly charged electric current?

Alaire knew the susceptibility of Mexican men, and was immune toordinary flattery; yet there was something exciting about thismartial hero's complete captivation. To have charmed him to thepoint of bewilderment was a unique triumph, and under his hungryeyes she felt an adventurous thrill. 

It is true that Luis Longorio was utterly alien, and in that sensealmost repellent to Alaire; moreover, she suspected him of being amonster so depraved that no decent woman could bring herself toaccept his attentions. Nevertheless, in justice to the fellow, shehad to acknowledge that externally, at least, he was immenselysuperior to the Mexicans she had met. Then, too, his aristocracywas unmistakable, and Alaire prided herself that she couldrecognize good blood in men as quickly as in horses. The fellowhad been favored by birth, by breeding, and by education; andalthough military service in Mexico was little more than a form ofbanditry, nevertheless Longorio had developed a certain genius forleadership, nor was there any doubt as to his spectacular courage. In some ways he was a second Cid--another figure out of Castilianromance. 

While he and Alaire were talking the passengers had returned totheir seats; they were shouting good-byes to the soldiersopposite; the engine-bell was clanging loudly; and now theconductor approached to warn Longorio that the train was about toleave. But the railway official had learned a wholesome respectfor uniforms, and therefore he hung back until, urged bynecessity, he pushed forward and informed the general of his trainorders. 

Longorio favored him with a slow stare. "You may go when I leave, "said he. 

"Si, senor. But--"

The general uttered a sharp exclamation of anger, at which theconductor backed away, expressing by voice and gesture his mosthearty approval of the change of plan. 

"We mustn't hold the train, " Alaire said, quickly. "I will arrangeto see you in Nuevo Pueblo when I return. "

Longorio smiled brilliantly and lifted a brown hand. "No, no! I ama selfish man; I refuse to deprive myself of this pleasure. Theend must come all too soon, and as for these peladors, an hourmore or less will make no difference. Now about these cattle. Mexico does not make war upon women, and I am desolated that theactions of my men have caused annoyance to the most charming ladyin the world. "

"Ah! You are polite. " Knowing that in this man's help alone layher chance of adjusting her loss, Alaire deliberately smiled uponhim. "Can I count upon your help in obtaining my rights?" sheasked. 

"Assuredly. "

"But how? Where?"

Longorio thought for a moment, and his tone altered as he said:"Senora, there seems to be an unhappy complication in our way, andthis we must remove. First, may I ask, are you a friend to ourcause?"

"I am an American, and therefore I am neutral. "

"Ah! But Americans are not neutral. There is the whole difficulty. This miserable revolt was fostered by your government; Americanmoney supports it; and your men bear arms against us. Your tyrantPresident is our enemy; his hands itch for Mexico--"

"I can't argue politics with you, " Alaire interrupted, positively. "I believe most Americans agree that you have cause for complaint, but what has that to do with my ranch and my cattle? This issomething that concerns no one except you and me. "

Longorio was plainly flattered by her words, and took no troubleto hide his pleasure. "Ah! If that were only true! We wouldarrange everything to your satisfaction without another word. " Hisadmiring gaze seemed to envelop her, and its warmth wasunmistakable. "No one could have the cruelty to deny yourslightest wish--I least of all. "

"Why did you take my cattle?" she demanded, stubbornly. 

"I was coming to that. It is what I meant when I said there was acomplication. Your husband, senora, is an active Candelerista. "

For a moment Alaire was at a loss; then she replied with somespirit: "We are two people, he and I. La Feria belongs to me. "

"Nevertheless, his conduct is regrettable, " Longorio went on. "Probably evil men have lied to him--San Antonio is full of rebelsconspiring to give our country into the hands of outlaws. What aterrible spectacle it is! Enough to bring tears to the eyes of anypatriot!" He turned his melancholy gaze from Alaire to hercompanion, and for the first time Dolores stirred. 

She had watched her countryman with a peculiar fascination, andshe had listened breathlessly to his words. Now she inhaleddeeply, as if freed from a spell; then she said:

"Pah! Nobody pays heed to Senor Ed. We do not consider him. "

Dolores lacked diplomacy; her bluntness was often trying. Alaireturned upon her with a sharp exclamation, conscious meanwhile thatthe woman's tone, even more than her words, had enlightenedLongorio to some extent. His lifted brows were eloquent ofsurprise and curiosity, but he held his tongue. 

"Am I to understand, then, that you rob me because of my husband'saction?" Alaire asked. 

"No. But we must combat our enemies with the weapons we have--notonly those who bear arms with Candeleria, but those who shelterthemselves beyond the Rio Grande. "

Alaire's face fell. "I had hoped that you would understand andhelp me, but I shall go to Mexico City and demand my rights, ifnecessary. "

"Wait! I SHALL help. " Longorio beamed enthusiastically. "It shallbe the object of my life to serve you, and you and I shall arrangethis matter satisfactorily. I have influence, believe me. A wordfrom Luis Longorio will go further with my chief than a protestfrom your President. General Potosi is a man of the highest honor, and I am his right hand. Very well, then! Duty calls me to NuevoPueblo, and you shall return with me as the guest of mygovernment. Dios! It is a miserable train, but you shall occupythe coach and travel as befits a queen of beauty--like a royalprincess with her guard of honor. " He rose to his feet, but hiseagerness soon gave place to disappointment. 

"Thank you, " said Alaire, "but I must first go to La Feria and getall the facts. "

"Senora! It is a wretched journey. See!" He waved a contemptuousgesture at the car, crowded to congestion. "There is no food; youhave no one to wait upon you. In my company you will be safe. Uponmy honor you will enjoy the highest courtesy--"

"Of course. But I must go on. I have Dolores and Jose to lookafter me. " Alaire indicated Sanchez, who had edged his way closeand now stood with admiring eyes fixed upon his hero. 

"Yes, 'mi General, " Jose exclaimed, eagerly, "I am here. "

Longorio scrutinized the horse-breaker critically. "Your name is--?"

"Jose Sanchez. "

"You look like a brave fellow. "

Jose swelled at this praise, and no doubt would have made suitableanswer, but his employer held out her hand, and General Longoriobent over it, raising it to his lips. 

"Senora, one favor you can grant me. No! It is a right I shallclaim. " He called one of his subordinates closer and ordered thata lieutenant and six soldiers be detached to act as an escort toMrs. Austin's party. "It is nothing, " he assured her. "It is theleast I can do. Have no uneasiness, for these men are the bravestof my command, and they shall answer with their lives for yoursafety. As for that teniente--ah, he is favored above hisgeneral!" Longorio rolled his eyes. "Think of it! I could befaithless to duty--a traitor to my country--for the privilege heis to enjoy. It is the sacred truth! Senora, the hours will draguntil I may see you again and be of further service. Meanwhile Ishall be tortured with radiant dreams. Go with God!" For a secondtime he bowed and kissed the hand he held, then, taking JoseSanchez intimately by the arm, he turned to the door. 

Dolores collapsed into her seat with an exclamation. "Caramba! Theman is a demon! And such eyes. Uf! They say he was so furious atlosing those two sisters I told you about that he killed thesoldier with the very weapon--"

Dolores was interrupted by Longorio's voice beneath the openwindow. The general stood, cap in hand, holding up to Alaire asolitary wild flower which he had plucked beside the track. 

"See!" he cried. "It is the color of your adorable eyes--blue likea sapphire gem. I saw it peeping at me, and it was lonely. Butnow, behold how it smiles--like a star that sees Paradise, eh? AndI, too, have seen Paradise. " He placed the delicate bloom inAlaire's fingers and was gone. 

"Cuidado!" breathed Dolores. "There is blood on it; the blood ofinnocents. He will burn for a million years in hell, that man. "

Longorio made good his promise; soon a grizzled old teniente, withsix soldiers, was transferred as a bodyguard to the American lady, and then, after some further delay, the military train departed. Upon the rear platform stood a tall, slim, khaki-clad figure, anduntil the car had dwindled away down the track, foreshortening toa mere rectangular dot, Luis Longorio remained motionless, staringwith eager eyes through the capering dust and the billowing heatwaves. 

Jose Sanchez came plowing into Alaire's car, tremendously excited. "Look, senora!" he cried. "Look what the general gave me, " and heproudly displayed Longorio's service revolver. Around Jose's waistwas the cartridge-belt and holster that went with the weapon. "With his own hands he buckled it about me, and he said, 'Jose, something tells me you are a devil for bravery. Guard yourmistress with your life, for if any mishap befalls her I shall cutout your heart with my own hands. ' Those were his very words, senora. Caramba! There is a man to die for. "

Nor was this the last of Longorio's dramatic surprises. Shortlyafter the train had got under way the lieutenant in command ofAlaire's guard brought her a small package, saying:

"The general commanded me to hand you this, with his deepestregard. "

Alaire accepted the object curiously. It was small and heavy andwrapped in several leaves torn from a notebook, and it proved tobe nothing less than the splendid diamond-and-ruby ring she hadadmired. 

"God protect us, now!" murmured Dolores, crossing herselfdevoutly. 

VIII

BLAZE JONES'S NEMESIS

Blaze Jones rode up to his front gate and dismounted in the shadeof the big ebony-tree. He stepped back and ran an approving eyeover another animal tethered there. It was a thoroughbred bay marehe had never seen, and as he scanned her good points he reflectedthat the time had come when he would have to accustom himself tothe sight of strange horses along his fence and strangeautomobiles beside the road, for Paloma was a woman now, and theyoung men of the neighborhood had made the discovery. Yes, andPaloma was a pretty woman; therefore the hole under the ebony-treewould probably be worn deep by impatient hoofs. He was glad thatmost of the boys preferred saddles to soft upholstery, for itargued that some vigor still remained in Texas manhood, and thatthe country had not been entirely ruined by motors, picture-shows, low shoes, and high collars. Of course the youths of this day werenothing like the youths of his own, and yet--Blaze let his gazelinger fondly on the high-bred mare and her equipment--here atleast was a person who knew a good horse, a good saddle, and agood gun. 

As he came up the walk he heard Paloma laugh, and his own facelightened, for Paloma's merriment was contagious. Then as hemounted the steps and turned the corner of the "gallery" heuttered a hearty greeting. 

"Dave Law! Where in the world did you drop from?"

Law uncoiled himself and took the ranchman's hand. "Hello, Blaze!I been ordered down here to keep you straight. "

"Pshaw! Now who's giving you orders, Dave?"

"Why, I'm with the Rangers. "

"Never knew a word of it. Last I heard you was filibusteringaround with the Maderistas. "

Blaze seated himself with a grateful sigh where the breeze playedover him. He was a big, bearlike, swarthy man with the square-hewn, deep-lined face of a tragedian, and a head of long, curlyhair which he wore parted in a line over his left ear. Jones was acharacter, a local landmark. This part of Texas had grown up withBlaze, and, inasmuch as he had sprung from a free race ofpioneers, he possessed a splendid indifference to the artificialfads of dress and manners. It was only since Paloma had attainedher womanhood that he had been forced to fight down his deep-seated distrust of neckwear and store clothes and the like; butnow that his daughter had definitely asserted her rights, he hadacquired numerous unwelcome graces, and no longer ventured amongstrangers without the stamp of her approval upon his appearance. Only at home did he maintain what he considered a manlyindependence of speech and habit. To-day, therefore, found him ina favorite suit of baggy, wrinkled linen and with a week's stubbleof beard upon his chin. He was so plainly an outdoor man that theair of erudition lent him by the pair of gold-rimmed spectaclesowlishly perched upon his sunburned nose was strangelyincongruous. 

"So you're a Ranger, and got notches on your gun. " Blaze rolledand lit a tiny cigarette, scarcely larger than a wheat straw. "Well, you'd ought to make a right able thief-catcher, Dave, onlyfor your size--you're too long for a man and you ain't long enoughfor a snake. Still, I reckon a thief would have trouble gettingout of your reach, and once you got close to him--How many menhave you killed?"

"Counting Mexicans?" Law inquired, with a smile. 

"Hell! Nobody counts them. "

"Not many. "

"That's good. " Blaze nodded and relit his cigarette, which he hadpermitted promptly to smolder out. "The Force ain't what it was. Most of the boys nowadays join so they can ride a horse cross-lots, pack a pair of guns, and give rein to the predilections of avicious ancestry. They're bad rams, most of 'em. "

"There aren't many, " said Paloma. "Dave tells me the whole Forcehas been cut down to sixteen. "

"That's plenty, " her father averred. "It's like when Cap'n BillMcDonald was sent to stop a riot in Dallas. He came to town alone, and when the citizens asked him where his men was, he said, 'Hell!'Ain't I enough? There's only one riot. ' Are you workin' up acase, Dave?"

"Um-m--yes! People are missing a lot of stock hereabouts. "

"It's these blamed refugees from the war! A Mexican has to stealsomething or he gets run down and pore. If it ain't stock, it'ssomething else. Why, one morning I rode into Jonesville in time tosee four Greasers walkin' down the main street with feed-sacksover their shoulders. Each one of those gunnie's had somethinglong and flat and heavy in it, and I growed curious. When Iinvestigated, what d'you suppose I found? Tombstones! That'sright; four marble beauties fresh from the cemetery. Well, it mademe right sore, for I'd helped to start Jonesville. I was its cityfather. I'd made the place fit to live in, and I aimed to keep itsafe to die in, and so, bein' a sort of left-handed, self-appointed deppity-sheriff, I rounded up those ghouls and drove 'emto the county-seat in my spring wagon. I had the evidence proppedup against the front of our real-estate office--'Sacred to theMemory' of four of our leading citizens--so I jailed 'em. Butthat's all the good it did. "

"Couldn't convict, eh?"

Blaze lit his cigarette for the third time. "The prosecutingattorney and I wasn't very good friends, seeing as how I'd had tokill his daddy, so he turned 'em loose. I'm damned if those fourGreasers didn't beat me back to Jonesville. " Blaze shook his headruminatively. "This was a hard country, those days. There wasn'tbut two honest men in this whole valley--and the other one was anigger. "

Dave Law's duties as a Ranger rested lightly upon him; hisinstructions were vague, and he had a leisurely method of "workingup" his evidence. Since he knew that Blaze possessed a thoroughknowledge of this section and its people, it was partly businesswhich had brought him to the Jones home this afternoon. 

Strictly speaking, Blaze was not a rancher, although many of hisacres were under cultivation and he employed a sizable army offield-hands. His disposition was too adventurous, his life hadbeen too swift and varied, for him to remain interested in slowagricultural pursuits; therefore, he had speculated heavily in rawlands, and for several years past he had devoted his energies to agigantic colonization scheme. Originally Blaze had come to the RioGrande valley as a stock-raiser, but the natural advantages of thecountry had appealed to his gambling instinct, and he had "gonebroke" buying land. 

He had located, some fifteen miles below the borders of LasPalmas, and there he had sunk a large fortune; then as a firststep in his colonization project he had founded the town ofJonesville. Next he had caused the branch line of the Friscorailroad to be extended until it linked his holdings with the mainsystem, after which he had floated a big irrigation company; andnow the feat of paying interest on its bonds and selling farmsunder the ditch to Northern people kept him fully occupied. It wasby no means a small operation in which he was engaged. The venturehad taken foresight, courage, infinite hard work; and Blaze wasburdened with responsibilities that would have broken down a manof weaker fiber. 

But his pet relaxation was reminiscence. His own experience hadbeen wide, he knew everybody in his part of the state, andalthough events in his telling were sometimes colored by his richimagination, the information he could give was often of thegreatest value--as Dave Law knew. 

After a time the latter said, casually, "Tell me something aboutTad Lewis. "

Blaze looked up quickly. "What d'you want to know?"

"Anything. Everything. "

"Tad owns a right nice ranch between here and Las Palmas, " Blazesaid, cautiously. 

Paloma broke out, impatiently: "Why don't you say what you think?"Then to Dave: "Tad Lewis is a bad neighbor, 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 fatheragreed, "and Lewis's land runs back from the Rio Grande in its oldSpanish form. It's a natural outlet for those brush-countryranchos. But I haven't anything against Tad except a naturaldislike. He stands well with some of our best people, so I'mprobably wrong. I usually am. "

"You can't call Ed Austin one of our best people, " sharplyobjected Paloma. "They claim that arms are being smuggled acrossto the Rebels, Dave, and, if it's true, Ed Austin--"

"Now, Paloma, " her father remonstrated mildly. "The Regulars andthe River Guards watched Lewis's ranch till the embargo waslifted, and they never saw anything. "

"I believe Austin is a strong Rebel sympathizer, " Law ventured. 

"Sure! And him and the Lewis outfit are amigos. If you gopirootin' around Tad's place you're more'n apt to make yourselfunpopular, Dave. I'd grieve some to see you in a wooden kimono. Tad's too well fixed to steal cattle, and if he runs arms it'sbecause of his sympathy for those noble, dark-skinned patriots wehear so much about in Washington. Tad's a 'galvanized Gringo'himself--married a Mexican, you know. "

"Nobody pays much attention to the embargo, " Law agreed. "I ranarms myself, before I joined the Force. "

When meal-time drew near, both Jones and his daughter urged theirguest to stay and dine with them, and Dave was glad to accept. 

"After supper I'm going to show you our town, " Blaze declared. "It's the finest city in South Texas, and growing like a weed. Allwe need is good farmers. Those we've got are mostly back-to-naturestudents who leaped a drug-counter expecting to 'light in the lapof luxury. In the last outfit we sold there wasn't three men thatknew which end of a mule to put the collar on. But they'll learn. Nature's with 'em, and so am I. God supplies 'em with all thefresh air and sunshine they need, and when they want anything elsethey come to Old Blaze. Ain't that right, Paloma?"

"Yes, father. "

Paloma Jones had developed wonderfully since Dave Law had lastseen her. She had grown into a most wholesome and attractive youngwoman, with an unusually capable manner, and an honest, humorouspair of brown eyes. During dinner she did her part with a gracethat made watching her a pleasure, and the Ranger found it a greattreat to sit at her table after his strenuous scouting days in themesquite. 

"I'm glad to hear Jonesville is prosperous, " he told his host. "And they say you're in everything. "

"That's right; and prosperity's no name for it. Every-body wantsBlaze to have a finger in the pie. I'm interested in the bank, thesugar-mill, the hardware-store, the ice-plant--Say, that ice-plant's a luxury for a town this size. D'you know what I made outof it last year?"

"I've no idea. "

"Twenty-seven thousand dollars!" The father of Jonesville spokeproudly, impressively, and then through habit called upon hisdaughter for verification. "Didn't I, Paloma?"

Miss Paloma's answer was unexpected, and came with equal emphasis:"No, you didn't, father. The miserable thing lost money. "

Blaze was only momentarily dismayed. Then he joined in hisvisitor's laughter. "How can a man get along without the co-operation of his own household?" he inquired, naively. "Maybe itwas next year I was thinking about. " Thereafter he confinedhimself to statements which required no corroboration. 

Dave had long since learned that to hold Blaze Jones to a strictaccountability with fact was to rob his society of its greatestcharm. A slavish accuracy in figures, an arid lack of imagination, reduces conversation to the insipidness of flat wine, and Blaze'stalk was never dull. He was a keen, shrewd, practical man, butsomewhere in his being there was concealed a tremendous, lop-sidedsense of humor which took the form of a bewildering imagery. Anattentive audience was enough for him, and, once his fancy was infull swing, there was no limit to his outrageous exaggerations. Alight of credulity in a hearer's eye filled him with prodigiousmirth, and it is doubtful if his listeners ever derived a fractionof the amusement from his fabrications that he himself enjoyed. Paloma's spirit of contradiction was the only fly in his ointment;now that his daughter was old enough to "keep books" on him, muchof the story-teller's joy was denied him. 

Of course his proclivities occasionally led to misapprehensions;chance acquaintances who recognized him as an artful romancer wereliable to consider him generally untruthful. But even in thismisconception Blaze took a quiet delight, secure in the knowledgethat all who knew him well regarded him as a rock of integrity. Asa matter of fact, his genuine exploits were quite as sensationalas those of his manufacture. 

When, after supper, Blaze had hitched a pair of driving-mules tohis buckboard, preparatory to showing his guest the glories ofJonesville, Dave said:

"Paloma's getting mighty pretty. "

"She's as pretty as a blue-bonnet flower, " her father agreed. "Andshe runs me around something scandalous. I 'ain't got the freedomof a peon. " Blaze sighed and shook his shaggy head. "You know me, Dave; I never used to be scared of nobody. Well, it's differentnow. She rides me with a Spanish bit, and my soul ain't my own. "With a sudden lightening of his gloom, he added: "Say, you'regoing to stay right here with us as long as you're in town; I wantyou to see how I cringe. " In spite of Blaze's plaintive tone itwas patent that he was inordinately proud of Paloma and wellcontent with his serfdom. 

Jonesville proved to be a typical Texas town of the modernvariety, and altogether different to the pictured frontiervillage. There were no one-storied square fronts, no rows ofsaloons with well-gnawed hitching-rails, no rioting cowboys. Onthe contrary, the larger buildings were of artificial stone, thesidewalks of concrete, and the store fronts of plate-glass. Arc-lights shed a bluishwhite glare over the wide street-crossings, and all in all the effect was much like that of a prosperous, orderly Northern farming town. 

Not that Jonesville would have filled an eye for beauty. It wastoo new and crude and awkward for that. It fitted loosely into itsclothes, for its citizens had patterned it with regard for thefuture, and it sprawled over twice its legitimate area. But to itshappy founder it seemed well-nigh perfect, and its destiny rousedhis maddest enthusiasm. He showed Dave the little red framerailroad station, distinguished in some mysterious way above thehundred thousand other little red frame railroad stations of theidentical size and style; he pointed out the Odd Fellows Hall, thePalace Picture Theater, with its glaring orange lights anddiscordant electric piano; he conducted Law to the First NationalBank, of which Blaze was a proud but somewhat ornamental director;then to the sugar-mill, the ice-plant, and other points of equallynovel interest. 

Everywhere he went, Jones was hailed by friends, for everybodyseemed to know him and to want to shake his hand. 

"SOME town and SOME body of men, eh?" he inquired, finally, andDave agreed:

"Yes. She's got a grand framework, Blaze. She'll be most as big asFort Worth when you fatten her up. "

Jones waved his buggy-whip in a wide circle that took in the milesof level prairie on all sides. "We've got the whole blamed stateto grow in. And, Dave, I haven't got an enemy in the place! Itwasn't many years ago that certain people allowed I'd never liveto raise this town. Why, it used to be that nobody dared to ridewith me--except Paloma, and she used to sleep with a shot-gun ather bedside. "

"You sure have been a responsibility to her. "

"But I'm as safe now as if I was in church. "

Law ventured to remark that none of Blaze's enemies had grown fatin prosecuting their feuds, but this was subject which the elderman invariably found embarrassing, and now he said:

"Pshaw! I never was the blood-letter people think. I'm as gentleas a sheep. " Then to escape further curiosity on that point hesuggested that they round out their riotous evening with a game ofpool. 

Law boasted a liberal education, but he was no match for thefather of Jonesville, who wielded a cue with a dexterity born ofyears of devotion to the game. In consequence, Blaze's enjoymentwas in a fair way to languish when the proprietor of the EliteBilliard Parlor returned from supper to say:

"Mr. Jones, there's a real good pool-player in town, and he wantsto meet you. "

Blaze uttered a triumphant cry. "Get him, quick! Send the brass-band to bring him. Dave, you hook your spurs over the rung of achair and watch your uncle clean this tenderfoot. If he's gotclass, I'll make him mayor of the town, for a good pool-shooter isall this metropolis lacks. Why, sometimes I go plumb to San Antonefor a game. " He whispered in his friend's ear, "Paloma don't letme gamble, but if you've got any dinero, get it down on me. " Then, addressing the bystanders, he proclaimed, "Boys, if this pilgrimis good enough to stretch me out we'll marry him off and settlehim down. "

"No chance, Uncle Blaze; he's the most married person in town, "some one volunteered. "His wife is the new dressmaker--and she'sgot a mustache. " For some reason this remark excited generalmirth. 

"That's too bad. I never saw but one woman with a mustache, andshe licked me good. If he's yoked up to that kind of a lady, Iallow his nerves will be wrecked before he gets here. I hope toGod he ain't entirely done for. " Blaze ran the last three ballsfrom a well-nigh impossible position, then racked up the wholefifteen with trembling eagerness and eyed the door expectantly. Hewas wiping his spectacles when the proprietor returned with aslim, sallow man whom he introduced as Mr. Strange. 

"Welcome to our city!" Blaze cried, with a flourish of hisglasses. "Get a prod, Mr. Strange, and bust 'em, while I clean mywind-shields. These fellow-townsmen of mine handle a cue like itwas an ox-gad. "

Mr. Strange selected a cue, studied the pyramid for an instant, then called the three ball for the upper left-hand corner, andpocketed it, following which he ran the remaining fourteen. Blazewatched this procedure near-sightedly, and when the table was barehe thumped his cue loudly upon the floor. He beamed upon hisopponent; he appeared ready to embrace him. 

"Bueno! There's art, science, and natural aptitude! Fly at 'emagain, Mr. Strange, and take your fill. " He finished polishing hisspectacles, and readjusted them. "I aim to make you so comfortablein Jonesville that---" Blaze paused, he started, and a peculiarexpression crept over his face. 

It seemed to Law that his friend actually turned pale; at anyrate, his mouth dropped open and his gaze was no longerhypnotically following the pool-balls, but was fixed upon hisopponent. 

Now there were chapters in the life of Blaze Jones that had neverbeen fully written, and it occurred to Dave that such a one hadbeen suddenly reopened; therefore he prepared himself for somekind of an outburst. But Blaze appeared to be numbed; he evenjumped nervously when Mr. Strange missed a shot and advised himthat his chance had come. 

As water escapes from a leaky pail, so had Jones's fondness forpool oozed away, and with it had gone his accustomed skill. Heshot blindly, and, much to the general surprise, missed an easyattempt. 

"Can't expect to get 'em all, " comfortingly observed Mr. Strangeas he executed a combination that netted him two balls and brokethe bunch. After that he proved the insincerity of his statementby clearing the cloth for a second time. The succeeding frameswent much the same, and finally Blaze put up his cue, mumbling:

"I reckon I must have another chill coming on. My feet are plumbdead. "

"Cold feet are sure bad. " Strange favored the crowd with a wink. 

"I'm sort of sick. "

"That's tough!" the victor exclaimed, regretfully. "But I'll tellyou what we'll do--we'll take a little look into the future. "

"What d'you mean?"

"Simply this: Nature has favored me with second sight and theability to read fortunes. I foretell good an' evil, questions oflove and mattermony by means of numbers, cards, dice, dominoes, apple-parings, egg-shells, tea-leaves, an' coffee-grounds. " Thespeaker's voice had taken on the brazen tones of a circus barker. "I pro'nosticate by charms, ceremonies, omens, and moles; by thefeatures of the face, lines of the hand, spots an' blemishes ofthe skin. I speak the language of flowers. I know one hundred andeighty-seven weather signs, and I interpet dreams. Now, ladies andgents, this is no idle boast. Triflin' incidents, little marks onthe cuticle, although they appear to be the effect of chance, arenevertheless of the utmost consequence, an' to the skilledinterpeter they foretell the temper of, an' the events that willhappen to, the person bearin' 'em. Now let us take this littledeck of common playing-cards---"

The monologist, suiting the action to the word, conjured a deck ofcards from somewhere, and extended them to Blaze. "Select one; anyone---"

"Hell!" snorted Jones, slipping into his coat. 

"You are a skeptic! Very well. I convince nobody against his will. But wait! You have a strong face. Stand where you are. " Extractingfrom another pocket a tiny pair of scissors and a sheet of carbonpaper, Mr. Strange, with the undivided attention of the audienceupon him, began to cut Blaze's silhouette. He was extraordinarilyadept, and despite his subject's restlessness he completed thelikeness in a few moments; then, fixing it upon a plain whitecardboard, he presented it with a flourish. 

Blaze accepted the thing and plunged for the open air. 

IX

A SCOUTING TRIP

"What ails you?" Law inquired as he and Blaze rolled away in thebuckboard. 

"Serves me right for leaving my six-shooter at home, " panted therancher. "Well, I might have known they'd find me some day. "

"'They'? Who?"

"That hombre and his wife--the woman with the mustache. They sworethey'd get me, and it looks like they will, for I daresn't raisemy hand to protect myself. "

This was very mystifying to Dave, and he said so. 

"The woman'll recognize me, quick enough, " Blaze asserted, andthen, "God knows what Paloma will do. "

"Really! Is it that bad?"

"It's a vile story, Dave, and I never expected to tell anybody;but it's bound to come out on me now, so you better hear my side. Last summer I attended a convention at Galveston, and one hot dayI decided to take a swim, so I hired a suit and a room to cache mysix-shooter in. It was foolish proceedings for a man my age, butthe beach was black with people and I wasn't altogether myself. You see, we'd had an open poker game running in my room for threedays, and I hadn't got any sleep. I was plumb feverish, and neededa dip. Well, I'm no water-dog, Dave; I can't swim no better than atarrapin with its legs cut off, but I sloshed around some in thesurf, and then I took a walk to dreen off and see the sights. Itwas right interesting when I got so I could tell the women fromthe men--you see I'd left my glasses in the bath-house. 

"Now I'd sort of upheld the general intemperance of that pokergame for three days and nights--but I don't offer my condition asan excuse for what follows. No gentleman ought to lay hisindecencies onto John Barley corn when they're nothing more norless than the outcroppin's of his own orneriness. Liquor has gotenough to answer for without being blamed for human depravities. Idare say I was friendlier than I had any right to be; I spoke tostrangers, and some of the girls hollered at me, but I wouldn'thave harmed a soul. 

"Well, in the course of my promenade I came to a couple of fellerssetting half-buried in the sand, and just as I was passing one ofthem got up--sort of on all-fours and--er--facing away from me--sabe? That's where the trouble hatched. I reached out and, withnothing but good-will in my heart, I--sort of pinched this party-sort of on the hip, or thereabouts. I didn't mean a thing by it, Dave. I just walked on, smiling, till something run into me frombehind. When I got up and squared around, there was that man wejust left cutting didos out of black paper. 

"'What d'you mean by pinching my wife?' he says, and he wasr'arin' mad. 

"'Your WIFE?' I stammers, and with that he climbs me. Dave, I wasweak with shame and surprise, and all I could do was hold him off. Sure enough, the man I'd pinched was a long, ga'nt woman with alittle black mustache, and here she came!

"We started in right there. I never saw such a poisonous person asthat woman. She was coiled, her head was up, and her rattlesagoing, and so I finally lit out But I'm sort of fat, and theyover-ran me. They bayed me against the sea-wall, and all I had theheart to do was to hold 'em off some more. Soon as I got my wind Ishook 'em off a second time and run some more, but they downed me. By that time we'd begun to gather quite a crowd. . .. 

"Dave, was you ever treed by wild hogs? That's how them two peoplekept after me. You'd have thought I'd deprived 'em of their young. I didn't want to hurt 'em, but whenever I'd run they'd tangle mylegs. By and by I got so short of breath that I couldn't run, so Ifell on top of the man. But the woman got me by the legs androlled me under. I busted out and hoofed it again, but they caughtme and down we went, me on top. Then that man's helpmate grabbedmy legs and rolled me over, like she did before. Finally I got tootired to do anything but paw like a puppy. It seems like we musthave fought that way all the morning, Dave. Anyhow, peoplegathered from long distances and cheered the woman. I gotdesperate toward the last, and I unraveled the right hip of mybathing suit grabbing for my gun. I couldn't see the bath-housefor the sand in my eyes, so I must have led 'em up across theboulevard and into the tent colony, for after a while we wererolling around among tent-pegs and tangling up in guy-ropes, andall the time our audience was growing. Dave, those tent-ropessounded like guitar strings. "

Blaze paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, whereupon hislistener inquired in a choking voice:

"How did you come out?"

"I reckon I'd have got shed of 'em somehow, for I was resting upon top of my man, but that stinging lizard of a woman got herclaws into the neck of my bathing-suit and r'ared back on it. Dave, she skinned me out of that garment the way you'd skin out aneel, and--there I was! You never heard such a yelling as went up. And I didn't hear all of it, either, for I just laid back my earsand went through those sight-seers like a jack-rabbit. I neverknew a man could run like I did. I could hear people holler, 'Herehe comes, ' 'There he goes, ' 'Yonder he went, ' but I was neverheaded. I hurdled the sea-wall like an antelope, and before theygot eyes on me I was into my bath-house. 

"When I'd got dressed, I sneaked up to the Galvez for a drink. Inthe bar were a lot of stockmen, and they asked me where I'd been. I told 'em I'd been nursing a sick lodge member, and they said:

"'Too bad! You missed the damnedest fight since Custer was licked. We couldn't get very close, for the jam, but it was great!'

"The story went all over Galveston. The husband swore he'd killthe man who attacked his wife, and the newspapers called on thepolice to discover the ruffian. "

There was a protracted silence; then Law controlled his voicesufficiently to say: "It's fortunate he didn't recognize you to-night. "

"Maybe he did. Anyhow, his wife is the new dressmaker Paloma'shired. I 'ain't got a chance, Dave. That story will ruin me in thecommunity, and Paloma will turn me out when she learns I'm a--alady-pincher. "

"What are you going to do about it?"

Blaze sighed. "I don't know, yet. Probably I'll end by runningfrom those scorpions, like I did before. "

 The next morning at breakfast Paloma announced, "Father, you musthelp Dave hunt down these cattle thieves. "

"Ain't that sort of a big order?" Blaze queried. 

"Perhaps, but you're the very man to do it. Ricardo Guzman is theonly person who knows the Lewis gang as well as you do. "

Jones shook his head doubtfully. "Don Ricardo has been working uphis own private feud with that outfit. If I was the kind that wentlooking for a fight, I wouldn't have paid freight on myself fromthe Panhandle down here. I could have got one right at home, anymorning before breakfast. "

"Ricardo Guzman is something of a black sheep himself, " Law spokeup. 

"Pshaw! He's all right. I reckon he has changed a few brands inhis time, but so has everybody else. Why, that's how 'Old Ed'Austin got his start. If a cowman tells you he never stoleanything, he's either a dam' good liar or a dam' bad roper. ButRicardo's going straight enough now. "

"He has lost his share of stock, " Paloma explained, "and he'llwork with you if father asks him. You go along with Dave---"

"I'm too busy, " Blaze demurred, "and I ain't feeling good. I hadbad dreams all night. "

"I don't want you around here this morning. That new dressmaker iscoming. "

Jones rose abruptly from the table. "I reckon my business canwait. Hustle up, Dave. " A few moments later, as they were saddlingtheir horses, he lamented: "What did I tell you? Here I go, on thedodge from a dressmaker. I s'pose I've got to live like a road-agent now, till something happens. "

 Don Ricardo Guzman was an American, but he spoke no English. Anaccident of birth had made him a citizen of the United States--hisfather having owned a ranch which lay north instead of south ofthe Rio Grande. Inasmuch as the property had fallen to Ricardo, his sons, too, were Yankees in the eyes of the law. But in allother respects Don Ricardo and his family differed not at all fromthe many Guzmans who lived across the border. The Guzman ranchcomprised a goodly number of acres, and, since live stock multiplyrapidly, its owner had in some sort prospered. On the bank of aresaca---a former bed of the Rio Grande--stood the house, an adobestructure, square, white, and unprotected from the sun by shrub ortree. Behind it were some brush corrals and a few scattered mudjacals, in which lived the help. 

Ricardo had just risen from a siesta when his two visitors rodeup, and he made them welcome with the best he had. There followeda complimentary exchange of greetings and the usual flow of smalltalk. Ricardo had suffered a severe toothache--the same abominableaffliction that had lost Porfirio Diaz an empire. It had been adry spring, but, praise God, the water still held in the resaca--his two sons were branding calves in one of the outer pastures--and there had been a very good calf crop indeed. Blaze recountedhis own doings; Law told of Ranger activities along the lowerborder. In the cool of the afternoon Ricardo rode with hisvisitors, and then, cordial relations being now established, hebegan to divulge information of value to Law. 

Yes, he had endured many depredations from thieves. It wasshameful, but doubtless God willed that a certain amount ofstealing should go on in the world. The evil-doers were certainlyfavored by nature, in this locality, for the great expanse ofbrush country to the north and east offered almost perfectsecurity, and the river, to the south, gave immunity from pursuitor prosecution. The beeves were driven north into the wilderness, but the horses went to Mexico, where the war had created a marketfor them. The Federals had plenty of money to buy mounts. 

Whom did Don Ricardo suspect?

The old man was non-committal. Suspicion was one thing, proof wasquite another; and conviction was difficult under the best ofcircumstances. Why, even a cow's recognition of her own calf wasnot evidence for a court, and alibis were easily proven. Unlessthe thieves were caught in the very act there was no case againstthem, and--por Dios!--one could not be for ever on guard. Whocould tell where the malefactors would strike next? Now, in Mexicoone could afford to kill an undesirable neighbor without so muchformality. But, thank God! Don Ricardo was not a Mexican. No, hewas a good American citizen. It was something to make him sleepwell in these war-times. 

"Just the same, I'll bet he'd sleep better if the Lewis outfit wascleaned up, " Dave ventured, and Blaze agreed. 

Guzman caught his enemy's name and nodded. 

"Ah! That sin verguenza! He sells arms to the Candeleristas andhorses to the Potosistas. Perhaps he steals my calves. Who knows?"

"Senor Lewis doesn't need to steal. He has money, " Jones argued. 

"True! But who is so rich that he would not be richer? Lewisemploys men who are poor, and he himself is above nothing. I, too, am a friend of the Rebels. Panchito, the Liberator, was a saint, and I give money to the patriots who fight for his memory. But Ido not aid the tyrant Potosi with my other hand. Yes, and who isricher, for instance, than Senor Eduardo Austin?"

"You surely don't accuse him of double-dealing with the Rebels?"Blaze inquired, curiously. 

"I don't know. He is a friend of Tad Lewis, and there are strangestories afloat. "

Just what these stories were, however, Ricardo would not say, feeling, perhaps, that he had already said too much. 

The three men spent that evening together, and in the morningBlaze rode home, leaving the Ranger behind for the time being asGuzman's guest. 

Dave put in the next two days riding the pastures, familiarizinghimself with the country, and talking with the few men he met. About all he discovered, however, was the fact that the Guzmanrange not only adjoined some of Lewis's leased land, but also wasbounded for several miles by the Las Palmas fence. 

It was pleasant to spend the days among the shy brush-cattle, withBessie Belle for company. The mare seemed to enjoy the excursionsas much as her owner. Her eyes and ears were ever alert; shetossed her head and snorted when a deer broke cover or a jack-rabbit scuttled out of her path; she showed a friendly interest inthe awkward calves which stood and eyed her with such amazementand then galloped stiffly off with tails high arched. 

Law had many times undertaken to break Bessie Belle of that habitof flinging her head high at sudden sounds, but she was nervousand inquisitive, and this was the one thing upon which shemaintained a feminine obstinacy. 

On the second evening the Ranger rode home through a drizzle thathad materialized after a long, threatening afternoon and nowpromised to become a real rain. Ricardo met him at the door tosay:

"You bring good fortune with you, senor, for the land is thirsty. To-morrow, if this rain holds, we shall ride together--you, Pedro, and I. Those thieves do their stealing when they leave no tracks. "

Raoul, the younger son, volunteered to go in place of his father, but Ricardo would not hear of it. 

"Am I so old that I must lie abed?" he cried. "No! We three shallride the fences, and if we encounter a cut wire--diablo!--we shallhave a story to tell, eh?"

The sky was leaden, the rain still fell in the morning when Daveand his two companions set out. Until noon they rode, theirslickers dripping, their horses steaming; then they ate anuncomfortable lunch under the thickest hackberry-tree they couldfind, after which they resumed their patrol. Ricardo's tongue atlength ran down under this discomfort, and the three riders sattheir saddles silently, swaying to the tireless fox-trot of theirhorses, their eyes engaged in a watchful scrutiny. 

At last Pedro, who was ahead, reined in and pointed; the otherssaw where the barbed-wire strands of the fence they had beenfollowing were clipped. A number of horse and calf tracks ledthrough the opening, and after an examination Ricardo announced:

"There are two men. They have come and gone, with the calves tiedneck and neck. "

"That is Las Palmas, isn't it?" Law indicated the pasture intowhich the trail led. 

Father and son answered, "Si, senor. "

For a time the Ranger lounged sidewise in his saddle, studying thecountry before him. The land was open and comparatively flat; itwas broken by tiny clumps of mesquite and low, sprawling beds ofcactus. Perhaps a half-mile away, however, began a long, narrowpatch of woods, with the tops of occasional oaks showing, and thisran parallel with the fence for a considerable distance. 

"They took them in yonder, to brand, " he said, straighteninghimself. "Maybe we'll be in time. "

Side by side the three men rode off Guzman's land, following thetracks to the nearest point of woods; there Law stopped to givehis directions. 

"Pedro, you ride down this side; Ricardo, you skirt the outside. Ishall keep to the middle. Walk your horses, for I shall goslowly. " He slipped his carbine from its scabbard; the others didthe same. 

But Dave's plan did not commend itself to Ricardo; the old man'sface puckered into an expression of doubt, and, removing his hat, he ran a hand over his wiry, short-cropped, white hair. 

"Senor, " he protested, "I know something about these men, and theywill not wait to learn that you are an officer. Perhaps I hadbetter ride with you. "

But Law declined the well-meant offer, and with a dubious shake ofthe head Ricardo rode away, while Dave guided Bessie Belle intothe grove. 

The mare seemed to know that something unusual was afoot. Perhapssome nervous tensity of her rider made itself felt, perhaps withequine sagacity she had understood from the first the nature ofthis scouting expedition. Dave was inclined to believe the latter--he had often averred that Bessie Belle knew quite as much as ormore than he. At any rate she picked her way with admirable care, her hoofs made almost no sound upon the wet soil; only thecomplaint of the saddle leathers or the swish of a wet branch roseabove the steady patter of the raindrops. It was not necessary toguide her; she selected the openings of her own free will, hersmall, sharp ears were alert, and her eyes searched the gladesintently. 

Dave smiled at this excess of caution and stroked Bessie Belle'swet neck encouragingly, whereupon she turned her head and itseemed to the rider that she nodded her complete understanding. Law could have kissed her. 

X

A RANGER'S HORSE

Onward through the dense foliage the two friends wound. Now andthen they stopped to listen, but the rain was heavy enough todrown all other noises. Encountering fresh tracks finally, Daveleaned from his saddle and studied them. What he saw caused him topush forward with no diminution of stealth. 

He had gone perhaps half a mile when Bessie Belle raised her head, and he noted that her nostrils were working sensitively. A fewyards farther on Law fancied that he could detect the smell of awood fire. Almost without a signal from him the mare halted in hertracks until he had satisfied himself. Still farther along theycame to a place where the brush was low, and there, rising throughthe tree-tops beyond, they saw a wavering plume of blue smoke. 

The Ranger rode into sight of the branding-fire with hisWinchester across his saddle-horn and his thumb upon the hammer;what followed came with almost the blinding suddenness of alightning crash, though afterward the events of that crowdedmoment lingered as a clear-cut memory. First there was the pictureof a sandy glade in the center of which burned a fire withbranding-irons in it, and a spotted calf tied to a tree, butotherwise no sign of life. Then, without warning, Bessie Bellethrew up her head in that characteristic trick of hers, andsimultaneously Dave saw a figure rise out of the grass at his leftwith rifle leveled. The Ranger remembered afterward the oddforeshortening of the weapon and the crooked twist of the facebehind it. With the first jerk of his horse's head his own gun hadleaped to his shoulder--he was not conscious of having willed itto do so--and even as he pressed the trigger he beheld a jet ofsmoke spurt from the muzzle aimed at him. With the kick of hiscarbine he felt Bessie Belle give way--it seemed to Dave that heshot while she was sinking. The next instant his feet, still inthe stirrups, were on the ground and his horse lay between them, motionless. That nervous fling of her head had saved Dave's life, for the rustler's bullet had shattered her skull in its flight, and she lay prone, with scarcely a muscular twitch, so sudden hadbeen her end. The breath escaped slowly from her lungs; it was asif she heaved a lingering sigh; one leg contracted and thenrelaxed. 

For a moment the Ranger was dazed. He stood staring down at hispet; then the truth engulfed him. He realized that he had riddenher to her death, and at the thought he became like a woman bereftof her child, like a lover who had seen his sweetheart slain. 

A shout--it was a hoarse, inarticulate cry; a swift, maddenedscrutiny that searched the sodden scene of the ambush; then he wasdown beside the mare, calling her name heartbrokenly, his armsaround her neck, his face against her warm, wet, velvet hide. 

Law knew that two men had entered the thicket, and therefore onestill remained to be reckoned with, but he gave no thought tothat. Nor did he rise to look after the grotesquely huddled figurethat had been a cattle thief only a moment before--both he and hisassailant had been too close to miss. From the corner of his eyehe could see a pair of boot-soles staring at him out of the grass, and they told him there was no need for investigation. Near thebody he heard a calf stirring, but he let it struggle. 

Bessie Belle's bright eyes were glazing; she did not hear herlover's voice. Her muzzle, softer than any satin, was loose, herlips would never twitch with that clumsy, quivering caress whichpleased her master so. One front hoof, washed as clean as agate, was awkwardly bent under her, the other had plowed a furrow in thesoft earth as she sank, and against this leg her head lay tipped. 

Don Ricardo and his son burst out of the brush from oppositedirections almost at the same moment, to find the Ranger with hisface buried in his horse's mane. 

"Caramba! What is this?" The old man flung himself from the saddleand came running. "You are injured?"

Pedro, too, bent over the officer, his brown face pale withapprehension. "Mother of God!" breathed the latter. "It was a wildthing to do, to ride alone---"

"I'm all right, " Law said, rising stiffly, whereupon both Mexicansvoiced their relief. 

"The saints be praised!"

"Si! What happened? There was a shot! Did you see nothing?"

Law jerked his head in the direction of the fallen man at hisback, and Pedro uttered a loud cry. 

"Look!" Father and son ran through the grass, then recoiled andbroke into a jargon of oaths and exclamations. 

Law followed them with his eyes. "Is he dead?" he inquired, coldly. 

"God! Yes. "

"Right in the mouth! The fellow was in hell before he realizedit. "

"See! It is as we thought, Pedro; one of Lewis's! Tse! Tse! Tse!What a sight!"

"Who is he?" queried the officer. 

"Pino Garza, one of the worst!" chimed the two Guzmans. 

Ricardo was dancing in his excitement. "I told you that Lewis knewsomething. The other one got past me, but he rode like the devil, and I cannot shoot like--this. "

"Wait!" exclaimed Pedro. "This is beyond my understanding. I heardbut one shot from here, then after an instant my father's gun. Andyet here is a dead horse and a dead man. "

"This fellow and I fired at about the same instant, " Daveexplained, but even when he had related the history of theencounter his companions could scarcely believe that such quickshooting was possible. 

It was difficult to secure a connected story from Ricardo, but hefinally made it plain that at the first report the other thief hadfled, exposing himself only long enough for the old man to take aquick shot in his direction. Ricardo had missed, and the miscreantwas doubtless well away by this time. He had ridden a sorrelhorse, that was all Ricardo could remember. 

Law looked only briefly at the gruesome results of hismarksmanship, then he turned back to the body of his beloved mare. Ricardo noticed at length that he was crying; as the Ranger kneltbeside the dead thoroughbred the old Mexican whispered to his son:

"Valgame Dios! This is a strange fellow. He weeps like a woman. Hemust have loved that horse as a man loves his wife. Who canunderstand these Gringos?" After a time he approached cautiouslyand inquired: "What shall we do with this hombre, senor? Pedro hasfound his horse. "

Law roused himself. With his own hands he gently removed BessieBelle's saddle, bridle, and blanket, then he gave his orders. 

"I'll take your horse, Ricardo, and you take--that fellow's. Get awagon and move him to Jonesville. "

"And you?"

"I'm going to follow that man on the sorrel. "

The dead man's saddle was left beside the body; then when theexchange of mounts had been effected and all was ready, Law made arequest that amazed both father and son. 

"If I'm not back by morning, I want you to bury my mare. " Hisvoice broke; he turned away his face. "Bury her deep, Ricardo, so--the coyotes can't dig her up; right here where she fell. I'll beback to see that it's done right. Understand?"

"Bueno! I understand perfectly. She was a pretty horse. She wasyour--bonita, eh? Well, you have a big heart, senor, as a braveman should have. Everything shall be done as you wish; I give youmy hand on it. " Ricardo reached down and gripped Law's palm. "Wewill name our pasture for her, too, because it is plain you lovedher dearly. So, then, until to-morrow. "

Law watched his two friends ride away, then he wiped hisWinchester and saw to his cinch. This done he raised BessieBelle's head and kissed the lip that had so often explored hispalm for sugar. With a miserable ache in his throat he mounted androde off to pick up the trail of the man on the sorrel pony. 

Fortunately this was not difficult, for the tracks of a runninghorse are plain in soft ground. Finding where his quarry hadbroken cover, Law set out at a lope. 

The fellow had ridden in a wide semicircle at first, then, findinghe was not pursued, he had slackened pace, and, in consequence, the signs became more difficult to follow. They seemed to lead inthe direction of Las Palmas, which Dave judged must be fullytwelve miles away, and when they continued to maintain this coursethe Ranger became doubly interested. Could it be, he askedhimself, that his quarry would have the audacity to ride to theAustin headquarters? If so, his identification promised to becomeeasy, for a man on a sorrel cow-pony was more than likely to beobserved. Perhaps he thought himself secure and counted upon theassistance of some friend or confederate among the Las Palmasranch-hands in case of pursuit. That seemed not unreasonable, particularly inasmuch as he could have no suspicion that it was aRanger who was on his trail. 

Dave lost the hoof-prints for a time, but picked them up again atthe pasture gate a few miles farther on, and was able to tracethem far enough to assure himself that his quarry was indeedheaded for the Austin house and had no intention of swingingsouthward toward the Lewis headquarters. 

By this time the rain had done its work, and to follow the tracksbecame a matter of guesswork. Night was coming on also, and Daverealized that at this rate darkness would find him far from hisgoal. Therefore he risked his own interpretation of the rider'sintent and pushed on without pausing to search out the trail stepby step. At the second gate the signs indicated that his man waslittle more than an hour ahead of him. 

The prospect of again seeing the ruddy-haired mistress of LasPalmas stirred Law more deeply than he cared to admit. AlaireAustin had been seldom out of his thoughts since their firstmeeting, for, after the fashion of men cut off from human society, he was subject to insistent fancies. Dave had many times livedover those incidents at the water-hole, and for the life of him hecould not credit the common stories of Alaire's coldness. To him, at least, she had appeared very human, and after they had oncebecome acquainted she had been unaffected and friendly. 

Since that meeting Dave had picked up considerable informationabout the object of his interest, and although much of this waspalpably false, it had served to make her a still more romanticfigure in his eyes. Alaire now seemed to be a sort of superwoman, and the fact that she was his friend, that something deep withinher had answered to him, afforded him a keen satisfaction, thegreater, perhaps, because of his surprise that it could be go. Nevertheless, he was uncomfortably aware that she had a husband. Not only so, but the sharp contrast in their positions wasdisagreeable to contemplate; she was unbelievably rich, and aperson of influence in the state, while he had nothing except hishealth, his saddle, and his horse---

With a desperate pang Law realized that now he had no horse. Bessie Belle, his best beloved, lay cold and wet back yonder inthe weeping mesquite. He found several cubes of sugar in hispocket, and with an oath flung them from him. Don Ricardo's horseseemed stiff-gaited and stubborn. 

Dave remembered how Mrs. Austin had admired the mare. No doubt shewould grieve at the fate that had befallen her, and that wouldgive them something to talk about. His own escape would interesther, too, and--Law realized, not without some naturalgratification, that he would appear to her as a sort of hero. 

The mist and an early dusk prevented him from seeing Las Palmasitself until he was well in among the irrigated fields. A fewmoments later when he rode up to the out-buildings he encountereda middle-aged Mexican who proved to be Benito Gonzalez, the rangeboss. 

Dave made himself known, and Benito answered his questions withapparent honesty. No, he had seen nothing of a sorrel horse or astrange rider, but he had just come in himself. Doubtless theycould learn more from Juan, the horse-wrangler, who was somewhereabout. 

Juan was finally found, but he proved strangely recalcitrant. Atfirst he knew nothing, though after some questioning he admittedthe possibility that he had seen a horse of the description given, but was not sure. More pressure brought forth the reluctantadmission that the possibility was almost a certainty. 

"What horse was it?" Benito inquired; but the lad was non-committal. Probably it belonged to some stranger. Juan could notrecollect just where or when he had seen the pony, and he wascertain he had not laid eyes upon the owner. 

"Devil take the boy! He's half-witted, " Benito growled. 

But Dave changed his tactics. "Oiga!" he said, sternly. "Do youwant to go to jail?" Juan had no such desire. "Then tell thetruth. Was the horse branded?"

"Yes. "

"With what brand?"

Juan had not noticed. 

"With the 'K. T. ' perhaps?" That was the Lewis brand. 

"Perhaps!"

"Where is it now?"

Juan insolently declared that he didn't know and didn't care. 

"Oh, you don't, eh?" Law reached for the boy and shook him untilhe yelled. "You will make a nice little prisoner, Juanito, and weshall find a way to make you speak. "

Gonzalez was inclined to resent such high-handed treatment of hisunderling, but respect for the Rangers was deep-rooted, and Juan'sbehavior was inexplicable. 

At last the horse-boy confessed. He had seen both horse and rider, but knew neither. Mr. Austin and the stranger had arrivedtogether, and the latter had gone on. That was the truth. 

"Bueno!" Law released his prisoner, who slunk away rubbing hisshoulder. "Now, Benito, we will find Mr. Austin. "

A voice answered from the dusk: "He won't take much finding, " andEd Austin himself emerged from the stable door. "Well, what do youwant?" he asked. 

"You are Mr. Austin, I reckon?"

"I am. What d'you mean by abusing my help?" The master of LasPalmas approached so near that his threatening scowl was visible. "I don't allow strangers to prowl around my premises. "

Amazed at this hostile greeting, Law explained in a word thereason for his presence. 

"I don't know anything about your man. What d'you want him for, and who are you?"

Dave introduced himself. "I want him for stealing Guzman calves. Itrailed him from where he and his partner cut into your southpasture. "

Benito stirred and muttered an oath, but Austin was unmoved. "Ireckon you must be a bad trailer, " he laughed. "We've got nothieves here. What makes you think Guzman lost any calves?"

Dave's temper, never too well controlled at best, began to rise. He could not imagine why a person of Ed Austin's standing shouldbehave in this extraordinary manner, unless perhaps he was drunk. 

"Well, I saw the calves, and I left the fellow that was brandingthem with a wet saddle-blanket over his face. "

"Eh? What's that?" Austin started, and Gonzalez uttered asmothered exclamation. "You killed him? He's dead?"

"Dead enough to skin. I caught him with his irons in the fire andthe calves necked up in your pasture. Now I want his companero. "

"I--hope you don't think we know anything about him, " Edprotested. 

"Where's that man on the sorrel horse?"

Austin turned away with a shrug. 

"You rode in with him, " Dave persisted. 

Ed wheeled quickly. "How do you know I did?"

"Your boy saw you. "

The ranchman's voice was harsh as he said: "Look here, my friend, you're on the wrong track. The fellow I was with had nothing to dowith this affair. Would you know your man? Did you get a look athim?"

"No. But I reckon Don Ricardo could tell his horse. "

"Humph!" Austin grunted, disagreeably. "So just for that you comeprowling around threatening my help, eh? Trying to frame up acase, maybe? Well, it don't go. I was out with one of Tad Lewis'smen. "

"What was his name?" Dave managed to inquire. 

"Urbina. He had a sorrel under him, but there are thousands ofsorrel horses. "

"What time did you meet him?"

"I met him at noon and--I've been with him ever since. So you seeyou're wrong. I presume your man doubled back and is laughing atyou. "

Law's first bewilderment had given place to a black rage; for themoment he was in danger of disregarding the reason for "YoungEd's" incivility and giving free rein to his passion, but hechecked himself in time. 

"Would you mind telling me what you and this Urbina were doing?"he inquired, harshly. 

Austin laughed mockingly. "That's my business. " said he. 

Dave moistened his lips. He hitched his shoulders nervously. Hewas astonished at his own self-control, though the certainty thatAustin was drunk helped him to steady himself. Nevertheless, hedared not trust himself to speak. 

Construing this silence as an acknowledgment of defeat, Ed turnedto go. Some tardy sense of duty, however, prompted him to flingback, carelessly:

"I suppose you've come a good ways. If you're hungry, Benito willshow you the way to the kitchen. " Then he walked away into thedarkness, followed by the shocked gaze of his range boss. 

Benito roused himself from his amazement to say, warmly: "Si, compadre. You will enjoy a cup of hot coffee. "

But Law ground out fiercely: "I'm not used to kitchen hand-outs. Ireckon I can chew my bridle-reins if I get too hungry. " Walking tohis horse, he vaulted into the saddle. 

Benito laid a hand upon his thigh and apologized. "Senor Ed is astrange man. He is often like this, lately. You understand me?Will you come to my house for supper?"

"Thank you, but I think I'll ride on to Tad Lewis's and seeUrbina. "

At this the Mexican shook his head as if apprehensive of theresult, but he said nothing more. 

Law hesitated as he was about to spur out of the yard. "By theway, " he ventured, "you needn't mention this to Mrs. Austin. "

"She is not here, " Gonzalez told him. "She has gone to La Feria tosee about her affairs. She would not permit of this occurrence ifshe were at home. She is a very fine lady. "

"Yes. Good night, Benito. "

"Good night, senor. "

When the Ranger had gone, Gonzalez walked slowly toward his housewith his head bowed thoughtfully. 

"It is very strange, " he muttered. "How could Don Eduardo have metthis Garza at noon when, with my own eyes, I saw him ride awayfrom Las Palmas at three o'clock in the afternoon? It is verystrange. "

XI

JUDGE ELLSWORTH EXACTS A PROMISE

On his way to the Lewis ranch Dave Law had a struggle withhimself. He had earned a reputation as a man of violent temper, and the time was not long past when a fraction of the insult EdAustin had offered him would have provoked a vigorouscounterblast. The fact that on this occasion he had managed torestrain himself argued an increase of self-control thatespecially gratified him, because his natural tendency to "fly offthe handle" had led more than once to regrettable results. Infact, it was only since he had assumed the duties of a peaceofficer that he had made a serious effort at self-government. ARanger's work calls for patience and forbearance, and Dave hadbegun to realize the perils of his temperament. Normally he was alevel-headed, conservative fellow, but when angered a thousanddevils sprang up in him and he became capable of the wildestexcess. This instability, indeed, had been largely to blame forhis aimless roaming. Deep inside himself he knew that it wasnothing but his headstrong temper which had brought on all hismisfortunes and left him, well along in his thirties, a wanderer, with nothing he could call his own. As with most men of histurbulent disposition, fits of fury were usually followed by keenrevulsions of feeling. In Dave these paroxysms had frequently beensucceeded by such a sense of shame as to drive him from the sceneof his actions, and in the course of his rovings he had acquiredan ample store of regrets--bitter food for thought during thesilent hours when he sat over his camp-fire or rode alone throughthe mesquite. His hatreds were keen and relentless, his passionswild, and yet, so far as he knew, they had never led him to commita mean or a downright evil deed. He had killed men, to be sure, but never, he was thankful to say, in one of his moments offrenzy. 

The killing of men in the fierce exultation of battle, the slayingof a criminal by an officer under stress of duty, even the takingof life under severe personal provocation, were acts that did notput one beyond the pale. Such blood washes off. But there werestains of a different kind. 

Dave was glad that he had swallowed "Young Ed's" incivility, notonly for his own sake, but for the sake of Alaire. 

After all, he argued, it was barely possible that Ed had spokenthe truth. There WERE many sorrel horses; the evidence of thoserain-washed hoof-prints was far from conclusive; even the factthat Urbina belonged to the Tad Lewis outfit was no more than asuspicious circumstance. And yet, earnestly as he strove toconvince himself of these possibilities, the Ranger could not downthe conviction that the rancher had lied and that he himself wason the right track. 

It was late when he arrived at his destination, but Lewis's housewas dark, and it required some effort to awaken the owner. WhenTad at last appeared, clad in undershirt and trousers, he greetedthe Ranger with a leveled Winchester; but when Dave had made knownhis identity he invited him in, though with surly reluctance. 

Lewis was a sandy-complexioned man of about forty, with colorlessbrows and a mean, shifty eye. Formerly a cowboy, he had by theexercise of some natural ability acquired a good property--and abad reputation. Just how or why he had prospered was a mysterywhich his neighbors never tired of discussing. 

Tad, it seemed, resented any interruption of his rest, and showedthe fact plainly. 

Yes, he employed a fellow named Urbina. What was wanted of him?

Law explained briefly. 

"Why, he's one of my best men!" laughed the rancher. "He wouldn'tsteal nothing. "

"Well, I had to shoot another good man of yours, " Dave said, quietly. 

Lewis fell back a step. "Which one? Who?" he inquired, quickly. 

"Pino Garza. " Dave told of the meeting at the branding-fire andits outcome. He was aware, meanwhile, that Lewis's family werelistening, for behind a half-open bedroom door he could hear anexcited whispering. 

"Killed him the first shot, eh?" Tad was dumfounded. "Now I neverthought Pino was that bad. But you never can tell about theseGreasers, can you? They'll all steal if they get a chance. I letPino go, 'bout a week back; but he's been hangin' around, aimin'to visit some of his relatives up in the brush country. It wasprobably one of them old Guzman saw. Anyhow, it couldn't of beenAdolfo Urbina; he was over to Las Palmas all the afternoon. "

"Did you send him there?"

"Sure. Ed Austin can tell you. "

"Where is Urbina now?"

"I reckon he's asleep somewhere. We'll dig him up and talk to him, if you say so. "

"Good. "

Tad's willingness to cooperate with the officer, now that heunderstood the situation, was in marked contrast to the behaviorof Austin. In fact, his offer to help was almost too willinglygiven to suit Dave, who expected him to protest at being draggedout on such a night. No protest came, however; Lewis slipped intohis boots and slicker, explaining meanwhile:

"I'm sorry this play came up, for I don't want folks to think Igot a gang of thieves workin' for me. "

But Adolfo Urbina was nowhere to be found. No one had seen himsince about seven o'clock, nor could it be discovered where he wasspending the night. Dave remembered that it had been about sevenwhen he left Las Palmas, and ascertained, indirectly, that Tad hada telephone. On his way from Austin's Law had stopped at a ranchofor a bite to eat, but he could forgive himself for the delay if, as he surmised, Urbina had been warned by wire of his coming. 

"That's too bad, ain't it?" Lewis said. "But he'll be around againin the morning, and I'll get him for you. You leave it to me. "

There was plainly nothing to do but accept this offer since itcould avail nothing to wait here for Urbina's return. Unless thefellow gave himself up, he probably could not be found, now thatthe alarm was given, without a considerable search--in view ofwhich Dave finally remounted his borrowed horse and rode away inthe direction of Jonesville. 

It was after daylight when he dismounted stiffly at Blaze's gate. He was wet to the skin and bespattered with mud; he had beenalmost constantly in the saddle for twenty-four hours, and DonRicardo's cow-pony was almost exhausted. 

Blaze and Paloma, of course, were tremendously interested in hisstory. 

"Say, now, that's quick work, " the latter exclaimed, heartily. "You're some thief-buster, Dave, and if you'll just stay aroundhere little calves can grow up with some comfort. "

When Dave rode to Jonesville, after breakfast, he found that thebody of his victim had been brought in during the night, and thatthe town was already buzzing with news of the encounter. Duringthe forenoon Don Ricardo and his sons arrived, bringing additionalinformation, which they promptly imparted to the Ranger. TheGuzmans were people of action. All three of them had spent thenight on horseback, and Pedro had made a discovery. On the dayprevious Garza had been seen riding in company with a man astridea sorrel pony, and this man had been recognized as Adolfo Urbina. Pedro's witness would swear to it. 

Their distance from Las Palmas at the time when they had been seentogether proved, beyond question, that unless Urbina had flown hecould not have arrived at the place in question by noon, the hourEd Austin had fixed. 

This significant bit of information, however, Dave advised theGuzmans not to make public for the time being. 

Toward midday Tad Lewis and three of his men arrived with the newsthat Urbina had left for Pueblo before they could intercept him. 

"He's got a girl up there, and he's gone to get married, " Tadexplained. "I'm sure sorry we missed him. "

Dave smiled grimly at the speaker. 

"Are you sure he didn't cross to the other side?" he asked. 

Lewis retorted warmly: "Adolfo's an all-right hombre, and I'llback him. So 'll Ed Austin, I guess me an' Ed are responsible, ain't we?" Some skeptical expression in his hearer's face promptedhim to inquire, brusquely, "Don't you believe what I'm telling youabout his goin' to Pueblo?"

"I guess he's gone--somewhere. "

Tad uttered an angry exclamation. "Looks to me like you'd made upyour mind to saddle this thing onto him whether he done it or not. Well, he's a poor Mexican, but I won't stand to see himrailroaded, and neither will 'Young Ed. '"

"No?"

"You heard me! Ed will alibi him complete. "

Law answered, sharply: "You tell Ed Austin to go slow with hisalibis. And you take this for what it's worth to you: I'm going toget all the cattle-rustlers in this county--ALL of them, understand?"

Lewis flushed redly and sputtered: "If you make this stick withAdolfo, nobody 'll be safe. I reckon Urbina's word is as good asold Ricardo's. Everybody knows what HE is. "

Later when Dave met the Guzmans, Ricardo told him, excitedly, "That horse Tad Lewis is riding is the one I saw yesterday. "

"Are you sure?"

"Listen, senor. Men in cities remember the faces they see; I havelived all my life among horses, and to me they are like men. Iseldom forget. "

"Very well. Tad says Urbina has gone to Pueblo to get married, soI'm going to follow him, and I shall be there when he arrives. "

"Bueno! Another matter"--Ricardo hesitated--"your bonita--thepretty mare. She is buried deep. "

"I'm glad, " said Dave. "I think I shall sleep better for knowingthat. "

Since the recent rain had rendered the black valley roadsimpassable for automobiles, Dave decided to go to Pueblo by rail, even though it was a roundabout way, and that afternoon found himjolting over the leisurely miles between Jonesville and the mainline. He was looking forward to a good night's sleep when hearrived at the junction; but on boarding the north-bound throughtrain he encountered Judge Ellsworth, who had just heard of theGarza killing, and of course was eager for details. The two sat inthe observation-car talking until a late hour. 

Knowing the judge for a man of honor and discretion. Daveunburdened himself with the utmost freedom regarding hissuspicions of Ed Austin. 

Ellsworth nodded. "Yes, Ed has thrown in with the Rebel junta inSan Antone, and Tad Lewis is the man they use to run arms andsupplies in this neighborhood. That's why he and Ed are sofriendly. Urbina is probably your cattle thief, but he has a holdover Ed, and so he rode to Las Palmas when he was pursued, knowingthat no jury would convict him over Austin's testimony. "

"Do you think Ed would perjure himself?" Dave asked. 

"He has gone clean to the bad lately; there's no telling whathe'll do. I'd hate to see you crowd him, Dave. "

"They call you the best lawyer in this county because you settleso many cases out of court. " The judge smiled at this. "Well, here's a chance for you to do the county a good turn and keep EdAustin out of trouble. "

"How?"

"The prosecuting attorney is a new man, and he wants to make areputation by breaking up the Lewis gang. "

"Well?"

"He intends to cinch Urbina, on Ricardo's and my testimony. You'rea friend of Austin's; you'd better tip him to set his watch aheada few hours and save himself a lot of trouble. The prosecutingattorney don't like Ed any too well. Understand?"

The judge pondered this suggestion for a moment. "'Young Ed' is aqueer fellow. Once in a while he gets his neck bowed. "

"So do I, " Law declared, quietly. "He treated me like a hobo--sentme to the kitchen for a hand-out. That sticks. If I hadn't tameddown considerably these late years, I'd have--wound him up, rightthere. "

From beneath his drooping lids Ellsworth regarded the Rangercuriously. "You HAVE a bad temper, haven't you?"

"Rotten!"

"I know. You were a violent boy. I've often wondered how you weregetting along. How do you feel when you're--that way?"

It was the younger man's turn to hesitate. "Well, I don't feelanything when I'm mad, " he confessed. "I'm plumb crazy, I guess. But I feel plenty bad afterwards. "

There was a flicker of the judge's eyelids. 

Dave went on musingly: "I dare say it's inherited. They tell me myfather was the same. He was--a killer. "

"Yes. He was all of that. "

"Say! WAS he my father?"

Ellsworth started. "What do you mean?"

Dave lifted an abstracted gaze from the Pullman carpet. "I hardlyknow what I mean, Judge. But you've had hunches, haven't you?Didn't you ever KNOW that something you thought was true wasn'ttrue at all? Well, I never felt as if I had Frank Law's blood inme. "

"This is interesting!" Ellsworth stirred and leaned forward. "Whatever made you doubt it, Dave?"

"Um-m. Nothing definite. That's what's so unsatisfactory. But, forinstance, my mother was Mexican---"

"Spanish. "

"All right. Am I Spanish? Have I any Spanish blood in me?"

"She didn't look Spanish. She was light-complexioned, for onething. We both know plenty of people with a Latin strain in themwho look like Anglo-Saxons. Isn't there anything else?"

"Nothing I can lay my finger on, except some kid fancies and--thathunch I spoke about. "

Ellsworth sat back with a deep breath. "You were educated in theNorth, and your boyhood was spent at school and college, away fromeverything Mexican. "

"That probably accounts for it, " Law agreed; then his face litwith a slow smile. "By the way, don't tell Mrs. Austin that I'm asort of college person. She thinks I'm a red-neck, and she sendsme books. "

Ellsworth laughed silently. "Your talk is to blame, Dave. Has shesent you The Swiss Family Robinson?"

"No. Mostly good, sad romances with an uplift--stories full oflances at rest, and Willie-boys in tin sweaters. Life must havebeen mighty interesting in olden days, there was so much lovingand killing going on. The good women were always beautiful, too, and the villains never had a redeeming trait. It's a shame howhuman nature has got mixed up since then, isn't it? There isn't a'my-lady' in all those books who could bust a cow-pony or run aranch like Las Palmas. Say, Judge, how'd you like to have to livewith a perfect lady?"

"Don't try your damned hog-Latin on me, " chided the lawyer. "Alaire Austin's romance is sadder than any of those novels. "

Dave nodded. "But she doesn't cry about it. " Then he asked, gravely: "Why didn't she pick a real fellow, who'd kneel and kissthe hem of her dress and make a man of himself? That's what shewants--love and sacrifice, and lots of both. If I were Ed AustinI'd wear her glove in my bosom and treat her like those queens inthe stories. Incense and adoration and---"

"What's the matter with you?" queried the judge. 

"I guess I'm lonesome. "

"Are you smitten with that girl?"

Dave laughed. "Maybe! Who wouldn't be? Why doesn't she divorcethat bum--she could do it easy enough--and then marry a chap whocould run Las Palmas for her?"

"A man about six feet three or four, " acidly suggested the judge. 

"That's the picture I have in mind. "

"You think you could run Las Palmas?"

"I wouldn't mind trying. "

"Really?"

"Foolish question number three. "

"You must never marry, " firmly declared the older man. "You'd makea bad husband, Dave. "

"She ought to know how to get along with a bad husband, by thistime. "

Both men had been but half serious. Ellsworth knew his companion'swords carried no disrespect; nevertheless, he said, gravely:

"If you ever think of marrying I want you to come to me. Promise?"

"I'll do it--on the way back from church. "

"No. On the way to church. I'll have something to tell you. "

"Tell me now, " urged Law. 

"There's nothing to tell, yet. "

"I'll have no old ruffians kissing my brand-new bride, " Daveaverred. 

The judge's face broadened in a smile. "Thank Heaven 'Young Ed'has the insides of a steel range, and so my pet client is safefrom your mercenary schemes for some years. Just the same, if youever do think of marrying--remember--I want you to come to me--andI'll cure you. "

XII

LONGORIO MAKES BOLD

Upon her arrival at La Feria Alaire discovered that the Federaldepredations had been even greater than she had feared. Not onlyhad the soldiers taken a great many head of cattle, but they hadpractically cleared the ranch of horses, leaving scarcely enoughwith which to carry on the work. 

Alaire's hacienda comprised a hundred thousand acres or more--lacking a thorough survey, she had never determined exactly howmuch land she really owned--and the property fronted upon a streamof water. In any other country it would have been a garden ofriches, but agriculture was well-nigh impossible in northernMexico. For several years now the instability of the governmenthad precluded any plan of development, and, in consequence, thefields were out of cultivation and cattle grazed over the moistbottom lands, belly deep in grass. The entire ranch had been givenover to pasture, and even now, after Alaire had sold off much ofher stock because of the war, the task of accurately counting whatremained required a longer time than she had expected, and hervisit lengthened. 

However, life in the roomy, fortress-like adobe house was pleasantenough. Dolores saw to her mistress's wants, and the regularinhabitants of La Feria were always extravagantly glad to maketheir employer welcome. They were a simple, mirth-loving, industrious people, little concerned over the war, so long as theywere unmolested, but obviously relieved to see Alaire because oftheir recent fright at the incursion of Longorio's troops. 

In the work that now went forward Jose Sanchez took a prominentpart. For once in his life he was a person of recognizedimportance. Not only was he the right hand of the owner of LaFeria, but the favor of that redoubtable general, the hero of ahundred tales, rested upon his shoulders like a mantle. Jose'sextravagant praises of the Federal commander, together with thedaily presence of the military guard, forcibly brought home to theranch-dwellers the fact that war was actually going on, and thatLuis Longorio was indeed a man of flesh and blood, and no myth. This realization caused a ripple of excitement to stir the peons'placid lives. 

And yet in the midst of his satisfaction Sanchez confessed to onetrouble. He had expected to find his cousin, Panfilo, here, andthe fact that nothing whatever had been heard from him filled himwith great uneasiness. Of course he came to Alaire, who told himof seeing Panfilo at the water-hole on the day after her husbandhad discharged him; but that information gave Jose little comfort, since it proved nothing as to his cousin's present whereabouts. Alaire thought best not to tell him the full circumstances of thataffair. Believing that Panfilo would turn up at La Feria in duetime, she gave little heed to Jose's dark threats of vengeance forany injury to his relative. 

The horse-breaker's concern increased as the days passed, and tothe lieutenant and members of the guard he repeated his threats. Truly, he declared, if any evil had fallen upon his beloved cousinPanfilo, he, Jose, would exact a terrible reckoning, a revengebefitting a man of his character and a friend of Luis Longorio. 

These soldiers, by the way, were something of a trial to Alaire, for they were ever in her way. She could not ride a mile over herown pastures without the whole martial squad following at herheels. Protest was unavailing; the lieutenant was mulishlystubborn. He had been ordered to keep the senora in sight at alltimes, so he said, and that ended the matter as far as he wasconcerned. His life and the lives of his six followers dependedentirely upon her safety and happiness, for General Longorio was aman of his word. 

Of course the lieutenant would not offend for the world--theobject of his solicitude was at liberty to tread upon hisworthless old carcass--but orders were orders, especially whenthey came from a certain source. He besought Alaire to exerciseforbearance toward him, and, above all, to use the extremestcaution in regard to her own well-being, for if aught befell her, if even a despicable rattlesnake should rise out of the grass tosting her--caramba! The teniente, in that case, would betterdestroy himself on the spot. Otherwise he would surely findhimself, in a short time, with his back to a stone wall and hisface to a firing-squad. That was the sort of man Longorio was. 

The speaker wondered if Mrs. Austin really understood his chief'snature; how determined he was; how relentless he could be. GeneralLongorio was a remarkable person. Opposition of any sort he couldnot brook. His discipline was rigorous and his punishments weresevere; being utterly without fear himself, he insisted uponimplicit obedience in others at whatever cost. For instance, during the battle of San Pedro, just south of here, a handful ofRebels had taken refuge in a small, one-roomed adobe house, wherethey resisted all efforts at dislodgment. Time and again theFederals had charged, only to meet a fire too murderous to face. The slaughter had been terrific. The lieutenant, veteran of manyrevolutions, vowed he had never seen a street so full of dead andwounded as the one in front of this house. Finally the soldiershad refused to advance again, and their captain had sent for acannon. During the wait Longorio had ridden up. 

"'Come! Make haste!' said he, 'That house obstructs my view. '"

Seeing that Alaire was deeply interested in this recital, the oldlieutenant paused dramatically. 

"Well, the capitan explained that an army was insufficient to takethat house; that it meant death to all who approached. I was notpresent--God be praised!--but others told me what happened. General Longorio dismounted and embraced the capitan--he kissedhim on the cheek, saying:

"'Adios, my dear good friend. I fear I have seen the last of you. '

"Then what? Senora, you would never guess. " The speaker shook hishead. "Longorio took two dynamite grenades, and, laughing like aboy, he ran forward before any one knew what he was about. It isnothing but the truth, senora, and he a general! This capitanloved him dearly, and so his bones turned to rope when the windowsof that accursed house began to vomit fire and the dust began tofly. They say that the dead men in the street rose to their kneesand crossed themselves--I only repeat what I was told by those wholooked on. Anyhow, I have seen things quite as remarkable. 

"Never was such courage, senora! God must have been moved toastonishment and admiration, for He diverted those bullets, everyone. When our general came to the house he lit the fuses from hiscigarette, then he cried, 'Viva Potosi!' and hurled one bomb tothe roof; the other he flung through a window into the very facesof his enemies. Those Rebels were packed in there like goats in acorral, and they say such a screaming you never heard. Doubtlessmany of them died from sheer terror the rest were blown througheach other. "The lieutenant breathed an admiring oath. "Truly, itmust have been a superb spectacle. "

"General Longorio must be very brave indeed, " Alaire agreed. 

"But wait! That is not all. After we had taken the town anddestroyed what Rebel officers we found--"

"You mean--your prisoners?"

"Si. But there were only a few, and doubtless some of them wouldhave died from their wounds. Well then, after that GeneralLongorio called his old friend--that capitan--out before histroops and with his own hand he shot him. Then every fifth manamong those who had refused to charge he ordered executed. Iteffected much good, I assure you. "

For a moment Alaire and her companion rode in silence, but theteniente was not content with this praise of his leader. 

"And yet General Longorio has another side to his character, " hecontinued. "He can be as mild as the shyest senorita, and hepossesses the most beautiful sentiments. Women are mad over him. But he is hard to please--strangely so. Truly, the lady whocaptivates his fancy may count herself fortunate. " The old soldierturned in his saddle and, with a grace surprising in one of hisrough appearance, removed his hat and swept Alaire a bow theunmistakable meaning of which caused her to start and to stammersomething unintelligible. 

Alaire was angry at the fellow's presumption, and vexed withherself for showing that she understood his insinuation. Shespurred her horse into a gallop, leaving him to follow as hecould. 

It was absurd to take the man's word seriously; indeed, heprobably believed he had paid her a compliment. Alaire assuredherself that Longorio's attentions were inspired merely by atemporary extravagance of admiration, characteristic of hisnationality. Doubtless he had forgotten all about her by thistime. That, too, was characteristic of Latin men. Nevertheless, the possibility that she had perhaps stirred him more deeply thanshe believed was disturbing--one might easily learn to fearLongorio. As a suitor he would be quite as embarrassing, quite as--dangerous as an enemy, if all reports were true. 

Alaire tried to banish such ideas, but even in her own room shewas not permitted entirely to forget, for Dolores echoed theteniente's sentiments. 

In marked contrast to Jose Sanchez's high and confident spiritswas the housekeeper's conviction of dire calamity. In the presenceof these armed strangers she saw nothing but a menace, andconsidered herself and her mistress no more nor less thanprisoners destined for a fate as horrible as that of the twobeautiful sisters of whom she never tired of speaking. Longoriowas a blood-thirsty beast, and he was saving them as prey for hisfirst leisure moment--that was Dolores's belief. Abandoning allhope of ever seeing Las Palmas again, she gave herself up tothoughts of God and melancholy praises of her husband's virtues. 

In spite of all this, however, Alaire welcomed the change in herdaily life. Everything about La Feria was restfully un-American, from the house itself, with its bare walls and floors, itsbrilliantly flowering patio, and its primitive kitchenarrangements, to the black-shawled, barefooted Indian women andtheir naked children rolling in the dust. Even the timberlessmountains that rose sheer from the westward plain into a tumblingpurple-shadowed rampart were Mexican. La Feria was several milesfrom the railroad; therefore it could not have been more foreignhad it lain in the very heart of Mexico rather than near thenorthern boundary. 

In such surroundings, and in spite of faint misgivings, it was notstrange that, after a few days, Alaire's unhappiness assumed avaguely impersonal quality and that her life, for the moment, seemed not to be her own. Even the thought of her husband, EdAustin, became indistinct and unreal. Then all too soon sherealized that the purpose of her visit was accomplished and thatshe had no excuse for remaining longer. She was now armed withsufficient facts to make a definite demand upon the Federalgovernment. 

The lieutenant took charge of the return journey to the railroad, and the two women rode to the jingling accompaniment of metaltrappings. When at last they were safely aboard the north-boundtrain, Alaire mildly teased Dolores about her recent timidity. ButDolores was not to be betrayed into premature rejoicing. 

"Anything may happen at a moment's notice, " she declared. "Something tells me that I am to meet a shocking fate. I can hearthose ruffianly soldiers quarreling over me--it is what comes fromgood looks. " Dolores mechanically smoothed the wrinkles from herdress and adjusted her hair. "Mark you! I shall kill myself first. I have made up my mind to that. But it is a great pity we were notborn ugly. "

Alaire could not forbear a smile, for she who thus resignedherself to the penalties of beauty had never been well favored, and age had destroyed what meager attractions she may have oncepossessed. 

Dolores went on after a time. "My Benito will not long remainunmarried. He is like all men. More than once I have suspected himof making eyes at young women, and any girl in the country wouldmarry him just for my fine silver coffee-pot and those spoons. There is my splendid silk mantilla, with fringe half as long asyour arm, too. Oh, I have treasures enough!" She shook her headmournfully. "It is a mistake for a wife to lay up pretty things, since they are merely temptations to other women. "

Alaire tried to reason her out of this mood. "Why should any onemolest us? Who could wish us harm?" she asked. 

"Ha! Did you see that general? He was like a drunken man in yourpresence; it was as if he had laid eyes upon the shining Madonna. I could hear his heart beating. "

"Nonsense! In the first place, I am an old married woman. "

Dolores sniffed. "Vaya! Old, indeed! What does he care for ahusband? He only cares that you have long, bright hair, redderthan rust, and eyes like blue flowers, and a skin like milk. Anangel could not be so beautiful. "

"Ah, Dolores, you flatterer! Seriously, though, don't you realizethat we are Americans, and people of position? An injury to uswould bring terrible consequences upon General Longorio's head. That is why he sent his soldiers with us. "

"All the same, " Dolores maintained stubbornly, "I wish I hadbrought that shawl and that silver coffee-pot with me. "

The homeward journey was a repetition of the journey out; therewere the same idle crowds, the same displays of filthy viands atthe stopping-places, the same heat and dust and delays. Longorio'slieutenant hovered near, and Jose, as before, was news-gatherer. Hour after hour they crept toward the border, until at last theywere again laid out on a siding for an indefinite wait. 

The occasion for this was made plain when an engine drawing asingle caboose appeared. Even before it had come to a pause a tallfigure in spotless uniform leaped to the ground and strode to thewaiting coaches. It was Luis Longorio. He waved a signal to theconductor, then swung aboard the north-bound train. 

The general was all smiles as he came down the and bowed low overAlaire's hand. 

Dolores gasped and stiffened in her seat like a woman of stone. 

"God be praised! You are safe and well!" said the new-comer. "Ihave blamed myself for allowing you to take this abominablejourney! I have been in torment lest something befall you. Everynight I have prayed that you might be spared all harm. When Ireceived word that you were coming I made all speed to meet you. "

"Dolores and I are greatly in your debt, " Alaire told him. 

"But you stayed so long!"

"There was more work than I thought. General, you have ruined me. "

Longorio was pained; his face became ineffably sad. "Please! I begof you, " he entreated. "I have arranged for reparation of thatmiserable mistake. You shall see what I have done. With your owneyes you shall read the furious correspondence I have carried onwith the minister. Together you and I shall manage a settlement, and you will find that I am a friend indeed!"

"I hope so. "

"Have I not proved it? Am I not ready to give you my life?" thegeneral queried, earnestly. "Fix the damages at your own figureand I shall see that you receive justice. If the government willnot pay, I will. I have means; I am not a poor man. All I possesswould be too little to buy your happiness. "

"You embarrass me. I'm afraid you don't realize what you say. "Alaire remained cool under the man's protestations. "I have lostmore than a thousand head of cattle. "

"We shall say two, three thousand, and the government will pay, "Longorio asserted, brazenly. "I will vouch for your figures, andno one will question them, for I am a man of honor. "

"No! All I want--"

"It is done. Let us say no more about the affair. Senora, I havethought of you every hour; the duties that held me in Nuevo Pueblowere like irksome chains. I was in madness. I would have flown toLa Feria but--I could not. "

"My husband will thank you for your great courtesy to me, " Alairemanaged to say. 

But the mention of husbands was not agreeable to one of Longorio'ssensitiveness, and his face betrayed a hint of impatience. 

"Yes, yes, " he agreed, carelessly. "Senor Austin and I must knoweach other better and become friends. "

"That is hardly possible at present. When the war is over--"

"Bah! This war is nothing. I go where I please. You would besurprised to greet me at Las Palmas some day soon, eh? When youtell your husband what a friend I am he would be glad to see me, would he not?"

"Why--of course. But surely you wouldn't dare--"

"And why not? Las Palmas is close to the river, and my troops arein Romero, directly opposite. Mexico is not at war with yourcountry, and when I am in citizen's clothes I am merely anordinary person. I have made inquiries, and they tell me LasPalmas is beautiful, heavenly, and that you are the one whotransformed it. I believe them. You have the power to transformall things, even a man's heart and soul. No wonder you are called'The Lone Star. ' But wait. You will see how constantly I think ofyou. " Longorio drew from his pocket several photographs of theAustin ranch-house. 

"Where did you get those?" Alaire asked in astonishment. 

"Ah! My secret. See! They are badly worn already, for I keep themnext my bosom. "

"We entertain very few guests at Las Palmas, " she murmured, uncomfortably. 

"I know. I know a great deal. "

"It would scarcely be safe for you to call; the country is full ofCandeleristas--"

"Cattle!" said the officer, with a careless shrug. "Did not thatgreat poet Byron swim an ocean to see a lovely lady? Well, I, too, am a poet. I have beautiful fancies; songs of love run through mymind. Those Englishmen know nothing of passion. Your American menare cold. Only a Mexican can love. We have fire in our veins, senora. "

To these perfervid protestations Dolores listened with growingfright; her eyes were wide and they were fixed hypnotically uponthe speaker; she presented much the appearance of a rabbit charmedby a serpent. But to Longorio she did not exist; she was achattel, a servant, and therefore devoid of soul or intelligence, or use beyond that of serving her mistress. 

Thinking to put an end to these blandishments, Alaire undertook toreturn the general's ring, with the pretense that she consideredit no more than a talisman loaned her for the time being. But itwas a task to make Longorio accept it. He was shocked, offended, hurt; he declared the ring to be of no value; it was no more thana trifling evidence of his esteem. But Alaire was firm. 

"Your customs are different to ours, " she told him. "An Americanwoman is not permitted to accept valuable presents, and this wouldcause disagreeable comment. "

At such a thought the general's finest sensibilities were wounded, but nothing, it seemed, could permanently dampen his ardor, and hesoon proceeded to press his attentions with even more vehemencethan before. He had brought Alaire candies of Americanmanufacture, Mexican sweetmeats of the finest variety, a beautifulsilken shawl, and at midday the grizzled teniente came with abasket of lunch containing dainties and fruits and vacuum bottleswith hot and cold drinks. 

When invited to share the contents, the general was plainlyoverjoyed, but he was so enthralled by his companion's beauty thathe could eat but little. 

It was a most embarrassing situation. Longorio kept Alaire forever upon the defensive, and it sorely taxed her ingenuity to holdthe conversation in safe channels. As the journey proceeded ittranspired that the man had made use of his opportunities to learneverything about her, even to her life with Ed. His informationwas extensive, and his deductions almost uncanny in theircorrectness. He told her about Austin's support of the Rebel causeand her own daily doings at Las Palmas; he intimated that herunhappiness was almost more than he could bear. 

This intimate knowledge and sympathy he seemed to regard as a bondthat somehow united them. He was no longer a new acquaintance, buta close and loyal friend whose regard was deathless. 

Undoubtedly the man had a way with him. He impressed people, andhis magnetism was potent. Moreover, he knew the knack of holdingwhat ground he gained. 

It was an odd, unreal ride, through the blazing heat of the longafternoon. Longorio cast off all pretense and openly laid siege tothe red-haired woman's heart--all without offering her thesmallest chance to rebuff him, the slightest ground for openresentment, so respectful and guarded were his advances. But hewas forceful in his way, and the very intensity of his desiresmade him incapable of discouragement. So the duel progressed--Alaire cool and unyielding, he warm, persistent, and tireless. Hewove about her an influence as difficult to combat as thesmothering folds of some flocculent robe or the strands of aninvisible web, and no spider was ever more industrious. 

When the train arrived at its destination his victim was well-nighexhausted from the struggle. He helped her into a coach with thegentlest and gravest courtesy, and not until the vehicle rolledaway did Alaire dare to relax. Through her fatigue she could stillhear his soft farewell until the morrow, and realized that she hadcommitted herself to his further assistance. His palms againsthers had been warm, his adoring eyes had caressed her, but she didnot care. All she wished now was to reach her hotel, and then herbed. 

After a good night's rest, however, Alaire was able to smile atyesterday's adventure. Longorio did not bulk so large now; eventhese few hours had greatly diminished his importance, so that heappeared merely as an impulsive foreigner who had allowed a womanto turn his head. Alaire knew with what admiration even amoderately attractive American woman is greeted in Mexico, and shehad no idea that this fellow had experienced anything more than afleeting infatuation. Now that she had plainly shown her distastefor his outlaw emotions, and convinced him that they awoke in herno faintest response, she was confident that his frenzy would runits brief course and die. Meanwhile, it was not contrary to thestandards of feminine ethics to take advantage of the impressionshe had made upon him and with his help push through a fairfinancial settlement of her loss. 

Once back across the river, however, she discovered that therewere obstacles to a prompt adjustment of her claim. The red tapeof her own government was as nothing to that of Mexico. There werea thousand formalities, a myriad of maddening details to beobserved, and they called for the services of an advocate, anotary, a jefe politico, a jefe de armas--officials without end. All of these worthies were patient and polite, but they displayeda malarial indifference to delay, and responsibility seemed torest nowhere. During the day Alaire became bewildered, almost lostin the mazes of official procedure, and was half minded totelegraph for Judge Ellsworth. But that again meant delay, and shewas beginning to long for home. 

Longorio by no means shared her disappointment. On the contrary, he assured her they were making splendid progress, and he wasdelighted with her grasp of detail and her knowledge of businessessentials. At his word all Nuevo Pueblo bowed and scraped to her, she was treated with impressive formality, and even the militaryguards at the various headquarters presented arms when she passed. The general's official business waited upon Alaire's convenience, and to spare her the necessity of the short ride back to Americansoil he arranged for her an elaborate luncheon in his quarters. 

As on the day before, he assumed the privileges of a close friend, and treated his guest as a sort of fellow-conspirator working handin hand with him for some holy cause. 

XIII

DAVE LAW BECOMES JEALOUS

"You can never know what these two days have been for me, " thegeneral said as he and Alaire lingered over their meal. "They willafford me something to think about all my life! It is a deliciouscomfort to know that you trust me, that you do not dislike me. Andyou do not dislike me, eh?"

"Why, of course not. I have a great deal for which to thank you. "

General Longorio fingered his wineglass and stared into it. "I amnot like other men. Would to God I were, for then I could close myeyes and--forget. You have your great tragedy--it is old to you;but mine, dear lady, is just beginning. I can look forward tonothing except unhappiness. " He sighed deeply. 

"I'm sorry you are unhappy, " Alaire parried. "Surely you haveevery pleasant prospect. "

"It would seem so. I am young, rich, a hero, I serve my country inglorious fashion, but what is all that if there is no pretty oneto care? Even the meanest peon has his woman, his heart'streasure. I would give all I have, I would forego my hope ofheaven and doom myself to eternal tortures, for one smile from apair of sweet lips, one look of love. I am a man of iron--yes, aninvincible soldier--and yet I have a heart, and a woman could ruleme. "

"You say you have a heart. " Alaire studied her vis-avis curiouslyas he met her eyes with his mournful gaze. "How is it that I hearsuch strange stories about you, general?"

"What stories?"

"Stories--too terrible to mention. I wonder if they can be true. "

"Lies, all of them!" Longorio asserted. 

"For instance, they tell me that you shoot your prisoners?"

"Of course!" Then, at her shocked exclamation, he explained: "Itis a necessity of war. Listen, senora! We have twelve millionIndians in Mexico and a few selfish men who incite them to revolt. Everywhere there is intrigue, and nowhere is there honor. To waragainst the government is treason, and treason is punishable bydeath. To permit the lower classes to rise would result in chaos, black anarchy, indescribable outrages against life and property. There is but one way to pacify such people--exterminate them!Mexico is a civilized nation; there is no greater in the world;but she must be ruled with an iron hand. Soldiers make rulers. Iam still a young man, and--at present there is but one othercapable of this gigantic task. For the time being, therefore, Ipermit myself to serve under him, and--I salute him. Viva Potosi!"The speaker lifted his glass and drank. "Madero was a wickedbeliever in spells and charms; he talked with the dead. He, andthose who came after him, fired the peons to revolt and despoiledour country, leaving her prone and bleeding. We of the Cientificoshave set ourselves to stop her wounds and to nourish her to lifeagain. We shall drive all traitors into the sea and feed them tothe sharks. We shall destroy them all, and Mexico shall havepeace. But I am not a bloodthirsty man. No, I am a poet and alover at heart. As great a patriot as I am, I could be faithlessto my country for one smile from the woman I adore. "

Alaire did not color under the ardent glance that went with thisdeclaration. She deliberately changed the subject. 

"This morning while we were in the office of the jeje de armas, "she said, "I saw a poor woman with a baby--she was scarcely morethan a child herself--whose husband is in prison. She told me howshe had come all the way from the country and is living withfriends, just to be near him. Every day she goes to the carcel, but is denied admission, and every day she comes to plead with thejefe de armas for her husband's life. But he will not see her, andthe soldiers only laugh at her tears. "

"A common story! These women and their babies are very annoying, "observed the general. 

"She says that her husband is to be shot. "

"Very likely! Our prisons are full. Doubtless he is a bad man. "

"Can't you do something?"

"Eh?" Longorio lifted his brows in the frankest inquiry. 

"That poor girl with her little, bare, brown-eyed baby waspitiful. " Alaire leaned forward with an earnest appeal in herface, and her host smiled. 

"So? That is how it is, eh? What is her name?"

"Inez Garcia. The husband's name is Juan. "

"Of course. These peladors are all Juans. You would like to appearas an angel of mercy, eh? Your heart is touched?"

"Deeply. "

"Bastante! There is no more to be said. " Longorio rose and wentinto the next room where were certain members of his staff. Aftera time he returned with a paper in his hand, and this he laidbefore Alaire. It was an order for the release of Juan Garcia. "The salvo conducto which will permit Juan and his Inez and theirJuanito to return to their farm is being made out, " he explained. "Are you satisfied?"

Alaire looked up wonderingly, "I am deeply grateful. You overwhelmme. You are--a strange man. "

"Dear lady, I live to serve you. Your wish is my law. How can Iprove it further?" As he stood beside her chair the fervor of hisgaze caused her eyes to droop and a faint color to come into hercheeks. She felt a sudden sense of insecurity, for the man wastrembling; the evident desire to touch her, to seize her in hisarms, was actually shaking him like an ague. What next would hedo? Of what wild extravagance was he not capable? He was a queermixture of fire and ice, of sensuality and self-restraint. Sheknew him to be utterly lawless in most things, and yet toward herhe had shown scrupulous restraint. What possibilities were in aman of his electric temperament, who had the strength to throttlehis fiercest longings?

The strained, throbbing silence that followed Longorio's lastwords did more to frighten the woman than had his most ardentadvances. 

After a time he lifted Alaire's hand; she felt his lips hot anddamp upon her flesh; then he turned and went away with thedocument. 

When he reappeared he was smiling. "These Garcias shall know whointerceded for them. You shall have their thanks, " said he. 

"No, no! It is enough that the man is free. "

"How now?" The general was puzzled. "What satisfaction can therebe in a good deed unless one receives public credit and thanks forit? I am not like that. "

He would have lingered indefinitely over the table, but Alairesoon rose to go, explaining:

"I must finish my disagreeable task now, so that I can go home to-morrow. "

"To-morrow!" her host cried in dismay. "No, no! You must wait--"

"My husband is expecting me. "

This statement was a blow; it seemed to crush Longorio, who couldonly look his keen distress. 

As they stepped out into the street Alaire was afforded that treatwhich Longorio had so thoughtfully arranged for her. There in thegutter stood Inez Garcia with her baby in her arms, and beside herthe ragged figure of a young man, evidently her Juan. The fellowwas emaciated, his face was gaunt and worn and frightened, hisfeet were bare even of sandals, the huge peaked straw hat which heclutched over his breast was tattered, and yet in his eye therewas a light. 

They had waited patiently, these Garcias, heedful of Longorio'sorders, and now they burst into a torrent of thanks. They flungthemselves to their knees and kissed the edge of Alaire's dress. Their instructions had been plain, and they followed them to theletter, yet their gratitude was none the less genuine for beingstudied. The little mother's hysteria, for instance, could nothave been entirely assumed, and certainly no amount of rehearsalscould have taught the child to join his cries so effectively tohis parents'. Between them all they made such a racket as tosummon a crowd, and Dolores, who had also awaited her mistress, was so deeply stirred that she wept with them. 

General Longorio enjoyed this scene tremendously, and his beamingeyes expressed the hope that Alaire was fully satisfied with themoment. But the Garcias, having been thoroughly coached, insistedupon rendering full measure of thanks, and there seemed to be noway of shutting them off until the general ordered them to theirfeet. 

"That is enough!" he declared. "Hombre, you are free, so go aboutyour business and fight no more with those accursed rebels. "

Juan, of course, was ready at this moment to fight for any one hewas told to fight for, particularly Longorio himself, and he sodeclared. His life was at the service of the benefactor who hadspared him; his wife and baby lived only to bless the illustriousgeneral. 

"They look very poor, " said Alaire, and opened her purse; butLongorio would not permit her to give. Extracting a large roll ofpaper money from his own pocket, he tossed it, without counting, to Juan, and then when the onlookers applauded he loudly called toone of his officers, saying:

"Oiga! Give these good friends of mine two horses, and see thatthey are well cared for. Now, Juan, " he addressed the dazedcountryman, "I have one order for you. Every night of your lifeyou and your pretty wife must say a prayer for the safety andhappiness of this beautiful lady who has induced me to spare you. Do you promise?"

"We promise!" eagerly cried the pair. 

"Good! See that you keep your word. On the day that you forget forthe first time Luis Longorio will come to see you. And then what?"He scowled at them fiercely. 

"We will not forget, " the Garcias chorused. 

There was a murmur from the onlookers; some one cried: "VIVALONGORIO!"

The general bowed smilingly; then, taking Alaire's arm, he wavedthe idlers out of his path with a magnificent gesture. 

When, later in the day, Mrs. Austin came to say good-by and thankthe Mexican for his courtesies, he humbly begged permission to payhis respects that evening at her hotel, and she could not refuse. 

As the coach went bouncing across the international bridge, Dolores said, spitefully: "It will take more than the pardon ofpoor Juan Garcia to unlock Heaven for that bandit. He is thewickedest man I ever met--yes, probably the wickedest man in theworld. "

"He has been kind to us. "

"Bah! He has a motive. Do you notice the way he looks at you? Itis enough to damn him for all eternity. "

Upon her arrival at the hotel Alaire received an agreeablesurprise, for as her vehicle paused, at the curb David Law steppedforward, hat in hand. 

"What bloodthirsty business brings you to Pueblo?" she queried, when they had exchanged greetings. 

Law smiled at her. "I came to offer free board and lodging to apoor Greaser. But he ain't here. And you, ma'am?"

Alaire briefly outlined the reasons that had taken her to La Feriaand the duties that had kept her busy since her return, while Davenodded his understanding. When, however, he learned that she wascounting upon General Luis Longorio's aid in securing justice, hisexpression altered. He regarded her with some curiosity as heinquired:

"Isn't Longorio the very man who robbed you?"

"Yes. "

"And now he offers to square himself?"

"Precisely. You don't seem to put much faith in him. "

"Mexicans are peculiar people, " Law said, slowly. "At least weconsider them peculiar--probably because they are different to us. Anyhow, we don't understand their business methods or their habitsof mind; even their laughter and their tears are different toours, but--from my experience with them I wouldn't put muchconfidence in this Longorio's word. I say this, and I'm supposedto have a little Mexican blood in me. "

During this brief conversation they had entered the hotel, and nowthe lobby idlers took quick cognizance of Mrs. Austin's presence. The lanky, booted Ranger excited no comment, for men of his typewere common here; but Alaire was the heroine of many stories andthe object of a wide-spread curiosity; therefore she received openstares and heard low whisperings. Naturally resenting thisattention, she gave her hand to Law more quickly than she wouldhave done otherwise. 

"I hope we shall see each other again, " she murmured. 

"That's more'n likely; I'm located in your neighborhood now, " heinformed her. "I'm leaving for Jonesville in the morning. "

"By train?"

"No'm. I'm goin' to follow the river road if I can get anautomobile. "

Mindful of the Ranger's courtesy to her on their previous meeting, Alaire said: "Won't you go with us? We intend to start early. "

"I'd love to, ma'am--but I'll have to make a few inquiries alongthe line. "

"Good! It is a large car and"--she smiled at him--"if we have tiretrouble I may need your help. Jose, my man, is a splendid horse-breaker, but he seems to think a tire tool is some sort of a fancybranding-iron. His mechanical knowledge is limited to a bridle-bitand a cinch, and I'm almost certain he believes there is somethingungodly about horseless wagons. "

Dave was nearly speechless with delight, and when the mistress ofLas Palmas had gone up-stairs he felt inclined to pinch himself tosee if he were dreaming. He had pursued a fruitless quest duringthe past few days, and his resentment had grown as he becamecertain that Tad Lewis had sent him on a wild-goose chase; but thesight of Alaire miraculously restored his good spirits, and theprospect of a long, intimate ride in her company changed the wholetrend of his thoughts. His disappointment at not seeing her uponhis visit to Las Palmas had only served to enhance his memories oftheir first meeting, and time, now, had deepened his interesttenfold. Yes, she was "The Lone Star, " the estrella brillante ofhis empty sky. 

When the supper-hour came he managed by carefully watching thedining-room to time his meal with Mrs. Austin's. He even venturedto hope that they might share the same table, but in this he wasdisappointed. However, from where he sat he could see her profileand worship her to his heart's content, and when she favored himwith a smile and a nod he was happy. 

All without his knowledge, Dave realized, this woman had securedan amazing hold over him. He had thought a great deal about her, of course, but his thoughts had been idle, and it had requiredthis second encounter to make him know the truth. Now, however, there could be no doubt about his feelings; he was more thanromantically interested, the mere sight of her had electrifiedhim. The discovery distressed him, and he very properly decidedthat the affair should end here, since it could lead to nothingexcept disappointment. 

But who can govern a wayward fancy? One moment Law promisedhimself to see no more of this married woman; the next he wonderedhow she would occupy the evening, and ventured to hope that hemight have a chance to talk with her. 

After supper, however, she was nowhere to be found. When his firstchagrin had passed he decided that this was exactly as it shouldbe. He didn't like to see women make themselves conspicuous inhotels. 

At the time of this story relations between the United States andthe established government of Mexico were at such high tensionthat a hostility had sprung up between the troops fronting eachother along the Rio Grande, and in consequence their officers nolonger crossed the boundary, even when off duty. It created aflurry of suppressed excitement, therefore, when Luis Longorio, the autocrat of the Potosista forces, boldly crossed the bridge, traversed the streets of Pueblo, and entered the Hamilton Hotel. 

From his seat in the lobby Law heard the general inquire for Mrs. Austin, and then saw him ascend in the direction of the parlor. What the devil could Longorio want with "The Lone Star" at such anhour? the Ranger asked himself. Why should he presume to call uponher unless--he was interested? Mexican officers, in these parloustimes, were not given to social courtesies, and Longorio'sreputation was sufficiently notorious to render his attentions acause for gossip under any circumstances. 

Dave rose and strolled restlessly about the hotel. A half-hourpassed and Longorio did not reappear; an hour dragged by, and thenDave took occasion to go to his room. A glance through the openparlor door showed the foreigner in closest conversation with Mrs. Austin. They were laughing; they were alone; even Dolores wasnowhere to be seen. 

When Dave returned to his big rocking-chair he found ituncomfortable; he watched the clock anxiously; he chewed severalcigars viciously before realizing that he was jealous--yes, madly, unreasonably jealous. 

So! His divinity was not as unapproachable as he had imagined. Doubtless Longorio was mad over her, which explained the fellow'swillingness to help her exact reparation from his government. Finedoings for a respectable married woman! It was wrong, scandalous, detestable!

After a time Dave rose impatiently. What had come over him, anyhow? He must be crazy to torture himself in this fashion. Whatwent on up-stairs certainly was none of his business, and he hadbetter far amuse himself. In accordance with this excellentreasoning, he went to a picture-show. But he could not becomeinterested. The flat images on the screen failed to divert him, and the only faces he saw were those of Luis Longorio and the lonemistress of Las Palmas. 

Had Dave only known the truth, he would have gained a grim comfortfrom it, for Alaire Austin was not enjoying herself this evening. Her caller stayed on interminably and she became restive under theflow of his conversation. For some reason or other Longorio wasnot the romantic figure he had been; in his citizen's clothes hewas only a dandified Mexican gallant 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-skinnedforeigner whose ardor was distasteful. Longorio was tiresome. 

XIV

JOSE SANCHEZ SWEARS AN OATH

On this same evening a scene of no little significance was takingplace at Las Palmas. Ed Austin was entertaining callers, and thesewere none other than Tad Lewis and Adolfo Urbina. 

The progress of events during the last few days had shaped thisconference, for, as Dave had forecast during his conversation withJudge Ellsworth, the local prosecuting attorney saw in the Guzmancattle case an opportunity to distinguish himself, and was takingaction accordingly. He had gathered considerable evidence againstUrbina, and was exerting himself to the utmost for an indictment. He had openly declared that the testimony of Ricardo Guzman andhis other witnesses would convict the suspect, and the fact thathis politics were opposed to Ed Austin's complicated matters stillfurther. It was the unwelcome news of all this which had broughtTad Lewis and his Mexican helper to Las Palmas under cover ofdarkness. Having gone over the circumstances in detail, Lewisconcluded:

"We're depending on you, Ed. You got to stand pat. "

But Austin was lukewarm. He had experienced a change of heart, andthe cause appeared when he read aloud a letter that day receivedfrom Judge Ellsworth, in which the judge told of his meeting withDave Law, and the Ranger's reasons for doubting Ed's word. 

"I've got to take water, " "Young Ed" told his visitors, "or I'llget myself into trouble. " Then querulously he demanded of Adolfo:"Why in hell did you come here, anyhow? Why didn't you keep to thechaparral?"

Adolfo shrugged. "I thought you were my friend. "

"Sure!" Tad agreed. "Urbina's been a friend to you, now you got tostick to him. We got to hang together, all of us. My evidencewouldn't carry no weight; but there ain't a jury in South Texasthat would question yours. Adolfo done the right thing. "

"I don't see it, " Ed declared, petulantly. "What's the use ofgetting me into trouble? There's the river; they can't follow youacross. "

But Urbina shook his head. 

"You know he can't cross, " Tad explained. "His people would shoothim if he ever went to Mexico. "

"Well, he'll be caught if he stays here. You daren't send thatdamned Ranger on another blind trail. If Adolfo can't go southhe'll have to go north. "

"Not on your life, " affirmed Lewis. "If he runs it'll prove hisguilt and look bad for me. I'm the one they're after, and I don'tstand any too good, as you know. You got to go through with this, Ed. "

"I won't do it, " Austin asserted, stubbornly. "I won't be draggedinto the thing. You've no business rustling stock, anyhow. Youdon't have to. "

Urbina exhaled a lungful of cigarette smoke and inquired, "Youwon't help me, eh?"

"No, I won't. "

"Very well! If I go to prison you shall go, too. I shall tell allI know and we shall be companions, you and I. "

Austin's temper rose at the threat. "Bah!" he cried, contemptuously. "There's nothing against me except running arms, and the embargo is off now. It's a joke, anyhow. Nobody was everconvicted, even when the embargo was in effect. Why, thegovernment winks at anybody who helps the Rebels. "

"Oh, that is nothing!" Urbina agreed; "but you would not wish tobe called a cattle thief, eh?"

"What d'you mean?"

"You knew that the stealing went on. "

"Huh! I should say I did. Haven't I lost a lot of horses?"

Lewis interposed, impatiently: "Say! Suppose Adolfo tells what heknows about them horses? Suppose he tells how you framed it tohave your own stock run across, on shares, so's you could get moremoney to go hifalutin' around San Antone without your wife knowingit? I reckon you wouldn't care to have that get out. "

"You can't prove it, " growled "Young Ed. "

"Oh! I reckon it can be proved all right, " confidently assertedLewis. 

"Nobody'd believe such a thing. "

"Folks are ready to believe 'most anything about you. Your wifewould believe it. Ain't Las Palmas in her name, and don't she giveyou so much a month to spend? If them ain't facts, you lied tome. "

"Yes!" Urbina supplemented. "I can swear to all that. And I canswear also that you knew about those calves the other day. "

"What!" Ed started. 

"Why not? We were together; your own people saw us. Well, then, ifyou would steal your wife's horses, why would you not steal yourneighbor's cattle? The relatives of poor Pino Garza--God rest hissoul!--will bear me out. I have arranged for that. Suppose I tellthe jury that there were three of us in that pasture of yours, instead of two? What then? I would be lonely in prison without agood compadre to bear me company. " Urbina grinned in evil triumph. 

"This is the damnedest outrage I ever heard of, " gasped "YoungEd. " "It's a fairy story--"

"Prove it, " chuckled Lewis. "The prosecuting attorney'd eat it up, Ed. It sounds kind of crazy, but you can't ask Adolfo to take tothe brush and live like a javelin just for your sake, when youcould square him with a word. "

There was a moment or two of silence, during which the visitorswatched the face of the man whose weakness they both knew. At lastEd Austin ventured to say, apologetically:

"I'm willing to do almost anything to help Adolfo, but--they'llmake a liar of me if I take the stand. Isn't there some other wayout?"

"I don't know of any, " said Lewis. 

"Money'll square anything, " Ed urged, hopefully, whereupon Urbinawaved his cigarette and nodded. 

"This Ricardo Guzman is the cause of it all. He is a bad man. "

"No doubt of that, " Lewis agreed. "He's got more enemies than Ihave. If he was out of the way there wouldn't be nothin' to thiscase, and the country'd be a heap better off, too. "

"What about that other witness?" Ed queried. 

"If Ricardo were gone--if something should happen to him"--Urbina's wicked face darkened--"there would be no other witness. Iwould see to that. "

The color receded from Ed Austin's purple cheeks, and he roseabruptly. "This is getting too strong for me, " he cried. "I won'tlisten to this sort of talk. I won't be implicated in any suchdoings. "

"Nobody's goin' to implicate you, " Tad told him. "Adolfo wants tokeep you out of trouble. There's plenty of people on both sides ofthe river that don't like Guzman any better'n we do. Me an' Adolfowas talkin' it over on the way up. "

"Well, you can talk it over some more, but I'm going for a drink, "Ed declared, and left the room, nervously mopping his face. Heknew only too well the character of his two visitors; he hadlearned much about Tad Lewis during the past few months, and, asfor the Mexican, he thought the fellow capable of any crime. Atthis moment Ed bitterly regretted his acquaintance with theseneighbors, for both men knew more about his affairs than he caredto have made public. He was angry and resentful at Tad for takingsides against him, and more than a little fearful of Adolfo'senmity if he refused assistance. The owner of Las Palmas stillretained a shred of self-respect, a remnant of pride in his name;he did not consider himself a bad man. He was determined now toescape from this situation without loss of credit, no matter whatthe price--if escape were possible--and he vowed earnestly tohimself that hereafter he would take ample pains never to becomesimilarly involved. 

Austin remained out of the room for some time; when he returnedhis visitors appeared to have reached some determination. 

"I reckon we can fix things if you'll help, " Lewis announced. 

"And that's just what I won't do, " Ed impatiently declared. "Doyou think I'm going to be tangled up in a--murder? I've gotnothing against Don Ricardo. "

"Who said anything about murder? Things ain't like they was whenyour father owned Las Palmas; he done his share of killin', butnowadays there's too dam' much law layin' around loose. All you'vegot to do is give me about a thousand dollars. "

"What for?" Ed asked, suspiciously. 

"So's we can handle ourselves. It's up to you to do something, ain't it?"

Austin demurred. "I haven't that much that I can lay hands on, " hesaid, sullenly. "I'm broke. And, anyhow, I don't see what goodit'll do. "

"You better dig it up, somehow, just for your own sake. "

The two men eyed each other for a moment; then Austin mumbledsomething about his willingness to try, and left the room for asecond time. The money which Alaire kept on hand for currentexpenses was locked in her safe, but he knew the combination. 

It was with an air of resignation, with a childish, half-heartedprotest, that he counted out the desired amount into Lewis's hand, salving his conscience with the statement: "I'm doing this to helpAdolfo out of his trouble, understand? I hope it'll enable you tosquare things. "

"Maybe it will and maybe it won't, " sneered Lewis. "Anyhow, Iain't scared of tryin'. I got the guts to make a battle, even ifyou haven't. "

Ed Austin was greatly relieved when his unwelcome callers rodeaway; as he composed himself for sleep, an hour later, herefrained from analyzing too deeply the motives behind this forcedloan, and refused to speculate too long upon the purpose to whichit might be put. The whole occurrence was unfortunate. Ed Austinsincerely hoped he had heard the last of it. 

Jose Sanchez made use of the delay at Pueblo to institute furtherinquiries regarding his missing cousin, but nowhere could he findthe slightest trace. Panfilo had set out to ride to this point andthence to La Feria, but the last seen of him had been at thewater-hole, one day's ride from the home ranch. At that point theearth had opened and swallowed him. If he were alive why had henot written to his sweetheart, Rosa?

Jose swore an oath that he would learn the truth if it requiredhis whole lifetime, and, if it should turn out that his saintedrelative had indeed met with foul play--well! Jose told hisfriends they could judge, by looking at him, the sort of man hewas. He proudly displayed Longorio's revolver, and called it hiscousin's little avenger. The weapon had slain many; it had a dutystill to perform, so he said. 

Jose intended to confide his purpose to Mrs. Austin, but when itcame time to start for Las Palmas there was a fourth passenger inthe automobile, and he was obliged to hold his tongue for themoment. 

A motor trip along the lower Rio Grande would prove a novel andnot altogether agreeable experience to the average automobilist, for there are few improved roads and the rest offer manydifficulties, not the least of which are frequent fords, somedeep, some shallow. So it was that Alaire considered it necessaryto make an early start. 

In spite of the unhealthy fancies that Dave Law had taken to bedwith him, he arose this morning in fine spirits and with adetermination to put in a happy day. Alaire, too, was in goodhumor and expressed her relief at escaping from everythingMexican. 

"I haven't seen a newspaper for ages, and I don't know what isgoing on at Jonesville or anywhere else, " she confided. 

Dave told her of the latest developments in the Mexican situation, the slow but certain increase of tension between the twogovernments, and then of home happenings. When she asked him abouthis own doings, he informed her of the affair which had broughthim to Pueblo. 

Of course all three of his companions were breathlessly interestedin the story of Pino Garza's death; Dolores and Jose did not allowa word to escape them. 

"So they cut our fence and ran the calves into our pasture tobrand!" Alaire said. "It's time somebody like you came toJonesville, Mr. Law. "

"Caramba! It required bravery to ride alone into that rincon, "Jose declared. "I knew Pino Garza well, and he could shoot likethe devil. "

"You said your horse saved your life, " Mrs. Austin went on. "Howdo you mean?" When Dave had explained, she cried, quickly, "Youweren't riding--Bessie Belle?"

"Yes. She's buried where she dropped. "

"Oh-h!" Alaire's exclamation was eloquent of pity, and Law smiledcrookedly. 

"I've been right lonesome since she went away. 'Most every day Ifind myself stealing sugar for her, the way I used to do. See!" Hefumbled in the pocket of his coat and produced some broken lumps. "Probably you don't understand how a man gets to love his horse. Now we used to talk to each other, just like two people. Ofcourse, I did most of the talking, but she understood. Why, ma'am, I've awakened in the night to find her standing over me and mycheek wet where she'd kissed it. She'd leave the nicest grass justto come and visit with me. "

Alaire turned a quick glance upon the speaker to find his face setand his eyes miserable. Impulsively she laid her hand upon hisarm, saying:

"I know how you must feel. Do you know what has always been mydearest wish? To be able to talk with animals; and to have themtrust me. Just think what fun it would be to talk with the wildthings and make friends of them. Oh, when I was a little girl Iused to dream about it!"

Law nodded his vigorous appreciation of such a desire. "Dogs andhorses sabe more than we give them credit for. I've learned a fewbird words, too. You remember those quail at the water-hole?"

"Oh yes. "

Dave smiled absent-mindedly. "There's a wonderful book aboutbirds--one of the keenest satires ever written, I reckon. It'sabout a near-sighted old Frenchman who was cast away on a penguinisland. He saw the big birds walking around and thought they werehuman beings. "

"How did you happen to read Anatole France?" Alaire asked, with asharp stare of surprise. 

The Ranger stirred, but he did not meet her eyes. "Well, " said he, "I read 'most anything I can get. A feller meets up with strangebooks just like he meets up with strange people. "

"Not books like--that. " There was a brief silence. "Mr. Law, everynow and then you say something that makes me think you're a--rankimpostor. "

"Pshaw!" said he. "I know cowboys that read twice as good as Ido. "

"You went to school in the East, didn't you?"

"Yes'm. "

"Where?" The man hesitated, at which she insisted, "Where?"

Dave reluctantly turned upon her a pair of eyes in the depths ofwhich there lurked the faintest twinkle. "Cornell, " said he. 

Alaire gasped. After a while she remarked, stiffly, "You have apeculiar sense of humor. "

"Now don't be offended, " he begged of her. "I'm a good deal like achameleon; I unconsciously change my color to suit mysurroundings. When we first met I saw that you took me for onething, and since then I've tried not to show you your mistake. "

"Why did you let me send you those silly books? Now that you havebegun to tell the truth, keep it up. How many of them had youread?"

"We-ll, I hadn't read any of them--lately. "

"How disagreeable of you to put it that way!" The car leapedforward as if spurred by Alaire's mortification. "I wondered howyou knew about the French Revolution. 'That Bastilly was somecalaboose, wasn't it'?" She quoted his own words scornfully. "Idare say you've had a fine laugh at my expense?"

"No!" gravely denied the man. 

They had come to an arroyo containing a considerable stream ofmuddy water, and Law was forced to get out to plug the carburetorand stop the oil-intakes to the crankcase. This done, Alaire ranthe machine through on the self-starter. When Jose's "Carambas!"and Dolores's shrieks had subsided, and they were again under way, Mrs. Austin, it seemed, had regained her good humor. 

"You will receive no more of my favorite authors, " she told Dave, spitefully. "I'll keep them to read myself. "

"You like knights and--chivalry and such things, don't you?"

"Chivalry, yes. In the days when I believed in it I used to cryover those romances. "

"Don't you still believe in chivalry?"

Alaire turned her eyes upon the questioner, and there were nogirlish illusions in them. "Do you?" she queried, with a faintcurl of her lip. 

"Why--yes. "

She shook her head. "Men have changed. Nowadays they are allselfish and sordid. But--I shouldn't generalize, for I'm anotorious man-hater, you know. "

"It seems to me that women are just as selfish as men--perhapsmore so--in all but little things. "

"Our definitions of 'little things' may differ. What do you call abig thing?"

"Love! That's the biggest thing in the world, " Law responded, promptly. 

"It seems to be so considered. So you think women are selfish inlove?" He nodded, whereupon she eyed him speculatively. "Let ussee. 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 youmean that you would make any sacrifice?"

"Yes; that's it. "

"Would you give up the woman herself, if you considered it yourduty?"

"No. There couldn't be any duty higher than love--to my way ofthinking. But you shouldn't take me as a specimen. I'm not a goodrepresentative of my sex. "

"I think you are a very good one, " Alaire said, quietly, and Daverealized that no flattery was intended. Although he was willing totalk further on this subject, Mrs. Austin gave him no opportunityof airing his views. Love, it appeared, was a thing she did notcare to discuss with him on their footing of semi-intimacy. 

Despite the rough roads, they made fair time, and the miles ofcactus and scrawny brush rolled swiftly past. Occasionally a lazyjack-rabbit ambled out of his road-side covert and watched themfrom a safe distance; now and then a spotted road-runner racedalong the dusty ruts ahead of them. The morning sun swung higher, and by midday the metal of the automobile had become as hot as afrying-pan. They stopped at various goat-ranches to inquire aboutAdolfo Urbina, and at noon halted beside a watercourse for lunch. 

Dave was refilling the radiator when he overheard Jose inconversation with Mrs. Austin. 

"Nowhere a trace!" the horse-breaker was saying. "No one has seenhim. Poor Rosa Morales will die of a broken heart. "

Alaire explained to her guest: "Jose is worried about his cousinPanfilo. It seems he has disappeared. "

"So! You are Panfilo's cousin?" Dave eyed the Mexican with newinterest. 

"Si!"

"You remember the man?" Alaire went on. "He was with that fellowyou arrested at the water-hole. "

"Oh yes. I remember him. " With steady fingers Dave shook sometobacco into a cigarette-paper. He felt Alaire's eyes upon him, and they were eloquent of inquiry, but he did not meet them. 

Jose frowned. "No one at La Feria has seen him, and in Pueblothere was not a word. It is strange. "

"Panfilo was in bad company when I saw him. " Law finished rollinghis cigarette and lit it, still conscious of Alaire's questioninggaze. "He may have had trouble. "

"He was a good man, " the horse-breaker asserted. "If he is dead--"The Mexican's frown deepened to a scowl. 

"What then?"

Jose significantly patted the gift revolver at his hip. "Thislittle fellow will have something to say. "

Dave looked him over idly, from head to heel, then murmured: "Youwould do well to go slow, compadre. Panfilo made his ownquarrels. "

"We were like brothers, and I do not know of any quarrels. But Ishall find out. It begins to look bad for somebody. After he leftthat charco there is--nothing. Where did he go? Whom did heencounter? Rosa will ask me those questions. I am not given toboasting, senor, but I am a devilish bad man in my way. "

XV

THE TRUTH ABOUT PANFILO

Nothing more was said during the luncheon, but when Alaire hadfinished eating and her two employees had begun their meal, sheclimbed the bank of the arroyo ostensibly to find a cool spot. Having succeeded, she called to Dave:

"There is a nice breeze up here. "

The Ranger's face set; rising slowly, he climbed the bank afterher. 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 cold and hard. "He'swhere he dropped at my second shot, " said he. 

He could hear his companion's sharp inhalation. He did not flinchat the look she turned upon him. 

"Then--you killed him?"

"Yes'm!"

"God! He was practically unarmed! What do you call--such an act?"

Dave's lips slowly whitened, his face became stony. He closed hiseyes, then opened them upon hers. "He had it coming. He stole myhorse. He took a chance. "

Mrs. Austin turned away. For a time they were silent and Dave felthimself pitilessly condemned. 

"Why didn't you tell me at the time?" she asked. "Why didn't youreport it?"

"I'll report it when you give me permission. "

"I--? What--?" She wheeled to face him. 

"Think a moment. I can't tell half the truth. And if I telleverything it will lead to--gossip. "

"Ah! I think I understand. Mr. Law, you can be insulting--"

For the first time the man lost muscular control of his features;they twitched, and under their tan his cheeks became a sicklyyellow. 

"You've no right to say that, " he told her, harshly. "You've plumboverstepped yourself, ma'am, and--I reckon you've formed quite awrong opinion of me and of the facts. Let me tell you somethingabout that killing and about myself, so you'll have it allstraight before you bring in your verdict. You say Panfilo wasunarmed, and you call it--murder. He had his six-shooter and heused it; he had the darkness and the swiftest horse, too. Heintended to ambush me and release his companion, but I forced hishand; so it ain't what _I'd_ call murder. Now about myself:Panfilo isn't the first man I've killed, and he may not be thelast, but I haven't lost any sleep over it, and I'd have killedhim just as quick if I hadn't been an officer. That's the kind ofman I am, and you may as well know it. I--"

"You are utterly ruthless. "

"Yes'm!"

"You left him there without burial. "

Law shrugged impatiently. "What's the difference? He's there tostay; and he's just as dead under the stars as he'd be under thesand. I'd rather lie facing the sky than the grass roots. "

"But--you must have known it would get out, sometime. This putsboth of us in a very bad light. "

"I know. But I stood on my cards. I'd have preferred to report it, but--I'd keep still again, under the same circumstances. You seemto consider that an insult. If it is, I don't know how tocompliment you, ma'am. "

Alaire pondered this statement briefly before saying, "You have astrange way of looking at the affair--a strange, careless, unnatural way, it seems to me. "

"Perhaps that's the fault of my training. I'm not what you wouldconsider a nice person; the death of Panfilo Sanchez means nothingwhatever to me. If you can grasp that fact, you'll see that yourown reputation weighed heavier in my mind than the lives of adozen Mexicans--or whites, for that matter. People know me forwhat I am, and--that may have had something to do with mydecision. "

"I go anywhere, everywhere. No one has ever had the effrontery toquestion my actions, " Alaire told him, stiffly. 

"And I don't aim to give 'em a chance. " Dave was stubborn. 

There was another interval of silence. 

"You heard what Jose said. What are you going to do?"

Dave made a gesture of indifference. "It doesn't greatly matter. I'll tell him the truth, perhaps. "

Such an attitude was incomprehensible to Alaire and brought animpatient frown to her brow. "You don't seem to realize that hewill try to revenge himself. "

"You might warn him against any such foolishness. Jose has somesense. "

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 afraidthis thing is going to spoil our friendship. I've been desperatelyafraid, all along, that I might have hurt your reputation. Evennow I'm afraid, on your account, to make public Panfilo Sanchez'sdeath. Yes'm, I know what it is to be afraid. "

"I presume the law would hold you blameless, " she said, thoughtfully. 

"If there was any doubt about that it would be another matterentirely. A Ranger can get away with a heap more than killing aMexican. No! It's up to you to say what I shall do. "

"Let me think it over. Jose mustn't know to-day, that's certain. "

"I'm in your hands. "

They returned to the automobile in silence, but as they took theirseats Dave said:

"You're tired, ma'am. Won't you let me drive?"

"Can you?"

When he smiled his answer, Alaire was only too glad to give up thewheel, for her nerves were indeed unsteady and she was gratefulfor an opportunity to think out the best course to pursue in thisunexpected difficulty. Later, as she listened to Law'sinconsequential talk with Dolores and Jose, and watched the way hehandled the car, she marveled at his composure. She wondered ifthis man could have a heart. 

It became evident to Dave, as the afternoon progressed, that theywould be very late in arriving at Las Palmas; for although hedrove as rapidly as he dared over such roads, the miles were longand the going heavy. They were delayed, too, by a mishap that heldthem back for an hour or two, and he began to fear that hishostess would feel in duty bound to insist upon his spending thenight at her home. To accept, after his clash with Ed Austin, wasof course impossible, and he dreaded another explanation at thisparticular crisis. 

That a crisis in their relations had arisen he felt sure. He hadtried to make plain his attitude of mind toward the killing ofPanfilo Sanchez, and the wisdom of his course thereafter, but hedoubted if Alaire understood the one or agreed with the other. Probably she considered him inhuman, or, what was worse, cowardlyin attempting to avoid the consequences of his act. And yet hecould not explain his full anxiety to protect her good namewithout confessing to a deeper interest in her than he dared. Andhis interest was growing by leaps and bounds. This womanfascinated him; he was infatuated--bewitched by her personality. To be near her affected him mentally and physically in a way tooextraordinary to analyze or to describe. It was as if they were sosympathetically attuned that the mere sound of her voice set hiswhole being into vibrant response, where all his life he had lainmute. She played havoc with his resolutions, too, awaking in himthe wildest envy and desire. He no longer thought of her asunattainable; on the contrary, her husband's shortcomings seemedprovidential. Absurd, impossible ways of winning her suggestedthemselves. To risk a further estrangement, therefore, wasintolerable. 

But as if his thoughts were telepathic messages, she did the verything he feared. 

"We won't be in before midnight, " she said, "but I'll send you toJonesville in the morning. "

"Thank you, ma'am--I'll have to go right through. "

"I'll get you there in time for business. We've gained areputation for inhospitableness at Las Palmas that I want toovercome. " In spite of their recent clash, in spite of the factthat this fellow's ruthlessness and indifference to human lifeshocked her, Alaire was conscious of her obligation to him, andaware also of a growing friendship between them which made thepresent situation all the more trying. Law was likable, and heinspired her with a sense of security to which she had long been astranger. "Mr. Austin ought to know, " she added, "about this--matter we were discussing, and I want him to meet you. "

"He has!" Dave said, shortly; and at his tone Alaire looked up. 

"So!" She studied his grim face. "And you quarreled?"

"I'd really prefer to go on, ma'am. I'll get to Jonesvillesomehow. "

"You refuse--to stay under his roof?"

"That's about it. "

"I'm sorry. " She did not ask for further explanation. 

Evening came, bringing a grateful coolness, and they drove througha tunnel of light walled in by swiftly moving shadows. 

The windows of Las Palmas were black, the house silent, when theyarrived at their journey's end; Dolores was fretful, and hermistress ached in every bone. When Jose had helped hiscountrywoman into the house Alaire said:

"If you insist upon going through you must take the car. You canreturn it to-morrow. "

"And--about Panfilo?" Dave queried. 

"Wait. Perhaps I'll decide what is best to do in the mean time. Good night. "

Law took her extended hand. Alaire was glad that he did not fondleit in that detestable Mexican fashion of which she had latelyexperienced so much; glad that the grasp of his long, strongfingers was merely firm and friendly. When he stepped back intothe car and drove off through the night she stood for some timelooking after him. 

Blaze Jones had insisted that Dave live at his house, and theRanger had accepted the invitation; but as it was late when thelatter arrived at Jonesville, he went to the hotel for a fewhours' rest. When he drove his borrowed machine up to the Joneshouse, about breakfast-time, both Blaze and Paloma were delightedto see him. 

"Say, now! What you doing rolling around in a gasoline go-devil?"the elder man inquired, and Law was forced to explain. 

"Why, Mrs. Austin must have experienced a change of heart!"exclaimed Paloma. "She never gave anybody a lift before. "

Blaze agreed. "She's sure poisonous to strangers. " Then he lookedover the car critically. "These automobiles are all right, butwhenever I want to go somewhere and get back I take a team of hay-burners. Mules don't puncture. The first automobile Paloma hadnearly scared me to death. On the road to Brownsville there usedto be a person who didn't like me--we'd had a considerableunpleasantness, in fact. One day Paloma and I were lickety-splittin' along past his place when we had a blow-out. It was thefirst one I'd ever heard, and it fooled me complete--comin' rightat that particular turn of the road. I sure thought this party Ispoke of had cut down on me, so I r'ared up and unlimbered. I shotout three window-lights in his house before Paloma could explain. If he'd been in sight I'd have beefed him then and there, andsaved six months' delay. No, gas-buggies are all right for peoplewith strong nerves, but I'm tuned too high. "

"Father has never learned to drive a car without yelling 'Gee' and'Haw, '" laughed Paloma. "And he thinks he has title to the wholeroad, too. You know these Mexicans are slow about pulling theirwagons to one side. Well, father got mad one day, and when a teamrefused him the right of way he whipped out his revolver andfired. "

Blaze smiled broadly. "It worked great. And believe me, themGreasers took to the ditch. I went through like a hot wind, but Ishot up sixty-five ca'tridges between here and town. "

"Why didn't Mrs. Austin ask you to stay all night at Las Palmas?"the girl inquired of Dave. 

"She did. "

"Wonderful!" Paloma's surprise was evidently sincere. "I supposeyou refused because of the way Ed treated you? Well, I'd haveaccepted just to spite him. Tell me, is she nice?"

"She's lovely. "

This vehement declaration brought a sudden gleam of interest intothe questioner's eyes. 

"They say she has the most wonderful gowns and jewels, and dressesfor dinner every night. Well"--Paloma tossed her head--"I'm goingto have some nice clothes, too. You wait!"

"Now don't you start riggin' yourself up for meals, " Blaze said, warningly. "First thing I know you'll have me in a full-dresssuit, spillin' soup on my shirt. " Then to his guest he complained, feelingly: "I don't know what's come over Paloma lately; this newdressmaker has plumb stampeded her. Somebody'd ought to run thatfeline out of town before she ruins me. "

"She is a very nice woman, " complacently declared the daughter;but her father snorted loudly. 

"I wouldn't associate with such a critter. "

"My! But you're proud. "

"It ain't that, " Blaze defended himself. "I know her husband, andhe's a bad hombre. He backed me up against a waterin'-trough andtold my fortune yesterday. He said I'd be married twice and havemany children. He told me I was fond of music and a skilledperformer on the organ, but melancholy and subject to catarrh, Bright's disease, and ailments of the legs. He said I lovedwidows, and unless I was poisoned by a dark lady I'd live to beeighty years old. Why, he run me over like a pet squirrel lookin'for moles, and if I'd had a gun on me I'd have busted him for someof the things he said. 'A dark lady!' That's his wife. I give youwarnin', Paloma, don't you ask her to stay for meals. People likethem are dangerous. "

"You're too silly!" said Paloma. "Nobody believes in such things. "

"They don't, eh? Well, he's got all of Jonesville walkin' aroundladders, and spittin' through crossed fingers, and countin' thespots on their nails. He interprets their dreams and locates lostarticles. "

"Maybe he can tell me where to find Adolfo Urbina?" Davesuggested. 

"Humph! If he can't, Tad Lewis can. Say, Dave, this case of yourshas stirred up a lot of feelin' against Tad. The prosecutin'attorney says he'll sure cinch him and Urbina, both. One ofLewis's men got on a bender the other night and declared Adolfowould never come to trial. "

"What did he mean?"

"It may have been mescal talk, but witnesses sometimes have a wayof disappearin'. I wouldn't put anything past that gang. "

Not long after breakfast Don Ricardo Guzman appeared at the Joneshouse and warmly greeted his two friends. To Dave he explained:

"Last night I came to town, and this morning I heard you hadreturned, so I rode out at once. You were unsuccessful?"

"Our man never went to Pueblo. "

"Exactly. I thought as much. "

"He's probably safe across the river. "

But Ricardo thought otherwise. "No. Urbina deserted from this veryColonel Blanco who commands the forces at Romero. He wouldscarcely venture to return to Federal territory. However, I go tomeet Blanco to-day, and perhaps I shall discover something. "

"What takes you over there?" Blaze inquired. 

"Wait until I tell you. Senor David, here, brings me good fortuneat every turn. He honors my poor thirsty rancho with a visit andbrings a glorious rain; then he destroys my enemies like athunderbolt. No sooner is this done than I receive from theFederals an offer for fifty of my best horses. Caramba! Such aprice, too. They are in a great hurry, which looks as if theyexpected an attack from the Candeleristas at Matamoras. I hope so. God grant these traitors are defeated. Anyhow, the horses havegone, and to-day I go to get my money, in gold. "

"Who's going with you?" asked Law. 

Ricardo shrugged. "Nobody. There is no danger. "

Blaze shook his head. "They know you are a red-hot Rebel. Iwouldn't trust them. "

"They know, also, that I am an American, like you gentlemen, "proudly asserted Guzman. "That makes a difference. I supported theLiberator--God rest his soul!--and I secretly assist those whofight his assassins, but so does everybody else. I am receiving afine price for those horses, so it is worth a little risk. Now, senor, " he addressed himself to the Ranger, "I have brought you alittle present. Day and night my boys and I have worked upon it, for we know the good heart you have. It was finished yesterday. See!" Ricardo unwrapped a bundle he had fetched, displaying amagnificent bridle of plaited horsehair. It was cunningly wrought, and lavishly decorated with silver fittings. "You recognize thosehairs?" he queried. "They came from the mane and tail of yourbonita. "

"Bessie Belle!" Law accepted the handsome token, then held out hishand to the Mexican. "That was mighty fine of you, Ricardo. I--Youcouldn't have pleased me more. "

"You like it?" eagerly demanded the old man. "That is good. I amrepaid a thousandfold. Your sentiment is like a woman's. But see!I am famous for this work, and I have taught my boys to use theirfingers, too. That mare will always guide you now, wherever yougo. And we handled her gently, for your sake. "

Dave nodded. "You're a good man, Ricardo. We're going to befriends. "

Guzman's delight was keen, his grizzled face beamed, and he showedhis white teeth in a smile. "Say no more. What is mine is yours--my house, my cattle, my right hand. I and my sons will serve you, and you must come often to see us. Now I must go. " He shook handsheartily and rode away, waving his hat. 

"There's a good Greaser, " Blaze said, with conviction, and Daveagreed, feelingly:

"Yes! I'd about go to hell for him, after this. " Then he took thebridle in for Paloma to admire. 

XVI

THE RODEO

It was with a feeling of some reluctance that Dave drove up to LasPalmas shortly after the lunch hour, for he had no desire to meet"Young Ed. " However, to his relief, Austin did not appear, andinasmuch as Alaire did not refer to her husband in any way, Davedecided that he must be absent, perhaps on one of his notorioussprees. 

The mistress of the big ranch was in her harness, having at onceassumed her neglected duties. She came to welcome her caller in ashort khaki riding-suit; her feet were encased in tan boots; shewore a mannish felt hat and gauntlet gloves, showing that she hadspent the morning in the saddle. Dave thought she lookedexceedingly capable and business-like, and not less beautiful inthese clothes; he feasted his eyes covertly upon her. 

"I expected you for luncheon, " she smiled; and Dave could havekicked himself. "I'm just going out now. If you're not in toogreat a hurry to go home you may go with me. "

"That would be fine, " he agreed. 

"Come, then I have a horse for you. " As she led the way backtoward the farm buildings she explained: "I'm selling off a bunchof cattle. Benito is rounding them up and cutting out the bestones. "

"You keep them, I reckon. "

"Always. That's how I improve the grade. You will see a splendidherd of animals, Mr. Law--the best in South Texas. I supposeyou're interested in such things. "

"I'd rather watch a good herd of stock than the best show in NewYork, " he told her. 

When they came to the corrals, an intricate series of pens andchutes at the rear of the outbuildings, Law beheld twothoroughbred horses standing at the hitching-rail. 

"I'm proud of my horses, too, " said Alaire. 

"You have reason to be. " With his eyes alight Dave examined thefine points of both animals. He ran a caressing hand over them, and they recognized in him a friend. 

"These beauties were raised on Kentucky blue grass. Brother andsister, aren't they?"

"Yes. Montrose and Montrosa are their names. The horse is mine, the mare is yours. " Seeing that Dave did not comprehend the fullimport of her words, she added: "Yours to keep, I mean. You mustmake another Bessie Belle out of her. "

"MINE? Oh--ma'am'" Law turned his eyes from Alaire to the mare, then back again. "You're too kind. I can't take her. "

"You must. "

Dave made as if to say something, but was too deeply embarrassed. Unable to tear himself away from the mare's side, he continued tostroke her shining coat while she turned an intelligent face tohim, showing a solitary white star in the center of her forehead. 

"See! She is nearly the same color as Bessie Belle. "

"Yes'm! I--I want her, ma'am; I'm just sick from wanting her, but--won't you let me buy her?"

"Oh, I wouldn't sell her. " Then, as Dave continued to yearn overthe animal, like a small boy tempted beyond his strength, Alairelaughed. "I owe you something, Mr. Law, and a horse more or lessmeans very little to me. "

He yielded; he could not possibly continue his resistance, and inhis happy face Alaire took her reward. 

The mare meanwhile was doubtfully nosing her new master, decidingwhether or not she liked him; but when he offered her a cube ofsugar her uncertainties disappeared and they became friends thenand there. He talked to her, too, in a way that would have won anyfemale heart, and it was plain to any one who knew horses that shebegan to consider him wholly delightful. Now, Montrosa was a sadcoquette, but this man seemed to say, "Rosa, you rogue, if you tryyour airs with me I will out-flirt you. " Who could resist such aperson? Why, the touch of his hands was positively thrilling. Hewas gentle, but masterful, and--he had a delicious smell. Rosafelt that she understood him perfectly, and was enraptured todiscover that he understood her. There was some satisfaction inknowing such a man. 

"You DO speak their language, " Alaire said, after she had watchedthem for a few minutes. "You have bewitched the creature. " Davenodded silently, and his face was young. Then half to herself thewoman murmured, "Yes, you have a heart. "

"I beg pardon?"

"Nothing. I'm glad you like her. "

"Do you mind if I call her something else than Rosa, just tomyself?"

"Why, she's yours! Don't you like the name?"

"Oh yes! But--see!" Dave laid a finger upon Montrosa's forehead. "She wears a lone star, and I'd like to call her that--The LoneStar. "

Alaire smiled in tacit assent; then when the two friends hadcompletely established their intimacy she mounted her own horseand led the way to the round-up. 

Dave's unbounded delight filled the mistress of Las Palmas withthe keenest pleasure. He laughed, he hummed snatches of songs, hekept up a chatter addressed as much to the mare as to hiscompanion, and under it Montrosa romped like a tomboy. It wasgratifying to meet with such appreciation as this; Alaire feltwarm and friendly to the whole world, and decided that out of herabundance she must do more for other people. 

Of course Dave had to tell of Don Ricardo's thoughtful gift, andconcluded by saying, "I think this must be my birthday, althoughit doesn't fit in with the calendar. "

"Don Ricardo has his enemies, but he is a good-hearted old man. "

"Yes, " Dave agreed. Then more gravely: "I'm sorry I let him goacross the river. " There was a pause. "If anybody harms him Ireckon I'll have a feud on my hands, for I'm a grateful person. "

"I believe it. I can see that you are loyal. "

"I was starved on sentiment when I was little, but it's in mebigger than a skinned ox. They say gratitude is an elemental, primitive emotion--"

"Perhaps that's why it is so rare nowadays, " said Alaire, not morethan half in jest. 

"You find it rare?" Dave looked up keenly. "Well, you havecertainly laid up a store of it to-day. "

Benito and his men had rounded up perhaps three thousand head ofcattle when Alaire and her companion appeared, and they were inthe process of "cutting out. " Assembled near a flowing well whichgave life to a shallow pond, the herd was held together by a half-dozen horsemen who rode its outskirts, heading off and drivingback the strays. Other men, under Benito's personal direction, were isolating the best animals and sending them back to thepasture. It was an animated scene, one fitted to rouse enthusiasmin any plainsman, for the stock was fat and healthy; there weremany calves, and the incessant, rumbling complaint of the herd wasbloodstirring. The Las Palmas cowboys rode like centaurs, doubling, dodging, yelling, and whirling their ropes like lashes;the air was drumming to swift hoof-beats, and over all was thehoarse, unceasing undertone from countless bovine throats. Outnear the grub-wagon the remuda was grazing, and thither atintervals came the perspiring horsemen to change their mounts. 

Benito, wet, dusty, and tired, rode up to his employer to reportprogress. 

"Dios! This is hot work for an old man. We will never finish bydark, " said he, whereupon Law promptly volunteered his services, "Lend me your rope, Benito, till I get another caballo. "

"Eh? That Montrosa is the best cutting horse on Las Palmas. "

But Dave shook his head vigorously. "I wouldn't risk her amongthose gopher-holes. " He slid out of his seat and, with an armaround the mare's neck, whispered into her ear, "We won't have anybroken legs and broken hearts, will we, honey girl?" Rosa answeredby nosing the speaker over with brazen familiarity; then when hehad removed her equipment and turned away, dragging her saddle, she followed at his heels like a dog. 

"Diablo! He has a way with horses, hasn't he?" Benito grinned, "Now that Montrosa is wilder than a deer. "

Alaire rode into the herd with her foreman, while Dave settled hisloop over a buckskin, preparatory to joining the cowboys. 

The giant herd milled and eddied, revolving like a vast pool ofdeep, swift water. The bulls were quarrelsome, the steers werestubborn, and the wet cows were distracted. Motherless calvesdodged about in bewilderment. In and out of this confusion thecowboys rode, following the animals selected for separation, forcing them out with devious turnings and twistings, and thenrunning them madly in a series of breakneck crescent dashes overflats and hummocks, through dust and brush, until they had joinedthe smaller herd of choice animals which were to remain on theranch. It was swift, sweaty, exhausting work, the kind theseMexicans loved, for it was not only spectacular, but held anelement of danger. Once he had secured a pony Dave Law madehimself one of them. 

Alaire sat her horse in the heart of the crowding herd, with a seaof rolling eyes, lolling tongues, and clashing horns all abouther, and watched the Ranger. Good riding she was accustomed to;the horses of Las Palmas were trained to this work as bird dogsare trained to theirs; they knew how to follow a steer and, as EdAustin boasted, "turn on a dime with a nickel to spare. " But Law, it appeared, was a born horseman, and seemed to inspire his mountwith an exceptional eagerness and intelligence. In spite of theman's unusual size, he rode like a feather; he was grace and lifeand youth personified. Now he sat as erect in his saddle as aswaying reed; again he stretched himself out like a whip-lash. Once he had begun the work he would not stop. 

All that afternoon the cowboys labored, and toward sundown thedepleted herd was driven to the water. It moved thither in arestless, thirsty mass; it churned the shallow pond to milk, andfrom a high knoll, where Alaire had taken her stand, she lookeddown upon a vast undulating carpet many acres in extent formed bythe backs of living creatures. The voice of these cattle was likethe bass rumble of the sea, steady, heavy-droning, ceaseless. 

Then through the cool twilight came the drive to the next pasture, and here the patience of the cowboys was taxed to the utmost, foras the stronger members of the herd forged ahead, the wearied, worried, littlest members fell behind. Their joints were limber, and their legs unsteady; one and all were orphaned, too, for inthat babel of sound no untrained ears could catch a mother's low. A mile of this and the whole rear guard was composed of plaintive, wet-eyed little calves who made slower and slower progress. Someof them were stubborn and risked all upon a spirited dash backtoward the homes they were leaving and toward the mothers whowould not answer. It took hard, sharp riding to run them down, forthey fled like rabbits, bolting through prickly-pear and scrub, their tails bravely aloft, their stiff legs flying. Others, tootired and thirsty to go farther, lay down and refused to budge, and these had to be carried over the saddlehorn until they hadrested. Some hid themselves cunningly in the mesquite clumps orburrowed into the coarse sagauista grass. 

But now those swarthy, dare-devil riders were as gentle as women;they urged the tiny youngsters onward with harmless switches orwith painless blows from loose-coiled riatas; they picked them upin their arms and rode with them. 

Once through the gate and safe inside the restraining pasturefence, the herd was allowed to settle down. Then began a patientsearch by outraged mothers, a series of mournful quests that weredestined to continue far into the night; endless nosings andsniffings and caressings, which would keep up until each cow hadfound her own, until each calf was butting its head againstmaternal ribs and gaining that consolation which it craved. 

A new moon was swinging in the sky as Alaire and Dave rode backtoward Las Palmas. The dry, gray grass was beginning to jewel withdew; the paths were ribbons of silver between dark blots of inkwhere the bushes grew. Behind rose the jingle of spurs andbridles, the creak of leather, the voices of men. It was an hourin which to talk freely, an environment suited to confidences, andDave Law was happier than he had been for years. He closed hiseyes to the future, he stopped his ears to misgivings; with a songin his heart he rode at the stirrup of the woman he adored. 

How or when Alaire Austin came to feel that this man loved her shenever knew. Certainly he gave no voice to his feeling, save, perhaps, by some unconscious tone or trick of speech; rather, theknowledge came to her intuitively as the result of somesubconscious interchange of thought, some responsive vibration, which only a psychologist could analyze. However it was, Alaireknew to-night that she was dear to her companion, and, strange tosay, this certainty did not disturb her. Inasmuch as the thingexisted, why deny its right to exist? she asked herself. Since itwas in no wise dishonorable, how could it be wrong, provided itwent no further? Alaire had been repelled by Luis Longorio'sevident love for her, but a similar emotion in this man's breasthad quite the opposite effect. She was eager for friendship, hungry for affection, starved for that worship which every womanlives upon. Having a wholesome confidence in her own strength ofcharacter, and complete faith in Law's sense of honor, she wasneither alarmed nor offended. 

For the first time in years she allowed her intimate thoughts freeexpression, and spoke of her hopes, her interests, and herefforts; under the spell of the moonlight she even confidedsomething about those dreams that kept her company and robbed herworld of its sordidness. Dave Law discovered that she lived in afanciful land of unrealities, and the glimpse he gained of it wasdelightful. 

Supper was waiting when they arrived at Las Palmas, and Doloresannounced that "Young Ed" had telephoned from the Lewis ranch thathe would not be home. Yielding to a sudden impulse, Alaire said toher companion:

"You must dine with me. Dolores will show you to a room. I will beready in half an hour. "

Dave hesitated, but it was not in human nature to refuse. Later, as he washed himself and combed his hair, he had a moment ofmisgivings; but the next instant he asked himself wherein he wasdoing wrong. Surely there was no law which denied him the right tolove, provided he kept that love a secret. The inner voice did notargue with him; yet he was disquieted and restless as he paced thebig living-room, waiting for his hostess. 

The Austin ranch-house offered a contrast to the majority of Texascountry homes. "Young Ed" had built almost a mansion for hisbride, and in the latter years Alaire had remodeled and changed itto suit her own ideas. The verandas were wide, the rooms large andcool and open; polished floors, brilliant grass mats, and easywicker furniture gave it a further airiness. The place wascomfortable, luxurious; yet it was a home and it had anatmosphere. 

Not for many years had Dave Law been a guest amid suchsurroundings, and as the moments dragged on he began to feel moreand more out of place. With growing discomfort he realized thatthe mistress of this residence was the richest woman in all thispart of Texas, and that he was little better than a tramp. Hisfree life, his lack of care and responsibility, had bred in him acertain contempt for money; nevertheless, when through the door tothe dining-room he saw Alaire pause to give a final touch to thetable, he was tempted to beat an ignominious retreat, for she wasa radiant vision in evening dress. She was stately, beautiful; herhair was worn high, her arms were bare underneath a shimmer oflace, her gown exposed a throat round and smooth and adorable. Inreality, she was simply clad; but to the Ranger's untrained eyeshe seemed regal, and his own rough clothes became painfullyconspicuous by contrast. 

Alaire knew how to be a gracious and winning hostess; of courseshe did not appear to notice her guest's embarrassment. She hadrather welcomed the thought that this man cared for her, and yet, had she deliberately planned to dampen his feeling, she couldhardly have succeeded better than by showing him the widedisparity in their lives and situations. Dave was dismayed; hefelt very poor and ridiculous. Alaire was no longer the woman hehad ridden with through the solitudes; her very friendlinessseemed to be a condescension. 

He did not linger long after they had dined, for he wished to bealone, where he could reach an understanding with himself. On thesteps he waited just a moment for Alaire to mention, if she chose, that subject which they had still left open on the night before. Reading his thought, she said:

"You are expecting me to say something about Panfilo Sanchez. "

"Yes. "

"I have thought it over; in fact, I have been thinking about itall day; but even yet I don't know what to tell you. One moment Ithink the truth would merely provoke another act of violence; thenext I feel that it must be made public regardless ofconsequences. As for its effect upon myself--you know I care verylittle what people say or think. "

"I'm sorry I killed the fellow--I shouldn't have done it, but--onesees things differently out in the rough and here in the settledcountry. Laws don't work alike in all places; they depend a gooddeal upon--geography. There are times when the theft of a crust ofbread would warrant the punishment I gave Panfilo. I can't helpbut feel that his conduct, under the circumstances, called for--what he got. He wasn't a good man, in spite of what Jose says;Anto confessed to me that they were planning all sorts of deviltrytogether. "

"That is hardly an excuse. " Alaire smiled faintly. 

"Oh, I know!" Dave agreed. "But, you see, I don't feel the need ofone. The sentimental side of the affair, which bothers you, doesn't affect me in the least. "

Alaire nodded. "You have made me understand how you look atthings, and I must confess that I tolerate actions that would haveshocked me before I came to know this country. Panfilo is dead andgone--rightly or wrongly, I don't know. What I dread now isfurther consequences. "

"Don't weaken on my account. "

"No! I'm not thinking of the consequences to you or to me. You arethe kind of man who can protect himself, I'm sure; your veryability in that direction frightens me a little on Jose's account. But"--she sighed and lifted her round shoulders in a shrug--"perhaps time will decide this question for us. "

Dave laughed with some relief. "I think you've worried yourselfenough over it, ma'am, " he said; "splitting hairs as to what'sright and what's wrong, when it doesn't matter much, in eithercase. Suppose you continue to think it over at your leisure. "

"Perhaps I'd better. And now"--Alaire extended her hand--"won'tyou and Montrosa come to see me once in a while? I'm verylonesome. "

"We'd love to, " Dave declared. He had it on his lips to say more, but at that moment an eager whinny and an impatient rattle of abridle-bit came from the driveway, and he smiled. "There's heracceptance now. "

"Oh no! She merely heard your voice, the fickle creature. "

Alaire watched her guest until be had disappeared into theshadows, then she heard him talking to the mare. Benito's words atthe rodeo recurred to her, and she wondered if this Ranger mightnot also have a way with women. 

The house was very still and empty when she re-entered it. 

XVII

THE GUZMAN INCIDENT

Ricardo Guzman did not return from Romero. When two days hadpassed with no word from him, his sons became alarmed and startedan investigation, but without the slightest result. Even ColonelBlanco himself could not hazard a guess as to Guzman's fate; theman had disappeared, it seemed, completely and mysteriously. Meanwhile, from other quarters of the Mexican town came rumorsthat set the border afire. 

Readers of this story may remember the famous "Guzman incident, "so called, and the complications that resulted from it, for at thetime it raised a storm of indignation as the crowning atrocity ofthe Mexican revolution, serving further to disturb the troubledwaters of diplomacy and threatening for a moment to upset theprecariously balanced relations of the two countries. 

At first the facts appeared plain: a citizen of the United Stateshad been lured across the border and done to death by Mexicansoldiers--for it soon became evident that Ricardo was dead. Theoutrage was a casus belli such as no self-respecting people couldignore; so ran the popular verdict. Then when that ominous mailedserpent which lay coiled along the Rio Grande stirred itself, warlike Americans prepared themselves to hear of big events. 

A motive for Ricardo Guzman's murder was not lacking, for it wasgenerally known that President Potosi had long resented Yankeeenmity, particularly as that enmity was directed at himpersonally. A succession of irritating diplomatic skirmishes, anunsatisfactory series of verbal sparring matches, had roused theold Indian's anger, and it was considered likely that he hadadopted this means of permanently severing his relations withWashington. 

Of course, the people of Texas were delighted that the long-delayed hour had struck; accordingly, when the State Departmentseemed strangely loath to investigate the matter, when, in fact, it manifested a willingness to allow Don Ricardo ample time inwhich to come to life in preference to putting a further strainupon international relations, they were both surprised andenraged. Telegraph wires began to buzz; the governor of the statesent a crisply sarcastic message to the national capital, offeringto despatch a company of Rangers after Guzman's body just to provethat he was indeed dead and that the Mexican authorities werelying when they professed ignorance of the fact. 

This offer not only caught the popular fancy north of the RioGrande, but it likewise had an effect on the other side of theriver, for on the very next day General Luis Longorio set out forRomero to investigate personally the rancher's disappearance. 

Now, throughout all this public clamor, truth, as usual, layhidden at the bottom of its well, and few even of Ricardo'sclosest friends suspected the real reason for his murder. 

Jonesville, of course, could think or talk of little else thanthis outrage, and Blaze Jones, as befitted its leading citizen, was loudest in his criticism of the government's weak-kneedpolicy. 

"It makes me right sore to think I'm an American, " he confided toDave. "Why, if Ricardo had been an Englishman the British consulat Mexico City would have called on Potosi the minute the newscame. He'd have stuck a six-shooter under the President's nose andmade him locate Don Ricardo, or pay an indemnity and kiss theUnion Jack. " Blaze's conception of diplomacy was peculiar. "IfPotosi didn't talk straight that British consul would have bent agun-bar'l over the old ruffian's bean and telephoned for a couplehundred battle-ships. England protects her sons. But we Americansare cussed with notions of brotherly love and universal peace. Bah! We're bound to have war, Dave, some day or other. Why notstart it now?"

Dave nodded his agreement. "Yes. We'll have to step in and takethe country over, sooner or later. But--everybody has the wrongidea of this Guzman killing. The Federal officers in Romero didn'tframe it up. "

"No? Who did?"

"Tad Lewis. "

Jones started. "What makes you think that?"

"Listen! Tad was afraid to let Urbina come to trial--you rememberone of his men boasted that the case would never be heard? Well, it won't. Ricardo's dead and the other witness is gone. Now drawyour own conclusions. "

"Gone? You mean the fellow who saw Urbina and Garza together?"

"Yes. He has disappeared, too--evidently frightened away. "

Jones was amazed. "Say, Dave, " he cried, "that means your case hasblown up, eh?"

"Absolutely. Lewis has been selling 'wet' stock to the Federals, and he probably arranged with some of them to murder Ricardo. Atany rate, that's my theory. "

Blaze cursed eloquently. "I'd like to hang it on to Tad; I'd sureclean house down his way if I was positive. "

"I sent a man over to Romero, " Dave explained further. "He tellsme Ricardo is dead, all right; but nobody knows how he died, orwhy. There's a new grave in the little cemetery above the town, but nobody knows who's buried in it. There hasn't been a death inRomero lately. " The speaker watched his friend closely. "Ricardo'sfamily would like to have his body, and I'd like to see it myself. Wouldn't you? We could tell just what happened to him. If hereally faced a firing-squad, for instance--I reckon Washingtonwould have something to say, eh?"

"What are you aimin' at?" Blaze inquired. 

"If we had Ricardo's body on this side it would put an end to allthe lies, and perhaps force Colonel Blanco to make known the realfacts. It might even mean a case against Tad Lewis. What do youthink of my reasoning?"

"It's eighteen karat. What d'you say we go over there and getRicardo?"

Dave smiled. "That's what I've been leading up to. Will you take achance?"

"Hell, yes!"

"I knew you would. All we need is a pair of Mexicans to--do thework. I liked Ricardo; I owe him something. "

"Suppose we're caught?"

"In that case we'll have to run for it, and--I presume I'll bedischarged from the Ranger service. "

"I ain't very good at runnin'--not from Mexicans. " Blaze's eyeswere bright and hard at the thought. "It's more'n possible that, if they discover us, we can start a nice little war of our own. "

That evening Dave managed to get his Ranger captain by long-distance telephone, and for some time the two talked guardedly. When Dave rang off they had come to a thorough understanding. 

It had been an easy matter for Jose Sanchez to secure a leave ofabsence from Las Palmas, especially since Benito was not a littleinterested in the unexplained disappearance of Panfilo and workwas light at this time. Benito did not think it necessary tomention the horse-breaker's journey to his employer; so thatAlaire knew nothing whatever about the matter until Jose himselfasked permission to see her on a matter of importance. 

The man had ridden hard most of the previous night, and hisexcitement was patent. Even before he spoke Alaire realized thatPanfilo's fate was known to him, and she decided swiftly thatthere must be no further concealment. 

"Senora! A terrible thing!" Jose burst forth. "God knows, I amnearly mad with grief. It is about my sainted cousin. It isstrange, unbelievable! My head whirls--"

Alaire quieted him, saying in Spanish, "Calm yourself, Jose, andtell me everything from the beginning. "

"But how can I be calm? Oh, what a crime! What a misfortune! Well, then, Panfilo is completely dead. I rode to that tanque where yousaw him last, and what do you think? But--you know?"

Alaire nodded. "I--suspected. "

Jose's dark face blazed; he bent forward eagerly. "What did yoususpect, and why? Tell me all. There is something black andhellish here, and I must know about it quickly. "

"Suppose you tell me your story first, " Alaire answered, "andremember that you are excited. "

The Mexican lowered his voice. "Bueno! Forgive me if I seem halfcrazed. Well, I rode to that water-hole and found--nothing. It isa lonely place; only the brush cattle use it; but I said tomyself, 'Panfilo drank here. He was here. Beyond there is nothing. So I will begin. ' God was my helper, senora. I found him--hisbones as naked and clean as pebbles. Caramba! You should haveheard me then! I was like a demon! I couldn't think, I couldn'treason. I rode from that accursed spot as if Panfilo's ghostpursued me and--I am here. I shall rouse the country; the peopleshall demand the blood of my cousin's assassin. It is the crime ofa century. "

"Wait! When you spoke to me last I didn't dream that Panfilo wasdead, but since then I have learned the truth, and why he waskilled. You must let me tell you everything, Jose, just as ithappened; then--you may do whatever you think best. And you shallhave the whole truth. "

It was a trying situation; in spite of her brave beginning, Alairewas tempted to send the Mexican on to Jonesville, there to receivean explanation directly from David Law himself; but such a courseshe dared not risk. Jose was indeed half crazed, and at thismoment quite irresponsible; if he met Dave, terrible consequenceswould surely follow. Accordingly, it was with a peculiar, apprehensive flatter in her breast that Alaire realized the crisishad come. Heretofore she had blamed Law, but now, oddly enough, she found herself interested in defending him. As calmly as shecould she related all that had led up to the tragedy, while Joselistened with eyes wide and mouth open. 

"You see, I had no suspicion of the truth, " she concluded. "It wasa terrible thing, and Mr. Law regrets it deeply. He would havemade a report to the authorities, only--he feared it mightembarrass me. He will repeat to you all that I have said, and heis ready to meet the consequences. "

Jose was torn with rage, yet plainly a prey to indecision; herolled his eyes and cursed under his breath. "These Rangers!" hemuttered. "That is the kind of men they are. They murder honestpeople. "

"This was not murder, " Alaire cried, sharply. "Panfilo was aidinga felon to escape. The courts will not punish Mr. Law. "

"Bah! Who cares for the courts? This man is a Gringo, and theseare Gringo laws. But I am Mexican, and Panfilo was my cousin. Weshall see. "

Alaire's eyes darkened. "Don't be rash, Jose, " she exclaimed, warningly. "Mr. Law bears you no ill-will, but--he is a dangerousman. You would do well to make some inquiries about him. You are agood man; you have a long life before you. " Reading the fellow'sblack look, she argued: "You think I am taking his part because heis my countryman, but he needs no one to defend him. He will makethis whole story public and face the consequences. I like you, andI don't wish to see you come to a worse end than your cousinPanfilo. "

Jose continued to glower. Then, turning away, he said, withoutmeeting his employer's eyes, "I would like to draw my money. "

"Very well. I am sorry to have you leave Las Palmas, for I haveregarded you as one of my gente. " Jose's face remained stony. "What do you intend to do? Where are you going?"

The fellow shrugged. "Quien sabe! Perhaps I shall go to my GeneralLongorio. He is in Romero, just across the river; he knows a braveman when he sees one, and he needs fellows like me to kill rebels. Well, you shall hear of me. People will tell you about that demonof a Jose whose cousin was murdered by the Rangers. Yes, I havethe heart of a bandit. "

Alaire smiled faintly. "You will be shot, " she told him. "Thosesoldiers have little to eat and no money at all. "

But Jose's bright eyes remained hostile and his expressionbaffling. It was plain to Alaire that her explanation of hiscousin's death had carried not the slightest conviction, and sheeven began to fear that her part in the affair had caused him tolook upon her as an accessory. Nevertheless, when she paid him hiswages she gave him a good horse, which Jose accepted with thanksbut without gratitude. As Alaire watched him ride away with nevera backward glance she decided that she must lose no time inapprising the Ranger of this new condition of affairs. 

She drove her automobile to Jonesville that afternoon, moreworried than she cared to admit. It was a moral certainty, sheknew, that Jose Sanchez would, sooner or later, attempt to takevengeance upon his cousin's slayer, and there was no telling whenhe might become sufficiently inflamed with poisonous Mexicanliquor to be in the mood for killing. Then, too, there werefriends of Panfilo always ready to lend bad counsel. 

Law was nowhere in town, and so, in spite of her reluctance, Alaire was forced to look for him at the Joneses' home. As she hadnever called upon Paloma, and had made it almost impossible forthe girl to visit Las Palmas, the meeting of the two women wassomewhat formal. But no one could long remain stiff or constrainedwith Paloma Jones; the girl had a directness of manner and anhonest, friendly smile that simply would not be denied. Herdelight that Alaire had come to see her pleased and shamed theelder woman, who hesitatingly confessed the object of her visit. 

"Oh, I thought you were calling on me. " Paloma pouted her prettylips. "Dave isn't here. He and father--have gone away. " A littlepucker of apprehension appeared upon her brow. 

"I must get word to him at once. "

Miss Jones shook her head. "Is it very important?"

It needed no close observation to discover the concern in Paloma'seyes; Alaire told her story quickly. "Mr. Law must be warned rightaway, " she added, "for the man is capable of anything. "

Paloma nodded. "Dave told us how he had killed Panfilo--" Shehesitated, and then cried, impulsively: "Mrs. Austin, I'm going toconfess something--I've got to tell somebody or I'll burst. I waswalking the floor when you came. Well, Dad and Dave havecompletely lost their wits. They have gone across the river--toget Ricardo Guzman's body. "

"What?" Alaire stared at the girl uncomprehendingly. 

"They are going to dig him up and bring him back to prove that hewas killed. Dave knows where he's buried, and he's doing this forRicardo's family--some foolish sentiment about a bridle--but Dad, I think, merely wants to start a war between the United States andMexico. "

"My dear girl, aren't you dreaming?"

"I thought I must be when I heard about it. Dad wouldn't have toldme at all, only he thought I ought to know in case anythinghappens to him. " Paloma's breath failed her momentarily. "They'llbe killed. I told them so, but Dave seems to enjoy the risk. Hesaid Ricardo had a sentimental nature--and, of course, thepossibility of danger delighted both him and Dad. They're perfectfools. "

"When did they go? Tell me everything. "

"They left an hour ago in my machine, with two Mexicans to helpthem. They intend to cross at your pumping-plant as soon as itgets dark, and be back by mid-night--that is, if they ever getback. "

"Why, it's--unbelievable. "

"It's too much for me. Longorio himself is in Romero, and he'dhave them shot if he caught them. We'd never even hear of it. "Paloma's face was pale, her eyes were strained and tragic. "Fatheralways has been a trial to me, but I thought I could do somethingwith Dave. " She made a hopeless gesture, and Alaire wonderedmomentarily whether the girl's anxiety was keenest for the safetyof her father or--the other?

"Can't we prevent them from going?" she inquired. "Why, they arebreaking the law, aren't they?"

"Something like that. But what can we do? It's nearly dark, andthey'll go, anyhow, regardless of what we say. "

"Mr. Law is a Ranger, too!"

The girl nodded. "Oh, if it's ever discovered he'll be ruined. Andthink of Dad--a man of property! Dave declares Tad Lewis is at thebottom of it all and put the Federals up to murder Ricardo; hethinks in this way he can force them into telling the truth. ButDad is just looking for a fight and wants to be a hero!"

There was a moment of silence. Then Alaire reasoned aloud: "Ipresume they chose our pumping-plant because it is directlyopposite the Romero cemetery. I could have Benito and some trustymen waiting on this side. Or I could even send them over--"

"No, no! Don't you understand? The whole thing is illegal. "

"Well, we could be there--you and I. "

Paloma agreed eagerly. "Yes! Maybe we could even help them if theygot into trouble. "

"Come, then! We'll have supper at Las Palmas and slip down to theriver and wait. "

Paloma was gone with a rush. In a moment she returned, ready forthe trip, and with her she carried a Winchester rifle nearly aslong as herself. 

"I hope you aren't afraid of firearms, " she panted. "I've ownedthis gun for years. "

"I am rather a good shot, " Alaire told her. 

Paloma closed her lips firmly. "Good! Maybe we'll come in handy, after all. Anyhow, I'll bet those Mexicans won't chase Dad andDave very far. "

Jose Sanchez was true to his declared purpose. With a horse of hisown between his knees, with money in his pocket and hate in hisheart, he left Las Palmas, and, riding to the Lewis crossing, forded the Rio Grande. By early afternoon he was in Romero, andthere, after some effort, he succeeded in finding GeneralLongorio. 

Romero, at this time the southern outpost of Federal territory, standing guard against the Rebel forces in Tamaulipas, is a sun-baked little town sprawling about a naked plaza, and, except forthe presence of Colonel Blanco's detachment of troops, it wouldhave presented much the same appearance as any one of the lazyborder villages. A scow ferry had at one time linked it on theAmerican side with a group of 'dobe houses which were sanctifiedby the pious name of Sangre de Cristo, but of late years moreadvantageous crossings above and below had come into some use andRomero's ferry had been abandoned. Perhaps a mile above Sangre deCristo, and directly opposite Romero's weed-grown cemetery, stoodthe pumping-plant of Las Palmas, its corrugated iron roof andhigh-flung chimney forming a conspicuous landmark. 

Luis Longorio had just awakened from his siesta when Jose gainedadmittance to his presence. The general lay at ease in the bestbed of the best house in the village; he greeted the new-comerwith a smile. 

"So, my brave Jose, you wish to become a soldier and fight foryour country, eh?"

"Yes, my general. "

Longorio yawned and stretched lazily. "Body of Christ! This is ahard life. Here am I in this goatherd's hovel, hot, dirty, andhalf starved, and all because of a fellow I never saw who gothimself killed. You would think this Ricardo was an Englishmaninstead of a Gringo, for the fuss that is made. Who was he? Somegreat jefe?

"A miserable fellow. I knew him well. Then he is indeed dead?"

"Quite dead, I believe, " Longorio said, carelessly; then turninghis large, bright eyes upon the visitor, he continued, with moreinterest, "Now tell me about the beautiful senora, your mistress. "

Jose scowled. "She's not my mistress. I am no longer of her gente. I have a debt of blood to wipe out. "

Longorio sat up in his bed; the smile left his face. "My Jose", hesaid, quietly, "if you harm her in the least I shall bury you tothe neck in an ant's nest and fill your mouth with honey. Now, what is this you are telling me?"

Jose, uncomfortably startled by this barbarous threat, told asconnectedly as he knew how all about his cousin's death and hisreasons for leaving Las Palmas. 

"Ah-h!" Longorio relaxed. "You gave me a start. At first I thoughtyou came with a message from her--but that was too much to expect;then I feared you meant the lady some evil. Now I shall tell you alittle secret: I love your senora! Yes, I love her madly, furiously; I can think of nothing but her. I came to thisabominable village more to see her than to annoy myself over thedeath of Ricardo Guzman. I must see my divinity; I must hear herblessed voice, or I shall go mad. Why do I tell you this? BecauseI have decided that you shall lead me to her to-night. " Thegeneral fell silent for a moment, then, "I intend to have her someday, Jose, and--perhaps you will be my right hand. See, I make youmy confidant because you will not dare to anger me or--Well, mylittle friend, you must understand what fate would befall you inthat case. I can reach across the Rio Grande. "

Amazement and then fear were depicted in Jose's face as helistened; he asserted his loyalty vehemently. 

"Yes, yes, I know you love me, " the general agreed, carelessly. "But what is far more to the point, I intend to pay well for yourservices. Perhaps I shall also arrange so that you may have areckoning with the murderer of your cousin. What is his name?"

It was Jose's opportunity to make an impression, and he used it tothe full, telling all that he knew of the killing of Panfilo, anddescribing Law with the eloquence of hatred. 

Longorio listened for a time, and then held up his hand. "Enough. For my sake, too, you shall kill him, for you have made mejealous. "

"Impossible!" Jose raised protesting palms. He was sure thegeneral was wrong. Senora Austin was above suspicion of any kind. 

"And yet this man met her in Pueblo and rode with her to LasPalmas? He comes to see her frequently, you say?" The general benthis bright, keen eyes upon the visitor. 

"Yes. She gave him the finest horse at Las Palmas, too, and--" Anew thought presented itself to Jose. "Ho! By the way, they werealone at the water-hole when my cousin Panfilo was shot. Now thatI think of it, they were alone together for a day and a night. Ibegin to wonder--"

Longorio breathed an oath and swung his long legs over the edge ofthe bed. "You have poisoned my mind. A whole day and night, eh?That is bad. What happened? What kind of a fool is her husband? Icannot bear to think of this! See, I am beside myself. Caramba! Ilive in paradise; I come flying on the wings of the wind, only tolearn that my blessed divinity has a lover. If only my excellentBlanco had shot this fellow Law instead of that Guzman! If only Icould lay hands upon him here in Mexico! Ha! There would besomething to print in the American papers. " He began to dresshimself feverishly, muttering, as he did so: "I will permit no oneto come between us. . .. The thought kills me. . .. You bring me badnews, Jose, and yet I am glad you came. I accept your offer, andyou shall be my man henceforth; . .. But you shall not go out to beshot by those rebels. No, you shall return to Las Palmas to be myeyes and my ears, and, when the time comes, you shall be my hands, too. . .. I will avenge your cousin Panfilo for you, my word onthat. Yes, and I will make you a rich man. "

Jose listened hungrily to these promises. He was relieved at thechange in his plans, for, after all, a soldier's life offered fewattractions, and--the food at Las Palmas was good. The generalpromised him fine wages, too. Truly, it was fortunate that he hadcome to Romero. 

"Now we have settled this, " Jose's new employer declared, "runaway and amuse yourself until dark. Then we will take a littlejourney by way of the old ferry. "

"It is not altogether safe, " ventured Jose. "That country overthere is alive with refugees. "

"I will take some men with me, " said Longorio. "Now go and let methink. "

XVIII

ED AUSTIN TURNS AT BAY

Had it not been for her fears, Paloma Jones would have taken hervisit to the Austin ranch as an unmixed enjoyment. To her Alairehad always been an ideally romantic figure. More than once, in hermoments of melancholy, Paloma had envied Mrs. Austin's unhappinessand yearned to bear a similar sorrow--to be crossed in love and tobecome known as a woman of tragedy. To have one's life blasted, one's happiness slain by some faithless lover, impressed the girlas interesting, thrilling. Moreover, it was a misfortunecalculated to develop one's highest spiritual nature. Surelynothing could be more sadly satisfying than to live alone withregretful memories and to have the privilege of regarding theworld as a vain show. Unfortunately, however, Paloma was toohealthy and too practical to remain long occupied with suchthoughts. She was disgustingly optimistic and merry; misanthropywas entirely lacking in her make-up; and none of her admirersseemed the least bit inclined to faithlessness. On the contrary, the men she knew were perfect nuisances in their earnestness ofpurpose, and she could not manage to fall in love with any onesufficiently depraved to promise her the slightest misery. Palomafelt that she was hopelessly commonplace. 

Now that she had an opportunity of becoming better acquainted withthe object of her envy, she made the most of it. She soon found, however, that Alaire possessed anything but an unhappydisposition, and that to pity her was quite impossible. Mrs. Austin was shy and retiring, certainly, at first, but, once theice was broken, she was delightfully frank, friendly, andspirited. 

Paloma's curiosity was all-consuming, and she explored every phaseof her new friend's life with interest and delight. She evendiscovered that imaginary world of Alaire's, and learned somethingabout those visionary people who bore her company. 

"It must be lots of fun, " said Paloma. 

"Yes. Sometimes my dream-people are very real, Why--I can actuallysee them. Then I realize I have been too much alone. "

"You ought to have children, " the girl declared, calmly. 

"I have. Yes! Imaginary kiddies--and they are perfect dears, too. "

"Are they ever naughty?"

"Oh, indeed they are! And I have to punish them. Then I feelterribly. But they're much nicer than flesh-and-blood children, for they have no bad traits whatever, and they're so amazinglyintelligent. "

Such exchanges of confidence drew the women into fairly closerelations by the time they had arrived at Las Palmas, but thethought of what had brought them together had a sobering effect, and during their hasty supper they discussed the situation in allits serious phases. 

In offering to lend a hand in this difficulty, Alaire had actedlargely upon impulse, and now that she took time to think over theaffair more coolly, she asked herself what possible business ofhers it could be. How did this effort to secure Don Ricardo's bodyconcern her? And how could she hope or expect to be of help to themen engaged in the hazardous attempt? With Paloma, of course, itwas different: the girl was anxious on her father's account, andprobably concerned more deeply than was Alaire for the safety ofDave Law. Probably she and Dave had an understanding--it would benatural. Well, Paloma was a nice girl and she would make asplendid wife for any man. 

For her part, Paloma was troubled by no uncertainty of purpose; itdid not seem to her at all absurd to go to her father'sassistance, and she was so eager to be up and away that theprospect of a long evening's wait made her restless. 

As usual, Ed Austin had not taken the trouble to inform his wifeof his whereabouts; Alaire was relieved to find that he was out, and she decided that he had probably stayed at Tad Lewis's forsupper. 

The women were seated on the porch after their meals when up thedriveway rode two horsemen. A moment later a tall figure mountedthe steps and came forward with outstretched hand, crying, inSpanish:

"Senora! I surprise you. Well, I told you some day I should givemyself this great pleasure. I am here!"

"General Longorio! But--what a surprise!" Alaire's amazement wasnaive; her face was that of a startled school-girl. The Mexicanwarmly kissed her fingers, then turned to meet Paloma Jones. As hebowed the women exchanged glances over his head. Miss Jones lookedfrankly frightened, and her expression plainly asked the meaningof Longorio's presence. To herself, she was wondering if it couldhave anything to do with that expedition to the Romero cemetery. She tried to compose herself, but apprehension flooded her. 

Alaire, meanwhile, her composure recovered, was standing slim andmotionless beside her chair, inquiring smoothly: "What brings youinto Texas at such a time, my dear general? This is quiteextraordinary. "

"Need you ask me?" cried the man. "I would ride through a thousandperils, senora. God in his graciousness placed that miserablevillage Romero close to the gates of Heaven. Why should I notpresume to look through them briefly? I came two days ago, andevery hour since then I have turned my eyes in the direction ofLas Palmas. At last I could wait no longer. " A courtly bow at theconclusion of these words robbed the speech of its audacity andtinged it with the licensed extravagance of Latin flattery. Nevertheless, Paloma gasped and Alaire stirred uncomfortably. Thesemi-darkness of the veranda was an invitation to even more daringcompliments, and, therefore, as she murmured a polite word ofwelcome, Alaire stepped through the French window at her back andinto the brightly lighted living-room. Paloma Jones followed as ifin a trance. 

Longorio's bright eyes took a swift inventory of his surroundings;then he sighed luxuriously. 

"How fine!" said he. "How beautiful! A nest for a bird ofparadise!"

"Don't you consider this rather a mad adventure?" Alaire insisted. "Suppose it should become known that you crossed the river?"

Longorio snapped his fingers. "I answer to no one; I am supreme. But your interest warms my heart; it thrills me to think you carefor my safety. Thus am I repaid for my days of misery. "

"You surely did not"--Paloma swallowed hard--"come alone?"

"No. I have a duty to my country. I said, 'Luis, you are a braveman, and fear is a stranger to you, but, nevertheless, you musthave regard for the Fatherland'; so I took measures to protectmyself in case of eventualities. "

"How?"

"By bringing with me some of my troopers. Oh, they are peaceablefellows!" he declared, quickly; "and they are doubtless enjoyingthemselves with our friend and sympathizer, Morales. "

"Where?" asked Alaire. 

"I left them at your pumping-plant, senora. " Paloma Jones sat downheavily in the nearest chair. "But you need have no uneasiness. They are quiet and orderly; they will molest nothing; no one wouldbelieve them to be soldiers. I take liberties with the laws andthe customs of your country, dear lady, but--you would not carefor a man who allowed such considerations to stand in his way, eh?"

Alaire answered, sharply: "It was a very reckless thing to do, and--you must not remain here. "

"Yes, yes!" Paloma eagerly agreed. "You must go back at once. "

But Longorio heard no voice except Alaire's. In fact, sinceentering the living-room he had scarcely taken his eyes from her. Now he drew his evenly arched brows together in a plaintive frown, saying, "You are inhospitable!" Then his expression lightened. "Oris it, " he asked--"is it that you are indeed apprehensive for me?"

Alaire tried to speak quietly. "I should never forgive myself ifyou came to harm here at my ranch. "

Longorio sighed. "And I hoped for a warmer welcome--especiallysince I have done you another favor. You saw that hombre who camewith me?"

"Yes. "

"Well, you would never guess that it is your Jose Sanchez, whom Iprevailed upon to return to your employ. But it is no other; andhe comes to beg your forgiveness for leaving. He was distracted atthe news of his cousin's murder, and came to me--"

"His cousin was not murdered. "

"Exactly! I told him so when I had learned the facts. A poorfellow this Panfilo--evidently a very bad man, indeed--but Joseadmired him and was harboring thoughts of revenge. I said to him:'Jose, my boy, it is better to do nothing than to act wrongly. Since it was God's will that your cousin came to a bad end, whyfollow in his footsteps? You will not make a good soldier. Go backto your beautiful employer, be loyal to her, and think no moreabout this unhappy affair. ' It required some argument, I assureyou, but--he is here. He comes to ask your forgiveness and toresume his position of trust. "

"I am glad to have him back if he feels that way. I have nothingwhatever to forgive him. "

"Then he will be happy, and I have served you. That is the end ofthe matter. " With a graceful gesture Longorio dismissed thesubject. "Is it to be my pleasure, " he next inquired, "to meetSenor Austin, your husband?"

"I am afraid not. "

"Too bad. I had hoped to know him and convince him that weFederales are not such a bad people as he seems to think. We oughtto be friends, he and I. Every loyal Mexican, in these troublesometimes, desires the goodwill and friendship of such importantpersonages as Senor Austin. This animosity is a sad thing. "

Under this flow of talk Paloma stirred uneasily, and at the firstopportunity burst out: "It's far from safe for you to remain here, General Longorio. This neighborhood is terribly excited over thedeath of Ricardo Guzman, and if any one learned--"

"So! Then this Guzman is dead?" Longorio inquired, with interest. 

"Isn't he?" blurted Paloma. 

"Not so far as I can learn. Only to-day I made official reportthat nothing whatever could be discovered about him. Certainly heis nowhere in Romero, and it is my personal belief that the poorfellow was either drowned in the river or made way with for hismoney. Probably the truth will never be known. It is a distressingevent, but I assure you my soldiers do not kill American citizens. It is our boast that Federal territory is safe; one can come or goat will in any part of Mexico that is under Potosista control. Isincerely hope that we have heard the last of this Guzman affair. "

Longorio had come to spend the evening, and his keen pleasure inAlaire Austin's company made him so indifferent to his personalsafety that nothing short of a rude dismissal would have served toterminate his visit. Neither Alaire nor her companion, however, had the least idea how keenly he resented the presence of PalomaJones. Ed Austin's absence he had half expected, and he had wildlyhoped for an evening, an hour, a few moments, alone with theobject of his desires. Jose's disclosures, earlier in the day, hadopened the general's eyes; they had likewise inflamed him withjealousy and with passion, and accordingly he had come prepared toforce his attentions with irresistible fervor should the slightestopportunity offer. To find Alaire securely chaperoned, therefore, and to be compelled to press his ardent advances in the presenceof a third party, was like gall to him; the fact that he made themost of his advantages, even at the cost of scandalizing Paloma, spoke volumes for his determination. 

It was a remarkable wooing; on the one hand this half-savage man, gnawed by jealousy, heedless of the illicit nature of his passion, yet held within the bounds of decorum by some fag-end ofrespectability; and on the other hand, a woman, bored, resentful, and tortured at the moment by fear about what was happening at theriver-bank. 

Alaire, too, had a further cause for worry. Of late Ed Austin hadgrown insultingly suspicious. More than once he had spoken of DaveLaw in a way to make his wife's face crimson, and he had wilfullymisconstrued her recital of Longorio's attentions. Fearing, therefore, that in spite of Paloma Jones's presence Ed wouldresent the general's call, Alaire strained her ears for the soundof his coming. 

It was late when Austin arrived. Visitors at Las Palmas wereunusual at any time; hence the sound of strange voices in thebrightly lighted living-room at such an hour surprised him. Hecame tramping in, booted and spurred, a belligerent look ofinquiry upon his bloated features. But when he had met his wife'sguests his surprise turned to black displeasure. His ownsympathies in the Mexican struggle were so notorious thatLongorio's presence seemed to him to have but one possiblesignificance. Why Paloma Jones was here he could not imagine. 

Thus far Alaire's caller had succeeded in ignoring Miss Jones, andnow, with equal self-assurance, he refused to recognize Ed'shostility. He remained at ease, and appeared to welcome thischance of meeting Austin. Yet it soon became evident that hisopinion of his host was far from flattering; beneath hispoliteness he began to show an amused contempt, which Alaireperceived, even though her husband did not. Luis Longorio was thesort of man who enjoys a strained situation, and one who shows tothe best advantage under adverse conditions. Accordingly, Ed'sarrival, instead of hastening his departure, merely served toprolong his stay. 

It was growing very late now, and Paloma was frantic. Profiting byher first opportunity, she whispered to Alaire "For God's sake, send him away. "

Alaire's eyes were dark with excitement, "Yes, " said she. "Talk tohim, and give me a chance to have a word alone with Ed. "

The opportunity came when Austin went into the dining-room for adrink. Alaire excused herself to follow him. When they were out ofsight and hearing her husband turned upon her with an ugly frown. 

"What's that Greaser doing here?" he asked, roughly. 

"He called to pay his respects. You must get him away. "

"_I_ must?" Ed glowered at her. "Why don't you? You got him herein my absence. Now that I'm home you want me to get rid of him, eh? What's the idea?"

"Don't be silly. I didn't know he was coming and--he must be crazyto risk such a thing. "

"Crazy?" Ed's lip curled. "He isn't crazy. I suppose he couldn'tstay away any longer. By God, Alaire--"

Alaire checked this outburst with a sharp exclamation: "Don't makea scene! Don't you understand he holds over fifty thousanddollars' worth of La Feria cattle? Don't you understand we can'tantagonize him?"

"Is that what he came to see you about?"

"Yes. " She bit her lip. "I'll explain everything, but--you musthelp me send him back, right away. " Glancing at the clock, Alairesaw that it was drawing on toward midnight; with quick decisionshe seized her husband by the arm, explaining feverishly: "Thereis something big going on to-night, Ed! Longorio brought a guardof soldiers with him and left them at our pump-house. Well, it sohappens that Blaze Jones and Mr. Law have gone to the Romerocemetery to get Ricardo Guzman's body. "

"WHAT?" Austin's red face paled, his eyes bulged. 

"Yes. That's why Paloma is here. They crossed at our pumping-station, and they'll be back at any time, now. If they encounterLongorio's men--You understand?"

"God Almighty!" Austin burst forth. "Ricardo Guzman's body!" Hewet his lips and swallowed with difficulty. "Why--do they want thebody?"

"To prove that he is really dead and--to prove who killed him. "Noting the effect of these words, Alaire cried, sharply, "What'sthe matter, Ed?"

But Austin momentarily was beyond speech. The decanter from whichhe was trying to pour himself a drink played a musical tattoo uponhis glass; his face had become ashen and pasty. 

"Have they got the body? Do they know who shot him?" he asked, dully. 

"No, no!" Alaire was trembling with impatience. "Don't youunderstand? They are over there now, and they'll be back aboutmidnight. If Longorio had come alone, or if he had left his men atSangre de Cristo, everything would be all right. But thosesoldiers at Morales's house will be up and awake. Why, it couldn'thave happened worse!" "How many men has he got?" Austin nodded inthe direction of the front room. 

"I don't know. Probably four or five. What ails you?"

"That--won't do. They won't--fight on this side of the river. They--they'd hold them off. "

"Who? What are you talking about?"

Something in her husband's inexplicable agitation, something inthe hunted, desperate way in which his eyes were running over theroom, alarmed Alaire. 

Ed utterly disregarded her question. Catching sight of thetelephone, which stood upon a stand in the far corner of the room, he ran to it and, snatching the receiver, violently oscillated thehook. 

"Don't do that!" Alaire cried, following him. "Wait! It mustn'tget out. "

"Hello! Give me the Lewis ranch--quick--I've forgotten thenumber. " With his free hand Ed held his wife at a distance, muttering harshly: "Get away now! I know what I'm doing. Get away--damn you!" He flung Alaire from him as she tried to snatch theinstrument out of his hands. 

"What do you want of Lewis?" she panted. 

"None of your business. You keep away or I'll hurt you. "

"Ed!" she cried, "Are you out of your mind? You mustn't--"

Their voices were raised now, heedless of the two people In theadjoining room. 

"Keep your hands off, I tell you. Hello! Is that you, Tad?" AgainAustin thrust his wife violently aside. "Listen! I've just learnedthat Dave Law and old man Jones have crossed over to dig upRicardo's body. Yes, to-night! They're over there now--be backinside of an hour. "

Alaire leaned weakly against the table, her frightened eyes fixedupon the speaker. Even yet she could not fully grasp the meaningof her husband's behavior and tried to put aside those fears thatwere distracting her. Perhaps, after all, she told herself, Ed wastaking his own way to--

"Yes! They aim to discover how he was killed and all about it. Sure! I suppose they found out where he was buried. They crossedat my pumping-plant, and they'll be back with the body to-night, if they haven't already--" The speaker's voice broke, his hand wasshaking so that he could scarcely retain his hold upon thetelephone. "How the hell do I know?" he chattered. "It's up toyou. You've got a machine--"

"ED!" cried the wife. She went toward him on weak, unsteady feet, but she halted as the voice of Longorio cut in sharply:

"What's this I hear? Ricardo Guzman's body?" Husband and wifeturned. The open double-door to the living-room framed the tallfigure of the Mexican general. 

XIX

RANGERS

Longorio stared first at the huddled, perspiring man beside thetelephone and then at the frightened woman. "Is that the truth?"he demanded, harshly. 

"Yes, " Austin answered. "They are bringing the body to this side. You know what that means. "

"Did you know this?" The general turned upon Alaire. Of the fourhe was the least excited. 

From the background Paloma quavered: "You told us Ricardo was notdead, so--it is all right. There is no--harm done. "

A brief silence ensued, then Longorio shrugged. "Who knows? Let ushope that he suffered no harm on Mexican soil. That would beserious, indeed; yes, very serious, for I have given my word toyour government. This--David Law--" he pronounced the namecarefully, but with a strange, foreign accent--"he is a recklessperson to defy the border regulations. It is a grave matter toinvade foreign territory on such a mission. " Longorio again benthis brilliant eyes upon Alaire. "I see that you are concerned forhis safety. You would not desire him to come to trouble, eh? Hehas done you favors; he is your friend, as I am. Well"--amirthless smile exposed his splendid white teeth--"we must thinkof that. Now I will bid you good night. "

"Where are you going?" demanded Miss Jones. 

"To the river, and then to Romero. I may be needed, for those menof mine are stupid fellows and there is danger of amisunderstanding. In the dark anything may happen. I should liketo meet this David Law; he is a man of my own kind. " Turning to"Young Ed, " he said: "There is reason for haste, and a horse movesslowly. Would you do me the favor, if you have an automobile--"

"No! I won't!" Ed declared. "I don't want to see the Rio Grandeto-night. I won't be involved--"

"But you are already involved. Come! There is no time to waste, and I have something to say to you. You will drive me to theriver, and my horse will remain here until I return for him. "

There was no mistaking the command in Longorio's tone; the masterof Las Palmas rose as if under compulsion. He took his hat, andthe two men left the room. 

"Oh, my God!" Paloma gasped. "They'll be in time, and so will theLewis gang. "

"Quick! Ed will take his runabout--we'll follow in my car. " Alairefled to make herself ready. A few moments later she looked outfrom her window and saw the headlights of Ed's runabout flash downthe driveway to the road; then she and Paloma rushed to the garagewhere the touring-car stood. 

"They'll never expect us to follow them"--Alaire tried to speakhopefully--"and we'll drive without lights. Maybe we'll get therein time, after all. " As the machine rolled out through the gateshe elaborated the half-formed plan that had come to her: "Thebrush is thick along the river; we can leave the car hidden andsteal up to the pump-house. When we hear the boat coming maybe wecan call out in time to warn your father. "

"The moon is rising, " Paloma half sobbed. "They'll be sure to seeus. Do you think we're ahead of Tad Lewis?"

"Oh yes. He hasn't had time to get here yet, but--he'll come fastwhen he starts. This is the only plan I can think of. "

Alaire drove as swiftly as she dared, following the blurred streakof gray that was the road, and taking the bumps with utterrecklessness. Already the yellow rim of the moon was peering overthe horizon to her right, and by its light she found the road thatturned abruptly toward the Rio Grande, a mile or more distant. Theblack mud from the last heavy rain had hardened; the ruts in thisside road were deep, and the car leaped and plunged, flinging itsoccupants from side to side. Ahead loomed the dark ridge of theriver thickets, a dense rampart of mesquite, ebony, and coma, withhere and there a taller alamo or hackberry thrusting itselfskyward. But even before they were sheltered from the moonlightPaloma saw the lights of another automobile approaching along themain-traveled highway behind them--the lights, evidently, of TadLewis's machine. A moment later Alaire's car drove into the blackshadows, but, fearing to switch on her headlights, she felt herway cautiously between the walls of foliage until at her rightanother opening showed, like a narrow arroyo, diverging from theone they followed. Into this she swerved, regardless of the factthat it was half grown up with brush. Thorny branches swept thesides of the machine; rank, dew-soaked grass rose to the height ofthe tonneau. The car came to a jolting pause, then the motorceased its purring, and the two women sat motionless, listeningfor the rattle of the on-coming machine. It had been a short, swift, exciting ride. "Young Ed's" runabout could not be manyminutes ahead of them. 

Alaire knew the Tad Lewis car, an old-style, cheap affair, whichadvertised its mechanical imperfections by a loud clashing ofgears and a noisy complaint of loose parts; therefore, when theleafy canon walls behind her hiding-place were brilliantlyilluminated and a car stole silently past at low speed, she seizedPaloma by the arm and whispered:

"That's not Lewis. "

"Who is it? It can't be Ed. "

"No, he and Longorio are ahead of us. It's another motorentirely. "

The women got out, then breasted the high grass and bramblesbetween their hiding-place and the pump-house road. As soon asthey were back in the trail they made all possible speed, speculating meanwhile upon the mystery of the unknown car. Emerging into the clearing which surrounded the power-plant, theydiscovered the machine in question standing dark and deserted inthe shadows. Evidently the driver, whoever he was, well knew whathe was about, and had not blundered upon this place by accident. Ahundred yards away they could now see the ghostly Rio Grande, itssaffron surface faintly silvered by the low moon; lights gleamedfrom the windows of Morales's house. In the distance the vagueoutlines of the Mexican shore were resolving themselves, and farbeyond winked the evidence that some belated citizens of Romerowere still awake. 

Paloma had brought with her the long-barreled Winchester rifle, and this she clutched nervously as she and Alaire stoodwhispering. Conditions were favorable for an approach to the pump-house itself, for two ridges of earth, perhaps eight feet high, thrown up like parallel furrows from a giant plow, marked thebeginning of the irrigation ditch, and in the shadow of these thewomen worked their way forward, unobserved. They had nearlyreached their goal when out into the clearing behind them, withmetallic rattle and clang, burst another automobile, and Palomawhispered, excitedly:

"There's the Lewis outfit at last. "

In the Lewis car were several men. They descended hurriedly, andwhen one of them ran around the front of the car to turn off itslights both women saw that he carried a rifle. Evidently Tad Lewishad come prepared for desperate measures. 

A small door gave entrance to the boiler-room, and into the lockof this Mrs. Austin fitted a key; the next moment she and Palomawere safely inside. They found themselves in utter darkness now, with a smooth brick floor beneath their feet and a strong odor ofoil and burnt fuel in their nostrils. 

Alaire was agreeably surprised in Paloma Jones, for, although thegirl was wrought to a pitch of hysterical excitement, she had, nevertheless, retained her wits; nor had she faltered in theslightest. It was evident that the fighting blood of her fatherwas aroused in her, for she said, calmly:

"When it gets light enough to shoot, I'm going to get Tad Lewis. "

"Don't act too quickly, " cautioned Alaire. "Perhaps your fatherand Dave have come and gone. Anyhow, we can warn them just as wellby firing into the air. "

In reply to this suggestion Paloma merely muttered something underher breath. 

The brief night ride had given Alaire time in which to recoverfrom her first apprehensions, and now she was surprised at her owncoolness. Ed's behavior had shocked and horrified her; she wasstill half paralyzed at his treachery; nevertheless, her mind wasclear, and she was determined to avert a tragedy if possible. Sheknew only too well what would happen when Blaze Jones and Dave Lawencountered the Lewis gang; the presence of Longorio's soldiersmerely made more certain the outcome of that meeting. The generalwas furious; it was plain that he would not tolerate thisexpedition, the avowed purpose of which was to prove him a liar. It would make but little difference, therefore, whether the questfor Ricardo Guzman's body had been successful or not: even thefact that this was American soil would not deter Longorio fromviolent action, for the Rio Grande was no real boundary, and thispart of Texas was as truly Mexican as that other river-bank whichlay two hundred yards distant. 

A confusion of such thoughts were racing through Alaire's mind asshe felt her way out of the boiler-room and into that part of thebuilding where the pumping machinery stood. Dusty, cobwebbedwindows let in a faint ghost-glow of moonlight, but preventedclear observation of anything outside; Alaire's fumbling fingersfound the latch of the front door and began to lift it, when someone spoke, just outside the building. 

"What did you discover?" inquired a voice which neither womanrecognized. Paloma clutched blindly for her companion; the twoeavesdroppers stood rooted in their tracks. The pounding of theirhearts sounded loudly. Since the building was little more than awooden shell, they could plainly hear the answer:

"The house is full of Greasers. I can't tell who they are. "

A third man spoke, this time in Spanish. "That was Tad Lewis whojust came, senor. "

There followed some whispered words indistinguishable to thelisteners, then a rustle of bodies moving through the tall grassand weeds. 

Paloma placed her lips close to Alaire's ear. "Who are thosepeople?" she breathed. 

"I don't know. They must be the ones who came in that strangeautomobile. "

Paloma chattered viciously: "Everybody in Texas is here. I wishwe'd thought to scatter tacks behind us. "

Cautiously they swung the door back and looked out. The open spacealong the river-bank was leveled by the moonlight; from Morales'shouse, to their right, came the sound of voices. The women waited. 

A few moments, then a number of men appeared. Paloma judged therewere at least a dozen, but she was too excited to count them. Asthey came straggling toward the pump-house one of them calledback:

"Morales! Put out your damned lights, " Both women recognized TadLewis as the speaker. 

Alaire had stubbornly refused to charge her husband with anyactive share in this evil business, but her faith in Ed suddenlyvanished when she heard him say:

"Hush! You're making too much noise. You'd better scatter out, too, for there's no telling where they'll land. " Alaire leanedweakly against the door. "I'm going to leave, and let you-allattend to the rest, " he was saying. But Tad Lewis halted him as heturned from the group. 

"Where are you going, Ed? You left your car back yonder by theroad. I almost ran into it. "

"Eh? What are you talking about? My car is over by Morales'shouse. "

"Senor Austin is in a great hurry, " sneered some one in Spanish. "Once more he leaves all of the fighting to his friends. "

"That's Adolfo Urbina, " panted Paloma. "I know him. " Stung by thisopen charge of cowardice, Austin began a voluble defense, but inthe midst of it General Longorio addressed him, sharply:

"You will stay here, senor. Nobody leaves this place. "

"I told you I wouldn't be a party to the business, " Ed declared, hotly. "You forced me to come in the first place--"

"Yes! And now I force you to stay. "

Longorio's stand appeared to please Lewis, who chimed in with thewords: "That's right, Ed. You've got to stick, for once in yourlife. "

"What do you mean, you nearly ran into my car back yonder?" Austinasked, after a moment. 

"Ain't that your machine yonder by the thicket?" inquired Lewis. "If it ain't, whose is it?" As no one answered, he started in thedirection he had indicated; but at that moment a man came runningfrom the riverbank, crying, softly:

"Look out! They come. "

"I'm going to shoot, " Paloma Jones gasped, but Alaire, who onceagain heard the sound of whispering in the shadows just outsidetheir hiding-place, managed to restrain her companion. It was wellthat she succeeded, for even as Paloma raised her weapon a manpassed swiftly by the crack of the half-open door and scarcely tenfeet beyond the muzzle of the rifle. He was followed by threeothers. 

The first of the new-comers, acting as spokesman for his party, stepped out into the moonlight and cried, loudly: "Hello, men!What's goin' on here?" It was an American voice; it had a broad, slow, Texas drawl. 

The group of plotters turned, there was a startled murmur, thenTad Lewis answered:

"Hello! Who are you? What do you want?"

"I reckon we must have got off the road, " announced the stranger. Then he peered out across the river: "Say! Ain't that a skiffcoming yonder?" he inquired. 

"Well, it don't look like a steamboat. " Lewis laughed, disagreeably. "We're havin' a little party of our own. I reckonyou fellows had better beat it. Understand?"

The outposts that had been sent to cover the bank in bothdirections were now coming in. Through the stillness of the nightthere sounded the thump of oar-locks. Seeing that the stranger didnot seem to take his hint, Lewis raised his voice menacingly:

"That's your road back yonder. It's a right good road, and I'dadvise you to travel it, fast. "

But this suggestion was also ignored; in fact, it appeared toamuse the man addressed, for he, too, laughed. He turned, and thewomen noticed that he carried a short saddle-gun. They saw, also, that at least one of the men at his back was similarly armed. 

"Now, what's the hurry?" The stranger was chuckling. Suddenly heraised his voice and called, loudly: "Hello, Dave! Is that you-all?"

The answer floated promptly back: "Hello, Cap! Sure it's us. "

"Have you got him?"

It was Blaze Jones's voice which answered this time: "You bet!"

Paloma Jones was trembling now. She clung to Alaire, crying, thankfully: "It's the Rangers! The Rangers!" Then she broke awayand ran out into the moonlight, trailing her absurd firearm afterher. 

"Now, boys, " the Ranger captain was saying, "I know 'most everyone of you, and we ain't going to have the least bit of troubleover this thing, are we? I reckon you-all are friends of RicardoGuzman, and you just couldn't wait to find out about him, eh?"

Alaire, who had followed Paloma, was close enough now to recognizethe two Guzman boys as members of the Ranger party. Lewis and hismen had drawn together at the first alarm; Longorio's Mexicans hadgathered about their leader. The entire situation had changed in amoment, and the Ranger captain was in control of it. 

Soon Dave Law and Blaze Jones came up over the river-bank; theypaused, stricken with surprise at finding a score of people wherethey had expected no more than four. 

Blaze was the first to speak. "What the hell?" he cried. He peerednear-sightedly from one to the other; then his huge bulk shookwith laughter: "Say, do my glasses magnify, or is this an Odd-Fellows meetin'?"

"Dad! Oh, Dad!" Paloma scurried to him and flung herself into hisarms. 

"Lord of mercy, kid!" the father exclaimed. "Why, you'd ought tobe home and abed, long ago. You'll catch your death of cold. Isthat gun loaded. "

Dave Law was even more amazed than his companion. His firstglimpse of the waiting figures had warned him that something hadgone wrong, and, therefore, he did not stop to ask himself how TadLewis and Longorio could have learned of this affair, or whatcould have brought Alaire and Ed Austin to the scene. Recoveringfrom his first surprise, he took a position beside his superiorofficer. 

Captain Evans did not seem at all troubled by the disparity innumbers. One Ranger, or two at the most, had always beensufficient to quell a Texan disturbance; now that there were threeof them, he felt equal to an invasion of Mexican soil, ifnecessary. In consequence he relaxed his watchful vigilance, andto Dave he drawled:

"We've got most of the leading citizens of the county, and Ireckon somebody in the outfit will be able to identify Guzman. "

"There's no trouble about that, sir. We found him. Pedro and Raoulcan make sure. " The sons of Ricardo Guzman stepped forwardpromptly, and Law waved them toward the boat landing, where thetwo helpers were waiting with Ricardo's remains. 

Despite the Ranger captain's easy assumption of command, thestrain of the situation had not subsided, and Longorio drew swiftattention to himself when he said:

"It is fortunate that I chanced to learn of this matter. You havedone me a great service, Senor Law, for I came to Romero purposelyto examine into the death of this unfortunate man. But I couldlearn nothing; nobody knew anything whatever about the matter, andso I became convinced that it amounted to little. Now--behold! Idiscover that I was deceived. Or--perhaps there still may be amistake. "

Blaze Jones thrust his daughter aside and advanced toward thespeaker. "There's no mistake, " he declared, belligerently. "Idon't make mistakes when I go grave-robbin'. Don Ricardo was shotby your men. He had five thousand dollars on him, or he shouldhave had, and he was an American citizen. Your Colonel Blancocovered the body, but he'll have a hell of a job coverin' thefacts. It's time we came to a showdown with your murderin' outfit, and I aim to see if we've got a government in this country. "

"Heaven guided my hand, " devoutly breathed the general. "It isregrettable that you used this means when a word to me would haveserved the purpose, for--it is no trivial matter to desecrate aMexican graveyard. My country, too, has a government. An officerof the State of Texas, under arms, has crossed the Rio Grande. What does that mean?"

Captain Evans had a sense of humor; Longorio's ominous wordsamused him. "Say, general, it ain't the first time, " he chortled. "And you're an officer, too, ain't you? You're in Texas at thisminute, and I'll bet if I frisked you I'd find that you was underarms. " The Mexican understood English sufficiently well to graspthe significance of these words. After a moment's consideration, therefore, he modified his threatening tone. 

"But my mission was friendly. I had no criminal purpose, " he said, mildly. "However--perhaps one offense condones the other. At anyrate, we must have no international complications. There is a morepractical side to the matter: if Don Ricardo Guzman met his deathin Mexico there will be a rigid investigation, I assure you. "

Evans agreed. "That's fair! And I'll make a bargain with you: youkeep still and so'll we. We never aimed for this affair to getout, anyhow. I reckon these men"--he indicated Lewis and hisfollowers--"ain't liable to talk much. "

The two Guzman boys, greatly moved, returned to announce that theyhad indeed identified their father's body, and Longorio could notwell refuse to accept their evidence. 

"Very well, " said he. "I am indebted to you. Since there isnothing more to be said, apparently, I will return to Romero. "With a bow to Mrs. Austin, who had silently watched the play ofthese opposing motives, he turned away, and Tad Lewis followedhim. 

But Dave Law had recognized Adolfo Urbina in the crowd, and, stepping forward, disarmed him, saying:

"Adolfo, there's a warrant for you, so I'll just take you in. "

For a moment Adolfo was inclined to resist, but, thinking betterof it, he yielded with bad grace, bitterly regretting thecuriosity which had prompted him to remain to the end of thisinteresting affair. 

Tad Lewis gave him some comfort. "Never mind, Adolfo, " he said. "They can't prove anything on you, and I'll go your bail. EdAustin knows where you was the day that stock was stole. " He andhis two remaining men moved toward their automobile, and a momentlater the vehicle went clattering away up the thicket road. 

So ended the attempt to foil the return of Ricardo Guzman's bodyto Texas soil. 

When Alaire came to look for her husband he was gone. 

XX

SUPERSTITIONS AND CERTAINTIES

The sensation caused by Ricardo Guzman's disappearance was asnothing to that which followed the recovery of his body. By thenext afternoon it was known from Mexico to the Canadian borderthat the old ranchman had been shot by Mexican soldiers in Romero. It was reported that a party of Americans had invaded foreign soiland snatched Ricardo's remains from under the nose of GeneralLongorio. But there all reliable information ceased. Just how therescue had been effected, by whom it had been done, what reasonshad prompted it, were a mystery. With the first story thenewspapers printed a terse telegram, signed by Captain Evans andaddressed to the Governor of Texas, which read:

"Ranger force crossed Rio Grande and brought back the body ofRicardo Guzman. "

This message created tremendous enthusiasm, for the Texas Rangershave ever stood for prompt and decisive action; but two hoursafter the publication of this despatch there came a sharp inquiryfrom Washington, and on the heels of that the State House atAustin denied the receipt of any such message. 

When this denial was in turn made public, the newspapers demandedto know who had performed this sensational exploit. One rumor hadit that the sons of Ricardo Guzman had risked their lives toinsure their father Christian burial. This was amplified by atouching pen-picture of the rancher's weeping family waiting atthe bank of the Rio Grande, and an affecting account of the griefof the beautiful Guzman girls. It mattered not that there were nodaughters. 

In other quarters the expedition was credited to members of asecret order to which Ricardo had belonged; from a third sourcecame a statement that the Guzman family had hired a band ofMexicans to exhume the body, so that proof of death might besufficient to satisfy an insurance company in which the rancherhad held a policy. Even at Jonesville there were conflictingrumors. 

But, whatever the facts of the rescue, it was generally recognizedthat the result had been to bring on a crisis in the affairs ofthe two nations. People declared that since the outrage was nowproven the next move was the duty of the State Department atWashington. Therefore, when several days passed and nothing wasdone, a wide-spread feeling of indignation grew. What matteredthese diplomatic communications between the two governments? itwas asked. Why wait for another investigation by General Longorio?

Strong influences, however, were at work to prevent that veryoutcome for which the people of Texas prayed. During the delaythere arose a report that Ricardo Guzman had borne an evilreputation, and that he had been so actively associated with theRebel cause as to warrant punishment by the Federal government. Moreover, a legal question as to his American citizenship wasraised--a question which seemed to have important bearing upon thecase. 

Public interest is short-lived; few living men can hold it morethan a day or two, and it reckons no dead man worthy of more thanan obituary notice. Other Mexican offenses, equally grave, hadfailed to stir the Administration to definite action; the death ofthis obscure border ranchman did not seem to weigh very heavily inWashington. Thus in the course of time the Guzman incident was ina fair way of being officially forgotten and forgiven. 

Of course the people of Texas did not forget, nor did those whohad personally known Ricardo forgive. Dave Law, for instance, feltbitter over the matter, for he had counted upon prompt anddefinite results. A little pressure, properly applied, would havewrung the truth from Colonel Blanco and fastened some measure ofguilt upon the men who had actually arranged the murder. Dave didnot doubt Tad Lewis's part in it, but there was only one sourcefrom which pressure could be brought, and when this failed hefound his further efforts blocked. There remained to him only theconsolation of knowing that he had in a measure squared hisaccount with old Ricardo. 

But there were several persons who felt intense relief at thecourse events had taken, and among these was Alaire Austin. In thedays following that midnight expedition she had had ample time inwhich to meditate upon her husband's actions, "Young Ed" had takenadvantage of the confusion to slip out of the crowd and escape inhis roadster, and when Alaire arrived at Las Palmas she had foundthat he was gone, leaving behind no word as to when he wouldreturn. It seemed probable that he had fled to San Antonio, thereto remain until interest in the Guzman matter had abated. If Edwas relieved to escape the immediate consequences of hisconnection with the affair, his wife was no less thankful for hisabsence, since it left her free to think and to plan. Theirrelations were becoming constantly more difficult; she realizedthat it was impossible for her to go on in this way much longer. Before leaving Ed had again rifled the safe, thus disregarding fora second time his explicit agreement with his wife. Of course, hewas welcome to whatever money he needed, even in excess of hisallowance; but his act showed his weak sense of honor andstrengthened Alaire's conviction that he was in every way rapidlydeteriorating. As yet she could not believe him really wicked atheart--he had many qualities which were above the average--norcould she convince herself that he had been criminally involved inTad Lewis's schemes. And yet, what other explanation could therebe? Ed's behavior had been extraordinary; his evident terror atnews of Dave Law's expedition, his conversation with Tad Lewisover the telephone, his subsequent actions at the river, allseemed to indicate that he had some vital interest in maintainingthe mystery of Guzman's death. What could it be?

Suspicions like these were extremely disturbing. In spite ofherself Alaire began to think more seriously about that separationwhich Ed had so frequently offered her. Her whole nature, it istrue, recoiled at the thought of divorce; it was a thing utterlyrepugnant to her sentiment and her creed--a thing that stood fornotoriety, gossip, scandal. Deep in her heart she felt thatdivorce was wicked, for marriage to her had always meant a sacredand unbreakable bond. And yet there seemed to be no alternative. She wished Ed would go away--leave her quietly and for ever, sothat she might live out her empty life in seclusion--but that, ofcourse, he would never do. 

Such longings were not strangers to Alaire; they were old andpersistent enemies; but of late the prospect of a loveless, childless future was growing more and more unbearable. Even herday dreams failed to give their customary relief; those imaginaryfigures with whom she took counsel were strangely unresponsive. 

She had told Paloma Jones about her dream-children, but she hadnot confessed the existence of another and a far more intimatecreature of her brain--one who occupied the place Ed Austin shouldhave held. There was such a person, however, and Alaire called himher dream husband. Now this man's physical aspect was never longthe same; it altered according to her changing ideals or to theimpression left by new acquaintances; nevertheless, he was in someways the most real and the most tangible of all her pale romanticfancies. No one who has watched a solitary child at play can doubtthat it sees and hears playmates invisible to others. AlaireAustin, in the remotest depths of her being, was still a child. Oflate her prince had assumed new characteristics and a new form. Hewas no longer any one of the many shapes he had been; he was morelike the spirit of the out-of-doors--a strong-limbed, deep-chested, sun-bronzed creature, with a strain of gipsy blood thatcalled to hers. He was moody, yet tender, roughly masculine, andyet possessed of the gentleness and poetry of a girl. He wasviolent tempered; he was brave; he rode a magnificent bay marethat worshiped him, as did all animals. 

During one of these introspective periods Alaire telephoned DaveLaw, arguing to herself that she must learn more about herhusband's connection with the Lewis gang. Dave arrived even soonerthan she had expected. She made him dine with her, and they spentthe evening on the dim-lit gallery. In the course of theirconversation Alaire discovered that Dave, too, had a hidden sideof his nature; that he possessed an imagination, and with it aquaint, whimsical, exploratory turn of mind which enabled him totalk interestingly of many things and many places. On thisparticular evening he was anything but the man of iron she hadknown--until she ventured to speak of Ed. Then he closed up like atrap. He was almost gruff in his refusal to say a word about herhusband. 

Because of Ed's appropriation of the ranch cash, Alaire found itnecessary a few days later to go to the bank, and, feeling theneed of exercise, she rode her horse Montrose. When her errandshad been attended to, she suddenly decided to call on PalomaJones. It was years since she had voluntarily done such a thing;the very impulse surprised her. 

Paloma, it happened, was undergoing that peculiar form of femininetorture known as a "fitting"; but insecurely basted, pinned, andtucked as she was, she came flying down to the gate to meet hervisitor. 

Alaire was introduced to Mrs. Strange, the dressmaker, a large, acidulous brunette, with a mouthful of pins; and then, when Palomahad given herself once more into the seamstress's hands, the twofriends gossiped. 

Since Mrs. Strange was the first capable dressmaker who had evercome to Jonesville, Paloma had closed her eyes and plunged withreckless extravagance. Now the girl insisted upon a generalexhibition of her new wardrobe, a sort of grand fashion review, for the edification of her caller, in the course of which shetried on all her dresses. 

Paloma was petite and well proportioned, and the gowns werealtogether charming. Alaire was honest in her praise, and Paloma'sresponse was one of whole-hearted pleasure. The girl beamed. Neverbefore had she been so admired, never until this moment had sheadored a person as she adored Mrs. Austin, whose every suggestionas to fit and style was acted upon, regardless of Mrs. Strange. 

"I don't know what Dad will say when he gets the bill for thesedresses, " Paloma confessed. 

"Your father is a mighty queer man, " Mrs. Strange observed. "Ihaven't so much as laid eyes on him. "

Paloma nodded. "Yes. And he's getting more peculiar all the time;I can't make out what ails him. "

"Where is he now?" asked Alaire. 

"Heaven knows! Out in the barn or under the house. " Takingadvantage of the dressmaker's momentary absence from the room, Paloma continued in a whisper: "I wish you'd talk to Dad and seewhat you make of him. He's absolutely--queer. Mrs. Strange seemsto have a peculiar effect on him. Why, it's almost as if--"

"What?"

"Well, I suppose I'm foolish, but--I'm beginning to believe inspells. You know, Mrs. Strange's husband is a sort of--necromancer. "

"How silly!"

There was no further opportunity for words, as the womanreappeared at that instant; but a little later Alaire went insearch of Blaze, still considerably mystified. As she neared thefarm buildings she glimpsed a man's figure hastily disappearinginto the barn. The figure bore a suspicious resemblance to BlazeJones, yet when she followed he was nowhere to be seen. Now thiswas curious, for Texas barns are less pretentious than those ofthe North, and this one was little more than a carriage-house anda shelter for agricultural implements. 

"Mr. Jones!" Alaire called. She repeated Blaze's name severaltimes; then something stirred. The door of a harness closet openedcautiously, and out of the blackness peered Paloma's father. Helooked more owlish than ever behind his big, gold-rimmedspectacles. "What in the world are you doing in there?" she cried. 

Blaze emerged, blinking. He was dusty and perspiring. 

"Hello, Miz Austin!" he saluted her with a poor assumption ofbreeziness. "I was fixin' some harness, but I'm right glad to seeyou. "

Alaire regarded him quizzically. "What made you hide?" she asked. 

"Hide? Who, me?"

"I saw you dodge in here like a--gopher. "

Blaze confessed. "I reckon I've got the willies. Every woman I seelooks like that dam' dressmaker. "

"Paloma was telling me about you. Why do you hate her so?"

"I don't know's I hate her, but her and her husband have put ajinx on me. They're the worst people I ever see, Miz Austin. "

"You don't really believe in such things?"

Blaze dusted off a seat for his visitor, saying: "I never did tilllately, but now I'm worse than a plantation nigger. I tell youthere's things in this world we don't sabe. I wish you'd getPaloma to fire her. I've tried and failed. I wish you'd tell herthose dresses are rotten. "

"But they're very nice; they're lovely; and I've just beencomplimenting her. Now what has this woman done to you?"

It seemed impossible that a man of Blaze Jones's character couldactually harbor crude superstitions, and yet there was nomistaking his earnestness when he said:

"I ain't sure whether she's to blame, or her husband, butmisfortune has folded me to herself. "

"How?"

"Well, I'm sick. "

"You don't look it. "

"I don't exactly feel it, either, but I am. I don't sleep good, myheart's actin' up, I've got rheumatism, my stomach feels like I'dswallowed something alive--"

"You're smoking too much, " Alaire affirmed, with conviction. 

But skepticism aroused Blaze's indignation. With elaborate sarcasmhe retorted: "I reckon that's why my best team of mules run awayand dragged me through a ten-acre patch of grass burrs--on mybelly, eh? It's a wonder I wasn't killed. I reckon I smoked somuch that I give a tobacco heart to the best three-year-old bullin my pasture! Well, I smoked him to death, all right. Probably itwas nicotine poisonin' that killed twenty acres of my cotton, too;and maybe if I'd cut out Bull Durham I'd have floated that bondissue on the irrigation ditch. But I was wedded to cigarettes, somy banks are closin' down on me. Sure! That's what a man gets forsmokin'. "

"And do you attribute all these misfortunes to Paloma'sdressmaker?"

The man nodded gloomily. "That ain't half! Everything goes wrong. I'm scared to pack a weapon for fear I'll injure myself. Why, I'vecarried a bowie-knife in my bootleg ever since I was a babe inarms, you might say; but the other day I jabbed myself with it andnearly got blood-poisonin'. The very first time I ever laid eyeson this man and his wife a great misfortune overtook me, and eversince they come to Jonesville I've had a close squeeze to make alive of it. This fellow Strange, with his fortune-tellin' and hischarms and his conjures, has hocus-pocussed the wholeneighborhood. He's gettin' rich off of the Mexicans. He knows moresecrets than a priest; he tells 'em whether their sweethearts love'em, whether a child is goin' to be a boy or a girl, and how toinvest their money. "

"He is nothing more than a circus fakir, Mr. Jones. "

"Yes'm! Just the same, these Greasers'd vote him into thelegislature if he asked 'em. Why, he knows who fetched backRicardo Guzman's body! He told me so. "

"Really?" Alaire looked up quickly, then the smile left her face. After a moment she said, "Perhaps he could tell me something thatI want to know?"

"Now don't you get him started, " Blaze cautioned, hastily, "orhe'll put a spell on you like he did on me. "

"I want to know what Ed had to do with the Guzman affair. "

Blaze shook his head slowly. "Well, he's mixed up somehow withLewis. Dave thinks Tad was at the bottom of the killin', and hehoped to prove it on him; but our government won't do anything, and he's stumped for the time bein'. I don't know any more aboutEd's dealin's than you do, Miz Austin: all I know is that I got aserpent in my household and I can't get shed of her. I've got alapful of troubles of my own. I've ordered Paloma to let thatwoman go, but, pshaw! It's like a bowlegged man drivin' a shoat--there ain't any headin' Paloma off when her mind's made up. Youmark what I say, that female spider'll sew venom into thosedresses. I never seen a woman with a mustache that was any good. Look here!" Blaze drew a well-thumbed pack of playing-cards fromhis pocket. "Shuffle 'em, and I'll prove what I say. If I don'tturn up a dark woman three times out of five I'll eat that saddle-blanket, dry. "

Alaire shuffled the deck, and Blaze cut the cards. Sure enough, heexposed the queen of spades. 

"What did I tell you? There's the bearded lady herself! Now I'llshuffle and you cut. "

Alaire smilingly followed directions; she separated the deck intothree piles, after which Jones interpreted the oracle. 

"You got a good fortune, Miz Austin. There's a light man comin' toyour house, danger, and--marriage. You're goin' to marry a lightman. "

Alaire's laughter rang out unaffectedly. "Now you see how utterlyabsurd it is. "

"Maybe it is, and maybe it ain't. " From another pocket Jones drewa small volume entitled The Combination Fortune-Teller andComplete Dictionary of Dreams. Alaire reached to take it, and thebook dropped to the floor; then, as she stooped, Blaze cried:"Wait! Hit it three times on the floor and say, 'Money! Money!Money!'"

As Alaire was running over the pages of the book, one of Blaze'sranch-hands appeared in the door to ask him a question. When thefellow had gone his employer rose and tiptoed after him; then hespat through his crossed fingers in the direction the man hadtaken. 

"Now what does that mean?" Alaire inquired. 

"Didn't you see? He's cross-eyed. "

"This is too occult for me, " she declared, rising. "But--I'minterested in what you say about Mr. Strange. If the Mexicans tellhim so much, perhaps he can tell me something. I do hope you haveno more misfortunes. "

"You stay to supper, " Blaze urged, hospitably. "I'll be in as soonas that tarantula's gone. "

But Alaire declined. After a brief chat with Paloma she remountedMontrose and prepared for the homeward ride. At the gate, however, she met Dave Law on his new mare, and when Dave had learned theobject of her visit to Jonesville he insisted upon accompanyingher. 

"You have enough money in those saddle-bags to tempt some of ourvery best citizens, " he told her. "If you don't mind, I'll just beyour bodyguard. "

"Very well, " she smiled; "but to make perfectly sure of oursafety, cross your fingers and spit. "

"Eh?" Seeing the amusement in her eyes, he declared: "You've beentalking to Blaze. Well, last night I dreamed I was eatingchestnuts, and he told me I was due for a great good fortune. Yousee, there's something in it, after all. "

"And you must be the 'light man' I discovered in the cards. Blazedeclared you were coming to my house. " They jogged along side byside, and Law thanked his lucky stars for the encounter. 

"Did Blaze tell you how he came to meet the Stranges?"

"No. He only said they had brought him bad luck from the start. "

Dave grinned; then, in treacherous disregard of his promise toJones, he recounted the tale of that disastrous defeat on thebeach at Galveston. When he had finished the story, which heingeniously elaborated, Alaire was doubled over her saddle. It wasthe first spontaneous laugh she had had for days, and it seemed tobanish her worries magically. Alaire was not of a melancholytemperament; gaiety was natural to her, and it had required manyheartaches, many disappointments, to darken her blithe spirit. 

Nor was Dave Law a person of the comic type; yet he was a gloom-dispeller, and now that Alaire was beginning to know him bettershe felt a certain happy restfulness in his company. 

The ride was long, and the two proceeded leisurely, stopping nowand then to talk or to admire the banks of wild flowers beside theroad. No country is richer in spring blooms than is South Texas. The cactus had nearly done blooming now, and its ever-listeningears were absurdly warted with fruit; gorgeous carpets ofbluebonnets were spread beside the ditches, while the air abovewas filled with thousands of yellow butterflies, like whirling, wind-blown petals of the prickly-pear blossom. Montrose andMontrosa enjoyed the journey also; it was just the mode oftraveling to please equine hearts, for there were plenty ofopportunities to nibble at the juicy grass and to drink at thelittle pools. Then, too, there were mad, romping races duringwhich the riders laughed and shouted. 

It was Law who finally discovered that they had somehow taken thewrong road. The fact that Alaire had failed to notice this gavehim a sudden thrill. It aroused in his mind such a train of dizzy, drunken speculations that for some time following the discovery hejogged silently at his companion's side. 

It was early dusk when they reached Las Palmas; it was nearlymidnight when Dave threw his leg across his saddle and startedhome. 

Alaire's parting words rang sweetly in his ears: "This has beenthe pleasantest day I can remember. "

The words themselves meant little, but Dave had caught a wistfulundertone in the speaker's voice, and fancied he had seen in hereyes a queer, half-frightened expression, as of one just awakened. 

Jose Sanchez had beheld Dave Law at the Las Palmas table twicewithin a few days. He spent this evening laboriously composing aletter to his friend and patron, General Luis Longorio. 

XXI

AN AWAKENING

Time was when Phil Strange boasted that he and his wife had playedevery fair-ground and seaside amusement-park from Coney Island toGalveston. In his battered wardrobe-trunks were parts of oldcostumes, scrapbooks of clippings, and a goodly collection oflithographs, some advertising the supernatural powers of"Professor Magi, Sovereign of the Unseen World, " and others theaccomplishments of "Mlle. Le Garde, Renowned Serpent Enchantress. "In these gaudy portraits of "Magi the Mystic" no one would haverecognized Phil Strange. And even more difficult would it havebeen to trace a resemblance between Mrs. Strange and the blond, bushy-headed "Mlle. Le Garde" of the posters. Nevertheless, thelikenesses at one time had been considered not too flattering, andPhil treasured them as evidences of imperishable distinction. 

But the Stranges had tired of public life. For a long time thewife had confessed to a lack of interest in her vocation whichamounted almost to a repugnance. Snake-charming, she haddiscovered, was far from an ideal profession for a woman ofrefinement. It possessed unpleasant features, and even sucheuphemistic titles as "Serpent Enchantress" and "ReptilianMesmerist" failed to rob the calling of a certain odium, asuggestion of vulgarity in the minds of the more discriminating. This had become so distressing to Mrs. Strange's finersensibilities that she had voiced a yearning to forsake theplatform and pit for something more congenial, and finally she hadprevailed upon Phil to make a change. 

The step had not been taken without misgivings, but a benignProvidence had watched over the pair. Mrs. Strange was a naturalseamstress, and luck had directed her and Phil to a communitywhich was not only in need of a good dressmaker, but peculiarlyripe for the talents of a soothsayer. Phil, too, had intended toembrace a new profession; but he had soon discovered thatJonesville offered better financial returns to a man of hisaccepted gifts than did the choicest of seaside concessions, andtherefore he had resumed his old calling under a slightlydifferent guise. Before long he acknowledged himself well pleasedwith the new environment, for his wife was far happier in drapingdress goods upon the figures of her customers than in hangingpython folds about her own, and he found his own fame growing withevery day. His mediumistic gifts came into general demand. Thecountry people journeyed miles to consult him, and Blaze Jones'sstatement that they confided in the fortune-teller as they wouldhave confided in a priest was scarcely an exaggeration. Phil didindeed become the repository for confessions of many sorts. 

Contrary to Blaze's belief, however, Strange was no Prince ofDarkness, and took little joy in some of the secrets forced uponhim. Phil was a good man in his way--so conscientious that certaininformation he acquired weighed him down with a sense ofunpleasant responsibility. Chancing to meet Dave Law one day, hedetermined to relieve himself of at least one troublesome burden. 

But Dave was not easily approachable. He met the medium'sallusions to the occult with contemptuous amusement, nor would heconsent to a private "reading, " Strange grew almost desperateenough to speak the ungarnisned truth. 

"You'd better pay a little attention to me, " he grieved; "I've gota message to you from the 'Unseen World. '"

"Charges 'collect, ' I reckon, " the Ranger grinned. 

Strange waved aside the suggestion. "It came unbidden and I passit on for what it's worth. " As Dave turned away he added, hastily, "It's about a skeleton in the chaparral, and a red-haired woman. "

Dave stopped; he eyed the speaker curiously. "Go on, " said he. 

But a public street, Strange explained, was no place for psychicdiscussions. If Dave cared to come to his room, where thesurroundings were favorable to thought transference, and wherePhil's spirit control could have a chance to make itself felt, they would interrogate the "Unseen Forces" further. Dave agreed. When they were alone in the fortune-telling "parlor, " he sat backwhile the medium closed his eyes and prepared to explore theInvisible. After a brief delay Phil began:

"I see a great many things--that woman I told you about, and threemen. One of 'em is you, the other two is Mexicans. You're at awater-hole in the mesquite. Now there's a shooting scrape; I seethe body of a dead man. " The speaker became silent; evidently hiscataleptic vision was far from perfect. But he soon began to droneagain. "Now I behold a stranger at the same water-hole. He'salone--he's looking for something. He rides in circles. He's offhis horse and bending over--What? A skeleton! Yes, it's theskeleton of one of them other Mexicans. " Strange's voice becamepositively sepulchral as his spirit control took fuller possessionof his earthly shell and as his visions resolved themselves intoclearer outline. "See! He swears an oath to avenge. And now--thescene changes. Everything dissolves. I'm in a mansion; and thered-haired woman comes toward me. Over her head floats thatskeleton--"

Dave broke in crisply. "All right! Let's get down to cases. What'son your mind, Strange?"

The psychic simulated a shudder--a painful contortion, such as anyone might suffer if rudely jerked out of the spirit world. 

"Eh? What was I--? There! You've broke the connection, " hedeclared. "Did I tell you anything?"

"No. But evidently you can. "

"I'm sorry. They never come back. "

"Rot!"

Phil was hurt, indignant. With some stiffness he explained thedanger of interrupting a seance of this sort, but Law remainedobdurate. 

"You can put over that second-sight stuff with the Greasers, " hedeclared, sharply, "but not with me. So, Jose Sanchez has been tosee you and you want to warn me. Is that it?"

"I don't know any such party, " Strange protested. He eyed hiscaller for a moment; then with an abrupt change of manner hecomplained: "Say, Bo! What's the matter with you? I've got areputation to protect, and I do things my own way. I'm getting setto slip you something, and you try to make me look like a sucker. Is that any way to act?"

"I prefer to talk to you when your eyes are open. I know allabout--"

"You don't know nothing about anything, " snapped the other. "Jose's got it in for Mrs. Austin. "

"You said you didn't know him. "

"Well, I don't. He's never been to see me in his life, but--hissweetheart has. Rosa Morales comes regular. "

"Rosa! Jose's sweetheart!"

"Yes. Her and Jose have joined out together since you shotPanfilo, and they're framing something. "

"What, for instance?"

The fortune-teller hesitated. "I only wish I knew, " he said, slowly. "It looks to me like a killing. "

Dave nodded. "Probably is. Jose would like to get me, and ofcourse the girl--"

"Oh, they don't aim to get you. You ain't the one they're after. "

"No? Who then?"

"I don't know nothing definite. In this business, you understand, a fellow has to put two and two together. Sometimes I have to makeone and two count four. I have to tell more'n I'm told; I have toshoot my game on the wing, for nobody tells me any more'n theydast. All the same, I'm sure Jose ain't carving no epitaph foryou. From what I've dug out of Rosa, he's acting for a thirdparty--somebody with pull and a lot of coin--but who it is I don'tknow. Anyhow, he's cooking trouble for the Austins, and I want tostand from under. "

Now that the speaker had dropped all pretense, he answered Dave'squestions without evasion and told what he knew. It was not much, to Dave's way of thinking, but it was enough to give cause forthought, and when the men finally parted it was with theunderstanding that Strange would promptly communicate any furtherintelligence on this subject that came his way. 

On the following day Dave's duties called him to Brownsville, where court was in session. He had planned to leave by the morningtrain; but as he continued to meditate over Strange's words hedecided that, before going, he ought to advise Alaire of thefellow's suspicions in order that she might discharge Jose Sanchezand in other ways protect herself against his possible spite. Since the matter was one that could not well be talked over bytelephone, Dave determined to go in person to Las Palmas thatevening. Truth to say, he was hungry to see Alaire. By this timehe had almost ceased to combat the feeling she aroused in him, andit was in obedience to an impulse far stronger than friendlyanxiety that he hired a machine and, shortly after dark, took theriver road. 

The Fates are malicious jades. They delight in playing ill-naturedpranks upon us. Not content with spinning and measuring andcutting the threads of our lives to suit themselves, they mustalso tangle the skein, causing us to cut capers to satisfy theirwhims. 

At no time since meeting Alaire had Dave Law been more certain ofhis moral strength than on this evening; at no time had his gripupon himself seemed firmer. Nor had Alaire the least reason todoubt her self-control. Dave, to be sure, had appealed to herfancy and her interest; in fact, he so dominated her thoughts thatthe imaginary creature whom she called her dream-husband hadgradually taken on his physical likeness. But the idea that shewas in any way enamoured of him had never entered her mind; thatshe could ever be tempted to yield to him, to be false to herideals of wifehood, was inconceivable. In such wise do the Fatesamuse themselves. 

Alaire had gone to her favorite after-dinner refuge, a nook on oneof the side-galleries, where there was a wide, swinging wickercouch; and there in a restful obscurity fragrant with unseenflowers she had prepared to spend the evening with her dreams. 

She did not hear Dave's automobile arrive. Her first intimation ofhis presence came with the sound of his heel upon the porch. Whenhe appeared it was almost like the materialization of heruppermost thought--quite as if a figure from her fancy had steppedforth full clad. 

She rose and met him, smiling. "How did you know I wanted to seeyou?" she inquired. 

Dave took her hand and looked down at her, framing a commonplacereply. But for some reason the words lay unspoken upon his tongue. Alaire's informal greeting, her parted lips, the welcoming lightin her eyes, had sent them flying. It seemed to him that the dimhalf-light which illumined this nook emanated from her face andher person, that the fragrance which came to his nostrils was theperfume of her breath, and at the prompting of these thoughts allhis smothered longings rose as if at a signal. As mutinousprisoners in a jail delivery overpower their guards, so did Dave'slong-repressed emotions gain the upper hand of him now, and soswift was their uprising that he could not summon more than afeeble, panicky resistance. 

The awkwardness of the pause which followed Alaire's inquirystrengthened the rebellious impulses within him, and quiteunconsciously his friendly grasp upon her fingers tightened. Forher part, as she saw this sudden change sweep over him, her ownface altered and she felt something within her breast leap intolife. No woman could have failed to read the meaning of his suddenagitation, and, strange to say, it worked a similar state offeeling in Alaire. She strove to control herself and to draw away, but instead found that her hand had answered his, and that hereyes were flashing recognition of his look. All in an instant sherealized how deathly tired of her own struggle she had become, andexperienced a reckless impulse to cast away all restraint andblindly meet his first advance. She had no time to question heryearnings; she seemed to understand only that this man offered herrest and security; that in his arms lay sanctuary. 

To both it seemed that they stood there silently, hand in hand, for a very long time, though in reality there was scarcely amoment of hesitation on the part of either. A drunken, breathlessinstant of uncertainty, then Alaire was on Dave's breast, and hisstrength, his ardor, his desire, was throbbing through her. Herbare arms were about his neck; a sigh, the token of uttersurrender, fluttered from her throat. She raised her face to hisand their lips melted together. 

For a time they were all alone in the universe, the center of allecstasy. Dave was whispering wild incoherencies as Alaire lay inhis embrace, her limbs relaxed, her flesh touching his, her bodyclinging to his. 

"Dream-man!" she murmured. 

As consciousness returns after a swoon, so did realization returnto Alaire Austin. Faintly, uncertainly at first, then with aswift, strong effort she pushed herself out of Dave's reluctantarms. They stood apart, frightened. Dave's gaze was questioning. Alaire began to tremble and to struggle with her breath. 

"Are we--mad?" she gasped. "What have we done?"

"There's no use righting. It was here--it was bound to come out. Oh, Alaire--!"

"Don't!" She shook her head, and, avoiding his outstretched hands, went to the edge of the veranda and leaned weakly against apillar, with her head in the crook of her arm. Dave followed her, but the words he spoke were scarcely intelligible. 

Finally she raised her face to his: "No! It is useless to deny it--now that we know. But I didn't know, until a moment ago. "

"I've known, all the time--ever since the first moment I saw you, "he told her, hoarsely. "To me you're all there is; nothing elsematters. And you love me! God! I wonder if I'm awake. "

"Dream-man, " she repeated, more slowly. "Oh, why did you come solate?"

"So late?"

"Yes. We must think it out, the best way we can, I--wonder whatyou think of me?"

"You must know. There's no need for excuses; there's nothing toexplain, except the miracle that such great happiness could cometo a fellow like me. "

"Happiness? It means anything but that. I was miserable enoughbefore, what shall I do now?"

"Why, readjust your life, " he cried, roughly. "Surely you won'thesitate after this?"

But Alaire did not seem to hear him. She was staring out into thenight again. "What a failure I must be!" she murmured, finally. "Isuppose I should have seen this coming, but--I didn't. And in hishouse, too! This dress is his, and these jewels--everything!" Sheheld up her hands and stared curiously at the few rings she wore, as if seeing them for the first time. "How does that make youfeel?"

Dave stirred; there was resentment in his voice when he answered:"Your husband has sacrificed his claim to you, as everybody knows. To my mind he has lost his rights. You're mine, mine! By God!" Hewaved a vigorous gesture of defiance. "I'll take you away from himat any cost. I'll see that he gives you up, somehow. You're all Ihave. "

"Of course the law provides a way, but you wouldn't, couldn't, understand how I feel about divorce. " The mere mention of the wordwas difficult and caused Alaire to clench her hands. "We're bothtoo shaken to talk sanely now, so let's wait--"

"There's something you must understand before we go any further, "Dave insisted. "I'm poor; I haven't a thing I can call my own, soI'm not sure I have any right to take you away from all this. " Heturned a hostile eye upon their surroundings. "Most people wouldsay that I've simply wasted my life. Perhaps I have--that dependsupon the way you look at it and upon what you consider worthwhile--anyhow, all I can offer you is love--" He broke offmomentarily as if his breath had suddenly failed him. "Greaterlove, it seems to me, than any woman ever had. "

"Money means so little, and it's so easy to be happy without it, "Alaire told him. "But I'm not altogether poor. Of course, everything here is Ed's, but I have enough. All my life I've hadeverything except the very thing you offer--and how I've longedfor that! How I've envied other people! Do you think I'll beallowed, somehow, to have it?"

"Yes! I've something to say about that. You gave me the right whenyou gave me that kiss. "

Alaire shook her head. "I'm not sure. It seems easy now, while youare here, but how will it seem later? I'm in no condition at thisminute to reason. Perhaps, as you say, it is all a dream; perhapsthis feeling I have is just a passing frenzy. "

Dave laughed softly, confidently. "It's too new yet for you tounderstand, but wait. It is frenzy, witchery--yes, and more. To-morrow, and every day after, it will grow and grow and grow! Trustme, I've watched it in myself. "

"So you cared for me from the very first?" Alaire questioned. Itwas the woman's curiosity, the woman's hunger to hear over andover again that truth which never fails to thrill and yet neverfully satisfies. 

"Oh, even before that, I think! When you came to my fire thatevening in the chaparral I knew every line of your face, everymovement of your body, every tone of your voice, as a man knowsand recognizes his ideal. But it took time for me to realize allyou meant to me. "

Alaire nodded. "Yes, and it must have been the same with me. " Shemet his eyes frankly, but when he reached toward her she held himaway. "No, dear. Not yet, not again, not until we have the right. It would be better for us both if you went away now. "

"No, no! Oh, I have so much to say! I've been dumb all my life, and you've just opened my lips. "

"Please! After I've decided what to do--once I feel that I cancontrol myself better--I'll send for you. But you must promise notto come until then, for you would only make it harder. "

It required all Dave's determination to force himself to obey herwish, and the struggle nearly kept him from recalling the originalobject of his visit. Remembering, he tried to tell Alaire what hehad learned from Phil Strange; but so broken and so unconvincingwas his recital that he doubted if she understood in the leastwhat he was talking about. 

At last he took her hand and kissed her wrist, just over herpulse, as if to speed a message to her heart, then into her rosypalm he whispered a tender something that thrilled her. 

She stood white, motionless, against the dim illumination of theporch until he had gone, and not until the last sound of his motorhad died away did she stir. Then she pressed her own lips to thepalm he had caressed and walked slowly to her room. 

XXII

WHAT ELLSWORTH HAD TO SAY

On his way to Brownsville the next morning Dave found himselfstill somewhat dazed by his sudden happiness; the more he thoughtof it the more wonderful it seemed. During the day he went throughhis court duties like a man in a trance. Such joy as this wasunbelievable; he felt as if he must tell the world about it. Hewell understood Alaire's repugnance to divorce, but he was surethat he could overcome it, if indeed her own truer understandingof herself did not relieve him of that necessity; for at thismoment his desires were of a heat sufficient to burn away allobstacles, no matter how solid. It seemed, therefore, that thefuture was all sunshine. 

He had no opportunity of speaking with Judge Ellsworth until courtadjourned. Then the judge took him by the arm, with thatpeculiarly flattering assumption of intimacy of which he wasmaster, and led the way toward his office, inquiring meanwhile fornews of Jonesville. Dave's high spirits surprised him and finallyimpelled him to ask the cause. When Dave hinted unmistakably atthe truth, Ellsworth exclaimed, with a sharp stare of curiosity:

"See here! You haven't forgotten what I told you that night on thetrain?"

"What? Yes, I had forgotten. "

"You promised to tell me if you thought seriously about marriage. "

"Very well, then; I'm telling you now. "

"Do you mean that, Dave?"

"Of course I do. But don't look at me as if I'd confessed to arsonor burglary. Listen, Judge! If you have good taste in jewelry, I'll let you help me select the ring. "

But Judge Ellsworth continued to stare, and then muttereduncertainly: "You're such a joker--"

Dave assumed a show of irony. "Your congratulations overwhelm me. You look as if you were about to begin the reading of the will. "

"I want to hear about this right away. " Ellsworth smiled faintly. "Can you come to my office tonight, where we can be alone?"

Dave agreed to the appointment and went his way with a feeling ofamusement. Old folks are usually curious, he reflected; and theyare prone to presume upon the privileges that go with age. In thisinstance, however, it might be well to make a clean breast of theaffair, since Ellsworth was Alaire's attorney, and would doubtlessbe selected to secure her divorce. 

The judge was waiting when Dave called after supper, but for sometime he maintained a flow of conversation relating to other thingsthan the one they had met to discuss. At last, however, heappeared to summon his determination; he cleared his throat andsettled himself in his chair--premonitory signs unusual in a manof Ellsworth's poise and self-assurance. 

"I reckon you think I'm trying to mix up in something that doesn'tconcern me, " he began; "and perhaps I am. Maybe you'll make mewish I'd minded my own business--that's what usually happens. Iremember once, out of pure chivalry, trying to stop a fellow frombeating his wife. Of course they both turned on me--as they alwaysdo. I went to the hospital for a week, and lost a profitabledivorce case. However, we try to do our duty as we see it. "

This was anything but a promising preamble; Dave wondered, too, athis friend's obvious nervousness. 

"So you've found the girl, eh?" the judge went on. 

"Yes. "

"Are you accepted? I mean, have you asked her to marry you?"

"Of course I have. That's about the first thing a fellow does. "

Ellsworth shuffled the papers on his desk with an abstracted gaze, then said, slowly, "Dave--I don't think you ought to marry. "

"So you told me once before. I suppose you mean I'm poor and afailure. "

"Oh no! All men are failures until they marry. I'm thinking ofwhat marriage means; of the new duties it brings, of the man'sduty to himself, to the woman, and to society; I'm thinking ofwhat lies inside of the man himself. "

"Um-m! That's pretty vague. "

"I've studied you a long time, Dave, and with a reason. I'vestudied heredity, too, and--you mustn't marry. "

Law stirred in his chair and smiled whimsically. "I've done somestudying along those lines, too, and I reckon I know myself prettywell. I've the usual faults, but--"

Ellsworth interrupted. "You don't know yourself at all, my boy. There's just the trouble. I'm the only man--living man, that is--who knows you. " For the first time he looked directly at hiscaller, and now his lids were lifted until the eyes peered outbright, hard, and piercing; something in his face startled Dave. "I was your father's attorney and his friend. I know how he livedand how he died. I know--what killed him?"

"You mean, don't you, that you know who killed him?"

"I mean just what I say. "

Dave leaned forward, studying the speaker curiously. "Well, comethrough. What's on your mind?" he demanded, finally. 

"The Guadalupes had to kill him, Dave. "

"Had to? HAD to? Why?"

"Don't you know? Don't you know anything about your familyhistory?" Dave shook his head. "Well, then--he was insane, "

"Insane?"

"Yes; violently. "

"Really, I--Why--I suppose you know what you're talking about, butit sounds incredible. "

"Yes, it must to you--especially since you never knew the facts. Very few people did know then, even at the time, for there were nonewspapers in that part of Mexico; you, of course, were a boy atschool in the United States. Nevertheless, it's true. That part ofthe story which I didn't know at the time I learned by talkingwith General Guadalupe and others. It was very shocking. "

Dave's face was a study; his color had lessened slightly; he wethis lips. "This is news, of course, " said he, "but it doesn'texplain my mother's death. Who killed her, if not the Guadalupes?"

"Can't you guess? That's what I meant when I said they had to killFrank Law. " Ellsworth maintained his fixity of gaze, and when Davestarted he nodded his head. "It's God's truth. The details weretoo--dreadful. Your father turned his hand against the woman heloved and--died a wife-killer. The Guadalupes had to destroy himlike a mad dog. I'm sorry you had to learn the truth from me, myboy, but it seems necessary that I tell you. When I knew Frank Lawhe was like any other man, quick-tempered, a little too violent, perhaps, but apparently as sane as you or I, and yet the thing wasthere. "

Dave rose from his chair and bent over the desk. "So THAT'S whatyou've been driving at, " he gasped. "That's what you meant whenyou said I shouldn't marry. " He began to tremble now; his voicebecame hoarse with fury. "Now I understand. You're trying to tellme that--maybe I've got it in me, eh? Hell! YOU'RE crazy, not I. I'm all right. I reckon I know. "

"HE didn't know, " Ellsworth said, quietly. "I doubt if he evensuspected. "

Dave struck the desk violently with his clenched fist. "Bosh!You're hipped on this heredity subject. Crazy! Why, you dodderingold fool--" With an effort he calmed himself, realizing that hehad shouted his last words. He turned away and made a circuit ofthe room before returning to face his friend. "I didn't mean tospeak to you like that, Judge. You pulled this on me too suddenly, and I'm--upset. But it merely proves my own contention that I'mnot Frank Law's son at all. I've always known it. "

"How do you know it?"

"Don't you suppose I can tell?" In spite of himself Dave's voicerose again, but it was plain from the lawyer's expression that toa man of his training no mere conviction unsupported by proof hadweight. This skepticism merely kept Dave's impatience at a whiteheat. "Very well, then, " he argued, angrily, "let's say that I'mwrong and you're right. Let's agree that I am his son. What of it?What makes you think I've inherited--the damned thing? It isn't adisease. Me, insane? Rot!" He laughed harshly, took anotheruncertain turn around the room, then sank into his chair andburied his face in his hands. 

Ellsworth was more keenly distressed than his hearer imagined;when next he spoke his voice was unusually gentle. "It IS adisease, Dave, or worse, and there's no way of proving that youhaven't inherited it. If there is the remotest possibility thatyou have--if you have the least cause to suspect--why, youcouldn't marry and--bring children into the world, now could you?Ask yourself if you've shown any signs--?"

"Oh, I know what you mean. You've always said I go crazy when I'm--angry. Well, that's true. But it's nothing more than a villainoustemper. I'm all right again afterward. "

"I wasn't thinking so much of that. But are you sure it'saltogether temper?" the judge insisted. "You don't merely losecontrol of yourself; you've told me more than once that you gocompletely out of your mind; that you see red and want to killand--" "Don't you?"

"I never felt the slightest desire to destroy, no matter how angryI chanced to be. I've always asserted that murderers, homicides, suicides, were irresponsible; that they were sick here. " Ellsworthtouched his forehead. "I can't see how any sane man can take hisown or another's life, no matter what the provocation. But I'm nota doctor, and that's an extreme view, I know. Anyhow, you'll agreethat if you have Frank Law's blood in your veins it won't do tomarry. "

"I haven't got it, " the younger man groaned, his gaze turnedsullenly downward. "Even granting that I have, that's no sign I'dever--run amuck the way he did. "

"You told me just now that you don't know your family history?"

"Yes. What little I've heard isn't very pretty nor very much tothe family's credit. They were a bad lot, I believe. "

"Frank Law had two brothers and a sister, had he not?"

"Yes. One of my uncles was a tough hombre. I'm told he notched hisgun pretty well. "

"He was about the worst man of his day. He was shot in Dodge Cityon one of his rampages. "

Dave raised shocked and curious eyes. "You think he was crazy?"

"Most of those old-time gunmen would be so considered nowadays. Some unbelievable stories are told about that uncle of yours. Theother one disappeared mysteriously. "

"I believe so. He just walked away from his wife and family andbusiness one day and was never heard of again. "

Ellsworth seemed to consider this admission significant. "Now thesister, your aunt?"

"I think she's somewhere in the East; I never saw her. "

"She is; she's an inmate of an institution the name and address ofwhich I have here. " Ellsworth thrust his finger into the loosepile of documents before him. Avoiding his caller's eyes hecontinued: "You can't very well ignore such a family history, Dave. I've never traced it back beyond the last generation, butyou probably could if you tried. "

In a voice hardly his own, Dave articulated: "God! This is--hideous. "

"It is. I'd like to believe that you don't belong to the Laws, butI can't put much faith in that childhood fancy of yours. Run itdown; convince yourself. But first go to the girl, whoever she is, and tell her the facts. If she's the right sort--"

"No, no!" The words were wrung from Dave's lips. "She knows toowell how heredity acts; she's had one experience. "

"Eh? You say she knows--Who is she, Dave? Don't tell me you mean--Alaire?"

Dave nodded. 

"Damnation!" Ellsworth leaped to his feet and, striding around thedesk, seized his caller roughly by the shoulder. "What are youtelling me? Good God, Alaire! A married woman! So you--cut underEd Austin, eh?" Momentarily Ellsworth lost control of himself; hiseyes blazed and his fingers tightened painfully. "What damnabletrick have you played on that girl? Tell me before I choke you. "

For once Dave Law's passion failed to ignite at the heat ofanother's anger; he only sat limp and helpless in the judge'sgrasp. Finally he muttered: "I played square enough. It's one ofthose things that just happen. We couldn't help ourselves. She'llcome to you for her divorce. "

The lawyer uttered a shocking oath. "Then it's no mere romanticinfatuation on her part?"

"Oh no!"

Ellsworth loosed his grip. He turned away and began to pace theoffice floor, shaking his head. "This is--unfortunate. Alaire, ofall people--as if she didn't have enough to bear. " He turnedfiercely upon the cowering figure in the chair, saying: "I'll tellher the whole truth myself, before she goes any further. "

"No! Oh, please! Let me, in my own way. " Dave writhed and sank hisface in his hands once more. After a while he said, "I'm waitingfor you to tell me it's all a nightmare. "

"Humph!" The judge continued his restless pacing. "I was sorry foryou when you came in here, and it took all my strength to tellyou; but now you don't matter at all. I was prepared to have yougo ahead against my advice, but--I'll see you damned first. "

"You have damned me. "

When Ellsworth saw the haggard face turned to his he ceased hiswalk abruptly. "I'm all broken up, Dave, " he confessed in agentler tone than he had used heretofore. "But you'll thank mesome day. "

Law was no longer the big, strong, confident fellow who hadentered the office such a short time before. He had collapsed; heseemed to have shrunk; he was pitifully appealing. Although therewere many things he would have said, many questions upon histongue, he could not voice them now, and it was with extremedifficulty that he managed to follow the judge's words at all. 

After a time he rose and shook Ellsworth's hand limply, mechanically; then he shambled out of the office. Like a sick man, he stumbled down the stairs and into the street. When he enteredhis hotel the clerk and some of the idlers in the lobby looked athim queerly, but he did not see them. 

All that night Dave walked the floor of his room or sat hunched upon the edge of his bed, staring at the wall and fighting the fearsthat preyed upon him. 

He had faith enough in Alaire to believe that she would marry himregardless of the facts; her kiss, that one delirious moment whenhe had held her to his breast, had taught him much, and it was, infact, this very certainty which made his struggle so hard. Afterall, why not? he asked himself a thousand times. Ellsworth's fearswere surely exaggerated. Who could say that Frank Law had passedon his heritage? There was at least a chance that he had not, andit would require more than a remote possibility, more evidencethan Ellsworth could summon, to dismay Alaire. Suppose it shouldtranspire that he was somehow defective? What then? The signs ofhis mental failing would give ample warning. He could watchhimself carefully and study his symptoms. He could lead the lifeof a sentinel perpetually on guard. The thing might never come--orat the worst it probably would not manifest itself until he wasfurther along in years. That, it seemed, was the family history, and in such a case Dave was assured of half a life at least. Ellsworth was altogether too fearful. Yes, and he was tooofficious by far. This was something that did not concern him. 

But such reasoning naturally brought little comfort. Dave's fearswould not be put down. In common with most men of splendidphysique, he had a vague contempt for those less perfect; diseaseor deformity had never failed to awaken his pity, and he had oftenargued that defective human beings, like unhealthy stock, shouldnot be allowed to mate and to perpetuate their weaknesses. Thiseugenic conviction had helped to ease his conscience somewhatduring his acquaintance with Alaire, for he had told himself thatEd Austin, by reason of his inherited vices, had sacrificed allright to love and marriage. These thoughts came home now to roost. What was Ed's evil heritage compared to his own? It was as vinegarto vitriol. 

And yet shining through all Dave's distress, like a faint, flickering beacon in a storm, was that old doubt of his parentage;and to this he finally began to pin his hopes. In the day or twothat followed his interview with Ellsworth, it afforded him almostthe only comfort he knew; for in the end he had to face the truth;he could not marry if he were really Frank Law's son. 

Those were dark hours for Dave. He discharged his dutiesautomatically, taking no interest whatever in his work; his nightshe spent in morose meditation. Unable to sleep, he tramped the hotstreets in an effort to fight off his growing nervousness. Hebecame irritable, despondent; his eyes took on the look of aninvalid's; his face aged and grayed. Physically, too, he grew verytired, for no burden is heavier to bear than that of doubt andindecision. 

One afternoon Ellsworth entered his office to find Dave waitingfor him. The young man began in a shaky, husky voice:

"I can't stand it, Judge. I'm going to pieces, fast. "

"You do look bad. "

"Yes. I don't sleep. I'm so irritable I can't get along up at thecourthouse. I'm licked. The worst of it is, I don't know whetherit's all imagination, or whether you really stirred up thatdevilish sleeping thing in me. Anyhow, something has got me. All Ican do is study and analyze and watch and imagine--I sit all nightthinking--thinking, until everything gets queer and distorted. IfI were sane before, you've about unbalanced me with your damnablesuggestions. "

"A few nights of sleep will make you feel better, " Ellsworth said, gravely. 

"I tried drugs, but they made me worse. God! Then my fancies WEREsick. No, I'm going to get out. "

"Where? How?"

"I'm going north to look up the members of my family and learn whoI really am. I resigned from the Ranger force to-day. That's noplace for a fellow with a--homicidal mania. "

"Dave! You're taking this thing too absolutely and too hard, "Ellsworth declared. 

But Dave went on, unheeding. "Another reason why I want to getaway now is that Alaire will expect me to come to her when shesends for me and--I wouldn't dare trust myself. "

"Have you told her--written her?"

"Not yet, and I sha'n't until I trace out the last doubt in my ownmind. "

In an effort to cheer, Ellsworth put his arm about the sufferer'sshoulders. "I'm sure you'll do the right thing, Dave, " he said. "Maybe, after all, your instinct is true and you're not FrankLaw's boy. I hope so, for this thing weighs me down as it weighsyou; but you mustn't let it whip you. Don't give in, andmeanwhile, above all things, try to get some sleep. "

Dave nodded and mumbled something; then he slouched out, leavingthe lawyer overcome by a great pity. Ellsworth had seen men, stunned by a court sentence, turn away from the bar with that samedumb, fixed look of hopelessness in their eyes. Impulsively hecursed the sense of duty that had prompted him to interfere. 

XXIII

THE CRASH

The several days following Dave's unexpected call at Las PalmasAlaire spent in a delightful reverie. She had so often wrestledwith the question of divorce that she had begun to weary of it;and now, when she tried to summon energy to consider it anew, shefound herself, as usual, reasoning in a circle and arriving at nodecision. She gave up trying, at length, and for the time beingrested content in the knowledge that she loved and was loved. Inher heart she knew well enough what her ultimate course would be:sooner or later events would force her action. Yielding to anatural cowardice, therefore, she resigned herself to dreamymeditations and left the future to take care of itself. A weekpassed while she hugged her thoughts to her breast, and then oneevening she rode home to learn that Ed had returned from SanAntonio. 

But Ed was ill, and he did not appear at dinner. It had been yearssince either had dared invade the other's privacy, and now, inasmuch as her husband did not send for her, Alaire did notpresume to offer her services as nurse. As a matter of fact, sheconsidered this quite unnecessary, for she felt sure that he waseither suffering the customary after-effects of a visit to thecity or else that he lacked the moral courage to undertake anexplanation of his hurried flight from the ranch. In either eventshe was glad he kept to his room. 

Heretofore their formal relations had made life at least tolerableto Alaire, but now she experienced a feeling of guilt at findingherself under the same roof with him. Oddly enough, it seemed toher that in this she wronged Dave and not her husband; for shereasoned that, having given her love to one man, her presence inthe same house with another outraged that love. 

When Austin made his appearance, on the day following his return, his bleared eyes, his puffy, pasty cheeks, his shattered nerves, showed plainly enough how he had spent his time. Although he wasjumpy and irritable, he seemed determined by an assumption of highspirits and exaggerated friendliness to avert criticism. SinceAlaire spared him all reproaches, his efforts seemed to meet withadmirable success. Now Ed's opinion of women was not high, forthose with whom he habitually associated were of smallintelligence; and, seeing that his wife continued to manifest acomplete indifference to his past actions, he decided that hisapprehensions had been groundless. If Alaire remembered the Guzmanaffair at all, or if she had suspected him of complicity in it, time had evidently dulled her suspicions, and he was a littlesorry he had taken pains to stay away so long. 

Before many days, however, he discovered that this indifference ofhers was not assumed, and that in some way or other she hadchanged. Ed was accustomed, when he returned exhausted from adebauch, to seeing in his wife's eyes a strained misery; he hadlearned to expect in her bearing a sort of pitying, hopelessresignation. But this time she was not in the least depressed. Onthe contrary, she appeared happier, fresher, and younger than hehad seen her for a long time. It was mystifying. When, onemorning, he overheard her singing in her room, he was shocked. Over this phenomenon he meditated with growing amazement and afaint stir of resentment in his breast, for he lived a self-centered life, considering himself the pivot upon which revolvedall the affairs of his little world. To feel that he had lost eventhe power to make his wife unhappy argued that he hadoverestimated his importance. 

At length, having sufficiently recovered his health to begindrinking again, he yielded one evening to an alcoholic impulseand, just as Alaire bade him good night, clumsily sought to forcean explanation. 

"See here!" he shot at her. "What's the matter with you lately?"He saw that he had startled her and that she made an effort tocollect her wandering thoughts. "You're about as warm and wifelyas a stone idol. "

"Am I any different to what I have always been?"

"Humph! You haven't been exactly sympathetic of late. Here I comehome sick, and you treat me like one of the help. Don't you thinkI have feelings? Jove! I'm lonesome. "

Alaire regarded him speculatively, then shook her head as if inanswer to some thought. 

In an obvious and somewhat too mellow effort to be friendly, Edcontinued: "Don't let's go on like this, Alaire. You blame me forgoing away so much, but, good Lord! when I'm home I feel like aninterloper. You treat me like a cow-thief. "

"I'm sorry. I've tried to be everything I should. I'm theinterloper. "

"Nonsense! If we only got along together as well as we seem tofrom the outside it wouldn't be bad at all. But you're too severe. You seem to think a man should be perfect. Well, none of us are, and I'm no worse than the majority. Why, I know lots of fellowswho forget themselves and do things they shouldn't, but they don'tmean anything by it. They have wives and homes to go to when it'sall over. But have I? You're as glad to see me as if I hadsmallpox. Maybe we've made a mess of things, but married lifeisn't what young girls think it is, A wife must learn to give andtake. "

"I've given. What have I taken?" she asked him in a voice thatquivered. 

Ed made an impatient gesture. "Oh, don't be so literal! I meanthat, since we're man and wife, it's up to you to be a littlemore--broad-gauge in your views. "

"In other words, you want me to ignore your conduct. Is that it?I'm afraid we can't argue that, Ed. "

Within the last few days Austin's mind had registered a number ofnew impressions, and at this moment he realized that his wife wasundoubtedly the most attractive woman physically he had everknown. Of course she was cold, but she had not always been so. Hehad chilled her; he had seen the fire die year by year, but nowthe memory of her as she had once been swept over him, bringing arenewed appreciation of her charms. His recent dissipation hadtold upon him as heavily as a siege of sickness, and this eveninghe was in that fatuous, sentimental mood which comes withconvalescence, Having no fault to find with himself, and feelingmerely a selfish desire to make more pleasant his life at LasPalmas, he undertook to bend Alaire to his will. 

"All right; don't let's try to argue it, " he laughed, with what heconsidered an admirable show of magnanimity. "I hate arguments, anyhow; I'd much rather have a goodnight kiss. "

But when he stooped over her Alaire held him off and turned herhead. "No!" she said. 

"You haven't kissed me for--"

"I don't wish to kiss you. "

"Don't be silly, " he insisted. This suggestion of physicalresistance excited his love of conquest and awoke something likethe mood of a lover--such a lover as a man like Ed could be. For amoment he felt as if Alaire were some other woman than his wife, awoman who refused and yet half expected to be overcome; thereforehe laughed self-consciously and repeated, "Come now, I want akiss. "

Alaire thrust him back strongly, and he saw that her face hadwhitened. Oddly enough, her stubbornness angered him out of allreason, and he began a harsh remonstrance. But he halted when shecried:

"Wait! I must tell you something, Ed. It's all over, and has beenfor a long time. We're going to end it. "

"End it?"

"We can't go on living together. Why should we?"

"So? Divorce? Is that it?"

Alaire nodded. 

"Well, I'll be damned!" Ed was dumfounded. "Isn't this rathersudden?" he managed to inquire. 

"Oh no. You've suggested it more than once. "

"I thought you didn't believe in divorces--couldn't stomach 'em?What's happened?"

"I have changed my mind. "

"Humph! People don't change their minds in a minute, " he cried, angrily. "Is there some other man?"

Now Ed Austin had no faintest idea that his wife would answer inthe affirmative, for he had long ago learned to put implicitconfidence in her, and her life had been so open that he could notimagine that it held a double interest. Therefore her reply struckhim speechless. 

"Yes, Ed, " she said, quietly, "there is another man. "

It was like her not to evade. She had never lied to him. 

Ed's mouth opened; his reddened eyes protruded. "Well--" hestammered. "Well, by God!" Then after a moment: "Who is it, theGreaser or the cowboy?" He laughed loudly, disagreeably. "It mustbe one or the other, for you haven't seen any men except them. Another man! Well, you're cool about it. "

"I am glad you know the truth. "

Muttering to himself, Ed made a short excursion around the room, then paused before his wife with a sneer on his lips. "Did it everoccur to you that I might object?" he demanded. 

Alaire eyed him scornfully. "What right have you to object?"

Ed could not restrain a malevolent gleam of curiosity. "Say, whois it? Ain't I entitled to know that much?" As Alaire remainedsilent he let his eyes rove over her with a kind of angryappreciation. "You're pretty enough to stampede any man, " headmitted. "Yes, and you've got money, too. I'll bet it's theRanger. So, you've been having your fling while I was away. Hunh!We're tarred with the same stick. "

"You don't really believe that, " she told him, sharply. 

"Why not? You've had enough opportunity. I don't see anything ofyou, and haven't for years. Well, I was a fool to trust you. "

Alaire's eyes were very dark and very bright as she said: "Iwonder how I have managed to live with you as long as I have. Iknew you were weak, nasty--so I was prepared for something likethis. But I never thought you were a downright criminal until--"

"Criminal? Rot!"

"How about that Guzman affair? You can't go much lower, Ed, andyou can't keep me here with you. "

"I can't keep you, eh?" he growled. "Well, perhaps not. I supposeyou've got enough on me to secure a divorce, but I can air some ofyour dirty linen. Oh, don't look like that! I mean it! Didn't youspend a night with David Law?" He leered at her unpleasantly, thenfollowed a step as she drew back. 

"Don't you touch me!" she cried. 

A flush was deepening Ed's purple cheeks; his voice was peculiarlybrutal and throaty as he said: "The decree isn't entered yet, andso long as you are Mrs. Austin I have rights. Yes, and I intend toexercise them. You've made me jealous, and, by God--" He made toencircle her with his arms and was half successful, but whenAlaire felt the heat of his breath in her face a sick loathingsprang up within her, and, setting her back against the wall, shesent him reeling. Whether she struck him or merely pushed him awayshe never knew, for during the instant of their struggle she wasblind with indignation and fury. Profiting by her advantage, shedodged past him, fled to her room, and locked herself in. 

She heard him muttering profanely; heard him approach her chambermore than once, then retire uncertainly, but she knew him too wellto be afraid. 

Later that night she wrote two letters--one to Judge Ellsworth, the other to Dave Law. 

Jose Sanchez rode to the Morales house feeling some concern overthe summons that took him thither. He wondered what could haveinduced General Longorio to forsake his many important duties inorder to make the long trip from Nuevo Pueblo; surely it could bedue to no lack of zeal on his, Jose's, part. No! The horse-breakerflattered himself that he had made a very good spy indeed; that hehad been Longorio's eyes and ears so far as circumstancespermitted. Nor did he feel that he had been lax in making hisreports, for through Rosa he had written the general severallengthy letters, and just for good measure these two had conjuredup sundry imaginary happenings to prove beyond doubt that SenoraAustin was miserably unhappy with her husband and ready to welcomesuch a dashing lover as Longorio. Therefore Jose could not for thelife of him imagine wherein he had been remiss. Nevertheless, hewas uneasy, and he hoped that nothing had occurred to anger hisgeneral. 

But Longorio, when he arrived at the meeting-place, was not in abad humor. Having sent Rosa away on some errand, he turned to Josewith a flashing smile, and said:

"Well, my good friend, the time has come. "

Now Jose had no faintest idea what the general was talking about, but to be called the good friend of so illustrious a person wasflattering. He nodded decisively. 

"Yes, beyond doubt, " he agreed. 

"Mexico is in a bad way. These rebels are growing by thethousands; they overrun the country like ants. You read thepapers, eh?"

"Sometimes; when there are enough pictures, " said Jose. 

"Ha! Then I doubt if you know what is happening. Well, I'll haveto tell you. Our enemies have taken all northern Mexico exceptthat part which is under my control; but they are pushing towardme from two sides, and I prepare to retreat. That is not theworst, however; the Gringos are hoping to profit by Mexico'sdistress; they are making ready to invade our Fatherland, andevery Mexican must fight or become a slave. "

This was indeed news! Jose began patriotically cursing the wholeAmerican people. 

"Understand, I make you my confidant because I think a great dealof you, Jose. " The general laid an affectionate hand upon Jose'sshoulder. "The first time I saw you I said: 'There's a boy aftermy own heart. I shall learn to love that Jose, and I shall put himin the way of his fortune. ' Well, I have not changed my mind, andthe time is come. You are going to help me and I am going to helpyou. "

Jose Sanchez thrilled with elation from head to foot. Thispromised to be the greatest day of his life, and he felt that hemust be dreaming. 

"You haven't tired of Rosa, eh? You still wish to marry her?"Longorio was inquiring. 

"Yes. But, of course, I'm a poor man. "

"Just so. I shall attend to that. Now we come to the object of myvisit. Jose, I propose to make you rich enough in one day so thatyou can marry. "

"But first, wait!" exclaimed the horse-breaker. "I bring yousomething of value, too. " Desiring to render favor for favor, andto show that he was fully deserving of the general's generosity, Jose removed from inside the sweatband of his hat a sealed, stamped letter, which he handed to his employer. "Yesterday Icarried the mail to town, but as I rode away from Las Palmas thesenora handed me this, with a silver dollar for myself. Look! Itis written to the man we both hate. "

Longorio took the letter, read the inscription, and then openedthe envelope. Jose looked on with pleasure while he spelled outthe contents. 

When the general had finished reading, he exclaimed: "Ho! Amiracle! Now I know all that I wish to know. "

"Then I did well to steal that letter, eh?"

"Diablo! Yes! That brute of a husband makes my angel's lifeunbearable, and she flees to La Feria to be rid of him. Good! Itfits in with my plans. She will be surprised to see me there. Then, when the war comes and all is chaos then what? I'll warrantI can make her forget certain things and certain people. " Longorionodded with satisfaction. "You did very well, Jose. "

The latter leaned forward, his eyes bright. "That lady is rich. Afine prize, truly. She would bring a huge ransom. "

This remark brought a smile to Longorio's face. "My dear friend, you do not in the least understand, " he said. "Ransom! What anidea!" He lost himself in meditation, then, rousing, spokebriskly: "Listen! In two, three days, your senora will leave LasPalmas. When she is gone you will perform your work, like thebrave man I know you to be. You will relieve her of her husband. "

Jose hesitated, and the smile vanished from his face. "Senor Ed isnot a bad man. He likes me; he--" Longorio's gaze altered and Josefell silent. 

"Come! You are not losing heart, eh? Have I not promised to makeyou a rich man? Well, the time has arrived. " Seeing that Josestill manifested no eagerness, the general went on in a differenttone: "Do not think that you can withdraw from our littlearrangement. Oh no! Do you remember a promise I made to you whenyou came to me in Romero? I said that if you played me false Iwould bury you to the neck in an anthill and fill your mouth withhoney. I keep my promises. "

Jose's struggle was brief; he promptly resigned himself to theinevitable. With every evidence of sincerity he assured Longorioof his loyalty, and denied the least intention of betraying hisgeneral's confidence. What, after all, was his mission upon earthif not to serve Longorio's interests? One might have a peacefulheart and still be a man. Jose was every inch a man; he was a verydevil when he let himself go, and his Excellency need have nofears as to the outcome of their plan. After all, the GRINGOS wereenemies, and there was no one of them who did not meritdestruction. 

Pleased with these sentiments, and feeling sufficiently assuredthat Jose was now really in the proper frame of mind to suit hispurpose, Longorio took the winding trail back toward Sangre deCristo. 

XXIV

DAVE LAW COMES HOME

A few days after she had written to Judge Ellsworth Alairefollowed her letter in person, for, having at last decided todivorce Ed, she acted with characteristic decision. SinceEllsworth had more than once advised this very course, she went toBrownsville anticipating his willing support. She was greatlyamazed, therefore, to find that he had completely changed hisviews and to hear him argue strongly against her determination. Hurt and puzzled at first by this strange lack of sympathy, Alairesoon began to grow angry, and when the judge persisted in hisarguments she quarreled with him for the first time in theiracquaintance. But it was not until she had threatened to secureanother attorney that he reluctantly gave in, even then making itplain that in meeting her wishes he was acting against his bestjudgment. 

Now Alaire had desired Ellsworth's advice, also, as to her ownimmediate plans, since it was of course impossible for her longerto share Ed's roof. She had written Dave Law, telling him that sheintended to go to La Feria, there to remain pending the hearing ofher suit; but later she had come to doubt the wisdom of such acourse, inasmuch as the war talk grew louder with every day. However, her attorney's inexplicable change of front and hisstubborn opposition to her wishes prevented her from confiding inhim any more than was necessary, and she returned to Las Palmasdetermined to use her own best judgment. To be sure, she wouldhave preferred some place of refuge other than La Feria, but shereasoned that there she would at least be undisturbed, and thatEd, even if he wished to effect a reconciliation, would not dareto follow her, since he was persona non grata in Federal Mexico. Nor were her doubts of Ellsworth's loyalty entirely allayed. Allin all, therefore, it seemed to her that the Mexican ranch offeredher the safest asylum. 

She had counted upon seeing Dave during her stay in Brownsville, and her failure to do so was a grave disappointment. The news ofhis resignation from the Force had at first perplexed her; thenshe had thrilled at the thought that his action must havesomething to do with her; that doubtless he, too, was busied inmaking plans for their new life. She told herself that it wasbrave of him to obey her injunctions so literally and to leave herunembarrassed by his presence at this particular time. It inspiredher to be equally brave and to wait patiently for the day when shecould welcome him with clean hands and a soul unashamed. 

In the midst of Alaire's uncertainty of mind it gratified her torealize that Dave alone would know of her whereabouts. Shewondered if he would come to see her. He was a reckless, headstrong lover, and his desires were all too likely to overcomehis deliberate resolves. She rather hoped that in spite of hispromise he would venture to cross the border so that she could seeand be near him, if only for a day or for an hour. The possibilityfrightened and yet pleased her. The conventional woman within herfrowned, but her outlaw heart beat fast at the thought. 

Alaire did not explain her plans even to Dolores, but when herpreparations were complete she took the Mexican woman with her, and during Ed's absence slipped away from the ranch. Boarding thetrain at Jonesville, she was in Pueblo that night. 

If Alaire's clash with Ellsworth had been trying to her, it hadbeen no less painful to the lawyer himself. Feeling himself boundby his promise to Dave, he had not dared to tell her the truth;consequently he had been hard put to it to dissuade her fromtaking immediate action. When she would not listen, he foundhimself in the most unpleasant position of his life; for althoughhe could not but sympathize with her desire to be free from EdAustin, it distressed him beyond measure to see her riding blindlyto a fall. More than once after their strained parting he wastempted to go to Las Palmas and set himself right in her eyes; buthe managed to hold to his determination and to school himself toawait Dave's return. 

Before long, however, Ellsworth found other worries engaging him, for it seemed at last that war with Mexico was imminent. Aftermonths of uncertainty the question had come to issue, and thatlowering cloud which had hung above the horizon took ominous shapeand size. Ellsworth awoke one morning to learn that an ultimatumhad gone forth to President Potosi; that the Atlantic fleet hadbeen ordered south; and that marines were being rushed aboardtransports pending a general army mobilization. It looked as ifthe United States had finally risen in wrath, and as if nothingless than a miracle could now avert the long-expected conflict. 

Naturally Brownsville, like other border towns, was plunged into apanic, and Ellsworth, as a leading citizen of his community, hadhis hands full. 

In the midst of this excitement, and while suspense was at itshighest, Dave Law returned. Ellsworth found him in his office onemorning and fell upon the young man eagerly. Two weeks had workeda shocking change in Dave; he was gaunt, ill; his eyes were brightand tired and feverish. They had a new expression, too, which thejudge at first could not fathom, but which he took to be fear. Dave's brown cheeks had bleached; his hands hung loose andunmanageable at his sides. 

"I've had a long trip, " he said, somberly, "months--years long, itseems to me. "

"Well, thank God you're back. Tell me, what did you find out?"

Law closed his eyes wearily. He shook his head. "Nothing exceptverification. I'm sorry I went. The Law blood is tainted, allright--it reeks. The whole damned outfit were crazy. On mymother's side, though, I'm healthy enough--and there appears to besome mystery or something queer about me as a baby. That's allI've discovered so far. But I've a relative in San Antone, acousin of my mother's, who runs a curio-store. He deals in Mexicanjewelry and antiques, and all that--strange old fellow. He says hehas a trunkful of stuff that belonged to his family, and he haspromised to go through it for me. "

"Then you still hope to prove--"

"I haven't any hope. I've given up. "

"Why?" Ellsworth asked, sharply. 

"Because I know the truth. Because I'm--going crazy. Fact! I cansee it myself now. "

"Why, boy, that's imagination, nothing else. "

"Perhaps, " Dave agreed, listlessly. "I'm reading everything on thesubject of insanity that I can get hold of. "

Ellsworth tried to laugh. "That in itself is enough to unbalanceyou. "

"I'm moody, depressed; I'm getting so I imagine things. By and byI'll begin to think I'm persecuted--I believe that's how it works. Already I have hallucinations in broad daylight, and I'm afraid ofthe dark. Fancy! I don't sleep very often, and when I do I wake upin a puddle of sweat, shivering. And dreams! God, what dreams! Iknow they're dreams, now, but sooner or later I suppose I'll beginto believe in 'em. " Dave sighed and settled lower in his chair. "I--I'm mighty tired. "

Ellsworth clapped him on the back. "Come, now! A perfectly healthyman could wreck his reason this way. You must stop it. You must dosomething to occupy your mind. "

"Sure. That's what brings me home. I'm going to the front. "

"To the war?"

"Yes. They're recruiting a rough-rider regiment in San Antone. Ijoined yesterday, and I've come to get my horse. "

After a time Ellsworth said, "Alaire has commenced her action. "Dave took a deep, sharp breath and began to tremble weakly. "Ididn't tell her, but--you must. We can't go on like this. "

"Suppose I just go to war and--and don't come back?" thicklyinquired the sufferer. 

"That won't do. You won't get killed--fellows like you never do. Wouldn't you rather have her know the truth than believe you to bea quitter?" Ellsworth waited a minute. "Do you want me to tell herfor you, Dave?"

Law shook his head slowly, wearily. "No, I'll do it. I'm game. I'drather she heard it from me. "

Blaze Jones took the San Antonio paper out upon the porch andcomposed himself in the hammock to read the latest war news. Invasion! Troops! The Stars and Stripes! Those were words thatstirred Jones deeply and caused him to neglect his work. Now thathis country had fully awakened to the necessity of a war withMexico--a necessity he had long felt--he was fired with theloftiest patriotism and a youthful eagerness to enlist. Blazerealized that he was old and fat and near-sighted; but what ofthat? He could fight. Fighting, in fact, had been one of hisearliest accomplishments, and he prided himself upon knowing asmuch about it as any one man could learn. He believed in fightingboth as a principle and as an exercise; in fact, he attributed hisgood health to his various neighborly "unpleasantnesses, " and hehad more than once argued that no great fighter ever died of asluggish liver or of any one of the other ills that besetsedentary, peace-loving people. Nations were like men--too muchease made them flabby. And Blaze had his own ideas of strategy, too. So during the perusal of his paper he bemoaned the mistakeshis government was making. Why waste time with ultimatums? heargued to himself. He had never done so. Experience had taught himthat the way to win a battle was to beat the other fellow to thedraw; hence this diplomatic procrastination filled him withimpatience. It seemed almost treasonable to one of Blaze's intensepatriotism. 

He was engaged in laying out a plan of campaign for the UnitedStates when he became conscious of voices behind him, and realizedthat for some time Paloma had been entertaining a caller in thefront room. Their conversation had not disturbed him at first, butnow an occasional word or sentence forced its meaning through hispreoccupation, and he found himself listening. 

Paloma's visitor was a woman, and as Blaze harkened to her voice, he felt his heart sink. It was Mrs. Strange. She was here again. With difficulty Blaze conquered an impulse to flee, for she wasrecounting a story all too familiar to him. 

"Why, it seemed as if the whole city of Galveston was there, andyet nobody offered to help us, " the dressmaker was saying. "Philwas a perfect hero, for the ruffian was twice his size. Oh, it wasan awful fight! I hate to think of it. "

"What made him pinch you?" Paloma inquired. 

"Heaven only knows. Some men are dreadful that way. Why, he left ablack-and-blue mark!"

Blaze broke into a cold sweat and cursed feebly under his breath. 

"He wasn't drunk, either. He was just naturally depraved. Youcould see it in his face. "

"How DID you escape?"

"Well, I'll tell you. We chased him up across the boulevard and inamong the tents, and then--" Mrs. Strange lowered her voice untilonly a murmur reached the listening man. A moment, then both womenburst into shrill, excited laughter, and Blaze himself blushedfuriously. 

This was unbearable! It was bad enough to have that woman inJonesville, a constant menace to his good name, but to allow heraccess to his own home was unthinkable. Sooner or later they werebound to meet, and then Paloma would learn the disgraceful truth--yes, and the whole neighborhood would likewise know his shame. Infancy, Blaze saw his reputation torn to shreds and himself exposedto the gibes of the people who venerated him. He would become ascandal among men, an offense to respectable women; children wouldshun him. Blaze could not bear to think of the consequences, forhe was very fond of the women and children of Jonesville, especially the women. He rose from his hammock and tiptoed downthe porch into the kitchen, from which point of security he calledloudly for his daughter. 

Alarmed at his tone, Paloma came running. "What is the matter?"she asked, quickly. 

"Get her out!" Blaze cried, savagely. "Get shed of her. "

"Her? Who?"

"That varmint. "

"Father, what ails you?"

"Nothin' ails me, but I don't want that caterpillar crawlin'around my premises. I don't like her. "

Paloma regarded her parent curiously. "How do you know you don'tlike her when you've never seen her?"

"Oh, I've seen her, all I want to; and I heard her talkin' to youjust now. I won't stand for nobody tellin' you--bad stories. "

Paloma snickered. "The idea! She doesn't--"

"Get her out, and keep her out, " Blaze rumbled. "She ain't right;she ain't--human. Why, what d'you reckon I saw her do, the otherday? Makes me shiver now. You remember that big bull-snake thatlives under the barn, the one I've been layin' for? Well, youwon't believe me, but him and her are friends. Fact! I saw herpick him up and play with him. WHO-EE! The goose-flesh popped outon me till it busted the buttons off my vest. She ain't my kind ofpeople, Paloma. 'Strange' ain't no name for her; no, sir! Thatwoman's dam' near peculiar. "

Paloma remained unmoved. "I thought you knew. She used to be asnake-charmer. "

"A--WHAT?" There was no doubt about it. Blaze's hair lifted. Heblinked through his big spectacles; he pawed the air feebly withhis hands. "How can you let her touch you? I couldn't. I'll betshe carries a pocketful of dried toads and--and keeps live lizardsin her hair. I knew an old voodoo woman that ate cockroaches. Getshed of her, Paloma, and we'll fumigate the house. "

At that moment Mrs. Strange herself opened the kitchen door toinquire, "Is anything wrong?" Misreading Blaze's expression forone of pain, she exclaimed: "Mercy! Now, what have you done toyourself?"

But the object of her solicitude backed away, making peculiarclucking sounds deep in his throat. Paloma was saying:

"This is my father, Mrs. Strange. You and he have never happenedto meet before. "

"Why, yes we have! I know you, " the seamstress exclaimed. Then apuzzled light flickered in her black eyes. "Seems to me we've metsomewhere, but--I've met so many people. " She extended her hand, and Blaze took it as if expecting to find it cold and scaly. Hemuttered something unintelligible. "I've been dying to see you, "she told him, "and thank you for giving me Paloma's work. I loveyou both for it. "

Blaze was immensely relieved that this dreaded crisis had come andgone; but wishing to make assurance doubly sure, he contorted hisfeatures into a smile the like of which his daughter had neverseen, and in a disguised voice inquired, "Now where do you reckonyou ever saw me?"

The seamstress shook her head. "I don't know, but I'll place youbefore long. Anyhow, I'm glad you aren't hurt. From the way youcalled Paloma I thought you were. I'm handy around sick people, soI--"

"Listen!" Paloma interrupted. "There's some one at the frontdoor. " She left the room; Blaze was edging after her when he heardher utter a stifled scream and call his name. 

Now Paloma was not the kind of girl to scream without cause, andher cry brought Blaze to the front of the house at a run. But whathe saw there reassured him momentarily; nothing was in sight morealarming than one of the depot hacks, in the rear seat of whichwas huddled the figure of a man. Paloma was flying down the walktoward the gate, and Phil Strange was waiting on the porch. AsBlaze flung himself into view the latter explained:

"I brought him straight here, Mr. Jones, 'cause I knew you was hisbest friend. "

"Who? Who is it?"

"Dave Law. He must have came in on the noon train. Anyhow, I foundhim--like that. " The two men hurried toward the road, side byside. 

"What's wrong with him?" Blaze demanded. 

"I don't know. He's queer--he's off his bean. I've had a hard timewith him. "

Paloma was in the carriage at Dave's side now, and calling hisname; but Law, it seemed, was scarcely conscious. He had slumpedtogether; his face was vacant, his eyes dull. He was muttering tohimself a queer, delirious jumble of words. 

"Oh, Dad! He's sick--sick, " Paloma sobbed. "Dave, don't you knowus? You're home, Dave. Everything is--all right now. "

"Why, you'd hardly recognize the boy!" Blaze exclaimed; then headded his appeal to his daughter's. But they could not arouse thesick man from his coma. 

"He asked me to take him to Las Palmas, " Strange explained. "Looksto me like a sunstroke. You'd ought to hear him rave when he getsstarted. "

Paloma turned an agonized face to her father. "Get a doctor, quick, " she implored; "he frightens me. "

But Mrs. Strange had followed, and now she spoke up in a matter-of-fact tone: "Doctor nothing, " she said. "I know more than allthe doctors. Paloma, you go into the house and get a bed ready forhim, and you men lug him in. Come, now, on the run, all of you!I'll show you what to do. " She took instant charge of thesituation, and when Dave refused to leave the carriage and beganto fight off his friends, gabbling wildly, it was she who quietedhim. Elbowing Blaze and her husband out of the way, she loosed theyoung man's frenzied clutch from the carriage and, holding hishands in hers, talked to him in such a way that he graduallyrelaxed. It was she who helped him out and then supported him intothe house. It was she who got him up-stairs and into bed, and itwas she who finally stilled his babble. 

"The poor man is burning up with a fever, " she told the others, "and fevers are my long suit. Get me some towels and a lot ofice. "

Blaze, who had watched the snake-charmer's deft ministrations withmingled amazement and suspicion, inquired: "What are you going todo with ice? Ice ain't medicine. "

"I'm going to pack his head in it. "

"God'l'mighty!" Blaze was horrified. "Do you want to freeze hisbrain?"

Mrs. Strange turned on him angrily. "You get out of my way andmind your own business. 'Freeze his brain!'" With a sniff ofindignation she pushed past the interloper. 

But Blaze was waiting for her when she returned a few momentslater with bowls and bottles and various remedies which she hadcommandeered. He summoned sufficient courage to block her way andinquire:

"What you got there, now, ma'am?"

Mrs. Strange glared at him balefully. With an effort at patienceshe inquired: "Say! What ails you, anyhow?"

Jones swallowed hard. "Understand, he's a friend of mine. Nodamned magic goes. "

"Magic?"

"No--cockroaches or snakes' tongues, or--"

Mrs. Strange fingered a heavy china bowl as if tempted to bounceit from Blaze's head. Then, not deigning to argue, she whiskedpast him and into the sick-room. It was evident from herexpression that she considered the master of the house a harmlessbut offensive old busybody. 

For some time longer Blaze hung about the sick-room; then, hispresence being completely ignored, he risked further antagonism bytelephoning for Jonesville's leading doctor. Not finding thephysician at home, he sneaked out to the barn and, taking Paloma'scar, drove away in search of him. It was fully two hours laterwhen he returned to discover that Dave was sleeping quietly. 

XXV

A WARNING AND A SURPRISE

Dave Law slept for twenty hours, and even when he awoke it was notto a clear appreciation of his surroundings. At first he wasrelieved to find that the splitting pain in his head was gone, butimagined himself to be still in the maddening local train fromBrownsville. By and by he recognized Paloma and Mrs. Strange, andtried to talk to them, but the connection between brain and tonguewas imperfect, and he made a bad business of conversation. Itseemed queer that he should be in bed at the Joneses', and almostludicrous for Mrs. Strange to support him while Paloma fed him. Inthe effort to understand these mysteries, he dozed again. Afterinterminable periods of semi-consciousness alternating withcomplete oblivion, he roused himself to discover that it wasmorning and that he felt better than for weeks. When he hadrecovered from his surprise he turned his head and saw Mrs. Strange slumbering in a chair beside his bed; from heruncomfortable position and evident fatigue he judged that she musthave kept a long and faithful vigil over him. 

A little later Paloma, pale and heavy-eyed, stole into the room, and Dave's cheerful greeting awoke Mrs. Strange with a jerk. 

"So! You're feeling better, aren't you, " the latter woman cried, heartily. 

"Yes. How did I get here?" Dave asked. "I must have been rightsick and troublesome to you. "

Paloma smiled and nodded. "Sick! Why, Dave, you frightened usnearly to death! You were clear out of your head. "

So that was it. The breakdown had come sooner than he expected, and it had come, moreover, without warning. That was bad--bad!Although Dave's mind was perfectly clear at this moment, hereasoned with a sinking heart that another brain-storm mightovertake him at any time. He had imagined that the thing wouldgive a hint of its coming, but evidently it did not. 

Mrs. Strange broke into his frowning meditation to ask, "How longsince you had a night's sleep?"

"I--Oh, it must be weeks. "

"Umph! I thought so. You puzzled that pill-roller, but doctorsdon't know anything, anyhow. Why, he wanted to wake you up to findout what ailed you! I threatened to scald him if he did. "

"I seem to remember talking a good deal, " Dave ventured. "I reckonI--said a lot of foolish things. " He caught the look that passedbetween his nurses and its significance distressed him. 

Mrs. Strange continued: "That's how we guessed what your troublewas, and that's why I wouldn't let that fool doctor disturb you. Now that you've had a sleep and are all right again, I'm goinghome and change my clothes. I haven't had them off for twonights. "

"Two nights!" Dave stared in bewilderment. Then he lamelyapologized for the trouble he had caused, and tried to thank thewomen for their kindness. 

He was shaky when, an hour later, he came down-stairs forbreakfast; but otherwise he felt better than for many days; andBlaze's open delight at seeing did him as much good as the food heate. 

Dave spent the morning sunning himself on the porch, reading thepapers with their exciting news, and speculating over thesignificance of his mental collapse. The more he thought of it nowthe more ominous it seemed. One result which particularlydistressed him was the change it had wrought in Paloma Jones'sbearing; for of a sudden the girl had become distant and formal. The reason was not far to seek; Dave could not doubt that theknowledge of his secret had frightened her. Well, that was to beexpected--he would probably lose all his friends in time. It was abitter thought; life would be very dull and flat without friends. He wondered how he could bear to see those who loved him turnaway; to see their liking change to restraint and fear, as itthreatened to do in Paloma's case. Better anything than that. 

There was, however, one friend who, Dave knew, would not shun him;one of whose lasting affection he felt sure; and at memory of herhe came to his feet. Montrosa would trust him. She had given himher heart, and her loyalty would never waver. With a clutch at histhroat, and a little pain in his breast, he stumbled down thesteps and went in search of her. 

Now during Dave's absence Paloma had done her best to spoil themare, and among other marks of favor had allowed her free run ofthe yard, where the shade was cool and the grass fine, and wheredelicious tidbits were to be had from the kitchen for the mereasking. In consequence, Dave did not go far until he wasdiscovered. Montrosa signaled, then trotted toward him with earsand tail lifted. Her delight was open and extravagant; her welcomewas as enthusiastic as a horse could make it. Gone were hercoquetry and her airs; she nosed and nibbled Dave; she rubbed androoted him with the violence of a battering-ram, and permitted himto hug her and murmur words of love into her velvet ears. Sheswapped confidence for confidence, too; and then, when he finallywalked back toward the house, she followed closely, as if fearfulthat he might again desert her. 

Phil Strange met the lovers as they turned the corner of theporch, and warmly shook Dave's hand. "Teeny--my wife--told me youwas better, " he began, "so I beat it out here. I hung around allday yesterday, waiting to see you, but you was batty. "

"I was pretty sick, " Dave acknowledged. "Mrs. Strange was mightykind to me. "

"Sick people get her goat. She's got a way with 'em, and withanimals, too. Why, Rajah, the big python with our show, took sickone year, and he'd have died sure only for her. Same with a lot ofthe other animals. She knows more'n any vet I ever saw. "

"Perhaps I needed a veterinary instead of a doctor, " Dave smiled. "I guess I've got some horse blood in me. See!" Montrosa hadthrust her head under his arm and was waiting for him to scratchher ears. 

"Well, I brought you some mail. " Strange fumbled in his pocket fora small bundle of letters, explaining: "Blaze gave me these foryou as I passed the post office. Now I wonder if you feel goodenough to talk business. "

Dave took the letters with a word of thanks, and thrust themcarelessly into his pocket. "What seems to be the trouble?" heinquired. 

"You remember our last talk? Well, them Mexicans have got merattled. I've been trying everywhere to locate you. If you hadn'tcome home I'd have gone to the prosecuting attorney, or somebody. "

"Then you've learned something more?"

Phil nodded, and his sallow face puckered with apprehension. "RosaMorales has been to see me regular. "

Dave passed an uncertain hand over his forehead. "I'm not in verygood shape to tackle a new proposition, but--what is it?"

"We've got to get Mrs. Austin away from here. "

"We? Why?"

"If we don't they'll steal her. "

"STEAL HER?" Dave's amazement was patent. "Are you crazy?"

"Sometimes I think I am, but I've pumped that Morales girl dry, and I can't figure anything else out of what she tells me. Her andJose expect to make a lump of quick money, jump to Mexico, getmarried, and live happy ever after. Take it from me, it's Mrs. Austin they aim to cash in on. "

"Why--the idea's ridiculous!"

"Maybe it is and maybe it ain't, " the fortune-teller persisted. "More than one rich Mexican has been grabbed and held for ransomalong this river; yes, and Americans, too, if you can believe thestories. Anything goes in that country over there. "

"You think Jose is planning to kidnap her? Nonsense! One mancouldn't do such a thing. "

"I didn't say he could, " Phil defended himself, sulkily. "Remember, I told you there was somebody back of him. "

"Yes, I remember, but you didn't know exactly who. "

"Well, I don't exactly know yet. I thought maybe you might tellme. "

There was a brief silence, during which Dave stood frowning. Thenhe appeared to shake himself free from Phil's suggestions. 

"It's too utterly preposterous. Mrs. Austin has no enemies; she'sa person of importance. If by any chance she disappeared--"

"She's done that very little thing, " Strange declared. 

"What?"

"She's disappeared--anyhow, she's gone. Yesterday, when I saw youwas laid up and couldn't help me, I 'phoned her ranch; somebodyanswered in Spanish, and from what I could make out they don'tknow where she is. "

Dave wondered if he had understood Strange aright, or if thiscould be another trick of his own disordered brain. Choosing hiswords carefully, he said: "Do you mean to tell me that she'smissing and they haven't given an alarm? I reckon you didn'tunderstand the message, did you?"

Strange shrugged. "Maybe I didn't. Suppose you try. You sabe thelingo. "

Dave agreed, although reluctantly, for at this moment he wishednothing less than to undertake a mental effort, and he feared, inspite of Strange's statement, that he might hear Alaire's voiceover the wire. That would be too much; he felt as if he could notsummon the strength to control himself in such a case. Nevertheless, he went to the telephone, leaving Phil to wait. 

When he emerged from the house a few moments later, it was with aqueer, set look upon his face. 

"I got 'em, " he said. "She's gone--left three days ago. "

"Where did she go?"

"They wouldn't tell me. "

"They WOULDN'T?" Strange looked up sharply. 

"Wouldn't or couldn't. " The men eyed each other silently; thenPhil inquired:

"Well, what do you make of it?"

"I don't know. She wasn't kidnapped, that's a cinch, for Doloreswent with her. I--think we're exciting ourselves unduly. "

The little fortune-teller broke out excitedly: "The hell we are!Why do you suppose I've been playing that Morales girl? I tell youthere's something crooked going on. Don't I know? Didn't I wiseyou three weeks ago that something like this was coming off?" Itwas plain that Phil put complete faith in his powers ofdivination, and at this moment his earnestness carried a certaindegree of conviction. Dave made an effort to clear his tiredbrain. 

"Very well, " he said. "If you're so sure, I'll go to Las Palmas. I'll find out all about it, and where she went. If anybody hasdared to--" He drew a deep breath and his listlessness vanished;his eyes gleamed with a hint of their customary fire. "I reckonI've got one punch left in me. " He turned and strode to his room. 

As Dave changed into his service clothes he was surprised to feela new vigor in his limbs and a new strength of purpose in hismind. His brain was clearer than it had been for a long time. Thelast cobweb was gone, and for the moment at least he was liftedout of himself as by a strong, invigorating drink. When he stoodin his old boots and felt the familiar drag of his cartridge-belt, when he tested his free muscles, he realized that he was anotherman. Even yet he could not put much faith in Phil Strange's words--nevertheless, there might be a danger threatening Alaire; and ifso, it was time to act. 

Phil watched his friend saddle the bay mare, then as Dave tied hisWinchester scabbard to its thongs he laughed nervously. 

"You're loaded for bear. "

The horseman answered, grimly: "I'm loaded for Jose Sanchez. If Ilay hands on him I'll learn what he knows. "

"You can't get nothing out of a Mexican, "

"No? I've made Filipinos talk. Believe me, I can be somepersuasive when I try. " With that he swung a leg over Montrosa'sback and rode away. 

Law found it good to feel a horse between his knees. He had notrealized until now how long Montrosa's saddle had been empty. Thesun was hot and friendly, the breeze was sweet in his nostrils ashe swept past the smiling fields and out into the mesquitecountry. Heat waves danced above the patches of bare ground;insects sang noisily from every side; far ahead the road ran awavering course through a deceitful mirage of rippling ponds. Itwas all familiar, pleasant; it was home; black moods wereimpossible amid such surroundings. The chemistry of air and earthand sunshine were at work dissolving away the poisons of hisimagination. Of course Dave's trouble did not wholly vanish; itstill lurked in the back of his mind and rode with him; but fromsome magic source he was deriving a power to combat it. With everymile he covered his strength and courage increased. 

Such changes had come into his life since his last visit to LasPalmas that it gave him a feeling of unreality to discover noalteration in the ranch. He had somehow felt that the buildingswould look older, that the trees would have grown taller, and sowhen he finally came in sight of his destination he reined in tolook. 

Behind him he heard the hum of an approaching motor, and he turnedto behold a car racing along the road he had just traveled. Themachine was running fast, as a long streamer of choking dust gaveevidence, and Dave soon recognized it as belonging to Jonesville'sprosecuting attorney. As it tore past him its owner shoutedsomething, but the words were lost. In the automobile with thedriver were several passengers, and one of these likewise calledto Dave and seemed to motion him to follow. When the machineslowed down a half-mile ahead and veered abruptly into the LasPalmas gateway, Dave lifted Montrosa to a run, wondering whatpressing necessity could have induced the prosecuting attorney torisk such a reckless burst of speed. 

Dave told himself that he was unduly apprehensive; that Strange'swarnings had worked upon his nerves. Nevertheless, he continued toride so hard that almost before the dust had settled he, too, turned into the shade of the palms. 

Yes, there was excitement here; something was evidently very muchamiss, judging from the groups of ranch-hands assembled upon theporch. They were clustered about the doors and windows, peeringin. Briefly they turned their faces toward Law; then they crowdedcloser, and he perceived that they were not talking. Some of themhad removed their hats and held them in their hands. 

Dave's knees shook under him as he dismounted; for one sick, giddyinstant the scene swam before his eyes; then he ran toward thehouse and up the steps. He tried to frame a question, but his lipswere stiff with fright. Heedless of those in his path, he forcedhis way into the house, then down the hall toward an open door, through which he saw a room full of people. From somewhere camethe shrill wailing of a woman; the house was full of hushed voicesand whisperings. Dave had but one thought. From the depths of hisbeing a voice called Alaire's name until his brain rang with it. 

A bed was in the room, and around it was gathered a group ofwhite-faced people. With rough hands Law cleared a way forhimself, and then stopped, frozen in his tracks. His arms relaxed, his fingers unclenched, a great sigh whistled slowly from hislungs. Before him, booted, spurred, and fully dressed, lay thedead body of Ed Austin. 

Dave was still staring at the master of Las Palmas when theprosecuting attorney spoke to him. 

"God! This is terrible, isn't it?" he said. "He must have diedinstantly. "

"Who--did it?"

"We don't know yet. Benito found him and brought him in. He hasn'tbeen dead an hour. "

Law ran his eyes over the room, and then asked, sharply, "Where isMrs. Austin?"

He was answered by Benito Gonzales, who had edged closer. "She'snot here, senor. "

"Have you notified her?"

Benito shrugged. "There has been no time, it all happened soquickly--"

Some one interrupted, and Dave saw that it was the local sheriff--evidently it was he who had waved from the speeding machine a fewmoments before. 

"I'm glad you're here, Dave, for you can give me a hand. I'm goingto round up these Mexicans right away and find out what they know. Whoever did it hasn't gone far; so you act as my deputy and seewhat you can learn. "

When Dave had regained better control of himself he took Benitooutdoors and demanded full details of the tragedy. With manylamentations and incoherencies, the range boss told what he knew. 

Ed had met his death within a half-mile of Las Palmas as he rodehome for dinner. Benito, himself on his way to the house, hadfound the body, still warm, near the edge of the pecan-grove. Hehad retained enough sense to telephone at once to Jonesville, andthen--Benito hardly knew what he had done since then, he was sobadly shaken by the tragedy. 

"What time did it happen?"

"It was noon when I came in. "

Dave consulted his watch, and was surprised to discover that itwas now only a few minutes past one. It was evident, therefore, that Benito had indeed lost no time, and that his alarm had metwith instant response. 

"Now tell me, who did it?"

Benito flung his hands high. "God knows! Some enemy, of course;but Don Eduardo had many. "

"Not that sort of enemies. There was nobody who could wish to killhim. "

"That is as it is. "

"Haven't you any suspicions?"

"No, senor. "

"You say Mrs. Austin is gone?"

"Yes. "

"Where?"

"I don't know. "

Dave spoke brusquely: "Come, Benito; you must know, for your wifewent with her. Are you trying to keep something back?"

"No, no! As God is my judge!" Benito declared, "I didn't know theywere going until the very last, and even then Dolores would tellme nothing. We were having bad times here at Las Palmas; therewere stormy scenes yonder in the house. Senor Ed was drinkingagain, you understand? The senora had reason to go. "

"You think she ran away to escape him?"

"Exactly. "

Dave breathed more easily, for this seemed to settle Strange'stheory. The next instant, however, his apprehensions were doubled, for Benito added;

"No doubt she went to La Feria. "

Law uttered an incredulous exclamation. "Not THERE! Surely shewouldn't go to La Feria at such a time. Why, that country isablaze. Americans are fleeing from Mexico. "

"I hadn't thought of that, " Benito confessed. "But if she didn'tgo there, where did she go? Saints above! It is a fine conditionof affairs when a wife keeps secrets from her husband, eh? Isuppose Dolores feared I would tell Don Eduardo, God rest hissoul! This much I do know, however: not long ago there came aletter from General Longorio, offering settlement for those cattlehe stole in his government's name. Dolores told me the senora washighly pleased and was going to Mexico for her money. It was amark of Longorio's favor, you understand me? He's a great--friend, an ardent admirer. " Benito winked. "Dolores told me all aboutthat, too. No, I think they went to La Feria. "

Dave remembered his first conversation with Phil Strange and thefortune-teller's insistence that some powerful person was behindJose Sanchez. More than three weeks ago Strange had forecastsomething very like murder of Ed Austin. Dave felt as if he werethe victim of an hysterical imagination. Nevertheless, he forcedhimself to ask, quietly:

"Is Jose Sanchez anywhere about?"

The range boss shrugged. "I sent him to the east pasture thismorning. "

"Did he go?"

"Eh? So! You suspect Jose of this. God in heaven! Jose is a wildboy--But wait! I'll ask Juan if he saw him; yes, and Victoria, too. That is Victoria you hear squalling in the kitchen. Waithere. "

Benito hurried away, leaving Dave a prey to perplexity; but he wasback again in a few moments. His face was grave. 

"Jose did not go to the east pasture, " he said. 

"Where is he now?"

"No one seems to know. "

Law walked to his horse, mounted, and galloped away. Benito, whowatched him, saw that he turned toward the river road which led tothe Las Palmas pumping-plant. 

The more Dave thought about Ed Austin's death, the more certain hebecame that it was in some way connected with Alaire'sdisappearance; and the loose end by which the tangle might beunraveled, it seemed to him, lay in the hands of Rosa Morales, Jose's sweetheart. That Sanchez was the murderer Dave now hadlittle doubt; but since the chance of apprehending him was small, he turned his attention to the girl. He would make Rosa speak, hetold himself, if he had to use force--this was no time for gentlemethods. If she knew aught of Alaire's whereabouts or the mysteryof her departure from Las Palmas, he would find a way to wring thetruth from her. Dave's face, a trifle too somber at all times, took on a grimmer aspect now; he felt a slow fury kindling in hisbreast. 

Years of experience had taught him to be always alert even duringhis moments of deepest preoccupation, and so, from force of habit, when he came to the pump-house road he carefully scanned it. Inthe dust were fresh hoof-prints leading toward the river. Now heknew this road to be seldom used, and therefore he wondered whocould be riding it at a gallop in this blistering midday heat. Afew rods farther on and his quick eye detected something else--something that brought him from his saddle. Out of the rut hepicked a cigarette butt, the fire of which was cold but the paperof which was still wet from the smoker's lips. He examined itcarefully; then he remounted and rode on, pondering itssignificance. 

Dave loped out of the thicket and straight across the clearing tothe Morales house. Leaving Montrosa's reins hanging, he opened thedoor and entered without knocking. Rosa appeared in the opening toanother room, her eyes wide with fright at this apparition, andDave saw that she was dressed in her finest, as if for a holidayor for a journey. 

"Where's your father?" he demanded. 

"He's gone to Sangre de Cristo. What do you want?"

"When did he go?"

"This morning, early. He--"

"Who's been here since he left?"

Rosa was recovering from her first surprise, and now her blackbrows drew together in anger. "No one has come. You are the first. And have you no manners to stride into a respectable house--?"

Dave broke in harshly: "Rosa, you're lying. Jose Sanchez has beenhere within an hour. Where is he?" When the girl only grew whiterand raised a hand to her breast, he stepped toward her, crying, "Answer me!"

Rosa recoiled, and the breath caught in her throat like a sob. "I'll tell you nothing, " she said in a thin voice. Then she beganto tremble. "Why do you want Jose?"

"You know why. He killed Don Eduardo, and then be rode here. Come!I know everything. "

"Lies! Lies!" Rosa's voice grew shrill. "Out of this house! I knowyou. It was you who betrayed Panfilo, and his blood is on yourhands, assassin!" With the last word she made as if to retreat, but Dave was too quick; he seized her, and for an instant theystruggled breathlessly. 

Dave had reasoned beforehand that his only chance of discoveringanything from this girl lay in utterly terrorizing her and inprofiting by her first panic; therefore he pressed his advantage. He succeeded better than he had dared to hope. 

"You know who killed Senor Ed, " he cried, fiercely. "The fortune-teller read your plans, and there is no use to deny it. "

Rosa screamed again; she writhed; she tried to sink her teeth intoher captor's flesh. In her body was the strength of a full-grownman, and Dave could hardly hold her. But suddenly, as the twoscuffled, from the back room of the house came a sound whichcaused Dave to release the girl as abruptly as he had seized her--it was the clink and tinkle of Mexican spurs upon a wooden floor. 

XXVI

THE WATER-CURE

Without an instant's hesitation Dave flung himself past Rosa andthrough the inner door. 

Jose Sanchez met him with a shout; the shock of their collisionoverbore the lighter man, and the two went down together, arms andlegs intertwined. The horse-breaker fired his revolver blindly--adeafening explosion inside those four walls--but he was powerlessagainst his antagonist's strength and ferocity. It required but amoment for Law to master him, to wrench the weapon from his grasp, and then, with the aid of Jose's silk neck-scarf, to bind hiswrists tightly. 

From the front of the little house came the crash of a doorviolently slammed as Rosa profited by the diversion to saveherself. 

When finally Jose stood, panting and snarling, his back to thewall, Dave regarded him with a sinister contraction of the lipsthat was almost a grin. 

"Well, " he said, drawing a deep breath, "I see you didn't go tothe east pasture this morning. "

"What do you want of me?" Jose managed to gasp. 

There was a somewhat prolonged silence, during which Davecontinued to stare at his prisoner with that same disquietingexpression. "Why did you kill Don Eduardo?" he asked. 

"I? Bah! Who says I killed him?" Jose glared defiance. "Why areyou looking at me? Come! Take me to jail, if you think that willdo any good. "

"It's lucky I rode to Las Palmas this morning. In another hour youwould have been across the Rio Grande--with Rosa and all her fineclothes, eh? Now you will be hanged. Well, that is how fortunegoes. "

The horse-breaker tossed his head and shrugged with a braveassumption of indifference; he laughed shortly. "You can provenothing. "

"Yes, " continued Dave, "and Rosa will go to prison, too. Now--suppose I should let you go? Would you help me? In ten minutes youcould be safe. " He inclined his head toward the muddy, silentriver outside. "Would you be willing to help me?"

Jose's brows lifted. "What's this you are saying?" he inquired, eagerly. 

"I would only ask you a few questions. "

"What questions?"

"Where is Senora Austin?"

Jose's face became blank. "I don't know. "

"Oh yes, you do. She started for La Feria. But--did she get there?Or did Longorio have other plans for her? You'd better tell me thetruth, for your general can't help you now. " Dave did his best toread the Mexican's expression, but failed. "Senor Ed's death meansnothing to me, " he went on, "but I must know where his wife is, and I'm willing to pay, with your liberty. " In spite of himselfhis anxiety was plain. 

Jose exclaimed: "Ho! I understand. He was in your way and you'reglad to be rid of him. Well, we have no business fighting witheach other. "

"Will you tell me--?"

"I'll tell you nothing, for I know nothing. "

"Come! I must know. "

Jose laughed insolently. 

Law's face became black with sudden fury. His teeth baredthemselves. He took a step forward, crying:

"By God! You WILL tell me!" Seizing his prisoner by the throat, hepinned him to the wall; then with his free hand he cockedLongorio's revolver and thrust its muzzle against Jose's body. "Tell me!" he repeated. His countenance was so distorted, hisexpression so maniacal, that Jose felt his hour had come. Thelatter, being in all ways Mexican, did not struggle; instead, hesquared his shoulders and, staring fearlessly into the face abovehim, cried:

"Shoot!"

For a moment the two men remained so; then Dave seemed to regaincontrol of himself and the murder light flickered out of his eyes. He flung his prisoner aside and cast the revolver into a corner ofthe room. 

Jose picked himself up, cursing his captor eloquently. "YouGringos don't know how to die, " he said. "Death? Pah! We must diesome time. And supposing I do know something about the senora, doyou think you can force me to speak? Torture wouldn't open mylips. "

Law did not trust himself to reply; and the horse-breaker went onwith growing defiance:

"I am innocent of any crime; therefore I am brave. But you--Theblood of innocent men means nothing to you--Panfilo's murderproves that--so complete your work. Make an end of me. "

"Be still!" Dave commanded, thickly. 

But the fellow's hatred was out of bounds now, and by thebitterness of his vituperation he seemed to invite death. Daveinterrupted his vitriolic curses to ask harshly:

"Will you tell me, or will you force me to wring the truth out ofyou?"

Jose answered by spitting at his captor; then he gritted anunspeakable epithet from between his teeth. 

Dave addressed him with an air of finality. "You killed that manand your life is forfeit, so it doesn't make much differencewhether I take it or whether the State takes it. You are braveenough to die--most of you Mexicans are--but the State can't forceyou to speak, and I can. " Jose sneered. "Oh yes, I can! I intendto know all that you know, and it will be better for you to tellme voluntarily. I must learn where Senora Austin is, and I mustlearn quickly, if I have to kill you by inches to get the truth. "

"So! Torture, eh? Good. I can believe it of you. Well, a slow firewill not make me speak. "

"No. A fire would be too easy, Jose. "

"Eh?"

Without answer Dave strode out of the room. He was back before hisprisoner could do more than wrench at his bonds, and with him hebrought his lariat and his canteen. 

"What are you going to do?" Jose inquired, backing away until hewas once more at bay. 

"I'm going to give you a drink. "

"Whisky? You think you can make me drunk?" The horse-breakerlaughed loudly but uneasily. 

"Not whisky; water. I'm going to give you a drink of water. "

"What capers!"

"When you've drunk enough you'll tell me why you killed youremployer and where General Longorio has taken his wife. Yes, andeverything else I want to know. " Seizing the amazed Mexican, Daveflung him upon Morales's hard board bed, and in spite of thefellow's struggles deftly made him fast. When he had finished--andit was no easy job--Jose lay "spread-eagled" upon his back, hiswrists and ankles firmly bound to the head and foot posts, hisbody secured by a tight loop over his waist. The rope cutpainfully and brought a curse from the prisoner when he strainedat it. Law surveyed him with a face of stone. 

"I don't want to do this, " he declared, "but I know your kind. Igive you one more chance. Will you tell me?"

Jose drew his lips back in a snarl of rage and pain, and Daverealized that further words were useless. He felt a certain pityfor his victim and no little admiration for his courage, but suchfeelings were of small consequence as against his agonizing fearsfor Alaire's safety. Had he in the least doubted Jose's guiltyknowledge of Longorio's intentions, Dave would have hesitatedbefore employing the barbarous measures he had in mind, but--therewas nothing else for it. He pulled the canteen cork and jammed themouthpiece firmly to Jose's lips. Closing the fellow's nostrilswith his free hand, he forced him to drink. 

Jose clenched his teeth, he tried to roll his head, he held hisbreath until his face grew purple and his eyes bulged. He strainedlike a man upon the rack. The bed creaked to his muscularcontortions; the rope tightened. It was terribly cruel, thiscrushing of a strong will bent on resistance to the uttermost; butnever was an executioner more pitiless, never did a prisoner'sagony receive less consideration. The warm water spilled overJose's face, it drenched his neck and chest; his joints cracked ashe strove for freedom and tried to twist his head out of Law'siron grasp. The seconds dragged, until finally Nature assertedherself. The imprisoned breath burst forth; there sounded a loudgurgling cry and a choking inhalation. Jose's body writhed withthe convulsions of drowning as the water and air were sucked intohis lungs. Law was kneeling over his victim now, his weight andstrength so applied that Jose had no liberty of action and couldonly drink, coughing and fighting for air. Somehow he managed torevive himself briefly and again shut his teeth; but a moment moreand he was again retched with the furious battle for air, moredesperate now than before. After a while Law freed his victim'snostrils and allowed him a partial breath, then once more crushedthe mouthpiece against his lips. By and by, to relieve historture, Jose began to drink in great noisy gulps, striving toempty the vessel. 

But the stomach's capacity is limited. In time Jose felt himselfbursting; the liquid began to regurgitate. This was not mere painthat he suffered, but the ultimate nightmare horror of a deathmore awful than anything he had ever imagined. Jose would have meta bullet, a knife, a lash, without flinching; flames would nothave served to weaken his resolve; but this slow drowning wasinfinitely worse than the worst he had thought possible; he wassuffocating by long, black, agonizing minutes. Every nerve andmuscle of his body, every cell in his bursting lungs, foughtagainst the outrage in a purely physical frenzy over which hiswill power had no control. Nor would insensibility come to hisrelief--Law watched him too carefully for that. He could not evenvoice his sufferings by shrieks; he could only writhe and retchand gurgle while the ropes bit into his flesh and his captor kneltupon him like a monstrous stone weight. 

But Jose had made a better fight than he knew. The canteen ran dryat last, and Law was forced to release his hold. 

"Will you speak?" he demanded. 

Thinking that he had come safely through the ordeal, Jose shookhis head; he rolled his bulging, bloodshot eyes and vomited, thenmanaged to call God to witness his innocence. 

Dave went into the next room and refilled the canteen. When hereappeared with the dripping vessel in his hand, Jose tried toscream. But his throat was torn and strained; the sound of his ownvoice frightened him. 

Once more the torment began. The tortured man was weaker now, andin consequence he resisted more feebly; but not until he was lessthan half conscious did Law spare him time to recover. 

Jose lay sick, frightened, inert. Dave watched him without pity. The fellow's wrists were black and swollen, his lips werebleeding; he was stretched like a dumb animal upon thevivisectionist's table, and no surgeon with lance and scalpelcould have shown less emotion than did his inquisitor. Having nointention of defeating his own ends, Dave allowed his victim ampletime in which to regain his ability to suffer. 

Alaire Austin had been right when she said that Dave might beruthless; and yet the man was by no means incapable of compassion. At the present moment, however, he considered himself simply asthe instrument by which Alaire was to be saved. His own feelingshad nothing to do with the matter; neither had the sufferings ofthis Mexican. Therefore he steeled himself to prolong the agonyuntil the murderer's stubborn spirit was worn down. Once again heput his question, and, again receiving defiance, jammed thecanteen between Jose's teeth. 

But human nature is weak. For the first time in his life JoseSanchez felt terror--a terror too awful to be endured--and he madethe sign. 

He was no longer the insolent defier, the challenger, but animploring wretch, whose last powers of resistance had beencompletely shattered. His frightened eyes were glued to thatdevilish vessel in which his manhood had dissolved, the fear of itmade a woman of him. 

Slowly, in sighs and whimpers, in agonies of reluctance, his storycame; his words were rendered almost incomprehensible by hisabysmal fright. When he had purged himself of his secret Davepromptly unbound him; then leaving him more than half dead, hewent to the telephone which connected the pumping station with LasPalmas and called up the ranch. 

He was surprised when Blaze Jones answered. Blaze, it seemed, hadjust arrived, summoned by news of the tragedy. The countryside hadbeen alarmed and a search for Ed Austin's slayer was beingorganized. 

"Call it off, " Dave told him. "I've got your man. " Blaze stutteredhis surprise and incredulity. "I mean it. It's Jose Sanchez, andhe has confessed. I want you to come here, quick; and come alone, if you don't mind. I need your help. "

Inside of ten minutes Jones piloted his automobile into theclearing beside the river, and, leaving his motor running, leapedfrom the car. 

Dave met him at the door of the Morales house and briefly told himthe story of Jose's capture. 

"Say! That's quick work, " the rancher cried, admiringly. "Why, Edain't cold yet! You gave him the 'water-cure, ' eh? Now I reckonedit would take more than water to make a Mexican talk. "

"Jose was hired for the work; he laid for Ed Austin in the pecangrove and shot him as he passed. "

"Hired! Why this hombre needs quick hangin', don't he? I told 'emat Las Palmas that you'd rounded up the guilty party, so I reckonthey'll be here in a few minutes. We'll just stretch this horse-wrangler, and save the county some expense. " Law shrugged. "Dowhat you like with him, but--it isn't necessary. He'll confess inregulation form, I'm sure. I had to work fast to learn what becameof Mrs. Austin. "

"Miz Austin? What's happened to her?"

Dave's voice changed; there was a sudden quickening of his words. "They've got her, Blaze. They waited until they had her safebefore they killed Ed. "

"'They?' Who the hell are you talkin' about?"

"I mean Longorio and his outfit. He's got her over yonder. " Daveflung out a trembling hand toward the river. Seeing that hishearer failed to comprehend, he explained, swiftly: "He's crazyabout her--got one of those Mexican infatuations--and you knowwhat that means. He couldn't steal her from Las Palmas--shewouldn't have anything to do with him--so he used that old cattledeal as an excuse to get her across the border. Then he put Ed outof the way. She went of her own accord, and she didn't tellAustin, because they were having trouble. She's gone to La Feria, Blaze. "

"La Feria! Then she's in for it. "

Dave nodded his agreement; for the first time Blaze noted howwhite and set was his friend's face. 

"Longorio must have foreseen what was coming, " Dave went on. "Thatcountry's aflame; Americans aren't safe over there. If war isdeclared, a good many of them will never be heard from. He knowsthat. He's got her safe. She can't get out. "

Blaze was very grave when next he spoke. "Dave, this is bad--bad. I can't understand what made her go. Why, she must have been outof her head. But we've got to do something. We've got to burn thewires to Washington--yes, and to Mexico City. We must get thegovernment to send soldiers after her. God! What have we got 'emfor, anyhow?"

"Washington won't do anything. What can be done when there arethousands of American women in the same danger? What steps can thegovernment take, with the fleet on its way to Vera Cruz, with thearmy mobilizing, and with diplomatic relations suspended? ThoseGreasers are filling their jails with our people--rounding 'em upfor the day of the big break--and the State Department knows it. No, Longorio saw it all coming--he's no fool. He's got her; she'sin there--trapped. "

Blaze took the speaker by the shoulder and faced him about. "Lookhere, " said he, "I'm beginnin' to get wise to you. I believeyou're--the man in the case. " When Dave nodded, he vented hisamazement in a long whistle. After a moment he asked, "Well, whydid you want me to come here alone, ahead of the others?"

"Because I want you to know the whole inside of this thing so thatyou can get busy when I'm gone; because I want to borrow whatmoney you have--"

"What you aimin' to pull off?" Blaze inquired, suspiciously. 

"I'm going to find her and bring her out. "

"You? Why, Dave, you can't get through. This is a job for thesoldiers. "

But Dave hardly seemed to hear him. "You must start things movingat once, " he said, urgently. "Spread the news, get the story intothe papers, notify the authorities. Get every influence at work, from here to headquarters; get your Senator and the Governor ofthe state at work. Ellsworth will help you. And now give me yourlast dollar. "

Blaze emptied his pockets, shaking his shaggy head the while. "LaFeria is a hundred and fifty miles in, " he remonstrated. 

"By rail from Pueblo, yes. But it's barely a hundred, straightfrom here. "

"You 'ain't got a chance, single-handed. You're crazy to try it. "

The effect of these words was startling, for Dave laughed harshly. "'Crazy' is the word, " he agreed. "It's a job for a lunatic, andthat's me. Yes, I've got bad blood in me, Blaze--bad blood--andI'm taking it back where I got it. But listen!" He turned a sick, colorless face to his friend. "They'll whittle a cross forLongorio if I do get through. " He called to Montrosa, and the marecame to him, holding her head to one side so as not to tread uponher dragging reins. 

"I'm 'most tempted to go with you, " Blaze stammered, uncertainly. 

"No. Somebody has to stay here and stir things up, If we hadtwenty men like you we might cut our way in and out, but there'sno time to organize, and, anyhow, the government would probablystop us. I've got a hunch that I'll make it. If I don't--why, it'sall right. "

The two men shook hands lingeringly, awkwardly; then Blaze managedto wish his friend luck. "If you don't come back, " he said, with apeculiar catch in his voice, "I reckon there's enough good Texansleft to follow your trail. I'll sure look forward to it. "

Dave took the river-bank to Sangre de Cristo, where, by means ofthe dilapidated ferry, he gained the Mexican side. Once across, herode straight up toward the village of Romero. When challenged byan under-sized soldier he merely spurred Montrosa forward, eyeingthe sentry so grimly that the man did no more than finger hisrifle uncertainly, cursing under his breath the overbearing airsof all Gringos. Nor did the rider trouble to make the slightestdetour, but cantered the full length of Romero's dusty street, thetarget of more than one pair of hostile eyes. To those who sawhim, soldiers and civilians alike, it was evident that thisstranger had business, and no one felt called upon to question itsnature. There are men who carry an air more potent than abodyguard, and Dave Law was one of these. Before the village hadthoroughly awakened to his coming he was gone, without a glance tothe right or left, without a word to anyone. 

When Romero was at his back he rode for a mile or two through aregion of tiny scattered farms and neglected garden patches, afterwhich he came out into the mesquite. For all the signs he saw, hemight then have been in the heart of a foreign country. Mexico hadswallowed him. 

As the afternoon heat subsided, Montrosa let herself out into afreer gait and began to cover the distance rapidly, heading duewest through a land of cactus and dagger, of thorn and barb andbramble. 

The roads were unfenced, the meadows desolate; the huts werefrequently untenanted. Ahead the sky burned splendidly, and thesunset grew more brilliant, more dazzling, until it glorified thewhole mean, thirsty, cruel countryside. 

Dave's eyes were set upon that riot of blazing colors, but for thetime it failed to thrill him. In that welter of changing hues andtints he saw only red. Red! That was the color of blood; it stoodfor passion, lust, violence; and it was a fitting badge of colorfor this land of revolutions and alarms. At first he saw littleelse--except the hint of black despair to follow. But there wasgold in the sunset, too--the yellow gold of ransom! That wasMexico--red and yellow, blood and gold, lust and license. Once therider's fancy began to work in this fashion, it would not rest, and as the sunset grew in splendor he found in it richer meanings. Red was the color of a woman's lips--yes, and a woman's hair. Thedeepening blue of the high sky overhead was the hue of a certainwoman's eyes. A warm, soft breeze out of the west beat into hisface, and he remembered how warm and soft Alaire's breath had beenupon his cheek. 

The woman of his desires was yonder, where those colors warred, and she was mantled in red and gold and purple for his coming. Thethought aroused him; the sense of his unworthiness vanished, theblight fell from him; he felt only a throbbing eagerness to seeher and to take her in his arms once more before the end. 

With his head high and his face agleam, he rode into the west, into the heart of the sunset. 

XXVII

LA FERIA

What's this I hear about war?" Dolores inquired of her mistress, afew days after their arrival at La Feria. "They tell me thatMexico is invaded and that the American soldiers have alreadykilled more than a thousand women and children. "

"Who tells you this?" Alaire asked. 

"The men--everybody, " Dolores waved a hand in the direction of theother ranch buildings. "Our people are buzzing like bees with thenews, and, of course, no one cares to work when the Americans arecoming. "

"I shall have to put an end to such talk. "

"This morning the word came that the revolution is ended and thatthe soldiers of both parties are uniting to fight for theirliberties. They say the Gringos are killing all the old people--every one, in fact, except the girls, whom they take with them. Already they have begun the most horrible practices. Why, atEspinal"--Dolores's eyes were round--"would you believe it?--thoseYankee soldiers ate a baby! They roasted the little dear like acabrito and ate it! I tell you, it makes wild talk among thepeladors. "

"Do you believe such stories?" Alaire inquired, with someamusement. 

"Um-m--not altogether. But, all the same, I think it is time wewere going home. "

"This is home, for me, Dolores. "

"Yes, but now that war--"

"There isn't any war, and there won't be any. However, if you arenervous I'll send you back to Las Palmas at once. "

"Glory of God! It would be the end of me. These Mexicans wouldrecognize me instantly as an American, for I have the appearanceand the culture. You can imagine what would happen to me. Theywould tear me from the train. It was nothing except GeneralLongorio's soldiers that brought us safely through from NuevoPueblo. "

"Then I'm glad that he insisted upon sending them with us. Nowtell the ranch-hands to put no faith in these ridiculous stories. If they wish the truth let them ask General Longorio; he will behere today and quiet their fears. "

"You think he intends to pay us for our cattle?"

"Yes. "

Dolores pondered a moment. "Well, perhaps he does--it is not hismoney. For that matter, he would give all Mexico if you asked it. Tse! His love consumes him like a fever. "

Alaire stirred uneasily; then she rose and went to an open window, which looked out into the tiny patio with its trickling fountainand its rank, untended plants. "Why do you insist that he lovesme?" she asked. "All Mexicans are gallant and pay absurdcompliments. It's just a way they have. He has never spoken a wordthat could give offense. " As Dolores said nothing, she went on, hesitatingly, "I can't very well refuse to see him, for I don'tpossess even a receipt to show that he took those cattle. "

"Oh, you must not offend him, " Dolores agreed, hastily, "or we'dnever leave Mexico alive. " With which cheering announcement thehousekeeper heaved a deep sigh and went about her duties with agloomy face. 

Longorio arrived that afternoon, and Alaire received him in thegreat naked living room of the hacienda, with her best attempt atformality. But her coolness served not in the least to chill hisfervor. 

"Senora, " he cried, eagerly, "I have a thousand things to tellyou, things of the greatest importance. They have been upon mytongue for hours, but now that I behold you I grow drunk withdelight and my lips frame nothing but words of admiration for yourbeauty. So! I feast my eyes. " He retained his warm clasp of herfingers, seeming to envelop her uncomfortably with his ardor. 

"What is it you have to tell me?" she asked him, withdrawing herhand. 

"Well, I hardly know where to begin--events have moved so swiftly, and such incredible things have happened. Even now I am in a daze, for history is being made every hour--history for Mexico, for you, and for me. I bring you good news and bad news; something tostartle you and set your brain in a whirl. I planned to send amessenger ahead of me, and then I said: 'No, this is a crisis;therefore no tongue but mine shall apprise her, no hand but mineshall comfort her. Only a coward shrinks from the unpleasant; Ishall lighten her distress and awaken in her breast new hope, newhappiness'--"

"What do you mean?" Alaire inquired, sharply. "You say you bringbad news?"

The general nodded. "In a way, terrible, shocking! And yet I lookbeyond the immediate and see in it a blessing. So must you. To meit spells the promise of my unspoken longings, my whisperedprayers. " Noting his hearer's growing bewilderment, he laid a handfamiliarly upon her arm. "No matter how I tell you, it will be ablow, for death is always sudden; it always finds us unprepared. "

"Death? Who--is dead?"

"Restrain yourself. Allow for my clumsiness. "

"Who? Please tell me?"

"Some one very close to you and very dear to you at one time. Myknowledge of your long unhappiness alone gives me courage tospeak. "

Alaire raised her fluttering fingers to her throat; her eyes werewide as she said: "You don't mean--Mr. Austin?"

"Yes. " Longorio scrutinized her closely, as if to measure theeffect of his disclosure. "Senora, you are free!"

Alaire uttered a breathless exclamation; then, feeling his gazeburning into her, turned away, but not before he had noted hersudden pallor, the blanching of her lips. 

This unexpected announcement dazed her; it scattered her thoughtsand robbed her of words, but just what her dominant emotion was atthe moment she could not tell. Once her first giddiness hadpassed, however, once the truth had borne in upon her, she foundthat she felt no keen anguish, and certainly no impulse to weep. Rather she experienced a vague horror, such as the death of anacquaintance or of a familiar relative might evoke. Ed had beenanything but a true husband, and her feeling now was more for thememory of the man he had been, for the boy she had known andloved, than for the man whose name she bore. So he was gone and, as Longorio said, she was free. It meant much. She realized dimlythat in this one moment her whole life had changed. She had neverthought of this way out of her embarrassments; she had beenprepared, in fact, for anything except this. Dead! It wasdeplorable, for Ed was young. Once the first shock had passedaway, she became conscious of a deep pity for the man, and acomplete forgiveness for the misery he had caused her. After atime she faced the newsbearer, and in a strained voice inquired:

"How did it happen? Was it--because of me?"

"No, no! Rest your mind on that score. See! I understand yourconcern and I share your intimate thoughts. No, it was anaccident, ordained by God. His end was the result of his ownfolly, a gunshot wound while he was drunk, I believe. Now you willunderstand why I said that I bore tidings both good and evil andwhy I, of all people, should be the one to impart them. "

Alaire turned questioning eyes upon him, as if to fathom hismeaning, and he answered her with his brilliant smile. Failing toevoke a response, he went on:

"Ever since I heard of it I have repeated over and over again, 'Itis a miracle; it is the will of God. ' Come, then, we know eachother so well that we may speak frankly. Let us be honest andpretend to no counterfeit emotions. Let us recognize in this onlyyour deliverance and the certainty of that blessed happiness whichDivine Providence offers us both. "

"Both?" she repeated, dully. 

"Need I be plainer? You know my heart. You have read me. Youunderstand how I have throttled my longings and remained mutewhile all my being called to you. "

Alaire withdrew a step, and her cheeks colored with anger. "General!" she exclaimed, with some difficulty, "I am amazed. Thisis no time--" Her indignation rose with the sound of her ownvoice, causing her to stammer. 

Taking advantage of her loss of words, he hurried on: "You mustpardon my impetuosity, but I am a man of tremendous force, and mylife moves swiftly. I am not shackled by conventions--they areless than nothing to me. If it seems to you that my eagernesscarries me away, remember that war is upon us and that affairs ofmoment press me so that I am compelled to move like the lightning. With me, senora, a day is a year. The past is gone, the present ishere, the future rushes forward to meet us. "

"Indeed, you forget yourself, " she said, warmly. Then, changingher tone: "I too must act quickly. I must go back at once. "

"Oh, but I have told you only a part of what I came to say. "

"Surely the rest can wait. " Her voice was vibrant with contempt. "I'm in no condition to listen to anything else. "

But Longorio insisted. "Wait! It is impossible for you to leavehere. "

Alaire stared at him incredulously. 

"It is true. Mexico is a seething caldron of hate; the country isconvulsed. It would be unsafe for you. "

"Do you mean to say that war has been declared?"

"Practically. "

"What--? You are telling me the truth?" A moment, then Alairecontinued, more calmly, "If that is so, there is all the morereason why I should lose no time. "

"Listen!" The general was deeply in earnest. "You have noconception of the chaos out there. " He waved a comprehensivegesture. "If the explosion has not come, it will come within a fewhours. That is why I flew to your side. Battleships are hurryingtoward our coast, troops are massing against our border, andMexico has risen like one man. The people are in a frenzy; theyare out of bounds; there is sack and pillage in the cities. Americans are objects of violence everywhere and the peons arefrantic. " He paused impressively. "We face the greatest upheavalof history. "

"Then why are you here?" Alaire demanded. "This is no place foryou at such a moment. "

Longorio came closer to her, and his voice trembled as he said:"Angel of my soul, my place is at your side. " Again she recoiled, but with a fervor he had never dared display he rushed onheedlessly. "I have told you I harken only to my heart; that forone smile from you I would behead myself; that for your favor Iwould betray my fatherland; that for your kiss I would facedamnation. Well, I am here at your side. The deluge comes, but youshall be unharmed. " He would not permit her to check him, crying:"Wait! You must hear me through, senora, so that you maycomprehend fully why I am forced to speak at this time. Out ofthis coming struggle I shall emerge a heroic figure. Now thatMexico unites, she will triumph, and of all her victorious sonsthe name of Luis Longorio will be sung the loudest, for upon himmore than upon any other depends the Republic's salvation. I donot boast. I merely state facts, for I have made all my plans, andtomorrow I put them into effect. That is why I cannot wait tospeak. The struggle will be long, but you shall be my guiding starin the hour of darkness. "

Under other circumstances the man's magnificent egotism might haveprovoked a smile. And yet, for all its grandiloquence, there wassomething in his speech that rang hard and true. UnquestionablyLongorio was dangerous--a real personality, and no mere swaggeringpretender. Alaire felt a certain reluctant respect for him, and atthe same time a touch of chilling fear such as she had hardlyexperienced before. She faced him silently for a moment; then shesaid:

"Am I to understand that you forbid me to leave my own house?"

"For the time being, exactly. "

"What? Then I am your prisoner!"

"No, no!" He made a gesture of denial. "How ridiculous! I merelykeep you from certain destruction. You cannot go by train, becausethe railroad has suspended public service, nor can you ride ordrive. I tell you, senora, the people are aroused. For the momentyou must accept my protection, whether you wish to or not. Tomorrow"--Longorio smiled warmly, meaningly-"perhaps you will notbe in such haste to refuse it, or to leave La Feria. Wait untilyou understand me better. Then--But enough of this. You areunstrung, you wish to be alone with your thoughts, and what I haveto say can wait for a few hours. In the mean time, may I beg thehospitality of your ranch for myself and my men?"

Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Longorio saluted her fingers inhis customary manner, and then, with a look eloquent of thingsunsaid, he went out to see to the comfort of his command. 

Alaire sank into the nearest chair, her nerves quivering, her mindin a turmoil. This Mexican was detestable, and he was far frombeing the mere maker of audaciously gallant speeches, thepoetically fervent wooer of every pretty woman, she had blindlysupposed him. His was no sham ardor; the man was hotly, horriblyin earnest. There had been a glint of madness in his eyes. And heactually seemed to think that she shared his infatuation. It wasintolerable. Yet Longorio, she was sure, had an abundance ofdiscretion; he would not dare to offer her violence. He had pride, too; and in his way he was something of a gentleman. So far, shehad avoided giving him offense. But if once she made plain to himhow utterly loathsome to her was his pursuit, she was sure that hewould cease to annoy her. Alaire was self-confident, strong-willed; she took courage. 

Her thoughts turned from her fears to the amazing reality of herwidowhood. Even yet she could not wholly credit the fact that Ed'swasted life had come to an end and that she was free to make themost of her own. Alaire remembered her husband now with moretenderness, more charity, than she would have believed possible, and it seemed to her pitiful that one so blessed with opportunityshould have worked such havoc with himself and with those near tohim. 

Doubtless it was all a part of some providential scheme, too blindfor her to solve. Perhaps, indeed, her own trials had beendesigned to the end that her greater, truer love, when it didcome, would find her ripe, responsive, ready. As for this Mexicangeneral, she would put him in his place. 

Alaire was still walking the floor of her chamber when Doloresentered, at dusk, to say that supper was ready and that GeneralLongorio was waiting. 

"Ask him to excuse me, " she told her servant. 

But Longorio himself spoke from the next room, saying: "Senora, Ibeg of you to honor me. I have much of importance to say, and timepresses. Control your grief and give me the pleasure of yourcompany. "

After an instant's consideration Alaire yielded. It was best tohave the matter over with, once for all. 

XXVIII

THE DOORS OF PARADISE

Alaire began the mockery of playing hostess with extreme distaste, and as the meal progressed she experienced a growing uneasiness. Longorio's bearing had changed since his arrival. He was stillextravagantly courteous, beautifully attentive; he maintained aflow of conversation that relieved her of any effort, and yet hedisplayed a repressed excitement that was disturbing. In his eyesthere was a gloating look of possession hard to endure. Despiteher icy formality, he appeared to be holding himself within thebounds of propriety only by an effort of will, and she was notsurprised when, at the conclusion of the meal, he cast restraintaside. 

She did not let him go far with his wooing before warning him: "Iwon't listen to you. You are a man of taste; you must realize howoffensive this is. "

"Let us not deceive each other, " he insisted. "We are alone. Letus be honest. Do not ask me to put faith in your grief. I find myexcuse in the extraordinary nature of this situation. "

"Nothing can excuse indelicacy, " she answered, evenly. "Youtransgress the commonest rules of decency. "

But he was impatient. "What sentiment! You did not love yourhusband. You were for years his prisoner. Through the bars of yourprison I saw and loved you. Dios! The first sight of your facealtered the current of my life. I saw heaven in your eyes, and Ihave dreamed of nothing else ever since. Well, Providence openedthe doors and set you free; God gave heed to my prayers anddelivered you to me. Now you pretend to grieve at yourdeliverance; you ask me to respect the memory of your jailer!Decency? Delicacy? What are they except artificialities, whichvanish in times of stress? Alexander the Great, Caesar, Napoleon, Porfirio Diaz--they were strong, purposeful men; they lived as Ilive. Senora, you dally with love. "

Alaire's face was white with anger as she replied: "You cause meto forget that you are my guest. Are you the man I considered youor the man you are reported to be?"

"Eh?"

"Are you the gentleman, the friend, you pretended to be, or--thevandal whom no woman can trust? You treat me as if you were myjailer. What do you mean? What kind of man are you to takeadvantage of my bereavement?"

After a moment's consideration Longorio began haltingly: "I don'tknow what kind of man I am, for you have changed me so. There wasa time--I--I have done things--I have scorned all restraint, alllaws except those of my desires, and so, perhaps, I am a vandal. Make sure of this, however--I shall not injure you. Christ is nomore sacred to me than you, my heart's treasure. You accuse me ofindelicacy because I lack the strength to smother my admiration. Iadore you; my being dissolves, my veins are afire with longing foryou; I am mad with the knowledge that you are mine. Mad? Caramba!I am insane; my mind totters; I grope my way like a man blinded bya dazzling light; I suffer agonies. But see! I refuse to touchyou. I am a giant in my restraint. The strength of heroes is mine, and I strangle my impulses as they are born, although the effortkills me. Senora, I await the moment of your voluntary surrender. I wait for you. " He extended his arms, and Alaire saw that hisolive features were distorted with emotion; that his hands, hiswhole thin, high-strung body were shaking uncontrollably. 

She could summon no coherent words. 

"You believed I was a hawk and would seize you, eh?" he queried. "Is that why you continue to shrink? Well, let me tell yousomething, if my tongue will frame the thoughts in my mind. Mypassion is so deep and so sacred that I would not be content withless than all of you. Your lips would not satisfy mine unless theywere hot with love, your kisses wet with desire. I must have youall, and so I wait, trembling. I say this so badly that I doubt ifyou understand. Listen, then: to possess you by force would be--well, as if I sacked a cathedral of its golden images and expectedto gain heaven by clutching the Madonna in my arms. Senora, in youI see the priceless jewel of my life, which I shall wear to dazzlethe world, and without which I shall destroy myself. Now let metell you what I can offer you, what setting I can build for thistreasure. Marriage with Luis Longorio--"

Alaire could not control a start. 

As if quickened by his intensity, the man read her thought. "Youdid not imagine that I offered you anything less?"

"What was I to think? Your reputation--"

"Mother of God!" breathed the general. So! That is what you meanta moment ago. That is why you refuse my embraces. No, no! Otherwomen have feared me and I have laughed in their hair as they toreat my arms, but you--you will be my wife, and all Mexico shall bowat your feet. " He checked her denial with a gesture. "Wait until Itell you the vision I have seen during these days of my despair. Isee Mexico made whole by my hands; a land of peace and plenty; apeople with one name upon their lips--the name of Longorio theDeliverer; and you as the first lady of them all. You know me fora man of tremendous ability in every line. Well, I know myself, too. I have measured myself carefully, and I have no weakness. There is no other like me. Pancho Gomez? Bah! He is a red-handedbandit of no culture. Candeleria, his chief? The idol of theignorant and a dreamer of no force. Potosi? He is President today, but what of tomorrow? Those who surround him are weaklings, and hestumbles toward oblivion. Who will succeed him? Who will issuefrom the coming struggle as the dominant figure of Mexico? Who butthat military genius who checks the Yankee hordes and saves thefatherland? I am he. Fate points the path of glory and I am herman of destiny. You see, then, what I bring you--power, position, riches. Riches? Caramba! Wait until my hands are in the treasury. I will load you with gold and jewels, and I will make you therichest woman in the world. Senora, I offer you dominion. I offeryou the President's palace and Chapultepec. And with all that Ioffer you such passionate love as no woman of history everpossessed. 

He paused, spent by the force of his own intensity; it was plainthat he expected an immediate surrender. 

Alaire's lips parted in the faintest of mocking smiles. "You havegreat confidence in yourself, " she said. 

"Yes. I know myself as no one knows me. "

"Why do you think I care for you?"

Longorio's eyes opened. His expression plainly showed that hecould not imagine any woman in her senses failing to adore him. 

"Don't you take much for granted?" Alaire insisted. 

The Mexican shook his head. Then his face lightened. "Ah! Now Isee. Your modesty forbids you to acknowledge your love--is thatit? Well, I know that you admire me, for I can see it. All womenadmire me, and they all end by loving me. " His chest archedimperceptibly; with a slender finger he delicately smoothed hisblack eyebrows. Alaire felt a wild impulse to laugh, but was gladshe had subdued it when he continued: "I am impetuous, butimpetuosity has made me what I am. I act, and then mold fate tosuit my own ends. Opportunity has delivered to me my heart'sdesire, and I will not be cheated out of it. Among the men Ibrought with me to La Feria is a priest. He is dirty, for I caughthim as he was fleeing toward the border; but he is a priest, andhe will marry us tonight. "

Alaire managed to gasp, "Surely you are not in earnest. "

"Indeed I am! That is why I insisted that you dine with me thisevening. I cannot waste more time here, for necessity calls meaway. You shall go as my wife. "

"Do you think I would remarry on the very day I find myself awidow?"

"The world will never know. "

"You dare to say that!" Her tone was one of disgust, of finality. "I wonder how I have listened to so much. It is horrible. "

"You are still a little hysterical, and you exaggerate. If I hadmore time I could afford to wait. " He ogled her with his luminousgaze. "I would let you play with me to your heart's content andexercise your power until you tired and were ready to surrender. "

Alaire raised her head proudly, her nostrils dilated, her eyesablaze with hostility. "This is very humiliating, but you force meto tell you that I hate you. "

Longorio was incredulous rather than offended. He drew himself upto his full height and smiled, saying, "That is impossible. " Then, ignoring her impatience: "Come! You cannot deceive me. The priestis waiting. "

When Alaire spoke next it was with an expression and with a toneof such loathing that his yellow face paled "Your conceit isinsufferable, " she breathed. 

After a brief struggle with himself, the Mexican cried, hoarsely:"I will not be refused. You wish me to tame you, eh? Good! Youhave found your master. Make your choice, then. Which shall it be, surrender or--compulsion?"

"So! You have been lying, as I thought. Compulsion! Now the realLongorio speaks. "

He flung up his hands as if to ward off her fury. "No? Have I notmade myself clear? I shall embrace you only with the arms of ahusband, for this is not the passion of a moment, but of alifetime, and I have myself to consider. The wife of Mexico's nextPresident must be above reproach; there must be no scandal, nosecrets hidden away for enemies to unearth. She must stand beforethe people as a perfect woman; she must lend prestige to his name. When I speak of compulsion, then, I mean the right of a husband--"

Alaire uttered an exclamation of disgust and turned away, but heintercepted her, saying: "You cannot hold me at bay. It isdestiny. You shall be mine tonight. Think a moment! We are alonein the heart of a country lacking in every law but mine. Yourfriends do not know where you are, and, even if they knew, theycould not help you. Your nation's protest would avail nothing. Outside of these walls are enemies who will not let you leave thishouse except under the protection of my name. "

"Then I shall never leave it, " she told him. 

For the first time Longorio spoke roughly: "I lose patience. InGod's name have I not waited long enough? My strength is gone. "Impulsively he half encircled her with his thin arms, but sheseemed armored with ice, and he dropped them. She could hear himgrind his teeth. "I dare not lay hands upon you, " he chattered. "Angel of my dreams, I am faint with longing. To love you and yetto be denied; to feel myself aflame and yet to see you cold; to behalted at the very doors of Paradise! What torture!"

The fellow's self-control in the midst of his frenzy frightenedAlaire more than did his wildest avowals; it was in something of apanic that she said:

"One moment you tell me I am safe, the next you threaten me. Yousay I am free, and yet you coerce me. Prove your love. Let me go--""No! No! I shall call the priest. "

Longorio turned toward the door, but halfway across the floor hewas halted by a woman's shriek which issued from somewhere insidethe house. It was repeated. There was an outburst in a masculinevoice, then the patter of footsteps approaching down the tiledhallway. Dolores burst into her mistress's presence, her faceblanched, her hair disordered. She flung herself into Alaire'sarms, crying:

"Senora! Save me! God's curse on the ruffian. Oh--"

"Dolores!" Alaire exclaimed. "What has happened?"

Longorio demanded, irritably: "Yes. Why are you yelling likethis:"'

"A man--See I One of those dirty peladors. Look where he tore mydress! I warned him, but he was like a tiger. Benito will kill mewhen he learns--"

"Calm yourself. Speak sensibly. Tell me what happened. "

"One of those miserable soldiers who came today--pig!" Dolores wasshaking, her voice was shrill. "He followed me. He has beendrinking. He followed me about like a cat, purring and grinningand saying the most horrible things. Just now, when I went to yourroom, he was waiting in the darkness and he seized me. God! It wasdreadful. "

"A soldier? One of my men?" Longorio was incredulous. 

Alaire turned upon him with a blazing anger in her face. "Is thismore of your protection?" she stormed. "I give you and your menthe freedom of my ranch, and you insult me while they assault mywomen. "

He ignored her accusation, inquiring of the elder woman, "Who wasthe fellow?"

"How do I know, " Dolores sobbed. "He is a--a thick, black fellowwith a scar on his lip, like a snarl. "

"Felipe!"

"Yes, Felipe! I believe they called him that. "

Longorio strode to the end of the livingroom, flung open thewooden shutters of a window and, leaning far out, whistled sharplyon his fingers. 

"Oiga! Teniente! Ho, you fellows!" he shouted. 

From the darkness a voice answered; a man, evidently on guard, came running. 

"Call old Pancho, " the general directed. "Tell him to bring meblack Felipe, the fellow with the torn lip. Quick!"

"Yes, general, " came the voice; then the metallic rattle of spursand accoutrements as the sentry trotted away. 

Dolores had completely broken down now, and Alaire was trying tocomfort her. Their guest remained by the window, frowning. After atime there sounded a murmur of voices, then a shuffling of feet inthe hall; Alaire's friend, the old lieutenant, appeared in thedoorway, saluting. Behind him were several others. 

"Here is Felipe, " he announced. 

"Bring him in. "

A sullen, frowning man in soiled uniform was pushed forward, andDolores hid her face against her mistress's shoulder. 

"Is this the fellow?" Longorio inquired. 

Dolores nodded. 

"Well, what have you to say for yourself?" The general transfixedhis trooper with a stare; then, as the latter seemed bereft of hisvoice, "Why did you enter this house?"

Felipe moistened his scarred lips. "That woman is--nice and clean. She's not so old, either, when you come to look at her. " Hegrinned at his comrades, who had crowded in behind old Pancho. 

"So! Let us go outside and learn more about this. " Longorio wavedhis men before him and followed them out of the room and down thehall and into the night. 

When a moment or two had dragged past, Dolores quavered. "What arethey going to do with him?"

"I don't know. Anyhow, you need not fear--"

There sounded the report of a gunshot, deadened indeed by thethick adobe walls of the house, yet sudden and loud enough tostartle the women. 

When Longorio reappeared he found Alaire standing stiff and whiteagainst the wall, with Dolores kneeling, her face still buried inher mistress's gown. 

"Give yourself no concern, " he told them, quickly. "I beg athousand pardons for Felipe. Henceforth no one will molest you. "

"Was that a--shot?" Alaire inquired faintly. 

"Yes. It is all settled. "

"You killed him?"

The general nodded. "Purely for the sake of discipline--one has tobe firm. Now your woman is badly frightened. Send her away so thatwe may reach an understanding. "

"Oh-h! This is frightful, " Alaire gasped. "I can't talk to you. Go--Let me go. "

The man pondered for an instant. "Perhaps that would be better, "he agreed, reluctantly, "for I see you, too, are unstrung. Verywell! My affairs will have to wait. Take a few hours to think overwhat I have told you. When you have slept you will feeldifferently about me. You will meet me with a smile, eh?" Hebeamed hopefully. 

"Sleep? You expect me to sleep?"

"Please, " he begged. "Beauty is like a delicate flower, and sleepis the dew that freshens it. Believe me, you can rest in allsecurity, for no one can come or go without my consent. You arecruel to postpone my delight; nevertheless, I yield to yourfeelings. But, star of my life, I shall dream of you, and of thatlittle priest who waits with the key of Paradise in his hands. "

He bowed over Alaire's cold fingers, then stood erect until sheand Dolores had gone. 

XXIX

THE PRIEST FROM MONCLOVA

That was a night of terror for the women. Although Longorio'sdiscipline was in some ways strict, in others it was extremelylax. From some quarter his men had secured a supply of mescal, and, forgetful of Felipe's unhappy fate, they rendered the hourshideous. There were singing and quarreling, and a shot or twosounded from the direction of the outbuildings. Morning found bothAlaire and Dolores sadly overwrought. But they felt some reliefupon learning that the general had been unexpectedly summoned fromhis bed at daylight, and had ridden to the telegraph office. 

Profiting by his absence, Alaire ventured from her room, rackingher brain to devise some means of escape. But soldiers wereeverywhere; they lolled around the servants' quarters; they dozedin the shade of the ranch buildings, recovering from the night'sdebauch; and an armed sentinel who paced the hacienda road gaveevidence that, despite their apparent carelessness, they had by nomeans relaxed their vigilance. A round of the premises convincedAlaire that the place was effectually guarded, and showed her thefutility of trying to slip away. She realized, too, that even ifshe managed to do so, her plight would be little better. For howcould she hope to cover the hundred miles between La Feria and theRio Grande when every peon was an enemy?

She was standing in one of the open, sashless windows when herformer protector, the old lieutenant, bade her good morning andpaused to smoke a cigarette. 

"Well, it was a great night, wasn't it?" he began. "And we havegreat news this morning. We are going to fight you gringos. "

"I hope not. "

"Yes; it will probably go hard with you. Tell me, this city ofWashington is a fine city, and very rich, is it not?"

"Oh yes. "

"It's full of loot, eh? Especially the President's palace? That isgood. One can never believe all one hears. "

"Why do you ask?" Alaire was curious. 

"I was thinking it would pay us to go there. If your soldiersmarch upon Mexico City, it would be a brilliant piece of strategyfor General Longorio to invade the United States, would it not? Itwould be funny to capture Washington and hold your President forransom, eh?"

"Very funny, " Alaire agreed, dryly. "How would you go about it?"

Pancho shrugged. "That is the trouble. We would have to marcharound Texas, I presume. "

"Around Texas?"

"Yes. You see, Texas is a bad country; it is full of--barbarianswho know how to fight. If it were not for Texas we would have theUnited States at our mercy. " After some consideration he venturedthis opinion: "We could afford to pay the Texans for allowing usto ride through their country, provided we stole nothing and paidfor the cattle we ate. Well, Longorio is a great one for schemes;he is talking over the telegraph with somebody at this moment. Perhaps it is the President of Texas. "

"You are a poor man, are you not?" Alaire inquired. 

"Miserably poor. "

"Would you like to make a great deal of money?"

"Dios! That is why I'm a soldier. "

"I will pay you well to get me two horses--"

But old Pancho shook his head vigorously. "Impossible! GeneralLongorio is going to marry you. We all got drunk last night tocelebrate the wedding. Yes, and the priest is waiting. "

"I will make you rich. "

"Ho! I wouldn't live to spend a single peso. Felipe disobeyedorders, and the general shot him before he could cross himself. Boom! The poor fellow was in hell in a minute. No. We will all berich after we win a few battles and capture some American cities. I am an old man; I shall leave the drinking and the women to theyoung fellows, and prepare for my old age. "

Seeing that she could not enlist Pancho's aid, Alaire begged himto fetch the priest. 

"You wish spiritual comfort, senora?"

"Perhaps. "

"Well, he doesn't look like much of a priest, but probably he willdo. As for me, I don't believe in such things. Churches are allvery well for ignorant people, but we Mexicans are toointelligent; we are making an end of them. "

The priest was a small, white-haired man with a gentle, almosttimid face, and at the moment when he appeared before Alaire hewas in anything but a happy frame of mind. He had undergone, hetold her, a terrible experience. His name was O'Malley. He hadcome from Monclova, whence the Rebels had banished him underthreat of death. He had seen his church despoiled of itsvaluables, his school closed; he himself had managed to escapeonly by a miracle. During his flight toward the border he hadsuffered every indignity, and finally Longorio had intercepted himand brought him here, practically in chains. 

"What a situation! What chaos!" he lamented. "The land is overrunwith bandits; there is no law, no authority, no faith; religion ismade a mockery. The men are becoming infidels and atheists, and inmany places they will not allow us to give comfort even to theirwomen. "

"Is it as bad as that?"

Father O'Malley shook his head sadly. "You've no idea. What do youthink of a people who forbid the mention of God's name in theirschools? That is what the revolutionists are doing. Candeleriaclaims that the churches are the property of the State. Heconfiscates them, and he charges admission. He has banished allexcept a few of us priests, and has shamefully persecuted ourSisters of Mercy. Oh, the outrages! Mexico is, today, the blackestspot on the map of Christendom. " His voice broke. "That is thefreedom, the liberty, the democracy, for which they are fighting. That is the new Mexico. And the Federals are not a bit better. This Longorio, for instance, this--wolf--he brings me here, as hisprisoner, to solemnize an unholy marriage! He treats me like adog. Last night I slept in a filthy hovel--"

"Oh! I'm sorry, " Alaire exclaimed. "But I'm half crazed with myown troubles. You must come into the house; the best I have isyours. You shall be as much my guest as I can make you, and--perhaps you will help me to escape. " "Escape?" The little mansmiled mournfully. "You are watched and guarded, and so am I. Evenif you got away from here, what then? You can't imagine thecondition of the country. "

"I won't marry him!" Alaire cried, with a shudder. "I won't!"

"He can't very well force you to do so. But remember, these arewar times; the man is a fiend, and he puts no restraint upon hisdesires. If he is madly bent on having you, how can you preventit? In normal times he would not dare injure one so prominent asyou, but now--" Father O'Malley lifted his hands. "I only wonderthat he suggests a lawful marriage. Suppose you refuse? Will henot sacrifice you to his passions? He has done worse things. "After a moment's consideration he said: "Of course it is possiblethat I misjudge him. Anyhow, if you desire me to do so I willrefuse to perform the ceremony. But--I'm afraid it will just meanruin for both of us. "

"Surely he wouldn't harm you?"

The Father shrugged. "What am I? An obscure priest. Many of mybrothers are buried in Mexico. However, I shall do as you wish. "

As the day wore on Alaire realized even more clearly the fact thatshe was Longorio's prisoner. His men, in spite of their recentdebauch, kept a very good watch over her, and it was plain thatthey would obey his orders, no matter how extreme. It occurred toher finally that he was staying away purposely, in order to giveher a fuller appreciation of her position--so that she might beather wings against the cage until exhausted. 

Afternoon came, then evening, and still Longorio did not return, Father O'Malley could give scant comfort; Dolores was a positivetrial. 

Half distracted, Alaire roamed through the house, awaiting hercaptor's coming, steeling herself for their final battle. But thedelay was trying; she longed for the crisis to come, that thisintolerable suspense might be ended. At such an hour her thoughtsnaturally turned to Dave Law, and she found herself yearning forhim with a yearning utterly new. His love had supported herthrough those miserable days at Las Palmas, but now it was atorture; she called his name wildly, passionately. He knew herwhereabouts and her peril--why did he not come? Then, more calmly, she asked herself what he, or what any one, could do for her. Howcould she look for succor when two nations were at war?

Night had come before she finally gave up and acknowledged thehopelessness of her situation. She had fought bravely, but withdarkness her fears grew blacker. She was on the verge of her firstbreakdown when, in the early dusk outside, she heard voices andthe stamping of horses' hoofs. The sounds were muffled by theheavy wooden shutters she had taken pains to close and bar, butthey told her that Longorio had returned. Since it was futile todeny him entrance, she waited where she was. Old Pancho's voicesounded outside; then there came a knock upon the door of the roomin which she stood. 

"Come in, " she said, tensely. 

The lieutenant thrust his head in and, removing his hat, announced, "There is someone here to see General Longorio onimportant business. He says you will do. "

"I?"

"Yes. He says he is one of us--"

Pancho was pushed aside, the door was flung back, and a man strodeswiftly into the lamplight. He paused, blinking as if momentarilyblinded, and Alaire clutched at the nearest chair for support. Aroaring began in her ears; she felt herself sway forward as if thestrength had left her knees. She heard Dave's voice faintly; hewas saying:

"Take care of my horse. Feed and water her well. Understand? WhenGeneral Longorio comes tell him I am waiting here. "

As if in a dream, Alaire saw the Mexican go out, closing the doorbehind him. Then she saw Dave come toward her, heard him speak hername, felt his arms around her. 

Alaire did not swoon, but she never could remember very distinctlythose first few moments. Scarcely knowing what she did, she foundherself clinging to her lover, laughing, weeping, feeling him overwith shaking hands that would not be convinced of his reality. Shewas aware of his kisses upon her lips, her eyes, her hair; he wassaying something which she could not understand because of thatroaring in her ears. 

"You heard me calling, " she told him at last. "Oh, I was--sofrightened!" She clung closer to him. After a time she discoveredthat she was mechanically nodding and shaking her head at thequestions he was putting to her, but had only the vaguest ideawhat they were. By and by she began to tell him about Longorio, speaking in a sort of hypnotic murmur, as if her words issued athis mental suggestion. And all the time she snuggled against hisbreast. 

"Dearest!" Dave held her away in gentle hands. "I was afraid you'dgo to pieces like this, but I had to break through the best way Icould. I learned you were here and something about what was goingon from the people at the next ranch. But I expected to find HIMhere, too. "

"How did you manage to get here?"

"I hardly know. I just wouldn't let 'em stop me. This lieutenantwouldn't let me in until I told him I was from Monterey withimportant news. I don't remember all I did tell him. I tried toget here last night, but I had trouble. They caught me, and I hadto buy my way through. I've bribed and bullied and lied clear fromRomero. I reckon they couldn't imagine I'd risk being here if Iwasn't a friend. "

It was more Dave's tone than his words that roused Alaire to anappreciation of what he said. 

"Are you alone?" she asked, in vague dismay. "Then what are wegoing to do?"

"I don't know yet. My plans ended here. "

"Dave! You rode in just to find me! Just to be with me?"

"Yes. And to get HIM. " Alaire saw his face twitch, and realizedthat it was very haggard, very old and tired. "They lifted myguns--a bunch of fellows at the Rio Negro crossing. Some of themwere drunk and wouldn't believe I was an amigo. So I finally hadto ride for it. "

"Can't you take me away?" she asked, faintly. "What will you dowhen--he comes?"

"I reckon I'll manage him somehow. " His grip upon her tightenedpainfully, and she could feel him tremble. "I was afraid Iwouldn't find you. I--O God, Alaire!" He buried his face in herhair. 

"I had a terrible scene with him last night. He insists uponmarrying me. I--I was hoping you'd come. "

"How could I, when nobody knew where you were?"

"Didn't you know? I wrote you. " He shook his head. "Then how didyou learn?"

"From Jose. I caught him within an hour of the murder, and madehim tell me everything. "

Alaire's eyes dilated; she held herself away, saying, breathlessly: "Murder! Is that what it was? He--Longorio--told mesomething quite different. "

"Naturally. It was he who hired Jose to do the shooting. "

"Oh-h!" Alaire hid her face in her hands. She looked up againquickly, however, and her cheeks were white. "Then he won't spareyou, Dave. " She choked for an instant. "We must get away before hecomes. There must be some way of escape. Think!"

"I'm pretty tired to think. I'm pretty near played out, " heconfessed. 

"They're watching me, but they'd let you go. "

"Now that I'm here I'm going to stay until--"

She interrupted, crying his name loudly, "Dave!"

"Yes. What is it?"

"Wait! Let me think. " She closed her eyes; her brows drew togetheras if in the labor of concentration. When she lifted her lids hereyes were alight, her voice was eager. "I know how. I see it. Hewon't dare--But you must do what I tell you. "

"Of course. "

"No questions. Understand?"

When he nodded impatiently she ran to the door and, flinging itopen, called down the hall:

"Father! Father O'Malley! Quick!" Then she summoned Dolores. 

The priest answered; he hurried from his room and, with a dazedlack of comprehension, acknowledged his swift introduction toDave. Alaire was keenly alive and vibrant with purpose now. Dolores, too, came running, and while the men were exchanginggreetings her mistress murmured something in her ear, thenhastened her departure with a quick push. Turning upon the others, Alaire explained:

"I've sent for some of the women, and they'll be here in a minute. Father, this man has come for me. He loves me. Will you marry us, before Longorio arrives?"

"Alaire!" Dave exclaimed. 

She stilled him with a gesture. "Quick! Will you?"

Father O'Malley was bewildered. "I don't understand, " heexpostulated. 

"Nor I, " echoed Dave. 

"You don't need to understand. I know what I'm doing. I've thoughtof a way to save us all. "

Through Dave's mind flashed the memory of that thing which hadhaunted him and made his life a nightmare. An incoherent refusalwas upon his lips, but Alaire's face besought him; it was shiningwith a strange, new ecstasy, and he could not bring himself todeny her. Of what her plan consisted he had only the dimmest idea, but he assured himself that it could by no possibility succeed. After all, what did it matter? he asked himself. They weretrapped. This might serve, somehow, to cheat Longorio, and--Alairewould be his wife. 

"Very well, " he stammered, weakly. "What are you thinking of?"

"I haven't thought it all out yet, but--"

At that moment Dolores returned, bringing with her the threeblack-haired, black-shawled house servants, bundling them throughthe door and ranging them along the wall. 

Father O'Malley's face was puckered; he said, hesitatingly: "Mydear madam, this isn't regular; you are not Catholics. How can Ibless you?"

"You can marry us legally, just the same, can't you?" Alaire wasbreathing rapidly, and some part of her eagerness began to thrillher hearers. 

"Oh yes, but--"

"Then marry us. And make haste, please! Please!"

Law nodded. He could not speak, for his mouth was dry. A voicewithin him shouted a warning, but he would not listen. His heartwas beating violently; his temples were pounding; all the blood ofhis body seemed centered in his head. 

Before the eyes of the four wondering women Father O'Malleymarried them. It seemed to Alaire that he would never reach theend, although, in fact, he stumbled through the ceremony swiftly. Alaire clipped his last words short by crying:

"Tell these people so that they'll understand what it all means. Tell them to remember they have seen a marriage by the Church. "

The priest did as he was directed, and his audience signifiedtheir understanding. Then Dolores led them out

XXX

THE MAN OF DESTINY

"Now, then, I'll explain, " said Alaire, turning to the men. "Longorio declares he won't have me except as his wife, and Ithink he means it. He is amazingly egotistical. He has tremendousambitions. He thinks this war is his great opportunity, and hemeans to be President--he's sure of it. He loves me, but he loveshimself better, I'm sure. Now, don't you see? He'll have to chooseone or the other. "

Father O'Malley did not appear to appreciate the full force ofthis reasoning. "My dear, " he said, gravely, "he can make you awidow again. In such times as these men are savages. "

"Oh, but that's not all. " Alaire turned to her newly made husband. "They let you in, and they'll let you out again--if you goquickly, before it's known what we've done. "

Dave stared at her in bewilderment. "I? I go, and--leave you?" Heseemed doubtful of her sanity. 

"Yes. " When he laughed shortly, Alaire cried: "Dave, you must!Don't you see what I'm driving at? If he can't marry me, if hefinds you're gone and he can't lay hands on you, what can he dobut let me go? Dave dear, for my sake, for the sake of us both--"

"You're excited, " he told her, and drew her to himself gently. 

"Please! PLEASE!" she implored. 

"You don't know that man, " said Father O'Malley, with conviction. 

But Alaire insisted, half hysterically now: "I do; that's just it, I DO know him. He is planning the greatest things for himself, hishead is in the clouds, and he daren't do the things he used to do. That's why I called in those women as witnesses. He can't put THEMout of the way. With Dave gone I'll be safe. He can't ignore ourmarriage. But otherwise--There's no telling what he may do. Why, he'll kill you, Dave, as he killed Ed. " She upturned a faceeloquent with pleading. "Won't you do this for me?"

"No!" Law declared, firmly. "You wouldn't ask it if you were inyour senses. Get me a gun and I'll shoot my way out. We'll gountil they stop us. But don't ask me to leave you. "

She searched his face eagerly, piteously, then with a quiveringsigh relaxed her tension. "Then we've only made matters worse. You've spoiled our only chance. "

Father O'Malley, who had been lost in thought, spoke up again:"Perhaps you will let me try my wits. But first, do I understandthat it was he who effected the death of--Mr. Austin?"

Dave recounted as coherently as he could the circumstances of Ed'sdeath, and told how he had learned, through Jose, of Longorio'sintentions. As the priest listened a spot of color grew in hischeeks, his eyes glowed with indignation. He was about to makeknown what was in his mind when Alaire raised her hand and in astrained whisper exclaimed:

"'Sh-h! Listen!"

The heavy door of the hacienda creaked, a quick tread sounded onthe tiles, the door to the living-room was flung open, andLongorio entered. He was hot and dusty from his ride, but with alover's impetuosity he had made straight for this lighted room. 

For the briefest instant he balanced himself just inside theportal, and the smile remained fixed upon his lips. Then his eyesbecame ringed with white and he made a swift, catlike movement ofretreat. Plainly this was the supremest surprise of his lifetime, and he seemed to doubt his senses. But he recovered quickly. Thrusting his head forward, he demanded:

"What is this? You--and you?" He stared from Dave to the priest, then back again. 

They all spoke at once, but he heard only Alaire's words:

"He came to find me. "

Pancho appeared in the doorway behind Longorio, saying, "I heardyou ride up, sir, so I ran to tell you about this fellow. "

But the general cut him short. "Call your men, quick, " he cried ina voice that sent the soldier leaping back into the night. 

Alaire was clinging to Dave, merely clutching him the tighter whenhe tried to unclasp her hold. Her movement into the shelter of hisrival's arms infuriated Longorio, who uttered an exclamation andfumbled uncertainly with his holster. But his fingers were clumsy. He could not take his eyes from the pair, and he seemed upon thepoint of rushing forward to tear them apart. 

"Don't touch her! Don't--" he began, cursing in a high-pitchedvoice. "God! What a reckoning!" Then he stamped his feet, he wrunghis hands, he called shrilly at the top of his voice: "Lieutenant!Ho, Pancho! You fellows! Quickly!" Under the stress of hisexcitement the feminine side of his character betrayed itself. 

Alaire felt her newly made husband gather himself for a spring; hewas muttering to her to release him; he was trying to push heraside, but she held fast with the strength of desperation. 

"You can't harm us, " she declared, flinging her words defiantly atthe Mexican. "You dare not. You are too late. Father O'Malley hasjust married us. "

Longorio uttered a peculiar, wordless cry of dismay; his mouthfell open; his arms dropped; he went limp all over, paralyzedmomentarily by surprise and horror; his eyes protruded; he swayedas if his sight had blurred. 

"I said I'd never marry you, " she rushed on, vibrantly. "This isthe man I love--the only man. Yes, and I've learned the truthabout you. I know who killed Mr. Austin. "

Longorio did a very unexpected thing then; slowly, unconsciously, as if the movement were the result of a half-forgotten training, he crossed himself. 

But now from the hall at his back came the pounding of boot-heels, and a half dozen panting troopers tumbled through the door. Hewaved them back and out into the hall again. 

Father O'Malley, who had been trying to make himself heard, stepped in front of the general and said, solemnly: "Take carewhat you do, Longorio. I have married these people, and you can'tundo what I have done. We are American citizens. The laws ofcivilization protect us. "

The Mexican fought for his voice, then stammered: "You are mypriest; I brought you here. I offered to marry her. Now--you forceme to damn my soul. " Turning his eyes wildly upon Alaire, heshouted: "Too late, eh? You say I am too late! It seems that I ambarely in time. "

Dave added his words to the others: "You are ten to one, but youcan't have her, " he cried, defiantly. "Jose Sanchez confessed tothe murder of Mr. Austin, and told how you had got Mrs. Austin tocome here. The whole thing is known in Washington and Mexico Cityby this time. The newspapers have it; everybody knows you arekeeping her as your prisoner, and that I have come for her. If sheis harmed, all Mexico, all the world, will know that you are worsethan a murderer. "

Longorio reached behind his back and slammed the door in the facesof his listening men. 

"What is this? What did Jose confess?" he inquired, sharply. 

"He swears you hired him. "

"Bah! The word of a pelador. "

In spite of the man's contemptuous tone Dave saw the expression inhis face and made a quick decision. "There's a limit to what youdare to do, Longorio. I'm unarmed; I make no resistance, so thereis no excuse for violence. I surrender to you, and claimprotection for myself and my wife. "

But Longorio was not to be tricked. "Good!" he cried, triumphantly. "I have been looking forward to something like this, and I shall give myself a great pleasure. " He laid a hand upon thedoorknob, but before he could turn it the Catholic priest had himby the arm, and with a strength surprising in one of his staturewrenched him away. Father O'Malley's face was white and terrible;his voice was deep, menacing; the hand he raised above Longorioseemed to brandish a weapon. 

"Stop!" he thundered. "Are you a madman? Destruction hangs overyou; destruction of body and soul. You dare not separate thosewhom God hath joined. "

"God! God!" the other shrilled. "I don't believe in Him. I am agod; I know of no other. "

"Blasphemer!" roared the little man. "Listen, then. So surely asyou harm these people, so surely do you kill your earthlyprospects. You, the first man of Mexico, the Dictator indeed!Think what you are doing before it is too late. Is your dream ofgreatness only a dream? Will you sacrifice yourself and all youraspirations in the heat of this unholy and impossible passion?Tonight, now, you must choose whether you will be famous orinfamous, glorious or shameful, honored or dishonored! Restrainyour hatred and conquer your lust, or forego for ever your dreamsof empire and pass into oblivion. "

"You are a meddler, " Longorio stormed. "You make a loud noise, butI shall rid Mexico of your kind. We shall have no more of youpriests. "

Father O'Malley shook the speaker as a parent shakes an unrulychild. "See! You have completely lost your head. But I want you tolisten to what I am saying. Whether you are more good than evil, God must judge, but the people of Mexico are good people, and theywill not be ruled by a man who is wholly bad. You have the powerto remove this man and this woman, yes, and this priest who daresto point out the pit at your feet; but if you do you will nevercommand another Mexican army. There is no war. We are not yourenemies. The world knows we are here, and it holds you accountablefor our safety. To-morrow you will have to face the reckoning. "

Longorio listened. It was plain that he recognized the truth ofO'Malley's words, but he was convulsed with rage. 

"Good!" he cried. "I see my dreams dissolve, but I am not thefirst great man to trade an empire for a woman. Antony, the Romangeneral, laid his honor in a woman's arms. I had a shiningdestiny, but Mexico will be the sufferer by my betrayal. Insteadof Longorio the Deliverer, I shall be known as Longorio the Lover, the man who gave all--"

O'Malley interrupted forcefully. "Enough of this! Come with me. Ihave something more to say to you. " He flung open the door intothe hall and, taking the general by the arm, fairly dragged himfrom the room and into the one opposite. The lieutenant and hismen looked on in amazement, shuffling their feet and shiftingtheir rifle butts noisily upon the floor. 

Alaire turned an anxious face to Dave, saying: "He is wonderful. Longorio is almost--afraid of him. "

"Yes; he may bring him to his senses. If he doesn't--" Dave casthis eyes desperately over the room, conscious all the time that hewas being watched with suspicion by the men outside. He stirredrestlessly and moistened his lips. "Longorio would be crazy toinjure you. "

Ten minutes passed; fifteen. Alaire leaned, motionless, againstthe table; Dave paced about, followed by the eyes of the soldiers. One of the latter struck a match, and in the silence it soundedlike a gunshot. Dave started, at which the soldiers laughed. Theybegan to talk in murmurs. The odor of cigarette smoke drifted into the man and the woman. 

Finally the door through which Father O'Malley and Longorio hadpassed opened, and the priest emerged. He was alone. His face wasflushed and damp; his eyes were glowing. He forced the Mexicansout of his way and, entering the living-room, closed the doorbehind him. 

"Well?" his two friends questioned, anxiously. 

"I've done all I can. The rest is out of our hands. " The littleman sat down heavily and mopped his forehead. 

"What does he say?"

"He told me to come here and wait. I never saw a man so torn, sodistracted. "

"Then he is wavering. Oh-h!" Alaire clasped her hands inthanksgiving, but the Father cautioned her:

"Don't be too sanguine. He is not afraid of consequences. Heappears to have no conscience. He is without mercy and seems lostto shame. I have never met a man quite like him. Do you know whathe feels at this moment? Chagrin. Yes, mortification raised to thehighest pitch, and a sort of stupefaction that you should preferanother man to him. He can't understand your lack of taste. "Father O'Malley smiled faintly. 

"Conceited idiot, " Dave growled. 

"His humiliation kills him. When I saw that it was useless toappeal to him on moral grounds, and that threats were unavailing, I took another course. Something gave me insight into his mind, and the power to talk as I have never talked before. All in aflash I saw the man's soul laid bare before me, and--I think Iplayed upon it with some cunning. I don't remember all I said, forI was inspired, but I appealed to his vanity and to his conceit, and as I went along I impressed upon him, over and over, the factthat the world knows we are here and that it trusts him. Heaspires to the Presidency; he believes he is destined to beMexico's Dictator; so I painted a picture that surpassed his ownimaginings. He would have been suspicious of mere flattery, so Iwent far beyond that and inflamed him with such extravagantvisions as only a child or an unblushing egotist like him couldaccept. I swelled his vanity; I inflated his conceit. For amoment, at least, I lifted him out of himself and raised him tothe heights. "

From beyond the closed door came Longorio's voice, issuing somecommand to his men. A moment passed; then he appeared before thethree Americans. He seemed taller, thinner, more erect andhawklike than ever. His head was held more proudly and his chestwas fuller. A set, disdainful smile was graven upon his face. 

He began by addressing his words directly to Alaire. "Senora, " hesaid, "I am a man of deep feeling and I scorn deceit. Therefore Ioffer no apology for my recent display of emotion. If I haveseemed to press my advances with undue fervor, it is because, atheart, I am as great a lover as I am a statesman or a soldier. Butthere are other things than love. Nature constituted me a leader, and he who climbs high must climb alone. I offered Chapultepec asa shrine for your beauty. I offered to share Mexico with you, andI told you that I would not be content with less than all of you. Well I meant it. Otherwise--I would take you now. " His voicethrobbed with a sudden fierce desire, and his long, lean handsclosed convulsively. "You must realize that I have the courage andthe power to defy the world, eh?" He seemed to challenge denial ofthis statement, but, receiving none, he went on, fixing hisbrilliant, feverish eyes once more upon Alaire. "As a man ofsentiment I am unique; I am different from any you have everknown. I would not possess a flower without its fragrance. You didnot believe me when I told you that, but I am going to prove it. All your life you are going to think of me as heroic. Perhaps nopatriot in history ever made a more splendid sacrifice for hiscountry than I make now. Some day the world will wonder how I hadthe strength to put aside love and follow the path of duty. "

Alaire trusted herself to ask, "Then we are free to go?"

The general's face was swept by a grimace intended for a smile. "Ihave ordered your horses to be saddled. "

Dave, who had with difficulty restrained his anger at the fellow'sbombast, was upon the point of speaking when Father O'Malley tookthe words out of his mouth:

"Would you send this woman out of her own house into a countrylike--like this? Remember the fortune in cattle you have alreadytaken--"

Longorio broke in with a snarl: "Is it my fault that the countryis in arms? Military necessity compels me to remain here. Iconsider myself magnanimous. I--" His voice cracked, and he made adespairing, violent gesture. "Go, before I change my mind. "

Dave signaled to the others, and Alaire slipped away to makeherself ready. During the uncomfortable silence which succeededher departure, Longorio paced the room, keeping his eyesresolutely turned away from Law. 

"Do you mean that I, too, may go?" O'Malley inquired. 

"What good are you to me?" snapped the general. 

"You will give us safe conduct?"

"Be still, priest!" Longorio glared at the speaker, clasping andunclasping his fists behind his back. 

With the sound of hoofs outside, Alaire and Dolores appeared, andthe Mexican straightened himself with an effort. 

"Adios, senora!" he said, with a stiff bow. "We have had apleasant friendship and a thrilling flirtation, eh? I shall nevercease to regret that Fate interrupted at such an interestingmoment. Adios! Adios!" He bowed formally, in turn to Dave and tothe priest, then resumed his pacing, with his hands at his backand his brow furrowed as if in a struggle with affairs of greatermoment than this. 

But when he heard the outside door creak shut behind them hisindifference vanished and he halted with head turned in an effortto catch the last sounds of their departure. His face was liketallow now, his lips were drawn back from his teeth as if insupreme agony. A moment and the hoofbeats had died away. ThenLongorio slipped his leash. 

He uttered a cry--a hoarse, half-strangled shriek that tore histhroat. He plucked the collar from his neck as if it choked him;he beat his breast. Seizing whatever article his eye fell upon, hetore and crushed it; he swept the table clean of its queer Spanishbric-a-brac, and trampled the litter under his heels. Spying apainting of a saint upon the wall, he ran to it, ripped it fromits nail, and, raising it over his head, smashed frame and glass, cursing all saints, all priests, and churchly people. Havocfollowed him as he raged about the place wreaking his fury uponinanimate objects. When he had well-nigh wrecked the contents ofthe room, and when his first paroxysm had spent its violence, hehurled himself into a chair, writhing in agony. He bit his wrists, he pounded his fists, he kicked; finally he sprawled full lengthupon the floor, clawing at the cool, smooth tiles until his nailsbled. 

"Christ! O Christ!" he screamed. 

The sound of his blasphemies reached the little group of soldierswho had lingered curiously outside, and they listened open-mouthed. One by one they crossed themselves and stole away intothe darkness, muttering. 

XXXI

A SPANISH WILL

With a singing heart Alaire rode through the night at herhusband's side. The strain of the last few hours had been sointense, the relief at her deliverance so keen, that now she feltcuriously weak, and she kept close to Dave, comforted by hisnearness and secure in the knowledge of his strength. 

Although he was unusually taciturn and rode with his chin upon hisbreast, she attributed his silence to fatigue. Now and then, therefore, she spurred to his side and spoke softly, caressingly. At such times he reached for her hand and clung to it. 

Dave was indeed weary; he was, in fact, in a sort of stupor, andnot infrequently he dozed for a moment or two in his saddle. Yetit was not this which stilled his tongue, but a growing sense ofguilt and dismay at what he had brought upon himself. In a momentof weakness he had done the very thing against which he had foughtso bitterly, and now he faced the consequences. How, when, wherecould he find strength to undo his action? he asked himself. Theweight of this question bent his shoulders, paralyzed his wits. 

Some two hours out from La Feria the riders halted at a pointwhere the road dipped into a rocky stream-bed; then, as the horsesdrank, Dolores voiced a thought that had troubled all of them. 

"If that bandit really means to spare us, why did he send us awayin the night, like this?" she asked. "I shall be surprised if weare not assassinated before morning. "

"He must have meant it. " Alaire spoke with a conviction she didnot entirely feel. "Father O'Malley aroused the finer side of hisnature. "

"Perhaps, " agreed the priest. "Somewhere in him there is a fear ofGod. "

But Dave was skeptical. "More likely a fear of the gringoGovernment, " said he. "Longorio is a four-flusher. When herealized he was licked he tried to save his face by a grandstandplay. He didn't want to let us go. "

"Then what is to prevent him from--well, from having us followed?"Alaire inquired. 

"Nothing, " Dave told her. 

As they climbed the bank and rode onward into the night she said:"No matter what happens, dear, I shall be happy, for at last oneof my dreams has come true. " He reached out and patted her. "You've no idea what a coward I was until you came. But the momentI saw you all my fears vanished. I was like a lost child whosuddenly sees her father; in your arms I felt perfectly safe, forthe first time in all my life, I think. I--I couldn't bear to goon without you, after this. "

Dave found nothing to say; they rode along side by side for a timein a great contentment that required no speech. Then Alaire asked:

"Dear, have you considered how we--are going to explain ourmarriage?"

"Won't the circumstances explain it?"

"Perhaps. And yet--It seems ages since I learned--what happened toEd, but in reality it's only a few hours. Won't people talk?"

Dave caught at the suggestion. "I see. Then let's keep it secretfor the present. I promise not to--act like a husband. "

With a little reckless laugh she confessed, "I--I'm afraid I'llfind it difficult to be conventional. "

"My wife!" he cried in sharp agony. Leaning far out, he encircledher with his arm; then, half lifting her from her saddle, hecrushed his lips to hers. It was his first display of emotionsince Father O'Malley had united them. 

There were few villages along the road they followed, and becauseof the lateness of the hour all were dark, hence the party passedthrough without exciting attention except from an occasionalwakeful dog. But as morning came and the east began to glow Davetold the priest:

"We've got to hide out during the day or we'll get into trouble. Besides, these women must be getting hungry. "

"I fear there is something feminine about me, " confessed thelittle man. "I'm famished, too. "

At the next rancho they came to they applied for shelter, but weredenied; in fact, the owner cursed them so roundly for beingAmericans that they were glad to ride onward. A mile or twofarther along they met a cart the driver of which refused toanswer their greetings. As they passed out of his sight they sawthat he had halted his lean oxen and was staring after themcuriously. Later, when the sun was well up and the world had fullyawakened, they descried a mounted man, evidently a cowboy, ridingthrough the chaparral. He saw them, too, and came toward the road, but after a brief scrutiny he whirled his horse and galloped offthrough the cactus, shouting something over his shoulder. 

"This won't do, " O'Malley declared, uneasily. "I don't like theactions of these people. Let me appeal to the next person we meet. I can't believe they all hate us. "

Soon they came to a rise in the road, and from the crest of thiselevation beheld ahead of them a small village of white housesshining from the shelter of a grove. The rancheria was perhaps twomiles away, and galloping toward it was the vaquero who hadchallenged them. 

"That's the Rio Negro crossing, " Dave announced. Then spying alittle house squatting a short distance back from the road, hesaid: "We'd better try yonder. If they turn us down we'll have totake to the brush. "

O'Malley agreed. "Yes, and we have no time to lose. That horsemanis going to rouse the town. I'm afraid we're--in for it. "

Dave nodded silently. 

Leaving the beaten path, the refugees threaded their way throughcactus and sage to a gate, entering which they approached thestraw-thatched jacal they had seen. A naked boy baby watched themdraw near, then scuttled for shelter, piping an alarm. A manappeared from somewhere, at sight of whom the priest rode forwardwith a pleasant greeting. But the fellow was unfriendly. His wife, too, emerged from the dwelling and joined her husband in warningFather O'Malley away. 

"Let me try, " Alaire begged, and spurred her horse up to thegroup. She smiled down at the country people, saying: "We havetraveled a long way, and we're tired and hungry. Won't you give ussomething to eat? We'll pay you well for your trouble. "

The man demurred sullenly, and began a refusal; but his wife, after a wondering scrutiny, interrupted him with a cry. Rushingforward, she took the edge of Alaire's skirt in her hands andkissed it. 

"God be praised! A miracle!" she exclaimed. "Juan, don't you see?It is the beautiful senora for whom we pray every night of ourlives. On your knees, shameless one! It is she who delivered youfrom the prison. "

Juan stared unbelievingly, then his face changed; his teethflashed in a smile, and, sweeping his hat from his head, he, too, approached Alaire. 

"It is! senora, I am Juan Garcia, whom you saved, and this isInez, " he declared. "Heaven bless you and forgive me. "

"Now I know you, " Alaire laughed, and slipped down from hersaddle. "This is a happy meeting. So! You live here, and that waslittle Juan who ran away as if we were going to eat him. Well, weare hungry, but not hungry enough to devour Juanito. "

Turning to her companions, she explained the circumstances of herfirst meeting with these good people, and as she talked theGarcias broke in joyfully, adding their own account of hergoodness. 

"We've fallen among friends, " Alaire told Dave and FatherO'Malley. "They will let us rest here, I am sure. "

Husband and wife agreed in one voice. In fact, they were overjoyedat an opportunity of serving her; and little Juan, his suspicionspartially allayed, issued from hiding and waddled forward to takepart in the welcome. 

Shamefacedly the elder Garcia explained his inhospitable receptionof the travelers. "We hear the gringos are coming to kill us andtake our farms. Everybody is badly frightened. We are driving ourherds away and hiding what we can. Yesterday at the big Obisporanch our people shot two Americans and burned some of theirhouses. They intend to kill all the Americans they find, so you'dbetter be careful. Just now a fellow rode up shouting that youwere coming, but of course I didn't know--"

"Yes, of course. We're trying to reach the border, " FatherO'Malley told him. "Will you hide us here until we can go on?"

Juan courtesied respectfully to the priest. "My house is yours, Father. "

"Can you take care of our horses, too, and--give us a place tosleep?" Dave asked. His eyes were heavy; he had been almostconstantly in the saddle since leaving Jonesville, and now couldbarely keep himself awake. 

"Trust me, " the Mexican assured them, confidently. "If somebodycomes I'll send them away. Oh, I can lie with the best of them. "

The Garcias were not ordinary people, and they lived in rathergood circumstances for country folk. There were three rooms totheir little house, all of which were reasonably clean. The foodthat Inez set before her guests, too, was excellent if scanty. 

Juanito, taking the cue from his parents, flung himself whole-heartedly into the task of entertainment, and since Alaire met hisadvances halfway he began, before long, to look upon her withparticular favor. Once they had thoroughly made friends, heshowered her with the most flattering attentions. His shyness, itseemed, was but a pretense--at heart he was a bold andenterprising fellow--and so, as a mark of his admiration, hepresented her with all his personal treasures. First he fetchedand laid in her lap a cigar-box wagon with wooden wheels--evidently the handiwork of his father. Then he gave her, one byone, a highly prized blue bottle, a rusty Mexican spur, and theruins of what had been a splendid clasp knife. There were noblades in the knife, but he showed her how to peep through a tinyhole in the handle, where was concealed the picture of a dashingSpanish bullfighter. The appreciation which these gifts evokedintoxicated the little man and roused him to a very madness ofgenerosity. He pattered away and returned shortly, staggering andgrunting under the weight of another and a still greater offering. It was a dog--a patient, hungry dog with very little hair. Theanimal was alive with fleas--it scratched absent-mindedly with onehind paw, even while Juanito strangled it against his nakedbreast--but it was the apple of its owner's eye, and when Inezunfeelingly banished it from the house Juanito began to squalllustily. Nor could he be conciliated until Alaire took him uponher knee and told him about another boy, of precisely his own ageand size, who planted a magic bean in his mother's dooryard, whichgrew up and up until it reached clear to the sky, where a giantlived. Juanito Garcia had never heard the like. He was spellboundwith delight; he held his breath in ecstasy; only his toes moved, and they wriggled like ten fat, brown tadpoles. 

In the midst of this recital Garcia senior appeared in the doorwith a warning. 

"Conceal yourselves, " he said, quickly. "Some of our neighbors arecoming this way. " Inez led her guests into the bedchamber, a bareroom with a dirt floor, from the window of which they watched Juango to meet a group of horsemen. Inez went out, too, and joined inthe parley. Then, after a time, the riders galloped away. 

When Alaire, having watched the party out of sight, turned fromthe window she found that Dave had collapsed upon a chair and wassleeping, his limbs relaxed, his body sagging. 

"Poor fellow, he's done up, " Father O'Malley exclaimed. 

"Yes; he hasn't slept for days, " she whispered. "Help me. " Withthe assistance of Dolores they succeeded in lifting Dave to thebed, but he half roused himself. "Lie down, dear, " Alaire toldhim. "Close your eyes for a few minutes. We're safe now. "

"Somebody has to keep watch, " he muttered, thickly, and tried tofight off his fatigue. But he was like a drunken man. 

"I'm not sleepy; I'll stand guard, " the priest volunteered, and, disregarding further protest, he helped Alaire remove Dave's coat. 

Seeing that the bed was nothing more than a board platform coveredwith straw matting, Alaire folded the garment for a pillow; as shedid so a handful of soiled, frayed letters spilled out upon thefloor. 

"Rest now, while you have a chance, " she begged of her husband. "Just for a little while. "

"All right, " he agreed. "Call me in--an hour. Couldn't sleep--wasn't time. " He shook off his weariness and smiled at his wife, while his eyes filmed with some emotion. "There is something Iought to tell you, but--I can't now--not now. Too sleepy. " Hishead drooped again; she forced him back; he stretched himself outwith a sigh, and was asleep almost instantly. 

Alaire motioned the others out of the room, then stood lookingdown at the man into whose keeping she had given her life. As shelooked her face became radiant. Dave was unkempt, unshaven, dirty, but to her he was of a godlike beauty, and the knowledge that hewas hers to comfort and guard was strangely thrilling. Her lovefor Ed, even that first love of her girlhood, had been nothinglike this. How could it have been like this? she asked herself. How could she have loved deeply when, at the time, her own naturelacked depth? Experience had broadened her, and suffering haduncovered depths in her being which nothing else had had the powerto uncover. Stooping, she kissed Dave softly, then let her cheekrest against his. Her man! Her man! She found herself whisperingthe words. 

Her eyes were wet, but there was a smile upon her lips when shegathered up the letters which had dropped from her husband'spocket. She wondered, with a little jealous twinge, who could bewriting to him. It seemed to her that she owned him now, and thatshe could not bear to share him with any other. She studied theinscriptions with a frown, noticing as she did so that several ofthe envelopes were unopened--either Dave was careless about euchthings or else he had had no leisure in which to read his mail. One letter was longer and heavier than the rest, and its covering, sweat-stained and worn at the edges, came apart in her hands, exposing several pages of type-writing in the Spanish language. The opening words challenged her attention. 

In the name of God, Amen, Alaire read. Involuntarily her eye followed the next line:

Know all men by this public instrument that I, Maria Josefa Law, of this vicinity--

Alaire started, Who, she asked herself, was Maria Josefa Law? Davehad no sisters; no female relatives whatever, so far as she knew. She glanced at the sleeping man and then back at the writing. 

--finding myself seriously ill in bed, but with sound judgment, full memory and understanding, believing in the ineffablemysteries of the Holy Trinity, three distinct persons in one God, in essence, and in the other mysteries acknowledged by our Mother, the Church--

So! This was a will--one of those queer Spanish documents of whichAlaire had heard--but who was Maria Josefa Law? Alaire scanned thesheets curiously, and on the reverse side of the last onediscovered a few lines, also in Spanish, but scrawled in pencil. They read:

MY DEAR NEPHEW, --Here is the copy of your mother's will that Itold you about. At the time of her death she was not possessed ofthe property mentioned herein, and so the original document wasnever filed for record, but came to me along with certain familypossessions of small value. It seems to contain the informationyou desire. 

Y'rs aff'ly, FRANCISCO RAMIREZ. 

The will of Dave's mother! Then Maria Josefa Law was that poorwoman regarding whose tragic end Judge Ellsworth had spoken sopeculiarly. Alaire felt not a little curiosity to know more aboutthe mother of the man whose name she had taken. Accordingly, aftera moment of debate with herself, she sat down to translate theinstrument. Surely Dave would not object if she occupied herselfthus while he slept. 

The document had evidently been drawn in the strictest form, doubtless by some local priest, for it ran:

First: I commend my soul to the Supreme Being who from nothingformed it, and my body I order returned to earth, and which, assoon as it shall become a corpse, it is my wish shall be shroudedwith a blue habit in resemblance to those used by the monks of ourSeraphic Father, St. Francis; to be interred with high mass, without pomp--

Alaire mused with a certain reverent pleasure that Dave's motherhad been a devout woman. 

Second: I declare to have, in the possession of my husband, Franklin Law, three horses, with splendid equipment of saddles andbridles, which are to be sold and the proceeds applied to massesfor the benefit of my soul. I so declare, that it may appear. 

Third: I declare to owe to Mrs. Guillelmo Perez about twentydollars, to be ascertained by what she may have noted in her bookof accounts. So I declare, that this debt may be paid as I haveordered. 

Fourth: In just remuneration for the services of my cousin, Margarita Ramirez, I bequeath and donate a silver tray whichweighs one hundred ounces, seven breeding cows, and four finelinen and lace tablecloths. So I declare, that it may appear. 

Fifth: I bequeath to my adopted son, David, offspring of theunfortunate American woman who died in my house at Escovedo, theshare of land--

Alaire re-read this paragraph wonderingly, then let the documentfall into her lap. So Dave was an adopted son, and not actuallythe child of this woman, Maria Josefa Law. She wondered if he knewit, and, if so, why he hadn't told her? But, after all, whatdifference did it make who or what he was? He was hers to love andto comfort, hers to cherish and to serve. 

For a long time she sat gazing at him tenderly; then she tiptoedout and delighted the naked Garcia baby by taking him in her armsand hugging him. Inez thought the beautiful senora's voice waslike the music of birds. 

It was growing dark when Dave was awakened by cool hands upon hisface and by soft lips upon his. He opened his eyes to find Alairebending over him. 

"You must get up, " she smiled. "It is nearly time to go, and Inezis cooking our supper. "

He reached up and took her in his arms. She lay upon his breast, thrilling happily with her nearness to him, and they remained sofor a while, whispering now and then, trying ineffectually tovoice the thoughts that needed no expression. 

"Why did you let me sleep so long?" he asked her, reproachfully. 

"Oh, I've been napping there in that chair, where I could keep oneeye on you. I'm terribly selfish; I can't bear to lose oneminute. " After a while she said: "I've made a discovery. FatherO'Malley snores dreadfully! Juanito never heard anything like it, and it frightened him nearly to death. He says the Father must bea very fierce man to growl so loudly. He says, too, that he likesme much better than his mother. "

It seemed to Dave that the bliss of this awakening and the sweetintimacy of this one moment more than rewarded him for all he hadgone through, and paid him for any unhappiness the future mighthold in store. 

He felt called upon to tell Alaire the truth about himself; butwith her in his arms he had no strength of purpose; her everyendearment made him the more aware of his weakness. Again he askedhimself when and how he could bear to tell her? Not now. Certainlynot now when she was trembling under his caresses. 

"I've been busy, too, " she was saying. "I sent Juan to the villageto learn the news, and it's not very nice. It's good we stoppedhere. He says Nuevo Pueblo has been destroyed, and the Federalforces are all moving south, away from the border. So our troublesaren't over yet. We must reach the river tonight. "

"Yes, by all means. "

"Juan is going with us as guide. "

"You arranged everything while I snoozed, eh? I'm ashamed ofmyself. "

Alaire nodded, then pretended to frown darkly. "You ought to be, "she told him. "While you were asleep I read your mail and--"

"My mail?" Dave was puzzled. 

"Exactly. Have you forgotten that your pockets were full ofunopened letters?"

"Oh, those! They came just as I was leaving Jonesville, and Ihaven't thought of them since. You know, I haven't had my clothesoff. "

"I'm going to read all your love letters, " she told him, threateningly. 

"Yes, and you're going to write all of them, too, " he laughed. 

But she shook a warning finger in his face. "I told you I'm ajealous person. I'm going to know all about you, past, present, and future. I--"

"Alaire! My darling!" he cried, and his face stiffened as if withpain. 

Still in a joyous mood, she teased him. "You had better tremble, I've found you out, deceiver. I know who you really are. "

"Who am I?"

"Don't you know?"

Dave shook his head. 

"Really? Have you never read your mother's will?"

Law rose to his elbow, then swung his legs to the floor. "What areyou talking about?" he asked. 

For answer Alaire handed him the frayed envelope and its contents. 

He examined it, and then said, heavily: "I see! I was expectingthis. It seems I've been carrying it around all this time--"

"Why don't you read it?" she insisted. "There's light enough thereby the window. I supposed you knew all about it or I wouldn't havejoked with you. "

He opened his lips to speak, but, seeing something in her eyes, hestepped to the window and read swiftly. A moment, and then heuttered a cry. 

"Alaire!" he exclaimed, hoarsely. "Read this--My eyes--O God!"

Wonderingly she took the sheets from his shaking hands and readaloud the paragraph he indicated: Fifth: I bequeath to my adoptedson, David, offspring of the unfortunate American woman who diedin my house at Escovedo--

Again Dave cried out and knelt at Alaire's feet, his arms abouther knees, his face buried in her dress. His shoulders wereheaving and his whole body was racked with sobs. 

Shocked, frightened, Alaire tried to raise him, but he encircledher in a tighter embrace. 

"Dave! What is it? What have I done?" she implored. "Have I hurtyou so?"

It was a long time before he could make known the significance ofthat paragraph, and when he finally managed to tell her about theterrible fear that had lain so heavily upon his soul it was inbroken, choking words which showed his deep emotion. The story wasout at last, however, and he stood over her transfigured. 

Alaire lifted her arms and placed them upon his shoulders. "Wereyou going to give me up for that?--for a shadow?"

"Yes. I had made up my mind. I wouldn't have dared marry you lastnight, but--I never expected to see today's sun. I didn't think itwould make much difference. It was more than a shadow, Alaire. Itwas real. I WAS mad--stark, staring mad--or in a fair way ofbecoming so. I suppose I brooded too much. Those violent spells, those wild moments I sometimes have, made me think it must betrue. I dare say they are no more than temper, but they seemed toprove all that Ellsworth suspected. "

"You must have thought me a very cowardly woman, " she told him. "It wouldn't have made the slightest difference to me, Dave. Wewould have met it together when it came, just as we'll meeteverything now--you and I, together. "

"My wife!" He laid his lips against her hair. 

They were standing beside the window, speechless, oblivious to allexcept their great love, when Dolores entered to tell them thatsupper was ready and that the horses were saddled. 

XXXII

THE DAWN

Juan Garcia proved to be a good guide, and he saved the refugeesmany miles on their road to the Rio Grande. But every farm andevery village was a menace, and at first they were forced to makenumerous detours. As the night grew older, however, they rode astraighter course, urging their horses to the limit, hopingagainst hope to reach the border before daylight overtook them. This they might have done had it not been for Father O'Malley andDolores, who were unused to the saddle and unable to maintain thepace Juan set for them. 

About midnight the party stopped on the crest of a flinty ridge togive their horses breath and to estimate their progress. The nightwas fine and clear; outlined against the sky were the stalks ofcountless sotol-plants standing slim and bare, like the uprightlances of an army at rest; ahead the road meandered across a mesa, covered with grama grass and black, formless blots of shrubbery. 

Father O'Malley groaned and shifted his weight. "Juan tells mewe'll never reach Romero by morning, at this rate, " he said; andDave was forced to agree. "I think you and he and Alaire hadbetter go on and leave Dolores and me to follow as best we can. "

Dolores plaintively seconded this suggestion. "I would rather beburned at the stake than suffer these agonies, " she confessed. "Mybones are broken. The devil is in this horse. "She began to weepsoftly. "Go, senora. Save yourself! It is my accursed fat stomachthat hinders me. Tell Benito that I perished breathing his name, and see to it, when he remarries, that he retains none of mytreasures. "

Alaire reassured her by saying: "We won't leave you. Be brave andmake the best of it. "

"Yes, grit your teeth and hold on, " Dave echoed. "We'll manage tomake it somehow. "

But progress was far slower than it should have been, and theelder woman continued to lag behind, voicing her distress ingroans and lamentations. The priest, who was made of sternerstuff, did his best to bear his tortures cheerfully. 

In spite of their efforts the first rosy heralds of dawndiscovered them still a long way from the river and just enteringa more thickly settled country. Daylight came swiftly, and Juanfinally gave them warning. 

"We can't go on; the danger is too great, " he told them. "If thesoldiers are still in Romero, what then?"

"Have you no friends hereabouts who would take us in?" Daveinquired. 

The Mexican shook his head. 

Dave considered for a moment. "You must hide here, " he told hiscompanions, "while I ride on to Romero and see what can be done. Isuspect Blanco's troops have left, and in that case everythingwill be all right. "

"Suppose they haven't?" Alaire inquired. All night she had been inthe lightest of moods, and had steadily refused to take theirperils seriously. Now her smile chased the frown from herhusband's face. 

"Well, perhaps I'll have breakfast with them, " he laughed. 

"Silly. I won't let you go, " she told him, firmly; and, readingthe expression in her face, he felt a dizzy wonder. "We'll find anice secluded spot; then we'll sit down and wait for night tocome. We'll pretend we're having a picnic. "

Dolores sighed at the suggestion. "That would be heaven, but therecan be no sitting down for me. "

Garcia, who had been standing in his stirrups scanning the long, flat road ahead, spoke sharply: "CARAMBA! Here come those verysoldiers now! See!"

Far away, but evidently approaching at a smart gait, was a body ofmounted men. After one look at them Dave cried:

"Into the brush, quick!" He hurried his companions ahead of him, and when they had gone perhaps a hundred yards from the road hetook Juan's Winchester, saying: "Ride in a little way farther andwait. I'm going back. If you hear me shoot, break for the river. Ride hard and keep under cover as much as possible. " Before theycould remonstrate he had wheeled Montrosa and was gone. 

This was luck, he told himself. Ten miles more and they would havebeen safe, for the Rio Grande is not a difficult river either toford or to swim. He dismounted and made his way on foot to a pointwhere he could command a view, but he had barely establishedhimself when he found Alaire at his side. 

"Go back, " he told her. But she would not, and so they waitedtogether. 

There were perhaps a dozen men in the approaching squad, and Davesaw that they were heavily accoutred. They rode fast, too, and attheir head galloped a large man under a wide-brimmed felt hat. Itsoon became evident that the soldiers were not uniformed. Therefore, Dave reasoned, they were not Federals, but moreprobably some Rebel scouting band from the south, and yet--Herubbed his eyes and stared again. 

Dave pressed forward eagerly, incredulously; the next instant hehad broken cover with a shout. Alaire was at his side, clappingher hands and laughing with excitement

The cavalcade halted; the big man tumbled from his saddle and camestraddling through the high grass, waving his hat and yelling. 

"Blaze! You old scoundrel!" Dave cried, and seized one of theranchman's palms while Alaire shook the other. 

"Say! We're right glad to see you-all, " Jones exclaimed. "Wereckoned you might be havin' a sort of unpleasantness withLongorio, so we organized up and came to get you. "

The other horsemen were crowding close now, and their greetingswere noisy. There were the two Guzman boys, Benito Gonzales, PhilStrange, and a number of Jonesville's younger and more adventurouscitizens. 

In the midst of the tumult Benito inquired for his wife, and Daverelieved his anxiety by calling Dolores and Father O'Malley. Then, in answer to the questions showered upon him, he swiftly sketchedthe story of Alaire's rescue and their flight from La Feria. 

When he had finished Blaze Jones drew a deep breath. "We're mightyglad you got out safe, but you've kicked the legs from under oneof my pet ambitions. I sure had planned to nail Longorio's hide onmy barn door. Yes, and you've taken the bread out of the mouths ofthe space writers and sob sisters from here to Hudson's Bay. MizAustin, your picture's in every newspaper in the country, and, believe me, it's the worst atrocity of the war. "

"War!" Father O'Malley had joined the group now, and he asked, "Has war been declared?"

"Not yet, but we've got hopes. " To Alaire Blaze explained:"Ellsworth's in Washington, wavin' the Stars and Stripes andsingin' battle hymns, but I reckon the government figures that theoriginal of those newspaper pictures would be safe anywhere. Well, we've got our own ideas in Jonesville, so some of us assembledourselves and declared war on our own hook. These gentlemen"--Blaze waved his hand proudly at his neighbors--"constitute theJonesville Guards, the finest body of American men that hasinvaded Mexican soil since me and Dave went after Ricardo Guzman'sremains. Blamed if I ain't sorry you sidetracked our expedition. "

It was evident, from the words of the others, that the JonesvilleGuards were indeed quite as heedless of internationalcomplications as was their commander. One and all were highlyincensed at Longorio's perfidy, and, had Alaire suggested such athing, it was patent that they would have ridden on to La Feriaand exacted a reckoning from him. 

Such proof of friendship affected her deeply, and it was not untilthey were all under way back toward Romero that she felt she hadmade her appreciation fully known. When she reflected that thesemen were some of the very neighbors whom she had shunned andslighted, and whose honest interest she had so habituallymisconstrued all these years, it seemed very strange that theyshould feel the least concern over her. It gave her a newappreciation of their chivalry and their worth; it filled her witha humble desire to know them better and to strengthen herself intheir regard. Then, too, the esteem in which they held Dave--herhusband--gratified her intensely. It made no more difference tothem than to her that he was a poor man, a man without authorityor position; they evidently saw and loved in him the qualitieswhich she saw and loved. And that was as it should be. 

They were gentle and considerate men, too, as she discovered whenthey told her, bit by bit, what had happened during her absence. She learned, much to her relief, that Ed's funeral had been held, and that all the distressing details of the inquiry had beenattended to. Jose Sanchez, it appeared, had confessed freely. Although her new friends made plain their indignation at themanner of Ed's taking off, they likewise let her know that theyconsidered his death only a slight loss, either to her or to thecommunity. Not one of them pretended it was anything except ablessing. 

The journey drew to an end very quickly. Romero, deserted now byits garrison, stirred and stared sleepily at the invaders, butconcerned itself with their presence no more than to wonder whythey laughed and talked so spiritedly. Plainly, these gringos werea barbarous race of people, what with their rushing here andthere, and with their loud, senseless laughter. God had wiselyplaced them beyond the Rio Grande, said the citizens of Romero. 

The crossing was made; Alaire found herself in Texas once again, and it seemed to her that the sun had never been so bright, theair so clear, the sky so high, the world so smiling, as here andnow. The men who had ridden forth to seek her were smiling, too, and they were shaking her hands and congratulating her. Even theGuzman boys, who were shy in the presence of American ladies, werewishing her the best of fortune and the greatest of happiness. 

Blaze Jones was the last to leave. With especial emphasis upon hername, he said: "Miz Austin, Paloma and me would like to have youcome to our house and stay until you feel like goin' back to LasPalmas. "

When Alaire declined with moistened eyes, explaining that shecould not well accept his invitation, he signified hisunderstanding. 

"We're goin' to see a lot of you, just the same, " he promised her, "'cause we feel as if you sort of belonged to us. There's a lot ofgood people in this part of Texas, and them that ain't so good Godand the Rangers is slowly weedin' out. We don't always know theones we like best until something happens to 'em, but if you'dheard the prayers the folks of Jonesville have been sayin' latelyyou'd know you was our favorite. " Then, with a meaning twinkle inhis eye, he told her, gravely: "It seems a pity that I ain'tyounger and better-lookin'. I would sure cut short your grief. "Then he raised his hat and rode away, chuckling. 

Alaire turned to Dave in dismay. "He knows!" she cried. 

"I'm afraid they all know. But don't worry; they'll respect ourwishes. "

Father O'Malley had ridden on ahead with Benito and Dolores; Daveand Alaire followed leisurely. Now that the moment of theirparting was at hand, they lingered by the way, delaying it as longas possible, feeling a natural constraint at what was in theirminds. 

"How long--will it be?" he asked her, finally. "How long before Ican really have you for my own?"

Alaire smiled into his eyes. "Not long. But you'll be patient, won't you, dear?"

He took her hand in his, and they rode on silently, a song in theheart of each of them. 

THE END