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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5099-8.txt b/5099-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..84ce61a --- /dev/null +++ b/5099-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13105 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Heart of the Sunset, by Rex Beach + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Heart of the Sunset + +Author: Rex Beach + +Posting Date: December 14, 2009 [EBook #5099] +Release Date: February, 2004 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEART OF THE SUNSET *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + +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 plaster hard. It +burned like hot slag, and except for a panting lizard here and there, +or a dust-gray jack-rabbit, startled from its covert, nothing animate +stirred upon its face. High and motionless in the blinding sky a +buzzard poised; long-tailed Mexican crows among the thorny branches +creaked and whistled, choked and rattled, snored and grunted; a dove +mourned inconsolably, and out of the air issued metallic insect +cries--the direction whence they came as unascertainable as their +source was hidden. + +Although the sun was half-way down the west, its glare remained +untempered, and the tantalizing shade of the sparse mesquite was more +of a trial than a comfort to the lone woman who, refusing its deceitful +invitation, plodded steadily over the waste. Stop, indeed, she dared +not. In spite of her fatigue, regardless of the torture from feet and +limbs unused to walking, she must, as she constantly assured herself, +keep going until strength failed. So far, fortunately, she had kept her +head, and she retained sufficient reason to deny the fanciful +apprehensions which clamored for audience. If she once allowed herself +to become panicky, she knew, she would fare worse--far worse--and now, +if ever, 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, devoid of +landmarks and lacking well-defined water-courses. The unending mesquite +with its first spring foliage resembled a limitless peach-orchard sown +by some careless and unbelievably prodigal hand. Out of these false +acres occasional knolls and low stony hills lifted themselves so that +one came, now and then, to vantage-points where the eye leaped for +great distances across imperceptible valleys to horizons so far away +that the scattered tree-clumps were blended into an unbroken carpet of +green. To the woman these outlooks were unutterably depressing, merely +serving to reveal the vastness of the desolation about her. + +At the crest of such a rise she paused and studied the country +carefully, but without avail. She felt dizzily for the desert bag swung +from her shoulder, only to find it flat and dry; the galvanized +mouthpiece burned her fingers. With a little shock she remembered that +she had done this very thing several times before, and her repeated +forgetting frightened her, since it seemed to show that her mind had +been slightly unbalanced by the heat. That perhaps explained why the +distant horizon swam and wavered so. + +In all probability a man situated as she was would have spoken aloud, +in an endeavor to steady himself; but this woman did nothing of the +sort. Seating herself in the densest shade she could find--it was +really no shade at all--she closed her eyes and relaxed--no easy thing +to do in such a stifling temperature and when her throat was aching +with drought. + +At length she opened her eyes again, only to find that she could make +out nothing familiar. Undoubtedly she was lost; the water-hole might be +anywhere. She listened tensely, and the very air seemed to listen with +her; the leaves hushed their faint whisperings; 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 with hers, yet no sound came save only the monotonous +crescendo and diminuendo of those locust-cries coming out of nowhere +and retreating into the voids. At last, as if satisfied, the leaves +began to whisper softly again. + +Away to her left lay the yellow flood of the Rio Grande, but the woman, +though tempted to swing in that direction, knew better than to yield. +At least twenty miles of barrens lay between, and she told herself that +she could never cover such a distance. No, the water-hole was nearer; +it must be close at hand. If she could only think a little more +clearly, she could locate it. Once more she tried, as she had tried +many times before, to recall the exact point where she had shot her +horse, and to map in her mind's eye the foot-weary course she had +traveled from that point onward. + +Desert travel was nothing new to her, thirst and fatigue were old +acquaintances, yet she could not help wondering if, in spite of her +training, in spite of that inborn sense of direction which she had +prided herself upon sharing with the wild creatures, she were fated to +become a victim of the chaparral. The possibility was remote; death at +this moment seemed as far off as ever--if anything it was too far off. +No, she would find the water-hole somehow; or the unexpected would +happen, as it always did when one was 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 her +shoulder and the loose cartridge-belt at her hip, then set her dusty +feet down the slope. + +Day died lingeringly. The sun gradually lost its cruelty, but a partial +relief from the heat merely emphasized the traveler's thirst and +muscular distress. Onward she plodded, using her eyes as carefully as +she knew how. She watched the evening flight of the doves, thinking to +guide herself by their course, but she was not shrewd enough to read +the signs correctly. The tracks she found were old, for the most part, +and they led in no particular direction, nowhere uniting into anything +like a trail. She wondered, if she could bring herself to drink the +blood of a jack-rabbit, and if it would quench her thirst. But the +thought was repellent, and, besides, she was not a good shot with a +revolver. Nor did the cactus offer any relief, since it was only just +coming into bloom, and as yet bore no fruit. + +The sun had grown red and huge when at last in the hard-baked dirt she +discovered fresh hoof-prints. These seemed to lead along the line in +which she was traveling, and she followed them gladly, encouraged when +they were joined by others, for, although they meandered aimlessly, +they formed something more like a trail than anything she had as yet +seen. Guessing at their general direction, she hurried on, coming +finally into a region where the soil was shallow and scarcely served to +cover the rocky substratum. A low bluff rose on her left, and along its +crest scattered Spanish daggers were raggedly silhouetted against the +sky. + +She was in a well-defined path now; she tried to run, but her legs were +heavy; she stumbled a great deal, and her breath made strange, +distressing sounds as it issued from her open lips. Hounding the steep +shoulder of the ridge, she hastened down a declivity into a knot of +scrub-oaks and ebony-trees, then halted, staring ahead of her. + +The nakedness of the stony arroyo, the gnarled and stunted thickets, +were softened by the magic of twilight; the air had suddenly cooled; +overhead the empty, flawless sky was deepening swiftly from blue to +purple; the chaparral had awakened and echoed now to the sounds of +life. Nestling in a shallow, flinty bowl was a pool of water, and on +its brink a little fire was burning. + +It was a tiny fire, overhung with a blackened pot; the odor of +greasewood and mesquite smoke was sharp. A man, rising swiftly to his +feet at the first sound, was staring at the new-comer; he was as alert +as any wild thing. But the woman scarcely heeded him. She staggered +directly toward the pond, seeing nothing after the first glance except +the water. She would have flung herself full length upon the edge, but +the man stepped forward and stayed her, then placed a tin cup in her +hand. She mumbled something in answer to his greeting and the hoarse, +raven-like croak in her voice startled her; then she drank, with +trembling eagerness, drenching the front of her dress. The water was +warm, but it was clean and delicious. + +"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 grateful that +she was tempted to fling herself bodily into the pool. The man was +still talking, but she took no heed of what he said. Then at last she +sank back, her feet curled under her, her body sagging, her head +drooping. She felt the stranger's hands beneath her arms, felt herself +lifted to a more comfortable position. Without asking permission, the +stranger unlaced first one, then the other of her dusty boots, seeming +not to notice her weak attempt at resistance. Once he had placed her +bare feet in the water, she forgot her resentment in the intense relief. + +The man left her seated in a collapsed, semi-conscious state, and went +back to his fire. For the time she was too tired to do more than refill +the drinking-cup occasionally, or to wet her face and arms, but as her +pores drank greedily her exhaustion lessened and her vitality returned. + +It was dark when for the first time she turned her head toward the +camp-fire and stared curiously at the figure there. The appetizing odor +of broiling bacon had drawn her attention, and as if no move went +unnoticed the man said, without lifting his eyes: + +"Let 'em soak! Supper'll be ready directly. How'd you like your +eggs--if we had any?" + +Evidently he expected no reply, for after a chuckle he began to whistle +softly, in a peculiarly clear and liquid tone, almost like some +bird-call. He had spoken with an unmistakable Texas drawl; the woman +put him down at once for a cowboy. She settled her back against a +boulder and rested. + +The pool had become black and mysterious, the sky was studded with +stars when he called her, and she laboriously drew on her stockings and +boots. Well back from the fire he had arranged a seat for her, using a +saddle-blanket for a covering, and upon this she lowered herself +stiffly. As she did so she took fuller notice of 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 strong enough +to walk on its hands, and I reckon about two cups of it'll rastle you +into shape." As she raised the tin mug to her lips he waved a hand and +smiled. "Drink hearty!" He set a plate of bread and bacon in her lap, +then opened a glass jar of jam. "Here's the dulces. I've got a sort of +sweet tooth in my head. I reckon you'll have to make out with this, +'cause I rode in too late to rustle any fresh meat, and the +delivery-wagon won't be 'round before morning." 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 watched her through +the smoke from a husk cigarette. It was perhaps fortunate for her peace +of mind that she could not correctly interpret his expression, for had +she been able to do so she would have realized something of the turmoil +into which her presence had thrown him. He was accustomed to meeting +men in unexpected places--even in the desert's isolation--but to have a +night camp in the chaparral 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 of +his solitary habits. + +"Have you had your supper?" she finally inquired. + +"Who, me? Oh, I'll eat with the help." He smiled, and when his flashing +teeth showed white against his leathery tan the woman decided he was +not at all bad-looking. He was very tall and quite lean, with the long +legs of a horseman--this latter feature accentuated by his high-heeled +boots and by the short canvas cowboy coat that reached only to his +cartridge-belt. His features she could not well make out, for the fire +was little more than a bed of coals, and he fed it, Indian-like, with a +twig or two at a time. + +"I beg your pardon. I'm selfish." She extended her cup and plate as an +invitation for him to share their contents. "Please eat with me." + +But he refused. "I ain't hungry," he affirmed. "Honest!" + +Accustomed as she was to the diffidence of ranch-hands, she refrained +from urging him, and proceeded with her repast. When she had 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 I made +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 ten +miles straightaway, and I reckon you came crooked. Eh?" + +"Yes. And it was very hot. I was never here but once, and--the country +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 fact appeared +to please him, for he nodded again as he went on with his meal. "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 East outfit, +or some of the other big cattle-ranches in the Hebbronville district. +Probably he was a range boss or a foreman. After a time she said, "I +suppose the nearest ranch is that Balli place?" + +"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 in the +morning." + +He looked up at her from under the brim of his hat. "D'you reckon you +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?" he asked. +"I reckon you need a good rest about as much as anybody I ever 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 to stay +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." Heedless of +her dismay, he continued, "Yes'm, about sundown." + +"But--I can't stay here. I'll ride to Balli's and have your horse back +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't +interfere with your appointment to let me--" + +Law smiled slowly, and, setting his plate aside, selected a fresh +cigarette; then as he reached for a coal he explained: + +"I haven't got what you'd exactly call an appointment. This feller I'm +expectin' is a Mexican, and day before yesterday he killed a man over +in Jim Wells County. They got me by 'phone at Hebbronville 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. I was 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 my man +comes. Do you live around here?" The speaker looked up inquiringly, and +after an instant's hesitation the woman said, quietly: + +"I am Mrs. Austin." She was grateful for the gloom that hid her face. +"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 when we had +that fight near there." + +"You were a Maderista?" + +"Yes'm. Machine-gun man. That's a fine country over there. Seems like +God Almighty got mixed and put the Mexicans on the wrong side of the +Rio Grande. But I reckon you haven't seen much of La Feria since 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 La Feria." + +Law shrugged his broad shoulders. "Oh, well, the revolution isn't over! +A ranch in Mexico is my idea of a bad investment." He rose and, taking +his blanket, sought a favorable spot upon which to spread it. Then he +helped Mrs. Austin to her feet--her muscles had stiffened until she +could barely stand--after which he fetched his saddle for a pillow. He +made no apologies for his meager hospitality, nor did his guest expect +any. + +When he had staked out his horse for the night he returned to find the +woman rolled snugly in her covering, as in a cocoon. The dying embers +flickered into flame and lit her hair redly. She had laid off her felt +Stetson, and one loosened braid lay over her hard pillow. Thinking her +asleep, Law stood motionless, making no attempt 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 tame him. +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 his +slicker, turned away. + +As he lay staring up through the thorny mesquite branches that roofed +him inadequately from the dew he marveled mightily. A bright, +steady-burning star peeped through the leaves at him, and as he watched +it he remembered that this red-haired woman with the still, white face +was known far and wide through the lower valley as "The Lone Star." +Well, he mused, the name fitted her; she was, if reports were true, +quite as mysterious, quite as cold and fixed and unapproachable, as the +title implied. Knowledge of her identity had come as a shock, for Law +knew something of her history, and to find her suing for his protection +was quite thrilling. Tales of her pale beauty were common and not tame, +but she was all and more than she had been described. And yet why had +no one told him she was so young? This woman's youth and attractiveness +amazed him; he felt that he had made a startling discovery. Was she so +cold, after all, or was she merely reserved? Red hair above a pure +white face; a woman's form wrapped in his blanket; ripe red lips +caressing the rim of his mean drinking-cup! Those were things to think +about. Those were pictures for a lonely man. + +She had not been too proud and cold to let him help her. In her fatigue +she had allowed him to lift her and to make her more comfortable. Hot +against his palms--palms unaccustomed to the touch of woman's flesh--he +felt the contact of her naked feet, as at the moment when he had placed +them in the cooling water. Her feeble resistance had only called +attention to her sex--to the slim whiteness of her ankles beneath her +short riding-skirt. + +Following his first amazement at beholding her had come a fantastic +explanation of her presence--for a moment or two it had seemed as if +the fates had taken heed of his yearnings and had sent her to him out +of the dusk--wild fancies, like these, bother men who are much alone. +Of course he had not dreamed that she was the mistress of Las Palmas. +That altered matters, and yet--they were to spend a long idle day +together. If the Mexican did not come, another night like this would +follow, and she was virtually his 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 their traces. +The toxins of fatigue not only poisoned her muscles with aches and +pains, but drugged her brain and rendered the night a long succession +of tortures during which she experienced for a second time the agonies +of thirst and fatigue and despair. Extreme physical ordeals, like +profound emotional upheavals, leave imprints upon the brain, and while +the body may recover quickly, it often requires considerable time to +rest exhausted nerves. The finer the nervous organism, the slower is +the process of recuperation. Like most normal women, Alaire had a +surprising amount of endurance, both nervous and muscular, but, having +drawn heavily against her reserve force, she paid the penalty. During +the early hours of the night she slept hardly at all, and as soon as +her bodily discomfort began to decrease her mind became unruly. Twice +she rose and limped to the water-hole for a drink, and it was not until +nearly dawn that she dropped off into complete unconsciousness. She was +awakened by a sunbeam which pierced her leafy shelter and with hot +touch explored her upturned face. + +It was still early; the sun had just cleared the valley's rim and the +ground was damp with dew. Somewhere near by an unfamiliar bird was +sweetly trilling. Alaire listened dreamily until the bird-carol changed +to the air of a familiar cowboy song, then she sat up, queerly startled. + +David Law was watering his horse, grooming the animal meanwhile with a +burlap doth. Such attention was unusual in a stock country where horses +run wild, but this horse, Mrs. Austin saw, justified unusual care. It +was a beautiful blood-bay mare, and as the woman looked it lifted its +head, then with wet, trembling muzzle caressed its owner's cheek. +Undoubtedly this attention was meant for a kiss, and was as daintily +conferred as any woman's favor. It brought a reward in a lump of sugar. +There followed an exhibition of equine delight; the mare's lips +twitched, her nose wrinkled ludicrously, she stretched her neck and +tossed her head as the sweetness tickled her palate. Even the nervous +switching of her tail was eloquent of pleasure. Meanwhile the owner +showed his white teeth in a smile. + +"Good morning," said Mrs. Austin. + +Law lifted his hat in a graceful salute as he approached around the +edge of the pool, his spurs jingling musically. The mare followed. + +"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." Law paused, +and the mare, with sharp ears cocked forward, looked over his shoulder +inquisitively. "Tell the lady good morning, Bessie Belle," he directed. +The animal flung its head high, then stepped forward and, stretching +its neck, sniffed doubtfully at the visitor. + +"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 plumb +ignorant. But she's got all the airs of a fine lady now. Sometimes I 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 Belle tossed her head +high. "That's 'yes,' with the reverse English," the speaker explained. +"Now you just rest yourself, ma'am, and order 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 sure be +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 the arroyo, +then returned, and, taking his Winchester from its scabbard, explained: +"There's a pair of 'top-knots' on that side-hill waitin' for a drink. +Watch 'em run into my lap when I give the distress signal of our secret +order." He skirted the water-hole, and seated himself with his heels +together and his elbows propped upon his spread knees in the military +position for close shooting. From where he sat he commanded an +unobstructed view of the thicket's edge. Next he moistened his lips and +uttered an indescribable low whistle. At intervals he repeated the +call, while the woman looked on with interest. Suddenly out of the +grass burst a blue quail, running with wings outstretched and every +feather ruffled angrily. It paused, the man's cheeks snuggled against +the stock of his gun, and the bark of the thirty-thirty sounded loudly. +Mrs. Austin saw that he had shot the little bird's head off. She spoke, +but he stilled her with a gesture, threw in a second shell, and +repeated his magic call. There was a longer wait this time, but finally +the performance was repeated. The marksman rose, 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 good shot." + +"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 snake has +got me. I reckon each one thinks the other is in trouble and comes to +the rescue. Anyhow, it's a mighty mean trick." + +He would not permit her to help with the breakfast, so she lay back +enjoying the luxury of her hard bed and watching her host, whose +personality, now that she saw him by daylight, had begun to challenge +her interest. Of late years she had purposely avoided men, and +circumstances had not permitted her to study those few she had been +forced to meet; but now that fate had thrown her into the company of +this stranger, she permitted some play to her curiosity. + +Physically Law was of an admirable make--considerably over six feet in +height, with wide shoulders and lean, strong limbs. Although his face +was schooled to mask all but the keenest emotions, the deftness of his +movements was eloquent, betraying that complete muscular and nervous +control which comes from life in the open. A pair of blue-gray, +meditative eyes, with a whimsical fashion of wrinkling half-shut when +he talked, relieved a countenance that otherwise would have been a +trifle grim and somber. The nose was prominent and boldly arched, the +ears large and pronounced and standing well away from the head; the +mouth was thin-lipped and mobile. Alaire tried to read that bronzed +visage, with little success until she closed her eyes and regarded the +mental image. Then she found the answer: Law had the face and the head +of a hunter. The alert ears, the watchful eyes, the predatory nose were +like those of some hunting animal. Yes, that was decidedly the +strongest impression he gave. And yet in his face there was nothing +animal in a bad sense. Certainly it showed no grossness. The man was +wild, untamed, rather than sensual, and despite his careless use of the +plains vernacular he seemed to be rather above the average in education +and intelligence. At any rate, without being stupidly tongue-tied, he +knew enough to remain silent when there was nothing to say, and that +was a blessing, for Mrs. Austin herself was not talkative, and idle +chatter distressed her. + +On the whole, when Alaire had finished her analysis she rather resented +the good impression Law had made upon her, for on general principles +she chose to dislike and distrust men. Rising, she walked painfully to +the pond and made a leisurely toilet. + +Breakfast was ready when she returned, and once more the man sat upon +his heels and smoked while she ate. Alaire could not catch his eyes +upon her, except when he spoke, at which time his gaze was direct and +open; yet never did she feel free from his intensest observation. + +After a while she remarked: "I'm glad to see a Ranger in this county. +There has been a lot of stealing down our way, and the Association men +can't seem to stop it. Perhaps you can." + +"The Rangers have a reputation in that line," he admitted. "But there +is stealing all up and down the border, since the war. You lost any +stuff?" + +"Yes. Mostly horses." + +"Sure! They need horses in Mexico." + +"The ranchers have organized. They have formed a sort of vigilance +committee in each town, and talk of using bloodhounds." + +"Bloodhounds ain't any good, outside of novels. If beef got scarce, +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 got in 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 express her +surprise without too personal an implication. "I can't imagine +anybody--that is, a man like you, as a common soldier." + +"Well, I wasn't exactly that," he grinned. "No, I was about the most +UNcommon soldier out there. I had a speakin' acquaintance with most of +the guard-houses in the islands before I got through." + +"But why did you enlist--a man like you?" + +"Why?" He pondered the question. "I was young. I guess I needed the +excitement. I have to get about so much or I don't enjoy my food." + +"Did you join the Maderistas for excitement?" + +"Mostly. Then, too, I believed Panchito Madero was honest and would +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 they are +told to fight. There is no PATRIOTISM in them," said she. + +"I think," he said, with grave deliberateness, "the majority feel +something big and vague and powerful stirring inside them. They don't +know exactly what it is, perhaps, but it is there. Mexico has outgrown +her dictators. They have been overthrown by the same causes that +brought on the French Revolution." + +"The French Revolution!" Alaire leaned forward, eying the speaker with +startled intensity. "You don't talk like a--like an enlisted man. What +do you know about the French Revolution?" + +Reaching for a coal, the Ranger spoke without facing her. "I've read 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't suppose 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 a native," 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, and +something 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 of adventure and a happy lack +of settled purpose had led him to neglect his more commonplace +opportunities and sent him first into the army and thence into the +Ranger service. The world is full of such, and the frontier is their +gathering-place. Mrs. Austin had met a number of men like Law, and to +her they seemed to be the true soldiers of fortune--fellows who lived +purely for the fun of living, and leavened their days with adventure. +They were buoyant souls, for the most part, drifting with the tide, +resentful of authority and free from care; meeting each day with +enthusiastic expectancy for what it held in store. They were restless +and improvident; the world counted them ne'er-do-wells, and yet she +knew that at least their hours were full and that their names--some of +them--were written large in the distant places. Alaire Austin often +told herself that, had she been born a man, such a life as this might +have been hers, and she took pleasure in dreaming sometimes of the +experience that fate, in such a case, would have brought to her. + +Being a woman, however, and being animated at this particular moment by +a peculiarly feminine impulse, she felt urged to add her own touch to +what nature had roughed out. This man had been denied what she termed +an education; therefore she decided to put one in his way. + +"Do you like to read?" she asked him. + +"Say! It's my favorite form of exercise." Law's blue-gray eyes were +expressionless, his face was bland. "Why?" + +"I have a great many books at Las Palmas. You might enjoy some of them." + +"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 come +borrowin'." + +"Oh, I'll send you a boxful when I get back," said Alaire, and Dave +thanked her humbly. + +Later, when he went to move his mare into a shady spot, the Ranger +chuckled and slapped his thigh with his hat. "Bessie Belle, we're going +to improve our minds," he said, aloud. "We're going to be literary and +read Pilgrim's Progress and Alice in Wonderland. I bet we'll enjoy 'em, +eh? But--doggone! She's a nice lady, and your coat 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 the heat of +the forenoon she dozed. + +Asleep she exercised upon him an even more disturbing effect than when +awake, for now he could study her beauty deliberately, from the loose +pile of warm, red hair to the narrow, tight-laced boots. What he saw +was altogether delightful. Her slightly parted lips offered an +irresistible attraction--almost an invitation; the heat had lent a +feverish flush to her cheeks; Dave could count the slow pulsations of +her white throat. He closed his eyes and tried to quell his unruly +longings. He was a strong man; adventurous days and nights spent in the +open had coarsened the masculine side of his character, perhaps at +expense to his finer nature, for it is a human tendency to revert. He +was masterful and ruthless; lacking obligations or responsibilities of +any sort, he had been accustomed to take what he wanted; therefore the +gaze he fixed upon the sleeping woman betrayed an ardor calculated to +deepen the color in her cheeks, had she beheld it. + +And yet, strangely enough, Dave realized that his emotions were +unaccountably mixed. This woman's distress had, of course, brought a +prompt and natural response; but now her implicit confidence in his +honor and her utter dependence upon him awoke his deepest chivalry. +Then, too, the knowledge that her life was unhappy, indeed tragic, +filled him with a sort of wondering pity. As he continued to look at +her these feelings grew until finally he turned away his face. With his +chin in his hands he stared out somberly into the blinding heat. He had +met few women, of late years, and never one quite like this--never one, +for instance, who made 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, and since +there was really nothing for her to do until the heat abated, Alaire, +when she awoke, obliged the Ranger to amuse her. + +Although she was in fact younger than he, married life had matured her, +and she treated him therefore like a boy. Law did not object. Mrs. +Austin's position in life was such that most men were humble in her +presence, and now her superior wisdom seemed to excite the Ranger's +liveliest admiration. Only now and then, as if in an unguarded moment, +did he appear to forget himself and speak with an authority equaling +her own. What he said at such times indicated either a remarkably +retentive memory or else an ability to think along original lines too +rare among men of his kind to be easily credited. + +For instance, during a discussion of the Mexican situation--and of +course their talk drifted thither, for at the moment it was the one +vitally interesting topic along the border--he excused the barbarous +practices of the Mexican soldiers by saying: + +"Of course they're cruel, vindictive, treacherous, but after all there +are only a hundred and forty generations between us and Adam; only a +hundred and forty lifetimes since the Garden of Eden. We civilized +peoples are only a lap or two ahead of the uncivilized ones. When you +think that it takes ten thousand generations to develop a plant and +root out some of its early heredities, you can see that human beings +have a long way yet to go 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-browned cowboy +sitting cross-legged under a mesquite-tree. + +From under her hat-brim Alaire Austin eyed the speaker with a curiosity +into which there had come a vague hostility. For the moment she was +suspicious and piqued, but Law did not appear to notice, and as he +talked on her doubts gradually subsided. + +"You said, last night, that you were born on the other side?" She +inclined her ruddy head to the west. + +"Yes'm. My father was a mining man, and he done well over there until +he locked horns with the Guadalupes. Old Don Enrique and him had a +run-in at the finish, over some land or something. It was when the Don +was gobbling all the property in the state, and laying the foundation +for his big fortune. You know he had permission from the president to +steal all the land he cared to, just like the rest of those local +governors had. Well, Guadalupe tried 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 good +Americans been killed in Mexico and nothing done about it, even in our +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 the Philippines the +Madero fuss was just brewing, so I went over and joined it. But it +didn't last long, and there wasn't enough fighting to suit me. I've +been back, off and on, since, and I've burned a good deal of Guadalupe +property and swum a good many head of Guadalupe stock." + +As the morning progressed Law proved himself an interesting companion, +and in spite of the discomforts of the situation the hours slipped past +rapidly. Luncheon was a disagreeable meal, eaten while the arroyo baked +and the heat devils danced on the hills; but the unpleasantness was of +brief duration, and Law always managed to banish boredom. Nor did he +seem to waste a thought upon the nature of that grim business which +brought him to this place. Quite the contrary, in the afternoon he put +his mare through her tricks for Alaire's edification, and gossiped idly +of whatever 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 safer covert. + +Returning, he carefully obliterated all traces of the camp. He watered +the ashes of the fire, gathered up the tell-tale scraps of paper and +fragments of food, and then when the place suited him fell 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 stay there, +ma'am. It may be a long wait, for something may have happened. If so +we'll have to lie close. And don't worry yourself none, ma'am; he won't +make no trouble." + +The afternoon drew to a close. Gradually the blinding white glare of +the sun lessened and yellowed, the shadow of the bluffs began to +stretch out. The shallow pool lay silent, deserted save for furtive +little shapes that darted nervously out of the leaves, or for 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 cowered low +in her hiding-place. But it was only the advance-guard of a bunch 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 remotest edge of the tanque, +then, alarmed at some imaginary sight or sound, went clattering up the +ravine. + +Once again the water-hole lay sleeping. + +Alaire's retreat was far from comfortable; there was an ants' nest +somewhere near her and she thought of moving; but suddenly her breath +caught and her heart jumped uncontrollably. She crouched lower, for +directly opposite her position, and outlined against the sky where the +sharp ridge cut it, was the figure of a mounted man. Rider and horse +were silhouetted against the pearl-gray heaven like an equestrian +statue. How long they had been there Alaire had no faintest notion. +Perhaps it was their coming which had alarmed the cattle. She was +conscious that a keen and hostile pair of eyes was searching the +coverts surrounding the charco. Then, as silently as it had appeared, +the apparition vanished beyond the ridge, and Alaire wondered if the +rider had taken alarm. She earnestly hoped so; this breathless vigil +was getting on her nerves, and the sight of that threatening figure had +set her pulses to throbbing. The rider was on his guard, that was +plain; he was armed, too, and probably desperate. The ominous +possibilities of this ambush struck her forcibly. + +Alaire lay close, as she had been directed, praying that the horseman +had been warned; but shortly she heard again the rustle of stiff +branches, and out into the opening rode a Mexican. He was astride a +wiry gray pony, and in the strong twilight Alaire could see his every +feature--the swarthy cheeks, the roving eyes beneath the black felt +hat. A carbine lay across his saddle-horn, a riata was coiled beside +his leg, a cartridge-belt circled his waist. There was something +familiar about the fellow, but at the moment Alaire could not determine +what it was. + +After one swift appraising glance the new-comer rode straight to the +verge of the water-hole and dismounted; then he and his horse drank +side by side. + +It was the moment for a complete and effective surprise, but nothing +happened. Why didn't Law act? Alaire bent low, straining eyes and ears, +but no command came from the Ranger. After a while the traveler rose to +his feet and stretched his limbs. Next he walked to the ashes of the +fire and looked down at them, stirring them 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 the possibility; this +delay was beyond her comprehension. + +Then, as if in answer to her perplexity, a second horseman appeared, +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 second +rider flung himself from his saddle and made for the water. He was +lying prone and drinking deeply when out of nowhere came a sharp +command. + +"Oiga! Hands up, both of you!" + +The first arrival jumped as if a rattlesnake had buzzed at his back, +the second leaped to his feet with an oath; they stared in the +direction whence the voice had come. + +"Drop your gun, companero!" The order was decisive; it was directed at +the man who had first appeared, for the other had left his 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 dark +hands rose slowly. Then the Ranger went on in Spanish: + +"Anto, lower your left hand and unbuckle your belt." Anto did as he was +told, his revolver and cartridge-belt dropped to the ground. "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. He +emptied the three discarded weapons, then, walking to Anto's horse, he +removed the second carbine from beneath the saddle-flap and 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, señor. Before God, I have done nothing." +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, both +prisoners burst into clamorous explanation of their presence together. +Panfilo, it seemed, had encountered his companion purely by chance, and +was horrified now to learn that his newly made friend was wanted by the +authorities. In the midst of his incoherent protestations Mrs. Austin +appeared. + +"He is telling you the truth, Mr. Law," she said, quietly. "He is one +of my men." + +Both Mexicans looked blank. At sight of the speaker their mouths fell +open, and Panfilo ceased his gesticulations. + +Mrs. Austin went on: "He is my horse-breaker's cousin. He couldn't have +had any part in that murder in Jim Wells County, for he was at Las +Palmas when I left." + +Panfilo recovered from his amazement, removed his sombrero, and blessed +his employer extravagantly; then he turned triumphantly upon his +captor. "Behold!" cried he. "There you have the truth. I am an +excellent, hard-working man and as honest as God." + +"Surely you don't want him," Alaire appealed to Law. "He was probably +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. "Now then, +boys, it will soon be dark and we'll need some supper before we start. +It won't hurt Anto's horse to rest a bit, either. You are under +arrest," he added, addressing the latter. "You understand what that +means?" + +"Si, señor!" + +"I won't tie you unless--" + +"No, señor!" Anto understood perfectly, and was grateful. + +"Well, then, build a fire, and you, Panfilo, lend a hand. The señora +will need a cup of tea, for we three have a long ride ahead of us." + +No time was lost. Both Mexicans fell to with a will, and in a +surprisingly short time water was boiling. When it came Law's turn to +eat, Alaire, who was eager to be gone, directed her employee to fetch +the Ranger's horse. Panfilo acquiesced readily and buckled on his +cartridge-belt and six-shooter. He was about to pick up his rifle, too, +but finding Law's eyes inquiringly fixed upon him, he turned with a +shrug and disappeared down the arroyo. It was plain that he considered +his friendly relations well established and resented the Ranger's +suspicion. + +"How long has that fellow been working for you?" Law jerked his head 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 all right." + +"Is he looking up range for you?" + +"N--no! I left him at the ranch. I don't know how he came to be here, +unless--It IS rather strange!" + +Dave shot a swift, interrogatory glance at Panfilo's traveling +companion, but Anto's face was stony, his black eyes were fixed upon +the fire. + +With an abrupt gesture Law flung aside the contents of his cup and +strode to Panfilo's horse, which stood dejectedly with reins hanging. + +"Where are you--going?" Alaire rose nervously. + +It was nearly dark now; only the crests of the ridges were plain +against the luminous sky; in the brushy bottom of the arroyo the +shadows were deep. Alaire had no wish to be left alone with the +prisoner. + +With bridle-rein and carbine in his left hand, the Ranger halted, then, +stooping for Anto's discarded cartridge-belt, he looped it over his +saddle-horn. He vaulted easily into the seat, saying: + +"I hid that mare pretty well. Your man may not be able to find her." +Then he turned his borrowed horse's head toward the brush. + +Anto had squatted motionless until this moment; he had not even turned +his eyes; but now, without the slightest warning, he uttered a loud +call. It might have served equally well as a summons or as an alarm, +but it changed the Ranger's suspicions into certainty. Dave uttered an +angry exclamation, then to the startled woman he cried: + +"Watch this man! He can't hurt you, for I've got his shells." To his +prisoner he said, sharply: "Stay where you are! Don't move!" The next +instant he had loped into the brush on the tracks of Panfilo Sanchez, +spurring the tired gray pony into vigorous action. + +It was an uncomfortable situation in which Alaire now found herself. +Law was too suspicious, she murmured to herself; he was needlessly +melodramatic; she felt exceedingly ill at ease as the pony's hoof-beats +grew fainter. She was not afraid of Anto, having dealt with Mexican +vaqueros for several years, yet she could not forget that he was a +murderer, and she wondered what she was expected to do if he should try +to escape. It was absurd to suppose that Panfilo, her own hired man, +could be capable of treachery; the mere suspicion was a sort of +reflection upon her. + +Alaire was startled by hearing other hoof-beats now; their drumming +came faint but unmistakable. Yes, there were two horses racing down the +arroyo. Anto, the fugitive, rose to his feet and stared into the dusk. +"Sit down!" Alaire ordered, sharply. He obeyed, muttering beneath his +breath, but his head was turned as if in an effort to follow the sounds +of the pursuit. + +Next came the distant rattle of loosened stones--evidently one horse +was being urged toward the open high ground--then the peaceful quiet +evening was split by the report of Law's thirty-thirty. Another shot +followed, and then a third. Both Alaire and her prisoner were on their +feet, the woman shaking in every limb, the Mexican straining his eyes +into the gloom and listening intently. + +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 Alaire felt she +must be dreaming, or that there had been some idiotic mistake. She +wondered if the Ranger's sudden charge had not simply frightened +Panfilo into a panicky flight, and she tried to put her thoughts into +words the Mexican would understand, but his answer was unintelligible. +His black scowl, however, was eloquent of uncertainty and apprehension. + +Alaire had begun to feel the strain of the situation and was trying to +decide what next to do, when David Law came riding out of the twilight. +He was astride the gray; behind him at the end of a 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 with +fury; he seemed gigantic in his rage. Without a word he raised his +right hand and cuffed the Mexican to his knees. Then he leaped upon +him, as a dog might pounce upon a rabbit, rolled him to his face, 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's grasp. Law knelt +upon him, and with a jerk of his riata secured the fellow's wrists; +rising, he set the knot with another heave that dragged the prisoner to +his knees. Next he booted Anto to his feet. + +"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 turned upon +her. The man's face was contorted, his eyes were blazing insanely, his +chest was heaving, and for an instant he seemed to include her in his +anger. Ignoring her inquiry, he went to his mare and ran his shaking +hands over her as if in search of an injury; his questing palms covered +every inch of glistening hide from forelock to withers, from shoulder +to hoof, and under cover of 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 snuggles close +to the man of her choice, he addressed the mare: "I reckon nobody is +going to steal you, eh? Not if I know it. No, sir; that hombre wasn't +any good, was he?" + +Alaire wet her lips. "Then you--shot him?" + +Law laughed grimly, almost mockingly. "Say! He must be a favorite of +yours?" + +"N-no! I hardly knew the fellow. But--did you?" + +"I didn't say I shot him," he told her, gruffly. "I warned him first, +and he turned on me--blew smoke in my face. Then he took to the brush, +afoot, and--I cut down on him once more to help him along." + +"He got away?" + +"I reckon so." + +"Oh, oh!" Alaire's tone left no doubt of her relief. "He was always a +good man--" + +"Good? Didn't he steal my horse? Didn't he aim to get me at the first +chance and free his compadre? That's why he wanted his Winchester. Say! +I reckon he--needs killin' about as much as anybody 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 his head +in Anto's direction. "I was afraid he--he'd try something. If he had--" +Such a possibility, oddly enough, seemed to choke the speaker, 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's go." + +The stars had thickened and brightened, rounding the night sky into a +glittering dome. Anto, the murderer, with his ankles lashed beneath his +horse's belly, rode first; next, in a sullen silence, came the Ranger, +his chin upon his breast; and in the rear followed Alaire Austin. + +In spite of her release from a trying predicament, the woman was +scarcely more eager to go home than was the prisoner, for while Anto's +trail led to a jail, hers led to Las Palmas, and there was little +difference. These last two days in the open had been like a glimpse of +freedom; for a time Alaire had almost lost the taste of bitter +memories. It had required an effort of will to drug remembrance, but +she had succeeded, and had proven her ability to forget. But now--Las +Palmas! It meant the usual thing, the same endless battle between her +duty and her desire. She was tired of the fight that resulted neither +in victory nor defeat; she longed now, 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 were exhausted? There was David Law, for +instance; he was utterly carefree, no duties shackled him. He had his +horse, his gun, and his 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 with himself +as she supposed. Even yet his mind was in a black turmoil from his +recent anger, and of late, be it said, these spells of temper had given +him cause for uneasiness. Then, too, there was a lie upon his lips. + +Under the stars, at the break of the arroyo, three hundred yards below +the water-hole, a coyote was slinking in a wide circle around the body +of Panfilo Sanchez. + + + + +IV + +AN EVENING AT LAS PALMAS + + +Although the lower counties of southwest Texas are flat and badly +watered, they possess a rich soil. They are favored, too, by a kindly +climate, subtropic in its mildness. The days are long and bright and +breezy, while night brings a drenching dew that keeps the grasses +green. Of late years there have been few of those distressing droughts +that gave this part of the state an evil reputation, and there has been +a corresponding increase in prosperity. The Rio Grande, jaundiced, +erratic as an invalid, wrings its saffron blood from the clay bluffs +and gravel cañons of the hill country, but near its estuary winds +quietly through a low coastal plain which the very impurities of that +blood have richened. Here the river's banks are smothered in thickets +of huisache, ebony, mesquite, oak, and alamo. + +Railroads, those vitalizing nerve-fibers of commerce, are so scarce +along this division of the border that even in this day when we boast, +or lament, that we no longer have a frontier, there remain in Texas +sections larger than some of our Eastern states which hear the sound of +iron wheels only on their boundaries. To travel from Brownsville north +along the international line one must, for several hundred miles, avail +oneself of horses, mules, or motor-cars, since rail transportation is +almost lacking. And on his way the traveler will traverse whole +counties where the houses are jacals, where English is a foreign +tongue, and where peons plow their fields with crooked sticks as did +the ancient Egyptians. + +That part of the state which lies below the Nueces River was for a time +disputed territory, and long after Texans had given their lives to +drive the Eagle of Mexico across the Rio Grande much of it remained a +forbidden land. Even to-day it is alien. It is a part of our Southland, +but a South different to any other that we have. Within it there are no +blacks, and yet the whites number but one in twenty. The rest are +swarthy, black-haired men who speak the Spanish tongue and whose +citizenship is mostly a matter of form. + +The stockmen, pushing ahead of the nesters and the tillers of the soil, +were the first to invade the lower Rio Grande, and among these "Old Ed" +Austin was a pioneer. Out of the unmapped prairie he had hewed a +foothold, and there, among surroundings as Mexican as Mexico, he had +laid the beginnings of his fortune. + +Of "Old Ed's" early life strange stories are told; like the other +cattle barons, he was hungry for land and took it where or how he +could. There are tales of fertile sections bought for ten cents an +acre, tales of Mexican ranchers dispossessed by mortgage, by monte, or +by any means that came to hand; stories even of some, more stubborn +than the rest, who refused to feed the Austin greed for land, and who +remained on their farms to feed the buzzards instead. Those were crude +old days; the pioneers who pushed their herds into the far pastures +were lawless fellows, ruthless, acquisitive, mastered by the +empire-builder's urge for acres and still more acres. They were the +Reclaimers, the men who seized and held, and then seized more, +concerning themselves little or not at all with the moral law as +applicable to both Mexican and white, and leaving it to the second +generation to justify their acts, if ever justification were required. + +As other ranches grew under the hands of such unregenerate owners, so +also under "Old Ed" Austin's management did Las Palmas increase and +prosper. The estate took its name from a natural grove of palms in +which the house was built; it comprised an expanse of rich river-land +backed by miles of range where "Box A" cattle lived and bred. In his +later years the old man sold much land, and some he leased; but when he +handed Las Palmas to his son, "Young Ed," as a wedding gift, the ranch +still remained a property to be proud of, and one that was known far +and wide for its size and richness. Leaving his boy to work out of it a +fortune for 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 span exactly as +suited him best. The rancher's ideal of an agreeable old age comprised +three important items--to wit, complete leisure, unlimited freedom of +speech, and two pints of rye whisky daily. He enjoyed them all +impartially, until, about a year before this story opens, he died +profanely and comfortably. He had a big funeral, and was sincerely +mourned by a coterie of gouty old Indian-fighters. + +Las Palmas had changed greatly since Austin, senior, painfully scrawled +his slanting signature to the deed. It was a different ranch now to +what the old man had known; indeed, it was doubtful if 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 on the +afternoon following her departure from the water-hole, and she felt a +thrill of pride at the acres of sprouting corn, the dense green fields +of alfalfa so nicely fitted between their fences. They were like clean, +green squares of matting spread for the feet of summer. + +A Mexican boy came running to care for her horse, a Mexican woman +greeted her as she entered the wide, cool hall and went to her room. +Alaire had ridden far. Part of the night had been spent at the Balli +goat-ranch, the remainder of the journey had been hot and dusty, and +even yet she was not wholly recovered from her experience 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 the present +instance, Dolores fixed a bath and laid out clean clothes with no more +than a running accompaniment of chatter concerned with household +affairs. Dolores, indeed, was superior to the ordinary servant; she was +a woman of some managerial ability, and she combined the duties of +personal maid with those of housekeeper. She was a great gossip, and +possessed such a talent for gaining information that through her +husband, Benito, the range boss, she was able to keep her mistress in +fairly intimate touch with ranch matters. + +Alaire, however, was at this moment in no mood to resume the tiresome +details of management; she quickly dismissed her servitor and proceeded +to revel in the luxury of a cool bath, after which she took a nap. +Later, as she leisurely dressed herself, she acknowledged that it was +good to feel the physical comforts of her own house, even though her +home-coming gave her no especial joy. She made it a religious practice +to dress for dinner, regardless of Ed's presence, though often for +weeks at a time she sat in solitary state, presiding over an empty +table. Nevertheless, she kept to her custom, for not only did the +formality help her to retain her own self-respect, but it had its +influence upon the servants. Without companionship one needs to be ever +upon guard to retain the nice refinements of gentle breeding, and any +one who has exercised authority in savage countries soon learns the +importance of leaving unbridged the gulf of color and of class. + +But Alaire looked forward to no lonely dinner to-night, for Ed was at +home. It was with a grave preoccupation that she made herself ready to +meet him. + +Dolores bustled in for a second time and straightway launched herself +into a tirade against Juan, the horse-boy. + +"Devil take me if there was ever such a shameless fellow," she cried, +angrily. "He delights in tormenting me, and--Dios!--he is lazier than a +snake. Work? Bah! He abhors it. All day long he snaps his revolver and +pretends to be a bandido, and when he is not risking hell's fire in +that way he is whirling his riata and jumping through it. Useless +capers! He ropes the dog, he ropes the rose-bushes, he ropes fat +Victoria, the cook, carrying a huge bowl of hot water to scald the +ants' nest. Victoria's stomach is boiled red altogether, and so painful +that when she comes near the stove she curses in a way to chill your +blood. What does he do this morning but fling his wicked loop over a +calf's head and break off one of its little horns. It was terrible; but +Señor Austin only laughed 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 his +cocktails." + +"He knows I am at home?" + +"I told him." + +Alaire went on dressing. After a little she asked: "Has Benito finished +branding the calves in the south pasture?" + +"He finished yesterday and sent the remuda to the Six Mile. José +Sanchez will have completed the rodeo by this afternoon. Benito rode in +last night to see you." + +"By the way, you know José's cousin, Panfilo?" + +"Si." + +"Why did he leave Las Palmas?" + +Dolores hesitated so long that her mistress turned upon her with a look +of sharp inquiry. + +"He went to La Feria, señora." 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 father works +the big pump-engine at the river. Well, he is not above anything, that +man; not above selling his own flesh and blood, and the girl is no +better. She thinks about nothing except men, and she attends all the +bailes for miles around, on both sides of the river. Panfilo loved her; +he was mad about her. That's why he came here to work." + +"They were engaged, were they not?" + +"Truly. And Panfilo was jealous of any man who looked at Rosa. Now you +can understand why--he was sent away." Dolores's sharp eyes narrowed +meaningly. "Señor Ed has been riding toward the river every day, +lately. Panfilo was furious, so--" + +"I see! That is all I care to hear." Alone, Alaire stood motionless for +some time, her face fixed, her eyes unseeing; but later, when she met +her husband in the dining-room, her greeting was no less civil than +usual. + +Ed acknowledged his wife's entrance with a careless nod, but did not +trouble to remove his hands from his pockets. As he seated himself +heavily at the table and with unsteady fingers shook the folds from his +napkin, he said: + +"You stayed longer than you intended. Um-m--you were gone three days, +weren't you?" + +"Four days," Alaire told him, realizing with a little inward start how +very far apart she and Ed had drifted. She looked at him curiously for +an instant, wondering if he really could be her husband, or--if he were +not some peculiarly disagreeable stranger. + +Ed had been a handsome boy, but maturity had vitiated his good looks. +He was growing fat from drink and soft from idleness; his face was too +full, his eyes too sluggish; there was an unhealthy redness in his +cheeks. In contrast to his wife's semi-formal dress, he was +unkempt--unshaven and soiled. He wore spurred boots and a soft shirt; +his nails were grimy. When in the city he contrived to garb himself +immaculately; he was in fact something of a dandy; but at home he was a +sloven, and openly reveled in a freedom of speech and a coarseness of +manner that were sad trials to Alaire. His preparations for dinner this +evening had been characteristically simple; he had drunk three dry +cocktails and flung his sombrero into a corner. + +"I've been busy while you were gone," he announced. "Been down to the +pump-house every day laying that new intake. It was a nasty job, too. I +had Morales barbecue a cabrito for my lunch, and it was good, but I'm +hungry again." Austin attacked his meal with an enthusiasm strange in +him, for of late his appetite had grown as errant as his habits. Ed +boasted, in his clubs, that he was an outdoor man, and he was wont to +tell his friends that the rough life was the life for him; but as a +matter of fact he spent much more time in San Antonio than he did at +home, and each of his sojourns at Las Palmas was devoted principally to +sobering up from his last visit to the city and to preparing for +another. Nor was he always sober even in his own house; Ed was a heavy +and a constant drinker at all times. What little exercise he took was +upon the back of a horse, and, as no one knew better than his wife, the +physical powers he once had were rapidly deteriorating. + +By and by he inquired, vaguely: "Let's see, ... Where did you go this +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 lease it?" + +"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 the +rebels take that country. I stand mighty well with them." + +"That's the trouble," Alaire told him. "You stand too well--so well +that I want to get my stock out of Federal territory as soon as +possible." + +Ed shrugged carelessly. "Suit yourself; they're your cows." + +The meal went on with a desultory flow of small talk, during which the +husband indulged his thirst freely. Alaire told him about the accident +to her horse and the unpleasant ordeal she had suffered in the mesquite. + +"Lucky you found somebody at the water-hole," Ed commented. "Who was +this Ranger? Never heard of the fellow," he commented on the name. "The +Rangers are nothing like they used to be." + +"This fellow would do credit to any organization." As Alaire described +how expeditiously Law had made his arrest and handled his 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. "I knew you +were short-handed at La Feria." There was an interval of silence, 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've let you run things to suit +yourself--" + +"Wait! We had our understanding." Alaire's voice was low and vibrant. +"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 to do, something to +live for and think about, except--your actions. The ranch has doubled +in value, every penny is accounted for, and you have more money to +spend on yourself than ever before. You have no reason to complain." + +Austin crushed his napkin into a ball and flung it from him; with a +scowl he shoved himself back from the table. + +"It was an idiotic arrangement, just the same. I agreed because I was +sick. Dad thought I was all shot to pieces. But I'm all right now and +able to run my own business." + +"Nevertheless, it was a bargain, and it will stand. If your father were +alive he'd make you live up to it." + +"Hell! You talk as if I were a child," shouted her husband; and his +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 still enough +of a man to keep your word, I believe, so long as I observe my 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 these eternal +wrangles and jangles." + +"You HAVE welched." + +"Eh?" Austin frowned belligerently. + +"You agreed to go away when you felt your appetite coming on, and you +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 in Brownsville." + +"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 seething emotions +within her. "I never inquire into your actions at San Antonio or other +large cities, although of course I have ears and I can't help hearing +about them; but these border towns are home to 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 the breaking-point." + +"Indeed?" Austin leaned forward, his eyes inflamed. His tone was +raised, heedless of possible eavesdroppers. "Then why don't you end it? +Why don't you divorce me? God knows I never see anything of you. You +have your part of the house and I have mine; all we share in common is +meal-hours, and--and a mail address. You're about as much my wife as +Dolores is." + +Alaire turned upon him eyes dark with misery. "You know why I don't +divorce you. No, Ed, we're going to live out our agreement, and these +Brownsville episodes are going to cease." Her lips whitened. "So are +your visits to the pumping-station." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"You transferred Panfilo because he was growing jealous of you and +Rosa." + +Ed burst into sudden laughter. "Good Lord! There's no harm in a little +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 your +tenant--almost your servant. What kind of a man are you? Haven't you +any decency left?" + +"Say! Go easy! I guess I'm no different to most men." Austin's +unpleasant laughter had been succeeded by a still more unpleasant +scowl. "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 a +night together in the chaparral--" + +"Ed!" Alaire's exclamation was like the snap of a whip. She rose and +faced her husband, quivering as if the lash had stung her flesh. + +"That went home, eh? Well, I'm no fool! I've seen something of the +world, and I've found that women are about like men. I'd like to have a +look at this David Law, this gunman, this Handsome Harry who waits at +water-holes for ladies in distress." Ed ignored his wife's outflung +hand, and continued, mockingly: "I'll bet he's all that's manly and +splendid, everything that I'm NOT." + +"You'd--better stop," gasped the woman. "I can't stand everything." + +"So? Well, neither can I." + +"After--this, I think you'd better go--to San Antonio. Maybe I'll +forget before you come back." + +To this "Young Ed" agreed quickly enough. "Good!" said he. "That suits +me. It's hell around Las Palmas, anyhow, and I'll at least get a little +peace at my club." He glowered after his wife as she left the room. +Then, still scowling, he lurched out to the gallery where 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 of her +grimmest pranks. The father had had faults, but they were those of his +virtues; he had been a strong man, at least, and had "ridden herd" upon +his unruly passions with the same thoroughness as over his wild cattle. +The result was that he had been universally respected. At first the son +seemed destined to be like his father. It was not until "Young Ed" had +reached his full manhood that his defects had become recognizable evil +tendencies, that his infirmity had developed into a disease. Like +sleeping cancers, the Austin vices had lain dormant in him during +boyhood; it had required the mutation from youth to manhood, and the +alterative effect of marriage, to rouse them; but, once awakened, their +ravages had been swift and destructive. Ed's marriage to Alaire had +been inevitable. They had been playmates, and their parents had +considered the union a consummation of their own lifelong friendship. +Upon her mother's death, Alaire had been sent abroad, and there she +remained while "Young Ed" attended an Eastern college. For any child +the experience would have been a lonesome one, and through it the +motherless Texas girl had grown into an imaginative, sentimental +person, living in a make-believe world, peopled, for the most part, +with the best-remembered figures of romance and fiction. There were, of +course, some few flesh-and-blood heroes among the rest, and of these +the finest and the noblest had been "Young Ed" Austin. + +When she came home to marry, Alaire was still very much of a child, and +she still considered Ed her knight. As for him, he was captivated by +this splendid, handsome girl, whom he remembered only as a shy, +red-headed little comrade. + +Never was a marriage more propitious, never were two young people more +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 of lands +across the Rio Grande beyond the twenty-league belt by which Mexico +fatuously strives to guard her border. And to Las Palmas had come the +bride and groom to live, to love, and to rear their children. + +But rarely has there been a shorter honeymoon, seldom a swifter +awakening. Within six months "Young Ed" had killed his wife's love and +had himself become an alcoholic. Others of his father's vices revived, +and so multiplied that what few virtues the young man had inherited +were soon choked. The change was utterly unforeseen; its cause was +rooted too deeply in the past to be remedied. Maturity had 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 was +desperately frightened, too, and lived a nightmare life, the while she +tried in every way to check the progress of that disintegration which +was eating up her happiness. The wreck of her hopes and glad imaginings +left her sick, bewildered, in the face of "the thing that couldn't." + +Nor had the effect of this transformation in "Young Ed" been any less +painful to his father. For a time the old man refused to credit it, but +finally, when the truth was borne in upon him unmistakably, and he saw +that Las Palmas was in a fair way to being ruined through the boy's +mismanagement, the old cattleman had risen in his wrath. The ranch had +been his pride as Ed had been his joy; to see them both go wrong was +more than he could bear. There had been a terrible scene, and a +tongue-lashing delivered in the language of early border days. There +had followed other visits from Austin, senior, other and even bitterer +quarrels; at last, when the girl-wife remained firm in her refusal to +divorce her husband, the understanding had been reached by which the +management of Las Palmas was placed absolutely in her hands. + +Of course, the truth became public, as it always does. This was a new +country--only yesterday it had been the frontier, and even yet a +frontier code of personal conduct to some extent prevailed. +Nevertheless, "Young Ed" Austin's life became a scorn and a hissing +among his neighbors. They were not unduly fastidious, these neighbors, +and they knew that hot blood requires more than a generation to cool, +but everything Ed did outraged them. In trying to show their sympathy +for his wife they succeeded in wounding her more deeply, and Alaire +withdrew into herself. She became almost a recluse, and fenced herself +away not only from the curious, but also from those who really wished +to be her friends. In time people remarked that Ed Austin's +metamorphosis was no harder to understand than that of his wife. + +It was true. She had changed. The alteration reached to the very bone +and marrow of her being. At first the general pity had wounded her, +then it had offended, and finally angered her. That people should +notice her affliction, particularly when she strove so desperately to +hide it, seemed the height of insolence. + +The management of Las Palmas was almost her only relief. Having sprung +from a family of ranchers, the work came easy, and she grew to like +it--as well as she could like anything with that ever-present pain in +her breast. The property was so large that it gave ample excuse for +avoiding the few visitors who came, and the range boss, Benito +Gonzales, attended to most of the buying and selling. Callers gradually +became rarer; friends dropped away almost entirely. Since Las Palmas +employed no white help whatever, it became in time more Mexican than in +the days of "Old Ed" Austin's ownership. + +In such wise had Alaire fashioned her life, living meanwhile under a +sort of truce with her husband. + +But Las Palmas had prospered to admiration, and La Feria would have +prospered equally had it not been for the armed unrest of the country +across the border. No finer stock than the "Box A" was to be found +anywhere. The old lean, long-horned cattle had been interbred with +white-faced Herefords, and the sleek coats of their progeny were +stretched over twice the former weight of beef. Alaire had even +experimented with the Brahman strain, importing some huge, hump-backed +bulls that set the neighborhood agog. People proclaimed they were +sacred oxen and whispered that they were intended for some outlandish +pagan rite--Alaire by this time had gained the reputation of being +"queer"--while experienced stockmen declared the venture a woman's +folly, affirming that buffaloes had never been crossed successfully +with domestic cattle. It was rumored that one of these imported animals +cost more than a whole herd of Mexican stock, and the ranchers +speculated freely as to what "Old Ed" Austin would have said of such +extravagance. + +It was Blaze Jones, one of the few county residents granted access to +Las Palmas, who first acquainted himself with the outcome of Alaire's +experiment, and it was he who brought news of it to some visiting +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 about your +prize Northern stock; but I claim that the bigger the state the bigger +the cattle it raises. That's why old Texas beats the world." + +"But it doesn't," some one contradicted. + +"It don't, hey? My boy"--Blaze jabbed a rigid finger into the speaker's +ribs, as if he expected a ground-squirrel to scuttle forth--"we've got +steers in this valley that are damn near the size of the whole state of +Rhode Island. If they keep on growin' I doubt if you could fatten one +of 'em in Delaware without he'd bulge over into some neighboring +commonwealth. It's the God's truth! 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're all +swollen up with cow-knowledge, now, ain't you?" He eyed them from +beneath his black eyebrows. "Well, some of our people thought they did, +too. They figured they'd inherited all there was to know about live +stock, and they grew plumb arrogant over their wisdom. But--pshaw! They +didn't know nothing. Miz Austin has bred in that Brayma 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 many ticks as you gentlemen." + +Some of the cattlemen were incredulous, but Blaze maintained his point +with emphasis. "It's true. They're a grave disappointment to every kind +of parasite." + +But Alaire had not confined her efforts to cattle; she had improved the +breed of "Box A" horses, too, and hand in hand with this work she had +carried on a series of agricultural experiments. + +Las Palmas, so people used to say, lay too far up the river to be good +farming-land; nevertheless, once the pumping-plant was in, certain +parts of the ranch raised nine crops of alfalfa, and corn that stood +above a rider's head. + +There was no money in "finished" stock; the border was too far from +market--that also had long been an accepted truism--yet this woman +built silos which she filled with her own excess fodder in scientific +proportions, and somehow or other she managed to ship fat beeves direct +to the packing-houses and get big prices for them. + +These were but a few of her many ventures. She had her hobbies, of +course, 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 palms was all but +hidden by a forest of strange trees, which were reported to ripen +everything from moth-balls to bicycle tires. Blaze Jones was perhaps +responsible for this report, for Alaire had shown him several thousand +eucalyptus saplings and some ornamental rubber-plants. + +"That Miz Austin is a money-makin' piece of furniture," he once told +his daughter Paloma. "I'm no mechanical adder--I count mostly on my +fingers--but her and me calculated the profits on them +eucher--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 plenty of +land." + +Blaze, in truth, was embarrassed by the size of his holdings, but he +shook his head. "No, I'm too old to go rampagin' after new gods. I +'ain't got the imagination to raise anything more complicated than a +mortgage; but if I was younger, I'd organize myself up and do away with +that Ed Austin. I'd sure help him to an untimely end, and then I'd +marry them pecan-groves, and blooded herds, 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 her Mexican guards +were not encouraging to visitors. Business inevitably brought her into +contact with a considerable number of people, and of these the one she +saw most frequently was Judge Ellsworth of Brownsville, her attorney. + +It was perhaps a week after Ed had left for San Antonio that Alaire +felt the need of Ellsworth's counsel, and sent for him. He responded +promptly, as always. Ellsworth was a kindly man of fifty-five, with a +forceful chin and a drooping, heavy-lidded eye that could either blaze +or twinkle. He was fond of Alaire, and his sympathy, like his +understanding, was of that wordless yet comprehensive kind which is +most satisfying. Judge Ellsworth knew more than any four men in that +part of Texas; information had a way of seeking him out, and his head +was stored to repletion with facts of every variety. He was a good +lawyer, too, and yet his knowledge of the law comprised but a small +part of that mental wealth upon which he prided himself. He knew human +nature, and that he considered far more important than law. His mind +was like a full granary, and every grain lay where he could put his +hand upon it. + +He motored out from Brownsville, and, after ridding himself of dust, +insisted upon spending the interval before dinner in an inspection of +Alaire's latest ranch improvements. He had a fatherly way of walking +with his arm about Alaire's shoulders, and although she sometimes +suspected that his warmth of good-fellowship was merely a habit +cultivated through political necessities, nevertheless it was +comforting, and she took it at its face value. + +Not until the dinner was over did Ellsworth inquire the reason for his +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 this very +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 the Rebel +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 always does +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 profit more by +claiming allegiance to the German or the English or some other foreign +flag. The American eagle isn't screaming very loudly on the other side +of the Rio Grande just now, and our dusky neighbors have learned that +it's perfectly safe to pull his tail feathers." + +"I'm surprised at you," Alaire smiled. "Just the same, I want your help +in taking up the matter with Washington." + +Ellsworth was pessimistic. "It won't do any good, my dear," he said. +"You'll get your name in the papers, and perhaps cause another +diplomatically worded protest, but there the matter will end. 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 been more +than courteous." + +"Longorio has a bad reputation. I strongly advise against your going." + +"Why, Judge, people are going and coming all the time! Mexico is +perfectly safe, and I know the country as well as I know Las Palmas." + +"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, for I'm +busy in court. You could probably accomplish more than anybody else, if +Longorio will listen to reason, and, after all, you are a person of +such importance that I dare say you'd be safe. But it will be a hard +trip, and you won't know whether you are in Rebel or in Federal +territory." + +"Well, people here are asking whether Texas is in the United States or +Mexico," Alaire said, lightly, "Sometimes I hardly know." After a +moment she continued: "Since you know everything and 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 much of +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 flitted over +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, and +certainly they both met a violent end. I was instrumental in saving +what property Frank Law left, but it didn't last Dave very long. He's +right careless in money matters. Dave's a fine fellow in some +ways--most ways, I believe, but--" The Judge lost himself in frowning +meditation. + +"I have never known you to damn a friend or a client with such faint +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, for instance. If +you know the parents it's easy to read their children." Again he lapsed +into silence, nodding to himself. "Yes, Nature mixes her prescriptions +like any druggist. I'm glad you and Ed--have no babies." + +Alaire murmured something unintelligible. + +"And yet," the lawyer continued, "many people are cursed with an +inheritance 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 a +privilege of age, my dear." + + + + +VI + +A JOURNEY, AND A DARK MAN + + +Alaire's preparations for the journey to La Feria were made with little +delay. Owing to the condition of affairs across the border, Ellsworth +had thought it well to provide her with letters from the most +influential Mexicans in the neighborhood; what is more, in order to +pave her way toward a settlement of her claim he succeeded in getting a +telegram through to Mexico City--no mean achievement, with most of the +wires in Rebel hands and the remainder burdened with military business. +But Ellsworth's influence was not bounded by the Rio Grande. + +It was his advice that Alaire present her side of the case to the local +military authorities before making formal representation to Washington, +though in neither case was he sanguine of the outcome. + +The United States, indeed, had abetted the Rebel cause from the start. +Its embargo on arms had been little more than a pretense of neutrality, +which had fooled the Federals not at all, and it was an open secret +that financial assistance to the uprising was rendered from some +mysterious Northern source. The very presence of American troops along +the border was construed by Mexicans as a threat against President +Potosi, and an encouragement to revolt, while the talk of intervention, +invasion, and war had intensified the natural antagonism existing +between the two peoples. So it was that Ellsworth, while he did his +best to see to it that his client should make the journey in safety and +receive courteous treatment, doubted the wisdom of the undertaking and +hoped for no practical result. + +Alaire took Dolores with her, and for male escort she selected, after +some deliberation, José Sanchez, her horse-breaker. José was not an +ideal choice, but since Benito could not well be spared, no better 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 the road +followed the river and ran through a lonesome country, unpeopled save +for an occasional goat-herd and his family, or a glaring-hot village of +some half-dozen cubical houses crouching on the river-bank as if +crowded over from Mexican soil. This road remained much as the first +ox-carts had laid it out; the hills were gashed by arroyos, some of +which were difficult to negotiate, and in consequence the journey was, +from an automobilist's point of view, decidedly slow. The first night +the travelers were forced to spend at a mud jacal, encircled, like some +African jungle dwelling, by a thick brush barricade. + +José Sanchez was in his element here. He posed, he strutted, he +bragged, he strove to impress his countrymen by every device. José was, +indeed, rather a handsome fellow, with a bold insolence of bearing that +marked him as superior to the common pelador, and, having dressed +himself elaborately for this journey, he made the most of his +opportunities for showing off. Nothing would do him but a baile, and a +baile he had. Once the arrangements were made, other Mexicans appeared +mysteriously until there were nearly a score, and until late into the +night they danced upon the hard-packed earth of the yard. Alaire fell +asleep to the sounds of feet scuffling and scraping in time to a wheezy +violin. + +Arriving at Pueblo on the following day, Alaire secured her passports +from the Federal headquarters across the Rio Grande, while José +attended to the railroad tickets. On the second morning after leaving +home the party was borne southward into Mexico. + +Although train schedules were uncertain, the railroad journey itself +was similar to many Alaire had taken, except for occasional evidences +of the war. The revolution had ravaged most of northern Mexico; long +rows of rusting trucks and twisted car skeletons beside the track +showed how the railway's rolling-stock had suffered in this particular +vicinity; and as the train penetrated farther south temporary trestles +and the charred ruins of station-houses spoke even more eloquently of +the struggle. Now and then a steel water-tank, pierced with loop-holes +and ripped by cannon balls, showed where some detachment had made a +stand. There was a military guard on the train, too--a dozen unkempt +soldiers loaded down with rifles and bandoliers of cartridges, and +several officers, neatly dressed in khaki, who rode in the first-class +coach and occupied themselves by making eyes at the women. + +At its frequent stops the train was besieged by the customary crowd of +curious peons; the same noisy hucksters dealt out enchiladas, +tortillas, goat cheeses, and coffee from the same dirty baskets and +pails; even their outstretched hands seemed to bear the familiar grime +of ante-bellum days. The coaches were crowded; women fanned themselves +unceasingly; their men snored, open-mouthed, over the backs of the +seats, and the aisles were full of squalling, squabbling children. + +As for the country itself, it was dying. The ranches were stripped of +stock, no carts creaked along the highways, and the roads, like the +little farms, were growing up to weeds. Stores were empty, the people +were idle. Over all was an atmosphere of decay, and, what was far more +significant, the people seemed content. + +All morning the monotonous journey continued--a trial to Alaire and +Dolores, but to José Sanchez a red-letter experience. He covered the +train from end to end, making himself acquainted with every one and +bringing to Alaire the gossip that he picked up. + +It was not until midday that the first interruption occurred; then the +train pulled in upon a siding, and after an interminable delay it +transpired that a north-bound troop-train was expected. + +José brought this intelligence: "Soon you will behold the flower of the +Mexican army," he told Alaire. "You will see thousands of Longorio's +veterans, every man of them a very devil for blood. They are returning +to Nuevo Pueblo after destroying a band of those rebels. They had a +great victory at San Pedro--thirty kilometers from La Feria. Not a +prisoner was spared, señora." + +"Is General Longorio with them?" Alaire inquired, quickly. + +"That is what I came to tell you. It is believed that he is, for he +takes his army with him wherever he goes. He is a great fighter; he has +a nose for it, that man, and he strikes like the lightning--here, +there, anywhere." José, it seemed, was a rabid Potosista. + +But Dolores held opposite sympathies. She uttered a disdainful sniff. +"To be sure he takes his army with him, otherwise the +Constitutionalistas would kill him. Wait until Pancho Gomez meets this +army of Longorio's. Ha! You will see some fighting." + +José blew two fierce columns of cigarette smoke from his nostrils. +"Longorio is a gentleman; he scorns to use the tricks of that bandit. +Pancho Gomez fights like a savage. Think of the cowardly manner in +which he captured Espinal the last time. What did he do then? I'll tell +you. He laid in wait and allowed a train-load of our troops to pass +through his lines toward Chihuahua; then he took possession of the +telegraph wires and pretended to be the Federal commander. He sent a +lying message back to Espinal that the 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 into freight-cars like cattle so that not a head +could be seen--and the devil himself would never have guessed what was +in those cars. Of course he succeeded. No one suspected the truth until +his infamous army was in Espinal. Then it was too late. The carnage was +terrible. But do you call that a nice action? It was nothing but the +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 the +Plaza, 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 José, +frowning sternly, "for some day they will meet Luis Longorio, and +then--you will see some of the swiftest running in all the world." + +"Yes! Truly!" Dolores was trembling with excitement, her voice was +shrill. "God will need to lend them speed to catch this army of +Longorio's. Otherwise no human legs could accomplish it." + +"Bah! Who can argue with a woman?" sneered José. + +Alaire, who had listened smilingly, now intervened to avert a serious +quarrel. + +"When the train arrives," she told her horse-breaker, "I want you to +find General Longorio and ask him to come here." + +"But, señora!" José was dumfounded, shocked. "He is a great general--" + +"Give him this note." Quickly writing a few lines on a page from her +note-book, she gave him the scrap of paper, which he carefully placed +in his hat; then, shaking his head doubtfully, he left the car. + +Flushed with triumph, Dolores took the first occasion to enlarge upon +her theme. + +"You will see what a monster this Longorio is," she declared. "It was +like him to steal your beautiful cattle; he would steal a crucifix. +Once there was a fine ranch owned by a man who had two lovely +daughters--girls of great respectability and refinement. But the man +was a Candelerista. Longorio killed him--he and his men killed +everybody on the hacienda except the daughters, and those he captured. +He took them with him, and for no good purpose, either, as you can +imagine. Naturally the poor creatures were nearly dead with fright, but +as they rode along the elder one began talking with Longorio's +soldiers. She made friends with them. She pretended to care nothing +about her fate; she behaved like a lost person, and the soldiers +laughed. They liked her spirit, God pity them! Finally she declared she +was a famous shot with a pistol, and she continued to boast until one +of her guards gave her his weapon with which to show her skill. Then +what? Before they could hinder her she turned in her saddle and shot +her younger sister through the brain. Herself she destroyed with a +bullet in her breast. Every word is the sacred truth, señora. +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 on the +main track and stopped, to the great interest of the southbound +travelers. It was made up of many stock cars crowded with cavalry +horses. Each animal bore its equipment of saddle and bridle, 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 José Sanchez made +his way. + +There began a noisy interchange of greetings between the occupants of +the two trains, and meanwhile the hot sun glared balefully upon the +huddled figures on the car tops. A half-hour passed, then occurred a +commotion at the forward end of Alaire's coach. + +A group of officers climbed aboard, and among them was one who could be +none other than Luis Longorio. As he came down the passageway Alaire +identified him without the aid of his insignia, for he stood head and +shoulders above his companions and bore himself with an air of +authority. He was unusually tall, at least six feet three, and very +slim, very lithe; he was alert, keen; he was like the blade of a +rapier. The leanness of his legs was accentuated 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 of a +clear, pale, olive tint, which sun and weather apparently were +powerless to darken; his eyes were large, bold, and brilliant; his +nostrils thin and sensitive, like those of a blooded horse. He seemed +almost immature until he spoke, then one realized with a curious shock +that he was a man indeed, and a man, moreover, with all the ardor and +passion of a woman. Such was Alaire's first hasty impression of Luis +Longorio, the Tarleton of Potosi's army. + +Disdain, hauteur, impatience, were stamped upon the general's +countenance as he pushed briskly through the crowd, turning his head +from side to side in search of the woman who had summoned him. + +Not until she rose did he discover Alaire; then he halted; his eyes +fixed themselves upon her with a stare of startled amazement. + +Alaire felt herself color faintly, for the man seemed to be scanning +her from head to foot, taking in every detail of her face and form, and +as he did so his expression remained unaltered. For what seemed a full +minute Longorio stood rooted; then the stiff-vizored cap was swept from +his head; he bowed with the grace of a courtier until Alaire saw the +part in his oily black hair. + +"Señora! A thousand apologies for my delay," he said. "Caramba! I did +not dream--I did not understand your message." He continued to regard +her with that same queer intensity. + +"You are General Longorio?" Alaire was surprised to note that her voice +quavered uncertainly, and annoyed to feel her face still flushing. + +"Your obedient servant." + +With a gesture Mrs. Austin directed Dolores to vacate her seat, and +invited the General to take it. But Longorio checked the maid's +movement; then with a brusque command he routed out the occupants of +the seat ahead, and, reversing the back, took a position facing Alaire. +Another order, and the men who had accompanied him withdrew up the +aisle. His luminous eyes returned once more to the woman, and there was +no mistaking his admiration. He seemed enchanted by her pale beauty, +her rich, red hair held him fascinated, and with Latin boldness he made +his feelings crassly 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 name conveyed +nothing, she explained, "I am told that your army confiscated my +cattle." + +"Ah yes! Now I understand." The Mexican nodded mechanically, but it was +plain that he was not heeding her words in the least. All his mental +powers appeared to be concentrated in that disconcerting stare which he +still bent upon her. "We confiscate everything--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 his +wits. It was now quite patent that the sight of Alaire, the sound of +her voice, her first glance, had stricken him with an odd +semi-paralysis. As if to shut out a vision or to escape some dazzling +sight, he dosed his eyes. Alaire wondered if the fellow had been +drinking. She turned to Dolores to find that good woman wearing an +expression of stupefaction. It was very queer; it made Alaire extremely +ill at ease. + +Longorio opened his eyes and smiled. "It seems that I have seen you +before--as if we were old friends--or as if I had come face to face +with myself," said he. "I am affected strangely. It is unaccountable. I +know you well--completely--everything about you is familiar to me, and +yet we meet for the first time, eh? How do you 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 those +perverse fancies that so interfered with his thoughts. + +In moments of stress the attention often centers upon trivial things +and the mind photographs unimportant objects. Alaire noticed now that +one of Longorio's fingers was decorated with a magnificent +diamond-and-ruby ring, and this interested her queerly. No ordinary man +could fittingly have worn such an ornament, yet on the hand of this +splendid barbarian it seemed not at 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 not assure you, señora, +that you have only to command me. Your ranch has 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 your government to +pay me for my cattle." Alaire laughed nervously. + +"Ah! But a lady of refinement should not discuss such a miserable +business. It is a matter for men. Bother your pretty head no more about +it, and leave me to punish the guilty in my own way." + +She endeavored to speak in a brisk, business-like tone. "La Feria +belongs to me, personally, and I have managed it for several years, +just as I manage Las Palmas, across the river. I am a woman of affairs, +General Longorio, and you must talk to me as you would talk to a man. +When I heard about this raid I came to look into it--to see you, or +whoever is in charge of this district, and to make a claim for damages. +Also, I intend to see that nothing similar occurs again. I have delayed +making representations to my own government in the hope that I could +arrange a satisfactory settlement, and so avoid serious complications. +Now you understand why I am here and why I wished to see you." + +"Valgame Dios! This is amazing. I become more bewildered momentarily." + +"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 place it apart as a +precious gift from God which nothing shall defile. They do not discuss +such things with their women. Now this sordid affair 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? You came alone +into Mexico, where we are fighting and killing each other? Well! That +is spirit. You are wonderful, superb!" He smiled, showing the whitest +and evenest teeth. + +Such extravagant homage was embarrassing, yet no woman could be wholly +displeased by admiration so spontaneous and intense as that which +Longorio manifested in every look and word. It was plain to Alaire that +something about her had completely bowled him over; perhaps it was her +strange red hair and her white foreign face, or perhaps something +deeper, something behind all that. Sex phenomena are strange and varied +in their workings. Who can explain the instant attraction or repulsion +of certain types we meet? Why does the turn of a head, a smile, a +glance, move us to the depths? Why does the touch of one stranger's +hand thrill us, while another's leaves us quite impassive? Whence +springs that personal magnetism which has the power to set the very +atoms of our being into new vibrations, like a highly charged electric +current? + +Alaire knew the susceptibility of Mexican men, and was immune to +ordinary flattery; yet there was something exciting about this martial +hero's complete captivation. To have charmed him to the point of +bewilderment was a unique triumph, and under his hungry eyes she felt +an adventurous thrill. + +It is true that Luis Longorio was utterly alien, and in that sense +almost repellent to Alaire; moreover, she suspected him of being a +monster so depraved that no decent woman could bring herself to accept +his attentions. Nevertheless, in justice to the fellow, she had to +acknowledge that externally, at least, he was immensely superior to the +Mexicans she had met. Then, too, his aristocracy was unmistakable, and +Alaire prided herself that she could recognize good blood in men as +quickly as in horses. The fellow had been favored by birth, by +breeding, and by education; and although military service in Mexico was +little more than a form of banditry, nevertheless Longorio had +developed a certain genius for leadership, nor was there any doubt as +to his spectacular courage. In some ways he was a second Cid--another +figure out of Castilian romance. + +While he and Alaire were talking the passengers had returned to their +seats; they were shouting good-byes to the soldiers opposite; the +engine-bell was clanging loudly; and now the conductor approached to +warn Longorio that the train was about to leave. But the railway +official had learned a wholesome respect for uniforms, and therefore he +hung back until, urged by necessity, he pushed forward and informed the +general of his train orders. + +Longorio favored him with a slow stare. "You may go when I leave," said +he. + +"Si, señor. But--" + +The general uttered a sharp exclamation of anger, at which the +conductor backed away, expressing by voice and gesture his most hearty +approval of the change of plan. + +"We mustn't hold the train," Alaire said, quickly. "I will arrange to +see you in Nuevo Pueblo when I return." + +Longorio smiled brilliantly and lifted a brown hand. "No, no! I am a +selfish man; I refuse to deprive myself of this pleasure. The end must +come all too soon, and as for these peladors, an hour more or less will +make no difference. Now about these cattle. Mexico does not make war +upon women, and I am desolated that the actions of my men have caused +annoyance to the most charming lady in the world." + +"Ah! You are polite." Knowing that in this man's help alone lay her +chance of adjusting her loss, Alaire deliberately smiled upon him. "Can +I count upon your help in obtaining my rights?" she asked. + +"Assuredly." + +"But how? Where?" + +Longorio thought for a moment, and his tone altered as he said: +"Señora, there seems to be an unhappy complication in our way, and this +we must remove. First, may I ask, are you a friend to our cause?" + +"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; American money +supports it; and your men bear arms against us. Your tyrant President +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 is something that +concerns no one except you and me." + +Longorio was plainly flattered by her words, and took no trouble to +hide his pleasure. "Ah! If that were only true! We would arrange +everything to your satisfaction without another word." His admiring +gaze seemed to envelop her, and its warmth was unmistakable. "No one +could have the cruelty to deny your slightest 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 a +complication. Your husband, señora, is an active Candelerista." + +For a moment Alaire was at a loss; then she replied with some spirit: +"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 rebels conspiring to +give our country into the hands of outlaws. What a terrible spectacle +it is! Enough to bring tears to the eyes of any patriot!" He turned his +melancholy gaze from Alaire to her companion, and for the first time +Dolores stirred. + +She had watched her countryman with a peculiar fascination, and she had +listened breathlessly to his words. Now she inhaled deeply, as if freed +from a spell; then she said: + +"Pah! Nobody pays heed to Señor Ed. We do not consider him." + +Dolores lacked diplomacy; her bluntness was often trying. Alaire turned +upon her with a sharp exclamation, conscious meanwhile that the woman's +tone, even more than her words, had enlightened Longorio to some +extent. His lifted brows were eloquent of surprise and curiosity, but +he held his tongue. + +"Am I to understand, then, that you rob me because of my husband's +action?" Alaire asked. + +"No. But we must combat our enemies with the weapons we have--not only +those who bear arms with Candeleria, but those who shelter themselves +beyond the Rio Grande." + +Alaire's face fell. "I had hoped that you would understand and help me, +but I shall go to Mexico City and demand my rights, if necessary." + +"Wait! I SHALL help." Longorio beamed enthusiastically. "It shall be +the object of my life to serve you, and you and I shall arrange this +matter satisfactorily. I have influence, believe me. A word from Luis +Longorio will go further with my chief than a protest from your +President. General Potosi is a man of the highest honor, and I am his +right hand. Very well, then! Duty calls me to Nuevo Pueblo, and you +shall return with me as the guest of my government. Dios! It is a +miserable train, but you shall occupy the coach and travel as befits a +queen of beauty--like a royal princess with her guard of honor." He +rose to his feet, but his eagerness soon gave place to disappointment. + +"Thank you," said Alaire, "but I must first go to La Feria and get all +the facts." + +"Señora! It is a wretched journey. See!" He waved a contemptuous +gesture at the car, crowded to congestion. "There is no food; you have +no one to wait upon you. In my company you will be safe. Upon my honor +you will enjoy the highest courtesy--" + +"Of course. But I must go on. I have Dolores and José to look after +me." Alaire indicated Sanchez, who had edged his way close and now +stood with admiring eyes fixed upon his hero. + +"Yes, 'mi General," José exclaimed, eagerly, "I am here." + +Longorio scrutinized the horse-breaker critically. "Your name is--?" + +"José Sanchez." + +"You look like a brave fellow." + +José swelled at this praise, and no doubt would have made suitable +answer, but his employer held out her hand, and General Longorio bent +over it, raising it to his lips. + +"Señora, one favor you can grant me. No! It is a right I shall claim." +He called one of his subordinates closer and ordered that a lieutenant +and six soldiers be detached to act as an escort to Mrs. Austin's +party. "It is nothing," he assured her. "It is the least I can do. Have +no uneasiness, for these men are the bravest of my command, and they +shall answer with their lives for your safety. As for that +teniente--ah, he is favored above his general!" Longorio rolled his +eyes. "Think of it! I could be faithless to duty--a traitor to my +country--for the privilege he is to enjoy. It is the sacred truth! +Señora, the hours will drag until I may see you again and be of further +service. Meanwhile I shall be tortured with radiant dreams. Go with +God!" For a second time he bowed and kissed the hand he held, then, +taking José Sanchez intimately by the arm, he turned to the door. + +Dolores collapsed into her seat with an exclamation. "Caramba! The man +is a demon! And such eyes. Uf! They say he was so furious at losing +those two sisters I told you about that he killed the soldier with the +very weapon--" + +Dolores was interrupted by Longorio's voice beneath the open window. +The general stood, cap in hand, holding up to Alaire a solitary wild +flower which he had plucked beside the track. + +"See!" he cried. "It is the color of your adorable eyes--blue like a +sapphire gem. I saw it peeping at me, and it was lonely. But now, +behold how it smiles--like a star that sees Paradise, eh? And I, too, +have seen Paradise." He placed the delicate bloom in Alaire's fingers +and was gone. + +"Cuidado!" breathed Dolores. "There is blood on it; the blood of +innocents. He will burn for a million years in hell, that man." + +Longorio made good his promise; soon a grizzled old teniente, with six +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, and until the car +had dwindled away down the track, foreshortening to a mere rectangular +dot, Luis Longorio remained motionless, staring with eager eyes through +the capering dust and the billowing heat waves. + +José Sanchez came plowing into Alaire's car, tremendously excited. +"Look, señora!" he cried. "Look what the general gave me," and he +proudly displayed Longorio's service revolver. Around José's waist was +the cartridge-belt and holster that went with the weapon. "With his own +hands he buckled it about me, and he said, 'José, something tells me +you are a devil for bravery. Guard your mistress with your life, for if +any mishap befalls her I shall cut out your heart with my own hands.' +Those were his very words, señora. Caramba! There is a man to die for." + +Nor was this the last of Longorio's dramatic surprises. Shortly after +the train had got under way the lieutenant in command of Alaire's guard +brought her a small package, saying: + +"The general commanded me to hand you this, with his deepest regard." + +Alaire accepted the object curiously. It was small and heavy and +wrapped in several leaves torn from a notebook, and it proved to be +nothing less than the splendid diamond-and-ruby ring she had admired. + +"God protect us, now!" murmured Dolores, crossing herself devoutly. + + + + +VIII + +BLAZE JONES'S NEMESIS + + +Blaze Jones rode up to his front gate and dismounted in the shade of +the big ebony-tree. He stepped back and ran an approving eye over +another animal tethered there. It was a thoroughbred bay mare he had +never seen, and as he scanned her good points he reflected that the +time had come when he would have to accustom himself to the sight of +strange horses along his fence and strange automobiles beside the road, +for Paloma was a woman now, and the young men of the neighborhood had +made the discovery. Yes, and Paloma was a pretty woman; therefore the +hole under the ebony-tree would probably be worn deep by impatient +hoofs. He was glad that most of the boys preferred saddles to soft +upholstery, for it argued that some vigor still remained in Texas +manhood, and that the country had not been entirely ruined by motors, +picture-shows, low shoes, and high collars. Of course the youths of +this day were nothing like the youths of his own, and yet--Blaze let +his gaze linger fondly on the high-bred mare and her equipment--here at +least was a person who knew a good horse, a good saddle, and a good gun. + +As he came up the walk he heard Paloma laugh, and his own face +lightened, for Paloma's merriment was contagious. Then as he mounted +the steps and turned the corner of the "gallery" he uttered 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 filibustering around +with the Maderistas." + +Blaze seated himself with a grateful sigh where the breeze played over +him. He was a big, bearlike, swarthy man with the square-hewn, +deep-lined face of a tragedian, and a head of long, curly hair which he +wore parted in a line over his left ear. Jones was a character, a local +landmark. This part of Texas had grown up with Blaze, and, inasmuch as +he had sprung from a free race of pioneers, he possessed a splendid +indifference to the artificial fads of dress and manners. It was only +since Paloma had attained her womanhood that he had been forced to +fight down his deep-seated distrust of neckwear and store clothes and +the like; but now that his daughter had definitely asserted her rights, +he had acquired numerous unwelcome graces, and no longer ventured among +strangers without the stamp of her approval upon his appearance. Only +at home did he maintain what he considered a manly independence of +speech and habit. To-day, therefore, found him in a favorite suit of +baggy, wrinkled linen and with a week's stubble of beard upon his chin. +He was so plainly an outdoor man that the air of erudition lent him by +the pair of gold-rimmed spectacles owlishly perched upon his sunburned +nose was strangely incongruous. + +"So you're a Ranger, and got notches on your gun." Blaze rolled and lit +a tiny cigarette, scarcely larger than a wheat straw. "Well, you'd +ought to make a right able thief-catcher, Dave, only for your +size--you're too long for a man and you ain't long enough for a snake. +Still, I reckon a thief would have trouble getting out of your reach, +and once you got close to him--How many men have 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 had +permitted 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 a vicious ancestry. +They're bad rams, most of 'em." + +"There aren't many," said Paloma. "Dave tells me the whole Force has +been cut down to sixteen." + +"That's plenty," her father averred. "It's like when Cap'n Bill +McDonald 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 a case, Dave?" + +"Um-m--yes! People are missing a lot of stock hereabouts." + +"It's these blamed refugees from the war! A Mexican has to steal +something or he gets run down and pore. If it ain't stock, it's +something else. Why, one morning I rode into Jonesville in time to see +four Greasers walkin' down the main street with feed-sacks over their +shoulders. Each one of those gunnie's had something long and flat and +heavy in it, and I growed curious. When I investigated, what d'you +suppose I found? Tombstones! That's right; four marble beauties fresh +from the cemetery. Well, it made me right sore, for I'd helped to start +Jonesville. I was its city father. I'd made the place fit to live in, +and I aimed to keep it safe to die in, and so, bein' a sort of +left-handed, self-appointed deppity-sheriff, I rounded up those ghouls +and drove 'em to the county-seat in my spring wagon. I had the evidence +propped up against the front of our real-estate office--'Sacred to the +Memory' of four of our leading citizens--so I jailed 'em. But that's +all the good it did." + +"Couldn't convict, eh?" + +Blaze lit his cigarette for the third time. "The prosecuting attorney +and I wasn't very good friends, seeing as how I'd had to kill his +daddy, so he turned 'em loose. I'm damned if those four Greasers didn't +beat me back to Jonesville." Blaze shook his head ruminatively. "This +was a hard country, those days. There wasn't but two honest men in this +whole valley--and the other one was a nigger." + +Dave Law's duties as a Ranger rested lightly upon him; his instructions +were vague, and he had a leisurely method of "working up" his evidence. +Since he knew that Blaze possessed a thorough knowledge of this section +and its people, it was partly business which had brought him to the +Jones home this afternoon. + +Strictly speaking, Blaze was not a rancher, although many of his acres +were under cultivation and he employed a sizable army of field-hands. +His disposition was too adventurous, his life had been too swift and +varied, for him to remain interested in slow agricultural pursuits; +therefore, he had speculated heavily in raw lands, and for several +years past he had devoted his energies to a gigantic colonization +scheme. Originally Blaze had come to the Rio Grande valley as a +stock-raiser, but the natural advantages of the country had appealed to +his gambling instinct, and he had "gone broke" buying land. + +He had located, some fifteen miles below the borders of Las Palmas, and +there he had sunk a large fortune; then as a first step in his +colonization project he had founded the town of Jonesville. Next he had +caused the branch line of the Frisco railroad to be extended until it +linked his holdings with the main system, after which he had floated a +big irrigation company; and now the feat of paying interest on its +bonds and selling farms under the ditch to Northern people kept him +fully occupied. It was by no means a small operation in which he was +engaged. The venture had taken foresight, courage, infinite hard work; +and Blaze was burdened with responsibilities that would have broken +down a man of weaker fiber. + +But his pet relaxation was reminiscence. His own experience had been +wide, he knew everybody in his part of the state, and although events +in his telling were sometimes colored by his rich imagination, the +information he could give was often of the greatest value--as Dave Law +knew. + +After a time the latter said, casually, "Tell me something about Tad +Lewis." + +Blaze looked up quickly. "What d'you want to know?" + +"Anything. Everything." + +"Tad owns a right nice ranch between here and Las Palmas," Blaze said, +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 father agreed, +"and Lewis's land runs back from the Rio Grande in its old Spanish +form. It's a natural outlet for those brush-country ranchos. But I +haven't anything against Tad except a natural dislike. He stands well +with some of our best people, so I'm probably wrong. I usually am." + +"You can't call Ed Austin one of our best people," sharply objected +Paloma. "They claim that arms are being smuggled across to the Rebels, +Dave, and, if it's true, Ed Austin--" + +"Now, Paloma," her father remonstrated mildly. "The Regulars and the +River Guards watched Lewis's ranch till the embargo was lifted, 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 go pirootin' +around Tad's place you're more'n apt to make yourself unpopular, Dave. +I'd grieve some to see you in a wooden kimono. Tad's too well fixed to +steal cattle, and if he runs arms it's because of his sympathy for +those noble, dark-skinned patriots we hear 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 ran arms +myself, before I joined the Force." + +When meal-time drew near, both Jones and his daughter urged their guest +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. All we need is +good farmers. Those we've got are mostly back-to-nature students who +leaped a drug-counter expecting to 'light in the lap of luxury. In the +last outfit we sold there wasn't three men that knew which end of a +mule to put the collar on. But they'll learn. Nature's with 'em, and so +am I. God supplies 'em with all the fresh air and sunshine they need, +and when they want anything else they come to Old Blaze. Ain't that +right, Paloma?" + +"Yes, father." + +Paloma Jones had developed wonderfully since Dave Law had last seen +her. She had grown into a most wholesome and attractive young woman, +with an unusually capable manner, and an honest, humorous pair of brown +eyes. During dinner she did her part with a grace that made watching +her a pleasure, and the Ranger found it a great treat to sit at her +table after his strenuous scouting days in the mesquite. + +"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 wants Blaze +to have a finger in the pie. I'm interested in the bank, the +sugar-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 out of it last +year?" + +"I've no idea." + +"Twenty-seven thousand dollars!" The father of Jonesville spoke +proudly, impressively, and then through habit called upon his daughter +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 his visitor's +laughter. "How can a man get along without the co-operation of his own +household?" he inquired, naively. "Maybe it was next year I was +thinking about." Thereafter he confined himself to statements which +required no corroboration. + +Dave had long since learned that to hold Blaze Jones to a strict +accountability with fact was to rob his society of its greatest charm. +A slavish accuracy in figures, an arid lack of imagination, reduces +conversation to the insipidness of flat wine, and Blaze's talk was +never dull. He was a keen, shrewd, practical man, but somewhere in his +being there was concealed a tremendous, lop-sided sense of humor which +took the form of a bewildering imagery. An attentive audience was +enough for him, and, once his fancy was in full swing, there was no +limit to his outrageous exaggerations. A light of credulity in a +hearer's eye filled him with prodigious mirth, and it is doubtful if +his listeners ever derived a fraction of 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, much of 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 were liable to +consider him generally untruthful. But even in this misconception Blaze +took a quiet delight, secure in the knowledge that all who knew him +well regarded him as a rock of integrity. As a matter of fact, his +genuine exploits were quite as sensational as those of his manufacture. + +When, after supper, Blaze had hitched a pair of driving-mules to his +buckboard, preparatory to showing his guest the glories of Jonesville, +Dave said: + +"Paloma's getting mighty pretty." + +"She's as pretty as a blue-bonnet flower," her father agreed. "And she +runs me around something scandalous. I 'ain't got the freedom of a +peon." Blaze sighed and shook his shaggy head. "You know me, Dave; I +never used to be scared of nobody. Well, it's different now. 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're going to stay right +here with us as long as you're in town; I want you to see how I +cringe." In spite of Blaze's plaintive tone it was patent that he was +inordinately proud of Paloma and well content with his serfdom. + +Jonesville proved to be a typical Texas town of the modern variety, and +altogether different to the pictured frontier village. There were no +one-storied square fronts, no rows of saloons with well-gnawed +hitching-rails, no rioting cowboys. On the contrary, the larger +buildings were of artificial stone, the sidewalks of concrete, and the +store fronts of plate-glass. Arc-lights shed a bluish-white 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 was too new +and crude and awkward for that. It fitted loosely into its clothes, for +its citizens had patterned it with regard for the future, and it +sprawled over twice its legitimate area. But to its happy founder it +seemed well-nigh perfect, and its destiny roused his maddest +enthusiasm. He showed Dave the little red frame railroad station, +distinguished in some mysterious way above the hundred thousand other +little red frame railroad stations of the identical size and style; he +pointed out the Odd Fellows Hall, the Palace Picture Theater, with its +glaring orange lights and discordant electric piano; he conducted Law +to the First National Bank, of which Blaze was a proud but somewhat +ornamental director; then to the sugar-mill, the ice-plant, and other +points of equally novel interest. + +Everywhere he went, Jones was hailed by friends, for everybody seemed +to know him and to want to shake his hand. + +"SOME town and SOME body of men, eh?" he inquired, finally, and Dave +agreed: + +"Yes. She's got a grand framework, Blaze. She'll be most as big as Fort +Worth when you fatten her up." + +Jones waved his buggy-whip in a wide circle that took in the miles of +level prairie on all sides. "We've got the whole blamed state to grow +in. And, Dave, I haven't got an enemy in the place! It wasn't many +years ago that certain people allowed I'd never live to raise this +town. Why, it used to be that nobody dared to ride with me--except +Paloma, and she used to sleep with a shot-gun at her 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 fat in +prosecuting their feuds, but this was a subject which the elder man +invariably found embarrassing, and now he said: + +"Pshaw! I never was the blood-letter people think. I'm as gentle as a +sheep." Then to escape further curiosity on that point he suggested +that they round out their riotous evening with a game of pool. + +Law boasted a liberal education, but he was no match for the father of +Jonesville, who wielded a cue with a dexterity born of years of +devotion to the game. In consequence, Blaze's enjoyment was in a fair +way to languish when the proprietor of the Elite Billiard Parlor +returned from supper to say: + +"Mr. Jones, there's a real good pool-player in town, and he wants to +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 a chair and watch +your uncle clean this tenderfoot. If he's got class, I'll make him +mayor of the town, for a good pool-shooter is all this metropolis +lacks. Why, sometimes I go plumb to San Antone for a game." He +whispered in his friend's ear, "Paloma don't let me gamble, but if +you've got any dinero, get it down on me." Then, addressing the +bystanders, he proclaimed, "Boys, if this pilgrim is good enough to +stretch me out we'll marry him off and settle him down." + +"No chance, Uncle Blaze; he's the most married person in town," some +one volunteered. "His wife is the new dressmaker--and she's got a +mustache." For some reason this remark excited general mirth. + +"That's too bad. I never saw but one woman with a mustache, and she +licked me good. If he's yoked up to that kind of a lady, I allow his +nerves will be wrecked before he gets here. I hope to God he ain't +entirely done for." Blaze ran the last three balls from a well-nigh +impossible position, then racked up the whole fifteen with trembling +eagerness and eyed the door expectantly. He was wiping his spectacles +when the proprietor returned with a slim, sallow man whom he introduced +as Mr. Strange. + +"Welcome to our city!" Blaze cried, with a flourish of his glasses. +"Get a prod, Mr. Strange, and bust 'em, while I clean my wind-shields. +These fellow-townsmen of mine handle a cue like it was 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, and pocketed it, +following which he ran the remaining fourteen. Blaze watched this +procedure near-sightedly, and when the table was bare he thumped his +cue loudly upon the floor. He beamed upon his opponent; he appeared +ready to embrace him. + +"Bueno! There's art, science, and natural aptitude! Fly at 'em again, +Mr. Strange, and take your fill." He finished polishing his spectacles, +and readjusted them. "I aim to make you so comfortable in Jonesville +that---" Blaze paused, he started, and a peculiar expression crept over +his face. + +It seemed to Law that his friend actually turned pale; at any rate, his +mouth dropped open and his gaze was no longer hypnotically following +the pool-balls, but was fixed upon his opponent. + +Now there were chapters in the life of Blaze Jones that had never been +fully written, and it occurred to Dave that such a one had been +suddenly reopened; therefore he prepared himself for some kind of an +outburst. But Blaze appeared to be numbed; he even jumped nervously +when Mr. Strange missed a shot and advised him that his chance had come. + +As water escapes from a leaky pail, so had Jones's fondness for pool +oozed away, and with it had gone his accustomed skill. He shot blindly, +and, much to the general surprise, missed an easy attempt. + +"Can't expect to get 'em all," comfortingly observed Mr. Strange as he +executed a combination that netted him two balls and broke the bunch. +After that he proved the insincerity of his statement by clearing the +cloth for a second time. The succeeding frames went much the same, and +finally Blaze put up his cue, mumbling: + +"I reckon I must have another chill coming on. My feet are plumb dead." + +"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 tell you +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 the ability +to read fortunes. I foretell good an' evil, questions of love and +mattermony by means of numbers, cards, dice, dominoes, apple-parings, +egg-shells, tea-leaves, an' coffee-grounds." The speaker's voice had +taken on the brazen tones of a circus barker. "I pro'nosticate by +charms, ceremonies, omens, and moles; by the features of the face, +lines of the hand, spots an' blemishes of the skin. I speak the +language of flowers. I know one hundred and eighty-seven weather signs, +and I interpet dreams. Now, ladies and gents, this is no idle boast. +Triflin' incidents, little marks on the cuticle, although they appear +to be the effect of chance, are nevertheless of the utmost consequence, +an' to the skilled interpeter they foretell the temper of, an' the +events that will happen to, the person bearin' 'em. Now let us take +this little deck of common playing-cards---" + +The monologist, suiting the action to the word, conjured a deck of +cards from somewhere, and extended them to Blaze. "Select one; any +one---" + +"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." Extracting from +another pocket a tiny pair of scissors and a sheet of carbon paper, Mr. +Strange, with the undivided attention of the audience upon him, began +to cut Blaze's silhouette. He was extraordinarily adept, and despite +his subject's restlessness he completed the likeness in a few moments; +then, fixing it upon a plain white cardboard, 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 the +buckboard. + +"Serves me right for leaving my six-shooter at home," panted the +rancher. "Well, I might have known they'd find me some day." + +"'They'? Who?" + +"That hombre and his wife--the woman with the mustache. They swore +they'd get me, and it looks like they will, for I daresn't raise my +hand to protect myself." + +This was very mystifying to Dave, and he said so. + +"The woman'll recognize me, quick enough," Blaze asserted, and then, +"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 day I decided +to take a swim, so I hired a suit and a room to cache my six-shooter +in. It was foolish proceedings for a man my age, but the 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 three days, and I hadn't got any +sleep. I was plumb feverish, and needed a dip. Well, I'm no water-dog, +Dave; I can't swim no better than a tarrapin with its legs cut off, but +I sloshed around some in the surf, and then I took a walk to dreen off +and see the sights. It was right interesting when I got so I could tell +the women from the men--you see I'd left my glasses in the bath-house. + +"Now I'd sort of upheld the general intemperance of that poker game for +three days and nights--but I don't offer my condition as an excuse for +what follows. No gentleman ought to lay his indecencies onto John +Barley corn when they're nothing more nor less than the outcroppin's of +his own orneriness. Liquor has got enough to answer for without being +blamed for human depravities. I dare say I was friendlier than I had +any right to be; I spoke to strangers, and some of the girls hollered +at me, but I wouldn't have harmed a soul. + +"Well, in the course of my promenade I came to a couple of fellers +setting half-buried in the sand, and just as I was passing one of them +got up--sort of on all-fours and--er--facing away from me--sabe? That's +where the trouble hatched. I reached out and, with nothing 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 from behind. When I got up and +squared around, there was that man we just left cutting didos out of +black paper. + +"'What d'you mean by pinching my wife?' he says, and he was r'arin' mad. + +"'Your WIFE?' I stammers, and with that he climbs me. Dave, I was weak +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 a little black +mustache, and here she came! + +"We started in right there. I never saw such a poisonous person as that +woman. She was coiled, her head was up, and her rattles agoing, and so +I finally lit out But I'm sort of fat, and they over-ran me. They bayed +me against the sea-wall, and all I had the heart to do was to hold 'em +off some more. Soon as I got my wind I shook '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 people kept +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 my legs. By and by +I got so short of breath that I couldn't run, so I fell on top of the +man. But the woman got me by the legs and rolled me under. I busted out +and hoofed it again, but they caught me and down we went, me on top. +Then that man's helpmate grabbed my legs and rolled me over, like she +did before. Finally I got too tired to do anything but paw like a +puppy. It seems like we must have fought that way all the morning, +Dave. Anyhow, people gathered from long distances and cheered the +woman. I got desperate toward the last, and I unraveled the right hip +of my bathing suit grabbing for my gun. I couldn't see the bath-house +for the sand in my eyes, so I must have led 'em up across the boulevard +and into the tent colony, for after a while we were rolling around +among tent-pegs and tangling up in guy-ropes, and all the time our +audience was growing. Dave, those tent-ropes sounded like guitar +strings." + +Blaze paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, whereupon his listener +inquired in a choking voice: + +"How did you come out?" + +"I reckon I'd have got shed of 'em somehow, for I was resting up on top +of my man, but that stinging lizard of a woman got her claws 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 an eel, 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 ears and went through those sight-seers +like a jack-rabbit. I never knew a man could run like I did. I could +hear people holler, 'Here he comes,' 'There he goes,' 'Yonder he went,' +but I was never headed. I hurdled the sea-wall like an antelope, and +before they got eyes on me I was into my bath-house. + +"When I'd got dressed, I sneaked up to the Galvez for a drink. In the +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 kill the man +who attacked his wife, and the newspapers called on the police to +discover the ruffian." + +There was a protracted silence; then Law controlled his voice +sufficiently to say: "It's fortunate he didn't recognize you to-night." + +"Maybe he did. Anyhow, his wife is the new dressmaker Paloma's hired. I +'ain't got a chance, Dave. That story will ruin me in the community, +and Paloma will turn me out when she learns I'm a--a lady-pincher." + +"What are you going to do about it?" + +Blaze sighed. "I don't know, yet. Probably I'll end by running from +those scorpions, like I did before." + + The next morning at breakfast Paloma announced, "Father, you must +help 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 the only +person who knows the Lewis gang as well as you do." + +Jones shook his head doubtfully. "Don Ricardo has been working up his +own private feud with that outfit. If I was the kind that went looking +for a fight, I wouldn't have paid freight on myself from the Panhandle +down here. I could have got one right at home, any morning before +breakfast." + +"Ricardo Guzman is something of a black sheep himself," Law spoke up. + +"Pshaw! He's all right. I reckon he has changed a few brands in his +time, but so has everybody else. Why, that's how 'Old Ed' Austin got +his start. If a cowman tells you he never stole anything, he's either a +dam' good liar or a dam' bad roper. But Ricardo's going straight enough +now." + +"He has lost his share of stock," Paloma explained, "and he'll work +with you if father asks him. You go along with Dave---" + +"I'm too busy," Blaze demurred, "and I ain't feeling good. I had bad +dreams all night." + +"I don't want you around here this morning. That new dressmaker is +coming." + +Jones rose abruptly from the table. "I reckon my business can wait. +Hustle up, Dave." A few moments later, as they were saddling their +horses, he lamented: "What did I tell you? Here I go, on the dodge 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. An +accident of birth had made him a citizen of the United States--his +father having owned a ranch which lay north instead of south of the Rio +Grande. Inasmuch as the property had fallen to Ricardo, his sons, too, +were Yankees in the eyes of the law. But in all other respects Don +Ricardo and his family differed not at all from the many Guzmans who +lived across the border. The Guzman ranch comprised a goodly number of +acres, and, since live stock multiply rapidly, its owner had in some +sort prospered. On the bank of a resaca---a former bed of the Rio +Grande--stood the house, an adobe structure, square, white, and +unprotected from the sun by shrub or tree. Behind it were some brush +corrals and a few scattered mud jacals, in which lived the help. + +Ricardo had just risen from a siesta when his two visitors rode up, and +he made them welcome with the best he had. There followed a +complimentary exchange of greetings and the usual flow of small talk. +Ricardo had suffered a severe toothache--the same abominable affliction +that had lost Porfirio Diaz an empire. It had been a dry 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 recounted his own doings; Law told of +Ranger activities along the lower border. In the cool of the afternoon +Ricardo rode with his visitors, and then, cordial relations being now +established, he began to divulge information of value to Law. + +Yes, he had endured many depredations from thieves. It was shameful, +but doubtless God willed that a certain amount of stealing should go on +in the world. The evil-doers were certainly favored by nature, in this +locality, for the great expanse of brush country to the north and east +offered almost perfect security, and the river, to the south, gave +immunity from pursuit or prosecution. The beeves were driven north into +the wilderness, but the horses went to Mexico, where the war had +created a market for 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 was quite +another; and conviction was difficult under the best of circumstances. +Why, even a cow's recognition of her own calf was not evidence for a +court, and alibis were easily proven. Unless the thieves were caught in +the very act there was no case against them, and--por Dios!--one could +not be for ever on guard. Who could tell where the malefactors would +strike next? Now, in Mexico one could afford to kill an undesirable +neighbor without so much formality. But, thank God! Don Ricardo was not +a Mexican. No, he was a good American citizen. It was something to make +him sleep well in these war-times. + +"Just the same, I'll bet he'd sleep better if the Lewis outfit was +cleaned up," Dave ventured, and Blaze agreed. + +Guzman caught his enemy's name and nodded. + +"Ah! That sin verguenza! He sells arms to the Candeleristas and horses +to the Potosistas. Perhaps he steals my calves. Who knows?" + +"Señor Lewis doesn't need to steal. He has money," Jones argued. + +"True! But who is so rich that he would not be richer? Lewis employs +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 I do not aid the tyrant +Potosi with my other hand. Yes, and who is richer, for instance, than +Señor 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 strange +stories 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 morning Blaze +rode home, leaving the Ranger behind for the time being as Guzman's +guest. + +Dave put in the next two days riding the pastures, familiarizing +himself with the country, and talking with the few men he met. About +all he discovered, however, was the fact that the Guzman range not only +adjoined some of Lewis's leased land, but also was bounded for several +miles by the Las Palmas fence. + +It was pleasant to spend the days among the shy brush-cattle, with +Bessie Belle for company. The mare seemed to enjoy the excursions as +much as her owner. Her eyes and ears were ever alert; she tossed her +head and snorted when a deer broke cover or a jack-rabbit scuttled out +of her path; she showed a friendly interest in the awkward calves which +stood and eyed her with such amazement and then galloped stiffly off +with tails high arched. + +Law had many times undertaken to break Bessie Belle of that habit of +flinging her head high at sudden sounds, but she was nervous and +inquisitive, and this was the one thing upon which she maintained a +feminine obstinacy. + +On the second evening the Ranger rode home through a drizzle that had +materialized after a long, threatening afternoon and now promised to +become a real rain. Ricardo met him at the door to say: + +"You bring good fortune with you, señor, 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 shall ride +the fences, and if we encounter a cut wire--diablo!--we shall have a +story to tell, eh?" + +The sky was leaden, the rain still fell in the morning when Dave and +his two companions set out. Until noon they rode, their slickers +dripping, their horses steaming; then they ate an uncomfortable lunch +under the thickest hackberry-tree they could find, after which they +resumed their patrol. Ricardo's tongue at length ran down under this +discomfort, and the three riders sat their saddles silently, swaying to +the tireless fox-trot of their horses, their eyes engaged in a watchful +scrutiny. + +At last Pedro, who was ahead, reined in and pointed; the others saw +where the barbed-wire strands of the fence they had been following were +clipped. A number of horse and calf tracks led through the opening, and +after an examination Ricardo announced: + +"There are two men. They have come and gone, with the calves tied neck +and neck." + +"That is Las Palmas, isn't it?" Law indicated the pasture into which +the trail led. + +Father and son answered, "Si, señor." + +For a time the Ranger lounged sidewise in his saddle, studying the +country before him. The land was open and comparatively flat; it was +broken by tiny clumps of mesquite and low, sprawling beds of cactus. +Perhaps a half-mile away, however, began a long, narrow patch of woods, +with the tops of occasional oaks showing, and this ran parallel with +the fence for a considerable distance. + +"They took them in yonder, to brand," he said, straightening himself. +"Maybe we'll be in time." + +Side by side the three men rode off Guzman's land, following the tracks +to the nearest point of woods; there Law stopped to give his directions. + +"Pedro, you ride down this side; Ricardo, you skirt the outside. I +shall keep to the middle. Walk your horses, for I shall go slowly." He +slipped his carbine from its scabbard; the others did the same. + +But Dave's plan did not commend itself to Ricardo; the old man's face +puckered into an expression of doubt, and, removing his hat, he ran a +hand over his wiry, short-cropped, white hair. + +"Señor," he protested, "I know something about these men, and they will +not wait to learn that you are an officer. Perhaps I had better ride +with you." + +But Law declined the well-meant offer, and with a dubious shake of the +head Ricardo rode away, while Dave guided Bessie Belle into the grove. + +The mare seemed to know that something unusual was afoot. Perhaps some +nervous tensity of her rider made itself felt, perhaps with equine +sagacity she had understood from the first the nature of this scouting +expedition. Dave was inclined to believe the latter--he had often +averred that Bessie Belle knew quite as much as or more than he. At any +rate she picked her way with admirable care, her hoofs made almost no +sound upon the wet soil; only the complaint of the saddle leathers or +the swish of a wet branch rose above the steady patter of the +raindrops. It was not necessary to guide her; she selected the openings +of her own free will, her small, sharp ears were alert, and her eyes +searched the glades intently. + +Dave smiled at this excess of caution and stroked Bessie Belle's wet +neck encouragingly, whereupon she turned her head and it seemed 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 and then +they stopped to listen, but the rain was heavy enough to drown all +other noises. Encountering fresh tracks finally, Dave leaned from his +saddle and studied them. What he saw caused him to push 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 few yards +farther on Law fancied that he could detect the smell of a wood fire. +Almost without a signal from him the mare halted in her tracks until he +had satisfied himself. Still farther along they came to a place where +the brush was low, and there, rising through the tree-tops beyond, they +saw a wavering plume of blue smoke. + +The Ranger rode into sight of the branding-fire with his Winchester +across his saddle-horn and his thumb upon the hammer; what followed +came with almost the blinding suddenness of a lightning crash, though +afterward the events of that crowded moment lingered as a clear-cut +memory. First there was the picture of a sandy glade in the center of +which burned a fire with branding-irons in it, and a spotted calf tied +to a tree, but otherwise no sign of life. Then, without warning, Bessie +Belle threw up her head in that characteristic trick of hers, and +simultaneously Dave saw a figure rise out of the grass at his left with +rifle leveled. The Ranger remembered afterward the odd foreshortening +of the weapon and the crooked twist of the face behind it. With the +first jerk of his horse's head his own gun had leaped to his +shoulder--he was not conscious of having willed it to do so--and even +as he pressed the trigger he beheld a jet of smoke spurt from the +muzzle aimed at him. With the kick of his carbine he felt Bessie Belle +give way--it seemed to Dave that he shot while she was sinking. The +next instant his feet, still in the 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 had been her end. The breath escaped slowly from her lungs; it +was as if she heaved a lingering sigh; one leg contracted and then +relaxed. + +For a moment the Ranger was dazed. He stood staring down at his pet; +then the truth engulfed him. He realized that he had ridden her to her +death, and at the thought he became like a woman bereft of her child, +like a lover who had seen his sweetheart slain. + +A shout--it was a hoarse, inarticulate cry; a swift, maddened scrutiny +that searched the sodden scene of the ambush; then he was down beside +the mare, calling her name heartbrokenly, his arms around her neck, his +face against her warm, wet, velvet hide. + +Law knew that two men had entered the thicket, and therefore one still +remained to be reckoned with, but he gave no thought to that. Nor did +he rise to look after the grotesquely huddled figure that had been a +cattle thief only a moment before--both he and his assailant had been +too close to miss. From the corner of his eye he 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 the body he heard a calf stirring, but +he let it struggle. + +Bessie Belle's bright eyes were glazing; she did not hear her lover's +voice. Her muzzle, softer than any satin, was loose, her lips would +never twitch with that clumsy, quivering caress which pleased her +master so. One front hoof, washed as clean as agate, was awkwardly bent +under her, the other had plowed a furrow in the soft earth as she sank, +and against this leg her head lay tipped. + +Don Ricardo and his son burst out of the brush from opposite directions +almost at the same moment, to find the Ranger with his face buried in +his horse's mane. + +"Caramba! What is this?" The old man flung himself from the saddle and +came running. "You are injured?" + +Pedro, too, bent over the officer, his brown face pale with +apprehension. "Mother of God!" breathed the latter. "It was a wild +thing to do, to ride alone---" + +"I'm all right," Law said, rising stiffly, whereupon both Mexicans +voiced 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 his back, and +Pedro uttered a loud cry. + +"Look!" Father and son ran through the grass, then recoiled and broke +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 realized it." + +"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 knew +something. 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 heard but +one shot from here, then after an instant my father's gun. And yet here +is a dead horse and a dead man." + +"This fellow and I fired at about the same instant," Dave explained, +but even when he had related the history of the encounter his +companions could scarcely believe that such quick shooting was possible. + +It was difficult to secure a connected story from Ricardo, but he +finally made it plain that at the first report the other thief had +fled, exposing himself only long enough for the old man to take a quick +shot in his direction. Ricardo had missed, and the miscreant was +doubtless well away by this time. He had ridden a sorrel horse, that +was all Ricardo could remember. + +Law looked only briefly at the gruesome results of his marksmanship, +then he turned back to the body of his beloved mare. Ricardo noticed at +length that he was crying; as the Ranger knelt beside the dead +thoroughbred the old Mexican whispered to his son: + +"Valgame Dios! This is a strange fellow. He weeps like a woman. He must +have loved that horse as a man loves his wife. Who can understand these +Gringos?" After a time he approached cautiously and inquired: "What +shall we do with this hombre, señor? Pedro has found his horse." + +Law roused himself. With his own hands he gently removed Bessie Belle's +saddle, bridle, and blanket, then he gave his orders. + +"I'll take your horse, Ricardo, and you take--that fellow's. Get a +wagon 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 the exchange +of mounts had been effected and all was ready, Law made a request that +amazed both father and son. + +"If I'm not back by morning, I want you to bury my mare." His voice +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 be back to +see that it's done right. Understand?" + +"Bueno! I understand perfectly. She was a pretty horse. She was +your--bonita, eh? Well, you have a big heart, señor, as a brave man +should have. Everything shall be done as you wish; I give you my hand +on it." Ricardo reached down and gripped Law's palm. "We will name our +pasture for her, too, because it is plain you loved her dearly. So, +then, until to-morrow." + +Law watched his two friends ride away, then he wiped his Winchester and +saw to his cinch. This done he raised Bessie Belle's head and kissed +the lip that had so often explored his palm for sugar. With a miserable +ache in his throat he mounted and rode off to pick up the trail of the +man on the sorrel pony. + +Fortunately this was not difficult, for the tracks of a running horse +are plain in soft ground. Finding where his quarry had broken cover, +Law set out at a lope. + +The fellow had ridden in a wide semicircle at first, then, finding he +was not pursued, he had slackened pace, and, in consequence, the signs +became more difficult to follow. They seemed to lead in the direction +of Las Palmas, which Dave judged must be fully twelve miles away, and +when they continued to maintain this course the Ranger became doubly +interested. Could it be, he asked himself, that his quarry would have +the audacity to ride to the Austin headquarters? If so, his +identification promised to become easy, for a man on a sorrel cow-pony +was more than likely to be observed. Perhaps he thought himself secure +and counted upon the assistance of some friend or confederate among the +Las Palmas ranch-hands in case of pursuit. That seemed not +unreasonable, particularly inasmuch as he could have no suspicion that +it was a Ranger who was on his trail. + +Dave lost the hoof-prints for a time, but picked them up again at the +pasture gate a few miles farther on, and was able to trace them far +enough to assure himself that his quarry was indeed headed for the +Austin house and had no intention of swinging southward toward the +Lewis headquarters. + +By this time the rain had done its work, and to follow the tracks +became a matter of guesswork. Night was coming on also, and Dave +realized that at this rate darkness would find him far from his goal. +Therefore he risked his own interpretation of the rider's intent and +pushed on without pausing to search out the trail step by step. At the +second gate the signs indicated that his man was little more than an +hour ahead of him. + +The prospect of again seeing the ruddy-haired mistress of Las Palmas +stirred Law more deeply than he cared to admit. Alaire Austin had been +seldom out of his thoughts since their first meeting, for, after the +fashion of men cut off from human society, he was subject to insistent +fancies. Dave had many times lived over those incidents at the +water-hole, and for the life of him he could not credit the common +stories of Alaire's coldness. To him, at least, she had appeared very +human, and after they had once become acquainted she had been +unaffected and friendly. + +Since that meeting Dave had picked up considerable information about +the object of his interest, and although much of this was palpably +false, it had served to make her a still more romantic figure in his +eyes. Alaire now seemed to be a sort of superwoman, and the fact that +she was his friend, that something deep within her had answered to him, +afforded him a keen satisfaction, the greater, perhaps, because of his +surprise that it could be so. Nevertheless, he was uncomfortably aware +that she had a husband. Not only so, but the sharp contrast in their +positions was disagreeable to contemplate; she was unbelievably rich, +and a person of influence in the state, while he had nothing except his +health, 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 in the weeping +mesquite. He found several cubes of sugar in his pocket, and with an +oath flung them from him. Don Ricardo's horse seemed stiff-gaited and +stubborn. + +Dave remembered how Mrs. Austin had admired the mare. No doubt she +would grieve at the fate that had befallen her, and that would give +them something to talk about. His own escape would interest her, too, +and--Law realized, not without some natural gratification, that he +would appear to her as a sort of hero. + +The mist and an early dusk prevented him from seeing Las Palmas itself +until he was well in among the irrigated fields. A few moments later +when he rode up to the out-buildings he encountered a middle-aged +Mexican who proved to be Benito Gonzalez, the range boss. + +Dave made himself known, and Benito answered his questions with +apparent honesty. No, he had seen nothing of a sorrel horse or a +strange rider, but he had just come in himself. Doubtless they could +learn more from Juan, the horse-wrangler, who was somewhere about. + +Juan was finally found, but he proved strangely recalcitrant. At first +he knew nothing, though after some questioning he admitted the +possibility that he had seen a horse of the description given, but was +not sure. More pressure brought forth the reluctant admission 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 not recollect just +where or when he had seen the pony, and he was certain 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 you want to +go to jail?" Juan had no such desire. "Then tell the truth. 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 until he +yelled. "You will make a nice little prisoner, Juanito, and we shall +find a way to make you speak." + +Gonzalez was inclined to resent such high-handed treatment of his +underling, but respect for the Rangers was deep-rooted, and Juan's +behavior was inexplicable. + +At last the horse-boy confessed. He had seen both horse and rider, but +knew neither. Mr. Austin and the stranger had arrived together, and the +latter had gone on. That was the truth. + +"Bueno!" Law released his prisoner, who slunk away rubbing his +shoulder. "Now, Benito, we will find Mr. Austin." + +A voice answered from the dusk: "He won't take much finding," and Ed +Austin himself emerged from the stable door. "Well, what do you want?" +he asked. + +"You are Mr. Austin, I reckon?" + +"I am. What d'you mean by abusing my help?" The master of Las Palmas +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 the reason 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. I +trailed him from where he and his partner cut into your south pasture." + +Benito stirred and muttered an oath, but Austin was unmoved. "I reckon +you must be a bad trailer," he laughed. "We've got no thieves 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 should behave in +this extraordinary manner, unless perhaps he was drunk. + +"Well, I saw the calves, and I left the fellow that was branding them +with a wet saddle-blanket over his face." + +"Eh? What's that?" Austin started, and Gonzalez uttered a smothered +exclamation. "You killed him? He's dead?" + +"Dead enough to skin. I caught him with his irons in the fire and the +calves necked up in your pasture. Now I want his companero." + +"I--hope you don't think we know anything about him," Ed protested. + +"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 do with +this affair. Would you know your man? Did you get a look at him?" + +"No. But I reckon Don Ricardo could tell his horse." + +"Humph!" Austin grunted, disagreeably. "So just for that you come +prowling around threatening my help, eh? Trying to frame up a case, +maybe? Well, it don't go. I was out with one of Tad Lewis's men." + +"What was his name?" Dave managed to inquire. + +"Urbina. He had a sorrel under him, but there are thousands of sorrel +horses." + +"What time did you meet him?" + +"I met him at noon and--I've been with him ever since. So you see +you're wrong. I presume your man doubled back and is laughing at you." + +Law's first bewilderment had given place to a black rage; for the +moment he was in danger of disregarding the reason for "Young Ed's" +incivility and giving free rein to his passion, but he checked 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. He was +astonished at his own self-control, though the certainty that Austin +was drunk helped him to steady himself. Nevertheless, he dared not +trust himself to speak. + +Construing this silence as an acknowledgment of defeat, Ed turned to +go. Some tardy sense of duty, however, prompted him to fling back, +carelessly: + +"I suppose you've come a good ways. If you're hungry, Benito will show +you the way to the kitchen." Then he walked away into the darkness, +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. I +reckon I can chew my bridle-reins if I get too hungry." Walking to his +horse, he vaulted into the saddle. + +Benito laid a hand upon his thigh and apologized. "Señor Ed is a +strange 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 see Urbina." + +At this the Mexican shook his head as if apprehensive of the result, +but he said nothing more. + +Law hesitated as he was about to spur out of the yard. "By the way," he +ventured, "you needn't mention this to Mrs. Austin." + +"She is not here," Gonzalez told him. "She has gone to La Feria to see +about her affairs. She would not permit of this occurrence if she were +at home. She is a very fine lady." + +"Yes. Good night, Benito." + +"Good night, señor." + +When the Ranger had gone, Gonzalez walked slowly toward his house with +his head bowed thoughtfully. + +"It is very strange," he muttered. "How could Don Eduardo have met this +Garza at noon when, with my own eyes, I saw him ride away from Las +Palmas at three o'clock in the afternoon? It is very strange." + + + + +XI + +JUDGE ELLSWORTH EXACTS A PROMISE + + +On his way to the Lewis ranch Dave Law had a struggle with himself. He +had earned a reputation as a man of violent temper, and the time was +not long past when a fraction of the insult Ed Austin had offered him +would have provoked a vigorous counterblast. The fact that on this +occasion he had managed to restrain himself argued an increase of +self-control that especially gratified him, because his natural +tendency to "fly off the handle" had led more than once to regrettable +results. In fact, it was only since he had assumed the duties of a +peace officer that he had made a serious effort at self-government. A +Ranger's work calls for patience and forbearance, and Dave had begun to +realize the perils of his temperament. Normally he was a level-headed, +conservative fellow, but when angered a thousand devils sprang up in +him and he became capable of the wildest excess. This instability, +indeed, had been largely to blame for his aimless roaming. Deep inside +himself he knew that it was nothing but his headstrong temper which had +brought on all his misfortunes and left him, well along in his +thirties, a wanderer, with nothing he could call his own. As with most +men of his turbulent disposition, fits of fury were usually followed by +keen revulsions of feeling. In Dave these paroxysms had frequently been +succeeded by such a sense of shame as to drive him from the scene of +his actions, and in the course of his rovings he had acquired an ample +store of regrets--bitter food for thought during the silent hours when +he sat over his camp-fire or rode alone through the mesquite. His +hatreds were keen and relentless, his passions wild, and yet, so far as +he knew, they had never led him to commit a 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 of frenzy. + +The killing of men in the fierce exultation of battle, the slaying of a +criminal by an officer under stress of duty, even the taking of life +under severe personal provocation, were acts that did not put one +beyond the pale. Such blood washes off. But there were stains of a +different kind. + +Dave was glad that he had swallowed "Young Ed's" incivility, not only +for his own sake, but for the sake of Alaire. + +After all, he argued, it was barely possible that Ed had spoken the +truth. There WERE many sorrel horses; the evidence of those rain-washed +hoof-prints was far from conclusive; even the fact that Urbina belonged +to the Tad Lewis outfit was no more than a suspicious circumstance. And +yet, earnestly as he strove to convince himself of these possibilities, +the Ranger could not down the conviction that the rancher had lied and +that he himself was on the right track. + +It was late when he arrived at his destination, but Lewis's house was +dark, and it required some effort to awaken the owner. When Tad at last +appeared, clad in undershirt and trousers, he greeted the Ranger with a +leveled Winchester; but when Dave had made known his identity he +invited him in, though with surly reluctance. + +Lewis was a sandy-complexioned man of about forty, with colorless brows +and a mean, shifty eye. Formerly a cowboy, he had by the exercise of +some natural ability acquired a good property--and a bad reputation. +Just how or why he had prospered was a mystery which his neighbors +never tired of discussing. + +Tad, it seemed, resented any interruption of his rest, and showed the +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't steal +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 and its +outcome. He was aware, meanwhile, that Lewis's family were listening, +for behind a half-open bedroom door he could hear an excited whispering. + +"Killed him the first shot, eh?" Tad was dumfounded. "Now I never +thought Pino was that bad. But you never can tell about these Greasers, +can you? They'll all steal if they get a chance. I let Pino go, 'bout a +week back; but he's been hangin' around, aimin' to visit some of his +relatives up in the brush country. It was probably one of them old +Guzman saw. Anyhow, it couldn't of been Adolfo 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 he understood +the situation, was in marked contrast to the behavior of Austin. In +fact, his offer to help was almost too willingly given to suit Dave, +who expected him to protest at being dragged out on such a night. No +protest came, however; Lewis slipped into his boots and slicker, +explaining meanwhile: + +"I'm sorry this play came up, for I don't want folks to think I got a +gang of thieves workin' for me." + +But Adolfo Urbina was nowhere to be found. No one had seen him since +about seven o'clock, nor could it be discovered where he was spending +the night. Dave remembered that it had been about seven when he left +Las Palmas, and ascertained, indirectly, that Tad had a telephone. On +his way from Austin's Law had stopped at a rancho for 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 again in +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 it could +avail nothing to wait here for Urbina's return. Unless the fellow gave +himself up, he probably could not be found, now that the alarm was +given, without a considerable search--in view of which Dave finally +remounted his borrowed horse and rode away in the 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 been almost +constantly in the saddle for twenty-four hours, and Don Ricardo's +cow-pony was almost exhausted. + +Blaze and Paloma, of course, were tremendously interested in his story. + +"Say, now, that's quick work," the latter exclaimed, heartily. "You're +some thief-buster, Dave, and if you'll just stay around here little +calves can grow up with some comfort." + +When Dave rode to Jonesville, after breakfast, he found that the body +of his victim had been brought in during the night, and that the town +was already buzzing with news of the encounter. During the forenoon Don +Ricardo and his sons arrived, bringing additional information, which +they promptly imparted to the Ranger. The Guzmans were people of +action. All three of them had spent the night on horseback, and Pedro +had made a discovery. On the day previous Garza had been seen riding in +company with a man astride a 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 seen +together proved, beyond question, that unless Urbina had flown he could +not have arrived at the place in question by noon, the hour Ed Austin +had fixed. + +This significant bit of information, however, Dave advised the Guzmans +not to make public for the time being. + +Toward midday Tad Lewis and three of his men arrived with the news that +Urbina had left for Pueblo before they could intercept him. + +"He's got a girl up there, and he's gone to get married," Tad +explained. "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'll back +him. So 'll Ed Austin, I guess me an' Ed are responsible, ain't we?" +Some skeptical expression in his hearer's face prompted him to inquire, +brusquely, "Don't you believe what I'm telling you about his goin' to +Pueblo?" + +"I guess he's gone--somewhere." + +Tad uttered an angry exclamation. "Looks to me like you'd made up your +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 him railroaded, 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 his alibis. +And you take this for what it's worth to you: I'm going to get all the +cattle-rustlers in this county--ALL of them, understand?" + +Lewis flushed redly and sputtered: "If you make this stick with Adolfo, +nobody 'll be safe. I reckon Urbina's word is as good as old 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, señor. Men in cities remember the faces they see; I have lived +all my life among horses, and to me they are like men. I seldom forget." + +"Very well. Tad says Urbina has gone to Pueblo to get married, so I'm +going to follow him, and I shall be there when he arrives." + +"Bueno! Another matter"--Ricardo hesitated--"your bonita--the pretty +mare. She is buried deep." + +"I'm glad," said Dave. "I think I shall sleep better for knowing that." + +Since the recent rain had rendered the black valley roads impassable +for automobiles, Dave decided to go to Pueblo by rail, even though it +was a roundabout way, and that afternoon found him jolting over the +leisurely miles between Jonesville and the main line. He was looking +forward to a good night's sleep when he arrived at the junction; but on +boarding the north-bound through train he encountered Judge Ellsworth, +who had just heard of the Garza killing, and of course was eager for +details. The two sat in the observation-car talking until a late hour. + +Knowing the judge for a man of honor and discretion. Dave unburdened +himself with the utmost freedom regarding his suspicions of Ed Austin. + +Ellsworth nodded. "Yes, Ed has thrown in with the Rebel junta in San +Antone, and Tad Lewis is the man they use to run arms and supplies in +this neighborhood. That's why he and Ed are so friendly. Urbina is +probably your cattle thief, but he has a hold over Ed, and so he rode +to Las Palmas when he was pursued, knowing that 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 what he'll do. +I'd hate to see you crowd him, Dave." + +"They call you the best lawyer in this county because you settle so +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 Ed Austin out of +trouble." + +"How?" + +"The prosecuting attorney is a new man, and he wants to make a +reputation by breaking up the Lewis gang." + +"Well?" + +"He intends to cinch Urbina, on Ricardo's and my testimony. You're a +friend of Austin's; you'd better tip him to set his watch ahead a few +hours and save himself a lot of trouble. The prosecuting attorney don't +like Ed any too well. Understand?" + +The judge pondered this suggestion for a moment. "'Young Ed' is a queer +fellow. Once in a while he gets his neck bowed." + +"So do I," Law declared, quietly. "He treated me like a hobo--sent me +to the kitchen for a hand-out. That sticks. If I hadn't tamed down +considerably these late years, I'd have--wound him up, right there." + +From beneath his drooping lids Ellsworth regarded the Ranger curiously. +"You HAVE a bad temper, haven't you?" + +"Rotten!" + +"I know. You were a violent boy. I've often wondered how you were +getting along. How do you feel when you're--that way?" + +It was the younger man's turn to hesitate. "Well, I don't feel anything +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 my +father 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 hardly know +what I mean, Judge. But you've had hunches, haven't you? Didn't you +ever KNOW that something you thought was true wasn't true at all? Well, +I never felt as if I had Frank Law's blood in me." + +"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, for +instance, 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 one thing. We +both know plenty of people with a Latin strain in them who look like +Anglo-Saxons. Isn't there anything else?" + +"Nothing I can lay my finger on, except some kid fancies and--that +hunch I spoke about." + +Ellsworth sat back with a deep breath. "You were educated in the North, +and your boyhood was spent at school and college, away from everything +Mexican." + +"That probably accounts for it," Law agreed; then his face lit with a +slow smile. "By the way, don't tell Mrs. Austin that I'm a sort of +college person. She thinks I'm a red-neck, and she sends me books." + +Ellsworth laughed silently. "Your talk is to blame, Dave. Has she sent +you The Swiss Family Robinson?" + +"No. Mostly good, sad romances with an uplift--stories full of lances +at rest, and Willie-boys in tin sweaters. Life must have been mighty +interesting in olden days, there was so much loving and killing going +on. The good women were always beautiful, too, and the villains never +had a redeeming trait. It's a shame how human 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 a ranch like Las Palmas. Say, Judge, how'd +you like to have to live with 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 kiss the hem of her +dress and make a man of himself? That's what she wants--love and +sacrifice, and lots of both. If I were Ed Austin I'd wear her glove in +my bosom and treat her like those queens in the 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 divorce that +bum--she could do it easy enough--and then marry a chap who could 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 make a +bad husband, Dave." + +"She ought to know how to get along with a bad husband, by this time." + +Both men had been but half serious. Ellsworth knew his companion's +words 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," Dave averred. + +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 safe from your +mercenary schemes for some years. Just the same, if you ever do think +of marrying--remember--I want you to come to me--and I'll cure you." + + + + +XII + +LONGORIO MAKES BOLD + + +Upon her arrival at La Feria Alaire discovered that the Federal +depredations had been even greater than she had feared. Not only had +the soldiers taken a great many head of cattle, but they had +practically cleared the ranch of horses, leaving scarcely enough with +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 how much land she +really owned--and the property fronted upon a stream of water. In any +other country it would have been a garden of riches, but agriculture +was well-nigh impossible in northern Mexico. For several years now the +instability of the government had precluded any plan of development, +and, in consequence, the fields were out of cultivation and cattle +grazed over the moist bottom lands, belly deep in grass. The entire +ranch had been given over to pasture, and even now, after Alaire had +sold off much of her stock because of the war, the task of accurately +counting what remained required a longer time than she had expected, +and her visit lengthened. + +However, life in the roomy, fortress-like adobe house was pleasant +enough. Dolores saw to her mistress's wants, and the regular +inhabitants of La Feria were always extravagantly glad to make their +employer welcome. They were a simple, mirth-loving, industrious people, +little concerned over the war, so long as they were unmolested, but +obviously relieved to see Alaire because of their recent fright at the +incursion of Longorio's troops. + +In the work that now went forward José Sanchez took a prominent part. +For once in his life he was a person of recognized importance. Not only +was he the right hand of the owner of La Feria, but the favor of that +redoubtable general, the hero of a hundred tales, rested upon his +shoulders like a mantle. José's extravagant praises of the Federal +commander, together with the daily presence of the military guard, +forcibly brought home to the ranch-dwellers the fact that war was +actually going on, and that Luis 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 one +trouble. He had expected to find his cousin, Panfilo, here, and the +fact that nothing whatever had been heard from him filled him with +great uneasiness. Of course he came to Alaire, who told him of seeing +Panfilo at the water-hole on the day after her husband had discharged +him; but that information gave José little comfort, since it proved +nothing as to his cousin's present whereabouts. Alaire thought best not +to tell him the full circumstances of that affair. Believing that +Panfilo would turn up at La Feria in due time, she gave little heed to +José's dark threats of vengeance for any injury to his relative. + +The horse-breaker's concern increased as the days passed, and to the +lieutenant and members of the guard he repeated his threats. Truly, he +declared, if any evil had fallen upon his beloved cousin Panfilo, he, +José, would exact a terrible reckoning, a revenge befitting 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 her own +pastures without the whole martial squad following at her heels. +Protest was unavailing; the lieutenant was mulishly stubborn. He had +been ordered to keep the señora in sight at all times, so he said, and +that ended the matter as far as he was concerned. His life and the +lives of his six followers depended entirely upon her safety and +happiness, for General Longorio was a man of his word. + +Of course the lieutenant would not offend for the world--the object of +his solicitude was at liberty to tread upon his worthless old +carcass--but orders were orders, especially when they came from a +certain source. He besought Alaire to exercise forbearance toward him, +and, above all, to use the extremest caution in regard to her own +well-being, for if aught befell her, if even a despicable rattlesnake +should rise out of the grass to sting her--caramba! The teniente, in +that case, would better destroy himself on the spot. Otherwise he would +surely find himself, in a short time, with his back to a stone wall and +his face to a firing-squad. That was the sort of man Longorio was. + +The speaker wondered if Mrs. Austin really understood his chief's +nature; how determined he was; how relentless he could be. General +Longorio was a remarkable person. Opposition of any sort he could not +brook. His discipline was rigorous and his punishments were severe; +being utterly without fear himself, he insisted upon implicit obedience +in others at whatever cost. For instance, during the battle of San +Pedro, just south of here, a handful of Rebels had taken refuge in a +small, one-roomed adobe house, where they resisted all efforts at +dislodgment. Time and again the Federals had charged, only to meet a +fire too murderous to face. The slaughter had been terrific. The +lieutenant, veteran of many revolutions, vowed he had never seen a +street so full of dead and wounded as the one in front of this house. +Finally the soldiers had refused to advance again, and their captain +had sent for a cannon. 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 old +lieutenant paused dramatically. + +"Well, the capitan explained that an army was insufficient to take that +house; that it meant death to all who approached. I was not +present--God be praised!--but others told me what happened. General +Longorio dismounted and embraced the capitan--he kissed him on the +cheek, saying: + +"'Adios, my dear good friend. I fear I have seen the last of you.' + +"Then what? Señora, you would never guess." The speaker shook his head. +"Longorio took two dynamite grenades, and, laughing like a boy, he ran +forward before any one knew what he was about. It is nothing but the +truth, señora, and he a general! This capitan loved him dearly, and so +his bones turned to rope when the windows of that accursed house began +to vomit fire and the dust began to fly. They say that the dead men in +the street rose to their knees and crossed themselves--I only repeat +what I was told by those who looked on. Anyhow, I have seen things +quite as remarkable. + +"Never was such courage, señora! God must have been moved to +astonishment and admiration, for He diverted those bullets, every one. +When our general came to the house he lit the fuses from his cigarette, +then he cried, 'Viva Potosi!' and hurled one bomb to the roof; the +other he flung through a window into the very faces of his enemies. +Those Rebels were packed in there like goats in a corral, and they say +such a screaming you never heard. Doubtless many of them died from +sheer terror the rest were blown through each other." The lieutenant +breathed an admiring oath. "Truly, it must 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 and destroyed +what Rebel officers we found--" + +"You mean--your prisoners?" + +"Si. But there were only a few, and doubtless some of them would have +died from their wounds. Well then, after that General Longorio called +his old friend--that capitan--out before his troops and with his own +hand he shot him. Then every fifth man among those who had refused to +charge he ordered executed. It effected much good, I assure you." + +For a moment Alaire and her companion rode in silence, but the teniente +was not content with this praise of his leader. + +"And yet General Longorio has another side to his character," he +continued. "He can be as mild as the shyest señorita, and he possesses +the most beautiful sentiments. Women are mad over him. But he is hard +to please--strangely so. Truly, the lady who captivates his fancy may +count herself fortunate." The old soldier turned in his saddle and, +with a grace surprising in one of his rough appearance, removed his hat +and swept Alaire a bow the unmistakable meaning of which caused her to +start and to stammer something unintelligible. + +Alaire was angry at the fellow's presumption, and vexed with herself +for showing that she understood his insinuation. She spurred her horse +into a gallop, leaving him to follow as he could. + +It was absurd to take the man's word seriously; indeed, he probably +believed he had paid her a compliment. Alaire assured herself that +Longorio's attentions were inspired merely by a temporary extravagance +of admiration, characteristic of his nationality. Doubtless he had +forgotten all about her by this time. That, too, was characteristic of +Latin men. Nevertheless, the possibility that she had perhaps stirred +him more deeply than she believed was disturbing--one might easily +learn to fear Longorio. 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 she was not +permitted entirely to forget, for Dolores echoed the teniente's +sentiments. + +In marked contrast to José Sanchez's high and confident spirits was the +housekeeper's conviction of dire calamity. In the presence of these +armed strangers she saw nothing but a menace, and considered herself +and her mistress no more nor less than prisoners destined for a fate as +horrible as that of the two beautiful sisters of whom she never tired +of speaking. Longorio was a blood-thirsty beast, and he was saving them +as prey for his first leisure moment--that was Dolores's belief. +Abandoning all hope of ever seeing Las Palmas again, she gave herself +up to thoughts of God and melancholy praises of her husband's virtues. + +In spite of all this, however, Alaire welcomed the change in her daily +life. Everything about La Feria was restfully un-American, from the +house itself, with its bare walls and floors, its brilliantly flowering +patio, and its primitive kitchen arrangements, to the black-shawled, +barefooted Indian women and their naked children rolling in the dust. +Even the timberless mountains that rose sheer from the westward plain +into a tumbling purple-shadowed rampart were Mexican. La Feria was +several miles from the railroad; therefore it could not have been more +foreign had it lain in the very heart of Mexico rather than near the +northern boundary. + +In such surroundings, and in spite of faint misgivings, it was not +strange that, after a few days, Alaire's unhappiness assumed a vaguely +impersonal quality and that her life, for the moment, seemed not to be +her own. Even the thought of her husband, Ed Austin, became indistinct +and unreal. Then all too soon she realized that the purpose of her +visit was accomplished and that she had no excuse for remaining longer. +She was now armed with sufficient facts to make a definite demand upon +the Federal government. + +The lieutenant took charge of the return journey to the railroad, and +the two women rode to the jingling accompaniment of metal trappings. +When at last they were safely aboard the north-bound train, Alaire +mildly teased Dolores about her recent timidity. But Dolores 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 hear those ruffianly +soldiers quarreling over me--it is what comes from good looks." Dolores +mechanically smoothed the wrinkles from her dress 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 not born ugly." + +Alaire could not forbear a smile, for she who thus resigned herself to +the penalties of beauty had never been well favored, and age had +destroyed what meager attractions she may have once possessed. + +Dolores went on after a time. "My Benito will not long remain +unmarried. He is like all men. More than once I have suspected him of +making eyes at young women, and any girl in the country would marry him +just for my fine silver coffee-pot and those spoons. There is my +splendid silk mantilla, with fringe half as long as your arm, too. Oh, +I have treasures enough!" She shook her head mournfully. "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 one molest +us? Who could wish us harm?" she asked. + +"Ha! Did you see that general? He was like a drunken man in your +presence; 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 a husband? +He only cares that you have long, bright hair, redder than rust, and +eyes like blue flowers, and a skin like milk. An angel could not be so +beautiful." + +"Ah, Dolores, you flatterer! Seriously, though, don't you realize that +we are Americans, and people of position? An injury to us would 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 had brought +that shawl and that silver coffee-pot with me." + +The homeward journey was a repetition of the journey out; there were +the same idle crowds, the same displays of filthy viands at the +stopping-places, the same heat and dust and delays. Longorio's +lieutenant hovered near, and José, as before, was news-gatherer. Hour +after hour they crept toward the border, until at last they were again +laid out on a siding for an indefinite wait. + +The occasion for this was made plain when an engine drawing a single +caboose appeared. Even before it had come to a pause a tall figure in +spotless uniform leaped to the ground and strode to the waiting +coaches. It was Luis Longorio. He waved a signal to the conductor, then +swung aboard the north-bound train. + +The general was all smiles as he came down the and bowed low over +Alaire'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. "I have +blamed myself for allowing you to take this abominable journey! I have +been in torment lest something befall you. Every night I have prayed +that you might be spared all harm. When I received 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 beg of +you," he entreated. "I have arranged for reparation of that miserable +mistake. You shall see what I have done. With your own eyes you shall +read the furious correspondence I have carried on with 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?" the general +queried, earnestly. "Fix the damages at your own figure and I shall see +that you receive justice. If the government will not pay, I will. I +have means; I am not a poor man. All I possess would 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 lost more 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, and no 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. Señora, I have +thought of you every hour; the duties that held me in Nuevo Pueblo were +like irksome chains. I was in madness. I would have flown to La Feria +but--I could not." + +"My husband will thank you for your great courtesy to me," Alaire +managed to say. + +But the mention of husbands was not agreeable to one of Longorio's +sensitiveness, and his face betrayed a hint of impatience. + +"Yes, yes," he agreed, carelessly. "Señor Austin and I must know each +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 be surprised +to greet me at Las Palmas some day soon, eh? When you tell 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 are in +Romero, directly opposite. Mexico is not at war with your country, and +when I am in citizen's clothes I am merely an ordinary person. I have +made inquiries, and they tell me Las Palmas is beautiful, heavenly, and +that you are the one who transformed it. I believe them. You have the +power to transform all 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 of you." Longorio drew from his pocket several photographs of the +Austin ranch-house. + +"Where did you get those?" Alaire asked in astonishment. + +"Ah! My secret. See! They are badly worn already, for I keep them next +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 of +Candeleristas--" + +"Cattle!" said the officer, with a careless shrug. "Did not that great +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 my mind. Those +Englishmen know nothing of passion. Your American men are cold. Only a +Mexican can love. We have fire in our veins, señora." + +To these perfervid protestations Dolores listened with growing fright; +her eyes were wide and they were fixed hypnotically upon the speaker; +she presented much the appearance of a rabbit charmed by a serpent. But +to Longorio she did not exist; she was a chattel, 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 to +return the general's ring, with the pretense that she considered it no +more than a talisman loaned her for the time being. But it was 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 than a trifling evidence of +his esteem. But Alaire was firm. + +"Your customs are different to ours," she told him. "An American woman +is not permitted to accept valuable presents, and this would cause +disagreeable comment." + +At such a thought the general's finest sensibilities were wounded, but +nothing, it seemed, could permanently dampen his ardor, and he soon +proceeded to press his attentions with even more vehemence than before. +He had brought Alaire candies of American manufacture, Mexican +sweetmeats of the finest variety, a beautiful silken shawl, and at +midday the grizzled teniente came with a basket of lunch containing +dainties and fruits and vacuum bottles with hot and cold drinks. + +When invited to share the contents, the general was plainly overjoyed, +but he was so enthralled by his companion's beauty that he could eat +but little. + +It was a most embarrassing situation. Longorio kept Alaire for ever +upon the defensive, and it sorely taxed her ingenuity to hold the +conversation in safe channels. As the journey proceeded it transpired +that the man had made use of his opportunities to learn everything +about her, even to her life with Ed. His information was extensive, and +his deductions almost uncanny in their correctness. He told her about +Austin's support of the Rebel cause and her own daily doings at Las +Palmas; he intimated that her unhappiness was almost more than he could +bear. + +This intimate knowledge and sympathy he seemed to regard as a bond that +somehow united them. He was no longer a new acquaintance, but a close +and loyal friend whose regard was deathless. + +Undoubtedly the man had a way with him. He impressed people, and his +magnetism was potent. Moreover, he knew the knack of holding what +ground he gained. + +It was an odd, unreal ride, through the blazing heat of the long +afternoon. Longorio cast off all pretense and openly laid siege to the +red-haired woman's heart--all without offering her the smallest chance +to rebuff him, the slightest ground for open resentment, so respectful +and guarded were his advances. But he was forceful in his way, and the +very intensity of his desires made him incapable of discouragement. So +the duel progressed--Alaire cool and unyielding, he warm, persistent, +and tireless. He wove about her an influence as difficult to combat as +the smothering folds of some flocculent robe or the strands of an +invisible web, and no spider was ever more industrious. + +When the train arrived at its destination his victim was well-nigh +exhausted from the struggle. He helped her into a coach with the +gentlest and gravest courtesy, and not until the vehicle rolled away +did Alaire dare to relax. Through her fatigue she could still hear his +soft farewell until the morrow, and realized that she had committed +herself to his further assistance. His palms against hers had been +warm, his adoring eyes had caressed her, but she did not care. All she +wished now was to reach her hotel, and then her bed. + +After a good night's rest, however, Alaire was able to smile at +yesterday's adventure. Longorio did not bulk so large now; even these +few hours had greatly diminished his importance, so that he appeared +merely as an impulsive foreigner who had allowed a woman to turn his +head. Alaire knew with what admiration even a moderately attractive +American woman is greeted in Mexico, and she had no idea that this +fellow had experienced anything more than a fleeting infatuation. Now +that she had plainly shown her distaste for his outlaw emotions, and +convinced him that they awoke in her no faintest response, she was +confident that his frenzy would run its brief course and die. +Meanwhile, it was not contrary to the standards of feminine ethics to +take advantage of the impression she had made upon him and with his +help push through a fair financial settlement of her loss. + +Once back across the river, however, she discovered that there were +obstacles to a prompt adjustment of her claim. The red tape of her own +government was as nothing to that of Mexico. There were a thousand +formalities, a myriad of maddening details to be observed, and they +called for the services of an advocate, a notary, a jefe politico, a +jefe de armas--officials without end. All of these worthies were +patient and polite, but they displayed a malarial indifference to +delay, and responsibility seemed to rest nowhere. During the day Alaire +became bewildered, almost lost in the mazes of official procedure, and +was half minded to telegraph for Judge Ellsworth. But that again meant +delay, and she was 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 was delighted +with her grasp of detail and her knowledge of business essentials. At +his word all Nuevo Pueblo bowed and scraped to her, she was treated +with impressive formality, and even the military guards 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 American soil 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 hand in hand +with him for some holy cause. + + + + +XIII + +DAVE LAW BECOMES JEALOUS + + +"You can never know what these two days have been for me," the general +said as he and Alaire lingered over their meal. "They will afford me +something to think about all my life! It is a delicious comfort to know +that you trust me, that you do not dislike me. And you 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 am not +like other men. Would to God I were, for then I could close my eyes +and--forget. You have your great tragedy--it is old to you; but mine, +dear lady, is just beginning. I can look forward to nothing except +unhappiness." He sighed deeply. + +"I'm sorry you are unhappy," Alaire parried. "Surely you have every +pleasant prospect." + +"It would seem so. I am young, rich, a hero, I serve my country in +glorious fashion, but what is all that if there is no pretty one to +care? Even the meanest peon has his woman, his heart's treasure. I +would give all I have, I would forego my hope of heaven and doom myself +to eternal tortures, for one smile from a pair of sweet lips, one look +of love. I am a man of iron--yes, an invincible soldier--and yet I have +a heart, and a woman could rule me." + +"You say you have a heart." Alaire studied her vis-avis curiously as he +met her eyes with his mournful gaze. "How is it that I hear such +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: "It is a +necessity of war. Listen, señora! We have twelve million Indians in +Mexico and a few selfish men who incite them to revolt. Everywhere +there is intrigue, and nowhere is there honor. To war against the +government is treason, and treason is punishable by death. 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. I am still a young man, and--at present +there is but one other capable of this gigantic task. For the time +being, therefore, I permit myself to serve under him, and--I salute +him. Viva Potosi!" The speaker lifted his glass and drank. "Madero was +a wicked believer in spells and charms; he talked with the dead. He, +and those who came after him, fired the peons to revolt and despoiled +our country, leaving her prone and bleeding. We of the Cientificos have +set ourselves to stop her wounds and to nourish her to life again. We +shall drive all traitors into the sea and feed them to the sharks. We +shall destroy them all, and Mexico shall have peace. But I am not a +bloodthirsty man. No, I am a poet and a lover at heart. As great a +patriot as I am, I could be faithless to my country for one smile from +the woman I adore." + +Alaire did not color under the ardent glance that went with this +declaration. 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 more than a +child herself--whose husband is in prison. She told me how she had come +all the way from the country and is living with friends, just to be +near him. Every day she goes to the carcel, but is denied admission, +and every day she comes to plead with the jefe de armas for her +husband's life. But he will not see her, and the 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 was pitiful." +Alaire leaned forward with an earnest appeal in her face, 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 appear as +an angel of mercy, eh? Your heart is touched?" + +"Deeply." + +"Bastante! There is no more to be said." Longorio rose and went into +the next room where were certain members of his staff. After a time he +returned with a paper in his hand, and this he laid before Alaire. It +was an order for the release of Juan Garcia. "The salvo conducto which +will permit Juan and his Inez and their Juanito to return to their farm +is being made out," he explained. "Are you satisfied?" + +Alaire looked up wonderingly, "I am deeply grateful. You overwhelm me. +You are--a strange man." + +"Dear lady, I live to serve you. Your wish is my law. How can I prove +it further?" As he stood beside her chair the fervor of his gaze caused +her eyes to droop and a faint color to come into her cheeks. She felt a +sudden sense of insecurity, for the man was trembling; the evident +desire to touch her, to seize her in his arms, was actually shaking him +like an ague. What next would he do? Of what wild extravagance was he +not capable? He was a queer mixture of fire and ice, of sensuality and +self-restraint. She knew him to be utterly lawless in most things, and +yet toward her he had shown scrupulous restraint. What possibilities +were in a man of his electric temperament, who had the strength to +throttle his fiercest longings? + +The strained, throbbing silence that followed Longorio's last words did +more to frighten the woman than had his most ardent advances. + +After a time he lifted Alaire's hand; she felt his lips hot and damp +upon her flesh; then he turned and went away with the document. + +When he reappeared he was smiling. "These Garcias shall know who +interceded 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 there be in +a good deed unless one receives public credit and thanks for it? I am +not like that." + +He would have lingered indefinitely over the table, but Alaire soon +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 could only +look his keen distress. + +As they stepped out into the street Alaire was afforded that treat +which Longorio had so thoughtfully arranged for her. There in the +gutter stood Inez Garcia with her baby in her arms, and beside her the +ragged figure of a young man, evidently her Juan. The fellow was +emaciated, his face was gaunt and worn and frightened, his feet were +bare even of sandals, the huge peaked straw hat which he clutched over +his breast was tattered, and yet in his eye there was a light. + +They had waited patiently, these Garcias, heedful of Longorio's orders, +and now they burst into a torrent of thanks. They flung themselves to +their knees and kissed the edge of Alaire's dress. Their instructions +had been plain, and they followed them to the letter, yet their +gratitude was none the less genuine for being studied. The little +mother's hysteria, for instance, could not have been entirely assumed, +and certainly no amount of rehearsals could have taught the child to +join his cries so effectively to his parents'. Between them all they +made such a racket as to summon 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 beaming eyes +expressed the hope that Alaire was fully satisfied with the moment. But +the Garcias, having been thoroughly coached, insisted upon rendering +full measure of thanks, and there seemed to be no way of shutting them +off until the general ordered them to their feet. + +"That is enough!" he declared. "Hombre, you are free, so go about your +business and fight no more with those accursed rebels." + +Juan, of course, was ready at this moment to fight for any one he was +told to fight for, particularly Longorio himself, and he so declared. +His life was at the service of the benefactor who had spared him; his +wife and baby lived only to bless the illustrious general. + +"They look very poor," said Alaire, and opened her purse; but Longorio +would not permit her to give. Extracting a large roll of paper money +from his own pocket, he tossed it, without counting, to Juan, and then +when the onlookers applauded he loudly called to one of his officers, +saying: + +"Oiga! Give these good friends of mine two horses, and see that they +are well cared for. Now, Juan," he addressed the dazed countryman, "I +have one order for you. Every night of your life you and your pretty +wife must say a prayer for the safety and happiness 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 for the +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: "VIVA LONGORIO!" + +The general bowed smilingly; then, taking Alaire's arm, he waved the +idlers out of his path with a magnificent gesture. + +When, later in the day, Mrs. Austin came to say good-by and thank the +Mexican for his courtesies, he humbly begged permission to pay his +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 of poor Juan +Garcia to unlock Heaven for that bandit. He is the wickedest man I ever +met--yes, probably the wickedest man in the world." + +"He has been kind to us." + +"Bah! He has a motive. Do you notice the way he looks at you? It is +enough to damn him for all eternity." + +Upon her arrival at the hotel Alaire received an agreeable surprise, +for as her vehicle paused, at the curb David Law stepped forward, 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 a poor +Greaser. But he ain't here. And you, ma'am?" + +Alaire briefly outlined the reasons that had taken her to La Feria and +the duties that had kept her busy since her return, while Dave nodded +his understanding. When, however, he learned that she was counting upon +General Luis Longorio's aid in securing justice, his expression +altered. He regarded her with some curiosity as he inquired: + +"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 we consider +them peculiar--probably because they are different to us. Anyhow, we +don't understand their business methods or their habits of mind; even +their laughter and their tears are different to ours, but--from my +experience with them I wouldn't put much confidence in this Longorio's +word. I say this, and I'm supposed to have a little Mexican blood in +me." + +During this brief conversation they had entered the hotel, and now the +lobby idlers took quick cognizance of Mrs. Austin's presence. The +lanky, booted Ranger excited no comment, for men of his type were +common here; but Alaire was the heroine of many stories and the object +of a wide-spread curiosity; therefore she received open stares and +heard low whisperings. Naturally resenting this attention, she gave her +hand to Law more quickly than she would have done otherwise. + +"I hope we shall see each other again," she murmured. + +"That's more'n likely; I'm located in your neighborhood now," he +informed 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 an automobile." + +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 along the +line." + +"Good! It is a large car and"--she smiled at him--"if we have tire +trouble I may need your help. José, my man, is a splendid +horse-breaker, but he seems to think a tire tool is some sort of a +fancy branding-iron. His mechanical knowledge is limited to a +bridle-bit and a cinch, and I'm almost certain he believes there is +something ungodly about horseless wagons." + +Dave was nearly speechless with delight, and when the mistress of Las +Palmas had gone up-stairs he felt inclined to pinch himself to see if +he were dreaming. He had pursued a fruitless quest during the past few +days, and his resentment had grown as he became certain that Tad Lewis +had sent him on a wild-goose chase; but the sight of Alaire +miraculously restored his good spirits, and the prospect of a long, +intimate ride in her company changed the whole trend of his thoughts. +His disappointment at not seeing her upon his visit to Las Palmas had +only served to enhance his memories of their first meeting, and time, +now, had deepened his interest tenfold. Yes, she was "The Lone Star," +the estrella brillante of his empty sky. + +When the supper-hour came he managed by carefully watching the +dining-room to time his meal with Mrs. Austin's. He even ventured to +hope that they might share the same table, but in this he was +disappointed. However, from where he sat he could see her profile and +worship her to his heart's content, and when she favored him with a +smile and a nod he was happy. + +All without his knowledge, Dave realized, this woman had secured an +amazing hold over him. He had thought a great deal about her, of +course, but his thoughts had been idle, and it had required this second +encounter to make him know the truth. Now, however, there could be no +doubt about his feelings; he was more than romantically interested, the +mere sight of her had electrified him. The discovery distressed him, +and he very properly decided that the affair should end here, since it +could lead to nothing except disappointment. + +But who can govern a wayward fancy? One moment Law promised himself to +see no more of this married woman; the next he wondered how she would +occupy the evening, and ventured to hope that he might have a chance to +talk with her. + +After supper, however, she was nowhere to be found. When his first +chagrin had passed he decided that this was exactly as it should be. He +didn't like to see women make themselves conspicuous in hotels. + +At the time of this story relations between the United States and the +established government of Mexico were at such high tension that a +hostility had sprung up between the troops fronting each other along +the Rio Grande, and in consequence their officers no longer crossed the +boundary, even when off duty. It created a flurry 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 an hour? the +Ranger asked himself. Why should he presume to call upon her unless--he +was interested? Mexican officers, in these parlous times, were not +given to social courtesies, and Longorio's reputation was sufficiently +notorious to render his attentions a cause for gossip under any +circumstances. + +Dave rose and strolled restlessly about the hotel. A half-hour passed +and Longorio did not reappear; an hour dragged by, and then Dave took +occasion to go to his room. A glance through the open parlor door +showed the foreigner in closest conversation with Mrs. Austin. They +were laughing; they were alone; even Dolores was nowhere to be seen. + +When Dave returned to his big rocking-chair he found it uncomfortable; +he watched the clock anxiously; he chewed several cigars 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's +willingness to help her exact reparation from his government. Fine +doings 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. What went on +up-stairs certainly was none of his business, and he had better far +amuse himself. In accordance with this excellent reasoning, he went to +a picture-show. But he could not become interested. The flat images on +the screen failed to divert him, and the only faces he saw were those +of Luis Longorio and the lone mistress of Las Palmas. + +Had Dave only known the truth, he would have gained a grim comfort from +it, for Alaire Austin was not enjoying herself this evening. Her caller +stayed on interminably and she became restive under the flow of his +conversation. For some reason or other Longorio was not the romantic +figure he had been; in his citizen's clothes he was only a dandified +Mexican 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-skinned foreigner whose ardor was +distasteful. Longorio was tiresome. + + + + +XIV + +JOSE SANCHEZ SWEARS AN OATH + + +On this same evening a scene of no little significance was taking place +at Las Palmas. Ed Austin was entertaining callers, and these were none +other than Tad Lewis and Adolfo Urbina. + +The progress of events during the last few days had shaped this +conference, for, as Dave had forecast during his conversation with +Judge Ellsworth, the local prosecuting attorney saw in the Guzman +cattle case an opportunity to distinguish himself, and was taking +action accordingly. He had gathered considerable evidence against +Urbina, and was exerting himself to the utmost for an indictment. He +had openly declared that the testimony of Ricardo Guzman and his other +witnesses would convict the suspect, and the fact that his politics +were opposed to Ed Austin's complicated matters still further. It was +the unwelcome news of all this which had brought Tad Lewis and his +Mexican helper to Las Palmas under cover of darkness. Having gone over +the circumstances in detail, Lewis concluded: + +"We're depending on you, Ed. You got to stand pat." + +But Austin was lukewarm. He had experienced a change of heart, and the +cause appeared when he read aloud a letter that day received from Judge +Ellsworth, in which the judge told of his meeting with Dave Law, and +the Ranger's reasons for doubting Ed's word. + +"I've got to take water," "Young Ed" told his visitors, "or I'll get +myself into trouble." Then querulously he demanded of Adolfo: "Why in +hell did you come here, anyhow? Why didn't you keep to the chaparral?" + +Adolfo shrugged. "I thought you were my friend." + +"Sure!" Tad agreed. "Urbina's been a friend to you, now you got to +stick to him. We got to hang together, all of us. My evidence wouldn't +carry no weight; but there ain't a jury in South Texas that would +question yours. Adolfo done the right thing." + +"I don't see it," Ed declared, petulantly. "What's the use of getting +me into trouble? There's the river; they can't follow you across." + +But Urbina shook his head. + +"You know he can't cross," Tad explained. "His people would shoot him +if he ever went to Mexico." + +"Well, he'll be caught if he stays here. You daren't send that damned +Ranger on another blind trail. If Adolfo can't go south he'll have to +go north." + +"Not on your life," affirmed Lewis. "If he runs it'll prove his guilt +and look bad for me. I'm the one they're after, and I don't stand 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 dragged into +the thing. You've no business rustling stock, anyhow. You don't have +to." + +Urbina exhaled a lungful of cigarette smoke and inquired, "You won't +help me, eh?" + +"No, I won't." + +"Very well! If I go to prison you shall go, too. I shall tell all I +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 ever convicted, even when the +embargo was in effect. Why, the government winks at anybody who helps +the Rebels." + +"Oh, that is nothing!" Urbina agreed; "but you would not wish to be +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 he knows +about them horses? Suppose he tells how you framed it to have your own +stock run across, on shares, so's you could get more money to go +hifalutin' around San Antone without your wife knowing it? 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 asserted Lewis. + +"Nobody'd believe such a thing." + +"Folks are ready to believe 'most anything about you. Your wife would +believe it. Ain't Las Palmas in her name, and don't she give you so +much a month to spend? If them ain't facts, you lied to me." + +"Yes!" Urbina supplemented. "I can swear to all that. And I can swear +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, if you +would steal your wife's horses, why would you not steal your neighbor's +cattle? The relatives of poor Pino Garza--God rest his soul!--will bear +me out. I have arranged for that. Suppose I tell the jury that there +were three of us in that pasture of yours, instead of two? What then? I +would be lonely in prison without a good compadre to bear me company." +Urbina grinned in evil triumph. + +"This is the damnedest outrage I ever heard of," gasped "Young Ed." +"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 to the brush +and live like a javelin just for your sake, when you could square him +with a word." + +There was a moment or two of silence, during which the visitors watched +the face of the man whose weakness they both knew. At last Ed Austin +ventured to say, apologetically: + +"I'm willing to do almost anything to help Adolfo, but--they'll make a +liar of me if I take the stand. Isn't there some other way out?" + +"I don't know of any," said Lewis. + +"Money'll square anything," Ed urged, hopefully, whereupon Urbina waved +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 I have. +If he was out of the way there wouldn't be nothin' to this case, 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. I would see to +that." + +The color receded from Ed Austin's purple cheeks, and he rose abruptly. +"This is getting too strong for me," he cried. "I won't listen to this +sort of talk. I won't be implicated in any such doings." + +"Nobody's goin' to implicate you," Tad told him. "Adolfo wants to keep +you out of trouble. There's plenty of people on both sides of the river +that don't like Guzman any better'n we do. Me an' Adolfo was 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. He knew only +too well the character of his two visitors; he had learned much about +Tad Lewis during the past few months, and, as for the Mexican, he +thought the fellow capable of any crime. At this moment Ed bitterly +regretted his acquaintance with these neighbors, for both men knew more +about his affairs than he cared to have made public. He was angry and +resentful at Tad for taking sides against him, and more than a little +fearful of Adolfo's enmity if he refused assistance. The owner of Las +Palmas still retained a shred of self-respect, a remnant of pride in +his name; he did not consider himself a bad man. He was determined now +to escape from this situation without loss of credit, no matter what +the price--if escape were possible--and he vowed earnestly to himself +that hereafter he would take ample pains never to become similarly +involved. + +Austin remained out of the room for some time; when he returned his +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. "Do you +think I'm going to be tangled up in a--murder? I've got nothing against +Don Ricardo." + +"Who said anything about murder? Things ain't like they was when your +father owned Las Palmas; he done his share of killin', but nowadays +there's too dam' much law layin' around loose. All you've got 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," he +said, sullenly. "I'm broke. And, anyhow, I don't see what good it'll +do." + +"You better dig it up, somehow, just for your own sake." + +The two men eyed each other for a moment; then Austin mumbled something +about his willingness to try, and left the room for a second time. The +money which Alaire kept on hand for current expenses was locked in her +safe, but he knew the combination. + +It was with an air of resignation, with a childish, half-hearted +protest, that he counted out the desired amount into Lewis's hand, +salving his conscience with the statement: "I'm doing this to help +Adolfo out of his trouble, understand? I hope it'll enable you to +square things." + +"Maybe it will and maybe it won't," sneered Lewis. "Anyhow, I ain't +scared of tryin'. I got the guts to make a battle, even if you haven't." + +Ed Austin was greatly relieved when his unwelcome callers rode away; as +he composed himself for sleep, an hour later, he refrained from +analyzing too deeply the motives behind this forced loan, and refused +to speculate too long upon the purpose to which it might be put. The +whole occurrence was unfortunate. Ed Austin sincerely hoped he had +heard the last of it. + +José Sanchez made use of the delay at Pueblo to institute further +inquiries regarding his missing cousin, but nowhere could he find the +slightest trace. Panfilo had set out to ride to this point and thence +to La Feria, but the last seen of him had been at the water-hole, one +day's ride from the home ranch. At that point the earth had opened and +swallowed him. If he were alive why had he not written to his +sweetheart, Rosa? + +José swore an oath that he would learn the truth if it required his +whole lifetime, and, if it should turn out that his sainted relative +had indeed met with foul play--well! José told his friends they could +judge, by looking at him, the sort of man he was. He proudly displayed +Longorio's revolver, and called it his cousin's little avenger. The +weapon had slain many; it had a duty still to perform, so he said. + +José intended to confide his purpose to Mrs. Austin, but when it came +time to start for Las Palmas there was a fourth passenger in the +automobile, and he was obliged to hold his tongue for the moment. + +A motor trip along the lower Rio Grande would prove a novel and not +altogether agreeable experience to the average automobilist, for there +are few improved roads and the rest offer many difficulties, not the +least of which are frequent fords, some deep, some shallow. So it was +that Alaire considered it necessary to make an early start. + +In spite of the unhealthy fancies that Dave Law had taken to bed with +him, he arose this morning in fine spirits and with a determination to +put in a happy day. Alaire, too, was in good humor and expressed her +relief at escaping from everything Mexican. + +"I haven't seen a newspaper for ages, and I don't know what is going on +at Jonesville or anywhere else," she confided. + +Dave told her of the latest developments in the Mexican situation, the +slow but certain increase of tension between the two governments, and +then of home happenings. When she asked him about his own doings, he +informed her of the affair which had brought him to Pueblo. + +Of course all three of his companions were breathlessly interested in +the story of Pino Garza's death; Dolores and José did not allow a word +to escape them. + +"So they cut our fence and ran the calves into our pasture to brand!" +Alaire said. "It's time somebody like you came to Jonesville, Mr. Law." + +"Caramba! It required bravery to ride alone into that rincon," José +declared. "I knew Pino Garza well, and he could shoot like the devil." + +"You said your horse saved your life," Mrs. Austin went on. "How do you +mean?" When Dave had explained, she cried, quickly, "You weren't +riding--Bessie Belle?" + +"Yes. She's buried where she dropped." + +"Oh-h!" Alaire's exclamation was eloquent of pity, and Law smiled +crookedly. + +"I've been right lonesome since she went away. 'Most every day I find +myself stealing sugar for her, the way I used to do. See!" He fumbled +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. Of course, 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 my cheek wet where she'd kissed it. She'd +leave the nicest grass just to come and visit with me." + +Alaire turned a quick glance upon the speaker to find his face set and +his eyes miserable. Impulsively she laid her hand upon his arm, saying: + +"I know how you must feel. Do you know what has always been my dearest +wish? To be able to talk with animals; and to have them trust me. Just +think what fun it would be to talk with the wild things and make +friends of them. Oh, when I was a little girl I used to dream about it!" + +Law nodded his vigorous appreciation of such a desire. "Dogs and horses +sabe more than we give them credit for. I've learned a few bird words, +too. You remember those quail at the water-hole?" + +"Oh yes." + +Dave smiled absent-mindedly. "There's a wonderful book about birds--one +of the keenest satires ever written, I reckon. It's about a +near-sighted old Frenchman who was cast away on a penguin island. He +saw the big birds walking around and thought they were human beings." + +"How did you happen to read Anatole France?" Alaire asked, with a sharp +stare of surprise. + +The Ranger stirred, but he did not meet her eyes. "Well," said he, "I +read 'most anything I can get. A feller meets up with strange books +just like he meets up with strange people." + +"Not books like--that." There was a brief silence. "Mr. Law, every now +and then you say something that makes me think you're a--rank impostor." + +"Pshaw!" said he. "I know cowboys that read twice as good as I do." + +"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 of which +there lurked the faintest twinkle. "Cornell," said he. + +Alaire gasped. After a while she remarked, stiffly, "You have a +peculiar sense of humor." + +"Now don't be offended," he begged of her. "I'm a good deal like a +chameleon; I unconsciously change my color to suit my surroundings. +When we first met I saw that you took me for one thing, and since then +I've tried not to show you your mistake." + +"Why did you let me send you those silly books? Now that you have begun +to tell the truth, keep it up. How many of them had you read?" + +"We-ll, I hadn't read any of them--lately." + +"How disagreeable of you to put it that way!" The car leaped forward as +if spurred by Alaire's mortification. "I wondered how you knew about +the French Revolution. 'That Bastilly was some calaboose, wasn't it'?" +She quoted his own words scornfully. "I dare 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 of muddy +water, and Law was forced to get out to plug the carburetor and stop +the oil-intakes to the crankcase. This done, Alaire ran the machine +through on the self-starter. When José'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 cry over +those romances." + +"Don't you still believe in chivalry?" + +Alaire turned her eyes upon the questioner, and there were no girlish +illusions in them. "Do you?" she queried, with a faint curl of her lip. + +"Why--yes." + +She shook her head. "Men have changed. Nowadays they are all selfish +and sordid. But--I shouldn't generalize, for I'm a notorious man-hater, +you know." + +"It seems to me that women are just as selfish as men--perhaps more +so--in all but little things." + +"Our definitions of 'little things' may differ. What do you call a big +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 in love?" +He nodded, whereupon she eyed him speculatively. "Let us see. You are a +man--how far would you go for the woman you loved?" + +"The limit!" + +Mrs. Austin frowned at this light-seeming answer. "I suppose you mean +that you would make any sacrifice?" + +"Yes; that's it." + +"Would you give up the woman herself, if you considered it your duty?" + +"No. There couldn't be any duty higher than love--to my way of +thinking. But you shouldn't take me as a specimen. I'm not a good +representative of my sex." + +"I think you are a very good one," Alaire said, quietly, and Dave +realized that no flattery was intended. Although he was willing to talk +further on this subject, Mrs. Austin gave him no opportunity of airing +his views. Love, it appeared, was a thing she did not care to discuss +with him on their footing of semi-intimacy. + +Despite the rough roads, they made fair time, and the miles of cactus +and scrawny brush rolled swiftly past. Occasionally a lazy jack-rabbit +ambled out of his road-side covert and watched them from a safe +distance; now and then a spotted road-runner raced along the dusty ruts +ahead of them. The morning sun swung higher, and by midday the metal of +the automobile had become as hot as a frying-pan. They stopped at +various goat-ranches to inquire about Adolfo Urbina, and at noon halted +beside a watercourse for lunch. + +Dave was refilling the radiator when he overheard José in conversation +with Mrs. Austin. + +"Nowhere a trace!" the horse-breaker was saying. "No one has seen him. +Poor Rosa Morales will die of a broken heart." + +Alaire explained to her guest: "José is worried about his cousin +Panfilo. It seems he has disappeared." + +"So! You are Panfilo's cousin?" Dave eyed the Mexican with new interest. + +"Si!" + +"You remember the man?" Alaire went on. "He was with that fellow you +arrested at the water-hole." + +"Oh yes. I remember him." With steady fingers Dave shook some tobacco +into a cigarette-paper. He felt Alaire's eyes upon him, and they were +eloquent of inquiry, but he did not meet them. + +José frowned. "No one at La Feria has seen him, and in Pueblo there was +not a word. It is strange." + +"Panfilo was in bad company when I saw him." Law finished rolling his +cigarette and lit it, still conscious of Alaire's questioning gaze. "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?" + +José significantly patted the gift revolver at his hip. "This little +fellow will have something to say." + +Dave looked him over idly, from head to heel, then murmured: "You would +do well to go slow, compadre. Panfilo made his own quarrels." + +"We were like brothers, and I do not know of any quarrels. But I shall +find out. It begins to look bad for somebody. After he left that charco +there is--nothing. Where did he go? Whom did he encounter? Rosa will +ask me those questions. I am not given to boasting, señor, 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 had finished +eating and her two employees had begun their meal, she climbed 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 after her. +When they stood face to face in the shade of a gnarly oak-tree, Alaire +asked him point-blank: + +"Where is Panfilo Sanchez?" + +Dave met her eyes squarely; his own were cold and hard. "He's where he +dropped at my second shot," said he. + +He could hear his companion's sharp inhalation. He did not flinch at +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 his eyes, +then opened them upon hers. "He had it coming. He stole my horse. He +took a chance." + +Mrs. Austin turned away. For a time they were silent and Dave felt +himself pitilessly condemned. + +"Why didn't you tell me at the time?" she asked. "Why didn't you report +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 tell everything +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 sickly yellow. + +"You've no right to say that," he told her, harshly. "You've plumb +overstepped yourself, ma'am, and--I reckon you've formed quite a wrong +opinion of me and of the facts. Let me tell you something about that +killing and about myself, so you'll have it all straight before you +bring in your verdict. You say Panfilo was unarmed, and you call +it--murder. He had his six-shooter and he used it; he had the darkness +and the swiftest horse, too. He intended to ambush me and release his +companion, but I forced his hand; 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 the last, but I haven't lost any sleep over it, and I'd have +killed him just as quick if I hadn't been an officer. That's the kind +of man 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 to stay; +and he's just as dead under the stars as he'd be under the sand. I'd +rather lie facing the sky than the grass roots." + +"But--you must have known it would get out, sometime. This puts both 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 seem to +consider that an insult. If it is, I don't know how to compliment you, +ma'am." + +Alaire pondered this statement briefly before saying, "You have a +strange 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 would +consider a nice person; the death of Panfilo Sanchez means nothing +whatever to me. If you can grasp that fact, you'll see that your own +reputation weighed heavier in my mind than the lives of a dozen +Mexicans--or whites, for that matter. People know me for what I am, +and--that may have had something to do with my decision." + +"I go anywhere, everywhere. No one has ever had the effrontery to +question 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 José 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 an +impatient frown to her brow. "You don't seem to realize that he will +try to revenge himself." + +"You might warn him against any such foolishness. José has some sense." + +The woman looked up curiously. "Don't you know how to be afraid? +Haven't you any fear?" she asked. + +Dave's gray eyes were steady as he answered: "Yes'm! I'm afraid this +thing is going to spoil our friendship. I've been desperately afraid, +all along, that I might have hurt your reputation. Even now I'm afraid, +on your account, to make public Panfilo Sanchez's death. 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 matter entirely. +A Ranger can get away with a heap more than killing a Mexican. No! It's +up to you to say what I shall do." + +"Let me think it over. José mustn't know to-day, that's certain." + +"I'm in your hands." + +They returned to the automobile in silence, but as they took their +seats 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 the +wheel, for her nerves were indeed unsteady and she was grateful for an +opportunity to think out the best course to pursue in this unexpected +difficulty. Later, as she listened to Law's inconsequential talk with +Dolores and José, and watched the way he handled the car, she marveled +at his composure. She wondered if this man could have a heart. + +It became evident to Dave, as the afternoon progressed, that they would +be very late in arriving at Las Palmas; for although he drove as +rapidly as he dared over such roads, the miles were long and the going +heavy. They were delayed, too, by a mishap that held them back for an +hour or two, and he began to fear that his hostess would feel in duty +bound to insist upon his spending the night at her home. To accept, +after his clash with Ed Austin, was of course impossible, and he +dreaded another explanation at this particular crisis. + +That a crisis in their relations had arisen he felt sure. He had tried +to make plain his attitude of mind toward the killing of Panfilo +Sanchez, and the wisdom of his course thereafter, but he doubted if +Alaire understood the one or agreed with the other. Probably she +considered him inhuman, or, what was worse, cowardly in attempting to +avoid the consequences of his act. And yet he could not explain his +full anxiety to protect her good name without confessing to a deeper +interest in her than he dared. And his interest was growing by leaps +and bounds. This woman fascinated him; he was infatuated--bewitched by +her personality. To be near her affected him mentally and physically in +a way too extraordinary to analyze or to describe. It was as if they +were so sympathetically attuned that the mere sound of her voice set +his whole being into vibrant response, where all his life he had lain +mute. She played havoc with his resolutions, too, awaking in him the +wildest envy and desire. He no longer thought of her as unattainable; +on the contrary, her husband's shortcomings seemed providential. +Absurd, impossible ways of winning her suggested themselves. To risk a +further estrangement, therefore, was intolerable. + +But as if his thoughts were telepathic messages, she did the very thing +he feared. + +"We won't be in before midnight," she said, "but I'll send you to +Jonesville 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 a reputation for +inhospitableness at Las Palmas that I want to overcome." In spite of +their recent clash, in spite of the fact that this fellow's +ruthlessness and indifference to human life shocked her, Alaire was +conscious of her obligation to him, and aware also of a growing +friendship between them which made the present situation all the more +trying. Law was likable, and he inspired her with a sense of security +to which she had long been a stranger. "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 Jonesville somehow." + +"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 through a +tunnel of light walled in by swiftly moving shadows. + +The windows of Las Palmas were black, the house silent, when they +arrived at their journey's end; Dolores was fretful, and her mistress +ached in every bone. When José had helped his countrywoman into the +house Alaire said: + +"If you insist upon going through you must take the car. You can return +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 fondle it +in that detestable Mexican fashion of which she had lately experienced +so much; glad that the grasp of his long, strong fingers was merely +firm and friendly. When he stepped back into the car and drove off +through the night she stood for some time looking after him. + +Blaze Jones had insisted that Dave live at his house, and the Ranger +had accepted the invitation; but as it was late when the latter arrived +at Jonesville, he went to the hotel for a few hours' rest. When he +drove his borrowed machine up to the Jones house, about breakfast-time, +both Blaze and Paloma were delighted to 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 looked over +the car critically. "These automobiles are all right, but whenever I +want to go somewhere and get back I take a team of hay-burners. Mules +don't puncture. The first automobile Paloma had nearly scared me to +death. On the road to Brownsville there used to be a person who didn't +like me--we'd had a considerable unpleasantness, in fact. One day +Paloma and I were lickety-splittin' along past his place when we had a +blow-out. It was the first one I'd ever heard, and it fooled me +complete--comin' right at that particular turn of the road. I sure +thought this party I spoke of had cut down on me, so I r'ared up and +unlimbered. I shot out three window-lights in his house before Paloma +could explain. If he'd been in sight I'd have beefed him then and +there, and saved six months' delay. No, gas-buggies are all right for +people with 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 whole road, +too. You know these Mexicans are slow about pulling their wagons to one +side. Well, father got mad one day, and when a team refused him the +right of way he whipped out his revolver and fired." + +Blaze smiled broadly. "It worked great. And believe me, them Greasers +took to the ditch. I went through like a hot wind, but I shot 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 suppose you +refused because of the way Ed treated you? Well, I'd have accepted just +to spite him. Tell me, is she nice?" + +"She's lovely." + +This vehement declaration brought a sudden gleam of interest into the +questioner's eyes. + +"They say she has the most wonderful gowns and jewels, and dresses for +dinner every night. Well"--Paloma tossed her head--"I'm going to 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-dress suit, +spillin' soup on my shirt." Then to his guest he complained, feelingly: +"I don't know what's come over Paloma lately; this new dressmaker has +plumb stampeded her. Somebody'd ought to run that feline 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, and he's +a bad hombre. He backed me up against a waterin'-trough and told my +fortune yesterday. He said I'd be married twice and have many children. +He told me I was fond of music and a skilled performer on the organ, +but melancholy and subject to catarrh, Bright's disease, and ailments +of the legs. He said I loved widows, and unless I was poisoned by a +dark lady I'd live to be eighty 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 some of the things he said. 'A dark lady!' That's his +wife. I give you warnin', Paloma, don't you ask her to stay for meals. +People like them 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' around +ladders, and spittin' through crossed fingers, and countin' the spots +on their nails. He interprets their dreams and locates lost articles." + +"Maybe he can tell me where to find Adolfo Urbina?" Dave suggested. + +"Humph! If he can't, Tad Lewis can. Say, Dave, this case of yours has +stirred up a lot of feelin' against Tad. The prosecutin' attorney says +he'll sure cinch him and Urbina, both. One of Lewis's men got on a +bender the other night and declared Adolfo would never come to trial." + +"What did he mean?" + +"It may have been mescal talk, but witnesses sometimes have a way of +disappearin'. I wouldn't put anything past that gang." + +Not long after breakfast Don Ricardo Guzman appeared at the Jones house +and warmly greeted his two friends. To Dave he explained: + +"Last night I came to town, and this morning I heard you had returned, +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 very +Colonel Blanco who commands the forces at Romero. He would scarcely +venture to return to Federal territory. However, I go to meet Blanco +to-day, and perhaps I shall discover something." + +"What takes you over there?" Blaze inquired. + +"Wait until I tell you. Señor David, here, brings me good fortune at +every turn. He honors my poor thirsty rancho with a visit and brings a +glorious rain; then he destroys my enemies like a thunderbolt. No +sooner is this done than I receive from the Federals an offer for fifty +of my best horses. Caramba! Such a price, too. They are in a great +hurry, which looks as if they expected an attack from the Candeleristas +at Matamoras. I hope so. God grant these traitors are defeated. Anyhow, +the horses have gone, 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. I wouldn't +trust them." + +"They know, also, that I am an American, like you gentlemen," proudly +asserted Guzman. "That makes a difference. I supported the +Liberator--God rest his soul!--and I secretly assist those who fight +his assassins, but so does everybody else. I am receiving a fine price +for those horses, so it is worth a little risk. Now, señor," he +addressed himself to the Ranger, "I have brought you a little 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 a magnificent bridle of plaited +horsehair. It was cunningly wrought, and lavishly decorated with silver +fittings. "You recognize those hairs?" he queried. "They came from the +mane and tail of your bonita." + +"Bessie Belle!" Law accepted the handsome token, then held out his hand +to the Mexican. "That was mighty fine of you, Ricardo. I--You couldn't +have pleased me more." + +"You like it?" eagerly demanded the old man. "That is good. I am repaid +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 their fingers, too. +That mare will always guide you now, wherever you go. And we handled +her gently, for your sake." + +Dave nodded. "You're a good man, Ricardo. We're going to be friends." + +Guzman's delight was keen, his grizzled face beamed, and he showed his +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 hands heartily and rode +away, waving his hat. + +"There's a good Greaser," Blaze said, with conviction, and Dave agreed, +feelingly: + +"Yes! I'd about go to hell for him, after this." Then he took the +bridle in for Paloma to admire. + + + + +XVI + +THE RODEO + + +It was with a feeling of some reluctance that Dave drove up to Las +Palmas shortly after the lunch hour, for he had no desire to meet +"Young Ed." However, to his relief, Austin did not appear, and inasmuch +as Alaire did not refer to her husband in any way, Dave decided that he +must be absent, perhaps on one of his notorious sprees. + +The mistress of the big ranch was in her harness, having at once +assumed her neglected duties. She came to welcome her caller in a short +khaki riding-suit; her feet were encased in tan boots; she wore a +mannish felt hat and gauntlet gloves, showing that she had spent the +morning in the saddle. Dave thought she looked exceedingly capable and +business-like, and not less beautiful in these clothes; he feasted his +eyes covertly upon her. + +"I expected you for luncheon," she smiled; and Dave could have kicked +himself. "I'm just going out now. If you're not in too great 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 back toward the +farm buildings she explained: "I'm selling off a bunch of cattle. +Benito is rounding them up and cutting out the best ones." + +"You keep them, I reckon." + +"Always. That's how I improve the grade. You will see a splendid herd +of animals, Mr. Law--the best in South Texas. I suppose you're +interested in such things." + +"I'd rather watch a good herd of stock than the best show in New York," +he told her. + +When they came to the corrals, an intricate series of pens and chutes +at the rear of the outbuildings, Law beheld two thoroughbred 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 the fine +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 and sister, +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 full import of +her words, she added: "Yours to keep, I mean. You must make 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 to +stroke her shining coat while she turned an intelligent face to him, +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 over the +animal, like a small boy tempted beyond his strength, Alaire laughed. +"I owe you something, Mr. Law, and a horse more or less means very +little to me." + +He yielded; he could not possibly continue his resistance, and in his +happy face Alaire took her reward. + +The mare meanwhile was doubtfully nosing her new master, deciding +whether or not she liked him; but when he offered her a cube of sugar +her uncertainties disappeared and they became friends then and there. +He talked to her, too, in a way that would have won any female heart, +and it was plain to any one who knew horses that she began to consider +him wholly delightful. Now, Montrosa was a sad coquette, but this man +seemed to say, "Rosa, you rogue, if you try your airs with me I will +out-flirt you." Who could resist such a person? Why, the touch of his +hands was positively thrilling. He was gentle, but masterful, and--he +had a delicious smell. Rosa felt that she understood him perfectly, and +was enraptured to discover that he understood her. There was some +satisfaction in knowing such a man. + +"You DO speak their language," Alaire said, after she had watched them +for a few minutes. "You have bewitched the creature." Dave nodded +silently, and his face was young. Then half to herself the woman +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 to myself?" + +"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 Lone Star." + +Alaire smiled in tacit assent; then when the two friends had completely +established their intimacy she mounted her own horse and led the way to +the round-up. + +Dave's unbounded delight filled the mistress of Las Palmas with the +keenest pleasure. He laughed, he hummed snatches of songs, he kept up a +chatter addressed as much to the mare as to his companion, and under it +Montrosa romped like a tomboy. It was gratifying to meet with such +appreciation as this; Alaire felt warm and friendly to the whole world, +and decided that out of her abundance she must do more for other people. + +Of course Dave had to tell of Don Ricardo's thoughtful gift, and +concluded by saying, "I think this must be my birthday, although it +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 go across +the river." There was a pause. "If anybody harms him I reckon 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 me bigger +than a skinned ox. They say gratitude is an elemental, primitive +emotion--" + +"Perhaps that's why it is so rare nowadays," said Alaire, not more than +half in jest. + +"You find it rare?" Dave looked up keenly. "Well, you have certainly +laid up a store of it to-day." + +Benito and his men had rounded up perhaps three thousand head of cattle +when Alaire and her companion appeared, and they were in the process of +"cutting out." Assembled near a flowing well which gave life to a +shallow pond, the herd was held together by a half-dozen horsemen who +rode its outskirts, heading off and driving back the strays. Other men, +under Benito's personal direction, were isolating the best animals and +sending them back to the pasture. It was an animated scene, one fitted +to rouse enthusiasm in any plainsman, for the stock was fat and +healthy; there were many calves, and the incessant, rumbling complaint +of the herd was blood-stirring. 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 the +hoarse, unceasing undertone from countless bovine throats. Out near the +grub-wagon the remuda was grazing, and thither at intervals came the +perspiring horsemen to change their mounts. + +Benito, wet, dusty, and tired, rode up to his employer to report +progress. + +"Dios! This is hot work for an old man. We will never finish by dark," +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 among those +gopher-holes." He slid out of his seat and, with an arm around the +mare's neck, whispered into her ear, "We won't have any broken legs and +broken hearts, will we, honey girl?" Rosa answered by nosing the +speaker over with brazen familiarity; then when he had 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 his loop +over a buckskin, preparatory to joining the cowboys. + +The giant herd milled and eddied, revolving like a vast pool of deep, +swift water. The bulls were quarrelsome, the steers were stubborn, and +the wet cows were distracted. Motherless calves dodged about in +bewilderment. In and out of this confusion the cowboys rode, following +the animals selected for separation, forcing them out with devious +turnings and twistings, and then running them madly in a series of +breakneck crescent dashes over flats and hummocks, through dust and +brush, until they had joined the smaller herd of choice animals which +were to remain on the ranch. It was swift, sweaty, exhausting work, the +kind these Mexicans loved, for it was not only spectacular, but held an +element of danger. Once he had secured a pony Dave Law made himself one +of them. + +Alaire sat her horse in the heart of the crowding herd, with a sea of +rolling eyes, lolling tongues, and clashing horns all about her, and +watched the Ranger. Good riding she was accustomed to; the horses of +Las Palmas were trained to this work as bird dogs are trained to +theirs; they knew how to follow a steer and, as Ed Austin boasted, +"turn on a dime with a nickel to spare." But Law, it appeared, was a +born horseman, and seemed to inspire his mount with an exceptional +eagerness and intelligence. In spite of the man's unusual size, he rode +like a feather; he was grace and life and youth personified. Now he sat +as erect in his saddle as a swaying 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 the depleted +herd was driven to the water. It moved thither in a restless, thirsty +mass; it churned the shallow pond to milk, and from a high knoll, where +Alaire had taken her stand, she looked down upon a vast undulating +carpet many acres in extent formed by the backs of living creatures. +The voice of these cattle was like the 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, for as 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 in that 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. Some of them were stubborn and risked all +upon a spirited dash back toward the homes they were leaving and toward +the mothers who would not answer. It took hard, sharp riding to run +them down, for they fled like rabbits, bolting through prickly-pear and +scrub, their tails bravely aloft, their stiff legs flying. Others, too +tired and thirsty to go farther, lay down and refused to budge, and +these had to be carried over the saddlehorn until they had rested. Some +hid themselves cunningly in the mesquite clumps or burrowed 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 or with +painless blows from loose-coiled riatas; they picked them up in their +arms and rode with them. + +Once through the gate and safe inside the restraining pasture fence, +the herd was allowed to settle down. Then began a patient search by +outraged mothers, a series of mournful quests that were destined to +continue far into the night; endless nosings and sniffings and +caressings, which would keep up until each cow had found her own, until +each calf was butting its head against maternal ribs and gaining that +consolation which it craved. + +A new moon was swinging in the sky as Alaire and Dave rode back toward +Las Palmas. The dry, gray grass was beginning to jewel with dew; the +paths were ribbons of silver between dark blots of ink where the bushes +grew. Behind rose the jingle of spurs and bridles, the creak of +leather, the voices of men. It was an hour in which to talk freely, an +environment suited to confidences, and Dave Law was happier than he had +been for years. He closed his eyes to the future, he stopped his ears +to misgivings; with a song in 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 she +never knew. Certainly he gave no voice to his feeling, save, perhaps, +by some unconscious tone or trick of speech; rather, the knowledge came +to her intuitively as the result of some subconscious interchange of +thought, some responsive vibration, which only a psychologist could +analyze. However it was, Alaire knew to-night that she was dear to her +companion, and, strange to say, this certainty did not disturb her. +Inasmuch as the thing existed, why deny its right to exist? she asked +herself. Since it was in no wise dishonorable, how could it be wrong, +provided it went no further? Alaire had been repelled by Luis +Longorio's evident love for her, but a similar emotion in this man's +breast had quite the opposite effect. She was eager for friendship, +hungry for affection, starved for that worship which every woman lives +upon. Having a wholesome confidence in her own strength of character, +and complete faith in Law's sense of honor, she was neither alarmed nor +offended. + +For the first time in years she allowed her intimate thoughts free +expression, and spoke of her hopes, her interests, and her efforts; +under the spell of the moonlight she even confided something about +those dreams that kept her company and robbed her world of its +sordidness. Dave Law discovered that she lived in a fanciful land of +unrealities, and the glimpse he gained of it was delightful. + +Supper was waiting when they arrived at Las Palmas, and Dolores +announced that "Young Ed" had telephoned from the Lewis ranch that he +would not be home. Yielding to a sudden impulse, Alaire said to her +companion: + +"You must dine with me. Dolores will show you to a room. I will be +ready 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 of misgivings; but +the next instant he asked himself wherein he was doing wrong. Surely +there was no law which denied him the right to love, provided he kept +that love a secret. The inner voice did not argue with him; yet he was +disquieted and restless as he paced the big living-room, waiting for +his hostess. + +The Austin ranch-house offered a contrast to the majority of Texas +country homes. "Young Ed" had built almost a mansion for his bride, and +in the latter years Alaire had remodeled and changed it to suit her own +ideas. The verandas were wide, the rooms large and cool and open; +polished floors, brilliant grass mats, and easy wicker furniture gave +it a further airiness. The place was comfortable, luxurious; yet it was +a home and it had an atmosphere. + +Not for many years had Dave Law been a guest amid such surroundings, +and as the moments dragged on he began to feel more and more out of +place. With growing discomfort he realized that the mistress of this +residence was the richest woman in all this part of Texas, and that he +was little better than a tramp. His free life, his lack of care and +responsibility, had bred in him a certain contempt for money; +nevertheless, when through the door to the dining-room he saw Alaire +pause to give a final touch to the table, he was tempted to beat an +ignominious retreat, for she was a radiant vision in evening dress. She +was stately, beautiful; her hair was worn high, her arms were bare +underneath a shimmer of lace, her gown exposed a throat round and +smooth and adorable. In reality, she was simply clad; but to the +Ranger's untrained eye she seemed regal, and his own rough clothes +became painfully conspicuous by contrast. + +Alaire knew how to be a gracious and winning hostess; of course she did +not appear to notice her guest's embarrassment. She had rather welcomed +the thought that this man cared for her, and yet, had she deliberately +planned to dampen his feeling, she could hardly have succeeded better +than by showing him the wide disparity in their lives and situations. +Dave was dismayed; he felt very poor and ridiculous. Alaire was no +longer the woman he had ridden with through the solitudes; her very +friendliness seemed to be a condescension. + +He did not linger long after they had dined, for he wished to be alone, +where he could reach an understanding with himself. On the steps 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 it all +day; but even yet I don't know what to tell you. One moment I think the +truth would merely provoke another act of violence; the next I feel +that it must be made public regardless of consequences. As for its +effect upon myself--you know I care very little what people say or +think." + +"I'm sorry I killed the fellow--I shouldn't have done it, but--one sees +things differently out in the rough and here in the settled country. +Laws don't work alike in all places; they depend a good deal +upon--geography. There are times when the theft of a crust of bread +would warrant the punishment I gave Panfilo. I can't help but feel that +his conduct, under the circumstances, called for--what he got. He +wasn't a good man, in spite of what José says; Anto confessed to me +that they were planning all sorts of deviltry together." + +"That is hardly an excuse." Alaire smiled faintly. + +"Oh, I know!" Dave agreed. "But, you see, I don't feel the need of one. +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 at things, and +I must confess that I tolerate actions that would have shocked me +before I came to know this country. Panfilo is dead and gone--rightly +or wrongly, I don't know. What I dread now is further consequences." + +"Don't weaken on my account." + +"No! I'm not thinking of the consequences to you or to me. You are the +kind of man who can protect himself, I'm sure; your very ability in +that direction frightens me a little on José'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 yourself enough +over it, ma'am," he said; "splitting hairs as to what's right and +what's wrong, when it doesn't matter much, in either case. Suppose you +continue to think it over at your leisure." + +"Perhaps I'd better. And now"--Alaire extended her hand--"won't you and +Montrosa come to see me once in a while? I'm very lonesome." + +"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 a bridle-bit +came from the driveway, and he smiled. "There's her acceptance now." + +"Oh no! She merely heard your voice, the fickle creature." + +Alaire watched her guest until he had disappeared into the shadows, +then she heard him talking to the mare. Benito's words at the rodeo +recurred to her, and she wondered if this Ranger might not 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 had passed +with no word from him, his sons became alarmed and started an +investigation, but without the slightest result. Even Colonel Blanco +himself could not hazard a guess as to Guzman's fate; the man had +disappeared, it seemed, completely and mysteriously. Meanwhile, from +other quarters of the Mexican town came rumors that 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 the time it +raised a storm of indignation as the crowning atrocity of the Mexican +revolution, serving further to disturb the troubled waters of diplomacy +and threatening for a moment to upset the precariously balanced +relations of the two countries. + +At first the facts appeared plain: a citizen of the United States had +been lured across the border and done to death by Mexican soldiers--for +it soon became evident that Ricardo was dead. The outrage was a casus +belli such as no self-respecting people could ignore; so ran the +popular verdict. Then when that ominous mailed serpent 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 was +generally known that President Potosi had long resented Yankee enmity, +particularly as that enmity was directed at him personally. A +succession of irritating diplomatic skirmishes, an unsatisfactory +series of verbal sparring matches, had roused the old Indian's anger, +and it was considered likely that he had adopted this means of +permanently severing his relations with Washington. + +Of course, the people of Texas were delighted that the long-delayed +hour had struck; accordingly, when the State Department seemed +strangely loath to investigate the matter, when, in fact, it manifested +a willingness to allow Don Ricardo ample time in which to come to life +in preference to putting a further strain upon international relations, +they were both surprised and enraged. Telegraph wires began to buzz; +the governor of the state sent a crisply sarcastic message to the +national capital, offering to despatch a company of Rangers after +Guzman's body just to prove that he was indeed dead and that the +Mexican authorities were lying when they professed ignorance of the +fact. + +This offer not only caught the popular fancy north of the Rio Grande, +but it likewise had an effect on the other side of the river, for on +the very next day General Luis Longorio set out for Romero to +investigate personally the rancher's disappearance. + +Now, throughout all this public clamor, truth, as usual, lay hidden at +the bottom of its well, and few even of Ricardo's closest friends +suspected the real reason for his murder. + +Jonesville, of course, could think or talk of little else than this +outrage, and Blaze Jones, as befitted its leading citizen, was loudest +in his criticism of the government's weak-kneed policy. + +"It makes me right sore to think I'm an American," he confided to Dave. +"Why, if Ricardo had been an Englishman the British consul at Mexico +City would have called on Potosi the minute the news came. He'd have +stuck a six-shooter under the President's nose and made him locate Don +Ricardo, or pay an indemnity and kiss the Union Jack." Blaze's +conception of diplomacy was peculiar. "If Potosi didn't talk straight +that British consul would have bent a gun-bar'l over the old ruffian's +bean and telephoned for a couple hundred battle-ships. England protects +her sons. But we Americans are cussed with notions of brotherly love +and universal peace. Bah! We're bound to have war, Dave, some day or +other. Why not start it now?" + +Dave nodded his agreement. "Yes. We'll have to step in and take the +country over, sooner or later. But--everybody has the wrong idea of +this Guzman killing. The Federal officers in Romero didn't frame 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 remember one +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 draw your 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 has +blown up, eh?" + +"Absolutely. Lewis has been selling 'wet' stock to the Federals, and he +probably arranged with some of them to murder Ricardo. At any rate, +that's my theory." + +Blaze cursed eloquently. "I'd like to hang it on to Tad; I'd sure clean +house down his way if I was positive." + +"I sent a man over to Romero," Dave explained further. "He tells me +Ricardo is dead, all right; but nobody knows how he died, or why. +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 in Romero lately." +The speaker watched his friend closely. "Ricardo's family 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 he really faced a firing-squad, for +instance--I reckon Washington would 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 all the +lies, and perhaps force Colonel Blanco to make known the real facts. It +might even mean a case against Tad Lewis. What do you think of my +reasoning?" + +"It's eighteen karat. What d'you say we go over there and get Ricardo?" + +Dave smiled. "That's what I've been leading up to. Will you take a +chance?" + +"Hell, yes!" + +"I knew you would. All we need is a pair of Mexicans to--do the work. 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 be +discharged from the Ranger service." + +"I ain't very good at runnin'--not from Mexicans." Blaze's eyes were +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 José Sanchez to secure a leave of +absence from Las Palmas, especially since Benito was not a little +interested in the unexplained disappearance of Panfilo and work was +light at this time. Benito did not think it necessary to mention the +horse-breaker's journey to his employer; so that Alaire knew nothing +whatever about the matter until José himself asked permission to see +her on a matter of importance. + +The man had ridden hard most of the previous night, and his excitement +was patent. Even before he spoke Alaire realized that Panfilo's fate +was known to him, and she decided swiftly that there must be no further +concealment. + +"Señora! A terrible thing!" José burst forth. "God knows, I am nearly +mad with grief. It is about my sainted cousin. It is strange, +unbelievable! My head whirls--" + +Alaire quieted him, saying in Spanish, "Calm yourself, José, and tell +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 you saw +him last, and what do you think? But--you know?" + +Alaire nodded. "I--suspected." + +José's dark face blazed; he bent forward eagerly. "What did you +suspect, and why? Tell me all. There is something black and hellish +here, and I must know about it quickly." + +"Suppose you tell me your story first," Alaire answered, "and remember +that you are excited." + +The Mexican lowered his voice. "Bueno! Forgive me if I seem half +crazed. Well, I rode to that water-hole and found--nothing. It is a +lonely place; only the brush cattle use it; but I said to myself, +'Panfilo drank here. He was here. Beyond there is nothing. So I will +begin.' God was my helper, señora. I found him--his bones as naked and +clean as pebbles. Caramba! You should have heard me then! I was like a +demon! I couldn't think, I couldn't reason. I rode from that accursed +spot as if Panfilo's ghost pursued me and--I am here. I shall rouse the +country; the people shall demand the blood of my cousin's assassin. It +is the crime of a century." + +"Wait! When you spoke to me last I didn't dream that Panfilo was dead, +but since then I have learned the truth, and why he was killed. You +must let me tell you everything, José, just as it happened; then--you +may do whatever you think best. And you shall have the whole truth." + +It was a trying situation; in spite of her brave beginning, Alaire was +tempted to send the Mexican on to Jonesville, there to receive an +explanation directly from David Law himself; but such a course she +dared not risk. José was indeed half crazed, and at this moment quite +irresponsible; if he met Dave, terrible consequences would surely +follow. Accordingly, it was with a peculiar, apprehensive flatter in +her breast that Alaire realized the crisis had come. Heretofore she had +blamed Law, but now, oddly enough, she found herself interested in +defending him. As calmly as she could she related all that had led up +to the tragedy, while José listened with eyes wide and mouth open. + +"You see, I had no suspicion of the truth," she concluded. "It was a +terrible thing, and Mr. Law regrets it deeply. He would have made a +report to the authorities, only--he feared it might embarrass me. He +will repeat to you all that I have said, and he is ready to meet the +consequences." + +José was torn with rage, yet plainly a prey to indecision; he rolled +his eyes and cursed under his breath. "These Rangers!" he muttered. +"That is the kind of men they are. They murder honest people." + +"This was not murder," Alaire cried, sharply. "Panfilo was aiding a +felon to escape. The courts will not punish Mr. Law." + +"Bah! Who cares for the courts? This man is a Gringo, and these are +Gringo laws. But I am Mexican, and Panfilo was my cousin. We shall see." + +Alaire's eyes darkened. "Don't be rash, José," she exclaimed, +warningly. "Mr. Law bears you no ill-will, but--he is a dangerous man. +You would do well to make some inquiries about him. You are a good man; +you have a long life before you." Reading the fellow's black look, she +argued: "You think I am taking his part because he is my countryman, +but he needs no one to defend him. He will make this whole story public +and face the consequences. I like you, and I don't wish to see you come +to a worse end than your cousin Panfilo." + +José continued to glower. Then, turning away, he said, without meeting +his employer's eyes, "I would like to draw my money." + +"Very well. I am sorry to have you leave Las Palmas, for I have +regarded you as one of my gente." José'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 General +Longorio. He is in Romero, just across the river; he knows a brave man +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 demon of a José +whose cousin was murdered by the Rangers. Yes, I have the heart of a +bandit." + +Alaire smiled faintly. "You will be shot," she told him. "Those +soldiers have little to eat and no money at all." + +But José's bright eyes remained hostile and his expression baffling. It +was plain to Alaire that her explanation of his cousin's death had +carried not the slightest conviction, and she even began to fear that +her part in the affair had caused him to look upon her as an accessory. +Nevertheless, when she paid him his wages she gave him a good horse, +which José accepted with thanks but without gratitude. As Alaire +watched him ride away with never a backward glance she decided that she +must lose no time in apprising the Ranger of this new condition of +affairs. + +She drove her automobile to Jonesville that afternoon, more worried +than she cared to admit. It was a moral certainty, she knew, that José +Sanchez would, sooner or later, attempt to take vengeance upon his +cousin's slayer, and there was no telling when he might become +sufficiently inflamed with poisonous Mexican liquor to be in the mood +for killing. Then, too, there were friends 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 had never called +upon Paloma, and had made it almost impossible for the girl to visit +Las Palmas, the meeting of the two women was somewhat formal. But no +one could long remain stiff or constrained with Paloma Jones; the girl +had a directness of manner and an honest, friendly smile that simply +would not be denied. Her delight that Alaire had come to see her +pleased and shamed the elder woman, who hesitatingly confessed the +object of her visit. + +"Oh, I thought you were calling on me." Paloma pouted her pretty lips. +"Dave isn't here. He and father--have gone away." A little pucker 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's +eyes; Alaire told her story quickly. "Mr. Law must be warned right +away," she added, "for the man is capable of anything." + +Paloma nodded. "Dave told us how he had killed Panfilo--" She +hesitated, and then cried, impulsively: "Mrs. Austin, I'm going to +confess something--I've got to tell somebody or I'll burst. I was +walking the floor when you came. Well, Dad and Dave have completely +lost their wits. They have gone across the river--to get 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 he was +killed. Dave knows where he's buried, and he's doing this for Ricardo's +family--some foolish sentiment about a bridle--but Dad, I think, merely +wants to start a war between the United States and Mexico." + +"My dear girl, aren't you dreaming?" + +"I thought I must be when I heard about it. Dad wouldn't have told me +at all, only he thought I ought to know in case anything happens to +him." Paloma's breath failed her momentarily. "They'll be killed. I +told them so, but Dave seems to enjoy the risk. He said Ricardo had a +sentimental nature--and, of course, the possibility of danger delighted +both him and Dad. They're perfect fools." + +"When did they go? Tell me everything." + +"They left an hour ago in my machine, with two Mexicans to help them. +They intend to cross at your pumping-plant as soon as it gets dark, and +be back by mid-night--that is, if they ever get back." + +"Why, it's--unbelievable." + +"It's too much for me. Longorio himself is in Romero, and he'd have +them shot if he caught them. We'd never even hear of it." Paloma's face +was pale, her eyes were strained and tragic. "Father always has been a +trial to me, but I thought I could do something with Dave." She made a +hopeless gesture, and Alaire wondered momentarily whether the girl's +anxiety was keenest for the safety of her father or--the other? + +"Can't we prevent them from going?" she inquired. "Why, they are +breaking the law, aren't they?" + +"Something like that. But what can we do? It's nearly dark, and they'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. And +think of Dad--a man of property! Dave declares Tad Lewis is at the +bottom of it all and put the Federals up to murder Ricardo; he thinks +in this way he can force them into telling the truth. But Dad is just +looking for a fight and wants to be a hero!" + +There was a moment of silence. Then Alaire reasoned aloud: "I presume +they chose our pumping-plant because it is directly opposite the Romero +cemetery. I could have Benito and some trusty men 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 they got +into trouble." + +"Come, then! We'll have supper at Las Palmas and slip down to the river +and wait." + +Paloma was gone with a rush. In a moment she returned, ready for the +trip, and with her she carried a Winchester rifle nearly as long as +herself. + +"I hope you aren't afraid of firearms," she panted. "I've owned this +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 and Dave very far." + +José Sanchez was true to his declared purpose. With a horse of his own +between his knees, with money in his pocket and hate in his heart, he +left Las Palmas, and, riding to the Lewis crossing, forded the Rio +Grande. By early afternoon he was in Romero, and there, after some +effort, he succeeded in finding General Longorio. + +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 for the presence +of Colonel Blanco's detachment of troops, it would have presented much +the same appearance as any one of the lazy border villages. A scow +ferry had at one time linked it on the American side with a group of +'dobe houses which were sanctified by the pious name of Sangre de +Cristo, but of late years more advantageous crossings above and below +had come into some use and Romero's ferry had been abandoned. Perhaps a +mile above Sangre de Cristo, and directly opposite Romero's weed-grown +cemetery, stood the pumping-plant of Las Palmas, its corrugated iron +roof and high-flung chimney forming a conspicuous landmark. + +Luis Longorio had just awakened from his siesta when José gained +admittance to his presence. The general lay at ease in the best bed of +the best house in the village; he greeted the new-comer with a smile. + +"So, my brave José, you wish to become a soldier and fight for your +country, eh?" + +"Yes, my general." + +Longorio yawned and stretched lazily. "Body of Christ! This is a hard +life. Here am I in this goatherd's hovel, hot, dirty, and half starved, +and all because of a fellow I never saw who got himself killed. You +would think this Ricardo was an Englishman instead of a Gringo, for the +fuss that is made. Who was he? Some great jefe? + +"A miserable fellow. I knew him well. Then he is indeed dead?" + +"Quite dead, I believe," Longorio said, carelessly; then turning his +large, bright eyes upon the visitor, he continued, with more interest, +"Now tell me about the beautiful señora, your mistress." + +José 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 José", he +said, quietly, "if you harm her in the least I shall bury you to the +neck in an ant's nest and fill your mouth with honey. Now, what is this +you are telling me?" + +José, uncomfortably startled by this barbarous threat, told as +connectedly as he knew how all about his cousin's death and his reasons +for leaving Las Palmas. + +"Ah-h!" Longorio relaxed. "You gave me a start. At first I thought you +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 a little +secret: I love your señora! Yes, I love her madly, furiously; I can +think of nothing but her. I came to this abominable village more to see +her than to annoy myself over the death of Ricardo Guzman. I must see +my divinity; I must hear her blessed voice, or I shall go mad. Why do I +tell you this? Because I have decided that you shall lead me to her +to-night." The general fell silent for a moment, then, "I intend to +have her some day, José, and--perhaps you will be my right hand. See, I +make you my confidant because you will not dare to anger me or--Well, +my little friend, you must understand what fate would befall you in +that case. I can reach across the Rio Grande." + +Amazement and then fear were depicted in José's face as he listened; 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 your services. +Perhaps I shall also arrange so that you may have a reckoning with the +murderer of your cousin. What is his name?" + +It was José's opportunity to make an impression, and he used it to the +full, telling all that he knew of the killing of Panfilo, and +describing 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 me jealous." + +"Impossible!" José raised protesting palms. He was sure the general was +wrong. Señora Austin was above suspicion of any kind. + +"And yet this man met her in Pueblo and rode with her to Las Palmas? He +comes to see her frequently, you say?" The general bent his bright, +keen eyes upon the visitor. + +"Yes. She gave him the finest horse at Las Palmas, too, and--" A new +thought presented itself to José. "Ho! By the way, they were alone at +the water-hole when my cousin Panfilo was shot. Now that I think of it, +they were alone together for a day and a night. I begin to wonder--" + +Longorio breathed an oath and swung his long legs over the edge of the +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? I cannot bear +to think of this! See, I am beside myself. Caramba! I live in paradise; +I come flying on the wings of the wind, only to learn that my blessed +divinity has a lover. If only my excellent Blanco had shot this fellow +Law instead of that Guzman! If only I could lay hands upon him here in +Mexico! Ha! There would be something to print in the American papers." +He began to dress himself feverishly, muttering, as he did so: "I will +permit no one to come between us. ... The thought kills me. ... You +bring me bad news, José, and yet I am glad you came. I accept your +offer, and you shall be my man henceforth; ... but you shall not go out +to be shot by those rebels. No, you shall return to Las Palmas to be my +eyes and my ears, and, when the time comes, you shall be my hands, too. +... I will avenge your cousin Panfilo for you, my word on that. Yes, +and I will make you a rich man." + +José listened hungrily to these promises. He was relieved at the change +in his plans, for, after all, a soldier's life offered few attractions, +and--the food at Las Palmas was good. The general promised him fine +wages, too. Truly, it was fortunate that he had come to Romero. + +"Now we have settled this," José's new employer declared, "run away and +amuse yourself until dark. Then we will take a little journey by way of +the old ferry." + +"It is not altogether safe," ventured José. "That country over there is +alive with refugees." + +"I will take some men with me," said Longorio. "Now go and let me +think." + + + + +XVIII + +ED AUSTIN TURNS AT BAY + + +Had it not been for her fears, Paloma Jones would have taken her visit +to the Austin ranch as an unmixed enjoyment. To her Alaire had always +been an ideally romantic figure. More than once, in her moments of +melancholy, Paloma had envied Mrs. Austin's unhappiness and yearned to +bear a similar sorrow--to be crossed in love and to become known as a +woman of tragedy. To have one's life blasted, one's happiness slain by +some faithless lover, impressed the girl as interesting, thrilling. +Moreover, it was a misfortune calculated to develop one's highest +spiritual nature. Surely nothing could be more sadly satisfying than to +live alone with regretful memories and to have the privilege of +regarding the world as a vain show. Unfortunately, however, Paloma was +too healthy and too practical to remain long occupied with such +thoughts. She was disgustingly optimistic and merry; misanthropy was +entirely lacking in her make-up; and none of her admirers seemed the +least bit inclined to faithlessness. On the contrary, the men she knew +were perfect nuisances in their earnestness of purpose, and she could +not manage to fall in love with any one sufficiently depraved to +promise her the slightest misery. Paloma felt that she was hopelessly +commonplace. + +Now that she had an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with the +object of her envy, she made the most of it. She soon found, however, +that Alaire possessed anything but an unhappy disposition, and that to +pity her was quite impossible. Mrs. Austin was shy and retiring, +certainly, at first, but, once the ice was broken, she was delightfully +frank, friendly, and spirited. + +Paloma's curiosity was all-consuming, and she explored every phase of +her new friend's life with interest and delight. She even discovered +that imaginary world of Alaire's, and learned something about 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 actually see +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 feel terribly. +But they're much nicer than flesh-and-blood children, for they have no +bad traits whatever, and they're so amazingly intelligent." + +Such exchanges of confidence drew the women into fairly close relations +by the time they had arrived at Las Palmas, but the thought of what had +brought them together had a sobering effect, and during their hasty +supper they discussed the situation in all its serious phases. + +In offering to lend a hand in this difficulty, Alaire had acted largely +upon impulse, and now that she took time to think over the affair more +coolly, she asked herself what possible business of hers it could be. +How did this effort to secure Don Ricardo's body concern her? And how +could she hope or expect to be of help to the men engaged in the +hazardous attempt? With Paloma, of course, it was different: the girl +was anxious on her father's account, and probably concerned more deeply +than was Alaire for the safety of Dave Law. Probably she and Dave had +an understanding--it would be natural. Well, Paloma was a nice girl and +she would make a splendid wife for any man. + +For her part, Paloma was troubled by no uncertainty of purpose; it did +not seem to her at all absurd to go to her father's assistance, and she +was so eager to be up and away that the prospect of a long evening's +wait made her restless. + +As usual, Ed Austin had not taken the trouble to inform his wife of his +whereabouts; Alaire was relieved to find that he was out, and she +decided that he had probably stayed at Tad Lewis's for supper. + +The women were seated on the porch after their meals when up the +driveway rode two horsemen. A moment later a tall figure mounted the +steps and came forward with outstretched hand, crying, in Spanish: + +"Señora! I surprise you. Well, I told you some day I should give myself +this great pleasure. I am here!" + +"General Longorio! But--what a surprise!" Alaire's amazement was naive; +her face was that of a startled school-girl. The Mexican warmly kissed +her fingers, then turned to meet Paloma Jones. As he bowed the women +exchanged glances over his head. Miss Jones looked frankly frightened, +and her expression plainly asked the meaning of Longorio's presence. To +herself, she was wondering if it could have 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 and +motionless beside her chair, inquiring smoothly: "What brings you into +Texas at such a time, my dear general? This is quite extraordinary." + +"Need you ask me?" cried the man. "I would ride through a thousand +perils, señora. God in his graciousness placed that miserable village +Romero close to the gates of Heaven. Why should I not presume to look +through them briefly? I came two days ago, and every hour since then I +have turned my eyes in the direction of Las Palmas. At last I could +wait no longer." A courtly bow at the conclusion of these words robbed +the speech of its audacity and tinged it with the licensed extravagance +of Latin flattery. Nevertheless, Paloma gasped and Alaire stirred +uncomfortably. The semi-darkness of the veranda was an invitation to +even more daring compliments, and, therefore, as she murmured a polite +word of welcome, Alaire stepped through the French window at her back +and into the brightly lighted living-room. Paloma Jones followed as if +in 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 of paradise!" + +"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 care for 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 brave man, +and fear is a stranger to you, but, nevertheless, you must have regard +for the Fatherland'; so I took measures to protect myself in case of +eventualities." + +"How?" + +"By bringing with me some of my troopers. Oh, they are peaceable +fellows!" he declared, quickly; "and they are doubtless enjoying +themselves with our friend and sympathizer, Morales." + +"Where?" asked Alaire. + +"I left them at your pumping-plant, señora." Paloma Jones sat down +heavily in the nearest chair. "But you need have no uneasiness. They +are quiet and orderly; they will molest nothing; no one would believe +them to be soldiers. I take liberties with the laws and the customs of +your country, dear lady, but--you would not care for 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, since entering +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. "Or is it," he asked--"is +it that you are indeed apprehensive for me?" + +Alaire tried to speak quietly. "I should never forgive myself if you +came to harm here at my ranch." + +Longorio sighed. "And I hoped for a warmer welcome--especially since I +have done you another favor. You saw that hombre who came with me?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, you would never guess that it is your José Sanchez, whom I +prevailed upon to return to your employ. But it is no other; and he +comes to beg your forgiveness for leaving. He was distracted at the +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 poor fellow +this Panfilo--evidently a very bad man, indeed--but José admired him +and was harboring thoughts of revenge. I said to him: 'José, 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, why follow in his footsteps? You +will not make a good soldier. Go back to your beautiful employer, be +loyal to her, and think no more about this unhappy affair.' It required +some argument, I assure you, but--he is here. He comes to ask your +forgiveness and to resume his position of trust." + +"I am glad to have him back if he feels that way. I have nothing +whatever to forgive him." + +"Then he will be happy, and I have served you. That is the end of the +matter." With a graceful gesture Longorio dismissed the subject. "Is it +to be my pleasure," he next inquired, "to meet Señor Austin, your +husband?" + +"I am afraid not." + +"Too bad. I had hoped to know him and convince him that we Federales +are not such a bad people as he seems to think. We ought to be friends, +he and I. Every loyal Mexican, in these troublesome times, desires the +goodwill and friendship of such important personages as Señor Austin. +This animosity is a sad thing." + +Under this flow of talk Paloma stirred uneasily, and at the first +opportunity burst out: "It's far from safe for you to remain here, +General Longorio. This neighborhood is terribly excited over the death +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 report that +nothing whatever could be discovered about him. Certainly he is nowhere +in Romero, and it is my personal belief that the poor fellow was either +drowned in the river or made way with for his money. Probably the truth +will never be known. It is a distressing event, but I assure you my +soldiers do not kill American citizens. It is our boast that Federal +territory is safe; one can come or go at will in any part of Mexico +that is under Potosista control. I sincerely hope that we have heard +the last of this Guzman affair." + +Longorio had come to spend the evening, and his keen pleasure in Alaire +Austin's company made him so indifferent to his personal safety that +nothing short of a rude dismissal would have served to terminate his +visit. Neither Alaire nor her companion, however, had the least idea +how keenly he resented the presence of Paloma Jones. Ed Austin's +absence he had half expected, and he had wildly hoped for an evening, +an hour, a few moments, alone with the object of his desires. José's +disclosures, earlier in the day, had opened the general's eyes; they +had likewise inflamed him with jealousy and with passion, and +accordingly he had come prepared to force his attentions with +irresistible fervor should the slightest opportunity offer. To find +Alaire securely chaperoned, therefore, and to be compelled to press his +ardent advances in the presence of a third party, was like gall to him; +the fact that he made the most 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 of respectability; +and on the other hand, a woman, bored, resentful, and tortured at the +moment by fear about what was happening at the river-bank. + +Alaire, too, had a further cause for worry. Of late Ed Austin had grown +insultingly suspicious. More than once he had spoken of Dave Law in a +way to make his wife's face crimson, and he had wilfully misconstrued +her recital of Longorio's attentions. Fearing, therefore, that in spite +of Paloma Jones's presence Ed would resent the general's call, Alaire +strained her ears for the sound of his coming. + +It was late when Austin arrived. Visitors at Las Palmas were unusual at +any time; hence the sound of strange voices in the brightly lighted +living-room at such an hour surprised him. He came tramping in, booted +and spurred, a belligerent look of inquiry upon his bloated features. +But when he had met his wife's guests his surprise turned to black +displeasure. His own sympathies in the Mexican struggle were so +notorious that Longorio's presence seemed to him to have but one +possible significance. Why Paloma Jones was here he could not imagine. + +Thus far Alaire's caller had succeeded in ignoring Miss Jones, and now, +with equal self-assurance, he refused to recognize Ed's hostility. He +remained at ease, and appeared to welcome this chance of meeting +Austin. Yet it soon became evident that his opinion of his host was far +from flattering; beneath his politeness he began to show an amused +contempt, which Alaire perceived, even though her husband did not. Luis +Longorio was the sort of man who enjoys a strained situation, and one +who shows to the best advantage under adverse conditions. Accordingly, +Ed's arrival, instead of hastening his departure, merely served to +prolong his stay. + +It was growing very late now, and Paloma was frantic. Profiting by her +first opportunity, she whispered to Alaire "For God's sake, send him +away." + +Alaire's eyes were dark with excitement, "Yes," said she. "Talk to him, +and give me a chance to have a word alone with Ed." + +The opportunity came when Austin went into the dining-room for a drink. +Alaire excused herself to follow him. When they were out of sight 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 here in 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 crazy to +risk such a thing." + +"Crazy?" Ed's lip curled. "He isn't crazy. I suppose he couldn't stay +away any longer. By God, Alaire--" + +Alaire checked this outburst with a sharp exclamation: "Don't make a +scene! Don't you understand he holds over fifty thousand dollars' worth +of La Feria cattle? Don't you understand we can't antagonize him?" + +"Is that what he came to see you about?" + +"Yes." She bit her lip. "I'll explain everything, but--you must help me +send him back, right away." Glancing at the clock, Alaire saw that it +was drawing on toward midnight; with quick decision she seized her +husband by the arm, explaining feverishly: "There is something big +going on to-night, Ed! Longorio brought a guard of soldiers with him +and left them at our pump-house. Well, it so happens that Blaze Jones +and Mr. Law have gone to the Romero cemetery 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 encounter Longorio's +men--You understand?" + +"God Almighty!" Austin burst forth. "Ricardo Guzman's body!" He wet his +lips and swallowed with difficulty. "Why--do they want the body?" + +"To prove that he is really dead and--to prove who killed him." Noting +the effect of these words, Alaire cried, sharply, "What's the matter, +Ed?" + +But Austin momentarily was beyond speech. The decanter from which he +was trying to pour himself a drink played a musical tattoo upon his +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 you understand? +They are over there now, and they'll be back about midnight. If +Longorio had come alone, or if he had left his men at Sangre de Cristo, +everything would be all right. But those soldiers at Morales's house +will be up and awake. Why, it couldn't have happened worse!" "How many +men has he got?" Austin nodded in the 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 in the +hunted, desperate way in which his eyes were running over the room, +alarmed Alaire. + +Ed utterly disregarded her question. Catching sight of the telephone, +which stood upon a stand in the far corner of the room, he ran to it +and, snatching the receiver, violently oscillated the hook. + +"Don't do that!" Alaire cried, following him. "Wait! It mustn't get +out." + +"Hello! Give me the Lewis ranch--quick--I've forgotten the number." +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 the instrument 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 the +adjoining room. + +"Keep your hands off, I tell you. Hello! Is that you, Tad?" Again +Austin thrust his wife violently aside. "Listen! I've just learned that +Dave Law and old man Jones have crossed over to dig up Ricardo's body. +Yes, to-night! They're over there now--be back inside of an hour." + +Alaire leaned weakly against the table, her frightened eyes fixed upon +the speaker. Even yet she could not fully grasp the meaning of her +husband's behavior and tried to put aside those fears that were +distracting her. Perhaps, after all, she told herself, Ed was taking +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 crossed at 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 was shaking so +that he could scarcely retain his hold upon the telephone. "How the +hell do I know?" he chattered. "It's up to you. 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 wife turned. +The open double-door to the living-room framed the tall figure of the +Mexican general. + + + + +XIX + +RANGERS + + +Longorio stared first at the huddled, perspiring man beside the +telephone 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 four he was +the least excited. + +From the background Paloma quavered: "You told us Ricardo was not dead, +so--it is all right. There is no--harm done." + +A brief silence ensued, then Longorio shrugged. "Who knows? Let us hope +that he suffered no harm on Mexican soil. That would be serious, +indeed; yes, very serious, for I have given my word to your government. +This--David Law--" he pronounced the name carefully, but with a +strange, foreign accent--"he is a reckless person to defy the border +regulations. It is a grave matter to invade foreign territory on such a +mission." Longorio again bent his brilliant eyes upon Alaire. "I see +that you are concerned for his safety. You would not desire him to come +to trouble, eh? He has done you favors; he is your friend, as I am. +Well"--a mirthless smile exposed his splendid white teeth--"we must +think of 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 men of +mine are stupid fellows and there is danger of a misunderstanding. In +the dark anything may happen. I should like to 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 moves slowly. 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 Grande +to-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 the river, and my +horse will remain here until I return for him." + +There was no mistaking the command in Longorio's tone; the master of +Las Palmas rose as if under compulsion. He took his hat, and the two +men left the room. + +"Oh, my God!" Paloma gasped. "They'll be in time, and so will the Lewis +gang." + +"Quick! Ed will take his runabout--we'll follow in my car." Alaire fled +to make herself ready. A few moments later she looked out from her +window and saw the headlights of Ed's runabout flash down the driveway +to the road; then she and Paloma rushed to the garage where the +touring-car stood. + +"They'll never expect us to follow them"--Alaire tried to speak +hopefully--"and we'll drive without lights. Maybe we'll get there in +time, after all." As the machine rolled out through the gate she +elaborated the half-formed plan that had come to her: "The brush is +thick along the river; we can leave the car hidden and steal up to the +pump-house. When we hear the boat coming maybe we can call out in time +to warn your father." + +"The moon is rising," Paloma half sobbed. "They'll be sure to see us. +Do you think we're ahead of Tad Lewis?" + +"Oh yes. He hasn't had time to get here yet, but--he'll come fast when +he starts. This is the only plan I can think of." + +Alaire drove as swiftly as she dared, following the blurred streak of +gray that was the road, and taking the bumps with utter recklessness. +Already the yellow rim of the moon was peering over the horizon to her +right, and by its light she found the road that turned abruptly toward +the Rio Grande, a mile or more distant. The black mud from the last +heavy rain had hardened; the ruts in this side road were deep, and the +car leaped and plunged, flinging its occupants from side to side. Ahead +loomed the dark ridge of the river thickets, a dense rampart of +mesquite, ebony, and coma, with here and there a taller alamo or +hackberry thrusting itself skyward. But even before they were sheltered +from the moonlight Paloma saw the lights of another automobile +approaching along the main-traveled highway behind them--the lights, +evidently, of Tad Lewis's machine. A moment later Alaire's car drove +into the black shadows, but, fearing to switch on her headlights, she +felt her way cautiously between the walls of foliage until at her right +another opening showed, like a narrow arroyo, diverging from the one +they followed. Into this she swerved, regardless of the fact that it +was half grown up with brush. Thorny branches swept the sides of the +machine; rank, dew-soaked grass rose to the height of the tonneau. The +car came to a jolting pause, then the motor ceased its purring, and the +two women sat motionless, listening for the rattle of the on-coming +machine. It had been a short, swift, exciting ride. "Young Ed's" +runabout could not be many minutes ahead of them. + +Alaire knew the Tad Lewis car, an old-style, cheap affair, which +advertised its mechanical imperfections by a loud clashing of gears and +a noisy complaint of loose parts; therefore, when the leafy cañon walls +behind her hiding-place were brilliantly illuminated and a car stole +silently past at low speed, she seized Paloma 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 motor entirely." + +The women got out, then breasted the high grass and brambles between +their hiding-place and the pump-house road. As soon as they 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, they discovered the machine in question +standing dark and deserted in the shadows. Evidently the driver, +whoever he was, well knew what he was about, and had not blundered upon +this place by accident. A hundred yards away they could now see the +ghostly Rio Grande, its saffron surface faintly silvered by the low +moon; lights gleamed from the windows of Morales's house. In the +distance the vague outlines of the Mexican shore were resolving +themselves, and far beyond winked the evidence that some belated +citizens of Romero were still awake. + +Paloma had brought with her the long-barreled Winchester rifle, and +this she clutched nervously as she and Alaire stood whispering. +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 the beginning of the irrigation +ditch, and in the shadow of these the women worked their way forward, +unobserved. They had nearly reached their goal when out into the +clearing behind them, with metallic rattle and clang, burst another +automobile, and Paloma whispered, excitedly: + +"There's the Lewis outfit at last." + +In the Lewis car were several men. They descended hurriedly, and when +one of them ran around the front of the car to turn off its lights both +women saw that he carried a rifle. Evidently Tad Lewis had come +prepared for desperate measures. + +A small door gave entrance to the boiler-room, and into the lock of +this Mrs. Austin fitted a key; the next moment she and Paloma were +safely inside. They found themselves in utter darkness now, with a +smooth brick floor beneath their feet and a strong odor of oil and +burnt fuel in their nostrils. + +Alaire was agreeably surprised in Paloma Jones, for, although the girl +was wrought to a pitch of hysterical excitement, she had, nevertheless, +retained her wits; nor had she faltered in the slightest. It was +evident that the fighting blood of her father was 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 father and +Dave have come and gone. Anyhow, we can warn them just as well by +firing into the air." + +In reply to this suggestion Paloma merely muttered something under her +breath. + +The brief night ride had given Alaire time in which to recover from her +first apprehensions, and now she was surprised at her own coolness. +Ed's behavior had shocked and horrified her; she was still half +paralyzed at his treachery; nevertheless, her mind was clear, and she +was determined to avert a tragedy if possible. She knew only too well +what would happen when Blaze Jones and Dave Law encountered the Lewis +gang; the presence of Longorio's soldiers merely made more certain the +outcome of that meeting. The general was furious; it was plain that he +would not tolerate this expedition, the avowed purpose of which was to +prove him a liar. It would make but little difference, therefore, +whether the quest for Ricardo Guzman's body had been successful or not: +even the fact that this was American soil would not deter Longorio from +violent action, for the Rio Grande was no real boundary, and this part +of Texas was as truly Mexican as that other river-bank which lay two +hundred yards distant. + +A confusion of such thoughts were racing through Alaire's mind as she +felt her way out of the boiler-room and into that part of the building +where the pumping machinery stood. Dusty, cobwebbed windows let in a +faint ghost-glow of moonlight, but prevented clear observation of +anything outside; Alaire's fumbling fingers found the latch of the +front door and began to lift it, when some one spoke, just outside the +building. + +"What did you discover?" inquired a voice which neither woman +recognized. Paloma clutched blindly for her companion; the two +eavesdroppers stood rooted in their tracks. The pounding of their +hearts sounded loudly. Since the building was little more than a wooden +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 who just +came, señor." + +There followed some whispered words indistinguishable to the listeners, +then a rustle of bodies moving through the tall grass and weeds. + +Paloma placed her lips close to Alaire's ear. "Who are those people?" +she breathed. + +"I don't know. They must be the ones who came in that strange +automobile." + +Paloma chattered viciously: "Everybody in Texas is here. I wish we'd +thought to scatter tacks behind us." + +Cautiously they swung the door back and looked out. The open space +along the river-bank was leveled by the moonlight; from Morales's +house, to their right, came the sound of voices. The women waited. + +A few moments, then a number of men appeared. Paloma judged there were +at least a dozen, but she was too excited to count them. As they came +straggling toward the pump-house one of them called back: + +"Morales! Put out your damned lights," Both women recognized Tad Lewis +as the speaker. + +Alaire had stubbornly refused to charge her husband with any active +share in this evil business, but her faith in Ed suddenly vanished 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 leaned weakly against +the door. "I'm going to leave, and let you-all attend to the rest," he +was saying. But Tad Lewis halted him as he turned from the group. + +"Where are you going, Ed? You left your car back yonder by the road. I +almost ran into it." + +"Eh? What are you talking about? My car is over by Morales's house." + +"Señor 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 this open +charge of cowardice, Austin began a voluble defense, but in the midst +of it General Longorio addressed him, sharply: + +"You will stay here, señor. 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 the +words: "That's right, Ed. You've got to stick, for once in your life." + +"What do you mean, you nearly ran into my car back yonder?" Austin +asked, 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 the direction he +had indicated; but at that moment a man came running from the +riverbank, crying, softly: + +"Look out! They come." + +"I'm going to shoot," Paloma Jones gasped, but Alaire, who once again +heard the sound of whispering in the shadows just outside their +hiding-place, managed to restrain her companion. It was well that she +succeeded, for even as Paloma raised her weapon a man passed swiftly by +the crack of the half-open door and scarcely ten feet beyond the muzzle +of the rifle. He was followed by three others. + +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, then Tad +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 skiff coming +yonder?" he inquired. + +"Well, it don't look like a steamboat." Lewis laughed, disagreeably. +"We're havin' a little party of our own. I reckon you fellows had +better beat it. Understand?" + +The outposts that had been sent to cover the bank in both directions +were now coming in. Through the stillness of the night there sounded +the thump of oar-locks. Seeing that the stranger did not seem to take +his hint, Lewis raised his voice menacingly: + +"That's your road back yonder. It's a right good road, and I'd advise +you to travel it, fast." + +But this suggestion was also ignored; in fact, it appeared to amuse the +man addressed, for he, too, laughed. He turned, and the women 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 he raised +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 away and +ran out into the moonlight, trailing her absurd firearm after her. + +"Now, boys," the Ranger captain was saying, "I know 'most every one of +you, and we ain't going to have the least bit of trouble over this +thing, are we? I reckon you-all are friends of Ricardo Guzman, and you +just couldn't wait to find out about him, eh?" + +Alaire, who had followed Paloma, was close enough now to recognize the +two Guzman boys as members of the Ranger party. Lewis and his men had +drawn together at the first alarm; Longorio's Mexicans had gathered +about their leader. The entire situation had changed in a moment, and +the Ranger captain was in control of it. + +Soon Dave Law and Blaze Jones came up over the river-bank; they paused, +stricken with surprise at finding a score of people where they had +expected no more than four. + +Blaze was the first to speak. "What the hell?" he cried. He peered +near-sightedly from one to the other; then his huge bulk shook with +laughter: "Say, do my glasses magnify, or is this an Odd-Fellows +meetin'?" + +"Dad! Oh, Dad!" Paloma scurried to him and flung herself into his arms. + +"Lord of mercy, kid!" the father exclaimed. "Why, you'd ought to be +home and abed, long ago. You'll catch your death of cold. Is that gun +loaded." + +Dave Law was even more amazed than his companion. His first glimpse of +the waiting figures had warned him that something had gone wrong, and, +therefore, he did not stop to ask himself how Tad Lewis and Longorio +could have learned of this affair, or what could have brought Alaire +and Ed Austin to the scene. Recovering from his first surprise, he took +a position beside his superior officer. + +Captain Evans did not seem at all troubled by the disparity in numbers. +One Ranger, or two at the most, had always been sufficient to quell a +Texan disturbance; now that there were three of them, he felt equal to +an invasion of Mexican soil, if necessary. In consequence he relaxed +his watchful vigilance, and to Dave he drawled: + +"We've got most of the leading citizens of the county, and I reckon +somebody in the outfit will be able to identify Guzman." + +"There's no trouble about that, sir. We found him. Pedro and Raoul can +make sure." The sons of Ricardo Guzman stepped forward promptly, and +Law waved them toward the boat landing, where the two helpers were +waiting with Ricardo's remains. + +Despite the Ranger captain's easy assumption of command, the strain of +the situation had not subsided, and Longorio drew swift attention to +himself when he said: + +"It is fortunate that I chanced to learn of this matter. You have done +me a great service, Señor Law, for I came to Romero purposely to +examine into the death of this unfortunate man. But I could learn +nothing; nobody knew anything whatever about the matter, and so I +became convinced that it amounted to little. Now--behold! I discover +that I was deceived. Or--perhaps there still may be a mistake." + +Blaze Jones thrust his daughter aside and advanced toward the speaker. +"There's no mistake," he declared, belligerently. "I don't make +mistakes when I go grave-robbin'. Don Ricardo was shot by your men. He +had five thousand dollars on him, or he should have had, and he was an +American citizen. Your Colonel Blanco covered the body, but he'll have +a hell of a job coverin' the facts. 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 is +regrettable that you used this means when a word to me would have +served the purpose, for--it is no trivial matter to desecrate a Mexican +graveyard. My country, too, has a government. An officer of 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 words amused +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 this minute, and I'll +bet if I frisked you I'd find that you was under arms." The Mexican +understood English sufficiently well to grasp the 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 any rate, +we must have no international complications. There is a more practical +side to the matter: if Don Ricardo Guzman met his death in Mexico there +will be a rigid investigation, I assure you." + +Evans agreed. "That's fair! And I'll make a bargain with you: you keep +still and so'll we. We never aimed for this affair to get out, anyhow. +I reckon these men"--he indicated Lewis and his followers--"ain't +liable to talk much." + +The two Guzman boys, greatly moved, returned to announce that they had +indeed identified their father's body, and Longorio could not well +refuse to accept their evidence. + +"Very well," said he. "I am indebted to you. Since there is nothing +more to be said, apparently, I will return to Romero." With a bow to +Mrs. Austin, who had silently watched the play of these opposing +motives, he turned away, and Tad Lewis followed him. + +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 better of it, +he yielded with bad grace, bitterly regretting the curiosity which had +prompted him to remain to the end of this interesting 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. Ed Austin knows +where you was the day that stock was stole." He and his two remaining +men moved toward their automobile, and a moment later the vehicle went +clattering away up the thicket road. + +So ended the attempt to foil the return of Ricardo Guzman's body to +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 as nothing +to that which followed the recovery of his body. By the next afternoon +it was known from Mexico to the Canadian border that the old ranchman +had been shot by Mexican soldiers in Romero. It was reported that a +party of Americans had invaded foreign soil and snatched Ricardo's +remains from under the nose of General Longorio. But there all reliable +information ceased. Just how the rescue had been effected, by whom it +had been done, what reasons had prompted it, were a mystery. With the +first story the newspapers printed a terse telegram, signed by Captain +Evans and addressed to the Governor of Texas, which read: + +"Ranger force crossed Rio Grande and brought back the body of Ricardo +Guzman." + +This message created tremendous enthusiasm, for the Texas Rangers have +ever stood for prompt and decisive action; but two hours after the +publication of this despatch there came a sharp inquiry from +Washington, and on the heels of that the State House at Austin denied +the receipt of any such message. + +When this denial was in turn made public, the newspapers demanded to +know who had performed this sensational exploit. One rumor had it that +the sons of Ricardo Guzman had risked their lives to insure their +father Christian burial. This was amplified by a touching pen-picture +of the rancher's weeping family waiting at the bank of the Rio Grande, +and an affecting account of the grief of the beautiful Guzman girls. It +mattered not that there were no daughters. + +In other quarters the expedition was credited to members of a secret +order to which Ricardo had belonged; from a third source came a +statement that the Guzman family had hired a band of Mexicans to exhume +the body, so that proof of death might be sufficient to satisfy an +insurance company in which the rancher had held a policy. Even at +Jonesville there were conflicting rumors. + +But, whatever the facts of the rescue, it was generally recognized that +the result had been to bring on a crisis in the affairs of the two +nations. People declared that since the outrage was now proven the next +move was the duty of the State Department at Washington. Therefore, +when several days passed and nothing was done, a wide-spread feeling of +indignation grew. What mattered these diplomatic communications between +the two governments? it was asked. Why wait for another investigation +by General Longorio? + +Strong influences, however, were at work to prevent that very outcome +for which the people of Texas prayed. During the delay there arose a +report that Ricardo Guzman had borne an evil reputation, and that he +had been so actively associated with the Rebel cause as to warrant +punishment by the Federal government. Moreover, a legal question as to +his American citizenship was raised--a question which seemed to have +important bearing upon the case. + +Public interest is short-lived; few living men can hold it more than a +day or two, and it reckons no dead man worthy of more than an obituary +notice. Other Mexican offenses, equally grave, had failed to stir the +Administration to definite action; the death of this obscure border +ranchman did not seem to weigh very heavily in Washington. Thus in the +course of time the Guzman incident was in a fair way of being +officially forgotten and forgiven. + +Of course the people of Texas did not forget, nor did those who had +personally known Ricardo forgive. Dave Law, for instance, felt bitter +over the matter, for he had counted upon prompt and definite results. A +little pressure, properly applied, would have wrung the truth from +Colonel Blanco and fastened some measure of guilt upon the men who had +actually arranged the murder. Dave did not doubt Tad Lewis's part in +it, but there was only one source from which pressure could be brought, +and when this failed he found his further efforts blocked. There +remained to him only the consolation of knowing that he had in a +measure squared his account with old Ricardo. + +But there were several persons who felt intense relief at the course +events had taken, and among these was Alaire Austin. In the days +following that midnight expedition she had had ample time in which to +meditate upon her husband's actions, "Young Ed" had taken advantage of +the confusion to slip out of the crowd and escape in his roadster, and +when Alaire arrived at Las Palmas she had found that he was gone, +leaving behind no word as to when he would return. It seemed probable +that he had fled to San Antonio, there to remain until interest in the +Guzman matter had abated. If Ed was relieved to escape the immediate +consequences of his connection with the affair, his wife was no less +thankful for his absence, since it left her free to think and to plan. +Their relations were becoming constantly more difficult; she realized +that it was impossible for her to go on in this way much longer. Before +leaving Ed had again rifled the safe, thus disregarding for a second +time his explicit agreement with his wife. Of course, he was welcome to +whatever money he needed, even in excess of his allowance; but his act +showed his weak sense of honor and strengthened Alaire's conviction +that he was in every way rapidly deteriorating. As yet she could not +believe him really wicked at heart--he had many qualities which were +above the average--nor could she convince herself that he had been +criminally involved in Tad Lewis's schemes. And yet, what other +explanation could there be? Ed's behavior had been extraordinary; his +evident terror at news of Dave Law's expedition, his conversation with +Tad Lewis over the telephone, his subsequent actions at the river, all +seemed to indicate that he had some vital interest in maintaining the +mystery of Guzman's death. What could it be? + +Suspicions like these were extremely disturbing. In spite of herself +Alaire began to think more seriously about that separation which Ed had +so frequently offered her. Her whole nature, it is true, recoiled at +the thought of divorce; it was a thing utterly repugnant to her +sentiment and her creed--a thing that stood for notoriety, gossip, +scandal. Deep in her heart she felt that divorce was wicked, for +marriage to her had always meant a sacred and unbreakable bond. And yet +there seemed to be no alternative. She wished Ed would go away--leave +her quietly and for ever, so that she might live out her empty life in +seclusion--but that, of course, he would never do. + +Such longings were not strangers to Alaire; they were old and +persistent enemies; but of late the prospect of a loveless, childless +future was growing more and more unbearable. Even her day dreams failed +to give their customary relief; those imaginary figures with whom she +took counsel were strangely unresponsive. + +She had told Paloma Jones about her dream-children, but she had not +confessed the existence of another and a far more intimate creature of +her brain--one who occupied the place Ed Austin should have held. There +was such a person, however, and Alaire called him her dream husband. +Now this man's physical aspect was never long the same; it altered +according to her changing ideals or to the impression left by new +acquaintances; nevertheless, he was in some ways the most real and the +most tangible of all her pale romantic fancies. No one who has watched +a solitary child at play can doubt that it sees and hears playmates +invisible to others. Alaire Austin, in the remotest depths of her +being, was still a child. Of late her prince had assumed new +characteristics and a new form. He was no longer any one of the many +shapes he had been; he was more like the spirit of the out-of-doors--a +strong-limbed, deep-chested, sun-bronzed creature, with a strain of +gipsy blood that called to hers. He was moody, yet tender, roughly +masculine, and yet possessed of the gentleness and poetry of a girl. He +was violent tempered; he was brave; he rode a magnificent bay mare that +worshiped him, as did all animals. + +During one of these introspective periods Alaire telephoned Dave Law, +arguing to herself that she must learn more about her husband's +connection with the Lewis gang. Dave arrived even sooner than she had +expected. She made him dine with her, and they spent the evening on the +dim-lit gallery. In the course of their conversation Alaire discovered +that Dave, too, had a hidden side of his nature; that he possessed an +imagination, and with it a quaint, whimsical, exploratory turn of mind +which enabled him to talk interestingly of many things and many places. +On this particular evening he was anything but the man of iron she had +known--until she ventured to speak of Ed. Then he closed up like a +trap. He was almost gruff in his refusal to say a word about her +husband. + +Because of Ed's appropriation of the ranch cash, Alaire found it +necessary a few days later to go to the bank, and, feeling the need of +exercise, she rode her horse Montrose. When her errands had been +attended to, she suddenly decided to call on Paloma Jones. 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 feminine +torture known as a "fitting"; but insecurely basted, pinned, and tucked +as she was, she came flying down to the gate to meet her visitor. + +Alaire was introduced to Mrs. Strange, the dressmaker, a large, +acidulous brunette, with a mouthful of pins; and then, when Paloma had +given herself once more into the seamstress's hands, the two friends +gossiped. + +Since Mrs. Strange was the first capable dressmaker who had ever come +to Jonesville, Paloma had closed her eyes and plunged with reckless +extravagance. Now the girl insisted upon a general exhibition of her +new wardrobe, a sort of grand fashion review, for the edification of +her caller, in the course of which she tried on all her dresses. + +Paloma was petite and well proportioned, and the gowns were altogether +charming. Alaire was honest in her praise, and Paloma's response was +one of whole-hearted pleasure. The girl beamed. Never before had she +been so admired, never until this moment had she adored a person as she +adored Mrs. Austin, whose every suggestion as 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 these +dresses," Paloma confessed. + +"Your father is a mighty queer man," Mrs. Strange observed. "I haven'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." Taking advantage of +the dressmaker's momentary absence from the room, Paloma continued in a +whisper: "I wish you'd talk to Dad and see what you make of him. He's +absolutely--queer. Mrs. Strange seems to 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 in spells. +You know, Mrs. Strange's husband is a sort of--necromancer." + +"How silly!" + +There was no further opportunity for words, as the woman reappeared at +that instant; but a little later Alaire went in search of Blaze, still +considerably mystified. As she neared the farm buildings she glimpsed a +man's figure hastily disappearing into the barn. The figure bore a +suspicious resemblance to Blaze Jones, yet when she followed he was +nowhere to be seen. Now this was curious, for Texas barns are less +pretentious than those of the North, and this one was little more than +a carriage-house and a shelter for agricultural implements. + +"Mr. Jones!" Alaire called. She repeated Blaze's name several times; +then something stirred. The door of a harness closet opened cautiously, +and out of the blackness peered Paloma's father. He looked more owlish +than ever behind his big, gold-rimmed spectacles. "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 of +breeziness. "I was fixin' some harness, but I'm right glad to see you." + +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 see +looks 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 a jinx 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 till +lately, but now I'm worse than a plantation nigger. I tell you there's +things in this world we don't sabe. I wish you'd get Paloma to fire +her. I've tried and failed. I wish you'd tell her those dresses are +rotten." + +"But they're very nice; they're lovely; and I've just been +complimenting her. Now what has this woman done to you?" + +It seemed impossible that a man of Blaze Jones's character could +actually harbor crude superstitions, and yet there was no mistaking his +earnestness when he said: + +"I ain't sure whether she's to blame, or her husband, but misfortune +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, my +heart's actin' up, I've got rheumatism, my stomach feels like I'd +swallowed something alive--" + +"You're smoking too much," Alaire affirmed, with conviction. + +But skepticism aroused Blaze's indignation. With elaborate sarcasm he +retorted: "I reckon that's why my best team of mules run away and +dragged me through a ten-acre patch of grass burrs--on my belly, eh? +It's a wonder I wasn't killed. I reckon I smoked so much that I give a +tobacco heart to the best three-year-old bull in my pasture! Well, I +smoked him to death, all right. Probably it was nicotine poisonin' that +killed twenty acres of my cotton, too; and maybe if I'd cut out Bull +Durham I'd have floated that bond issue on the irrigation ditch. But I +was wedded to cigarettes, so my banks are closin' down on me. Sure! +That's what a man gets for smokin'." + +"And do you attribute all these misfortunes to Paloma's dressmaker?" + +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've carried +a bowie-knife in my bootleg ever since I was a babe in arms, you might +say; but the other day I jabbed myself with it and nearly got +blood-poisonin'. The very first time I ever laid eyes on this man and +his wife a great misfortune overtook me, and ever since they come to +Jonesville I've had a close squeeze to make a live of it. This fellow +Strange, with his fortune-tellin' and his charms and his conjures, has +hocus-pocussed the whole neighborhood. He's gettin' rich off of the +Mexicans. He knows more secrets 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 to invest their money." + +"He is nothing more than a circus fakir, Mr. Jones." + +"Yes'm! Just the same, these Greasers'd vote him into the legislature +if he asked 'em. Why, he knows who fetched back Ricardo 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 that I want to +know?" + +"Now don't you get him started," Blaze cautioned, hastily, "or he'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 with Lewis. +Dave thinks Tad was at the bottom of the killin', and he hoped 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 about Ed's dealin's than you do, +Miz Austin: all I know is that I got a serpent in my household and I +can't get shed of her. I've got a lapful of troubles of my own. I've +ordered Paloma to let that woman 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. You mark what I say, that female spider'll sew venom into +those dresses. I never seen a woman with a mustache that was any good. +Look here!" Blaze drew a well-thumbed pack of playing-cards from his +pocket. "Shuffle 'em, and I'll prove what I say. If I don't turn 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, he +exposed the queen of spades. + +"What did I tell you? There's the bearded lady herself! Now I'll +shuffle and you cut." + +Alaire smilingly followed directions; she separated the deck into three +piles, after which Jones interpreted the oracle. + +"You got a good fortune, Miz Austin. There's a light man comin' to your +house, danger, and--marriage. You're goin' to marry a light man." + +Alaire's laughter rang out unaffectedly. "Now you see how utterly +absurd it is." + +"Maybe it is, and maybe it ain't." From another pocket Jones drew a +small volume entitled The Combination Fortune-Teller and Complete +Dictionary of Dreams. Alaire reached to take it, and the book 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's +ranch-hands appeared in the door to ask him a question. When the fellow +had gone his employer rose and tiptoed after him; then he spat through +his crossed fingers in the direction the man had taken. + +"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'm interested +in what you say about Mr. Strange. If the Mexicans tell him so much, +perhaps he can tell me something. I do hope you have no more +misfortunes." + +"You stay to supper," Blaze urged, hospitably. "I'll be in as soon as +that tarantula's gone." + +But Alaire declined. After a brief chat with Paloma she remounted +Montrose and prepared for the homeward ride. At the gate, however, she +met Dave Law on his new mare, and when Dave had learned the object of +her visit to Jonesville he insisted upon accompanying her. + +"You have enough money in those saddle-bags to tempt some of our very +best citizens," he told her. "If you don't mind, I'll just be your +bodyguard." + +"Very well," she smiled; "but to make perfectly sure of our safety, +cross your fingers and spit." + +"Eh?" Seeing the amusement in her eyes, he declared: "You've been +talking to Blaze. Well, last night I dreamed I was eating chestnuts, +and he told me I was due for a great good fortune. You see, there's +something in it, after all." + +"And you must be the 'light man' I discovered in the cards. Blaze +declared you were coming to my house." They jogged along side by side, +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 to Jones, +he recounted the tale of that disastrous defeat on the beach at +Galveston. When he had finished the story, which he ingeniously +elaborated, Alaire was doubled over her saddle. It was the first +spontaneous laugh she had had for days, and it seemed to banish her +worries magically. Alaire was not of a melancholy temperament; gaiety +was natural to her, and it had required many heartaches, 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 better +she felt a certain happy restfulness in his company. + +The ride was long, and the two proceeded leisurely, stopping now and +then to talk or to admire the banks of wild flowers beside the road. No +country is richer in spring blooms than is South Texas. The cactus had +nearly done blooming now, and its ever-listening ears were absurdly +warted with fruit; gorgeous carpets of bluebonnets were spread beside +the ditches, while the air above was filled with thousands of yellow +butterflies, like whirling, wind-blown petals of the prickly-pear +blossom. Montrose and Montrosa enjoyed the journey also; it was just +the mode of traveling to please equine hearts, for there were plenty of +opportunities to nibble at the juicy grass and to drink at the little +pools. Then, too, there were mad, romping races during which the riders +laughed and shouted. + +It was Law who finally discovered that they had somehow taken the wrong +road. The fact that Alaire had failed to notice this gave him a sudden +thrill. It aroused in his mind such a train of dizzy, drunken +speculations that for some time following the discovery he jogged +silently at his companion's side. + +It was early dusk when they reached Las Palmas; it was nearly midnight +when Dave threw his leg across his saddle and started home. + +Alaire's parting words rang sweetly in his ears: "This has been the +pleasantest day I can remember." + +The words themselves meant little, but Dave had caught a wistful +undertone in the speaker's voice, and fancied he had seen in her eyes a +queer, half-frightened expression, as of one just awakened. + +José Sanchez had beheld Dave Law at the Las Palmas table twice within a +few days. He spent this evening laboriously composing a letter to his +friend and patron, General Luis Longorio. + + + + +XXI + +AN AWAKENING + + +Time was when Phil Strange boasted that he and his wife had played +every fair-ground and seaside amusement-park from Coney Island to +Galveston. In his battered wardrobe-trunks were parts of old costumes, +scrapbooks of clippings, and a goodly collection of lithographs, some +advertising the supernatural powers of "Professor Magi, Sovereign of +the Unseen World," and others the accomplishments of "Mlle. Le Garde, +Renowned Serpent Enchantress." In these gaudy portraits of "Magi the +Mystic" no one would have recognized Phil Strange. And even more +difficult would it have been to trace a resemblance between Mrs. +Strange and the blond, bushy-headed "Mlle. Le Garde" of the posters. +Nevertheless, the likenesses at one time had been considered not too +flattering, and Phil treasured them as evidences of imperishable +distinction. + +But the Stranges had tired of public life. For a long time the wife had +confessed to a lack of interest in her vocation which amounted almost +to a repugnance. Snake-charming, she had discovered, was far from an +ideal profession for a woman of refinement. It possessed unpleasant +features, and even such euphemistic titles as "Serpent Enchantress" and +"Reptilian Mesmerist" failed to rob the calling of a certain odium, a +suggestion of vulgarity in the minds of the more discriminating. This +had become so distressing to Mrs. Strange's finer sensibilities that +she had voiced a yearning to forsake the platform and pit for something +more congenial, and finally she had prevailed upon Phil to make a +change. + +The step had not been taken without misgivings, but a benign Providence +had watched over the pair. Mrs. Strange was a natural seamstress, and +luck had directed her and Phil to a community which was not only in +need of a good dressmaker, but peculiarly ripe for the talents of a +soothsayer. Phil, too, had intended to embrace a new profession; but he +had soon discovered that Jonesville offered better financial returns to +a man of his accepted gifts than did the choicest of seaside +concessions, and therefore he had resumed his old calling under a +slightly different guise. Before long he acknowledged himself well +pleased with the new environment, for his wife was far happier in +draping dress goods upon the figures of her customers than in hanging +python folds about her own, and he found his own fame growing with +every day. His mediumistic gifts came into general demand. The country +people journeyed miles to consult him, and Blaze Jones's statement that +they confided in the fortune-teller as they would have confided in a +priest was scarcely an exaggeration. Phil did indeed become the +repository for confessions of many sorts. + +Contrary to Blaze's belief, however, Strange was no Prince of Darkness, +and took little joy in some of the secrets forced upon him. Phil was a +good man in his way--so conscientious that certain information he +acquired weighed him down with a sense of unpleasant responsibility. +Chancing to meet Dave Law one day, he determined to relieve himself of +at least one troublesome burden. + +But Dave was not easily approachable. He met the medium's allusions to +the occult with contemptuous amusement, nor would he consent to a +private "reading," Strange grew almost desperate enough to speak the +ungarnisned truth. + +"You'd better pay a little attention to me," he grieved; "I've got a +message to you from the 'Unseen World.'" + +"Charges 'collect,' I reckon," the Ranger grinned. + +Strange waved aside the suggestion. "It came unbidden and I pass it 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 psychic +discussions. If Dave cared to come to his room, where the surroundings +were favorable to thought transference, and where Phil'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 back while the medium closed his eyes +and prepared to explore the Invisible. After a brief delay Phil began: + +"I see a great many things--that woman I told you about, and three men. +One of 'em is you, the other two is Mexicans. You're at a water-hole in +the mesquite. Now there's a shooting scrape; I see the body of a dead +man." The speaker became silent; evidently his cataleptic vision was +far from perfect. But he soon began to drone again. "Now I behold a +stranger at the same water-hole. He's alone--he's looking for +something. He rides in circles. He's off his horse and bending +over--What? A skeleton! Yes, it's the skeleton of one of them other +Mexicans." Strange's voice became positively sepulchral as his spirit +control took fuller possession of his earthly shell and as his visions +resolved themselves into clearer outline. "See! He swears an oath to +avenge. And now--the scene changes. Everything dissolves. I'm in a +mansion; and the red-haired woman comes toward me. Over her head floats +that skeleton--" + +Dave broke in crisply. "All right! Let's get down to cases. What's on +your mind, Strange?" + +The psychic simulated a shudder--a painful contortion, such as any one +might suffer if rudely jerked out of the spirit world. + +"Eh? What was I--? There! You've broke the connection," he declared. +"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 the danger +of interrupting a seance of this sort, but Law remained obdurate. + +"You can put over that second-sight stuff with the Greasers," he +declared, sharply, "but not with me. So, José Sanchez has been to see +you and you want to warn me. Is that it?" + +"I don't know any such party," Strange protested. He eyed his caller +for a moment; then with an abrupt change of manner he complained: "Say, +Bo! What's the matter with you? I've got a reputation to protect, and I +do things my own way. I'm getting set to 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 all about--" + +"You don't know nothing about anything," snapped the other. "José'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--his +sweetheart has. Rosa Morales comes regular." + +"Rosa! José's sweetheart!" + +"Yes. Her and José have joined out together since you shot Panfilo, 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. José would like to get me, and of course 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 make one +and two count four. I have to tell more'n I'm told; I have to shoot my +game on the wing, for nobody tells me any more'n they dast. All the +same, I'm sure José ain't carving no epitaph for you. From what I've +dug out of Rosa, he's acting for a third party--somebody with pull and +a lot of coin--but who it is I don't know. Anyhow, he's cooking trouble +for the Austins, and I want to stand from under." + +Now that the speaker had dropped all pretense, he answered Dave's +questions without evasion and told what he knew. It was not much, to +Dave's way of thinking, but it was enough to give cause for thought, +and when the men finally parted it was with the understanding that +Strange would promptly communicate any further intelligence 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 morning train; but +as he continued to meditate over Strange's words he decided that, +before going, he ought to advise Alaire of the fellow's suspicions in +order that she might discharge José Sanchez and in other ways protect +herself against his possible spite. Since the matter was one that could +not well be talked over by telephone, Dave determined to go in person +to Las Palmas that evening. Truth to say, he was hungry to see Alaire. +By this time he had almost ceased to combat the feeling she aroused in +him, and it was in obedience to an impulse far stronger than friendly +anxiety that he hired a machine and, shortly after dark, took the river +road. + +The Fates are malicious jades. They delight in playing ill-natured +pranks upon us. Not content with spinning and measuring and cutting the +threads of our lives to suit themselves, they must also tangle the +skein, causing us to cut capers to satisfy their whims. + +At no time since meeting Alaire had Dave Law been more certain of his +moral strength than on this evening; at no time had his grip upon +himself seemed firmer. Nor had Alaire the least reason to doubt her +self-control. Dave, to be sure, had appealed to her fancy and her +interest; in fact, he so dominated her thoughts that the imaginary +creature whom she called her dream-husband had gradually taken on his +physical likeness. But the idea that she was in any way enamoured of +him had never entered her mind; that she could ever be tempted to yield +to him, to be false to her ideals of wifehood, was inconceivable. In +such wise do the Fates amuse themselves. + +Alaire had gone to her favorite after-dinner refuge, a nook on one of +the side-galleries, where there was a wide, swinging wicker couch; and +there in a restful obscurity fragrant with unseen flowers she had +prepared to spend the evening with her dreams. + +She did not hear Dave's automobile arrive. Her first intimation of his +presence came with the sound of his heel upon the porch. When he +appeared it was almost like the materialization of her uppermost +thought--quite as if a figure from her fancy had stepped forth full +clad. + +She rose and met him, smiling. "How did you know I wanted to see you?" +she inquired. + +Dave took her hand and looked down at her, framing a commonplace reply. +But for some reason the words lay unspoken upon his tongue. Alaire's +informal greeting, her parted lips, the welcoming light in her eyes, +had sent them flying. It seemed to him that the dim half-light which +illumined this nook emanated from her face and her person, that the +fragrance which came to his nostrils was the perfume of her breath, and +at the prompting of these thoughts all his smothered longings rose as +if at a signal. As mutinous prisoners in a jail delivery overpower +their guards, so did Dave's long-repressed emotions gain the upper hand +of him now, and so swift was their uprising that he could not summon +more than a feeble, panicky resistance. + +The awkwardness of the pause which followed Alaire's inquiry +strengthened the rebellious impulses within him, and quite +unconsciously his friendly grasp upon her fingers tightened. For her +part, as she saw this sudden change sweep over him, her own face +altered and she felt something within her breast leap into life. No +woman could have failed to read the meaning of his sudden agitation, +and, strange to say, it worked a similar state of feeling in Alaire. +She strove to control herself and to draw away, but instead found that +her hand had answered his, and that her eyes were flashing recognition +of his look. All in an instant she realized how deathly tired of her +own struggle she had become, and experienced a reckless impulse to cast +away all restraint and blindly meet his first advance. She had no time +to question her yearnings; she seemed to understand only that this man +offered her rest 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 a moment of +hesitation on the part of either. A drunken, breathless instant of +uncertainty, then Alaire was on Dave's breast, and his strength, his +ardor, his desire, was throbbing through her. Her bare arms were about +his neck; a sigh, the token of utter surrender, fluttered from her +throat. She raised her face to his and their lips melted together. + +For a time they were all alone in the universe, the center of all +ecstasy. Dave was whispering wild incoherencies as Alaire lay in his +embrace, her limbs relaxed, her flesh touching his, her body clinging +to his. + +"Dream-man!" she murmured. + +As consciousness returns after a swoon, so did realization return to +Alaire Austin. Faintly, uncertainly at first, then with a swift, strong +effort she pushed herself out of Dave's reluctant arms. 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 fighting. 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 a pillar, 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 else matters. +And you love me! God! I wonder if I'm awake." + +"Dream-man," she repeated, more slowly. "Oh, why did you come so late?" + +"So late?" + +"Yes. We must think it out, the best way we can, I--wonder what you +think of me?" + +"You must know. There's no need for excuses; there's nothing to +explain, except the miracle that such great happiness could come to a +fellow like me." + +"Happiness? It means anything but that. I was miserable enough before, +what shall I do now?" + +"Why, readjust your life," he cried, roughly. "Surely you won't +hesitate after this?" + +But Alaire did not seem to hear him. She was staring out into the night +again. "What a failure I must be!" she murmured, finally. "I suppose I +should have seen this coming, but--I didn't. And in his house, too! +This dress is his, and these jewels--everything!" She held up her hands +and stared curiously at the few rings she wore, as if seeing them for +the first time. "How does that make you feel?" + +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!" He waved a vigorous +gesture of defiance. "I'll take you away from him at any cost. I'll see +that he gives you up, somehow. You're all I have." + +"Of course the law provides a way, but you wouldn't, couldn't, +understand how I feel about divorce." The mere mention of the word was +difficult and caused Alaire to clench her hands. "We're both too 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, so I'm not +sure I have any right to take you away from all this." He turned a +hostile eye upon their surroundings. "Most people would say that I've +simply wasted my life. Perhaps I have--that depends upon the way you +look at it and upon what you consider worth while--anyhow, all I can +offer you is love--" He broke off momentarily as if his breath had +suddenly failed him. "Greater love, 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 had everything except +the very thing you offer--and how I've longed for that! How I've envied +other people! Do you think I'll be allowed, somehow, to have it?" + +"Yes! I've something to say about that. You gave me the right when you +gave me that kiss." + +Alaire shook her head. "I'm not sure. It seems easy now, while you are +here, but how will it seem later? I'm in no condition at this minute to +reason. Perhaps, as you say, it is all a dream; perhaps this feeling I +have is just a passing frenzy." + +Dave laughed softly, confidently. "It's too new yet for you to +understand, but wait. It is frenzy, witchery--yes, and more. To-morrow, +and every day after, it will grow and grow and grow! Trust me, I've +watched it in myself." + +"So you cared for me from the very first?" Alaire questioned. It was +the woman's curiosity, the woman's hunger to hear over and over again +that truth which never fails to thrill and yet never fully satisfies. + +"Oh, even before that, I think! When you came to my fire that evening +in the chaparral I knew every line of your face, every movement of your +body, every tone of your voice, as a man knows and recognizes his +ideal. But it took time for me to realize all you meant to me." + +Alaire nodded. "Yes, and it must have been the same with me." She met +his eyes frankly, but when he reached toward her she held him away. +"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 can control +myself better--I'll send for you. But you must promise not to come +until then, for you would only make it harder." + +It required all Dave's determination to force himself to obey her wish, +and the struggle nearly kept him from recalling the original object of +his visit. Remembering, he tried to tell Alaire what he had learned +from Phil Strange; but so broken and so unconvincing was his recital +that he doubted if she understood in the least what he was talking +about. + +At last he took her hand and kissed her wrist, just over her pulse, as +if to speed a message to her heart, then into her rosy palm he +whispered a tender something that thrilled her. + +She stood white, motionless, against the dim illumination of the porch +until he had gone, and not until the last sound of his motor had died +away did she stir. Then she pressed her own lips to the palm 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 himself still +somewhat dazed by his sudden happiness; the more he thought of it the +more wonderful it seemed. During the day he went through his court +duties like a man in a trance. Such joy as this was unbelievable; he +felt as if he must tell the world about it. He well understood Alaire's +repugnance to divorce, but he was sure that he could overcome it, if +indeed her own truer understanding of herself did not relieve him of +that necessity; for at this moment his desires were of a heat +sufficient to burn away all obstacles, no matter how solid. It seemed, +therefore, that the future was all sunshine. + +He had no opportunity of speaking with Judge Ellsworth until court +adjourned. Then the judge took him by the arm, with that peculiarly +flattering assumption of intimacy of which he was master, and led the +way toward his office, inquiring meanwhile for news of Jonesville. +Dave's high spirits surprised him and finally impelled him to ask the +cause. When Dave hinted unmistakably at the truth, Ellsworth exclaimed, +with a sharp stare of curiosity: + +"See here! You haven't forgotten what I told you that night on the +train?" + +"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 arson or +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 muttered uncertainly: +"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 of +amusement. Old folks are usually curious, he reflected; and they are +prone to presume upon the privileges that go with age. In this +instance, however, it might be well to make a clean breast of the +affair, since Ellsworth was Alaire's attorney, and would doubtless be +selected to secure her divorce. + +The judge was waiting when Dave called after supper, but for some time +he maintained a flow of conversation relating to other things than the +one they had met to discuss. At last, however, he appeared to summon +his determination; he cleared his throat and settled himself in his +chair--premonitory signs unusual in a man of Ellsworth's poise and +self-assurance. + +"I reckon you think I'm trying to mix up in something that doesn't +concern me," he began; "and perhaps I am. Maybe you'll make me wish I'd +minded my own business--that's what usually happens. I remember once, +out of pure chivalry, trying to stop a fellow from beating his wife. Of +course they both turned on me--as they always do. I went to the +hospital for a week, and lost a profitable divorce case. However, we +try to do our duty as we see it." + +This was anything but a promising preamble; Dave wondered, too, at his +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 a failure." + +"Oh no! All men are failures until they marry. I'm thinking of what +marriage means; of the new duties it brings, of the man's duty to +himself, to the woman, and to society; I'm thinking of what 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've studied +heredity, too, and--you mustn't marry." + +Law stirred in his chair and smiled whimsically. "I've done some +studying along those lines, too, and I reckon I know myself pretty +well. 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 his caller, and now his +lids were lifted until the eyes peered out bright, hard, and piercing; +something in his face startled Dave. "I was your father's attorney and +his friend. I know how he lived and 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, come +through. 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 family history?" +Dave shook his head. "Well, then--he was insane." + +"Insane?" + +"Yes; violently." + +"Really, I--Why--I suppose you know what you're talking about, but it +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 no +newspapers in that part of Mexico; you, of course, were a boy at school +in the United States. Nevertheless, it's true. That part of the story +which I didn't know at the time I learned by talking with General +Guadalupe and others. It was very shocking." + +Dave's face was a study; his color had lessened slightly; he wet his +lips. "This is news, of course," said he, "but it doesn't explain 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 kill +Frank Law." Ellsworth maintained his fixity of gaze, and when Dave +started he nodded his head. "It's God's truth. The details were +too--dreadful. Your father turned his hand against the woman he loved +and--died a wife-killer. The Guadalupes had to destroy him like a mad +dog. I'm sorry you had to learn the truth from me, my boy, but it seems +necessary that I tell you. When I knew Frank Law he was like any other +man, quick-tempered, a little too violent, perhaps, but apparently as +sane as you or I, and yet the thing was there." + +Dave rose from his chair and bent over the desk. "So THAT'S what you've +been driving at," he gasped. "That's what you meant when you said I +shouldn't marry." He began to tremble now; his voice became hoarse with +fury. "Now I understand. You're trying to tell me 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 even +suspected." + +Dave struck the desk violently with his clenched fist. "Bosh! You're +hipped on this heredity subject. Crazy! Why, you doddering old fool--" +With an effort he calmed himself, realizing that he had shouted his +last words. He turned away and made a circuit of the room before +returning to face his friend. "I didn't mean to speak 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'm not 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 voice rose +again, but it was plain from the lawyer's expression that to a man of +his training no mere conviction unsupported by proof had weight. This +skepticism merely kept Dave's impatience at a white heat. "Very well, +then," he argued, angrily, "let's say that I'm wrong 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 a disease. Me, insane? Rot!" He +laughed harshly, took another uncertain turn around the room, then sank +into his chair and buried 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 a disease, Dave, +or worse, and there's no way of proving that you haven't inherited it. +If there is the remotest possibility that you have--if you have the +least cause to suspect--why, you couldn'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 villainous +temper. I'm all right again afterward." + +"I wasn't thinking so much of that. But are you sure it's altogether +temper?" the judge insisted. "You don't merely lose control of +yourself; you've told me more than once that you go completely out of +your mind; that you see red and want to kill and--" + +"Don't you?" + +"I never felt the slightest desire to destroy, no matter how angry I +chanced to be. I've always asserted that murderers, homicides, +suicides, were irresponsible; that they were sick here." Ellsworth +touched his forehead. "I can't see how any sane man can take his own or +another's life, no matter what the provocation. But I'm not a doctor, +and that's an extreme view, I know. Anyhow, you'll agree that if you +have Frank Law's blood in your veins it won't do to marry." + +"I haven't got it," the younger man groaned, his gaze turned sullenly +downward. "Even granting that I have, that's no sign I'd ever--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 to the +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 his gun +pretty well." + +"He was about the worst man of his day. He was shot in Dodge City on +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. The other one +disappeared mysteriously." + +"I believe so. He just walked away from his wife and family and +business one day and was never heard of again." + +Ellsworth seemed to consider this admission significant. "Now the +sister, 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 of +which I have here." Ellsworth thrust his finger into the loose pile of +documents before him. Avoiding his caller's eyes he continued: "You +can't very well ignore such a family history, Dave. I've never traced +it back beyond the last generation, but you 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, but I +can't put much faith in that childhood fancy of yours. Run it down; +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 too well +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 the +desk, seized his caller roughly by the shoulder. "What are you telling +me? Good God, Alaire! A married woman! So you--cut under Ed Austin, +eh?" Momentarily Ellsworth lost control of himself; his eyes blazed and +his fingers tightened painfully. "What damnable trick have you played +on that girl? Tell me before I choke you." + +For once Dave Law's passion failed to ignite at the heat of another's +anger; he only sat limp and helpless in the judge's grasp. Finally he +muttered: "I played square enough. It's one of those things that just +happen. We couldn't help ourselves. She'll come to you for her divorce." + +The lawyer uttered a shocking oath. "Then it's no mere romantic +infatuation on her part?" + +"Oh no!" + +Ellsworth loosed his grip. He turned away and began to pace the office +floor, shaking his head. "This is--unfortunate. Alaire, of all +people--as if she didn't have enough to bear." He turned fiercely upon +the cowering figure in the chair, saying: "I'll tell her the whole +truth myself, before she goes any further." + +"No! Oh, please! Let me, in my own way." Dave writhed and sank his face +in his hands once more. After a while he said, "I'm waiting for you to +tell me it's all a nightmare." + +"Humph!" The judge continued his restless pacing. "I was sorry for you +when you came in here, and it took all my strength to tell you; but now +you don't matter at all. I was prepared to have you go 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 his walk +abruptly. "I'm all broken up, Dave," he confessed in a gentler tone +than he had used heretofore. "But you'll thank me some day." + +Law was no longer the big, strong, confident fellow who had entered the +office such a short time before. He had collapsed; he seemed to have +shrunk; he was pitifully appealing. Although there were many things he +would have said, many questions upon his tongue, he could not voice +them now, and it was with extreme difficulty 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 entered his hotel the clerk and +some of the idlers in the lobby looked at him queerly, but he did not +see them. + +All that night Dave walked the floor of his room or sat hunched up on +the edge of his bed, staring at the wall and fighting the fears that +preyed upon him. + +He had faith enough in Alaire to believe that she would marry him +regardless of the facts; her kiss, that one delirious moment when he +had held her to his breast, had taught him much, and it was, in fact, +this very certainty which made his struggle so hard. After all, why +not? he asked himself a thousand times. Ellsworth's fears were surely +exaggerated. Who could say that Frank Law had passed on his heritage? +There was at least a chance that he had not, and it would require more +than a remote possibility, more evidence than Ellsworth could summon, +to dismay Alaire. Suppose it should transpire that he was somehow +defective? What then? The signs of his mental failing would give ample +warning. He could watch himself carefully and study his symptoms. He +could lead the life of a sentinel perpetually on guard. The thing might +never come--or at the worst it probably would not manifest itself until +he was further 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 too officious by far. This +was something that did not concern him. + +But such reasoning naturally brought little comfort. Dave's fears would +not be put down. In common with most men of splendid physique, he had a +vague contempt for those less perfect; disease or deformity had never +failed to awaken his pity, and he had often argued that defective human +beings, like unhealthy stock, should not be allowed to mate and to +perpetuate their weaknesses. This eugenic conviction had helped to ease +his conscience somewhat during his acquaintance with Alaire, for he had +told himself that Ed Austin, by reason of his inherited vices, had +sacrificed all right to love and marriage. These thoughts came home now +to roost. What was Ed's evil heritage compared to his own? It was as +vinegar to 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 two that followed his +interview with Ellsworth, it afforded him almost the 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 duties automatically, +taking no interest whatever in his work; his nights he spent in morose +meditation. Unable to sleep, he tramped the hot streets in an effort to +fight off his growing nervousness. He became irritable, despondent; his +eyes took on the look of an invalid's; his face aged and grayed. +Physically, too, he grew very tired, for no burden is heavier to bear +than that of doubt and indecision. + +One afternoon Ellsworth entered his office to find Dave waiting for +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 the +courthouse. I'm licked. The worst of it is, I don't know whether it's +all imagination, or whether you really stirred up that devilish +sleeping thing in me. Anyhow, something has got me. All I can do is +study and analyze and watch and imagine--I sit all night +thinking--thinking, until everything gets queer and distorted. If I +were sane before, you've about unbalanced me with your damnable +suggestions." + +"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 WERE sick. +No, I'm going to get out." + +"Where? How?" + +"I'm going north to look up the members of my family and learn who I +really am. I resigned from the Ranger force to-day. That's no place 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 get away now +is that Alaire will expect me to come to her when she sends 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 own +mind." + +In an effort to cheer, Ellsworth put his arm about the sufferer's +shoulders. "I'm sure you'll do the right thing, Dave," he said. "Maybe, +after all, your instinct is true and you're not Frank Law's boy. I hope +so, for this thing weighs me down as it weighs you; but you mustn't let +it whip you. Don't give in, and meanwhile, above all things, try to get +some sleep." + +Dave nodded and mumbled something; then he slouched out, leaving the +lawyer overcome by a great pity. Ellsworth had seen men, stunned by a +court sentence, turn away from the bar with that same dumb, fixed look +of hopelessness in their eyes. Impulsively he cursed the sense of duty +that had prompted him to interfere. + + + + +XXIII + +THE CRASH + + +The several days following Dave's unexpected call at Las Palmas Alaire +spent in a delightful reverie. She had so often wrestled with the +question of divorce that she had begun to weary of it; and now, when +she tried to summon energy to consider it anew, she found herself, as +usual, reasoning in a circle and arriving at no decision. She gave up +trying, at length, and for the time being rested content in the +knowledge that she loved and was loved. In her heart she knew well +enough what her ultimate course would be: sooner or later events would +force her action. Yielding to a natural cowardice, therefore, she +resigned herself to dreamy meditations and left the future to take care +of itself. A week passed while she hugged her thoughts to her breast, +and then one evening she rode home to learn that Ed had returned from +San Antonio. + +But Ed was ill, and he did not appear at dinner. It had been years +since either had dared invade the other's privacy, and now, inasmuch as +her husband did not send for her, Alaire did not presume to offer her +services as nurse. As a matter of fact, she considered this quite +unnecessary, for she felt sure that he was either suffering the +customary after-effects of a visit to the city or else that he lacked +the moral courage to undertake an explanation of his hurried flight +from the ranch. In either event she was glad he kept to his room. + +Heretofore their formal relations had made life at least tolerable to +Alaire, but now she experienced a feeling of guilt at finding herself +under the same roof with him. Oddly enough, it seemed to her that in +this she wronged Dave and not her husband; for she reasoned that, +having given her love to one man, her presence in the 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 was jumpy and +irritable, he seemed determined by an assumption of high spirits and +exaggerated friendliness to avert criticism. Since Alaire spared him +all reproaches, his efforts seemed to meet with admirable success. Now +Ed's opinion of women was not high, for those with whom he habitually +associated were of small intelligence; and, seeing that his wife +continued to manifest a complete indifference to his past actions, he +decided that his apprehensions had been groundless. If Alaire +remembered the Guzman affair at all, or if she had suspected him of +complicity in it, time had evidently dulled her suspicions, and he was +a little sorry he had taken pains to stay away so long. + +Before many days, however, he discovered that this indifference of hers +was not assumed, and that in some way or other she had changed. Ed was +accustomed, when he returned exhausted from a debauch, to seeing in his +wife's eyes a strained misery; he had learned to expect in her bearing +a sort of pitying, hopeless resignation. But this time she was not in +the least depressed. On the contrary, she appeared happier, fresher, +and younger than he had seen her for a long time. It was mystifying. +When, one morning, he overheard her singing in her room, he was +shocked. Over this phenomenon he meditated with growing amazement and a +faint stir of resentment in his breast, for he lived a self-centered +life, considering himself the pivot upon which revolved all the affairs +of his little world. To feel that he had lost even the power to make +his wife unhappy argued that he had overestimated his importance. + +At length, having sufficiently recovered his health to begin drinking +again, he yielded one evening to an alcoholic impulse and, just as +Alaire bade him good night, clumsily sought to force an 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 to collect her +wandering thoughts. "You're about as warm and wifely as a stone idol." + +"Am I any different to what I have always been?" + +"Humph! You haven't been exactly sympathetic of late. Here I come home +sick, and you treat me like one of the help. Don't you think I have +feelings? Jove! I'm lonesome." + +Alaire regarded him speculatively, then shook her head as if in answer +to some thought. + +In an obvious and somewhat too mellow effort to be friendly, Ed +continued: "Don't let's go on like this, Alaire. You blame me for going +away so much, but, good Lord! when I'm home I feel like an interloper. +You treat me like a cow-thief." + +"I'm sorry. I've tried to be everything I should. I'm the interloper." + +"Nonsense! If we only got along together as well as we seem to from 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 fellows who forget themselves +and do things they shouldn't, but they don't mean anything by it. They +have wives and homes to go to when it's all over. But have I? You're as +glad to see me as if I had smallpox. Maybe we've made a mess of things, +but married life isn't what young girls think it is, A wife must learn +to give and take." + +"I've given. What have I taken?" she asked him in a voice that quivered. + +Ed made an impatient gesture. "Oh, don't be so literal! I mean that, +since we're man and wife, it's up to you to be a little +more--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 of new +impressions, and at this moment he realized that his wife was +undoubtedly the most attractive woman physically he had ever known. Of +course she was cold, but she had not always been so. He had chilled +her; he had seen the fire die year by year, but now the memory of her +as she had once been swept over him, bringing a renewed appreciation of +her charms. His recent dissipation had told upon him as heavily as a +siege of sickness, and this evening he was in that fatuous, sentimental +mood which comes with convalescence, Having no fault to find with +himself, and feeling merely a selfish desire to make more pleasant his +life at Las Palmas, he undertook to bend Alaire to his will. + +"All right; don't let's try to argue it," he laughed, with what he +considered 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 her head. +"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 physical resistance +excited his love of conquest and awoke something like the mood of a +lover--such a lover as a man like Ed could be. For a moment he felt as +if Alaire were some other woman than his wife, a woman who refused and +yet half expected to be overcome; therefore he laughed self-consciously +and repeated, "Come now, I want a kiss." + +Alaire thrust him back strongly, and he saw that her face had whitened. +Oddly enough, her stubbornness angered him out of all reason, and he +began a harsh remonstrance. But he halted when she cried: + +"Wait! I must tell you something, Ed. It's all over, and has been for 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 rather sudden?" +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 in the +affirmative, for he had long ago learned to put implicit confidence in +her, and her life had been so open that he could not imagine that it +held a double interest. Therefore her reply struck him 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--" he stammered. +"Well, by God!" Then after a moment: "Who is it, the Greaser or the +cowboy?" He laughed loudly, disagreeably. "It must be 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 ever occur 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, who is it? +Ain't I entitled to know that much?" As Alaire remained silent he let +his eyes rove over her with a kind of angry appreciation. "You're +pretty enough to stampede any man," he admitted. "Yes, and you've got +money, too. I'll bet it's the Ranger. 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 of you, +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: "I wonder how +I have managed to live with you as long as I have. I knew you were +weak, nasty--so I was prepared for something like this. But I never +thought you were a downright criminal until--" + +"Criminal? Rot!" + +"How about that Guzman affair? You can't go much lower, Ed, and you +can't keep me here with you." + +"I can't keep you, eh?" he growled. "Well, perhaps not. I suppose +you've got enough on me to secure a divorce, but I can air some of your +dirty linen. Oh, don't look like that! I mean it! Didn't you spend a +night with David Law?" He leered at her unpleasantly, then followed a +step as she drew back. + +"Don't you touch me!" she cried. + +A flush was deepening Ed's purple cheeks; his voice was peculiarly +brutal and throaty as he said: "The decree isn't entered yet, and so +long as you are Mrs. Austin I have rights. Yes, and I intend to +exercise them. You've made me jealous, and, by God--" He made to +encircle her with his arms and was half successful, but when Alaire +felt the heat of his breath in her face a sick loathing sprang up +within her, and, setting her back against the wall, she sent him +reeling. Whether she struck him or merely pushed him away she never +knew, for during the instant of their struggle she was blind with +indignation and fury. Profiting by her advantage, she dodged past him, +fled to her room, and locked herself in. + +She heard him muttering profanely; heard him approach her chamber more +than once, then retire uncertainly, but she knew him too well to be +afraid. + +Later that night she wrote two letters--one to Judge Ellsworth, the +other to Dave Law. + +José Sanchez rode to the Morales house feeling some concern over the +summons that took him thither. He wondered what could have induced +General Longorio to forsake his many important duties in order to make +the long trip from Nuevo Pueblo; surely it could be due to no lack of +zeal on his, José's, part. No! The horse-breaker flattered himself that +he had made a very good spy indeed; that he had been Longorio's eyes +and ears so far as circumstances permitted. Nor did he feel that he had +been lax in making his reports, for through Rosa he had written the +general several lengthy letters, and just for good measure these two +had conjured up sundry imaginary happenings to prove beyond doubt that +Señora Austin was miserably unhappy with her husband and ready to +welcome such a dashing lover as Longorio. Therefore José could not for +the life of him imagine wherein he had been remiss. Nevertheless, he +was uneasy, and he hoped that nothing had occurred to anger his general. + +But Longorio, when he arrived at the meeting-place, was not in a bad +humor. Having sent Rosa away on some errand, he turned to José with a +flashing smile, and said: + +"Well, my good friend, the time has come." + +Now José had no faintest idea what the general was talking about, but +to be called the good friend of so illustrious a person was flattering. +He nodded decisively. + +"Yes, beyond doubt," he agreed. + +"Mexico is in a bad way. These rebels are growing by the thousands; +they overrun the country like ants. You read the papers, eh?" + +"Sometimes; when there are enough pictures," said José. + +"Ha! Then I doubt if you know what is happening. Well, I'll have to +tell you. Our enemies have taken all northern Mexico except that part +which is under my control; but they are pushing toward me from two +sides, and I prepare to retreat. That is not the worst, however; the +Gringos are hoping to profit by Mexico's distress; they are making +ready to invade our Fatherland, and every Mexican must fight or become +a slave." + +This was indeed news! José began patriotically cursing the whole +American people. + +"Understand, I make you my confidant because I think a great deal of +you, José." The general laid an affectionate hand upon José's shoulder. +"The first time I saw you I said: 'There's a boy after my own heart. I +shall learn to love that José, and I shall put him in the way of his +fortune.' Well, I have not changed my mind, and the time is come. You +are going to help me and I am going to help you." + +José Sanchez thrilled with elation from head to foot. This promised to +be the greatest day of his life, and he felt that he must 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 my +visit. José, I propose to make you rich enough in one day so that you +can marry." + +"But first, wait!" exclaimed the horse-breaker. "I bring you something +of value, too." Desiring to render favor for favor, and to show that he +was fully deserving of the general's generosity, José removed from +inside the sweatband of his hat a sealed, stamped letter, which he +handed to his employer. "Yesterday I carried the mail to town, but as I +rode away from Las Palmas the señora handed me this, with a silver +dollar for myself. Look! It is written to the man we both hate." + +Longorio took the letter, read the inscription, and then opened the +envelope. José looked on with pleasure while he spelled out the +contents. + +When the general had finished reading, he exclaimed: "Ho! A miracle! +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 life unbearable, +and she flees to La Feria to be rid of him. Good! It fits 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 warrant I can make her forget certain +things and certain people." Longorio nodded with satisfaction. "You did +very well, José." + +The latter leaned forward, his eyes bright. "That lady is rich. A fine +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 an idea!" He lost +himself in meditation, then, rousing, spoke briskly: "Listen! In two, +three days, your señora will leave Las Palmas. When she is gone you +will perform your work, like the brave man I know you to be. You will +relieve her of her husband." + +José hesitated, and the smile vanished from his face. "Señor Ed is not +a bad man. He likes me; he--" Longorio's gaze altered and José fell +silent. + +"Come! You are not losing heart, eh? Have I not promised to make you a +rich man? Well, the time has arrived." Seeing that José still +manifested no eagerness, the general went on in a different tone: "Do +not think that you can withdraw from our little arrangement. Oh no! Do +you remember a promise I made to you when you came to me in Romero? I +said that if you played me false I would bury you to the neck in an +anthill and fill your mouth with honey. I keep my promises." + +José's struggle was brief; he promptly resigned himself to the +inevitable. With every evidence of sincerity he assured Longorio of his +loyalty, and denied the least intention of betraying his general's +confidence. What, after all, was his mission upon earth if not to serve +Longorio's interests? One might have a peaceful heart and still be a +man. José was every inch a man; he was a very devil when he let himself +go, and his Excellency need have no fears as to the outcome of their +plan. After all, the GRINGOS were enemies, and there was no one of them +who did not merit destruction. + +Pleased with these sentiments, and feeling sufficiently assured that +José was now really in the proper frame of mind to suit his purpose, +Longorio took the winding trail back toward Sangre de Cristo. + + + + +XXIV + +DAVE LAW COMES HOME + + +A few days after she had written to Judge Ellsworth Alaire followed her +letter in person, for, having at last decided to divorce Ed, she acted +with characteristic decision. Since Ellsworth had more than once +advised this very course, she went to Brownsville anticipating his +willing support. She was greatly amazed, therefore, to find that he had +completely changed his views and to hear him argue strongly against her +determination. Hurt and puzzled at first by this strange lack of +sympathy, Alaire soon began to grow angry, and when the judge persisted +in his arguments she quarreled with him for the first time in their +acquaintance. But it was not until she had threatened to secure another +attorney that he reluctantly gave in, even then making it plain that in +meeting her wishes he was acting against his best judgment. + +Now Alaire had desired Ellsworth's advice, also, as to her own +immediate plans, since it was of course impossible for her longer to +share Ed's roof. She had written Dave Law, telling him that she +intended to go to La Feria, there to remain pending the hearing of her +suit; but later she had come to doubt the wisdom of such a course, +inasmuch as the war talk grew louder with every day. However, her +attorney's inexplicable change of front and his stubborn opposition to +her wishes prevented her from confiding in him any more than was +necessary, and she returned to Las Palmas determined to use her own +best judgment. To be sure, she would have preferred some place of +refuge other than La Feria, but she reasoned that there she would at +least be undisturbed, and that Ed, even if he wished to effect a +reconciliation, would not dare to follow her, since he was persona non +grata in Federal Mexico. Nor were her doubts of Ellsworth's loyalty +entirely allayed. All in all, therefore, it seemed to her that the +Mexican ranch offered her 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 of his +resignation from the Force had at first perplexed her; then she had +thrilled at the thought that his action must have something to do with +her; that doubtless he, too, was busied in making plans for their new +life. She told herself that it was brave of him to obey her injunctions +so literally and to leave her unembarrassed by his presence at this +particular time. It inspired her to be equally brave and to wait +patiently for the day when she could welcome him with clean hands and a +soul unashamed. + +In the midst of Alaire's uncertainty of mind it gratified her to +realize that Dave alone would know of her whereabouts. She wondered if +he would come to see her. He was a reckless, headstrong lover, and his +desires were all too likely to overcome his deliberate resolves. She +rather hoped that in spite of his promise he would venture to cross the +border so that she could see and be near him, if only for a day or for +an hour. The possibility frightened and yet pleased her. The +conventional woman within her frowned, but her outlaw heart beat fast +at the thought. + +Alaire did not explain her plans even to Dolores, but when her +preparations were complete she took the Mexican woman with her, and +during Ed's absence slipped away from the ranch. Boarding the train at +Jonesville, she was in Pueblo that night. + +If Alaire's clash with Ellsworth had been trying to her, it had been no +less painful to the lawyer himself. Feeling himself bound by his +promise to Dave, he had not dared to tell her the truth; consequently +he had been hard put to it to dissuade her from taking immediate +action. When she would not listen, he found himself in the most +unpleasant position of his life; for although he could not but +sympathize with her desire to be free from Ed Austin, it distressed him +beyond measure to see her riding blindly to a fall. More than once +after their strained parting he was tempted to go to Las Palmas and set +himself right in her eyes; but he managed to hold to his determination +and to school himself to await Dave's return. + +Before long, however, Ellsworth found other worries engaging him, for +it seemed at last that war with Mexico was imminent. After months of +uncertainty the question had come to issue, and that lowering cloud +which had hung above the horizon took ominous shape and size. Ellsworth +awoke one morning to learn that an ultimatum had gone forth to +President Potosi; that the Atlantic fleet had been ordered south; and +that marines were being rushed aboard transports pending a general army +mobilization. It looked as if the United States had finally risen in +wrath, and as if nothing less than a miracle could now avert the +long-expected conflict. + +Naturally Brownsville, like other border towns, was plunged into a +panic, and Ellsworth, as a leading citizen of his community, had his +hands full. + +In the midst of this excitement, and while suspense was at its highest, +Dave Law returned. Ellsworth found him in his office one morning and +fell upon the young man eagerly. Two weeks had worked a shocking change +in Dave; he was gaunt, ill; his eyes were bright and tired and +feverish. They had a new expression, too, which the judge at first +could not fathom, but which he took to be fear. Dave's brown cheeks had +bleached; his hands hung loose and unmanageable at his sides. + +"I've had a long trip," he said, somberly, "months--years long, it +seems 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 except +verification. I'm sorry I went. The Law blood is tainted, all right--it +reeks. The whole damned outfit were crazy. On my mother's side, though, +I'm healthy enough--and there appears to be some mystery or something +queer about me as a baby. That's all I've discovered so far. But I've a +relative in San Antone, a cousin of my mother's, who runs a +curio-store. He deals in Mexican jewelry and antiques, and all +that--strange old fellow. He says he has a trunkful of stuff that +belonged to his family, and he has promised 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 can see it +myself now." + +"Why, boy, that's imagination, nothing else." + +"Perhaps," Dave agreed, listlessly. "I'm reading everything on the +subject of insanity that I can get hold of." + +Ellsworth tried to laugh. "That in itself is enough to unbalance you." + +"I'm moody, depressed; I'm getting so I imagine things. By and by I'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 of the dark. +Fancy! I don't sleep very often, and when I do I wake up in a puddle of +sweat, shivering. And dreams! God, what dreams! I know they're dreams, +now, but sooner or later I suppose I'll begin to 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 healthy man +could wreck his reason this way. You must stop it. You must do +something 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. I joined +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. "I didn'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?" thickly inquired +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 be a +quitter?" Ellsworth waited a minute. "Do you want me to tell her for +you, Dave?" + +Law shook his head slowly, wearily. "No, I'll do it. I'm game. I'd +rather she heard it from me." + +Blaze Jones took the San Antonio paper out upon the porch and composed +himself in the hammock to read the latest war news. Invasion! Troops! +The Stars and Stripes! Those were words that stirred Jones deeply and +caused him to neglect his work. Now that his country had fully awakened +to the necessity of a war with Mexico--a necessity he had long felt--he +was fired with the loftiest patriotism and a youthful eagerness to +enlist. Blaze realized that he was old and fat and near-sighted; but +what of that? He could fight. Fighting, in fact, had been one of his +earliest accomplishments, and he prided himself upon knowing as much +about it as any one man could learn. He believed in fighting both as a +principle and as an exercise; in fact, he attributed his good health to +his various neighborly "unpleasantnesses," and he had more than once +argued that no great fighter ever died of a sluggish liver or of any +one of the other ills that beset sedentary, peace-loving people. +Nations were like men--too much ease made them flabby. And Blaze had +his own ideas of strategy, too. So during the perusal of his paper he +bemoaned the mistakes his government was making. Why waste time with +ultimatums? he argued to himself. He had never done so. Experience had +taught him that the way to win a battle was to beat the other fellow to +the draw; hence this diplomatic procrastination filled him with +impatience. It seemed almost treasonable to one of Blaze's intense +patriotism. + +He was engaged in laying out a plan of campaign for the United States +when he became conscious of voices behind him, and realized that for +some time Paloma had been entertaining a caller in the front room. +Their conversation had not disturbed him at first, but now an +occasional word or sentence forced its meaning through his +preoccupation, 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 was recounting a +story all too familiar to him. + +"Why, it seemed as if the whole city of Galveston was there, and yet +nobody offered to help us," the dressmaker was saying. "Phil was a +perfect hero, for the ruffian was twice his size. Oh, it was an 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 a +black-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. You could see +it in his face." + +"How DID you escape?" + +"Well, I'll tell you. We chased him up across the boulevard and in +among the tents, and then--" Mrs. Strange lowered her voice until only +a murmur reached the listening man. A moment, then both women burst +into shrill, excited laughter, and Blaze himself blushed furiously. + +This was unbearable! It was bad enough to have that woman in +Jonesville, a constant menace to his good name, but to allow her access +to his own home was unthinkable. Sooner or later they were bound to +meet, and then Paloma would learn the disgraceful truth--yes, and the +whole neighborhood would likewise know his shame. In fancy, Blaze saw +his reputation torn to shreds and himself exposed to the gibes of the +people who venerated him. He would become a scandal among men, an +offense to respectable women; children would shun him. Blaze could not +bear to think of the consequences, for he was very fond of the women +and children of Jonesville, especially the women. He rose from his +hammock and tiptoed down the porch into the kitchen, from which point +of security he called loudly 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't like +her when you've never seen her?" + +"Oh, I've seen her, all I want to; and I heard her talkin' to you just +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 other day? Makes +me shiver now. You remember that big bull-snake that lives under the +barn, the one I've been layin' for? Well, you won't believe me, but him +and her are friends. Fact! I saw her pick him up and play with him. +WHO-EE! The goose-flesh popped out on me till it busted the buttons off +my vest. She ain't my kind of people, Paloma. 'Strange' ain't no name +for her; no, sir! That woman's dam' near peculiar." + +Paloma remained unmoved. "I thought you knew. She used to be a +snake-charmer." + +"A--WHAT?" There was no doubt about it. Blaze's hair lifted. He blinked +through his big spectacles; he pawed the air feebly with his hands. +"How can you let her touch you? I couldn't. I'll bet she carries a +pocketful of dried toads and--and keeps live lizards in her hair. I +knew an old voodoo woman that ate cockroaches. Get shed of her, Paloma, +and we'll fumigate the house." + +At that moment Mrs. Strange herself opened the kitchen door to inquire, +"Is anything wrong?" Misreading Blaze's expression for one of pain, she +exclaimed: "Mercy! Now, what have you done to yourself?" + +But the object of her solicitude backed away, making peculiar clucking +sounds deep in his throat. Paloma was saying: + +"This is my father, Mrs. Strange. You and he have never happened to +meet before." + +"Why, yes we have! I know you," the seamstress exclaimed. Then a +puzzled light flickered in her black eyes. "Seems to me we've met +somewhere, but--I've met so many people." She extended her hand, and +Blaze took it as if expecting to find it cold and scaly. He muttered +something unintelligible. "I've been dying to see you," she told him, +"and thank you for giving me Paloma's work. I love you both for it." + +Blaze was immensely relieved that this dreaded crisis had come and +gone; but wishing to make assurance doubly sure, he contorted his +features into a smile the like of which his daughter had never seen, +and in a disguised voice inquired, "Now where do you reckon you ever +saw me?" + +The seamstress shook her head. "I don't know, but I'll place you before +long. Anyhow, I'm glad you aren't hurt. From the way you called Paloma +I thought you were. I'm handy around sick people, so I--" + +"Listen!" Paloma interrupted. "There's some one at the front door." She +left the room; Blaze was edging after her when he heard her utter a +stifled scream and call his name. + +Now Paloma was not the kind of girl to scream without cause, and her +cry brought Blaze to the front of the house at a run. But what he saw +there reassured him momentarily; nothing was in sight more alarming +than one of the depot hacks, in the rear seat of which was huddled the +figure of a man. Paloma was flying down the walk toward the gate, and +Phil Strange was waiting on the porch. As Blaze flung himself into view +the latter explained: + +"I brought him straight here, Mr. Jones, 'cause I knew you was his best +friend." + +"Who? Who is it?" + +"Dave Law. He must have came in on the noon train. Anyhow, I found +him--like that." The two men hurried toward the road, side by side. + +"What's wrong with him?" Blaze demanded. + +"I don't know. He's queer--he's off his bean. I've had a hard time with +him." + +Paloma was in the carriage at Dave's side now, and calling his name; +but Law, it seemed, was scarcely conscious. He had slumped together; +his face was vacant, his eyes dull. He was muttering to himself a +queer, delirious jumble of words. + +"Oh, Dad! He's sick--sick," Paloma sobbed. "Dave, don't you know us? +You're home, Dave. Everything is--all right now." + +"Why, you'd hardly recognize the boy!" Blaze exclaimed; then he added +his appeal to his daughter's. But they could not arouse the sick man +from his coma. + +"He asked me to take him to Las Palmas," Strange explained. "Looks to +me like a sunstroke. You'd ought to hear him rave when he gets started." + +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 all the doctors. +Paloma, you go into the house and get a bed ready for him, 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 the situation, and when Dave refused to +leave the carriage and began to fight off his friends, gabbling wildly, +it was she who quieted him. Elbowing Blaze and her husband out of the +way, she loosed the young man's frenzied clutch from the carriage and, +holding his hands in hers, talked to him in such a way that he +gradually relaxed. It was she who helped him out and then supported him +into the house. It was she who got him up-stairs and into bed, and it +was 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 of ice." + +Blaze, who had watched the snake-charmer's deft ministrations with +mingled amazement and suspicion, inquired: "What are you going to do +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 his brain?" + +Mrs. Strange turned on him angrily. "You get out of my way and mind +your own business. 'Freeze his brain!'" With a sniff of indignation she +pushed past the interloper. + +But Blaze was waiting for her when she returned a few moments later +with bowls and bottles and various remedies which she had commandeered. +He summoned sufficient courage to block her way and inquire: + +"What you got there, now, ma'am?" + +Mrs. Strange glared at him balefully. With an effort at patience she +inquired: "Say! What ails you, anyhow?" + +Jones swallowed hard. "Understand, he's a friend of mine. No damned +magic goes." + +"Magic?" + +"No--cockroaches or snakes' tongues, or--" + +Mrs. Strange fingered a heavy china bowl as if tempted to bounce it +from Blaze's head. Then, not deigning to argue, she whisked past him +and into the sick-room. It was evident from her expression that she +considered the master of the house a harmless but offensive old +busybody. + +For some time longer Blaze hung about the sick-room; then, his presence +being completely ignored, he risked further antagonism by telephoning +for Jonesville's leading doctor. Not finding the physician at home, he +sneaked out to the barn and, taking Paloma's car, drove away in search +of him. It was fully two hours later when 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 not to a +clear appreciation of his surroundings. At first he was relieved to +find that the splitting pain in his head was gone, but imagined himself +to be still in the maddening local train from Brownsville. By and by he +recognized Paloma and Mrs. Strange, and tried to talk to them, but the +connection between brain and tongue was imperfect, and he made a bad +business of conversation. It seemed queer that he should be in bed at +the Joneses', and almost ludicrous for Mrs. Strange to support him +while Paloma fed him. In the effort to understand these mysteries, he +dozed again. After interminable periods of semi-consciousness +alternating with complete oblivion, he roused himself to discover that +it was morning and that he felt better than for weeks. When he had +recovered from his surprise he turned his head and saw Mrs. Strange +slumbering in a chair beside his bed; from her uncomfortable position +and evident fatigue he judged that she must have 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 right sick and +troublesome to you." + +Paloma smiled and nodded. "Sick! Why, Dave, you frightened us nearly 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, he reasoned with a sinking +heart that another brain-storm might overtake him at any time. He had +imagined that the thing would give a hint of its coming, but evidently +it did not. + +Mrs. Strange broke into his frowning meditation to ask, "How long since +you had a night's sleep?" + +"I--Oh, it must be weeks." + +"Umph! I thought so. You puzzled that pill-roller, but doctors don't +know anything, anyhow. Why, he wanted to wake you up to find out what +ailed you! I threatened to scald him if he did." + +"I seem to remember talking a good deal," Dave ventured. "I reckon +I--said a lot of foolish things." He caught the look that passed +between his nurses and its significance distressed him. + +Mrs. Strange continued: "That's how we guessed what your trouble was, +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 going home and change +my clothes. I haven't had them off for two nights." + +"Two nights!" Dave stared in bewilderment. Then he lamely apologized +for the trouble he had caused, and tried to thank the women for their +kindness. + +He was shaky when, an hour later, he came down-stairs for breakfast; +but otherwise he felt better than for many days; and Blaze's open +delight at seeing did him as much good as the food he ate. + +Dave spent the morning sunning himself on the porch, reading the papers +with their exciting news, and speculating over the significance of his +mental collapse. The more he thought of it now the more ominous it +seemed. One result which particularly distressed him was the change it +had wrought in Paloma Jones's bearing; for of a sudden the girl had +become distant and formal. The reason was not far to seek; Dave could +not doubt that the knowledge of his secret had frightened her. Well, +that was to be expected--he would probably lose all his friends in +time. It was a bitter thought; life would be very dull and flat without +friends. He wondered how he could bear to see those who loved him turn +away; to see their liking change to restraint and fear, as it +threatened 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 her he came +to his feet. Montrosa would trust him. She had given him her heart, and +her loyalty would never waver. With a clutch at his throat, and a +little pain in his breast, he stumbled down the steps and went in +search of her. + +Now during Dave's absence Paloma had done her best to spoil the mare, +and among other marks of favor had allowed her free run of the yard, +where the shade was cool and the grass fine, and where delicious +tidbits were to be had from the kitchen for the mere asking. In +consequence, Dave did not go far until he was discovered. Montrosa +signaled, then trotted toward him with ears and tail lifted. Her +delight was open and extravagant; her welcome was as enthusiastic as a +horse could make it. Gone were her coquetry and her airs; she nosed and +nibbled Dave; she rubbed and rooted him with the violence of a +battering-ram, and permitted him to hug her and murmur words of love +into her velvet ears. She swapped confidence for confidence, too; and +then, when he finally walked back toward the house, she followed +closely, as if fearful that he might again desert her. + +Phil Strange met the lovers as they turned the corner of the porch, and +warmly shook Dave's hand. "Teeny--my wife--told me you was better," he +began, "so I beat it out here. I hung around all day yesterday, waiting +to see you, but you was batty." + +"I was pretty sick," Dave acknowledged. "Mrs. Strange was mighty kind +to me." + +"Sick people get her goat. She's got a way with 'em, and with animals, +too. Why, Rajah, the big python with our show, took sick one year, and +he'd have died sure only for her. Same with a lot of the 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 had thrust her +head under his arm and was waiting for him to scratch her ears. + +"Well, I brought you some mail." Strange fumbled in his pocket for a +small bundle of letters, explaining: "Blaze gave me these for you as I +passed the post office. Now I wonder if you feel good enough to talk +business." + +Dave took the letters with a word of thanks, and thrust them carelessly +into his pocket. "What seems to be the trouble?" he inquired. + +"You remember our last talk? Well, them Mexicans have got me rattled. +I've been trying everywhere to locate you. If you hadn't come 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. "Rosa +Morales has been to see me regular." + +Dave passed an uncertain hand over his forehead. "I'm not in very good +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 and José +expect to make a lump of quick money, jump to Mexico, get married, 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 ransom along this +river; yes, and Americans, too, if you can believe the stories. +Anything goes in that country over there." + +"You think José is planning to kidnap her? Nonsense! One man couldn'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 tell me." + +There was a brief silence, during which Dave stood frowning. Then he +appeared to shake himself free from Phil's suggestions. + +"It's too utterly preposterous. Mrs. Austin has no enemies; she's a +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 you was +laid up and couldn't help me, I 'phoned her ranch; somebody answered in +Spanish, and from what I could make out they don't know where she is." + +Dave wondered if he had understood Strange aright, or if this could be +another trick of his own disordered brain. Choosing his words +carefully, he said: "Do you mean to tell me that she's missing and they +haven't given an alarm? I reckon you didn't understand the message, did +you?" + +Strange shrugged. "Maybe I didn't. Suppose you try. You sabe the lingo." + +Dave agreed, although reluctantly, for at this moment he wished nothing +less than to undertake a mental effort, and he feared, in spite of +Strange's statement, that he might hear Alaire's voice over the wire. +That would be too much; he felt as if he could not summon 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 a +queer, 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; then Phil +inquired: + +"Well, what do you make of it?" + +"I don't know. She wasn't kidnapped, that's a cinch, for Dolores went +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 you there's +something crooked going on. Don't I know? Didn't I wise you three weeks +ago that something like this was coming off?" It was plain that Phil +put complete faith in his powers of divination, and at this moment his +earnestness carried a certain degree of conviction. Dave made an effort +to clear his tired brain. + +"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 has dared to--" +He drew a deep breath and his listlessness vanished; his eyes gleamed +with a hint of their customary fire. "I reckon I'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 feel a new +vigor in his limbs and a new strength of purpose in his mind. His brain +was clearer than it had been for a long time. The last cobweb was gone, +and for the moment at least he was lifted out of himself as by a +strong, invigorating drink. When he stood in his old boots and felt the +familiar drag of his cartridge-belt, when he tested his free muscles, +he realized that he was another man. Even yet he could not put much +faith in Phil Strange's words--nevertheless, there might be a danger +threatening Alaire; and if so, it was time to act. + +Phil watched his friend saddle the bay mare, then as Dave tied his +Winchester scabbard to its thongs he laughed nervously. + +"You're loaded for bear." + +The horseman answered, grimly: "I'm loaded for José Sanchez. If I lay +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 some persuasive +when I try." With that he swung a leg over Montrosa's back and rode +away. + +Law found it good to feel a horse between his knees. He had not +realized until now how long Montrosa's saddle had been empty. The sun +was hot and friendly, the breeze was sweet in his nostrils as he swept +past the smiling fields and out into the mesquite country. Heat waves +danced above the patches of bare ground; insects sang noisily from +every side; far ahead the road ran a wavering course through a +deceitful mirage of rippling ponds. It was all familiar, pleasant; it +was home; black moods were impossible amid such surroundings. The +chemistry of air and earth and sunshine were at work dissolving away +the poisons of his imagination. Of course Dave's trouble did not wholly +vanish; it still lurked in the back of his mind and rode with him; but +from some magic source he was deriving a power to combat it. With every +mile he covered his strength and courage increased. + +Such changes had come into his life since his last visit to Las Palmas +that it gave him a feeling of unreality to discover no alteration in +the ranch. He had somehow felt that the buildings would look older, +that the trees would have grown taller, and so when he finally came in +sight of his destination he reined in to look. + +Behind him he heard the hum of an approaching motor, and he turned to +behold a car racing along the road he had just traveled. The machine +was running fast, as a long streamer of choking dust gave evidence, and +Dave soon recognized it as belonging to Jonesville's prosecuting +attorney. As it tore past him its owner shouted something, but the +words were lost. In the automobile with the driver were several +passengers, and one of these likewise called to Dave and seemed to +motion him to follow. When the machine slowed down a half-mile ahead +and veered abruptly into the Las Palmas gateway, Dave lifted Montrosa +to a run, wondering what pressing necessity could have induced the +prosecuting attorney to risk such a reckless burst of speed. + +Dave told himself that he was unduly apprehensive; that Strange's +warnings had worked upon his nerves. Nevertheless, he continued to ride +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 much +amiss, judging from the groups of ranch-hands assembled upon the porch. +They were clustered about the doors and windows, peering in. Briefly +they turned their faces toward Law; then they crowded closer, and he +perceived that they were not talking. Some of them had removed their +hats and held them in their hands. + +Dave's knees shook under him as he dismounted; for one sick, giddy +instant the scene swam before his eyes; then he ran toward the house +and up the steps. He tried to frame a question, but his lips were stiff +with fright. Heedless of those in his path, he forced his way into the +house, then down the hall toward an open door, through which he saw a +room full of people. From somewhere came the shrill wailing of a woman; +the house was full of hushed voices and whisperings. Dave had but one +thought. From the depths of his being 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 of +white-faced people. With rough hands Law cleared a way for himself, and +then stopped, frozen in his tracks. His arms relaxed, his fingers +unclenched, a great sigh whistled slowly from his lungs. Before him, +booted, spurred, and fully dressed, lay the dead body of Ed Austin. + +Dave was still staring at the master of Las Palmas when the prosecuting +attorney spoke to him. + +"God! This is terrible, isn't it?" he said. "He must have died +instantly." + +"Who--did it?" + +"We don't know yet. Benito found him and brought him in. He hasn't been +dead an hour." + +Law ran his eyes over the room, and then asked, sharply, "Where is Mrs. +Austin?" + +He was answered by Benito Gonzales, who had edged closer. "She's not +here, señor." + +"Have you notified her?" + +Benito shrugged. "There has been no time, it all happened so quickly--" + +Some one interrupted, and Dave saw that it was the local +sheriff--evidently it was he who had waved from the speeding machine a +few moments before. + +"I'm glad you're here, Dave, for you can give me a hand. I'm going to +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 see what you can +learn." + +When Dave had regained better control of himself he took Benito +outdoors and demanded full details of the tragedy. With many +lamentations and incoherencies, the range boss told what he knew. + +Ed had met his death within a half-mile of Las Palmas as he rode home +for dinner. Benito, himself on his way to the house, had found the +body, still warm, near the edge of the pecan-grove. He had retained +enough sense to telephone at once to Jonesville, and then--Benito +hardly knew what he had done since then, he was so badly 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 it was now +only a few minutes past one. It was evident, therefore, that Benito had +indeed lost no time, and that his alarm had met with 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 kill him." + +"That is as it is." + +"Haven't you any suspicions?" + +"No, señor." + +"You say Mrs. Austin is gone?" + +"Yes." + +"Where?" + +"I don't know." + +Dave spoke brusquely: "Come, Benito; you must know, for your wife went +with her. Are you trying to keep something back?" + +"No, no! As God is my judge!" Benito declared, "I didn't know they were +going until the very last, and even then Dolores would tell me nothing. +We were having bad times here at Las Palmas; there were stormy scenes +yonder in the house. Señor Ed was drinking again, you understand? The +señora had reason to go." + +"You think she ran away to escape him?" + +"Exactly." + +Dave breathed more easily, for this seemed to settle Strange's theory. +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 she wouldn't +go to La Feria at such a time. Why, that country is ablaze. Americans +are fleeing from Mexico." + +"I hadn't thought of that," Benito confessed. "But if she didn't go +there, where did she go? Saints above! It is a fine condition of +affairs when a wife keeps secrets from her husband, eh? I suppose +Dolores feared I would tell Don Eduardo, God rest his soul! This much I +do know, however: not long ago there came a letter from General +Longorio, offering settlement for those cattle he stole in his +government's name. Dolores told me the señora was highly pleased and +was going to Mexico for her money. It was a mark of Longorio's favor, +you understand me? He's a great--friend, an ardent admirer." Benito +winked. "Dolores told me all about that, too. No, I think they went to +La Feria." + +Dave remembered his first conversation with Phil Strange and the +fortune-teller's insistence that some powerful person was behind José +Sanchez. More than three weeks ago Strange had forecast something very +like murder of Ed Austin. Dave felt as if he were the victim of an +hysterical imagination. Nevertheless, he forced himself to ask, quietly: + +"Is José Sanchez anywhere about?" + +The range boss shrugged. "I sent him to the east pasture this morning." + +"Did he go?" + +"Eh? So! You suspect José of this. God in heaven! José is a wild +boy--But wait! I'll ask Juan if he saw him; yes, and Victoria, too. +That is Victoria you hear squalling in the kitchen. Wait here." + +Benito hurried away, leaving Dave a prey to perplexity; but he was back +again in a few moments. His face was grave. + +"José 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, who +watched him, saw that he turned toward the river road which led to the +Las Palmas pumping-plant. + +The more Dave thought about Ed Austin's death, the more certain he +became that it was in some way connected with Alaire's disappearance; +and the loose end by which the tangle might be unraveled, it seemed to +him, lay in the hands of Rosa Morales, José's sweetheart. That Sanchez +was the murderer Dave now had little doubt; but since the chance of +apprehending him was small, he turned his attention to the girl. He +would make Rosa speak, he told himself, if he had to use force--this +was no time for gentle methods. If she knew aught of Alaire's +whereabouts or the mystery of her departure from Las Palmas, he would +find a way to wring the truth 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 his breast. + +Years of experience had taught him to be always alert even during his +moments of deepest preoccupation, and so, from force of habit, when he +came to the pump-house road he carefully scanned it. In the dust were +fresh hoof-prints leading toward the river. Now he knew this road to be +seldom used, and therefore he wondered who could be riding it at a +gallop in this blistering midday heat. A few rods farther on and his +quick eye detected something else--something that brought him from his +saddle. Out of the rut he picked a cigarette butt, the fire of which +was cold but the paper of which was still wet from the smoker's lips. +He examined it carefully; then he remounted and rode on, pondering its +significance. + +Dave loped out of the thicket and straight across the clearing to the +Morales house. Leaving Montrosa's reins hanging, he opened the door and +entered without knocking. Rosa appeared in the opening to another room, +her eyes wide with fright at this apparition, and Dave saw that she was +dressed in her finest, as if for a holiday or 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 black brows +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. José Sanchez has been here +within an hour. Where is he?" When the girl only grew whiter and 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 began to tremble. +"Why do you want José?" + +"You know why. He killed Don Eduardo, and then he rode here. Come! I +know everything." + +"Lies! Lies!" Rosa's voice grew shrill. "Out of this house! I know you. +It was you who betrayed Panfilo, and his blood is on your hands, +assassin!" With the last word she made as if to retreat, but Dave was +too quick; he seized her, and for an instant they struggled +breathlessly. + +Dave had reasoned beforehand that his only chance of discovering +anything from this girl lay in utterly terrorizing her and in profiting +by her first panic; therefore he pressed his advantage. He succeeded +better than he had dared to hope. + +"You know who killed Señor 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 into her +captor's flesh. In her body was the strength of a full-grown man, and +Dave could hardly hold her. But suddenly, as the two scuffled, from the +back room of the house came a sound which caused 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 and +through the inner door. + +José Sanchez met him with a shout; the shock of their collision +overbore the lighter man, and the two went down together, arms and legs +intertwined. The horse-breaker fired his revolver blindly--a deafening +explosion inside those four walls--but he was powerless against his +antagonist's strength and ferocity. It required but a moment for Law to +master him, to wrench the weapon from his grasp, and then, with the aid +of José's silk neck-scarf, to bind his wrists tightly. + +From the front of the little house came the crash of a door violently +slammed as Rosa profited by the diversion to save herself. + +When finally José stood, panting and snarling, his back to the wall, +Dave regarded him with a sinister contraction of the lips that was +almost a grin. + +"Well," he said, drawing a deep breath, "I see you didn't go to the +east pasture this morning." + +"What do you want of me?" José managed to gasp. + +There was a somewhat prolonged silence, during which Dave continued to +stare at his prisoner with that same disquieting expression. "Why did +you kill Don Eduardo?" he asked. + +"I? Bah! Who says I killed him?" José glared defiance. "Why are you +looking at me? Come! Take me to jail, if you think that will do any +good." + +"It's lucky I rode to Las Palmas this morning. In another hour you +would have been across the Rio Grande--with Rosa and all her fine +clothes, eh? Now you will be hanged. Well, that is how fortune goes." + +The horse-breaker tossed his head and shrugged with a brave assumption +of indifference; he laughed shortly. "You can prove nothing." + +"Yes," continued Dave, "and Rosa will go to prison, too. Now--suppose I +should let you go? Would you help me? In ten minutes you could be +safe." He inclined his head toward the muddy, silent river outside. +"Would you be willing to help me?" + +José's brows lifted. "What's this you are saying?" he inquired, eagerly. + +"I would only ask you a few questions." + +"What questions?" + +"Where is Señora Austin?" + +José'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 the truth, +for your general can't help you now." Dave did his best to read the +Mexican's expression, but failed. "Señor Ed's death means nothing 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 himself his anxiety was plain. + +José exclaimed: "Ho! I understand. He was in your way and you're glad +to be rid of him. Well, we have no business fighting with each other." + +"Will you tell me--?" + +"I'll tell you nothing, for I know nothing." + +"Come! I must know." + +José laughed insolently. + +Law's face became black with sudden fury. His teeth bared themselves. +He took a step forward, crying: + +"By God! You WILL tell me!" Seizing his prisoner by the throat, he +pinned him to the wall; then with his free hand he cocked Longorio's +revolver and thrust its muzzle against José's body. "Tell me!" he +repeated. His countenance was so distorted, his expression so maniacal, +that José felt his hour had come. The latter, being in all ways +Mexican, did not struggle; instead, he squared his shoulders and, +staring fearlessly into the face above him, cried: + +"Shoot!" + +For a moment the two men remained so; then Dave seemed to regain +control of himself and the murder light flickered out of his eyes. He +flung his prisoner aside and cast the revolver into a corner of the +room. + +José picked himself up, cursing his captor eloquently. "You Gringos +don't know how to die," he said. "Death? Pah! We must die some time. +And supposing I do know something about the señora, do you think you +can force me to speak? Torture wouldn't open my lips." + +Law did not trust himself to reply; and the horse-breaker went on with +growing defiance: + +"I am innocent of any crime; therefore I am brave. But you--The blood +of innocent men means nothing to you--Panfilo's murder proves 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 the bitterness of +his vituperation he seemed to invite death. Dave interrupted his +vitriolic curses to ask harshly: + +"Will you tell me, or will you force me to wring the truth out of you?" + +José answered by spitting at his captor; then he gritted an unspeakable +epithet from between his teeth. + +Dave addressed him with an air of finality. "You killed that man and +your life is forfeit, so it doesn't make much difference whether I take +it or whether the State takes it. You are brave enough to die--most of +you Mexicans are--but the State can't force you to speak, and I can." +José sneered. "Oh yes, I can! I intend to know all that you know, and +it will be better for you to tell me voluntarily. I must learn where +Señora Austin is, and I must learn 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 fire will +not make me speak." + +"No. A fire would be too easy, José." + +"Eh?" + +Without answer Dave strode out of the room. He was back before his +prisoner could do more than wrench at his bonds, and with him he +brought his lariat and his canteen. + +"What are you going to do?" José inquired, backing away until he was +once more at bay. + +"I'm going to give you a drink." + +"Whisky? You think you can make me drunk?" The horse-breaker laughed +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 your employer +and where General Longorio has taken his wife. Yes, and everything else +I want to know." Seizing the amazed Mexican, Dave flung him upon +Morales's hard board bed, and in spite of the fellow's struggles deftly +made him fast. When he had finished--and it was no easy job--José lay +"spread-eagled" upon his back, his wrists and ankles firmly bound to +the head and foot posts, his body secured by a tight loop over his +waist. The rope cut painfully and brought a curse from the prisoner +when he strained at it. Law surveyed him with a face of stone. + +"I don't want to do this," he declared, "but I know your kind. I give +you one more chance. Will you tell me?" + +José drew his lips back in a snarl of rage and pain, and Dave realized +that further words were useless. He felt a certain pity for his victim +and no little admiration for his courage, but such feelings were of +small consequence as against his agonizing fears for Alaire's safety. +Had he in the least doubted José's guilty knowledge of Longorio's +intentions, Dave would have hesitated before employing the barbarous +measures he had in mind, but--there was nothing else for it. He pulled +the canteen cork and jammed the mouthpiece firmly to José's lips. +Closing the fellow's nostrils with his free hand, he forced him to +drink. + +José clenched his teeth, he tried to roll his head, he held his breath +until his face grew purple and his eyes bulged. He strained like a man +upon the rack. The bed creaked to his muscular contortions; the rope +tightened. It was terribly cruel, this crushing of a strong will bent +on resistance to the uttermost; but never was an executioner more +pitiless, never did a prisoner's agony receive less consideration. The +warm water spilled over José's face, it drenched his neck and chest; +his joints cracked as he strove for freedom and tried to twist his head +out of Law's iron grasp. The seconds dragged, until finally Nature +asserted herself. The imprisoned breath burst forth; there sounded a +loud gurgling cry and a choking inhalation. José's body writhed with +the convulsions of drowning as the water and air were sucked into his +lungs. Law was kneeling over his victim now, his weight and strength so +applied that José had no liberty of action and could only drink, +coughing and fighting for air. Somehow he managed to revive himself +briefly and again shut his teeth; but a moment more and he was again +retched with the furious battle for air, more desperate now than +before. After a while Law freed his victim's nostrils and allowed him a +partial breath, then once more crushed the mouthpiece against his lips. +By and by, to relieve his torture, José began to drink in great noisy +gulps, striving to empty the vessel. + +But the stomach's capacity is limited. In time José felt himself +bursting; the liquid began to regurgitate. This was not mere pain that +he suffered, but the ultimate nightmare horror of a death more awful +than anything he had ever imagined. José would have met a bullet, a +knife, a lash, without flinching; flames would not have served to +weaken his resolve; but this slow drowning was infinitely worse than +the worst he had thought possible; he was suffocating by long, black, +agonizing minutes. Every nerve and muscle of his body, every cell in +his bursting lungs, fought against the outrage in a purely physical +frenzy over which his will power had no control. Nor would +insensibility come to his relief--Law watched him too carefully for +that. He could not even voice his sufferings by shrieks; he could only +writhe and retch and gurgle while the ropes bit into his flesh and his +captor knelt upon him like a monstrous stone weight. + +But José had made a better fight than he knew. The canteen ran dry at +last, and Law was forced to release his hold. + +"Will you speak?" he demanded. + +Thinking that he had come safely through the ordeal, José shook his +head; he rolled his bulging, bloodshot eyes and vomited, then managed +to call God to witness his innocence. + +Dave went into the next room and refilled the canteen. When he +reappeared with the dripping vessel in his hand, José tried to scream. +But his throat was torn and strained; the sound of his own voice +frightened him. + +Once more the torment began. The tortured man was weaker now, and in +consequence he resisted more feebly; but not until he was less than +half conscious did Law spare him time to recover. + +José lay sick, frightened, inert. Dave watched him without pity. The +fellow's wrists were black and swollen, his lips were bleeding; he was +stretched like a dumb animal upon the vivisectionist's table, and no +surgeon with lance and scalpel could have shown less emotion than did +his inquisitor. Having no intention of defeating his own ends, Dave +allowed his victim ample time in which to regain his ability to suffer. + +Alaire Austin had been right when she said that Dave might be ruthless; +and yet the man was by no means incapable of compassion. At the present +moment, however, he considered himself simply as the instrument by +which Alaire was to be saved. His own feelings had nothing to do with +the matter; neither had the sufferings of this Mexican. Therefore he +steeled himself to prolong the agony until the murderer's stubborn +spirit was worn down. Once again he put his question, and, again +receiving defiance, jammed the canteen between José's teeth. + +But human nature is weak. For the first time in his life José Sanchez +felt terror--a terror too awful to be endured--and he made the sign. + +He was no longer the insolent defier, the challenger, but an imploring +wretch, whose last powers of resistance had been completely shattered. +His frightened eyes were glued to that devilish vessel in which his +manhood had dissolved, the fear of it made a woman of him. + +Slowly, in sighs and whimpers, in agonies of reluctance, his story +came; his words were rendered almost incomprehensible by his abysmal +fright. When he had purged himself of his secret Dave promptly unbound +him; then leaving him more than half dead, he went to the telephone +which connected the pumping station with Las Palmas and called up the +ranch. + +He was surprised when Blaze Jones answered. Blaze, it seemed, had just +arrived, summoned by news of the tragedy. The countryside had been +alarmed and a search for Ed Austin's slayer was being organized. + +"Call it off," Dave told him. "I've got your man." Blaze stuttered his +surprise and incredulity. "I mean it. It's José Sanchez, and he 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 the clearing +beside the river, and, leaving his motor running, leaped from the car. + +Dave met him at the door of the Morales house and briefly told him the +story of José's capture. + +"Say! That's quick work," the rancher cried, admiringly. "Why, Ed ain't +cold yet! You gave him the 'water-cure,' eh? Now I reckoned it would +take more than water to make a Mexican talk." + +"José was hired for the work; he laid for Ed Austin in the pecan grove +and shot him as he passed." + +"Hired! Why this hombre needs quick hangin', don't he? I told 'em at +Las Palmas that you'd rounded up the guilty party, so I reckon they'll +be here in a few minutes. We'll just stretch this horse-wrangler, and +save the county some expense." Law shrugged. "Do what you like with +him, but--it isn't necessary. He'll confess in regulation form, I'm +sure. I had to work fast to learn what became of 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 safe before +they killed Ed." + +"'They?' Who the hell are you talkin' about?" + +"I mean Longorio and his outfit. He's got her over yonder." Dave flung +out a trembling hand toward the river. Seeing that his hearer failed to +comprehend, he explained, swiftly: "He's crazy about her--got one of +those Mexican infatuations--and you know what that means. He couldn't +steal her from Las Palmas--she wouldn't have anything to do with +him--so he used that old cattle deal as an excuse to get her across the +border. Then he put Ed out of the way. She went of her own accord, and +she didn't tell Austin, 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 how white and +set was his friend's face. + +"Longorio must have foreseen what was coming," Dave went on. "That +country's aflame; Americans aren't safe over there. If war is declared, +a good many of them will never be heard from. He knows that. 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 out of her +head. But we've got to do something. We've got to burn the wires to +Washington--yes, and to Mexico City. We must get the government to send +soldiers after her. God! What have we got 'em for, anyhow?" + +"Washington won't do anything. What can be done when there are +thousands of American women in the same danger? What steps can the +government take, with the fleet on its way to Vera Cruz, with the army +mobilizing, and with diplomatic relations suspended? Those Greasers are +filling their jails with our people--rounding 'em up for 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's in there--trapped." + +Blaze took the speaker by the shoulder and faced him about. "Look +here," said he, "I'm beginnin' to get wise to you. I believe +you're--the man in the case." When Dave nodded, he vented his amazement +in a long whistle. After a moment he asked, "Well, why did you want me +to come here alone, ahead of the others?" + +"Because I want you to know the whole inside of this thing so that you +can get busy when I'm gone; because I want to borrow what money 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 the soldiers." + +But Dave hardly seemed to hear him. "You must start things moving at +once," he said, urgently. "Spread the news, get the story into the +papers, notify the authorities. Get every influence at work, from here +to headquarters; get your Senator and the Governor of the state at +work. Ellsworth will help you. And now give me your last dollar." + +Blaze emptied his pockets, shaking his shaggy head the while. "La Feria +is a hundred and fifty miles in," he remonstrated. + +"By rail from Pueblo, yes. But it's barely a hundred, straight from +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, and that's +me. Yes, I've got bad blood in me, Blaze--bad blood--and I'm taking it +back where I got it. But listen!" He turned a sick, colorless face to +his friend. "They'll whittle a cross for Longorio if I do get through." +He called to Montrosa, and the mare came to him, holding her head to +one side so as not to tread upon her 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 had twenty men +like you we might cut our way in and out, but there's no time to +organize, and, anyhow, the government would probably stop us. I've got +a hunch that I'll make it. If I don't--why, it's all right." + +The two men shook hands lingeringly, awkwardly; then Blaze managed to +wish his friend luck. "If you don't come back," he said, with a +peculiar catch in his voice, "I reckon there's enough good Texans left +to follow your trail. I'll sure look forward to it." + +Dave took the river-bank to Sangre de Cristo, where, by means of the +dilapidated ferry, he gained the Mexican side. Once across, he rode +straight up toward the village of Romero. When challenged by an +under-sized soldier he merely spurred Montrosa forward, eyeing the +sentry so grimly that the man did no more than finger his rifle +uncertainly, cursing under his breath the overbearing airs of all +Gringos. Nor did the rider trouble to make the slightest detour, but +cantered the full length of Romero's dusty street, the target of more +than one pair of hostile eyes. To those who saw him, soldiers and +civilians alike, it was evident that this stranger had business, and no +one felt called upon to question its nature. There are men who carry an +air more potent than a bodyguard, and Dave Law was one of these. Before +the village had thoroughly awakened to his coming he was gone, without +a glance to the right or left, without a word to anyone. + +When Romero was at his back he rode for a mile or two through a region +of tiny scattered farms and neglected garden patches, after which he +came out into the mesquite. For all the signs he saw, he might then +have been in the heart of a foreign country. Mexico had swallowed him. + +As the afternoon heat subsided, Montrosa let herself out into a freer +gait and began to cover the distance rapidly, heading due west through +a land of cactus and dagger, of thorn and barb and bramble. + +The roads were unfenced, the meadows desolate; the huts were frequently +untenanted. Ahead the sky burned splendidly, and the sunset grew more +brilliant, more dazzling, until it glorified the whole mean, thirsty, +cruel countryside. + +Dave's eyes were set upon that riot of blazing colors, but for the time +it failed to thrill him. In that welter of changing hues and tints he +saw only red. Red! That was the color of blood; it stood for passion, +lust, violence; and it was a fitting badge of color for this land of +revolutions and alarms. At first he saw little else--except the hint of +black despair to follow. But there was gold in the sunset, too--the +yellow gold of ransom! That was Mexico--red and yellow, blood and gold, +lust and license. Once the rider'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. The deepening blue of the high sky overhead was the hue +of a certain woman's eyes. A warm, soft breeze out of the west beat +into his face, and he remembered how warm and soft Alaire's breath had +been upon 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. The thought +aroused him; the sense of his unworthiness vanished, the blight fell +from him; he felt only a throbbing eagerness to see her 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, a few +days after their arrival at La Feria. "They tell me that Mexico is +invaded and that the American soldiers have already killed more than a +thousand women and children." + +"Who tells you this?" Alaire asked. + +"The men--everybody," Dolores waved a hand in the direction of the +other ranch buildings. "Our people are buzzing like bees with the news, +and, of course, no one cares to work when the Americans are coming." + +"I shall have to put an end to such talk." + +"This morning the word came that the revolution is ended and that the +soldiers of both parties are uniting to fight for their liberties. 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, at Espinal"--Dolores's eyes were +round--"would you believe it?--those Yankee soldiers ate a baby! They +roasted the little dear like a cabrito and ate it! I tell you, it makes +wild talk among the peladors." + +"Do you believe such stories?" Alaire inquired, with some amusement. + +"Um-m--not altogether. But, all the same, I think it is time we were +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 are +nervous I'll send you back to Las Palmas at once." + +"Glory of God! It would be the end of me. These Mexicans would +recognize me instantly as an American, for I have the appearance and +the culture. You can imagine what would happen to me. They would tear +me from the train. It was nothing except General Longorio's soldiers +that brought us safely through from Nuevo Pueblo." + +"Then I'm glad that he insisted upon sending them with us. Now tell the +ranch-hands to put no faith in these ridiculous stories. If they wish +the truth let them ask General Longorio; he will be here 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 his money. +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 fountain and +its rank, untended plants. "Why do you insist that he loves me?" she +asked. "All Mexicans are gallant and pay absurd compliments. It's just +a way they have. He has never spoken a word that could give offense." +As Dolores said nothing, she went on, hesitatingly, "I can't very well +refuse to see him, for I don't possess even a receipt to show that he +took those cattle." + +"Oh, you must not offend him," Dolores agreed, hastily, "or we'd never +leave Mexico alive." With which cheering announcement the housekeeper +heaved a deep sigh and went about her duties with a gloomy face. + +Longorio arrived that afternoon, and Alaire received him in the great +naked living room of the hacienda, with her best attempt at formality. +But her coolness served not in the least to chill his fervor. + +"Señora," he cried, eagerly, "I have a thousand things to tell you, +things of the greatest importance. They have been upon my tongue for +hours, but now that I behold you I grow drunk with delight and my lips +frame nothing but words of admiration for your beauty. So! I feast my +eyes." He retained his warm clasp of her fingers, seeming to envelop +her uncomfortably with his ardor. + +"What is it you have to tell me?" she asked him, withdrawing her hand. + +"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 to startle you and +set your brain in a whirl. I planned to send a messenger ahead of me, +and then I said: 'No, this is a crisis; therefore no tongue but mine +shall apprise her, no hand but mine shall comfort her. Only a coward +shrinks from the unpleasant; I shall lighten her distress and awaken in +her breast new hope, new happiness'--" + +"What do you mean?" Alaire inquired, sharply. "You say you bring bad +news?" + +The general nodded. "In a way, terrible, shocking! And yet I look +beyond the immediate and see in it a blessing. So must you. To me it +spells the promise of my unspoken longings, my whispered prayers." +Noting his hearer's growing bewilderment, he laid a hand familiarly +upon her arm. "No matter how I tell you, it will be a blow, 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. My +knowledge of your long unhappiness alone gives me courage to speak." + +Alaire raised her fluttering fingers to her throat; her eyes were wide +as she said: "You don't mean--Mr. Austin?" + +"Yes." Longorio scrutinized her closely, as if to measure the effect of +his disclosure. "Señora, you are free!" + +Alaire uttered a breathless exclamation; then, feeling his gaze burning +into her, turned away, but not before he had noted her sudden pallor, +the blanching of her lips. + +This unexpected announcement dazed her; it scattered her thoughts and +robbed her of words, but just what her dominant emotion was at the +moment she could not tell. Once her first giddiness had passed, +however, once the truth had borne in upon her, she found that she felt +no keen anguish, and certainly no impulse to weep. Rather she +experienced a vague horror, such as the death of an acquaintance or of +a familiar relative might evoke. Ed had been anything but a true +husband, and her feeling now was more for the memory of the man he had +been, for the boy she had known and loved, than for the man whose name +she bore. So he was gone and, as Longorio said, she was free. It meant +much. She realized dimly that in this one moment her whole life had +changed. She had never thought of this way out of her embarrassments; +she had been prepared, in fact, for anything except this. Dead! It was +deplorable, for Ed was young. Once the first shock had passed away, she +became conscious of a deep pity for the man, and a complete forgiveness +for the misery he had caused her. After a time 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 your concern +and I share your intimate thoughts. No, it was an accident, ordained by +God. His end was the result of his own folly, a gunshot wound while he +was drunk, I believe. Now you will understand why I said that I bore +tidings both good and evil and why I, of all people, should be the one +to impart them." + +Alaire turned questioning eyes upon him, as if to fathom his meaning, +and he answered her with his brilliant smile. Failing to evoke a +response, he went on: + +"Ever since I heard of it I have repeated over and over again, 'It is a +miracle; it is the will of God.' Come, then, we know each other so well +that we may speak frankly. Let us be honest and pretend to no +counterfeit emotions. Let us recognize in this only your deliverance +and the certainty of that blessed happiness which Divine Providence +offers us both." + +"Both?" she repeated, dully. + +"Need I be plainer? You know my heart. You have read me. You understand +how I have throttled my longings and remained mute while 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. This is no time--" +Her indignation rose with the sound of her own voice, causing her to +stammer. + +Taking advantage of her loss of words, he hurried on: "You must pardon +my impetuosity, but I am a man of tremendous force, and my life moves +swiftly. I am not shackled by conventions--they are less than nothing +to me. If it seems to you that my eagerness carries me away, remember +that war is upon us and that affairs of moment press me so that I am +compelled to move like the lightning. With me, señora, a day is a year. +The past is gone, the present is here, the future rushes forward to +meet us." + +"Indeed, you forget yourself," she said, warmly. Then, changing her +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 leave here." + +Alaire stared at him incredulously. + +"It is true. Mexico is a seething caldron of hate; the country is +convulsed. 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 Alaire +continued, more calmly, "If that is so, there is all the more reason +why I should lose no time." + +"Listen!" The general was deeply in earnest. "You have no conception of +the chaos out there." He waved a comprehensive gesture. "If the +explosion has not come, it will come within a few hours. That is why I +flew to your side. Battleships are hurrying toward our coast, troops +are massing against our border, and Mexico has risen like one man. The +people are in a frenzy; they are out of bounds; there is sack and +pillage in the cities. Americans are objects of violence everywhere and +the peons are frantic." He paused impressively. "We face the greatest +upheaval of history." + +"Then why are you here?" Alaire demanded. "This is no place for you 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 on heedlessly. "I have told +you I harken only to my heart; that for one smile from you I would +behead myself; that for your favor I would betray my fatherland; that +for your kiss I would face damnation. Well, I am here at your side. The +deluge comes, but you shall be unharmed." He would not permit her to +check him, crying: "Wait! You must hear me through, señora, so that you +may comprehend fully why I am forced to speak at this time. Out of this +coming struggle I shall emerge a heroic figure. Now that Mexico unites, +she will triumph, and of all her victorious sons the name of Luis +Longorio will be sung the loudest, for upon him more than upon any +other depends the Republic's salvation. I do not boast. I merely state +facts, for I have made all my plans, and tomorrow I put them into +effect. That is why I cannot wait to speak. The struggle will be long, +but you shall be my guiding star in the hour of darkness." + +Under other circumstances the man's magnificent egotism might have +provoked a smile. And yet, for all its grandiloquence, there was +something in his speech that rang hard and true. Unquestionably +Longorio was dangerous--a real personality, and no mere swaggering +pretender. Alaire felt a certain reluctant respect for him, and at the +same time a touch of chilling fear such as she had hardly experienced +before. She faced him silently for a moment; then she said: + +"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 merely keep +you from certain destruction. You cannot go by train, because the +railroad has suspended public service, nor can you ride or drive. I +tell you, señora, the people are aroused. For the moment you must +accept my protection, whether you wish to or not. Tomorrow"--Longorio +smiled warmly, meaningly-"perhaps you will not be in such haste to +refuse it, or to leave La Feria. Wait until you understand me better. +Then--But enough of this. You are unstrung, you wish to be alone with +your thoughts, and what I have to say can wait for a few hours. In the +mean time, may I beg the hospitality of your ranch for myself and my +men?" + +Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Longorio saluted her fingers in his +customary manner, and then, with a look eloquent of things unsaid, he +went out to see to the comfort of his command. + +Alaire sank into the nearest chair, her nerves quivering, her mind in a +turmoil. This Mexican was detestable, and he was far from being the +mere maker of audaciously gallant speeches, the poetically fervent +wooer of every pretty woman, she had blindly supposed him. His was no +sham ardor; the man was hotly, horribly in earnest. There had been a +glint of madness in his eyes. And he actually seemed to think that she +shared his infatuation. It was intolerable. Yet Longorio, she was sure, +had an abundance of discretion; he would not dare to offer her +violence. He had pride, too; and in his way he was something of a +gentleman. So far, she had avoided giving him offense. But if once she +made plain to him how utterly loathsome to her was his pursuit, she was +sure that he would cease to annoy her. Alaire was self-confident, +strong-willed; she took courage. + +Her thoughts turned from her fears to the amazing reality of her +widowhood. Even yet she could not wholly credit the fact that Ed's +wasted life had come to an end and that she was free to make the most +of her own. Alaire remembered her husband now with more tenderness, +more charity, than she would have believed possible, and it seemed to +her pitiful that one so blessed with opportunity should have worked +such havoc with himself and with those near to him. + +Doubtless it was all a part of some providential scheme, too blind for +her to solve. Perhaps, indeed, her own trials had been designed to the +end that her greater, truer love, when it did come, would find her +ripe, responsive, ready. As for this Mexican general, she would put him +in his place. + +Alaire was still walking the floor of her chamber when Dolores entered, +at dusk, to say that supper was ready and that General Longorio was +waiting. + +"Ask him to excuse me," she told her servant. + +But Longorio himself spoke from the next room, saying: "Señora, I beg +of you to honor me. I have much of importance to say, and time presses. +Control your grief and give me the pleasure of your company." + +After an instant's consideration Alaire yielded. It was best to have +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 still extravagantly +courteous, beautifully attentive; he maintained a flow of conversation +that relieved her of any effort, and yet he displayed a repressed +excitement that was disturbing. In his eyes there was a gloating look +of possession hard to endure. Despite her icy formality, he appeared to +be holding himself within the bounds of propriety only by an effort of +will, and she was not surprised when, at the conclusion of the meal, he +cast restraint aside. + +She did not let him go far with his wooing before warning him: "I won't +listen to you. You are a man of taste; you must realize how offensive +this is." + +"Let us not deceive each other," he insisted. "We are alone. Let us be +honest. Do not ask me to put faith in your grief. I find my excuse in +the extraordinary nature of this situation." + +"Nothing can excuse indelicacy," she answered, evenly. "You transgress +the commonest rules of decency." + +But he was impatient. "What sentiment! You did not love your husband. +You were for years his prisoner. Through the bars of your prison I saw +and loved you. Dios! The first sight of your face altered the current +of my life. I saw heaven in your eyes, and I have dreamed of nothing +else ever since. Well, Providence opened the doors and set you free; +God gave heed to my prayers and delivered you to me. Now you pretend to +grieve at your deliverance; you ask me to respect the memory of your +jailer! Decency? Delicacy? What are they except artificialities, which +vanish in times of stress? Alexander the Great, Caesar, Napoleon, +Porfirio Diaz--they were strong, purposeful men; they lived as I live. +Señora, you dally with love." + +Alaire's face was white with anger as she replied: "You cause me to +forget that you are my guest. Are you the man I considered you or the +man you are reported to be?" + +"Eh?" + +"Are you the gentleman, the friend, you pretended to be, or--the vandal +whom no woman can trust? You treat me as if you were my jailer. What do +you mean? What kind of man are you to take advantage of my bereavement?" + +After a moment's consideration Longorio began haltingly: "I don't know +what kind of man I am, for you have changed me so. There was a +time--I--I have done things--I have scorned all restraint, all laws +except those of my desires, and so, perhaps, I am a vandal. Make sure +of this, however--I shall not injure you. Christ is no more sacred to +me than you, my heart's treasure. You accuse me of indelicacy because I +lack the strength to smother my admiration. I adore you; my being +dissolves, my veins are afire with longing for you; 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 by a dazzling light; I +suffer agonies. But see! I refuse to touch you. I am a giant in my +restraint. The strength of heroes is mine, and I strangle my impulses +as they are born, although the effort kills me. Señora, I await the +moment of your voluntary surrender. I wait for you." He extended his +arms, and Alaire saw that his olive features were distorted with +emotion; that his hands, his whole 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 you something, if my +tongue will frame the thoughts in my mind. My passion is so deep and so +sacred that I would not be content with less than all of you. Your lips +would not satisfy mine unless they were hot with love, your kisses wet +with desire. I must have you all, and so I wait, trembling. I say this +so badly that I doubt if you understand. Listen, then: to possess you +by force would be--well, as if I sacked a cathedral of its golden +images and expected to gain heaven by clutching the Madonna in my arms. +Señora, in you I see the priceless jewel of my life, which I shall wear +to dazzle the world, and without which I shall destroy myself. Now let +me tell you what I can offer you, what setting I can build for this +treasure. Marriage with Luis Longorio--" + +Alaire could not control a start. + +As if quickened by his intensity, the man read her thought. "You did +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 meant a +moment ago. That is why you refuse my embraces. No, no! Other women +have feared me and I have laughed in their hair as they tore at my +arms, but you--you will be my wife, and all Mexico shall bow at your +feet." He checked her denial with a gesture. "Wait until I tell you the +vision I have seen during these days of my despair. I see Mexico made +whole by my hands; a land of peace and plenty; a people with one name +upon their lips--the name of Longorio the Deliverer; and you as the +first lady of them all. You know me for a 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-handed bandit of no culture. Candeleria, his chief? The +idol of the ignorant and a dreamer of no force. Potosi? He is President +today, but what of tomorrow? Those who surround him are weaklings, and +he stumbles toward oblivion. Who will succeed him? Who will issue from +the coming struggle as the dominant figure of Mexico? Who but that +military genius who checks the Yankee hordes and saves the fatherland? +I am he. Fate points the path of glory and I am her man 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 the richest woman in the world. Señora, I +offer you dominion. I offer you the President's palace and Chapultepec. +And with all that I offer you such passionate love as no woman of +history ever possessed." + +He paused, spent by the force of his own intensity; it was plain that +he expected an immediate surrender. + +Alaire's lips parted in the faintest of mocking smiles. "You have great +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 he could 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 I see. +Your modesty forbids you to acknowledge your love--is that it? Well, I +know that you admire me, for I can see it. All women admire me, and +they all end by loving me." His chest arched imperceptibly; with a +slender finger he delicately smoothed his black eyebrows. Alaire felt a +wild impulse to laugh, but was glad she had subdued it when he +continued: "I am impetuous, but impetuosity has made me what I am. I +act, and then mold fate to suit my own ends. Opportunity has delivered +to me my heart's desire, and I will not be cheated out of it. Among the +men I brought with me to La Feria is a priest. He is dirty, for I +caught him as he was fleeing toward the border; but he is a priest, and +he 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 this +evening. I cannot waste more time here, for necessity calls me away. +You shall go as my wife." + +"Do you think I would remarry on the very day I find myself a widow?" + +"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 had more +time I could afford to wait." He ogled her with his luminous gaze. "I +would let you play with me to your heart's content and exercise your +power until you tired and were ready to surrender." + +Alaire raised her head proudly, her nostrils dilated, her eyes ablaze +with hostility. "This is very humiliating, but you force me to tell you +that I hate you." + +Longorio was incredulous rather than offended. He drew himself up to +his full height and smiled, saying, "That is impossible." Then, +ignoring her impatience: "Come! You cannot deceive me. The priest is +waiting." + +When Alaire spoke next it was with an expression and with a tone of +such loathing that his yellow face paled "Your conceit is +insufferable," 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! You have 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 real +Longorio speaks." + +He flung up his hands as if to ward off her fury. "No? Have I not made +myself clear? I shall embrace you only with the arms of a husband, for +this is not the passion of a moment, but of a lifetime, and I have +myself to consider. The wife of Mexico's next President must be above +reproach; there must be no scandal, no secrets hidden away for enemies +to unearth. She must stand before the 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 he +intercepted her, saying: "You cannot hold me at bay. It is destiny. You +shall be mine tonight. Think a moment! We are alone in the heart of a +country lacking in every law but mine. Your friends do not know where +you are, and, even if they knew, they could not help you. Your nation's +protest would avail nothing. Outside of these walls are enemies who +will not let you leave this house 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. In God's +name have I not waited long enough? My strength is gone." Impulsively +he half encircled her with his thin arms, but she seemed armored with +ice, and he dropped them. She could hear him grind his teeth. "I dare +not lay hands upon you," he chattered. "Angel of my dreams, I am faint +with longing. To love you and yet to be denied; to feel myself aflame +and yet to see you cold; to be halted at the very doors of Paradise! +What torture!" + +The fellow's self-control in the midst of his frenzy frightened Alaire +more than did his wildest avowals; it was in something of a panic that +she said: + +"One moment you tell me I am safe, the next you threaten me. You say 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 he was +halted by a woman's shriek which issued from somewhere inside the +house. It was repeated. There was an outburst in a masculine voice, +then the patter of footsteps approaching down the tiled hallway. +Dolores burst into her mistress's presence, her face blanched, her hair +disordered. She flung herself into Alaire's arms, crying: + +"Señora! Save me! God's curse on the ruffian. Oh--" + +"Dolores!" Alaire exclaimed. "What has happened?" + +Longorio demanded, irritably: "Yes. Why are you yelling like this:"' + +"A man--See I One of those dirty peladors. Look where he tore my dress! +I warned him, but he was like a tiger. Benito will kill me when he +learns--" + +"Calm yourself. Speak sensibly. Tell me what happened." + +"One of those miserable soldiers who came today--pig!" Dolores was +shaking, her voice was shrill. "He followed me. He has been drinking. +He followed me about like a cat, purring and grinning and saying the +most horrible things. Just now, when I went to your room, he was +waiting in the darkness and he seized me. God! It was dreadful." + +"A soldier? One of my men?" Longorio was incredulous. + +Alaire turned upon him with a blazing anger in her face. "Is this more +of your protection?" she stormed. "I give you and your men the freedom +of my ranch, and you insult me while they assault my women." + +He ignored her accusation, inquiring of the elder woman, "Who was the +fellow?" + +"How do I know," Dolores sobbed. "He is a--a thick, black fellow with 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 the wooden +shutters of a window and, leaning far out, whistled sharply on 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 me black +Felipe, the fellow with the torn lip. Quick!" + +"Yes, general," came the voice; then the metallic rattle of spurs and +accoutrements as the sentry trotted away. + +Dolores had completely broken down now, and Alaire was trying to +comfort her. Their guest remained by the window, frowning. After a time +there sounded a murmur of voices, then a shuffling of feet in the hall; +Alaire's friend, the old lieutenant, appeared in the doorway, saluting. +Behind him were several others. + +"Here is Felipe," he announced. + +"Bring him in." + +A sullen, frowning man in soiled uniform was pushed forward, and +Dolores 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 transfixed his +trooper with a stare; then, as the latter seemed bereft of his voice, +"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." He grinned at +his comrades, who had crowded in behind old Pancho. + +"So! Let us go outside and learn more about this." Longorio waved his +men before him and followed them out of the room and down the hall and +into the night. + +When a moment or two had dragged past, Dolores quavered. "What are they +going to do with him?" + +"I don't know. Anyhow, you need not fear--" + +There sounded the report of a gunshot, deadened indeed by the thick +adobe walls of the house, yet sudden and loud enough to startle the +women. + +When Longorio reappeared he found Alaire standing stiff and white +against the wall, with Dolores kneeling, her face still buried in her +mistress's gown. + +"Give yourself no concern," he told them, quickly. "I beg a thousand +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 to be +firm. Now your woman is badly frightened. Send her away so that we 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. Very well! My +affairs will have to wait. Take a few hours to think over what I have +told you. When you have slept you will feel differently about me. You +will meet me with a smile, eh?" He beamed hopefully. + +"Sleep? You expect me to sleep?" + +"Please," he begged. "Beauty is like a delicate flower, and sleep is +the dew that freshens it. Believe me, you can rest in all security, for +no one can come or go without my consent. You are cruel to postpone my +delight; nevertheless, I yield to your feelings. But, star of my life, +I shall dream of you, and of that little priest who waits with the key +of Paradise in his hands." + +He bowed over Alaire's cold fingers, then stood erect until she and +Dolores had gone. + + + + +XXIX + +THE PRIEST FROM MONCLOVA + + +That was a night of terror for the women. Although Longorio's +discipline was in some ways strict, in others it was extremely lax. +From some quarter his men had secured a supply of mescal, and, +forgetful of Felipe's unhappy fate, they rendered the hours hideous. +There were singing and quarreling, and a shot or two sounded from the +direction of the outbuildings. Morning found both Alaire and Dolores +sadly overwrought. But they felt some relief upon learning that the +general had been unexpectedly summoned from his bed at daylight, and +had ridden to the telegraph office. + +Profiting by his absence, Alaire ventured from her room, racking her +brain to devise some means of escape. But soldiers were everywhere; +they lolled around the servants' quarters; they dozed in the shade of +the ranch buildings, recovering from the night's debauch; and an armed +sentinel who paced the hacienda road gave evidence that, despite their +apparent carelessness, they had by no means relaxed their vigilance. A +round of the premises convinced Alaire that the place was effectually +guarded, and showed her the futility of trying to slip away. She +realized, too, that even if she managed to do so, her plight would be +little better. For how could she hope to cover the hundred miles +between La Feria and the Rio Grande when every peon was an enemy? + +She was standing in one of the open, sashless windows when her former +protector, the old lieutenant, bade her good morning and paused to +smoke a cigarette. + +"Well, it was a great night, wasn't it?" he began. "And we have great +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 of +Washington is a fine city, and very rich, is it not?" + +"Oh yes." + +"It's full of loot, eh? Especially the President's palace? That is +good. 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 soldiers march +upon Mexico City, it would be a brilliant piece of strategy for General +Longorio to invade the United States, would it not? It would be funny +to capture Washington and hold your President for ransom, eh?" + +"Very funny," Alaire agreed, dryly. "How would you go about it?" + +Pancho shrugged. "That is the trouble. We would have to march around +Texas, I presume." + +"Around Texas?" + +"Yes. You see, Texas is a bad country; it is full of--barbarians who +know how to fight. If it were not for Texas we would have the United +States at our mercy." After some consideration he ventured this +opinion: "We could afford to pay the Texans for allowing us to ride +through their country, provided we stole nothing and paid for 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! General Longorio +is going to marry you. We all got drunk last night to celebrate the +wedding. Yes, and the priest is waiting." + +"I will make you rich." + +"Ho! I wouldn't live to spend a single peso. Felipe disobeyed orders, +and the general shot him before he could cross himself. Boom! The poor +fellow was in hell in a minute. No. We will all be rich 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 the young fellows, and prepare for +my old age." + +Seeing that she could not enlist Pancho's aid, Alaire begged him to +fetch the priest. + +"You wish spiritual comfort, señora?" + +"Perhaps." + +"Well, he doesn't look like much of a priest, but probably he will do. +As for me, I don't believe in such things. Churches are all very well +for ignorant people, but we Mexicans are too intelligent; we are making +an end of them." + +The priest was a small, white-haired man with a gentle, almost timid +face, and at the moment when he appeared before Alaire he was in +anything but a happy frame of mind. He had undergone, he told her, a +terrible experience. His name was O'Malley. He had come from Monclova, +whence the Rebels had banished him under threat of death. He had seen +his church despoiled of its valuables, his school closed; he himself +had managed to escape only by a miracle. During his flight toward the +border he had suffered every indignity, and finally Longorio had +intercepted him and brought him here, practically in chains. + +"What a situation! What chaos!" he lamented. "The land is overrun with +bandits; there is no law, no authority, no faith; religion is made a +mockery. The men are becoming infidels and atheists, and in many places +they will not allow us to give comfort even to their women." + +"Is it as bad as that?" + +Father O'Malley shook his head sadly. "You've no idea. What do you +think of a people who forbid the mention of God's name in their +schools? That is what the revolutionists are doing. Candeleria claims +that the churches are the property of the State. He confiscates them, +and he charges admission. He has banished all except a few of us +priests, and has shamefully persecuted our Sisters of Mercy. Oh, the +outrages! Mexico is, today, the blackest spot on the map of +Christendom." His voice broke. "That is the freedom, 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 his prisoner, to solemnize an unholy +marriage! He treats me like a dog. Last night I slept in a filthy +hovel--" + +"Oh! I'm sorry," Alaire exclaimed. "But I'm half crazed with my own +troubles. You must come into the house; the best I have is yours. You +shall be as much my guest as I can make you, and--perhaps you will help +me to escape." + +"Escape?" The little man smiled mournfully. "You are watched and +guarded, and so am I. Even if you got away from here, what then? You +can't imagine the condition 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 are war +times; the man is a fiend, and he puts no restraint upon his desires. +If he is madly bent on having you, how can you prevent it? In normal +times he would not dare injure one so prominent as you, but now--" +Father O'Malley lifted his hands. "I only wonder that he suggests a +lawful marriage. Suppose you refuse? Will he not sacrifice you to his +passions? He has done worse things." After a moment's consideration he +said: "Of course it is possible that I misjudge him. Anyhow, if you +desire me to do so I will refuse to perform the ceremony. But--I'm +afraid it will just mean ruin for both of us." + +"Surely he wouldn't harm you?" + +The Father shrugged. "What am I? An obscure priest. Many of my brothers +are buried in Mexico. However, I shall do as you wish." + +As the day wore on Alaire realized even more clearly the fact that she +was Longorio's prisoner. His men, in spite of their recent debauch, +kept a very good watch over her, and it was plain that they would obey +his orders, no matter how extreme. It occurred to her finally that he +was staying away purposely, in order to give her a fuller appreciation +of her position--so that she might beat her 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 positive trial. + +Half distracted, Alaire roamed through the house, awaiting her captor's +coming, steeling herself for their final battle. But the delay was +trying; she longed for the crisis to come, that this intolerable +suspense might be ended. At such an hour her thoughts naturally turned +to Dave Law, and she found herself yearning for him with a yearning +utterly new. His love had supported her through those miserable days at +Las Palmas, but now it was a torture; she called his name wildly, +passionately. He knew her whereabouts and her peril--why did he not +come? Then, more calmly, she asked herself what he, or what any one, +could do for her. How could she look for succor when two nations were +at war? + +Night had come before she finally gave up and acknowledged the +hopelessness of her situation. She had fought bravely, but with +darkness her fears grew blacker. She was on the verge of her first +breakdown when, in the early dusk outside, she heard voices and the +stamping of horses' hoofs. The sounds were muffled by the heavy wooden +shutters she had taken pains to close and bar, but they told her that +Longorio had returned. Since it was futile to deny him entrance, she +waited where she was. Old Pancho's voice sounded outside; then there +came a knock upon the door of the room in 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 on important 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 strode +swiftly into the lamplight. He paused, blinking as if momentarily +blinded, and Alaire clutched at the nearest chair for support. A +roaring began in her ears; she felt herself sway forward as if the +strength had left her knees. She heard Dave's voice faintly; he was +saying: + +"Take care of my horse. Feed and water her well. Understand? When +General Longorio comes tell him I am waiting here." + +As if in a dream, Alaire saw the Mexican go out, closing the door +behind him. Then she saw Dave come toward her, heard him speak her +name, felt his arms around her. + +Alaire did not swoon, but she never could remember very distinctly +those first few moments. Scarcely knowing what she did, she found +herself clinging to her lover, laughing, weeping, feeling him over with +shaking hands that would not be convinced of his reality. She was aware +of his kisses upon her lips, her eyes, her hair; he was saying +something which she could not understand because of that roaring in her +ears. + +"You heard me calling," she told him at last. "Oh, I was--so +frightened!" She clung closer to him. After a time she discovered that +she was mechanically nodding and shaking her head at the questions he +was putting to her, but had only the vaguest idea what they were. By +and by she began to tell him about Longorio, speaking in a sort of +hypnotic murmur, as if her words issued at his mental suggestion. And +all the time she snuggled against his breast. + +"Dearest!" Dave held her away in gentle hands. "I was afraid you'd go +to pieces like this, but I had to break through the best way I could. I +learned you were here and something about what was going on from the +people at the next ranch. But I expected to find HIM here, too." + +"How did you manage to get here?" + +"I hardly know. I just wouldn't let 'em stop me. This lieutenant +wouldn't let me in until I told him I was from Monterey with important +news. I don't remember all I did tell him. I tried to get here last +night, but I had trouble. They caught me, and I had to buy my way +through. I've bribed and bullied and lied clear from Romero. I reckon +they couldn't imagine I'd risk being here if I wasn't a friend." + +It was more Dave's tone than his words that roused Alaire to an +appreciation of what he said. + +"Are you alone?" she asked, in vague dismay. "Then what are we going 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 realized that it +was very haggard, very old and tired. "They lifted my guns--a bunch of +fellows at the Rio Negro crossing. Some of them were drunk and wouldn't +believe I was an amigo. So I finally had to ride for it." + +"Can't you take me away?" she asked, faintly. "What will you do +when--he comes?" + +"I reckon I'll manage him somehow." His grip upon her tightened +painfully, and she could feel him tremble. "I was afraid I wouldn't +find you. I--O God, Alaire!" He buried his face in her hair. + +"I had a terrible scene with him last night. He insists upon marrying +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 did you +learn?" + +"From José. I caught him within an hour of the murder, and made him +tell me everything." + +Alaire's eyes dilated; she held herself away, saying, breathlessly: +"Murder! Is that what it was? He--Longorio--told me something quite +different." + +"Naturally. It was he who hired José to do the shooting." + +"Oh-h!" Alaire hid her face in her hands. She looked up again quickly, +however, and her cheeks were white. "Then he won't spare you, Dave." +She choked for an instant. "We must get away before he comes. There +must be some way of escape. Think!" + +"I'm pretty tired to think. I'm pretty near played out," he confessed. + +"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 together as +if in the labor of concentration. When she lifted her lids her eyes +were alight, her voice was eager. "I know how. I see it. He won'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 it open, +called down the hall: + +"Father! Father O'Malley! Quick!" Then she summoned Dolores. + +The priest answered; he hurried from his room and, with a dazed lack of +comprehension, acknowledged his swift introduction to Dave. Alaire was +keenly alive and vibrant with purpose now. Dolores, too, came running, +and while the men were exchanging greetings her mistress murmured +something in her ear, then hastened 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," he expostulated. + +"Nor I," echoed Dave. + +"You don't need to understand. I know what I'm doing. I've thought of a +way to save us all." + +Through Dave's mind flashed the memory of that thing which had haunted +him and made his life a nightmare. An incoherent refusal was upon his +lips, but Alaire's face besought him; it was shining with a strange, +new ecstasy, and he could not bring himself to deny 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 were trapped. This might serve, somehow, to +cheat Longorio, and--Alaire would 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 three +black-haired, black-shawled house servants, bundling them through the +door and ranging them along the wall. + +Father O'Malley's face was puckered; he said, hesitatingly: "My dear +madam, this isn't regular; you are not Catholics. How can I bless you?" + +"You can marry us legally, just the same, can't you?" Alaire was +breathing rapidly, and some part of her eagerness began to thrill her +hearers. + +"Oh yes, but--" + +"Then marry us. And make haste, please! Please!" + +Law nodded. He could not speak, for his mouth was dry. A voice within +him shouted a warning, but he would not listen. His heart was beating +violently; his temples were pounding; all the blood of his body seemed +centered in his head. + +Before the eyes of the four wondering women Father O'Malley married +them. It seemed to Alaire that he would never reach the end, 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 signified their +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 I think he means it. +He is amazingly egotistical. He has tremendous ambitions. He thinks +this war is his great opportunity, and he means to be President--he's +sure of it. He loves me, but he loves himself better, I'm sure. Now, +don't you see? He'll have to choose one or the other." + +Father O'Malley did not appear to appreciate the full force of this +reasoning. "My dear," he said, gravely, "he can make you a widow 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 go quickly, +before it's known what we've done." + +Dave stared at her in bewilderment. "I? I go, and--leave you?" He +seemed 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 he finds you're +gone and he can't lay hands on you, what can he do but 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, his head 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 THEM out of the way. +With Dave gone I'll be safe. He can't ignore our marriage. But +otherwise--There's no telling what he may do. Why, he'll kill you, +Dave, as he killed Ed." She upturned a face eloquent with pleading. +"Won't you do this for me?" + +"No!" Law declared, firmly. "You wouldn't ask it if you were in your +senses. Get me a gun and I'll shoot my way out. We'll go until they +stop us. But don't ask me to leave you." + +She searched his face eagerly, piteously, then with a quivering sigh +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 understand that it was he +who effected the death of--Mr. Austin?" + +Dave recounted as coherently as he could the circumstances of Ed's +death, and told how he had learned, through José, of Longorio's +intentions. As the priest listened a spot of color grew in his cheeks, +his eyes glowed with indignation. He was about to make known what was +in his mind when Alaire raised her hand and in a strained whisper +exclaimed: + +"'Sh-h! Listen!" + +The heavy door of the hacienda creaked, a quick tread sounded on the +tiles, the door to the living-room was flung open, and Longorio +entered. He was hot and dusty from his ride, but with a lover's +impetuosity he had made straight for this lighted room. + +For the briefest instant he balanced himself just inside the portal, +and the smile remained fixed upon his lips. Then his eyes became ringed +with white and he made a swift, catlike movement of retreat. 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 heard you +ride up, sir, so I ran to tell you about this fellow." + +But the general cut him short. "Call your men, quick," he cried in a +voice that sent the soldier leaping back into the night. + +Alaire was clinging to Dave, merely clutching him the tighter when he +tried to unclasp her hold. Her movement into the shelter of his rival's +arms infuriated Longorio, who uttered an exclamation and fumbled +uncertainly with his holster. But his fingers were clumsy. He could not +take his eyes from the pair, and he seemed upon the point of rushing +forward to tear them apart. + +"Don't touch her! Don't--" he began, cursing in a high-pitched voice. +"God! What a reckoning!" Then he stamped his feet, he wrung his hands, +he called shrilly at the top of his voice: "Lieutenant! Ho, Pancho! You +fellows! Quickly!" Under the stress of his excitement the feminine side +of his character betrayed itself. + +Alaire felt her newly made husband gather himself for a spring; he was +muttering to her to release him; he was trying to push her aside, but +she held fast with the strength of desperation. + +"You can't harm us," she declared, flinging her words defiantly at the +Mexican. "You dare not. You are too late. Father O'Malley has just +married us." + +Longorio uttered a peculiar, wordless cry of dismay; his mouth fell +open; his arms dropped; he went limp all over, paralyzed momentarily by +surprise and horror; his eyes protruded; he swayed as if his sight had +blurred. + +"I said I'd never marry you," she rushed on, vibrantly. "This is the +man I love--the only man. Yes, and I've learned the truth about 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. He waved 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 care what you do, +Longorio. I have married these people, and you can't undo what I have +done. We are American citizens. The laws of civilization protect us." + +The Mexican fought for his voice, then stammered: "You are my priest; I +brought you here. I offered to marry her. Now--you force me to damn my +soul." Turning his eyes wildly upon Alaire, he shouted: "Too late, eh? +You say I am too late! It seems that I am barely in time." + +Dave added his words to the others: "You are ten to one, but you can't +have her," he cried, defiantly. "José Sanchez confessed to the murder +of Mr. Austin, and told how you had got Mrs. Austin to come here. The +whole thing is known in Washington and Mexico City by this time. The +newspapers have it; everybody knows you are keeping her as your +prisoner, and that I have come for her. If she is harmed, all Mexico, +all the world, will know that you are worse than a murderer." + +Longorio reached behind his back and slammed the door in the faces of +his listening men. + +"What is this? What did José 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 in his +face and made a quick decision. "There's a limit to what you dare to +do, Longorio. I'm unarmed; I make no resistance, so there is no excuse +for violence. I surrender to you, and claim protection 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 the doorknob, but before +he could turn it the Catholic priest had him by the arm, and with a +strength surprising in one of his stature wrenched him away. Father +O'Malley's face was white and terrible; his voice was deep, menacing; +the hand he raised above Longorio seemed to brandish a weapon. + +"Stop!" he thundered. "Are you a madman? Destruction hangs over you; +destruction of body and soul. You dare not separate those whom God hath +joined." + +"God! God!" the other shrilled. "I don't believe in Him. I am a god; I +know of no other." + +"Blasphemer!" roared the little man. "Listen, then. So surely as you +harm these people, so surely do you kill your earthly prospects. You, +the first man of Mexico, the Dictator indeed! Think what you are doing +before it is too late. Is your dream of greatness only a dream? Will +you sacrifice yourself and all your aspirations in the heat of this +unholy and impossible passion? Tonight, now, you must choose whether +you will be famous or infamous, glorious or shameful, honored or +dishonored! Restrain your hatred and conquer your lust, or forego for +ever your dreams of empire and pass into oblivion." + +"You are a meddler," Longorio stormed. "You make a loud noise, but I +shall rid Mexico of your kind. We shall have no more of you priests." + +Father O'Malley shook the speaker as a parent shakes an unruly child. +"See! You have completely lost your head. But I want you to listen to +what I am saying. Whether you are more good than evil, God must judge, +but the people of Mexico are good people, and they will not be ruled by +a man who is wholly bad. You have the power to remove this man and this +woman, yes, and this priest who dares to point out the pit at your +feet; but if you do you will never command another Mexican army. There +is no war. We are not your enemies. The world knows we are here, and it +holds you accountable for our safety. To-morrow you will have to face +the reckoning." + +Longorio listened. It was plain that he recognized the truth of +O'Malley's words, but he was convulsed with rage. + +"Good!" he cried. "I see my dreams dissolve, but I am not the first +great man to trade an empire for a woman. Antony, the Roman general, +laid his honor in a woman's arms. I had a shining destiny, but Mexico +will be the sufferer by my betrayal. Instead of 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. I have +something more to say to you." He flung open the door into the hall +and, taking the general by the arm, fairly dragged him from the room +and into the one opposite. The lieutenant and his men looked on in +amazement, shuffling their feet and shifting their 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 cast his +eyes desperately over the room, conscious all the time that he was +being watched with suspicion by the men outside. He stirred restlessly +and moistened his lips. "Longorio would be crazy to injure you." + +Ten minutes passed; fifteen. Alaire leaned, motionless, against the +table; Dave paced about, followed by the eyes of the soldiers. One of +the latter struck a match, and in the silence it sounded like a +gunshot. Dave started, at which the soldiers laughed. They began to +talk in murmurs. The odor of cigarette smoke drifted in to the man and +the woman. + +Finally the door through which Father O'Malley and Longorio had passed +opened, and the priest emerged. He was alone. His face was flushed and +damp; his eyes were glowing. He forced the Mexicans out of his way and, +entering the living-room, closed the door behind him. + +"Well?" his two friends questioned, anxiously. + +"I've done all I can. The rest is out of our hands." The little man 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, so +distracted." + +"Then he is wavering. Oh-h!" Alaire clasped her hands in thanksgiving, +but the Father cautioned her: + +"Don't be too sanguine. He is not afraid of consequences. He appears to +have no conscience. He is without mercy and seems lost to shame. I have +never met a man quite like him. Do you know what he feels at this +moment? Chagrin. Yes, mortification raised to the highest pitch, and a +sort of stupefaction that you should prefer another 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 to appeal 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 a flash I saw the man's soul laid +bare before me, and--I think I played upon it with some cunning. I +don't remember all I said, for I 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 fact that the world knows we are here and that it +trusts him. He aspires to the Presidency; he believes he is destined to +be Mexico's Dictator; so I painted a picture that surpassed his own +imaginings. He would have been suspicious of mere flattery, so I went +far beyond that and inflamed him with such extravagant visions as only +a child or an unblushing egotist like him could accept. I swelled his +vanity; I inflated his conceit. For a moment, at least, I lifted him +out of himself and raised him to the heights." + +From beyond the closed door came Longorio's voice, issuing some command +to his men. A moment passed; then he appeared before the three +Americans. He seemed taller, thinner, more erect and hawklike than +ever. His head was held more proudly and his chest was fuller. A set, +disdainful smile was graven upon his face. + +He began by addressing his words directly to Alaire. "Señora," he said, +"I am a man of deep feeling and I scorn deceit. Therefore I offer no +apology for my recent display of emotion. If I have seemed to press my +advances with undue fervor, it is because, at heart, I am as great a +lover as I am a statesman or a soldier. But there are other things than +love. Nature constituted me a leader, and he who climbs high must climb +alone. I offered Chapultepec as a shrine for your beauty. I offered to +share Mexico with you, and I 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 voice throbbed with a sudden fierce desire, and his long, +lean hands closed convulsively. "You must realize that I have the +courage and the power to defy the world, eh?" He seemed to challenge +denial of this statement, but, receiving none, he went on, fixing his +brilliant, feverish eyes once more upon Alaire. "As a man of sentiment +I am unique; I am different from any you have ever known. I would not +possess a flower without its fragrance. You did not 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 no patriot in history ever made a +more splendid sacrifice for his country than I make now. Some day the +world will wonder how I had the 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. "I have +ordered your horses to be saddled." + +Dave, who had with difficulty restrained his anger at the fellow's +bombast, was upon the point of speaking when Father O'Malley took the +words out of his mouth: + +"Would you send this woman out of her own house into a country +like--like this? Remember the fortune in cattle you have already +taken--" + +Longorio broke in with a snarl: "Is it my fault that the country is in +arms? Military necessity compels me to remain here. I consider myself +magnanimous. I--" His voice cracked, and he made a despairing, violent +gesture. "Go, before I change my mind." + +Dave signaled to the others, and Alaire slipped away to make herself +ready. During the uncomfortable silence which succeeded her departure, +Longorio paced the room, keeping his eyes resolutely 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 and +unclasping his fists behind his back. + +With the sound of hoofs outside, Alaire and Dolores appeared, and the +Mexican straightened himself with an effort. + +"Adios, señora!" he said, with a stiff bow. "We have had a pleasant +friendship and a thrilling flirtation, eh? I shall never cease to +regret that Fate interrupted at such an interesting moment. Adios! +Adios!" He bowed formally, in turn to Dave and to the priest, then +resumed his pacing, with his hands at his back and his brow furrowed as +if in a struggle with affairs of greater moment than this. + +But when he heard the outside door creak shut behind them his +indifference vanished and he halted with head turned in an effort to +catch the last sounds of their departure. His face was like tallow now, +his lips were drawn back from his teeth as if in supreme agony. A +moment and the hoofbeats had died away. Then Longorio slipped his leash. + +He uttered a cry--a hoarse, half-strangled shriek that tore his throat. +He plucked the collar from his neck as if it choked him; he beat his +breast. Seizing whatever article his eye fell upon, he tore and crushed +it; he swept the table clean of its queer Spanish bric-à-brac, and +trampled the litter under his heels. Spying a painting of a saint upon +the wall, he ran to it, ripped it from its nail, and, raising it over +his head, smashed frame and glass, cursing all saints, all priests, and +churchly people. Havoc followed him as he raged about the place +wreaking his fury upon inanimate objects. When he had well-nigh wrecked +the contents of the room, and when his first paroxysm had spent its +violence, he hurled himself into a chair, writhing in agony. He bit his +wrists, he pounded his fists, he kicked; finally he sprawled full +length upon the floor, clawing at the cool, smooth tiles until his +nails bled. + +"Christ! O Christ!" he screamed. + +The sound of his blasphemies reached the little group of soldiers who +had lingered curiously outside, and they listened open-mouthed. One by +one they crossed themselves and stole away into the darkness, muttering. + + + + +XXXI + +A SPANISH WILL + + +With a singing heart Alaire rode through the night at her husband's +side. The strain of the last few hours had been so intense, the relief +at her deliverance so keen, that now she felt curiously weak, and she +kept close to Dave, comforted by his nearness and secure in the +knowledge of his strength. + +Although he was unusually taciturn and rode with his chin upon his +breast, 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, and not +infrequently he dozed for a moment or two in his saddle. Yet it was not +this which stilled his tongue, but a growing sense of guilt and dismay +at what he had brought upon himself. In a moment of weakness he had +done the very thing against which he had fought so bitterly, and now he +faced the consequences. How, when, where could he find strength to undo +his action? he asked himself. The weight of this question bent his +shoulders, paralyzed his wits. + +Some two hours out from La Feria the riders halted at a point where the +road dipped into a rocky stream-bed; then, as the horses drank, Dolores +voiced a thought that had troubled all of them. + +"If that bandit really means to spare us, why did he send us away in +the night, like this?" she asked. "I shall be surprised if we are not +assassinated before morning." + +"He must have meant it." Alaire spoke with a conviction she did not +entirely feel. "Father O'Malley aroused the finer side of his nature." + +"Perhaps," agreed the priest. "Somewhere in him there is a fear of God." + +But Dave was skeptical. "More likely a fear of the gringo Government," +said he. "Longorio is a four-flusher. When he realized he was licked he +tried to save his face by a grandstand play. 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 one of 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 moment I saw you all my +fears vanished. I was like a lost child who suddenly sees her father; +in your arms I felt perfectly safe, for the first time in all my life, +I think. I--I couldn't bear to go on without you, after this." + +Dave found nothing to say; they rode along side by side for a time in a +great contentment that required no speech. Then Alaire asked: + +"Dear, have you considered how we--are going to explain our marriage?" + +"Won't the circumstances explain it?" + +"Perhaps. And yet--It seems ages since I learned--what happened to Ed, +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 secret for +the present. I promise not to--act like a husband." + +With a little reckless laugh she confessed, "I--I'm afraid I'll find it +difficult to be conventional." + +"My wife!" he cried in sharp agony. Leaning far out, he encircled her +with his arm; then, half lifting her from her saddle, he crushed his +lips to hers. It was his first display of emotion since Father O'Malley +had united them. + +There were few villages along the road they followed, and because of +the lateness of the hour all were dark, hence the party passed through +without exciting attention except from an occasional wakeful dog. But +as morning came and the east began to glow Dave told 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 the little +man. "I'm famished, too." + +At the next rancho they came to they applied for shelter, but were +denied; in fact, the owner cursed them so roundly for being Americans +that they were glad to ride onward. A mile or two farther along they +met a cart the driver of which refused to answer their greetings. As +they passed out of his sight they saw that he had halted his lean oxen +and was staring after them curiously. Later, when the sun was well up +and the world had fully awakened, they descried a mounted man, +evidently a cowboy, riding through the chaparral. He saw them, too, and +came toward the road, but after a brief scrutiny he whirled his horse +and galloped off through the cactus, shouting something over his +shoulder. + +"This won't do," O'Malley declared, uneasily. "I don't like the actions +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 this +elevation beheld ahead of them a small village of white houses shining +from the shelter of a grove. The rancheria was perhaps two miles away, +and galloping toward it was the vaquero who had challenged them. + +"That's the Rio Negro crossing," Dave announced. Then spying a little +house squatting a short distance back from the road, he said: "We'd +better try yonder. If they turn us down we'll have to take to the +brush." + +O'Malley agreed. "Yes, and we have no time to lose. That horseman is +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 through cactus +and sage to a gate, entering which they approached the straw-thatched +jacal they had seen. A naked boy baby watched them draw near, then +scuttled for shelter, piping an alarm. A man appeared from somewhere, +at sight of whom the priest rode forward with a pleasant greeting. But +the fellow was unfriendly. His wife, too, emerged from the dwelling and +joined her husband in warning Father O'Malley away. + +"Let me try," Alaire begged, and spurred her horse up to the group. She +smiled down at the country people, saying: "We have traveled a long +way, and we're tired and hungry. Won't you give us something 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. Rushing forward, she +took the edge of Alaire's skirt in her hands and kissed it. + +"God be praised! A miracle!" she exclaimed. "Juan, don't you see? It is +the beautiful señora for whom we pray every night of our lives. On your +knees, shameless one! It is she who delivered you from the prison." + +Juan stared unbelievingly, then his face changed; his teeth flashed in +a smile, and, sweeping his hat from his head, he, too, approached +Alaire. + +"It is! señora, I am Juan Garcia, whom you saved, and this is Inez," he +declared. "Heaven bless you and forgive me." + +"Now I know you," Alaire laughed, and slipped down from her saddle. +"This is a happy meeting. So! You live here, and that was little Juan +who ran away as if we were going to eat him. Well, we are hungry, but +not hungry enough to devour Juanito." + +Turning to her companions, she explained the circumstances of her first +meeting with these good people, and as she talked the Garcias broke in +joyfully, adding their own account of her goodness. + +"We've fallen among friends," Alaire told Dave and Father O'Malley. +"They will let us rest here, I am sure." + +Husband and wife agreed in one voice. In fact, they were overjoyed at +an opportunity of serving her; and little Juan, his suspicions +partially allayed, issued from hiding and waddled forward to take part +in the welcome. + +Shamefacedly the elder Garcia explained his inhospitable reception of +the travelers. "We hear the gringos are coming to kill us and take our +farms. Everybody is badly frightened. We are driving our herds away and +hiding what we can. Yesterday at the big Obispo ranch our people shot +two Americans and burned some of their houses. They intend to kill all +the Americans they find, so you'd better be careful. Just now a fellow +rode up shouting that you were coming, but of course I didn't know--" + +"Yes, of course. We're trying to reach the border," Father O'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 to sleep?" +Dave asked. His eyes were heavy; he had been almost constantly in the +saddle since leaving Jonesville, and now could barely keep himself +awake. + +"Trust me," the Mexican assured them, confidently. "If somebody comes +I'll send them away. Oh, I can lie with the best of them." + +The Garcias were not ordinary people, and they lived in rather good +circumstances for country folk. There were three rooms to their little +house, all of which were reasonably clean. The food that 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 his advances +halfway he began, before long, to look upon her with particular favor. +Once they had thoroughly made friends, he showered her with the most +flattering attentions. His shyness, it seemed, was but a pretense--at +heart he was a bold and enterprising fellow--and so, as a mark of his +admiration, he presented her with all his personal treasures. First he +fetched and laid in her lap a cigar-box wagon with wooden +wheels--evidently the handiwork of his father. Then he gave her, one by +one, a highly prized blue bottle, a rusty Mexican spur, and the ruins +of what had been a splendid clasp knife. There were no blades in the +knife, but he showed her how to peep through a tiny hole in the handle, +where was concealed the picture of a dashing Spanish bullfighter. The +appreciation which these gifts evoked intoxicated the little man and +roused him to a very madness of generosity. He pattered away and +returned shortly, staggering and grunting under the weight of another +and a still greater offering. It was a dog--a patient, hungry dog with +very little hair. The animal was alive with fleas--it scratched +absent-mindedly with one hind paw, even while Juanito strangled it +against his naked breast--but it was the apple of its owner's eye, and +when Inez unfeelingly banished it from the house Juanito began to +squall lustily. Nor could he be conciliated until Alaire took him upon +her knee and told him about another boy, of precisely his own age and +size, who planted a magic bean in his mother's dooryard, which grew up +and up until it reached clear to the sky, where a giant lived. Juanito +Garcia had never heard the like. He was spellbound with 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 door with a +warning. + +"Conceal yourselves," he said, quickly. "Some of our neighbors are +coming this way." Inez led her guests into the bedchamber, a bare room +with a dirt floor, from the window of which they watched Juan go to +meet a group of horsemen. Inez went out, too, and joined in the parley. +Then, after a time, the riders galloped away. + +When Alaire, having watched the party out of sight, turned from the +window she found that Dave had collapsed upon a chair and was sleeping, +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." With the +assistance of Dolores they succeeded in lifting Dave to the bed, but he +half roused himself. "Lie down, dear," Alaire told him. "Close your +eyes for a few minutes. We're safe now." + +"Somebody has to keep watch," he muttered, thickly, and tried to fight +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 covered with +straw matting, Alaire folded the garment for a pillow; as she did so a +handful of soiled, frayed letters spilled out upon the floor. + +"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 I ought to tell you, +but--I can't now--not now. Too sleepy." His head drooped again; she +forced him back; he stretched himself out with a sigh, and was asleep +almost instantly. + +Alaire motioned the others out of the room, then stood looking down at +the man into whose keeping she had given her life. As she looked her +face became radiant. Dave was unkempt, unshaven, dirty, but to her he +was of a godlike beauty, and the knowledge that he was hers to comfort +and guard was strangely thrilling. Her love for Ed, even that first +love of her girlhood, had been nothing like this. How could it have +been like this? she asked herself. How could she have loved deeply +when, at the time, her own nature lacked depth? Experience had +broadened her, and suffering had uncovered depths in her being which +nothing else had had the power to uncover. Stooping, she kissed Dave +softly, then let her cheek rest against his. Her man! Her man! She +found herself whispering the words. + +Her eyes were wet, but there was a smile upon her lips when she +gathered up the letters which had dropped from her husband's pocket. +She wondered, with a little jealous twinge, who could be writing to +him. It seemed to her that she owned him now, and that she could not +bear to share him with any other. She studied the inscriptions with a +frown, noticing as she did so that several of the envelopes were +unopened--either Dave was careless about such things 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 Joséfa Law, of +this vicinity-- + +Alaire started, Who, she asked herself, was Maria Joséfa Law? Dave had +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 ineffable mysteries 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 which +Alaire had heard--but who was Maria Joséfa Law? Alaire scanned the +sheets curiously, and on the reverse side of the last one discovered 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 I told you +about. At the time of her death she was not possessed of the property +mentioned herein, and so the original document was never filed for +record, but came to me along with certain family possessions of small +value. It seems to contain the information you desire. + +Y'rs aff'ly, + +FRANCISCO RAMIREZ. + +The will of Dave's mother! Then Maria Joséfa Law was that poor woman +regarding whose tragic end Judge Ellsworth had spoken so peculiarly. +Alaire felt not a little curiosity to know more about the mother of the +man whose name she had taken. Accordingly, after a moment of debate +with herself, she sat down to translate the instrument. Surely Dave +would not object if she occupied herself thus 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 nothing formed +it, and my body I order returned to earth, and which, as soon as it +shall become a corpse, it is my wish shall be shrouded with a blue +habit in resemblance to those used by the monks of our Seraphic Father, +St. Francis; to be interred with high mass, without pomp-- + +Alaire mused with a certain reverent pleasure that Dave's mother had +been a devout woman. + +Second: I declare to have, in the possession of my husband, Franklin +Law, three horses, with splendid equipment of saddles and bridles, +which are to be sold and the proceeds applied to masses for the benefit +of my soul. I so declare, that it may appear. + +Third: I declare to owe to Mrs. Guillelmo Perez about twenty dollars, +to be ascertained by what she may have noted in her book of accounts. +So I declare, that this debt may be paid as I have ordered. + +Fourth: In just remuneration for the services of my cousin, Margarita +Ramirez, I bequeath and donate a silver tray which weighs one hundred +ounces, seven breeding cows, and four fine linen and lace tablecloths. +So I declare, that it may appear. + +Fifth: I bequeath to my adopted son, David, offspring of the +unfortunate American woman who died in my house at Escovedo, the share +of land-- + +Alaire re-read this paragraph wonderingly, then let the document fall +into her lap. So Dave was an adopted son, and not actually the child of +this woman, Maria Joséfa Law. She wondered if he knew it, and, if so, +why he hadn't told her? But, after all, what difference did it make who +or what he was? He was hers to love and to comfort, hers to cherish and +to serve. + +For a long time she sat gazing at him tenderly; then she tiptoed out +and delighted the naked Garcia baby by taking him in her arms and +hugging him. Inez thought the beautiful señora's voice was like the +music of birds. + +It was growing dark when Dave was awakened by cool hands upon his face +and by soft lips upon his. He opened his eyes to find Alaire bending +over him. + +"You must get up," she smiled. "It is nearly time to go, and Inez is +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 so for a +while, whispering now and then, trying ineffectually to voice 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 one eye +on you. I'm terribly selfish; I can't bear to lose one minute." After a +while she said: "I've made a discovery. Father O'Malley snores +dreadfully! Juanito never heard anything like it, and it frightened him +nearly to death. He says the Father must be a very fierce man to growl +so loudly. He says, too, that he likes me much better than his mother." + +It seemed to Dave that the bliss of this awakening and the sweet +intimacy of this one moment more than rewarded him for all he had gone +through, and paid him for any unhappiness the future might hold in +store. + +He felt called upon to tell Alaire the truth about himself; but with +her in his arms he had no strength of purpose; her every endearment +made him the more aware of his weakness. Again he asked himself when +and how he could bear to tell her? Not now. Certainly not now when she +was trembling under his caresses. + +"I've been busy, too," she was saying. "I sent Juan to the village to +learn the news, and it's not very nice. It's good we stopped here. He +says Nuevo Pueblo has been destroyed, and the Federal forces are all +moving south, away from the border. So our troubles aren'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 of myself." + +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 of unopened +letters?" + +"Oh, those! They came just as I was leaving Jonesville, and I haven't +thought of them since. You know, I haven't had my clothes off." + +"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 a jealous +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 with pain. + +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 are you +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 expecting this. +It seems I've been carrying it around all this time--" + +"Why don't you read it?" she insisted. "There's light enough there by +the window. I supposed you knew all about it or I wouldn't have joked +with you." + +He opened his lips to speak, but, seeing something in her eyes, he +stepped to the window and read swiftly. A moment, and then he uttered a +cry. + +"Alaire!" he exclaimed, hoarsely. "Read this--My eyes--O God!" + +Wonderingly she took the sheets from his shaking hands and read aloud +the paragraph he indicated: Fifth: I bequeath to my adopted son, David, +offspring of the unfortunate American woman who died in my house at +Escovedo-- + +Again Dave cried out and knelt at Alaire's feet, his arms about her +knees, his face buried in her dress. His shoulders were heaving and his +whole body was racked with sobs. + +Shocked, frightened, Alaire tried to raise him, but he encircled her in +a tighter embrace. + +"Dave! What is it? What have I done?" she implored. "Have I hurt you +so?" + +It was a long time before he could make known the significance of that +paragraph, and when he finally managed to tell her about the terrible +fear that had lain so heavily upon his soul it was in broken, choking +words which showed his deep emotion. The story was out at last, +however, and he stood over her transfigured. + +Alaire lifted her arms and placed them upon his shoulders. "Were you +going to give me up for that?--for a shadow?" + +"Yes. I had made up my mind. I wouldn't have dared marry you last +night, but--I never expected to see today's sun. I didn't think it +would make much difference. It was more than a shadow, Alaire. It was +real. I WAS mad--stark, staring mad--or in a fair way of becoming so. I +suppose I brooded too much. Those violent spells, those wild moments I +sometimes have, made me think it must be true. I dare say they are no +more than temper, but they seemed to prove 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. We would have +met it together when it came, just as we'll meet everything now--you +and I, together." + +"My wife!" He laid his lips against her hair. + +They were standing beside the window, speechless, oblivious to all +except their great love, when Dolores entered to tell them that supper +was ready and that the horses were saddled. + + + + +XXXII + +THE DAWN + + +Juan Garcia proved to be a good guide, and he saved the refugees many +miles on their road to the Rio Grande. But every farm and every village +was a menace, and at first they were forced to make numerous detours. +As the night grew older, however, they rode a straighter course, urging +their horses to the limit, hoping against hope to reach the border +before daylight overtook them. This they might have done had it not +been for Father O'Malley and Dolores, who were unused to the saddle and +unable to maintain the pace Juan set for them. + +About midnight the party stopped on the crest of a flinty ridge to give +their horses breath and to estimate their progress. The night was fine +and clear; outlined against the sky were the stalks of countless +sotol-plants standing slim and bare, like the upright lances 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 me we'll +never reach Romero by morning, at this rate," he said; and Dave was +forced to agree. "I think you and he and Alaire had better go on and +leave Dolores and me to follow as best we can." + +Dolores plaintively seconded this suggestion. "I would rather be burned +at the stake than suffer these agonies," she confessed. "My bones are +broken. The devil is in this horse." She began to weep softly. "Go, +señora. Save yourself! It is my accursed fat stomach that hinders me. +Tell Benito that I perished breathing his name, and see to it, when he +remarries, that he retains none of my treasures." + +Alaire reassured her by saying: "We won't leave you. Be brave and make +the best of it." + +"Yes, grit your teeth and hold on," Dave echoed. "We'll manage to make +it somehow." + +But progress was far slower than it should have been, and the elder +woman continued to lag behind, voicing her distress in groans and +lamentations. The priest, who was made of sterner stuff, did his best +to bear his tortures cheerfully. + +In spite of their efforts the first rosy heralds of dawn discovered +them still a long way from the river and just entering a more thickly +settled country. Daylight came swiftly, and Juan finally gave them +warning. + +"We can't go on; the danger is too great," he told them. "If the +soldiers are still in Romero, what then?" + +"Have you no friends hereabouts who would take us in?" Dave inquired. + +The Mexican shook his head. + +Dave considered for a moment. "You must hide here," he told his +companions, "while I ride on to Romero and see what can be done. I +suspect Blanco's troops have left, and in that case everything will be +all right." + +"Suppose they haven't?" Alaire inquired. All night she had been in the +lightest of moods, and had steadily refused to take their perils +seriously. Now her smile chased the frown from her husband's face. + +"Well, perhaps I'll have breakfast with them," he laughed. + +"Silly. I won't let you go," she told him, firmly; and, reading the +expression in her face, he felt a dizzy wonder. "We'll find a nice +secluded spot; then we'll sit down and wait for night to come. We'll +pretend we're having a picnic." + +Dolores sighed at the suggestion. "That would be heaven, but there can +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 very soldiers now! +See!" + +Far away, but evidently approaching at a smart gait, was a body of +mounted 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 he took Juan's +Winchester, saying: "Ride in a little way farther and wait. I'm going +back. If you hear me shoot, break for the river. Ride hard and keep +under cover as much as possible." Before they could remonstrate he had +wheeled Montrosa and was gone. + +This was luck, he told himself. Ten miles more and they would have been +safe, for the Rio Grande is not a difficult river either to ford or to +swim. He dismounted and made his way on foot to a point where he could +command a view, but he had barely established himself when he found +Alaire at his side. + +"Go back," he told her. But she would not, and so they waited together. + +There were perhaps a dozen men in the approaching squad, and Dave saw +that they were heavily accoutred. They rode fast, too, and at their +head galloped a large man under a wide-brimmed felt hat. It soon became +evident that the soldiers were not uniformed. Therefore, Dave reasoned, +they were not Federals, but more probably some Rebel scouting band from +the south, and yet--He rubbed his eyes and stared again. + +Dave pressed forward eagerly, incredulously; the next instant he had +broken cover with a shout. Alaire was at his side, clapping her hands +and laughing with excitement. + +The cavalcade halted; the big man tumbled from his saddle and came +straddling through the high grass, waving his hat and yelling. + +"Blaze! You old scoundrel!" Dave cried, and seized one of the +ranchman's palms while Alaire shook the other. + +"Say! We're right glad to see you-all," Jones exclaimed. "We reckoned +you might be havin' a sort of unpleasantness with Longorio, so we +organized up and came to get you." + +The other horsemen were crowding close now, and their greetings were +noisy. There were the two Guzman boys, Benito Gonzales, Phil Strange, +and a number of Jonesville's younger and more adventurous citizens. + +In the midst of the tumult Benito inquired for his wife, and Dave +relieved his anxiety by calling Dolores and Father O'Malley. Then, in +answer to the questions showered upon him, he swiftly sketched the +story of Alaire's rescue and their flight from La Feria. + +When he had finished Blaze Jones drew a deep breath. "We're mighty glad +you got out safe, but you've kicked the legs from under one of my pet +ambitions. I sure had planned to nail Longorio's hide on my barn door. +Yes, and you've taken the bread out of the mouths of the space writers +and sob sisters from here to Hudson's Bay. Miz Austin, 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 and singin' battle hymns, +but I reckon the government figures that the original of those +newspaper pictures would be safe anywhere. Well, we've got our own +ideas in Jonesville, so some of us assembled ourselves and declared war +on our own hook. These gentlemen"--Blaze waved his hand proudly at his +neighbors--"constitute the Jonesville Guards, the finest body of +American men that has invaded Mexican soil since me and Dave went after +Ricardo Guzman's remains. Blamed if I ain't sorry you sidetracked our +expedition." + +It was evident, from the words of the others, that the Jonesville +Guards were indeed quite as heedless of international complications as +was their commander. One and all were highly incensed at Longorio's +perfidy, and, had Alaire suggested such a thing, it was patent that +they would have ridden on to La Feria and exacted a reckoning from him. + +Such proof of friendship affected her deeply, and it was not until they +were all under way back toward Romero that she felt she had made her +appreciation fully known. When she reflected that these men were some +of the very neighbors whom she had shunned and slighted, and whose +honest interest she had so habitually misconstrued all these years, it +seemed very strange that they should feel the least concern over her. +It gave her a new appreciation of their chivalry and their worth; it +filled her with a humble desire to know them better and to strengthen +herself in their regard. Then, too, the esteem in which they held +Dave--her husband--gratified her intensely. It made no more difference +to them than to her that he was a poor man, a man without authority or +position; they evidently saw and loved in him the qualities which she +saw and loved. And that was as it should be. + +They were gentle and considerate men, too, as she discovered when they +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 been attended to. José +Sanchez, it appeared, had confessed freely. Although her new friends +made plain their indignation at the manner of Ed's taking off, they +likewise let her know that they considered his death only a slight +loss, either to her or to the community. Not one of them pretended it +was anything except a blessing. + +The journey drew to an end very quickly. Romero, deserted now by its +garrison, stirred and stared sleepily at the invaders, but concerned +itself with their presence no more than to wonder why they laughed and +talked so spiritedly. Plainly, these gringos were a barbarous race of +people, what with their rushing here and there, and with their loud, +senseless laughter. God had wisely placed 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, the air so clear, +the sky so high, the world so smiling, as here and now. The men who had +ridden forth to seek her were smiling, too, and they were shaking her +hands and congratulating her. Even the Guzman boys, who were shy in the +presence of American ladies, were wishing her the best of fortune and +the greatest of happiness. + +Blaze Jones was the last to leave. With especial emphasis upon her +name, he said: "Miz Austin, Paloma and me would like to have you come +to our house and stay until you feel like goin' back to Las Palmas." + +When Alaire declined with moistened eyes, explaining that she could not +well accept his invitation, he signified his understanding. + +"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 of good +people in this part of Texas, and them that ain't so good God and the +Rangers is slowly weedin' out. We don't always know the ones we like +best until something happens to 'em, but if you'd heard the prayers the +folks of Jonesville have been sayin' lately you'd know you was our +favorite." Then, with a meaning twinkle in his eye, he told her, +gravely: "It seems a pity that I ain't younger 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 our wishes." + +Father O'Malley had ridden on ahead with Benito and Dolores; Dave and +Alaire followed leisurely. Now that the moment of their parting was at +hand, they lingered by the way, delaying it as long as possible, +feeling a natural constraint at what was in their minds. + +"How long--will it be?" he asked her, finally. "How long before I can +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 the heart +of each of them. + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Heart of the Sunset, by Rex Beach + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEART OF THE SUNSET *** + +***** This file should be named 5099-8.txt or 5099-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/5099/ + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Heart of the Sunset + +Author: Rex Beach + +Posting Date: December 14, 2009 [EBook #5099] +Release Date: February, 2004 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEART OF THE SUNSET *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + +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 plaster hard. It +burned like hot slag, and except for a panting lizard here and there, +or a dust-gray jack-rabbit, startled from its covert, nothing animate +stirred upon its face. High and motionless in the blinding sky a +buzzard poised; long-tailed Mexican crows among the thorny branches +creaked and whistled, choked and rattled, snored and grunted; a dove +mourned inconsolably, and out of the air issued metallic insect +cries--the direction whence they came as unascertainable as their +source was hidden. + +Although the sun was half-way down the west, its glare remained +untempered, and the tantalizing shade of the sparse mesquite was more +of a trial than a comfort to the lone woman who, refusing its deceitful +invitation, plodded steadily over the waste. Stop, indeed, she dared +not. In spite of her fatigue, regardless of the torture from feet and +limbs unused to walking, she must, as she constantly assured herself, +keep going until strength failed. So far, fortunately, she had kept her +head, and she retained sufficient reason to deny the fanciful +apprehensions which clamored for audience. If she once allowed herself +to become panicky, she knew, she would fare worse--far worse--and now, +if ever, 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, devoid of +landmarks and lacking well-defined water-courses. The unending mesquite +with its first spring foliage resembled a limitless peach-orchard sown +by some careless and unbelievably prodigal hand. Out of these false +acres occasional knolls and low stony hills lifted themselves so that +one came, now and then, to vantage-points where the eye leaped for +great distances across imperceptible valleys to horizons so far away +that the scattered tree-clumps were blended into an unbroken carpet of +green. To the woman these outlooks were unutterably depressing, merely +serving to reveal the vastness of the desolation about her. + +At the crest of such a rise she paused and studied the country +carefully, but without avail. She felt dizzily for the desert bag swung +from her shoulder, only to find it flat and dry; the galvanized +mouthpiece burned her fingers. With a little shock she remembered that +she had done this very thing several times before, and her repeated +forgetting frightened her, since it seemed to show that her mind had +been slightly unbalanced by the heat. That perhaps explained why the +distant horizon swam and wavered so. + +In all probability a man situated as she was would have spoken aloud, +in an endeavor to steady himself; but this woman did nothing of the +sort. Seating herself in the densest shade she could find--it was +really no shade at all--she closed her eyes and relaxed--no easy thing +to do in such a stifling temperature and when her throat was aching +with drought. + +At length she opened her eyes again, only to find that she could make +out nothing familiar. Undoubtedly she was lost; the water-hole might be +anywhere. She listened tensely, and the very air seemed to listen with +her; the leaves hushed their faint whisperings; 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 with hers, yet no sound came save only the monotonous +crescendo and diminuendo of those locust-cries coming out of nowhere +and retreating into the voids. At last, as if satisfied, the leaves +began to whisper softly again. + +Away to her left lay the yellow flood of the Rio Grande, but the woman, +though tempted to swing in that direction, knew better than to yield. +At least twenty miles of barrens lay between, and she told herself that +she could never cover such a distance. No, the water-hole was nearer; +it must be close at hand. If she could only think a little more +clearly, she could locate it. Once more she tried, as she had tried +many times before, to recall the exact point where she had shot her +horse, and to map in her mind's eye the foot-weary course she had +traveled from that point onward. + +Desert travel was nothing new to her, thirst and fatigue were old +acquaintances, yet she could not help wondering if, in spite of her +training, in spite of that inborn sense of direction which she had +prided herself upon sharing with the wild creatures, she were fated to +become a victim of the chaparral. The possibility was remote; death at +this moment seemed as far off as ever--if anything it was too far off. +No, she would find the water-hole somehow; or the unexpected would +happen, as it always did when one was 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 her +shoulder and the loose cartridge-belt at her hip, then set her dusty +feet down the slope. + +Day died lingeringly. The sun gradually lost its cruelty, but a partial +relief from the heat merely emphasized the traveler's thirst and +muscular distress. Onward she plodded, using her eyes as carefully as +she knew how. She watched the evening flight of the doves, thinking to +guide herself by their course, but she was not shrewd enough to read +the signs correctly. The tracks she found were old, for the most part, +and they led in no particular direction, nowhere uniting into anything +like a trail. She wondered, if she could bring herself to drink the +blood of a jack-rabbit, and if it would quench her thirst. But the +thought was repellent, and, besides, she was not a good shot with a +revolver. Nor did the cactus offer any relief, since it was only just +coming into bloom, and as yet bore no fruit. + +The sun had grown red and huge when at last in the hard-baked dirt she +discovered fresh hoof-prints. These seemed to lead along the line in +which she was traveling, and she followed them gladly, encouraged when +they were joined by others, for, although they meandered aimlessly, +they formed something more like a trail than anything she had as yet +seen. Guessing at their general direction, she hurried on, coming +finally into a region where the soil was shallow and scarcely served to +cover the rocky substratum. A low bluff rose on her left, and along its +crest scattered Spanish daggers were raggedly silhouetted against the +sky. + +She was in a well-defined path now; she tried to run, but her legs were +heavy; she stumbled a great deal, and her breath made strange, +distressing sounds as it issued from her open lips. Hounding the steep +shoulder of the ridge, she hastened down a declivity into a knot of +scrub-oaks and ebony-trees, then halted, staring ahead of her. + +The nakedness of the stony arroyo, the gnarled and stunted thickets, +were softened by the magic of twilight; the air had suddenly cooled; +overhead the empty, flawless sky was deepening swiftly from blue to +purple; the chaparral had awakened and echoed now to the sounds of +life. Nestling in a shallow, flinty bowl was a pool of water, and on +its brink a little fire was burning. + +It was a tiny fire, overhung with a blackened pot; the odor of +greasewood and mesquite smoke was sharp. A man, rising swiftly to his +feet at the first sound, was staring at the new-comer; he was as alert +as any wild thing. But the woman scarcely heeded him. She staggered +directly toward the pond, seeing nothing after the first glance except +the water. She would have flung herself full length upon the edge, but +the man stepped forward and stayed her, then placed a tin cup in her +hand. She mumbled something in answer to his greeting and the hoarse, +raven-like croak in her voice startled her; then she drank, with +trembling eagerness, drenching the front of her dress. The water was +warm, but it was clean and delicious. + +"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 grateful that +she was tempted to fling herself bodily into the pool. The man was +still talking, but she took no heed of what he said. Then at last she +sank back, her feet curled under her, her body sagging, her head +drooping. She felt the stranger's hands beneath her arms, felt herself +lifted to a more comfortable position. Without asking permission, the +stranger unlaced first one, then the other of her dusty boots, seeming +not to notice her weak attempt at resistance. Once he had placed her +bare feet in the water, she forgot her resentment in the intense relief. + +The man left her seated in a collapsed, semi-conscious state, and went +back to his fire. For the time she was too tired to do more than refill +the drinking-cup occasionally, or to wet her face and arms, but as her +pores drank greedily her exhaustion lessened and her vitality returned. + +It was dark when for the first time she turned her head toward the +camp-fire and stared curiously at the figure there. The appetizing odor +of broiling bacon had drawn her attention, and as if no move went +unnoticed the man said, without lifting his eyes: + +"Let 'em soak! Supper'll be ready directly. How'd you like your +eggs--if we had any?" + +Evidently he expected no reply, for after a chuckle he began to whistle +softly, in a peculiarly clear and liquid tone, almost like some +bird-call. He had spoken with an unmistakable Texas drawl; the woman +put him down at once for a cowboy. She settled her back against a +boulder and rested. + +The pool had become black and mysterious, the sky was studded with +stars when he called her, and she laboriously drew on her stockings and +boots. Well back from the fire he had arranged a seat for her, using a +saddle-blanket for a covering, and upon this she lowered herself +stiffly. As she did so she took fuller notice of 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 strong enough +to walk on its hands, and I reckon about two cups of it'll rastle you +into shape." As she raised the tin mug to her lips he waved a hand and +smiled. "Drink hearty!" He set a plate of bread and bacon in her lap, +then opened a glass jar of jam. "Here's the dulces. I've got a sort of +sweet tooth in my head. I reckon you'll have to make out with this, +'cause I rode in too late to rustle any fresh meat, and the +delivery-wagon won't be 'round before morning." 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 watched her through +the smoke from a husk cigarette. It was perhaps fortunate for her peace +of mind that she could not correctly interpret his expression, for had +she been able to do so she would have realized something of the turmoil +into which her presence had thrown him. He was accustomed to meeting +men in unexpected places--even in the desert's isolation--but to have a +night camp in the chaparral 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 of +his solitary habits. + +"Have you had your supper?" she finally inquired. + +"Who, me? Oh, I'll eat with the help." He smiled, and when his flashing +teeth showed white against his leathery tan the woman decided he was +not at all bad-looking. He was very tall and quite lean, with the long +legs of a horseman--this latter feature accentuated by his high-heeled +boots and by the short canvas cowboy coat that reached only to his +cartridge-belt. His features she could not well make out, for the fire +was little more than a bed of coals, and he fed it, Indian-like, with a +twig or two at a time. + +"I beg your pardon. I'm selfish." She extended her cup and plate as an +invitation for him to share their contents. "Please eat with me." + +But he refused. "I ain't hungry," he affirmed. "Honest!" + +Accustomed as she was to the diffidence of ranch-hands, she refrained +from urging him, and proceeded with her repast. When she had 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 I made +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 ten +miles straightaway, and I reckon you came crooked. Eh?" + +"Yes. And it was very hot. I was never here but once, and--the country +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 fact appeared +to please him, for he nodded again as he went on with his meal. "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 East outfit, +or some of the other big cattle-ranches in the Hebbronville district. +Probably he was a range boss or a foreman. After a time she said, "I +suppose the nearest ranch is that Balli place?" + +"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 in the +morning." + +He looked up at her from under the brim of his hat. "D'you reckon you +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?" he asked. +"I reckon you need a good rest about as much as anybody I ever 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 to stay +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." Heedless of +her dismay, he continued, "Yes'm, about sundown." + +"But--I can't stay here. I'll ride to Balli's and have your horse back +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't +interfere with your appointment to let me--" + +Law smiled slowly, and, setting his plate aside, selected a fresh +cigarette; then as he reached for a coal he explained: + +"I haven't got what you'd exactly call an appointment. This feller I'm +expectin' is a Mexican, and day before yesterday he killed a man over +in Jim Wells County. They got me by 'phone at Hebbronville 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. I was 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 my man +comes. Do you live around here?" The speaker looked up inquiringly, and +after an instant's hesitation the woman said, quietly: + +"I am Mrs. Austin." She was grateful for the gloom that hid her face. +"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 when we had +that fight near there." + +"You were a Maderista?" + +"Yes'm. Machine-gun man. That's a fine country over there. Seems like +God Almighty got mixed and put the Mexicans on the wrong side of the +Rio Grande. But I reckon you haven't seen much of La Feria since 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 La Feria." + +Law shrugged his broad shoulders. "Oh, well, the revolution isn't over! +A ranch in Mexico is my idea of a bad investment." He rose and, taking +his blanket, sought a favorable spot upon which to spread it. Then he +helped Mrs. Austin to her feet--her muscles had stiffened until she +could barely stand--after which he fetched his saddle for a pillow. He +made no apologies for his meager hospitality, nor did his guest expect +any. + +When he had staked out his horse for the night he returned to find the +woman rolled snugly in her covering, as in a cocoon. The dying embers +flickered into flame and lit her hair redly. She had laid off her felt +Stetson, and one loosened braid lay over her hard pillow. Thinking her +asleep, Law stood motionless, making no attempt 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 tame him. +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 his +slicker, turned away. + +As he lay staring up through the thorny mesquite branches that roofed +him inadequately from the dew he marveled mightily. A bright, +steady-burning star peeped through the leaves at him, and as he watched +it he remembered that this red-haired woman with the still, white face +was known far and wide through the lower valley as "The Lone Star." +Well, he mused, the name fitted her; she was, if reports were true, +quite as mysterious, quite as cold and fixed and unapproachable, as the +title implied. Knowledge of her identity had come as a shock, for Law +knew something of her history, and to find her suing for his protection +was quite thrilling. Tales of her pale beauty were common and not tame, +but she was all and more than she had been described. And yet why had +no one told him she was so young? This woman's youth and attractiveness +amazed him; he felt that he had made a startling discovery. Was she so +cold, after all, or was she merely reserved? Red hair above a pure +white face; a woman's form wrapped in his blanket; ripe red lips +caressing the rim of his mean drinking-cup! Those were things to think +about. Those were pictures for a lonely man. + +She had not been too proud and cold to let him help her. In her fatigue +she had allowed him to lift her and to make her more comfortable. Hot +against his palms--palms unaccustomed to the touch of woman's flesh--he +felt the contact of her naked feet, as at the moment when he had placed +them in the cooling water. Her feeble resistance had only called +attention to her sex--to the slim whiteness of her ankles beneath her +short riding-skirt. + +Following his first amazement at beholding her had come a fantastic +explanation of her presence--for a moment or two it had seemed as if +the fates had taken heed of his yearnings and had sent her to him out +of the dusk--wild fancies, like these, bother men who are much alone. +Of course he had not dreamed that she was the mistress of Las Palmas. +That altered matters, and yet--they were to spend a long idle day +together. If the Mexican did not come, another night like this would +follow, and she was virtually his 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 their traces. +The toxins of fatigue not only poisoned her muscles with aches and +pains, but drugged her brain and rendered the night a long succession +of tortures during which she experienced for a second time the agonies +of thirst and fatigue and despair. Extreme physical ordeals, like +profound emotional upheavals, leave imprints upon the brain, and while +the body may recover quickly, it often requires considerable time to +rest exhausted nerves. The finer the nervous organism, the slower is +the process of recuperation. Like most normal women, Alaire had a +surprising amount of endurance, both nervous and muscular, but, having +drawn heavily against her reserve force, she paid the penalty. During +the early hours of the night she slept hardly at all, and as soon as +her bodily discomfort began to decrease her mind became unruly. Twice +she rose and limped to the water-hole for a drink, and it was not until +nearly dawn that she dropped off into complete unconsciousness. She was +awakened by a sunbeam which pierced her leafy shelter and with hot +touch explored her upturned face. + +It was still early; the sun had just cleared the valley's rim and the +ground was damp with dew. Somewhere near by an unfamiliar bird was +sweetly trilling. Alaire listened dreamily until the bird-carol changed +to the air of a familiar cowboy song, then she sat up, queerly startled. + +David Law was watering his horse, grooming the animal meanwhile with a +burlap doth. Such attention was unusual in a stock country where horses +run wild, but this horse, Mrs. Austin saw, justified unusual care. It +was a beautiful blood-bay mare, and as the woman looked it lifted its +head, then with wet, trembling muzzle caressed its owner's cheek. +Undoubtedly this attention was meant for a kiss, and was as daintily +conferred as any woman's favor. It brought a reward in a lump of sugar. +There followed an exhibition of equine delight; the mare's lips +twitched, her nose wrinkled ludicrously, she stretched her neck and +tossed her head as the sweetness tickled her palate. Even the nervous +switching of her tail was eloquent of pleasure. Meanwhile the owner +showed his white teeth in a smile. + +"Good morning," said Mrs. Austin. + +Law lifted his hat in a graceful salute as he approached around the +edge of the pool, his spurs jingling musically. The mare followed. + +"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." Law paused, +and the mare, with sharp ears cocked forward, looked over his shoulder +inquisitively. "Tell the lady good morning, Bessie Belle," he directed. +The animal flung its head high, then stepped forward and, stretching +its neck, sniffed doubtfully at the visitor. + +"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 plumb +ignorant. But she's got all the airs of a fine lady now. Sometimes I 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 Belle tossed her head +high. "That's 'yes,' with the reverse English," the speaker explained. +"Now you just rest yourself, ma'am, and order 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 sure be +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 the arroyo, +then returned, and, taking his Winchester from its scabbard, explained: +"There's a pair of 'top-knots' on that side-hill waitin' for a drink. +Watch 'em run into my lap when I give the distress signal of our secret +order." He skirted the water-hole, and seated himself with his heels +together and his elbows propped upon his spread knees in the military +position for close shooting. From where he sat he commanded an +unobstructed view of the thicket's edge. Next he moistened his lips and +uttered an indescribable low whistle. At intervals he repeated the +call, while the woman looked on with interest. Suddenly out of the +grass burst a blue quail, running with wings outstretched and every +feather ruffled angrily. It paused, the man's cheeks snuggled against +the stock of his gun, and the bark of the thirty-thirty sounded loudly. +Mrs. Austin saw that he had shot the little bird's head off. She spoke, +but he stilled her with a gesture, threw in a second shell, and +repeated his magic call. There was a longer wait this time, but finally +the performance was repeated. The marksman rose, 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 good shot." + +"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 snake has +got me. I reckon each one thinks the other is in trouble and comes to +the rescue. Anyhow, it's a mighty mean trick." + +He would not permit her to help with the breakfast, so she lay back +enjoying the luxury of her hard bed and watching her host, whose +personality, now that she saw him by daylight, had begun to challenge +her interest. Of late years she had purposely avoided men, and +circumstances had not permitted her to study those few she had been +forced to meet; but now that fate had thrown her into the company of +this stranger, she permitted some play to her curiosity. + +Physically Law was of an admirable make--considerably over six feet in +height, with wide shoulders and lean, strong limbs. Although his face +was schooled to mask all but the keenest emotions, the deftness of his +movements was eloquent, betraying that complete muscular and nervous +control which comes from life in the open. A pair of blue-gray, +meditative eyes, with a whimsical fashion of wrinkling half-shut when +he talked, relieved a countenance that otherwise would have been a +trifle grim and somber. The nose was prominent and boldly arched, the +ears large and pronounced and standing well away from the head; the +mouth was thin-lipped and mobile. Alaire tried to read that bronzed +visage, with little success until she closed her eyes and regarded the +mental image. Then she found the answer: Law had the face and the head +of a hunter. The alert ears, the watchful eyes, the predatory nose were +like those of some hunting animal. Yes, that was decidedly the +strongest impression he gave. And yet in his face there was nothing +animal in a bad sense. Certainly it showed no grossness. The man was +wild, untamed, rather than sensual, and despite his careless use of the +plains vernacular he seemed to be rather above the average in education +and intelligence. At any rate, without being stupidly tongue-tied, he +knew enough to remain silent when there was nothing to say, and that +was a blessing, for Mrs. Austin herself was not talkative, and idle +chatter distressed her. + +On the whole, when Alaire had finished her analysis she rather resented +the good impression Law had made upon her, for on general principles +she chose to dislike and distrust men. Rising, she walked painfully to +the pond and made a leisurely toilet. + +Breakfast was ready when she returned, and once more the man sat upon +his heels and smoked while she ate. Alaire could not catch his eyes +upon her, except when he spoke, at which time his gaze was direct and +open; yet never did she feel free from his intensest observation. + +After a while she remarked: "I'm glad to see a Ranger in this county. +There has been a lot of stealing down our way, and the Association men +can't seem to stop it. Perhaps you can." + +"The Rangers have a reputation in that line," he admitted. "But there +is stealing all up and down the border, since the war. You lost any +stuff?" + +"Yes. Mostly horses." + +"Sure! They need horses in Mexico." + +"The ranchers have organized. They have formed a sort of vigilance +committee in each town, and talk of using bloodhounds." + +"Bloodhounds ain't any good, outside of novels. If beef got scarce, +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 got in 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 express her +surprise without too personal an implication. "I can't imagine +anybody--that is, a man like you, as a common soldier." + +"Well, I wasn't exactly that," he grinned. "No, I was about the most +UNcommon soldier out there. I had a speakin' acquaintance with most of +the guard-houses in the islands before I got through." + +"But why did you enlist--a man like you?" + +"Why?" He pondered the question. "I was young. I guess I needed the +excitement. I have to get about so much or I don't enjoy my food." + +"Did you join the Maderistas for excitement?" + +"Mostly. Then, too, I believed Panchito Madero was honest and would +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 they are +told to fight. There is no PATRIOTISM in them," said she. + +"I think," he said, with grave deliberateness, "the majority feel +something big and vague and powerful stirring inside them. They don't +know exactly what it is, perhaps, but it is there. Mexico has outgrown +her dictators. They have been overthrown by the same causes that +brought on the French Revolution." + +"The French Revolution!" Alaire leaned forward, eying the speaker with +startled intensity. "You don't talk like a--like an enlisted man. What +do you know about the French Revolution?" + +Reaching for a coal, the Ranger spoke without facing her. "I've read 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't suppose 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 a native," 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, and +something 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 of adventure and a happy lack +of settled purpose had led him to neglect his more commonplace +opportunities and sent him first into the army and thence into the +Ranger service. The world is full of such, and the frontier is their +gathering-place. Mrs. Austin had met a number of men like Law, and to +her they seemed to be the true soldiers of fortune--fellows who lived +purely for the fun of living, and leavened their days with adventure. +They were buoyant souls, for the most part, drifting with the tide, +resentful of authority and free from care; meeting each day with +enthusiastic expectancy for what it held in store. They were restless +and improvident; the world counted them ne'er-do-wells, and yet she +knew that at least their hours were full and that their names--some of +them--were written large in the distant places. Alaire Austin often +told herself that, had she been born a man, such a life as this might +have been hers, and she took pleasure in dreaming sometimes of the +experience that fate, in such a case, would have brought to her. + +Being a woman, however, and being animated at this particular moment by +a peculiarly feminine impulse, she felt urged to add her own touch to +what nature had roughed out. This man had been denied what she termed +an education; therefore she decided to put one in his way. + +"Do you like to read?" she asked him. + +"Say! It's my favorite form of exercise." Law's blue-gray eyes were +expressionless, his face was bland. "Why?" + +"I have a great many books at Las Palmas. You might enjoy some of them." + +"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 come +borrowin'." + +"Oh, I'll send you a boxful when I get back," said Alaire, and Dave +thanked her humbly. + +Later, when he went to move his mare into a shady spot, the Ranger +chuckled and slapped his thigh with his hat. "Bessie Belle, we're going +to improve our minds," he said, aloud. "We're going to be literary and +read Pilgrim's Progress and Alice in Wonderland. I bet we'll enjoy 'em, +eh? But--doggone! She's a nice lady, and your coat 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 the heat of +the forenoon she dozed. + +Asleep she exercised upon him an even more disturbing effect than when +awake, for now he could study her beauty deliberately, from the loose +pile of warm, red hair to the narrow, tight-laced boots. What he saw +was altogether delightful. Her slightly parted lips offered an +irresistible attraction--almost an invitation; the heat had lent a +feverish flush to her cheeks; Dave could count the slow pulsations of +her white throat. He closed his eyes and tried to quell his unruly +longings. He was a strong man; adventurous days and nights spent in the +open had coarsened the masculine side of his character, perhaps at +expense to his finer nature, for it is a human tendency to revert. He +was masterful and ruthless; lacking obligations or responsibilities of +any sort, he had been accustomed to take what he wanted; therefore the +gaze he fixed upon the sleeping woman betrayed an ardor calculated to +deepen the color in her cheeks, had she beheld it. + +And yet, strangely enough, Dave realized that his emotions were +unaccountably mixed. This woman's distress had, of course, brought a +prompt and natural response; but now her implicit confidence in his +honor and her utter dependence upon him awoke his deepest chivalry. +Then, too, the knowledge that her life was unhappy, indeed tragic, +filled him with a sort of wondering pity. As he continued to look at +her these feelings grew until finally he turned away his face. With his +chin in his hands he stared out somberly into the blinding heat. He had +met few women, of late years, and never one quite like this--never one, +for instance, who made 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, and since +there was really nothing for her to do until the heat abated, Alaire, +when she awoke, obliged the Ranger to amuse her. + +Although she was in fact younger than he, married life had matured her, +and she treated him therefore like a boy. Law did not object. Mrs. +Austin's position in life was such that most men were humble in her +presence, and now her superior wisdom seemed to excite the Ranger's +liveliest admiration. Only now and then, as if in an unguarded moment, +did he appear to forget himself and speak with an authority equaling +her own. What he said at such times indicated either a remarkably +retentive memory or else an ability to think along original lines too +rare among men of his kind to be easily credited. + +For instance, during a discussion of the Mexican situation--and of +course their talk drifted thither, for at the moment it was the one +vitally interesting topic along the border--he excused the barbarous +practices of the Mexican soldiers by saying: + +"Of course they're cruel, vindictive, treacherous, but after all there +are only a hundred and forty generations between us and Adam; only a +hundred and forty lifetimes since the Garden of Eden. We civilized +peoples are only a lap or two ahead of the uncivilized ones. When you +think that it takes ten thousand generations to develop a plant and +root out some of its early heredities, you can see that human beings +have a long way yet to go 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-browned cowboy +sitting cross-legged under a mesquite-tree. + +From under her hat-brim Alaire Austin eyed the speaker with a curiosity +into which there had come a vague hostility. For the moment she was +suspicious and piqued, but Law did not appear to notice, and as he +talked on her doubts gradually subsided. + +"You said, last night, that you were born on the other side?" She +inclined her ruddy head to the west. + +"Yes'm. My father was a mining man, and he done well over there until +he locked horns with the Guadalupes. Old Don Enrique and him had a +run-in at the finish, over some land or something. It was when the Don +was gobbling all the property in the state, and laying the foundation +for his big fortune. You know he had permission from the president to +steal all the land he cared to, just like the rest of those local +governors had. Well, Guadalupe tried 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 good +Americans been killed in Mexico and nothing done about it, even in our +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 the Philippines the +Madero fuss was just brewing, so I went over and joined it. But it +didn't last long, and there wasn't enough fighting to suit me. I've +been back, off and on, since, and I've burned a good deal of Guadalupe +property and swum a good many head of Guadalupe stock." + +As the morning progressed Law proved himself an interesting companion, +and in spite of the discomforts of the situation the hours slipped past +rapidly. Luncheon was a disagreeable meal, eaten while the arroyo baked +and the heat devils danced on the hills; but the unpleasantness was of +brief duration, and Law always managed to banish boredom. Nor did he +seem to waste a thought upon the nature of that grim business which +brought him to this place. Quite the contrary, in the afternoon he put +his mare through her tricks for Alaire's edification, and gossiped idly +of whatever 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 safer covert. + +Returning, he carefully obliterated all traces of the camp. He watered +the ashes of the fire, gathered up the tell-tale scraps of paper and +fragments of food, and then when the place suited him fell 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 stay there, +ma'am. It may be a long wait, for something may have happened. If so +we'll have to lie close. And don't worry yourself none, ma'am; he won't +make no trouble." + +The afternoon drew to a close. Gradually the blinding white glare of +the sun lessened and yellowed, the shadow of the bluffs began to +stretch out. The shallow pool lay silent, deserted save for furtive +little shapes that darted nervously out of the leaves, or for 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 cowered low +in her hiding-place. But it was only the advance-guard of a bunch 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 remotest edge of the tanque, +then, alarmed at some imaginary sight or sound, went clattering up the +ravine. + +Once again the water-hole lay sleeping. + +Alaire's retreat was far from comfortable; there was an ants' nest +somewhere near her and she thought of moving; but suddenly her breath +caught and her heart jumped uncontrollably. She crouched lower, for +directly opposite her position, and outlined against the sky where the +sharp ridge cut it, was the figure of a mounted man. Rider and horse +were silhouetted against the pearl-gray heaven like an equestrian +statue. How long they had been there Alaire had no faintest notion. +Perhaps it was their coming which had alarmed the cattle. She was +conscious that a keen and hostile pair of eyes was searching the +coverts surrounding the charco. Then, as silently as it had appeared, +the apparition vanished beyond the ridge, and Alaire wondered if the +rider had taken alarm. She earnestly hoped so; this breathless vigil +was getting on her nerves, and the sight of that threatening figure had +set her pulses to throbbing. The rider was on his guard, that was +plain; he was armed, too, and probably desperate. The ominous +possibilities of this ambush struck her forcibly. + +Alaire lay close, as she had been directed, praying that the horseman +had been warned; but shortly she heard again the rustle of stiff +branches, and out into the opening rode a Mexican. He was astride a +wiry gray pony, and in the strong twilight Alaire could see his every +feature--the swarthy cheeks, the roving eyes beneath the black felt +hat. A carbine lay across his saddle-horn, a riata was coiled beside +his leg, a cartridge-belt circled his waist. There was something +familiar about the fellow, but at the moment Alaire could not determine +what it was. + +After one swift appraising glance the new-comer rode straight to the +verge of the water-hole and dismounted; then he and his horse drank +side by side. + +It was the moment for a complete and effective surprise, but nothing +happened. Why didn't Law act? Alaire bent low, straining eyes and ears, +but no command came from the Ranger. After a while the traveler rose to +his feet and stretched his limbs. Next he walked to the ashes of the +fire and looked down at them, stirring them 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 the possibility; this +delay was beyond her comprehension. + +Then, as if in answer to her perplexity, a second horseman appeared, +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 second +rider flung himself from his saddle and made for the water. He was +lying prone and drinking deeply when out of nowhere came a sharp +command. + +"Oiga! Hands up, both of you!" + +The first arrival jumped as if a rattlesnake had buzzed at his back, +the second leaped to his feet with an oath; they stared in the +direction whence the voice had come. + +"Drop your gun, companero!" The order was decisive; it was directed at +the man who had first appeared, for the other had left his 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 dark +hands rose slowly. Then the Ranger went on in Spanish: + +"Anto, lower your left hand and unbuckle your belt." Anto did as he was +told, his revolver and cartridge-belt dropped to the ground. "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. He +emptied the three discarded weapons, then, walking to Anto's horse, he +removed the second carbine from beneath the saddle-flap and 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 done nothing." +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, both +prisoners burst into clamorous explanation of their presence together. +Panfilo, it seemed, had encountered his companion purely by chance, and +was horrified now to learn that his newly made friend was wanted by the +authorities. In the midst of his incoherent protestations Mrs. Austin +appeared. + +"He is telling you the truth, Mr. Law," she said, quietly. "He is one +of my men." + +Both Mexicans looked blank. At sight of the speaker their mouths fell +open, and Panfilo ceased his gesticulations. + +Mrs. Austin went on: "He is my horse-breaker's cousin. He couldn't have +had any part in that murder in Jim Wells County, for he was at Las +Palmas when I left." + +Panfilo recovered from his amazement, removed his sombrero, and blessed +his employer extravagantly; then he turned triumphantly upon his +captor. "Behold!" cried he. "There you have the truth. I am an +excellent, hard-working man and as honest as God." + +"Surely you don't want him," Alaire appealed to Law. "He was probably +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. "Now then, +boys, it will soon be dark and we'll need some supper before we start. +It won't hurt Anto's horse to rest a bit, either. You are under +arrest," he added, addressing the latter. "You understand 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. The senora +will need a cup of tea, for we three have a long ride ahead of us." + +No time was lost. Both Mexicans fell to with a will, and in a +surprisingly short time water was boiling. When it came Law's turn to +eat, Alaire, who was eager to be gone, directed her employee to fetch +the Ranger's horse. Panfilo acquiesced readily and buckled on his +cartridge-belt and six-shooter. He was about to pick up his rifle, too, +but finding Law's eyes inquiringly fixed upon him, he turned with a +shrug and disappeared down the arroyo. It was plain that he considered +his friendly relations well established and resented the Ranger's +suspicion. + +"How long has that fellow been working for you?" Law jerked his head 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 all right." + +"Is he looking up range for you?" + +"N--no! I left him at the ranch. I don't know how he came to be here, +unless--It IS rather strange!" + +Dave shot a swift, interrogatory glance at Panfilo's traveling +companion, but Anto's face was stony, his black eyes were fixed upon +the fire. + +With an abrupt gesture Law flung aside the contents of his cup and +strode to Panfilo's horse, which stood dejectedly with reins hanging. + +"Where are you--going?" Alaire rose nervously. + +It was nearly dark now; only the crests of the ridges were plain +against the luminous sky; in the brushy bottom of the arroyo the +shadows were deep. Alaire had no wish to be left alone with the +prisoner. + +With bridle-rein and carbine in his left hand, the Ranger halted, then, +stooping for Anto's discarded cartridge-belt, he looped it over his +saddle-horn. He vaulted easily into the seat, saying: + +"I hid that mare pretty well. Your man may not be able to find her." +Then he turned his borrowed horse's head toward the brush. + +Anto had squatted motionless until this moment; he had not even turned +his eyes; but now, without the slightest warning, he uttered a loud +call. It might have served equally well as a summons or as an alarm, +but it changed the Ranger's suspicions into certainty. Dave uttered an +angry exclamation, then to the startled woman he cried: + +"Watch this man! He can't hurt you, for I've got his shells." To his +prisoner he said, sharply: "Stay where you are! Don't move!" The next +instant he had loped into the brush on the tracks of Panfilo Sanchez, +spurring the tired gray pony into vigorous action. + +It was an uncomfortable situation in which Alaire now found herself. +Law was too suspicious, she murmured to herself; he was needlessly +melodramatic; she felt exceedingly ill at ease as the pony's hoof-beats +grew fainter. She was not afraid of Anto, having dealt with Mexican +vaqueros for several years, yet she could not forget that he was a +murderer, and she wondered what she was expected to do if he should try +to escape. It was absurd to suppose that Panfilo, her own hired man, +could be capable of treachery; the mere suspicion was a sort of +reflection upon her. + +Alaire was startled by hearing other hoof-beats now; their drumming +came faint but unmistakable. Yes, there were two horses racing down the +arroyo. Anto, the fugitive, rose to his feet and stared into the dusk. +"Sit down!" Alaire ordered, sharply. He obeyed, muttering beneath his +breath, but his head was turned as if in an effort to follow the sounds +of the pursuit. + +Next came the distant rattle of loosened stones--evidently one horse +was being urged toward the open high ground--then the peaceful quiet +evening was split by the report of Law's thirty-thirty. Another shot +followed, and then a third. Both Alaire and her prisoner were on their +feet, the woman shaking in every limb, the Mexican straining his eyes +into the gloom and listening intently. + +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 Alaire felt she +must be dreaming, or that there had been some idiotic mistake. She +wondered if the Ranger's sudden charge had not simply frightened +Panfilo into a panicky flight, and she tried to put her thoughts into +words the Mexican would understand, but his answer was unintelligible. +His black scowl, however, was eloquent of uncertainty and apprehension. + +Alaire had begun to feel the strain of the situation and was trying to +decide what next to do, when David Law came riding out of the twilight. +He was astride the gray; behind him at the end of a 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 with +fury; he seemed gigantic in his rage. Without a word he raised his +right hand and cuffed the Mexican to his knees. Then he leaped upon +him, as a dog might pounce upon a rabbit, rolled him to his face, 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's grasp. Law knelt +upon him, and with a jerk of his riata secured the fellow's wrists; +rising, he set the knot with another heave that dragged the prisoner to +his knees. Next he booted Anto to his feet. + +"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 turned upon +her. The man's face was contorted, his eyes were blazing insanely, his +chest was heaving, and for an instant he seemed to include her in his +anger. Ignoring her inquiry, he went to his mare and ran his shaking +hands over her as if in search of an injury; his questing palms covered +every inch of glistening hide from forelock to withers, from shoulder +to hoof, and under cover of 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 snuggles close +to the man of her choice, he addressed the mare: "I reckon nobody is +going to steal you, eh? Not if I know it. No, sir; that hombre wasn't +any good, was he?" + +Alaire wet her lips. "Then you--shot him?" + +Law laughed grimly, almost mockingly. "Say! He must be a favorite of +yours?" + +"N-no! I hardly knew the fellow. But--did you?" + +"I didn't say I shot him," he told her, gruffly. "I warned him first, +and he turned on me--blew smoke in my face. Then he took to the brush, +afoot, and--I cut down on him once more to help him along." + +"He got away?" + +"I reckon so." + +"Oh, oh!" Alaire's tone left no doubt of her relief. "He was always a +good man--" + +"Good? Didn't he steal my horse? Didn't he aim to get me at the first +chance and free his compadre? That's why he wanted his Winchester. Say! +I reckon he--needs killin' about as much as anybody 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 his head +in Anto's direction. "I was afraid he--he'd try something. If he had--" +Such a possibility, oddly enough, seemed to choke the speaker, 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's go." + +The stars had thickened and brightened, rounding the night sky into a +glittering dome. Anto, the murderer, with his ankles lashed beneath his +horse's belly, rode first; next, in a sullen silence, came the Ranger, +his chin upon his breast; and in the rear followed Alaire Austin. + +In spite of her release from a trying predicament, the woman was +scarcely more eager to go home than was the prisoner, for while Anto's +trail led to a jail, hers led to Las Palmas, and there was little +difference. These last two days in the open had been like a glimpse of +freedom; for a time Alaire had almost lost the taste of bitter +memories. It had required an effort of will to drug remembrance, but +she had succeeded, and had proven her ability to forget. But now--Las +Palmas! It meant the usual thing, the same endless battle between her +duty and her desire. She was tired of the fight that resulted neither +in victory nor defeat; she longed now, 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 were exhausted? There was David Law, for +instance; he was utterly carefree, no duties shackled him. He had his +horse, his gun, and his 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 with himself +as she supposed. Even yet his mind was in a black turmoil from his +recent anger, and of late, be it said, these spells of temper had given +him cause for uneasiness. Then, too, there was a lie upon his lips. + +Under the stars, at the break of the arroyo, three hundred yards below +the water-hole, a coyote was slinking in a wide circle around the body +of Panfilo Sanchez. + + + + +IV + +AN EVENING AT LAS PALMAS + + +Although the lower counties of southwest Texas are flat and badly +watered, they possess a rich soil. They are favored, too, by a kindly +climate, subtropic in its mildness. The days are long and bright and +breezy, while night brings a drenching dew that keeps the grasses +green. Of late years there have been few of those distressing droughts +that gave this part of the state an evil reputation, and there has been +a corresponding increase in prosperity. The Rio Grande, jaundiced, +erratic as an invalid, wrings its saffron blood from the clay bluffs +and gravel canons of the hill country, but near its estuary winds +quietly through a low coastal plain which the very impurities of that +blood have richened. Here the river's banks are smothered in thickets +of huisache, ebony, mesquite, oak, and alamo. + +Railroads, those vitalizing nerve-fibers of commerce, are so scarce +along this division of the border that even in this day when we boast, +or lament, that we no longer have a frontier, there remain in Texas +sections larger than some of our Eastern states which hear the sound of +iron wheels only on their boundaries. To travel from Brownsville north +along the international line one must, for several hundred miles, avail +oneself of horses, mules, or motor-cars, since rail transportation is +almost lacking. And on his way the traveler will traverse whole +counties where the houses are jacals, where English is a foreign +tongue, and where peons plow their fields with crooked sticks as did +the ancient Egyptians. + +That part of the state which lies below the Nueces River was for a time +disputed territory, and long after Texans had given their lives to +drive the Eagle of Mexico across the Rio Grande much of it remained a +forbidden land. Even to-day it is alien. It is a part of our Southland, +but a South different to any other that we have. Within it there are no +blacks, and yet the whites number but one in twenty. The rest are +swarthy, black-haired men who speak the Spanish tongue and whose +citizenship is mostly a matter of form. + +The stockmen, pushing ahead of the nesters and the tillers of the soil, +were the first to invade the lower Rio Grande, and among these "Old Ed" +Austin was a pioneer. Out of the unmapped prairie he had hewed a +foothold, and there, among surroundings as Mexican as Mexico, he had +laid the beginnings of his fortune. + +Of "Old Ed's" early life strange stories are told; like the other +cattle barons, he was hungry for land and took it where or how he +could. There are tales of fertile sections bought for ten cents an +acre, tales of Mexican ranchers dispossessed by mortgage, by monte, or +by any means that came to hand; stories even of some, more stubborn +than the rest, who refused to feed the Austin greed for land, and who +remained on their farms to feed the buzzards instead. Those were crude +old days; the pioneers who pushed their herds into the far pastures +were lawless fellows, ruthless, acquisitive, mastered by the +empire-builder's urge for acres and still more acres. They were the +Reclaimers, the men who seized and held, and then seized more, +concerning themselves little or not at all with the moral law as +applicable to both Mexican and white, and leaving it to the second +generation to justify their acts, if ever justification were required. + +As other ranches grew under the hands of such unregenerate owners, so +also under "Old Ed" Austin's management did Las Palmas increase and +prosper. The estate took its name from a natural grove of palms in +which the house was built; it comprised an expanse of rich river-land +backed by miles of range where "Box A" cattle lived and bred. In his +later years the old man sold much land, and some he leased; but when he +handed Las Palmas to his son, "Young Ed," as a wedding gift, the ranch +still remained a property to be proud of, and one that was known far +and wide for its size and richness. Leaving his boy to work out of it a +fortune for 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 span exactly as +suited him best. The rancher's ideal of an agreeable old age comprised +three important items--to wit, complete leisure, unlimited freedom of +speech, and two pints of rye whisky daily. He enjoyed them all +impartially, until, about a year before this story opens, he died +profanely and comfortably. He had a big funeral, and was sincerely +mourned by a coterie of gouty old Indian-fighters. + +Las Palmas had changed greatly since Austin, senior, painfully scrawled +his slanting signature to the deed. It was a different ranch now to +what the old man had known; indeed, it was doubtful if 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 on the +afternoon following her departure from the water-hole, and she felt a +thrill of pride at the acres of sprouting corn, the dense green fields +of alfalfa so nicely fitted between their fences. They were like clean, +green squares of matting spread for the feet of summer. + +A Mexican boy came running to care for her horse, a Mexican woman +greeted her as she entered the wide, cool hall and went to her room. +Alaire had ridden far. Part of the night had been spent at the Balli +goat-ranch, the remainder of the journey had been hot and dusty, and +even yet she was not wholly recovered from her experience 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 the present +instance, Dolores fixed a bath and laid out clean clothes with no more +than a running accompaniment of chatter concerned with household +affairs. Dolores, indeed, was superior to the ordinary servant; she was +a woman of some managerial ability, and she combined the duties of +personal maid with those of housekeeper. She was a great gossip, and +possessed such a talent for gaining information that through her +husband, Benito, the range boss, she was able to keep her mistress in +fairly intimate touch with ranch matters. + +Alaire, however, was at this moment in no mood to resume the tiresome +details of management; she quickly dismissed her servitor and proceeded +to revel in the luxury of a cool bath, after which she took a nap. +Later, as she leisurely dressed herself, she acknowledged that it was +good to feel the physical comforts of her own house, even though her +home-coming gave her no especial joy. She made it a religious practice +to dress for dinner, regardless of Ed's presence, though often for +weeks at a time she sat in solitary state, presiding over an empty +table. Nevertheless, she kept to her custom, for not only did the +formality help her to retain her own self-respect, but it had its +influence upon the servants. Without companionship one needs to be ever +upon guard to retain the nice refinements of gentle breeding, and any +one who has exercised authority in savage countries soon learns the +importance of leaving unbridged the gulf of color and of class. + +But Alaire looked forward to no lonely dinner to-night, for Ed was at +home. It was with a grave preoccupation that she made herself ready to +meet him. + +Dolores bustled in for a second time and straightway launched herself +into a tirade against Juan, the horse-boy. + +"Devil take me if there was ever such a shameless fellow," she cried, +angrily. "He delights in tormenting me, and--Dios!--he is lazier than a +snake. Work? Bah! He abhors it. All day long he snaps his revolver and +pretends to be a bandido, and when he is not risking hell's fire in +that way he is whirling his riata and jumping through it. Useless +capers! He ropes the dog, he ropes the rose-bushes, he ropes fat +Victoria, the cook, carrying a huge bowl of hot water to scald the +ants' nest. Victoria's stomach is boiled red altogether, and so painful +that when she comes near the stove she curses in a way to chill your +blood. What does he do this morning but fling his wicked loop over a +calf's head and break off one of its little horns. It was terrible; but +Senor Austin only laughed 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 his +cocktails." + +"He knows I am at home?" + +"I told him." + +Alaire went on dressing. After a little she asked: "Has Benito finished +branding the calves in the south pasture?" + +"He finished yesterday and sent the remuda to the Six Mile. Jose +Sanchez will have completed the rodeo by this afternoon. Benito rode 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 a look +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 father works +the big pump-engine at the river. Well, he is not above anything, that +man; not above selling his own flesh and blood, and the girl is no +better. She thinks about nothing except men, and she attends all the +bailes for miles around, on both sides of the river. Panfilo loved her; +he was mad about her. That's why he came here to work." + +"They were engaged, were they not?" + +"Truly. And Panfilo was jealous of any man who looked at Rosa. Now you +can understand why--he was sent away." Dolores's sharp eyes narrowed +meaningly. "Senor Ed has been riding toward the river every day, +lately. Panfilo was furious, so--" + +"I see! That is all I care to hear." Alone, Alaire stood motionless for +some time, her face fixed, her eyes unseeing; but later, when she met +her husband in the dining-room, her greeting was no less civil than +usual. + +Ed acknowledged his wife's entrance with a careless nod, but did not +trouble to remove his hands from his pockets. As he seated himself +heavily at the table and with unsteady fingers shook the folds from his +napkin, he said: + +"You stayed longer than you intended. Um-m--you were gone three days, +weren't you?" + +"Four days," Alaire told him, realizing with a little inward start how +very far apart she and Ed had drifted. She looked at him curiously for +an instant, wondering if he really could be her husband, or--if he were +not some peculiarly disagreeable stranger. + +Ed had been a handsome boy, but maturity had vitiated his good looks. +He was growing fat from drink and soft from idleness; his face was too +full, his eyes too sluggish; there was an unhealthy redness in his +cheeks. In contrast to his wife's semi-formal dress, he was +unkempt--unshaven and soiled. He wore spurred boots and a soft shirt; +his nails were grimy. When in the city he contrived to garb himself +immaculately; he was in fact something of a dandy; but at home he was a +sloven, and openly reveled in a freedom of speech and a coarseness of +manner that were sad trials to Alaire. His preparations for dinner this +evening had been characteristically simple; he had drunk three dry +cocktails and flung his sombrero into a corner. + +"I've been busy while you were gone," he announced. "Been down to the +pump-house every day laying that new intake. It was a nasty job, too. I +had Morales barbecue a cabrito for my lunch, and it was good, but I'm +hungry again." Austin attacked his meal with an enthusiasm strange in +him, for of late his appetite had grown as errant as his habits. Ed +boasted, in his clubs, that he was an outdoor man, and he was wont to +tell his friends that the rough life was the life for him; but as a +matter of fact he spent much more time in San Antonio than he did at +home, and each of his sojourns at Las Palmas was devoted principally to +sobering up from his last visit to the city and to preparing for +another. Nor was he always sober even in his own house; Ed was a heavy +and a constant drinker at all times. What little exercise he took was +upon the back of a horse, and, as no one knew better than his wife, the +physical powers he once had were rapidly deteriorating. + +By and by he inquired, vaguely: "Let's see, ... Where did you go this +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 lease it?" + +"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 the +rebels take that country. I stand mighty well with them." + +"That's the trouble," Alaire told him. "You stand too well--so well +that I want to get my stock out of Federal territory as soon as +possible." + +Ed shrugged carelessly. "Suit yourself; they're your cows." + +The meal went on with a desultory flow of small talk, during which the +husband indulged his thirst freely. Alaire told him about the accident +to her horse and the unpleasant ordeal she had suffered in the mesquite. + +"Lucky you found somebody at the water-hole," Ed commented. "Who was +this Ranger? Never heard of the fellow," he commented on the name. "The +Rangers are nothing like they used to be." + +"This fellow would do credit to any organization." As Alaire described +how expeditiously Law had made his arrest and handled his 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. "I knew you +were short-handed at La Feria." There was an interval of silence, 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've let you run things to suit +yourself--" + +"Wait! We had our understanding." Alaire's voice was low and vibrant. +"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 to do, something to +live for and think about, except--your actions. The ranch has doubled +in value, every penny is accounted for, and you have more money to +spend on yourself than ever before. You have no reason to complain." + +Austin crushed his napkin into a ball and flung it from him; with a +scowl he shoved himself back from the table. + +"It was an idiotic arrangement, just the same. I agreed because I was +sick. Dad thought I was all shot to pieces. But I'm all right now and +able to run my own business." + +"Nevertheless, it was a bargain, and it will stand. If your father were +alive he'd make you live up to it." + +"Hell! You talk as if I were a child," shouted her husband; and his +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 still enough +of a man to keep your word, I believe, so long as I observe my 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 these eternal +wrangles and jangles." + +"You HAVE welched." + +"Eh?" Austin frowned belligerently. + +"You agreed to go away when you felt your appetite coming on, and you +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 in Brownsville." + +"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 seething emotions +within her. "I never inquire into your actions at San Antonio or other +large cities, although of course I have ears and I can't help hearing +about them; but these border towns are home to 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 the breaking-point." + +"Indeed?" Austin leaned forward, his eyes inflamed. His tone was +raised, heedless of possible eavesdroppers. "Then why don't you end it? +Why don't you divorce me? God knows I never see anything of you. You +have your part of the house and I have mine; all we share in common is +meal-hours, and--and a mail address. You're about as much my wife as +Dolores is." + +Alaire turned upon him eyes dark with misery. "You know why I don't +divorce you. No, Ed, we're going to live out our agreement, and these +Brownsville episodes are going to cease." Her lips whitened. "So are +your visits to the pumping-station." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"You transferred Panfilo because he was growing jealous of you and +Rosa." + +Ed burst into sudden laughter. "Good Lord! There's no harm in a little +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 your +tenant--almost your servant. What kind of a man are you? Haven't you +any decency left?" + +"Say! Go easy! I guess I'm no different to most men." Austin's +unpleasant laughter had been succeeded by a still more unpleasant +scowl. "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 a +night together in the chaparral--" + +"Ed!" Alaire's exclamation was like the snap of a whip. She rose and +faced her husband, quivering as if the lash had stung her flesh. + +"That went home, eh? Well, I'm no fool! I've seen something of the +world, and I've found that women are about like men. I'd like to have a +look at this David Law, this gunman, this Handsome Harry who waits at +water-holes for ladies in distress." Ed ignored his wife's outflung +hand, and continued, mockingly: "I'll bet he's all that's manly and +splendid, everything that I'm NOT." + +"You'd--better stop," gasped the woman. "I can't stand everything." + +"So? Well, neither can I." + +"After--this, I think you'd better go--to San Antonio. Maybe I'll +forget before you come back." + +To this "Young Ed" agreed quickly enough. "Good!" said he. "That suits +me. It's hell around Las Palmas, anyhow, and I'll at least get a little +peace at my club." He glowered after his wife as she left the room. +Then, still scowling, he lurched out to the gallery where 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 of her +grimmest pranks. The father had had faults, but they were those of his +virtues; he had been a strong man, at least, and had "ridden herd" upon +his unruly passions with the same thoroughness as over his wild cattle. +The result was that he had been universally respected. At first the son +seemed destined to be like his father. It was not until "Young Ed" had +reached his full manhood that his defects had become recognizable evil +tendencies, that his infirmity had developed into a disease. Like +sleeping cancers, the Austin vices had lain dormant in him during +boyhood; it had required the mutation from youth to manhood, and the +alterative effect of marriage, to rouse them; but, once awakened, their +ravages had been swift and destructive. Ed's marriage to Alaire had +been inevitable. They had been playmates, and their parents had +considered the union a consummation of their own lifelong friendship. +Upon her mother's death, Alaire had been sent abroad, and there she +remained while "Young Ed" attended an Eastern college. For any child +the experience would have been a lonesome one, and through it the +motherless Texas girl had grown into an imaginative, sentimental +person, living in a make-believe world, peopled, for the most part, +with the best-remembered figures of romance and fiction. There were, of +course, some few flesh-and-blood heroes among the rest, and of these +the finest and the noblest had been "Young Ed" Austin. + +When she came home to marry, Alaire was still very much of a child, and +she still considered Ed her knight. As for him, he was captivated by +this splendid, handsome girl, whom he remembered only as a shy, +red-headed little comrade. + +Never was a marriage more propitious, never were two young people more +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 of lands +across the Rio Grande beyond the twenty-league belt by which Mexico +fatuously strives to guard her border. And to Las Palmas had come the +bride and groom to live, to love, and to rear their children. + +But rarely has there been a shorter honeymoon, seldom a swifter +awakening. Within six months "Young Ed" had killed his wife's love and +had himself become an alcoholic. Others of his father's vices revived, +and so multiplied that what few virtues the young man had inherited +were soon choked. The change was utterly unforeseen; its cause was +rooted too deeply in the past to be remedied. Maturity had 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 was +desperately frightened, too, and lived a nightmare life, the while she +tried in every way to check the progress of that disintegration which +was eating up her happiness. The wreck of her hopes and glad imaginings +left her sick, bewildered, in the face of "the thing that couldn't." + +Nor had the effect of this transformation in "Young Ed" been any less +painful to his father. For a time the old man refused to credit it, but +finally, when the truth was borne in upon him unmistakably, and he saw +that Las Palmas was in a fair way to being ruined through the boy's +mismanagement, the old cattleman had risen in his wrath. The ranch had +been his pride as Ed had been his joy; to see them both go wrong was +more than he could bear. There had been a terrible scene, and a +tongue-lashing delivered in the language of early border days. There +had followed other visits from Austin, senior, other and even bitterer +quarrels; at last, when the girl-wife remained firm in her refusal to +divorce her husband, the understanding had been reached by which the +management of Las Palmas was placed absolutely in her hands. + +Of course, the truth became public, as it always does. This was a new +country--only yesterday it had been the frontier, and even yet a +frontier code of personal conduct to some extent prevailed. +Nevertheless, "Young Ed" Austin's life became a scorn and a hissing +among his neighbors. They were not unduly fastidious, these neighbors, +and they knew that hot blood requires more than a generation to cool, +but everything Ed did outraged them. In trying to show their sympathy +for his wife they succeeded in wounding her more deeply, and Alaire +withdrew into herself. She became almost a recluse, and fenced herself +away not only from the curious, but also from those who really wished +to be her friends. In time people remarked that Ed Austin's +metamorphosis was no harder to understand than that of his wife. + +It was true. She had changed. The alteration reached to the very bone +and marrow of her being. At first the general pity had wounded her, +then it had offended, and finally angered her. That people should +notice her affliction, particularly when she strove so desperately to +hide it, seemed the height of insolence. + +The management of Las Palmas was almost her only relief. Having sprung +from a family of ranchers, the work came easy, and she grew to like +it--as well as she could like anything with that ever-present pain in +her breast. The property was so large that it gave ample excuse for +avoiding the few visitors who came, and the range boss, Benito +Gonzales, attended to most of the buying and selling. Callers gradually +became rarer; friends dropped away almost entirely. Since Las Palmas +employed no white help whatever, it became in time more Mexican than in +the days of "Old Ed" Austin's ownership. + +In such wise had Alaire fashioned her life, living meanwhile under a +sort of truce with her husband. + +But Las Palmas had prospered to admiration, and La Feria would have +prospered equally had it not been for the armed unrest of the country +across the border. No finer stock than the "Box A" was to be found +anywhere. The old lean, long-horned cattle had been interbred with +white-faced Herefords, and the sleek coats of their progeny were +stretched over twice the former weight of beef. Alaire had even +experimented with the Brahman strain, importing some huge, hump-backed +bulls that set the neighborhood agog. People proclaimed they were +sacred oxen and whispered that they were intended for some outlandish +pagan rite--Alaire by this time had gained the reputation of being +"queer"--while experienced stockmen declared the venture a woman's +folly, affirming that buffaloes had never been crossed successfully +with domestic cattle. It was rumored that one of these imported animals +cost more than a whole herd of Mexican stock, and the ranchers +speculated freely as to what "Old Ed" Austin would have said of such +extravagance. + +It was Blaze Jones, one of the few county residents granted access to +Las Palmas, who first acquainted himself with the outcome of Alaire's +experiment, and it was he who brought news of it to some visiting +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 about your +prize Northern stock; but I claim that the bigger the state the bigger +the cattle it raises. That's why old Texas beats the world." + +"But it doesn't," some one contradicted. + +"It don't, hey? My boy"--Blaze jabbed a rigid finger into the speaker's +ribs, as if he expected a ground-squirrel to scuttle forth--"we've got +steers in this valley that are damn near the size of the whole state of +Rhode Island. If they keep on growin' I doubt if you could fatten one +of 'em in Delaware without he'd bulge over into some neighboring +commonwealth. It's the God's truth! 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're all +swollen up with cow-knowledge, now, ain't you?" He eyed them from +beneath his black eyebrows. "Well, some of our people thought they did, +too. They figured they'd inherited all there was to know about live +stock, and they grew plumb arrogant over their wisdom. But--pshaw! They +didn't know nothing. Miz Austin has bred in that Brayma 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 many ticks as you gentlemen." + +Some of the cattlemen were incredulous, but Blaze maintained his point +with emphasis. "It's true. They're a grave disappointment to every kind +of parasite." + +But Alaire had not confined her efforts to cattle; she had improved the +breed of "Box A" horses, too, and hand in hand with this work she had +carried on a series of agricultural experiments. + +Las Palmas, so people used to say, lay too far up the river to be good +farming-land; nevertheless, once the pumping-plant was in, certain +parts of the ranch raised nine crops of alfalfa, and corn that stood +above a rider's head. + +There was no money in "finished" stock; the border was too far from +market--that also had long been an accepted truism--yet this woman +built silos which she filled with her own excess fodder in scientific +proportions, and somehow or other she managed to ship fat beeves direct +to the packing-houses and get big prices for them. + +These were but a few of her many ventures. She had her hobbies, of +course, 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 palms was all but +hidden by a forest of strange trees, which were reported to ripen +everything from moth-balls to bicycle tires. Blaze Jones was perhaps +responsible for this report, for Alaire had shown him several thousand +eucalyptus saplings and some ornamental rubber-plants. + +"That Miz Austin is a money-makin' piece of furniture," he once told +his daughter Paloma. "I'm no mechanical adder--I count mostly on my +fingers--but her and me calculated the profits on them +eucher--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 plenty of +land." + +Blaze, in truth, was embarrassed by the size of his holdings, but he +shook his head. "No, I'm too old to go rampagin' after new gods. I +'ain't got the imagination to raise anything more complicated than a +mortgage; but if I was younger, I'd organize myself up and do away with +that Ed Austin. I'd sure help him to an untimely end, and then I'd +marry them pecan-groves, and blooded herds, 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 her Mexican guards +were not encouraging to visitors. Business inevitably brought her into +contact with a considerable number of people, and of these the one she +saw most frequently was Judge Ellsworth of Brownsville, her attorney. + +It was perhaps a week after Ed had left for San Antonio that Alaire +felt the need of Ellsworth's counsel, and sent for him. He responded +promptly, as always. Ellsworth was a kindly man of fifty-five, with a +forceful chin and a drooping, heavy-lidded eye that could either blaze +or twinkle. He was fond of Alaire, and his sympathy, like his +understanding, was of that wordless yet comprehensive kind which is +most satisfying. Judge Ellsworth knew more than any four men in that +part of Texas; information had a way of seeking him out, and his head +was stored to repletion with facts of every variety. He was a good +lawyer, too, and yet his knowledge of the law comprised but a small +part of that mental wealth upon which he prided himself. He knew human +nature, and that he considered far more important than law. His mind +was like a full granary, and every grain lay where he could put his +hand upon it. + +He motored out from Brownsville, and, after ridding himself of dust, +insisted upon spending the interval before dinner in an inspection of +Alaire's latest ranch improvements. He had a fatherly way of walking +with his arm about Alaire's shoulders, and although she sometimes +suspected that his warmth of good-fellowship was merely a habit +cultivated through political necessities, nevertheless it was +comforting, and she took it at its face value. + +Not until the dinner was over did Ellsworth inquire the reason for his +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 this very +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 the Rebel +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 always does +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 profit more by +claiming allegiance to the German or the English or some other foreign +flag. The American eagle isn't screaming very loudly on the other side +of the Rio Grande just now, and our dusky neighbors have learned that +it's perfectly safe to pull his tail feathers." + +"I'm surprised at you," Alaire smiled. "Just the same, I want your help +in taking up the matter with Washington." + +Ellsworth was pessimistic. "It won't do any good, my dear," he said. +"You'll get your name in the papers, and perhaps cause another +diplomatically worded protest, but there the matter will end. 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 been more +than courteous." + +"Longorio has a bad reputation. I strongly advise against your going." + +"Why, Judge, people are going and coming all the time! Mexico is +perfectly safe, and I know the country as well as I know Las Palmas." + +"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, for I'm +busy in court. You could probably accomplish more than anybody else, if +Longorio will listen to reason, and, after all, you are a person of +such importance that I dare say you'd be safe. But it will be a hard +trip, and you won't know whether you are in Rebel or in Federal +territory." + +"Well, people here are asking whether Texas is in the United States or +Mexico," Alaire said, lightly, "Sometimes I hardly know." After a +moment she continued: "Since you know everything and 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 much of +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 flitted over +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, and +certainly they both met a violent end. I was instrumental in saving +what property Frank Law left, but it didn't last Dave very long. He's +right careless in money matters. Dave's a fine fellow in some +ways--most ways, I believe, but--" The Judge lost himself in frowning +meditation. + +"I have never known you to damn a friend or a client with such faint +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, for instance. If +you know the parents it's easy to read their children." Again he lapsed +into silence, nodding to himself. "Yes, Nature mixes her prescriptions +like any druggist. I'm glad you and Ed--have no babies." + +Alaire murmured something unintelligible. + +"And yet," the lawyer continued, "many people are cursed with an +inheritance 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 a +privilege of age, my dear." + + + + +VI + +A JOURNEY, AND A DARK MAN + + +Alaire's preparations for the journey to La Feria were made with little +delay. Owing to the condition of affairs across the border, Ellsworth +had thought it well to provide her with letters from the most +influential Mexicans in the neighborhood; what is more, in order to +pave her way toward a settlement of her claim he succeeded in getting a +telegram through to Mexico City--no mean achievement, with most of the +wires in Rebel hands and the remainder burdened with military business. +But Ellsworth's influence was not bounded by the Rio Grande. + +It was his advice that Alaire present her side of the case to the local +military authorities before making formal representation to Washington, +though in neither case was he sanguine of the outcome. + +The United States, indeed, had abetted the Rebel cause from the start. +Its embargo on arms had been little more than a pretense of neutrality, +which had fooled the Federals not at all, and it was an open secret +that financial assistance to the uprising was rendered from some +mysterious Northern source. The very presence of American troops along +the border was construed by Mexicans as a threat against President +Potosi, and an encouragement to revolt, while the talk of intervention, +invasion, and war had intensified the natural antagonism existing +between the two peoples. So it was that Ellsworth, while he did his +best to see to it that his client should make the journey in safety and +receive courteous treatment, doubted the wisdom of the undertaking and +hoped for no practical result. + +Alaire took Dolores with her, and for male escort she selected, after +some deliberation, Jose Sanchez, her horse-breaker. Jose was not an +ideal choice, but since Benito could not well be spared, no better 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 the road +followed the river and ran through a lonesome country, unpeopled save +for an occasional goat-herd and his family, or a glaring-hot village of +some half-dozen cubical houses crouching on the river-bank as if +crowded over from Mexican soil. This road remained much as the first +ox-carts had laid it out; the hills were gashed by arroyos, some of +which were difficult to negotiate, and in consequence the journey was, +from an automobilist's point of view, decidedly slow. The first night +the travelers were forced to spend at a mud jacal, encircled, like some +African jungle dwelling, by a thick brush barricade. + +Jose Sanchez was in his element here. He posed, he strutted, he +bragged, he strove to impress his countrymen by every device. Jose was, +indeed, rather a handsome fellow, with a bold insolence of bearing that +marked him as superior to the common pelador, and, having dressed +himself elaborately for this journey, he made the most of his +opportunities for showing off. Nothing would do him but a baile, and a +baile he had. Once the arrangements were made, other Mexicans appeared +mysteriously until there were nearly a score, and until late into the +night they danced upon the hard-packed earth of the yard. Alaire fell +asleep to the sounds of feet scuffling and scraping in time to a wheezy +violin. + +Arriving at Pueblo on the following day, Alaire secured her passports +from the Federal headquarters across the Rio Grande, while Jose +attended to the railroad tickets. On the second morning after leaving +home the party was borne southward into Mexico. + +Although train schedules were uncertain, the railroad journey itself +was similar to many Alaire had taken, except for occasional evidences +of the war. The revolution had ravaged most of northern Mexico; long +rows of rusting trucks and twisted car skeletons beside the track +showed how the railway's rolling-stock had suffered in this particular +vicinity; and as the train penetrated farther south temporary trestles +and the charred ruins of station-houses spoke even more eloquently of +the struggle. Now and then a steel water-tank, pierced with loop-holes +and ripped by cannon balls, showed where some detachment had made a +stand. There was a military guard on the train, too--a dozen unkempt +soldiers loaded down with rifles and bandoliers of cartridges, and +several officers, neatly dressed in khaki, who rode in the first-class +coach and occupied themselves by making eyes at the women. + +At its frequent stops the train was besieged by the customary crowd of +curious peons; the same noisy hucksters dealt out enchiladas, +tortillas, goat cheeses, and coffee from the same dirty baskets and +pails; even their outstretched hands seemed to bear the familiar grime +of ante-bellum days. The coaches were crowded; women fanned themselves +unceasingly; their men snored, open-mouthed, over the backs of the +seats, and the aisles were full of squalling, squabbling children. + +As for the country itself, it was dying. The ranches were stripped of +stock, no carts creaked along the highways, and the roads, like the +little farms, were growing up to weeds. Stores were empty, the people +were idle. Over all was an atmosphere of decay, and, what was far more +significant, the people seemed content. + +All morning the monotonous journey continued--a trial to Alaire and +Dolores, but to Jose Sanchez a red-letter experience. He covered the +train from end to end, making himself acquainted with every one and +bringing to Alaire the gossip that he picked up. + +It was not until midday that the first interruption occurred; then the +train pulled in upon a siding, and after an interminable delay it +transpired that a north-bound troop-train was expected. + +Jose brought this intelligence: "Soon you will behold the flower of the +Mexican army," he told Alaire. "You will see thousands of Longorio's +veterans, every man of them a very devil for blood. They are returning +to Nuevo Pueblo after destroying a band of those rebels. They had a +great victory at San Pedro--thirty kilometers 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, for he +takes his army with him wherever he goes. He is a great fighter; he has +a nose for it, that man, and he strikes like the lightning--here, +there, anywhere." Jose, it seemed, was a rabid Potosista. + +But Dolores held opposite sympathies. She uttered a disdainful sniff. +"To be sure he takes his army with him, otherwise the +Constitutionalistas would kill him. Wait until Pancho Gomez meets this +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 that bandit. +Pancho Gomez fights like a savage. Think of the cowardly manner in +which he captured Espinal the last time. What did he do then? I'll tell +you. He laid in wait and allowed a train-load of our troops to pass +through his lines toward Chihuahua; then he took possession of the +telegraph wires and pretended to be the Federal commander. He sent a +lying message back to Espinal that the 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 into freight-cars like cattle so that not a head +could be seen--and the devil himself would never have guessed what was +in those cars. Of course he succeeded. No one suspected the truth until +his infamous army was in Espinal. Then it was too late. The carnage was +terrible. But do you call that a nice action? It was nothing but the +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 the +Plaza, 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, and +then--you will see some of the swiftest running in all the world." + +"Yes! Truly!" Dolores was trembling with excitement, her voice was +shrill. "God will need to lend them speed to catch this army of +Longorio'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 a serious +quarrel. + +"When the train arrives," she told her horse-breaker, "I want you to +find General Longorio and ask him to come here." + +"But, senora!" Jose was dumfounded, shocked. "He is a great general--" + +"Give him this note." Quickly writing a few lines on a page from her +note-book, she gave him the scrap of paper, which he carefully placed +in his hat; then, shaking his head doubtfully, he left the car. + +Flushed with triumph, Dolores took the first occasion to enlarge upon +her theme. + +"You will see what a monster this Longorio is," she declared. "It was +like him to steal your beautiful cattle; he would steal a crucifix. +Once there was a fine ranch owned by a man who had two lovely +daughters--girls of great respectability and refinement. But the man +was a Candelerista. Longorio killed him--he and his men killed +everybody on the hacienda except the daughters, and those he captured. +He took them with him, and for no good purpose, either, as you can +imagine. Naturally the poor creatures were nearly dead with fright, but +as they rode along the elder one began talking with Longorio's +soldiers. She made friends with them. She pretended to care nothing +about her fate; she behaved like a lost person, and the soldiers +laughed. They liked her spirit, God pity them! Finally she declared she +was a famous shot with a pistol, and she continued to boast until one +of her guards gave her his weapon with which to show her skill. Then +what? Before they could hinder her she turned in her saddle and shot +her younger sister through the brain. Herself she destroyed with a +bullet 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 on the +main track and stopped, to the great interest of the southbound +travelers. It was made up of many stock cars crowded with cavalry +horses. Each animal bore its equipment of saddle and bridle, 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 occupants of +the two trains, and meanwhile the hot sun glared balefully upon the +huddled figures on the car tops. A half-hour passed, then occurred a +commotion at the forward end of Alaire's coach. + +A group of officers climbed aboard, and among them was one who could be +none other than Luis Longorio. As he came down the passageway Alaire +identified him without the aid of his insignia, for he stood head and +shoulders above his companions and bore himself with an air of +authority. He was unusually tall, at least six feet three, and very +slim, very lithe; he was alert, keen; he was like the blade of a +rapier. The leanness of his legs was accentuated 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 of a +clear, pale, olive tint, which sun and weather apparently were +powerless to darken; his eyes were large, bold, and brilliant; his +nostrils thin and sensitive, like those of a blooded horse. He seemed +almost immature until he spoke, then one realized with a curious shock +that he was a man indeed, and a man, moreover, with all the ardor and +passion of a woman. Such was Alaire's first hasty impression of Luis +Longorio, the Tarleton of Potosi's army. + +Disdain, hauteur, impatience, were stamped upon the general's +countenance as he pushed briskly through the crowd, turning his head +from side to side in search of the woman who had summoned him. + +Not until she rose did he discover Alaire; then he halted; his eyes +fixed themselves upon her with a stare of startled amazement. + +Alaire felt herself color faintly, for the man seemed to be scanning +her from head to foot, taking in every detail of her face and form, and +as he did so his expression remained unaltered. For what seemed a full +minute Longorio stood rooted; then the stiff-vizored cap was swept from +his head; he bowed with the grace of a courtier until Alaire saw the +part in his oily black hair. + +"Senora! A thousand apologies for my delay," he said. "Caramba! I did +not dream--I did not understand your message." He continued to regard +her with that same queer intensity. + +"You are General Longorio?" Alaire was surprised to note that her voice +quavered uncertainly, and annoyed to feel her face still flushing. + +"Your obedient servant." + +With a gesture Mrs. Austin directed Dolores to vacate her seat, and +invited the General to take it. But Longorio checked the maid's +movement; then with a brusque command he routed out the occupants of +the seat ahead, and, reversing the back, took a position facing Alaire. +Another order, and the men who had accompanied him withdrew up the +aisle. His luminous eyes returned once more to the woman, and there was +no mistaking his admiration. He seemed enchanted by her pale beauty, +her rich, red hair held him fascinated, and with Latin boldness he made +his feelings crassly 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 name conveyed +nothing, she explained, "I am told that your army confiscated my +cattle." + +"Ah yes! Now I understand." The Mexican nodded mechanically, but it was +plain that he was not heeding her words in the least. All his mental +powers appeared to be concentrated in that disconcerting stare which he +still bent upon her. "We confiscate everything--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 his +wits. It was now quite patent that the sight of Alaire, the sound of +her voice, her first glance, had stricken him with an odd +semi-paralysis. As if to shut out a vision or to escape some dazzling +sight, he dosed his eyes. Alaire wondered if the fellow had been +drinking. She turned to Dolores to find that good woman wearing an +expression of stupefaction. It was very queer; it made Alaire extremely +ill at ease. + +Longorio opened his eyes and smiled. "It seems that I have seen you +before--as if we were old friends--or as if I had come face to face +with myself," said he. "I am affected strangely. It is unaccountable. I +know you well--completely--everything about you is familiar to me, and +yet we meet for the first time, eh? How do you 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 those +perverse fancies that so interfered with his thoughts. + +In moments of stress the attention often centers upon trivial things +and the mind photographs unimportant objects. Alaire noticed now that +one of Longorio's fingers was decorated with a magnificent +diamond-and-ruby ring, and this interested her queerly. No ordinary man +could fittingly have worn such an ornament, yet on the hand of this +splendid barbarian it seemed not at 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 not assure you, senora, +that you have only to command me. Your ranch has 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 your government to +pay me for my cattle." Alaire laughed nervously. + +"Ah! But a lady of refinement should not discuss such a miserable +business. It is a matter for men. Bother your pretty head no more about +it, and leave me to punish the guilty in my own way." + +She endeavored to speak in a brisk, business-like tone. "La Feria +belongs to me, personally, and I have managed it for several years, +just as I manage Las Palmas, across the river. I am a woman of affairs, +General Longorio, and you must talk to me as you would talk to a man. +When I heard about this raid I came to look into it--to see you, or +whoever is in charge of this district, and to make a claim for damages. +Also, I intend to see that nothing similar occurs again. I have delayed +making representations to my own government in the hope that I could +arrange a satisfactory settlement, and so avoid serious complications. +Now you understand why I am here and why I wished to see you." + +"Valgame Dios! This is amazing. I become more bewildered momentarily." + +"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 place it apart as a +precious gift from God which nothing shall defile. They do not discuss +such things with their women. Now this sordid affair 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? You came alone +into Mexico, where we are fighting and killing each other? Well! That +is spirit. You are wonderful, superb!" He smiled, showing the whitest +and evenest teeth. + +Such extravagant homage was embarrassing, yet no woman could be wholly +displeased by admiration so spontaneous and intense as that which +Longorio manifested in every look and word. It was plain to Alaire that +something about her had completely bowled him over; perhaps it was her +strange red hair and her white foreign face, or perhaps something +deeper, something behind all that. Sex phenomena are strange and varied +in their workings. Who can explain the instant attraction or repulsion +of certain types we meet? Why does the turn of a head, a smile, a +glance, move us to the depths? Why does the touch of one stranger's +hand thrill us, while another's leaves us quite impassive? Whence +springs that personal magnetism which has the power to set the very +atoms of our being into new vibrations, like a highly charged electric +current? + +Alaire knew the susceptibility of Mexican men, and was immune to +ordinary flattery; yet there was something exciting about this martial +hero's complete captivation. To have charmed him to the point of +bewilderment was a unique triumph, and under his hungry eyes she felt +an adventurous thrill. + +It is true that Luis Longorio was utterly alien, and in that sense +almost repellent to Alaire; moreover, she suspected him of being a +monster so depraved that no decent woman could bring herself to accept +his attentions. Nevertheless, in justice to the fellow, she had to +acknowledge that externally, at least, he was immensely superior to the +Mexicans she had met. Then, too, his aristocracy was unmistakable, and +Alaire prided herself that she could recognize good blood in men as +quickly as in horses. The fellow had been favored by birth, by +breeding, and by education; and although military service in Mexico was +little more than a form of banditry, nevertheless Longorio had +developed a certain genius for leadership, nor was there any doubt as +to his spectacular courage. In some ways he was a second Cid--another +figure out of Castilian romance. + +While he and Alaire were talking the passengers had returned to their +seats; they were shouting good-byes to the soldiers opposite; the +engine-bell was clanging loudly; and now the conductor approached to +warn Longorio that the train was about to leave. But the railway +official had learned a wholesome respect for uniforms, and therefore he +hung back until, urged by necessity, he pushed forward and informed the +general of his train orders. + +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 the +conductor backed away, expressing by voice and gesture his most hearty +approval of the change of plan. + +"We mustn't hold the train," Alaire said, quickly. "I will arrange to +see you in Nuevo Pueblo when I return." + +Longorio smiled brilliantly and lifted a brown hand. "No, no! I am a +selfish man; I refuse to deprive myself of this pleasure. The end must +come all too soon, and as for these peladors, an hour more or less will +make no difference. Now about these cattle. Mexico does not make war +upon women, and I am desolated that the actions of my men have caused +annoyance to the most charming lady in the world." + +"Ah! You are polite." Knowing that in this man's help alone lay her +chance of adjusting her loss, Alaire deliberately smiled upon him. "Can +I count upon your help in obtaining my rights?" she asked. + +"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, and this +we must remove. First, may I ask, are you a friend to our cause?" + +"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; American money +supports it; and your men bear arms against us. Your tyrant President +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 is something that +concerns no one except you and me." + +Longorio was plainly flattered by her words, and took no trouble to +hide his pleasure. "Ah! If that were only true! We would arrange +everything to your satisfaction without another word." His admiring +gaze seemed to envelop her, and its warmth was unmistakable. "No one +could have the cruelty to deny your slightest 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 a +complication. Your husband, senora, is an active Candelerista." + +For a moment Alaire was at a loss; then she replied with some spirit: +"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 rebels conspiring to +give our country into the hands of outlaws. What a terrible spectacle +it is! Enough to bring tears to the eyes of any patriot!" He turned his +melancholy gaze from Alaire to her companion, and for the first time +Dolores stirred. + +She had watched her countryman with a peculiar fascination, and she had +listened breathlessly to his words. Now she inhaled deeply, 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. Alaire turned +upon her with a sharp exclamation, conscious meanwhile that the woman's +tone, even more than her words, had enlightened Longorio to some +extent. His lifted brows were eloquent of surprise and curiosity, but +he held his tongue. + +"Am I to understand, then, that you rob me because of my husband's +action?" Alaire asked. + +"No. But we must combat our enemies with the weapons we have--not only +those who bear arms with Candeleria, but those who shelter themselves +beyond the Rio Grande." + +Alaire's face fell. "I had hoped that you would understand and help me, +but I shall go to Mexico City and demand my rights, if necessary." + +"Wait! I SHALL help." Longorio beamed enthusiastically. "It shall be +the object of my life to serve you, and you and I shall arrange this +matter satisfactorily. I have influence, believe me. A word from Luis +Longorio will go further with my chief than a protest from your +President. General Potosi is a man of the highest honor, and I am his +right hand. Very well, then! Duty calls me to Nuevo Pueblo, and you +shall return with me as the guest of my government. Dios! It is a +miserable train, but you shall occupy the coach and travel as befits a +queen of beauty--like a royal princess with her guard of honor." He +rose to his feet, but his eagerness soon gave place to disappointment. + +"Thank you," said Alaire, "but I must first go to La Feria and get all +the facts." + +"Senora! It is a wretched journey. See!" He waved a contemptuous +gesture at the car, crowded to congestion. "There is no food; you have +no one to wait upon you. In my company you will be safe. Upon my honor +you will enjoy the highest courtesy--" + +"Of course. But I must go on. I have Dolores and Jose to look after +me." Alaire indicated Sanchez, who had edged his way close and 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 suitable +answer, but his employer held out her hand, and General Longorio bent +over it, raising it to his lips. + +"Senora, one favor you can grant me. No! It is a right I shall claim." +He called one of his subordinates closer and ordered that a lieutenant +and six soldiers be detached to act as an escort to Mrs. Austin's +party. "It is nothing," he assured her. "It is the least I can do. Have +no uneasiness, for these men are the bravest of my command, and they +shall answer with their lives for your safety. As for that +teniente--ah, he is favored above his general!" Longorio rolled his +eyes. "Think of it! I could be faithless to duty--a traitor to my +country--for the privilege he is to enjoy. It is the sacred truth! +Senora, the hours will drag until I may see you again and be of further +service. Meanwhile I shall be tortured with radiant dreams. Go with +God!" For a second time he bowed and kissed the hand he held, then, +taking Jose Sanchez intimately by the arm, he turned to the door. + +Dolores collapsed into her seat with an exclamation. "Caramba! The man +is a demon! And such eyes. Uf! They say he was so furious at losing +those two sisters I told you about that he killed the soldier with the +very weapon--" + +Dolores was interrupted by Longorio's voice beneath the open window. +The general stood, cap in hand, holding up to Alaire a solitary wild +flower which he had plucked beside the track. + +"See!" he cried. "It is the color of your adorable eyes--blue like a +sapphire gem. I saw it peeping at me, and it was lonely. But now, +behold how it smiles--like a star that sees Paradise, eh? And I, too, +have seen Paradise." He placed the delicate bloom in Alaire's fingers +and was gone. + +"Cuidado!" breathed Dolores. "There is blood on it; the blood of +innocents. He will burn for a million years in hell, that man." + +Longorio made good his promise; soon a grizzled old teniente, with six +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, and until the car +had dwindled away down the track, foreshortening to a mere rectangular +dot, Luis Longorio remained motionless, staring with eager eyes through +the capering dust and the billowing heat waves. + +Jose Sanchez came plowing into Alaire's car, tremendously excited. +"Look, senora!" he cried. "Look what the general gave me," and he +proudly displayed Longorio's service revolver. Around Jose's waist was +the cartridge-belt and holster that went with the weapon. "With his own +hands he buckled it about me, and he said, 'Jose, something tells me +you are a devil for bravery. Guard your mistress with your life, for if +any mishap befalls her I shall cut out 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. Shortly after +the train had got under way the lieutenant in command of Alaire's guard +brought her a small package, saying: + +"The general commanded me to hand you this, with his deepest regard." + +Alaire accepted the object curiously. It was small and heavy and +wrapped in several leaves torn from a notebook, and it proved to be +nothing less than the splendid diamond-and-ruby ring she had admired. + +"God protect us, now!" murmured Dolores, crossing herself devoutly. + + + + +VIII + +BLAZE JONES'S NEMESIS + + +Blaze Jones rode up to his front gate and dismounted in the shade of +the big ebony-tree. He stepped back and ran an approving eye over +another animal tethered there. It was a thoroughbred bay mare he had +never seen, and as he scanned her good points he reflected that the +time had come when he would have to accustom himself to the sight of +strange horses along his fence and strange automobiles beside the road, +for Paloma was a woman now, and the young men of the neighborhood had +made the discovery. Yes, and Paloma was a pretty woman; therefore the +hole under the ebony-tree would probably be worn deep by impatient +hoofs. He was glad that most of the boys preferred saddles to soft +upholstery, for it argued that some vigor still remained in Texas +manhood, and that the country had not been entirely ruined by motors, +picture-shows, low shoes, and high collars. Of course the youths of +this day were nothing like the youths of his own, and yet--Blaze let +his gaze linger fondly on the high-bred mare and her equipment--here at +least was a person who knew a good horse, a good saddle, and a good gun. + +As he came up the walk he heard Paloma laugh, and his own face +lightened, for Paloma's merriment was contagious. Then as he mounted +the steps and turned the corner of the "gallery" he uttered 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 filibustering around +with the Maderistas." + +Blaze seated himself with a grateful sigh where the breeze played over +him. He was a big, bearlike, swarthy man with the square-hewn, +deep-lined face of a tragedian, and a head of long, curly hair which he +wore parted in a line over his left ear. Jones was a character, a local +landmark. This part of Texas had grown up with Blaze, and, inasmuch as +he had sprung from a free race of pioneers, he possessed a splendid +indifference to the artificial fads of dress and manners. It was only +since Paloma had attained her womanhood that he had been forced to +fight down his deep-seated distrust of neckwear and store clothes and +the like; but now that his daughter had definitely asserted her rights, +he had acquired numerous unwelcome graces, and no longer ventured among +strangers without the stamp of her approval upon his appearance. Only +at home did he maintain what he considered a manly independence of +speech and habit. To-day, therefore, found him in a favorite suit of +baggy, wrinkled linen and with a week's stubble of beard upon his chin. +He was so plainly an outdoor man that the air of erudition lent him by +the pair of gold-rimmed spectacles owlishly perched upon his sunburned +nose was strangely incongruous. + +"So you're a Ranger, and got notches on your gun." Blaze rolled and lit +a tiny cigarette, scarcely larger than a wheat straw. "Well, you'd +ought to make a right able thief-catcher, Dave, only for your +size--you're too long for a man and you ain't long enough for a snake. +Still, I reckon a thief would have trouble getting out of your reach, +and once you got close to him--How many men have 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 had +permitted 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 a vicious ancestry. +They're bad rams, most of 'em." + +"There aren't many," said Paloma. "Dave tells me the whole Force has +been cut down to sixteen." + +"That's plenty," her father averred. "It's like when Cap'n Bill +McDonald 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 a case, Dave?" + +"Um-m--yes! People are missing a lot of stock hereabouts." + +"It's these blamed refugees from the war! A Mexican has to steal +something or he gets run down and pore. If it ain't stock, it's +something else. Why, one morning I rode into Jonesville in time to see +four Greasers walkin' down the main street with feed-sacks over their +shoulders. Each one of those gunnie's had something long and flat and +heavy in it, and I growed curious. When I investigated, what d'you +suppose I found? Tombstones! That's right; four marble beauties fresh +from the cemetery. Well, it made me right sore, for I'd helped to start +Jonesville. I was its city father. I'd made the place fit to live in, +and I aimed to keep it safe to die in, and so, bein' a sort of +left-handed, self-appointed deppity-sheriff, I rounded up those ghouls +and drove 'em to the county-seat in my spring wagon. I had the evidence +propped up against the front of our real-estate office--'Sacred to the +Memory' of four of our leading citizens--so I jailed 'em. But that's +all the good it did." + +"Couldn't convict, eh?" + +Blaze lit his cigarette for the third time. "The prosecuting attorney +and I wasn't very good friends, seeing as how I'd had to kill his +daddy, so he turned 'em loose. I'm damned if those four Greasers didn't +beat me back to Jonesville." Blaze shook his head ruminatively. "This +was a hard country, those days. There wasn't but two honest men in this +whole valley--and the other one was a nigger." + +Dave Law's duties as a Ranger rested lightly upon him; his instructions +were vague, and he had a leisurely method of "working up" his evidence. +Since he knew that Blaze possessed a thorough knowledge of this section +and its people, it was partly business which had brought him to the +Jones home this afternoon. + +Strictly speaking, Blaze was not a rancher, although many of his acres +were under cultivation and he employed a sizable army of field-hands. +His disposition was too adventurous, his life had been too swift and +varied, for him to remain interested in slow agricultural pursuits; +therefore, he had speculated heavily in raw lands, and for several +years past he had devoted his energies to a gigantic colonization +scheme. Originally Blaze had come to the Rio Grande valley as a +stock-raiser, but the natural advantages of the country had appealed to +his gambling instinct, and he had "gone broke" buying land. + +He had located, some fifteen miles below the borders of Las Palmas, and +there he had sunk a large fortune; then as a first step in his +colonization project he had founded the town of Jonesville. Next he had +caused the branch line of the Frisco railroad to be extended until it +linked his holdings with the main system, after which he had floated a +big irrigation company; and now the feat of paying interest on its +bonds and selling farms under the ditch to Northern people kept him +fully occupied. It was by no means a small operation in which he was +engaged. The venture had taken foresight, courage, infinite hard work; +and Blaze was burdened with responsibilities that would have broken +down a man of weaker fiber. + +But his pet relaxation was reminiscence. His own experience had been +wide, he knew everybody in his part of the state, and although events +in his telling were sometimes colored by his rich imagination, the +information he could give was often of the greatest value--as Dave Law +knew. + +After a time the latter said, casually, "Tell me something about Tad +Lewis." + +Blaze looked up quickly. "What d'you want to know?" + +"Anything. Everything." + +"Tad owns a right nice ranch between here and Las Palmas," Blaze said, +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 father agreed, +"and Lewis's land runs back from the Rio Grande in its old Spanish +form. It's a natural outlet for those brush-country ranchos. But I +haven't anything against Tad except a natural dislike. He stands well +with some of our best people, so I'm probably wrong. I usually am." + +"You can't call Ed Austin one of our best people," sharply objected +Paloma. "They claim that arms are being smuggled across to the Rebels, +Dave, and, if it's true, Ed Austin--" + +"Now, Paloma," her father remonstrated mildly. "The Regulars and the +River Guards watched Lewis's ranch till the embargo was lifted, 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 go pirootin' +around Tad's place you're more'n apt to make yourself unpopular, Dave. +I'd grieve some to see you in a wooden kimono. Tad's too well fixed to +steal cattle, and if he runs arms it's because of his sympathy for +those noble, dark-skinned patriots we hear 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 ran arms +myself, before I joined the Force." + +When meal-time drew near, both Jones and his daughter urged their guest +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. All we need is +good farmers. Those we've got are mostly back-to-nature students who +leaped a drug-counter expecting to 'light in the lap of luxury. In the +last outfit we sold there wasn't three men that knew which end of a +mule to put the collar on. But they'll learn. Nature's with 'em, and so +am I. God supplies 'em with all the fresh air and sunshine they need, +and when they want anything else they come to Old Blaze. Ain't that +right, Paloma?" + +"Yes, father." + +Paloma Jones had developed wonderfully since Dave Law had last seen +her. She had grown into a most wholesome and attractive young woman, +with an unusually capable manner, and an honest, humorous pair of brown +eyes. During dinner she did her part with a grace that made watching +her a pleasure, and the Ranger found it a great treat to sit at her +table after his strenuous scouting days in the mesquite. + +"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 wants Blaze +to have a finger in the pie. I'm interested in the bank, the +sugar-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 out of it last +year?" + +"I've no idea." + +"Twenty-seven thousand dollars!" The father of Jonesville spoke +proudly, impressively, and then through habit called upon his daughter +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 his visitor's +laughter. "How can a man get along without the co-operation of his own +household?" he inquired, naively. "Maybe it was next year I was +thinking about." Thereafter he confined himself to statements which +required no corroboration. + +Dave had long since learned that to hold Blaze Jones to a strict +accountability with fact was to rob his society of its greatest charm. +A slavish accuracy in figures, an arid lack of imagination, reduces +conversation to the insipidness of flat wine, and Blaze's talk was +never dull. He was a keen, shrewd, practical man, but somewhere in his +being there was concealed a tremendous, lop-sided sense of humor which +took the form of a bewildering imagery. An attentive audience was +enough for him, and, once his fancy was in full swing, there was no +limit to his outrageous exaggerations. A light of credulity in a +hearer's eye filled him with prodigious mirth, and it is doubtful if +his listeners ever derived a fraction of 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, much of 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 were liable to +consider him generally untruthful. But even in this misconception Blaze +took a quiet delight, secure in the knowledge that all who knew him +well regarded him as a rock of integrity. As a matter of fact, his +genuine exploits were quite as sensational as those of his manufacture. + +When, after supper, Blaze had hitched a pair of driving-mules to his +buckboard, preparatory to showing his guest the glories of Jonesville, +Dave said: + +"Paloma's getting mighty pretty." + +"She's as pretty as a blue-bonnet flower," her father agreed. "And she +runs me around something scandalous. I 'ain't got the freedom of a +peon." Blaze sighed and shook his shaggy head. "You know me, Dave; I +never used to be scared of nobody. Well, it's different now. 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're going to stay right +here with us as long as you're in town; I want you to see how I +cringe." In spite of Blaze's plaintive tone it was patent that he was +inordinately proud of Paloma and well content with his serfdom. + +Jonesville proved to be a typical Texas town of the modern variety, and +altogether different to the pictured frontier village. There were no +one-storied square fronts, no rows of saloons with well-gnawed +hitching-rails, no rioting cowboys. On the contrary, the larger +buildings were of artificial stone, the sidewalks of concrete, and the +store fronts of plate-glass. Arc-lights shed a bluish-white 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 was too new +and crude and awkward for that. It fitted loosely into its clothes, for +its citizens had patterned it with regard for the future, and it +sprawled over twice its legitimate area. But to its happy founder it +seemed well-nigh perfect, and its destiny roused his maddest +enthusiasm. He showed Dave the little red frame railroad station, +distinguished in some mysterious way above the hundred thousand other +little red frame railroad stations of the identical size and style; he +pointed out the Odd Fellows Hall, the Palace Picture Theater, with its +glaring orange lights and discordant electric piano; he conducted Law +to the First National Bank, of which Blaze was a proud but somewhat +ornamental director; then to the sugar-mill, the ice-plant, and other +points of equally novel interest. + +Everywhere he went, Jones was hailed by friends, for everybody seemed +to know him and to want to shake his hand. + +"SOME town and SOME body of men, eh?" he inquired, finally, and Dave +agreed: + +"Yes. She's got a grand framework, Blaze. She'll be most as big as Fort +Worth when you fatten her up." + +Jones waved his buggy-whip in a wide circle that took in the miles of +level prairie on all sides. "We've got the whole blamed state to grow +in. And, Dave, I haven't got an enemy in the place! It wasn't many +years ago that certain people allowed I'd never live to raise this +town. Why, it used to be that nobody dared to ride with me--except +Paloma, and she used to sleep with a shot-gun at her 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 fat in +prosecuting their feuds, but this was a subject which the elder man +invariably found embarrassing, and now he said: + +"Pshaw! I never was the blood-letter people think. I'm as gentle as a +sheep." Then to escape further curiosity on that point he suggested +that they round out their riotous evening with a game of pool. + +Law boasted a liberal education, but he was no match for the father of +Jonesville, who wielded a cue with a dexterity born of years of +devotion to the game. In consequence, Blaze's enjoyment was in a fair +way to languish when the proprietor of the Elite Billiard Parlor +returned from supper to say: + +"Mr. Jones, there's a real good pool-player in town, and he wants to +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 a chair and watch +your uncle clean this tenderfoot. If he's got class, I'll make him +mayor of the town, for a good pool-shooter is all this metropolis +lacks. Why, sometimes I go plumb to San Antone for a game." He +whispered in his friend's ear, "Paloma don't let me gamble, but if +you've got any dinero, get it down on me." Then, addressing the +bystanders, he proclaimed, "Boys, if this pilgrim is good enough to +stretch me out we'll marry him off and settle him down." + +"No chance, Uncle Blaze; he's the most married person in town," some +one volunteered. "His wife is the new dressmaker--and she's got a +mustache." For some reason this remark excited general mirth. + +"That's too bad. I never saw but one woman with a mustache, and she +licked me good. If he's yoked up to that kind of a lady, I allow his +nerves will be wrecked before he gets here. I hope to God he ain't +entirely done for." Blaze ran the last three balls from a well-nigh +impossible position, then racked up the whole fifteen with trembling +eagerness and eyed the door expectantly. He was wiping his spectacles +when the proprietor returned with a slim, sallow man whom he introduced +as Mr. Strange. + +"Welcome to our city!" Blaze cried, with a flourish of his glasses. +"Get a prod, Mr. Strange, and bust 'em, while I clean my wind-shields. +These fellow-townsmen of mine handle a cue like it was 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, and pocketed it, +following which he ran the remaining fourteen. Blaze watched this +procedure near-sightedly, and when the table was bare he thumped his +cue loudly upon the floor. He beamed upon his opponent; he appeared +ready to embrace him. + +"Bueno! There's art, science, and natural aptitude! Fly at 'em again, +Mr. Strange, and take your fill." He finished polishing his spectacles, +and readjusted them. "I aim to make you so comfortable in Jonesville +that---" Blaze paused, he started, and a peculiar expression crept over +his face. + +It seemed to Law that his friend actually turned pale; at any rate, his +mouth dropped open and his gaze was no longer hypnotically following +the pool-balls, but was fixed upon his opponent. + +Now there were chapters in the life of Blaze Jones that had never been +fully written, and it occurred to Dave that such a one had been +suddenly reopened; therefore he prepared himself for some kind of an +outburst. But Blaze appeared to be numbed; he even jumped nervously +when Mr. Strange missed a shot and advised him that his chance had come. + +As water escapes from a leaky pail, so had Jones's fondness for pool +oozed away, and with it had gone his accustomed skill. He shot blindly, +and, much to the general surprise, missed an easy attempt. + +"Can't expect to get 'em all," comfortingly observed Mr. Strange as he +executed a combination that netted him two balls and broke the bunch. +After that he proved the insincerity of his statement by clearing the +cloth for a second time. The succeeding frames went much the same, and +finally Blaze put up his cue, mumbling: + +"I reckon I must have another chill coming on. My feet are plumb dead." + +"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 tell you +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 the ability +to read fortunes. I foretell good an' evil, questions of love and +mattermony by means of numbers, cards, dice, dominoes, apple-parings, +egg-shells, tea-leaves, an' coffee-grounds." The speaker's voice had +taken on the brazen tones of a circus barker. "I pro'nosticate by +charms, ceremonies, omens, and moles; by the features of the face, +lines of the hand, spots an' blemishes of the skin. I speak the +language of flowers. I know one hundred and eighty-seven weather signs, +and I interpet dreams. Now, ladies and gents, this is no idle boast. +Triflin' incidents, little marks on the cuticle, although they appear +to be the effect of chance, are nevertheless of the utmost consequence, +an' to the skilled interpeter they foretell the temper of, an' the +events that will happen to, the person bearin' 'em. Now let us take +this little deck of common playing-cards---" + +The monologist, suiting the action to the word, conjured a deck of +cards from somewhere, and extended them to Blaze. "Select one; any +one---" + +"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." Extracting from +another pocket a tiny pair of scissors and a sheet of carbon paper, Mr. +Strange, with the undivided attention of the audience upon him, began +to cut Blaze's silhouette. He was extraordinarily adept, and despite +his subject's restlessness he completed the likeness in a few moments; +then, fixing it upon a plain white cardboard, 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 the +buckboard. + +"Serves me right for leaving my six-shooter at home," panted the +rancher. "Well, I might have known they'd find me some day." + +"'They'? Who?" + +"That hombre and his wife--the woman with the mustache. They swore +they'd get me, and it looks like they will, for I daresn't raise my +hand to protect myself." + +This was very mystifying to Dave, and he said so. + +"The woman'll recognize me, quick enough," Blaze asserted, and then, +"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 day I decided +to take a swim, so I hired a suit and a room to cache my six-shooter +in. It was foolish proceedings for a man my age, but the 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 three days, and I hadn't got any +sleep. I was plumb feverish, and needed a dip. Well, I'm no water-dog, +Dave; I can't swim no better than a tarrapin with its legs cut off, but +I sloshed around some in the surf, and then I took a walk to dreen off +and see the sights. It was right interesting when I got so I could tell +the women from the men--you see I'd left my glasses in the bath-house. + +"Now I'd sort of upheld the general intemperance of that poker game for +three days and nights--but I don't offer my condition as an excuse for +what follows. No gentleman ought to lay his indecencies onto John +Barley corn when they're nothing more nor less than the outcroppin's of +his own orneriness. Liquor has got enough to answer for without being +blamed for human depravities. I dare say I was friendlier than I had +any right to be; I spoke to strangers, and some of the girls hollered +at me, but I wouldn't have harmed a soul. + +"Well, in the course of my promenade I came to a couple of fellers +setting half-buried in the sand, and just as I was passing one of them +got up--sort of on all-fours and--er--facing away from me--sabe? That's +where the trouble hatched. I reached out and, with nothing 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 from behind. When I got up and +squared around, there was that man we just left cutting didos out of +black paper. + +"'What d'you mean by pinching my wife?' he says, and he was r'arin' mad. + +"'Your WIFE?' I stammers, and with that he climbs me. Dave, I was weak +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 a little black +mustache, and here she came! + +"We started in right there. I never saw such a poisonous person as that +woman. She was coiled, her head was up, and her rattles agoing, and so +I finally lit out But I'm sort of fat, and they over-ran me. They bayed +me against the sea-wall, and all I had the heart to do was to hold 'em +off some more. Soon as I got my wind I shook '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 people kept +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 my legs. By and by +I got so short of breath that I couldn't run, so I fell on top of the +man. But the woman got me by the legs and rolled me under. I busted out +and hoofed it again, but they caught me and down we went, me on top. +Then that man's helpmate grabbed my legs and rolled me over, like she +did before. Finally I got too tired to do anything but paw like a +puppy. It seems like we must have fought that way all the morning, +Dave. Anyhow, people gathered from long distances and cheered the +woman. I got desperate toward the last, and I unraveled the right hip +of my bathing suit grabbing for my gun. I couldn't see the bath-house +for the sand in my eyes, so I must have led 'em up across the boulevard +and into the tent colony, for after a while we were rolling around +among tent-pegs and tangling up in guy-ropes, and all the time our +audience was growing. Dave, those tent-ropes sounded like guitar +strings." + +Blaze paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, whereupon his listener +inquired in a choking voice: + +"How did you come out?" + +"I reckon I'd have got shed of 'em somehow, for I was resting up on top +of my man, but that stinging lizard of a woman got her claws 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 an eel, 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 ears and went through those sight-seers +like a jack-rabbit. I never knew a man could run like I did. I could +hear people holler, 'Here he comes,' 'There he goes,' 'Yonder he went,' +but I was never headed. I hurdled the sea-wall like an antelope, and +before they got eyes on me I was into my bath-house. + +"When I'd got dressed, I sneaked up to the Galvez for a drink. In the +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 kill the man +who attacked his wife, and the newspapers called on the police to +discover the ruffian." + +There was a protracted silence; then Law controlled his voice +sufficiently to say: "It's fortunate he didn't recognize you to-night." + +"Maybe he did. Anyhow, his wife is the new dressmaker Paloma's hired. I +'ain't got a chance, Dave. That story will ruin me in the community, +and Paloma will turn me out when she learns I'm a--a lady-pincher." + +"What are you going to do about it?" + +Blaze sighed. "I don't know, yet. Probably I'll end by running from +those scorpions, like I did before." + + The next morning at breakfast Paloma announced, "Father, you must +help 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 the only +person who knows the Lewis gang as well as you do." + +Jones shook his head doubtfully. "Don Ricardo has been working up his +own private feud with that outfit. If I was the kind that went looking +for a fight, I wouldn't have paid freight on myself from the Panhandle +down here. I could have got one right at home, any morning before +breakfast." + +"Ricardo Guzman is something of a black sheep himself," Law spoke up. + +"Pshaw! He's all right. I reckon he has changed a few brands in his +time, but so has everybody else. Why, that's how 'Old Ed' Austin got +his start. If a cowman tells you he never stole anything, he's either a +dam' good liar or a dam' bad roper. But Ricardo's going straight enough +now." + +"He has lost his share of stock," Paloma explained, "and he'll work +with you if father asks him. You go along with Dave---" + +"I'm too busy," Blaze demurred, "and I ain't feeling good. I had bad +dreams all night." + +"I don't want you around here this morning. That new dressmaker is +coming." + +Jones rose abruptly from the table. "I reckon my business can wait. +Hustle up, Dave." A few moments later, as they were saddling their +horses, he lamented: "What did I tell you? Here I go, on the dodge 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. An +accident of birth had made him a citizen of the United States--his +father having owned a ranch which lay north instead of south of the Rio +Grande. Inasmuch as the property had fallen to Ricardo, his sons, too, +were Yankees in the eyes of the law. But in all other respects Don +Ricardo and his family differed not at all from the many Guzmans who +lived across the border. The Guzman ranch comprised a goodly number of +acres, and, since live stock multiply rapidly, its owner had in some +sort prospered. On the bank of a resaca---a former bed of the Rio +Grande--stood the house, an adobe structure, square, white, and +unprotected from the sun by shrub or tree. Behind it were some brush +corrals and a few scattered mud jacals, in which lived the help. + +Ricardo had just risen from a siesta when his two visitors rode up, and +he made them welcome with the best he had. There followed a +complimentary exchange of greetings and the usual flow of small talk. +Ricardo had suffered a severe toothache--the same abominable affliction +that had lost Porfirio Diaz an empire. It had been a dry 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 recounted his own doings; Law told of +Ranger activities along the lower border. In the cool of the afternoon +Ricardo rode with his visitors, and then, cordial relations being now +established, he began to divulge information of value to Law. + +Yes, he had endured many depredations from thieves. It was shameful, +but doubtless God willed that a certain amount of stealing should go on +in the world. The evil-doers were certainly favored by nature, in this +locality, for the great expanse of brush country to the north and east +offered almost perfect security, and the river, to the south, gave +immunity from pursuit or prosecution. The beeves were driven north into +the wilderness, but the horses went to Mexico, where the war had +created a market for 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 was quite +another; and conviction was difficult under the best of circumstances. +Why, even a cow's recognition of her own calf was not evidence for a +court, and alibis were easily proven. Unless the thieves were caught in +the very act there was no case against them, and--por Dios!--one could +not be for ever on guard. Who could tell where the malefactors would +strike next? Now, in Mexico one could afford to kill an undesirable +neighbor without so much formality. But, thank God! Don Ricardo was not +a Mexican. No, he was a good American citizen. It was something to make +him sleep well in these war-times. + +"Just the same, I'll bet he'd sleep better if the Lewis outfit was +cleaned up," Dave ventured, and Blaze agreed. + +Guzman caught his enemy's name and nodded. + +"Ah! That sin verguenza! He sells arms to the Candeleristas and horses +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? Lewis employs +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 I do not aid the tyrant +Potosi with my other hand. Yes, and who is richer, 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 strange +stories 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 morning Blaze +rode home, leaving the Ranger behind for the time being as Guzman's +guest. + +Dave put in the next two days riding the pastures, familiarizing +himself with the country, and talking with the few men he met. About +all he discovered, however, was the fact that the Guzman range not only +adjoined some of Lewis's leased land, but also was bounded for several +miles by the Las Palmas fence. + +It was pleasant to spend the days among the shy brush-cattle, with +Bessie Belle for company. The mare seemed to enjoy the excursions as +much as her owner. Her eyes and ears were ever alert; she tossed her +head and snorted when a deer broke cover or a jack-rabbit scuttled out +of her path; she showed a friendly interest in the awkward calves which +stood and eyed her with such amazement and then galloped stiffly off +with tails high arched. + +Law had many times undertaken to break Bessie Belle of that habit of +flinging her head high at sudden sounds, but she was nervous and +inquisitive, and this was the one thing upon which she maintained a +feminine obstinacy. + +On the second evening the Ranger rode home through a drizzle that had +materialized after a long, threatening afternoon and now promised to +become a real rain. Ricardo met him at the door to say: + +"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 shall ride +the fences, and if we encounter a cut wire--diablo!--we shall have a +story to tell, eh?" + +The sky was leaden, the rain still fell in the morning when Dave and +his two companions set out. Until noon they rode, their slickers +dripping, their horses steaming; then they ate an uncomfortable lunch +under the thickest hackberry-tree they could find, after which they +resumed their patrol. Ricardo's tongue at length ran down under this +discomfort, and the three riders sat their saddles silently, swaying to +the tireless fox-trot of their horses, their eyes engaged in a watchful +scrutiny. + +At last Pedro, who was ahead, reined in and pointed; the others saw +where the barbed-wire strands of the fence they had been following were +clipped. A number of horse and calf tracks led through the opening, and +after an examination Ricardo announced: + +"There are two men. They have come and gone, with the calves tied neck +and neck." + +"That is Las Palmas, isn't it?" Law indicated the pasture into which +the trail led. + +Father and son answered, "Si, senor." + +For a time the Ranger lounged sidewise in his saddle, studying the +country before him. The land was open and comparatively flat; it was +broken by tiny clumps of mesquite and low, sprawling beds of cactus. +Perhaps a half-mile away, however, began a long, narrow patch of woods, +with the tops of occasional oaks showing, and this ran parallel with +the fence for a considerable distance. + +"They took them in yonder, to brand," he said, straightening himself. +"Maybe we'll be in time." + +Side by side the three men rode off Guzman's land, following the tracks +to the nearest point of woods; there Law stopped to give his directions. + +"Pedro, you ride down this side; Ricardo, you skirt the outside. I +shall keep to the middle. Walk your horses, for I shall go slowly." He +slipped his carbine from its scabbard; the others did the same. + +But Dave's plan did not commend itself to Ricardo; the old man's face +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 they will +not wait to learn that you are an officer. Perhaps I had better ride +with you." + +But Law declined the well-meant offer, and with a dubious shake of the +head Ricardo rode away, while Dave guided Bessie Belle into the grove. + +The mare seemed to know that something unusual was afoot. Perhaps some +nervous tensity of her rider made itself felt, perhaps with equine +sagacity she had understood from the first the nature of this scouting +expedition. Dave was inclined to believe the latter--he had often +averred that Bessie Belle knew quite as much as or more than he. At any +rate she picked her way with admirable care, her hoofs made almost no +sound upon the wet soil; only the complaint of the saddle leathers or +the swish of a wet branch rose above the steady patter of the +raindrops. It was not necessary to guide her; she selected the openings +of her own free will, her small, sharp ears were alert, and her eyes +searched the glades intently. + +Dave smiled at this excess of caution and stroked Bessie Belle's wet +neck encouragingly, whereupon she turned her head and it seemed 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 and then +they stopped to listen, but the rain was heavy enough to drown all +other noises. Encountering fresh tracks finally, Dave leaned from his +saddle and studied them. What he saw caused him to push 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 few yards +farther on Law fancied that he could detect the smell of a wood fire. +Almost without a signal from him the mare halted in her tracks until he +had satisfied himself. Still farther along they came to a place where +the brush was low, and there, rising through the tree-tops beyond, they +saw a wavering plume of blue smoke. + +The Ranger rode into sight of the branding-fire with his Winchester +across his saddle-horn and his thumb upon the hammer; what followed +came with almost the blinding suddenness of a lightning crash, though +afterward the events of that crowded moment lingered as a clear-cut +memory. First there was the picture of a sandy glade in the center of +which burned a fire with branding-irons in it, and a spotted calf tied +to a tree, but otherwise no sign of life. Then, without warning, Bessie +Belle threw up her head in that characteristic trick of hers, and +simultaneously Dave saw a figure rise out of the grass at his left with +rifle leveled. The Ranger remembered afterward the odd foreshortening +of the weapon and the crooked twist of the face behind it. With the +first jerk of his horse's head his own gun had leaped to his +shoulder--he was not conscious of having willed it to do so--and even +as he pressed the trigger he beheld a jet of smoke spurt from the +muzzle aimed at him. With the kick of his carbine he felt Bessie Belle +give way--it seemed to Dave that he shot while she was sinking. The +next instant his feet, still in the 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 had been her end. The breath escaped slowly from her lungs; it +was as if she heaved a lingering sigh; one leg contracted and then +relaxed. + +For a moment the Ranger was dazed. He stood staring down at his pet; +then the truth engulfed him. He realized that he had ridden her to her +death, and at the thought he became like a woman bereft of her child, +like a lover who had seen his sweetheart slain. + +A shout--it was a hoarse, inarticulate cry; a swift, maddened scrutiny +that searched the sodden scene of the ambush; then he was down beside +the mare, calling her name heartbrokenly, his arms around her neck, his +face against her warm, wet, velvet hide. + +Law knew that two men had entered the thicket, and therefore one still +remained to be reckoned with, but he gave no thought to that. Nor did +he rise to look after the grotesquely huddled figure that had been a +cattle thief only a moment before--both he and his assailant had been +too close to miss. From the corner of his eye he 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 the body he heard a calf stirring, but +he let it struggle. + +Bessie Belle's bright eyes were glazing; she did not hear her lover's +voice. Her muzzle, softer than any satin, was loose, her lips would +never twitch with that clumsy, quivering caress which pleased her +master so. One front hoof, washed as clean as agate, was awkwardly bent +under her, the other had plowed a furrow in the soft earth as she sank, +and against this leg her head lay tipped. + +Don Ricardo and his son burst out of the brush from opposite directions +almost at the same moment, to find the Ranger with his face buried in +his horse's mane. + +"Caramba! What is this?" The old man flung himself from the saddle and +came running. "You are injured?" + +Pedro, too, bent over the officer, his brown face pale with +apprehension. "Mother of God!" breathed the latter. "It was a wild +thing to do, to ride alone---" + +"I'm all right," Law said, rising stiffly, whereupon both Mexicans +voiced 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 his back, and +Pedro uttered a loud cry. + +"Look!" Father and son ran through the grass, then recoiled and broke +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 realized it." + +"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 knew +something. 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 heard but +one shot from here, then after an instant my father's gun. And yet here +is a dead horse and a dead man." + +"This fellow and I fired at about the same instant," Dave explained, +but even when he had related the history of the encounter his +companions could scarcely believe that such quick shooting was possible. + +It was difficult to secure a connected story from Ricardo, but he +finally made it plain that at the first report the other thief had +fled, exposing himself only long enough for the old man to take a quick +shot in his direction. Ricardo had missed, and the miscreant was +doubtless well away by this time. He had ridden a sorrel horse, that +was all Ricardo could remember. + +Law looked only briefly at the gruesome results of his marksmanship, +then he turned back to the body of his beloved mare. Ricardo noticed at +length that he was crying; as the Ranger knelt beside the dead +thoroughbred the old Mexican whispered to his son: + +"Valgame Dios! This is a strange fellow. He weeps like a woman. He must +have loved that horse as a man loves his wife. Who can understand these +Gringos?" After a time he approached cautiously and inquired: "What +shall we do with this hombre, senor? Pedro has found his horse." + +Law roused himself. With his own hands he gently removed Bessie Belle's +saddle, bridle, and blanket, then he gave his orders. + +"I'll take your horse, Ricardo, and you take--that fellow's. Get a +wagon 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 the exchange +of mounts had been effected and all was ready, Law made a request that +amazed both father and son. + +"If I'm not back by morning, I want you to bury my mare." His voice +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 be back to +see that it's done right. Understand?" + +"Bueno! I understand perfectly. She was a pretty horse. She was +your--bonita, eh? Well, you have a big heart, senor, as a brave man +should have. Everything shall be done as you wish; I give you my hand +on it." Ricardo reached down and gripped Law's palm. "We will name our +pasture for her, too, because it is plain you loved her dearly. So, +then, until to-morrow." + +Law watched his two friends ride away, then he wiped his Winchester and +saw to his cinch. This done he raised Bessie Belle's head and kissed +the lip that had so often explored his palm for sugar. With a miserable +ache in his throat he mounted and rode off to pick up the trail of the +man on the sorrel pony. + +Fortunately this was not difficult, for the tracks of a running horse +are plain in soft ground. Finding where his quarry had broken cover, +Law set out at a lope. + +The fellow had ridden in a wide semicircle at first, then, finding he +was not pursued, he had slackened pace, and, in consequence, the signs +became more difficult to follow. They seemed to lead in the direction +of Las Palmas, which Dave judged must be fully twelve miles away, and +when they continued to maintain this course the Ranger became doubly +interested. Could it be, he asked himself, that his quarry would have +the audacity to ride to the Austin headquarters? If so, his +identification promised to become easy, for a man on a sorrel cow-pony +was more than likely to be observed. Perhaps he thought himself secure +and counted upon the assistance of some friend or confederate among the +Las Palmas ranch-hands in case of pursuit. That seemed not +unreasonable, particularly inasmuch as he could have no suspicion that +it was a Ranger who was on his trail. + +Dave lost the hoof-prints for a time, but picked them up again at the +pasture gate a few miles farther on, and was able to trace them far +enough to assure himself that his quarry was indeed headed for the +Austin house and had no intention of swinging southward toward the +Lewis headquarters. + +By this time the rain had done its work, and to follow the tracks +became a matter of guesswork. Night was coming on also, and Dave +realized that at this rate darkness would find him far from his goal. +Therefore he risked his own interpretation of the rider's intent and +pushed on without pausing to search out the trail step by step. At the +second gate the signs indicated that his man was little more than an +hour ahead of him. + +The prospect of again seeing the ruddy-haired mistress of Las Palmas +stirred Law more deeply than he cared to admit. Alaire Austin had been +seldom out of his thoughts since their first meeting, for, after the +fashion of men cut off from human society, he was subject to insistent +fancies. Dave had many times lived over those incidents at the +water-hole, and for the life of him he could not credit the common +stories of Alaire's coldness. To him, at least, she had appeared very +human, and after they had once become acquainted she had been +unaffected and friendly. + +Since that meeting Dave had picked up considerable information about +the object of his interest, and although much of this was palpably +false, it had served to make her a still more romantic figure in his +eyes. Alaire now seemed to be a sort of superwoman, and the fact that +she was his friend, that something deep within her had answered to him, +afforded him a keen satisfaction, the greater, perhaps, because of his +surprise that it could be so. Nevertheless, he was uncomfortably aware +that she had a husband. Not only so, but the sharp contrast in their +positions was disagreeable to contemplate; she was unbelievably rich, +and a person of influence in the state, while he had nothing except his +health, 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 in the weeping +mesquite. He found several cubes of sugar in his pocket, and with an +oath flung them from him. Don Ricardo's horse seemed stiff-gaited and +stubborn. + +Dave remembered how Mrs. Austin had admired the mare. No doubt she +would grieve at the fate that had befallen her, and that would give +them something to talk about. His own escape would interest her, too, +and--Law realized, not without some natural gratification, that he +would appear to her as a sort of hero. + +The mist and an early dusk prevented him from seeing Las Palmas itself +until he was well in among the irrigated fields. A few moments later +when he rode up to the out-buildings he encountered a middle-aged +Mexican who proved to be Benito Gonzalez, the range boss. + +Dave made himself known, and Benito answered his questions with +apparent honesty. No, he had seen nothing of a sorrel horse or a +strange rider, but he had just come in himself. Doubtless they could +learn more from Juan, the horse-wrangler, who was somewhere about. + +Juan was finally found, but he proved strangely recalcitrant. At first +he knew nothing, though after some questioning he admitted the +possibility that he had seen a horse of the description given, but was +not sure. More pressure brought forth the reluctant admission 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 not recollect just +where or when he had seen the pony, and he was certain 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 you want to +go to jail?" Juan had no such desire. "Then tell the truth. 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 until he +yelled. "You will make a nice little prisoner, Juanito, and we shall +find a way to make you speak." + +Gonzalez was inclined to resent such high-handed treatment of his +underling, but respect for the Rangers was deep-rooted, and Juan's +behavior was inexplicable. + +At last the horse-boy confessed. He had seen both horse and rider, but +knew neither. Mr. Austin and the stranger had arrived together, and the +latter had gone on. That was the truth. + +"Bueno!" Law released his prisoner, who slunk away rubbing his +shoulder. "Now, Benito, we will find Mr. Austin." + +A voice answered from the dusk: "He won't take much finding," and Ed +Austin himself emerged from the stable door. "Well, what do you want?" +he asked. + +"You are Mr. Austin, I reckon?" + +"I am. What d'you mean by abusing my help?" The master of Las Palmas +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 the reason 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. I +trailed him from where he and his partner cut into your south pasture." + +Benito stirred and muttered an oath, but Austin was unmoved. "I reckon +you must be a bad trailer," he laughed. "We've got no thieves 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 should behave in +this extraordinary manner, unless perhaps he was drunk. + +"Well, I saw the calves, and I left the fellow that was branding them +with a wet saddle-blanket over his face." + +"Eh? What's that?" Austin started, and Gonzalez uttered a smothered +exclamation. "You killed him? He's dead?" + +"Dead enough to skin. I caught him with his irons in the fire and the +calves necked up in your pasture. Now I want his companero." + +"I--hope you don't think we know anything about him," Ed protested. + +"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 do with +this affair. Would you know your man? Did you get a look at him?" + +"No. But I reckon Don Ricardo could tell his horse." + +"Humph!" Austin grunted, disagreeably. "So just for that you come +prowling around threatening my help, eh? Trying to frame up a case, +maybe? Well, it don't go. I was out with one of Tad Lewis's men." + +"What was his name?" Dave managed to inquire. + +"Urbina. He had a sorrel under him, but there are thousands of sorrel +horses." + +"What time did you meet him?" + +"I met him at noon and--I've been with him ever since. So you see +you're wrong. I presume your man doubled back and is laughing at you." + +Law's first bewilderment had given place to a black rage; for the +moment he was in danger of disregarding the reason for "Young Ed's" +incivility and giving free rein to his passion, but he checked 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. He was +astonished at his own self-control, though the certainty that Austin +was drunk helped him to steady himself. Nevertheless, he dared not +trust himself to speak. + +Construing this silence as an acknowledgment of defeat, Ed turned to +go. Some tardy sense of duty, however, prompted him to fling back, +carelessly: + +"I suppose you've come a good ways. If you're hungry, Benito will show +you the way to the kitchen." Then he walked away into the darkness, +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. I +reckon I can chew my bridle-reins if I get too hungry." Walking to his +horse, he vaulted into the saddle. + +Benito laid a hand upon his thigh and apologized. "Senor Ed is a +strange 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 see Urbina." + +At this the Mexican shook his head as if apprehensive of the result, +but he said nothing more. + +Law hesitated as he was about to spur out of the yard. "By the way," he +ventured, "you needn't mention this to Mrs. Austin." + +"She is not here," Gonzalez told him. "She has gone to La Feria to see +about her affairs. She would not permit of this occurrence if she 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 house with +his head bowed thoughtfully. + +"It is very strange," he muttered. "How could Don Eduardo have met this +Garza at noon when, with my own eyes, I saw him ride away from Las +Palmas at three o'clock in the afternoon? It is very strange." + + + + +XI + +JUDGE ELLSWORTH EXACTS A PROMISE + + +On his way to the Lewis ranch Dave Law had a struggle with himself. He +had earned a reputation as a man of violent temper, and the time was +not long past when a fraction of the insult Ed Austin had offered him +would have provoked a vigorous counterblast. The fact that on this +occasion he had managed to restrain himself argued an increase of +self-control that especially gratified him, because his natural +tendency to "fly off the handle" had led more than once to regrettable +results. In fact, it was only since he had assumed the duties of a +peace officer that he had made a serious effort at self-government. A +Ranger's work calls for patience and forbearance, and Dave had begun to +realize the perils of his temperament. Normally he was a level-headed, +conservative fellow, but when angered a thousand devils sprang up in +him and he became capable of the wildest excess. This instability, +indeed, had been largely to blame for his aimless roaming. Deep inside +himself he knew that it was nothing but his headstrong temper which had +brought on all his misfortunes and left him, well along in his +thirties, a wanderer, with nothing he could call his own. As with most +men of his turbulent disposition, fits of fury were usually followed by +keen revulsions of feeling. In Dave these paroxysms had frequently been +succeeded by such a sense of shame as to drive him from the scene of +his actions, and in the course of his rovings he had acquired an ample +store of regrets--bitter food for thought during the silent hours when +he sat over his camp-fire or rode alone through the mesquite. His +hatreds were keen and relentless, his passions wild, and yet, so far as +he knew, they had never led him to commit a 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 of frenzy. + +The killing of men in the fierce exultation of battle, the slaying of a +criminal by an officer under stress of duty, even the taking of life +under severe personal provocation, were acts that did not put one +beyond the pale. Such blood washes off. But there were stains of a +different kind. + +Dave was glad that he had swallowed "Young Ed's" incivility, not only +for his own sake, but for the sake of Alaire. + +After all, he argued, it was barely possible that Ed had spoken the +truth. There WERE many sorrel horses; the evidence of those rain-washed +hoof-prints was far from conclusive; even the fact that Urbina belonged +to the Tad Lewis outfit was no more than a suspicious circumstance. And +yet, earnestly as he strove to convince himself of these possibilities, +the Ranger could not down the conviction that the rancher had lied and +that he himself was on the right track. + +It was late when he arrived at his destination, but Lewis's house was +dark, and it required some effort to awaken the owner. When Tad at last +appeared, clad in undershirt and trousers, he greeted the Ranger with a +leveled Winchester; but when Dave had made known his identity he +invited him in, though with surly reluctance. + +Lewis was a sandy-complexioned man of about forty, with colorless brows +and a mean, shifty eye. Formerly a cowboy, he had by the exercise of +some natural ability acquired a good property--and a bad reputation. +Just how or why he had prospered was a mystery which his neighbors +never tired of discussing. + +Tad, it seemed, resented any interruption of his rest, and showed the +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't steal +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 and its +outcome. He was aware, meanwhile, that Lewis's family were listening, +for behind a half-open bedroom door he could hear an excited whispering. + +"Killed him the first shot, eh?" Tad was dumfounded. "Now I never +thought Pino was that bad. But you never can tell about these Greasers, +can you? They'll all steal if they get a chance. I let Pino go, 'bout a +week back; but he's been hangin' around, aimin' to visit some of his +relatives up in the brush country. It was probably one of them old +Guzman saw. Anyhow, it couldn't of been Adolfo 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 he understood +the situation, was in marked contrast to the behavior of Austin. In +fact, his offer to help was almost too willingly given to suit Dave, +who expected him to protest at being dragged out on such a night. No +protest came, however; Lewis slipped into his boots and slicker, +explaining meanwhile: + +"I'm sorry this play came up, for I don't want folks to think I got a +gang of thieves workin' for me." + +But Adolfo Urbina was nowhere to be found. No one had seen him since +about seven o'clock, nor could it be discovered where he was spending +the night. Dave remembered that it had been about seven when he left +Las Palmas, and ascertained, indirectly, that Tad had a telephone. On +his way from Austin's Law had stopped at a rancho for 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 again in +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 it could +avail nothing to wait here for Urbina's return. Unless the fellow gave +himself up, he probably could not be found, now that the alarm was +given, without a considerable search--in view of which Dave finally +remounted his borrowed horse and rode away in the 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 been almost +constantly in the saddle for twenty-four hours, and Don Ricardo's +cow-pony was almost exhausted. + +Blaze and Paloma, of course, were tremendously interested in his story. + +"Say, now, that's quick work," the latter exclaimed, heartily. "You're +some thief-buster, Dave, and if you'll just stay around here little +calves can grow up with some comfort." + +When Dave rode to Jonesville, after breakfast, he found that the body +of his victim had been brought in during the night, and that the town +was already buzzing with news of the encounter. During the forenoon Don +Ricardo and his sons arrived, bringing additional information, which +they promptly imparted to the Ranger. The Guzmans were people of +action. All three of them had spent the night on horseback, and Pedro +had made a discovery. On the day previous Garza had been seen riding in +company with a man astride a 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 seen +together proved, beyond question, that unless Urbina had flown he could +not have arrived at the place in question by noon, the hour Ed Austin +had fixed. + +This significant bit of information, however, Dave advised the Guzmans +not to make public for the time being. + +Toward midday Tad Lewis and three of his men arrived with the news that +Urbina had left for Pueblo before they could intercept him. + +"He's got a girl up there, and he's gone to get married," Tad +explained. "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'll back +him. So 'll Ed Austin, I guess me an' Ed are responsible, ain't we?" +Some skeptical expression in his hearer's face prompted him to inquire, +brusquely, "Don't you believe what I'm telling you about his goin' to +Pueblo?" + +"I guess he's gone--somewhere." + +Tad uttered an angry exclamation. "Looks to me like you'd made up your +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 him railroaded, 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 his alibis. +And you take this for what it's worth to you: I'm going to get all the +cattle-rustlers in this county--ALL of them, understand?" + +Lewis flushed redly and sputtered: "If you make this stick with Adolfo, +nobody 'll be safe. I reckon Urbina's word is as good as old 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 have lived +all my life among horses, and to me they are like men. I seldom forget." + +"Very well. Tad says Urbina has gone to Pueblo to get married, so I'm +going to follow him, and I shall be there when he arrives." + +"Bueno! Another matter"--Ricardo hesitated--"your bonita--the pretty +mare. She is buried deep." + +"I'm glad," said Dave. "I think I shall sleep better for knowing that." + +Since the recent rain had rendered the black valley roads impassable +for automobiles, Dave decided to go to Pueblo by rail, even though it +was a roundabout way, and that afternoon found him jolting over the +leisurely miles between Jonesville and the main line. He was looking +forward to a good night's sleep when he arrived at the junction; but on +boarding the north-bound through train he encountered Judge Ellsworth, +who had just heard of the Garza killing, and of course was eager for +details. The two sat in the observation-car talking until a late hour. + +Knowing the judge for a man of honor and discretion. Dave unburdened +himself with the utmost freedom regarding his suspicions of Ed Austin. + +Ellsworth nodded. "Yes, Ed has thrown in with the Rebel junta in San +Antone, and Tad Lewis is the man they use to run arms and supplies in +this neighborhood. That's why he and Ed are so friendly. Urbina is +probably your cattle thief, but he has a hold over Ed, and so he rode +to Las Palmas when he was pursued, knowing that 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 what he'll do. +I'd hate to see you crowd him, Dave." + +"They call you the best lawyer in this county because you settle so +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 Ed Austin out of +trouble." + +"How?" + +"The prosecuting attorney is a new man, and he wants to make a +reputation by breaking up the Lewis gang." + +"Well?" + +"He intends to cinch Urbina, on Ricardo's and my testimony. You're a +friend of Austin's; you'd better tip him to set his watch ahead a few +hours and save himself a lot of trouble. The prosecuting attorney don't +like Ed any too well. Understand?" + +The judge pondered this suggestion for a moment. "'Young Ed' is a queer +fellow. Once in a while he gets his neck bowed." + +"So do I," Law declared, quietly. "He treated me like a hobo--sent me +to the kitchen for a hand-out. That sticks. If I hadn't tamed down +considerably these late years, I'd have--wound him up, right there." + +From beneath his drooping lids Ellsworth regarded the Ranger curiously. +"You HAVE a bad temper, haven't you?" + +"Rotten!" + +"I know. You were a violent boy. I've often wondered how you were +getting along. How do you feel when you're--that way?" + +It was the younger man's turn to hesitate. "Well, I don't feel anything +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 my +father 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 hardly know +what I mean, Judge. But you've had hunches, haven't you? Didn't you +ever KNOW that something you thought was true wasn't true at all? Well, +I never felt as if I had Frank Law's blood in me." + +"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, for +instance, 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 one thing. We +both know plenty of people with a Latin strain in them who look like +Anglo-Saxons. Isn't there anything else?" + +"Nothing I can lay my finger on, except some kid fancies and--that +hunch I spoke about." + +Ellsworth sat back with a deep breath. "You were educated in the North, +and your boyhood was spent at school and college, away from everything +Mexican." + +"That probably accounts for it," Law agreed; then his face lit with a +slow smile. "By the way, don't tell Mrs. Austin that I'm a sort of +college person. She thinks I'm a red-neck, and she sends me books." + +Ellsworth laughed silently. "Your talk is to blame, Dave. Has she sent +you The Swiss Family Robinson?" + +"No. Mostly good, sad romances with an uplift--stories full of lances +at rest, and Willie-boys in tin sweaters. Life must have been mighty +interesting in olden days, there was so much loving and killing going +on. The good women were always beautiful, too, and the villains never +had a redeeming trait. It's a shame how human 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 a ranch like Las Palmas. Say, Judge, how'd +you like to have to live with 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 kiss the hem of her +dress and make a man of himself? That's what she wants--love and +sacrifice, and lots of both. If I were Ed Austin I'd wear her glove in +my bosom and treat her like those queens in the 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 divorce that +bum--she could do it easy enough--and then marry a chap who could 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 make a +bad husband, Dave." + +"She ought to know how to get along with a bad husband, by this time." + +Both men had been but half serious. Ellsworth knew his companion's +words 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," Dave averred. + +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 safe from your +mercenary schemes for some years. Just the same, if you ever do think +of marrying--remember--I want you to come to me--and I'll cure you." + + + + +XII + +LONGORIO MAKES BOLD + + +Upon her arrival at La Feria Alaire discovered that the Federal +depredations had been even greater than she had feared. Not only had +the soldiers taken a great many head of cattle, but they had +practically cleared the ranch of horses, leaving scarcely enough with +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 how much land she +really owned--and the property fronted upon a stream of water. In any +other country it would have been a garden of riches, but agriculture +was well-nigh impossible in northern Mexico. For several years now the +instability of the government had precluded any plan of development, +and, in consequence, the fields were out of cultivation and cattle +grazed over the moist bottom lands, belly deep in grass. The entire +ranch had been given over to pasture, and even now, after Alaire had +sold off much of her stock because of the war, the task of accurately +counting what remained required a longer time than she had expected, +and her visit lengthened. + +However, life in the roomy, fortress-like adobe house was pleasant +enough. Dolores saw to her mistress's wants, and the regular +inhabitants of La Feria were always extravagantly glad to make their +employer welcome. They were a simple, mirth-loving, industrious people, +little concerned over the war, so long as they were unmolested, but +obviously relieved to see Alaire because of their recent fright at the +incursion of Longorio's troops. + +In the work that now went forward Jose Sanchez took a prominent part. +For once in his life he was a person of recognized importance. Not only +was he the right hand of the owner of La Feria, but the favor of that +redoubtable general, the hero of a hundred tales, rested upon his +shoulders like a mantle. Jose's extravagant praises of the Federal +commander, together with the daily presence of the military guard, +forcibly brought home to the ranch-dwellers the fact that war was +actually going on, and that Luis 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 one +trouble. He had expected to find his cousin, Panfilo, here, and the +fact that nothing whatever had been heard from him filled him with +great uneasiness. Of course he came to Alaire, who told him of seeing +Panfilo at the water-hole on the day after her husband had 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 that affair. Believing that +Panfilo would turn up at La Feria in due time, she gave little heed to +Jose's dark threats of vengeance for any injury to his relative. + +The horse-breaker's concern increased as the days passed, and to the +lieutenant and members of the guard he repeated his threats. Truly, he +declared, if any evil had fallen upon his beloved cousin Panfilo, he, +Jose, would exact a terrible reckoning, a revenge befitting 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 her own +pastures without the whole martial squad following at her heels. +Protest was unavailing; the lieutenant was mulishly stubborn. He had +been ordered to keep the senora in sight at all times, so he said, and +that ended the matter as far as he was concerned. His life and the +lives of his six followers depended entirely upon her safety and +happiness, for General Longorio was a man of his word. + +Of course the lieutenant would not offend for the world--the object of +his solicitude was at liberty to tread upon his worthless old +carcass--but orders were orders, especially when they came from a +certain source. He besought Alaire to exercise forbearance toward him, +and, above all, to use the extremest caution in regard to her own +well-being, for if aught befell her, if even a despicable rattlesnake +should rise out of the grass to sting her--caramba! The teniente, in +that case, would better destroy himself on the spot. Otherwise he would +surely find himself, in a short time, with his back to a stone wall and +his face to a firing-squad. That was the sort of man Longorio was. + +The speaker wondered if Mrs. Austin really understood his chief's +nature; how determined he was; how relentless he could be. General +Longorio was a remarkable person. Opposition of any sort he could not +brook. His discipline was rigorous and his punishments were severe; +being utterly without fear himself, he insisted upon implicit obedience +in others at whatever cost. For instance, during the battle of San +Pedro, just south of here, a handful of Rebels had taken refuge in a +small, one-roomed adobe house, where they resisted all efforts at +dislodgment. Time and again the Federals had charged, only to meet a +fire too murderous to face. The slaughter had been terrific. The +lieutenant, veteran of many revolutions, vowed he had never seen a +street so full of dead and wounded as the one in front of this house. +Finally the soldiers had refused to advance again, and their captain +had sent for a cannon. 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 old +lieutenant paused dramatically. + +"Well, the capitan explained that an army was insufficient to take that +house; that it meant death to all who approached. I was not +present--God be praised!--but others told me what happened. General +Longorio dismounted and embraced the capitan--he kissed him 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 his head. +"Longorio took two dynamite grenades, and, laughing like a boy, he ran +forward before any one knew what he was about. It is nothing but the +truth, senora, and he a general! This capitan loved him dearly, and so +his bones turned to rope when the windows of that accursed house began +to vomit fire and the dust began to fly. They say that the dead men in +the street rose to their knees and crossed themselves--I only repeat +what I was told by those who looked on. Anyhow, I have seen things +quite as remarkable. + +"Never was such courage, senora! God must have been moved to +astonishment and admiration, for He diverted those bullets, every one. +When our general came to the house he lit the fuses from his cigarette, +then he cried, 'Viva Potosi!' and hurled one bomb to the roof; the +other he flung through a window into the very faces of his enemies. +Those Rebels were packed in there like goats in a corral, and they say +such a screaming you never heard. Doubtless many of them died from +sheer terror the rest were blown through each other." The lieutenant +breathed an admiring oath. "Truly, it must 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 and destroyed +what Rebel officers we found--" + +"You mean--your prisoners?" + +"Si. But there were only a few, and doubtless some of them would have +died from their wounds. Well then, after that General Longorio called +his old friend--that capitan--out before his troops and with his own +hand he shot him. Then every fifth man among those who had refused to +charge he ordered executed. It effected much good, I assure you." + +For a moment Alaire and her companion rode in silence, but the teniente +was not content with this praise of his leader. + +"And yet General Longorio has another side to his character," he +continued. "He can be as mild as the shyest senorita, and he possesses +the most beautiful sentiments. Women are mad over him. But he is hard +to please--strangely so. Truly, the lady who captivates his fancy may +count herself fortunate." The old soldier turned in his saddle and, +with a grace surprising in one of his rough appearance, removed his hat +and swept Alaire a bow the unmistakable meaning of which caused her to +start and to stammer something unintelligible. + +Alaire was angry at the fellow's presumption, and vexed with herself +for showing that she understood his insinuation. She spurred her horse +into a gallop, leaving him to follow as he could. + +It was absurd to take the man's word seriously; indeed, he probably +believed he had paid her a compliment. Alaire assured herself that +Longorio's attentions were inspired merely by a temporary extravagance +of admiration, characteristic of his nationality. Doubtless he had +forgotten all about her by this time. That, too, was characteristic of +Latin men. Nevertheless, the possibility that she had perhaps stirred +him more deeply than she believed was disturbing--one might easily +learn to fear Longorio. 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 she was not +permitted entirely to forget, for Dolores echoed the teniente's +sentiments. + +In marked contrast to Jose Sanchez's high and confident spirits was the +housekeeper's conviction of dire calamity. In the presence of these +armed strangers she saw nothing but a menace, and considered herself +and her mistress no more nor less than prisoners destined for a fate as +horrible as that of the two beautiful sisters of whom she never tired +of speaking. Longorio was a blood-thirsty beast, and he was saving them +as prey for his first leisure moment--that was Dolores's belief. +Abandoning all hope of ever seeing Las Palmas again, she gave herself +up to thoughts of God and melancholy praises of her husband's virtues. + +In spite of all this, however, Alaire welcomed the change in her daily +life. Everything about La Feria was restfully un-American, from the +house itself, with its bare walls and floors, its brilliantly flowering +patio, and its primitive kitchen arrangements, to the black-shawled, +barefooted Indian women and their naked children rolling in the dust. +Even the timberless mountains that rose sheer from the westward plain +into a tumbling purple-shadowed rampart were Mexican. La Feria was +several miles from the railroad; therefore it could not have been more +foreign had it lain in the very heart of Mexico rather than near the +northern boundary. + +In such surroundings, and in spite of faint misgivings, it was not +strange that, after a few days, Alaire's unhappiness assumed a vaguely +impersonal quality and that her life, for the moment, seemed not to be +her own. Even the thought of her husband, Ed Austin, became indistinct +and unreal. Then all too soon she realized that the purpose of her +visit was accomplished and that she had no excuse for remaining longer. +She was now armed with sufficient facts to make a definite demand upon +the Federal government. + +The lieutenant took charge of the return journey to the railroad, and +the two women rode to the jingling accompaniment of metal trappings. +When at last they were safely aboard the north-bound train, Alaire +mildly teased Dolores about her recent timidity. But Dolores 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 hear those ruffianly +soldiers quarreling over me--it is what comes from good looks." Dolores +mechanically smoothed the wrinkles from her dress 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 not born ugly." + +Alaire could not forbear a smile, for she who thus resigned herself to +the penalties of beauty had never been well favored, and age had +destroyed what meager attractions she may have once possessed. + +Dolores went on after a time. "My Benito will not long remain +unmarried. He is like all men. More than once I have suspected him of +making eyes at young women, and any girl in the country would marry him +just for my fine silver coffee-pot and those spoons. There is my +splendid silk mantilla, with fringe half as long as your arm, too. Oh, +I have treasures enough!" She shook her head mournfully. "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 one molest +us? Who could wish us harm?" she asked. + +"Ha! Did you see that general? He was like a drunken man in your +presence; 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 a husband? +He only cares that you have long, bright hair, redder than rust, and +eyes like blue flowers, and a skin like milk. An angel could not be so +beautiful." + +"Ah, Dolores, you flatterer! Seriously, though, don't you realize that +we are Americans, and people of position? An injury to us would 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 had brought +that shawl and that silver coffee-pot with me." + +The homeward journey was a repetition of the journey out; there were +the same idle crowds, the same displays of filthy viands at the +stopping-places, the same heat and dust and delays. Longorio's +lieutenant hovered near, and Jose, as before, was news-gatherer. Hour +after hour they crept toward the border, until at last they were again +laid out on a siding for an indefinite wait. + +The occasion for this was made plain when an engine drawing a single +caboose appeared. Even before it had come to a pause a tall figure in +spotless uniform leaped to the ground and strode to the waiting +coaches. It was Luis Longorio. He waved a signal to the conductor, then +swung aboard the north-bound train. + +The general was all smiles as he came down the and bowed low over +Alaire'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. "I have +blamed myself for allowing you to take this abominable journey! I have +been in torment lest something befall you. Every night I have prayed +that you might be spared all harm. When I received 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 beg of +you," he entreated. "I have arranged for reparation of that miserable +mistake. You shall see what I have done. With your own eyes you shall +read the furious correspondence I have carried on with 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?" the general +queried, earnestly. "Fix the damages at your own figure and I shall see +that you receive justice. If the government will not pay, I will. I +have means; I am not a poor man. All I possess would 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 lost more 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, and no 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 have +thought of you every hour; the duties that held me in Nuevo Pueblo were +like irksome chains. I was in madness. I would have flown to La Feria +but--I could not." + +"My husband will thank you for your great courtesy to me," Alaire +managed to say. + +But the mention of husbands was not agreeable to one of Longorio's +sensitiveness, and his face betrayed a hint of impatience. + +"Yes, yes," he agreed, carelessly. "Senor Austin and I must know each +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 be surprised +to greet me at Las Palmas some day soon, eh? When you tell 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 are in +Romero, directly opposite. Mexico is not at war with your country, and +when I am in citizen's clothes I am merely an ordinary person. I have +made inquiries, and they tell me Las Palmas is beautiful, heavenly, and +that you are the one who transformed it. I believe them. You have the +power to transform all 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 of you." Longorio drew from his pocket several photographs of the +Austin ranch-house. + +"Where did you get those?" Alaire asked in astonishment. + +"Ah! My secret. See! They are badly worn already, for I keep them next +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 of +Candeleristas--" + +"Cattle!" said the officer, with a careless shrug. "Did not that great +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 my mind. Those +Englishmen know nothing of passion. Your American men are cold. Only a +Mexican can love. We have fire in our veins, senora." + +To these perfervid protestations Dolores listened with growing fright; +her eyes were wide and they were fixed hypnotically upon the speaker; +she presented much the appearance of a rabbit charmed by a serpent. But +to Longorio she did not exist; she was a chattel, 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 to +return the general's ring, with the pretense that she considered it no +more than a talisman loaned her for the time being. But it was 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 than a trifling evidence of +his esteem. But Alaire was firm. + +"Your customs are different to ours," she told him. "An American woman +is not permitted to accept valuable presents, and this would cause +disagreeable comment." + +At such a thought the general's finest sensibilities were wounded, but +nothing, it seemed, could permanently dampen his ardor, and he soon +proceeded to press his attentions with even more vehemence than before. +He had brought Alaire candies of American manufacture, Mexican +sweetmeats of the finest variety, a beautiful silken shawl, and at +midday the grizzled teniente came with a basket of lunch containing +dainties and fruits and vacuum bottles with hot and cold drinks. + +When invited to share the contents, the general was plainly overjoyed, +but he was so enthralled by his companion's beauty that he could eat +but little. + +It was a most embarrassing situation. Longorio kept Alaire for ever +upon the defensive, and it sorely taxed her ingenuity to hold the +conversation in safe channels. As the journey proceeded it transpired +that the man had made use of his opportunities to learn everything +about her, even to her life with Ed. His information was extensive, and +his deductions almost uncanny in their correctness. He told her about +Austin's support of the Rebel cause and her own daily doings at Las +Palmas; he intimated that her unhappiness was almost more than he could +bear. + +This intimate knowledge and sympathy he seemed to regard as a bond that +somehow united them. He was no longer a new acquaintance, but a close +and loyal friend whose regard was deathless. + +Undoubtedly the man had a way with him. He impressed people, and his +magnetism was potent. Moreover, he knew the knack of holding what +ground he gained. + +It was an odd, unreal ride, through the blazing heat of the long +afternoon. Longorio cast off all pretense and openly laid siege to the +red-haired woman's heart--all without offering her the smallest chance +to rebuff him, the slightest ground for open resentment, so respectful +and guarded were his advances. But he was forceful in his way, and the +very intensity of his desires made him incapable of discouragement. So +the duel progressed--Alaire cool and unyielding, he warm, persistent, +and tireless. He wove about her an influence as difficult to combat as +the smothering folds of some flocculent robe or the strands of an +invisible web, and no spider was ever more industrious. + +When the train arrived at its destination his victim was well-nigh +exhausted from the struggle. He helped her into a coach with the +gentlest and gravest courtesy, and not until the vehicle rolled away +did Alaire dare to relax. Through her fatigue she could still hear his +soft farewell until the morrow, and realized that she had committed +herself to his further assistance. His palms against hers had been +warm, his adoring eyes had caressed her, but she did not care. All she +wished now was to reach her hotel, and then her bed. + +After a good night's rest, however, Alaire was able to smile at +yesterday's adventure. Longorio did not bulk so large now; even these +few hours had greatly diminished his importance, so that he appeared +merely as an impulsive foreigner who had allowed a woman to turn his +head. Alaire knew with what admiration even a moderately attractive +American woman is greeted in Mexico, and she had no idea that this +fellow had experienced anything more than a fleeting infatuation. Now +that she had plainly shown her distaste for his outlaw emotions, and +convinced him that they awoke in her no faintest response, she was +confident that his frenzy would run its brief course and die. +Meanwhile, it was not contrary to the standards of feminine ethics to +take advantage of the impression she had made upon him and with his +help push through a fair financial settlement of her loss. + +Once back across the river, however, she discovered that there were +obstacles to a prompt adjustment of her claim. The red tape of her own +government was as nothing to that of Mexico. There were a thousand +formalities, a myriad of maddening details to be observed, and they +called for the services of an advocate, a notary, a jefe politico, a +jefe de armas--officials without end. All of these worthies were +patient and polite, but they displayed a malarial indifference to +delay, and responsibility seemed to rest nowhere. During the day Alaire +became bewildered, almost lost in the mazes of official procedure, and +was half minded to telegraph for Judge Ellsworth. But that again meant +delay, and she was 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 was delighted +with her grasp of detail and her knowledge of business essentials. At +his word all Nuevo Pueblo bowed and scraped to her, she was treated +with impressive formality, and even the military guards 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 American soil 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 hand in hand +with him for some holy cause. + + + + +XIII + +DAVE LAW BECOMES JEALOUS + + +"You can never know what these two days have been for me," the general +said as he and Alaire lingered over their meal. "They will afford me +something to think about all my life! It is a delicious comfort to know +that you trust me, that you do not dislike me. And you 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 am not +like other men. Would to God I were, for then I could close my eyes +and--forget. You have your great tragedy--it is old to you; but mine, +dear lady, is just beginning. I can look forward to nothing except +unhappiness." He sighed deeply. + +"I'm sorry you are unhappy," Alaire parried. "Surely you have every +pleasant prospect." + +"It would seem so. I am young, rich, a hero, I serve my country in +glorious fashion, but what is all that if there is no pretty one to +care? Even the meanest peon has his woman, his heart's treasure. I +would give all I have, I would forego my hope of heaven and doom myself +to eternal tortures, for one smile from a pair of sweet lips, one look +of love. I am a man of iron--yes, an invincible soldier--and yet I have +a heart, and a woman could rule me." + +"You say you have a heart." Alaire studied her vis-avis curiously as he +met her eyes with his mournful gaze. "How is it that I hear such +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: "It is a +necessity of war. Listen, senora! We have twelve million Indians in +Mexico and a few selfish men who incite them to revolt. Everywhere +there is intrigue, and nowhere is there honor. To war against the +government is treason, and treason is punishable by death. 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. I am still a young man, and--at present +there is but one other capable of this gigantic task. For the time +being, therefore, I permit myself to serve under him, and--I salute +him. Viva Potosi!" The speaker lifted his glass and drank. "Madero was +a wicked believer in spells and charms; he talked with the dead. He, +and those who came after him, fired the peons to revolt and despoiled +our country, leaving her prone and bleeding. We of the Cientificos have +set ourselves to stop her wounds and to nourish her to life again. We +shall drive all traitors into the sea and feed them to the sharks. We +shall destroy them all, and Mexico shall have peace. But I am not a +bloodthirsty man. No, I am a poet and a lover at heart. As great a +patriot as I am, I could be faithless to my country for one smile from +the woman I adore." + +Alaire did not color under the ardent glance that went with this +declaration. 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 more than a +child herself--whose husband is in prison. She told me how she had come +all the way from the country and is living with friends, just to be +near him. Every day she goes to the carcel, but is denied admission, +and every day she comes to plead with the jefe de armas for her +husband's life. But he will not see her, and the 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 was pitiful." +Alaire leaned forward with an earnest appeal in her face, 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 appear as +an angel of mercy, eh? Your heart is touched?" + +"Deeply." + +"Bastante! There is no more to be said." Longorio rose and went into +the next room where were certain members of his staff. After a time he +returned with a paper in his hand, and this he laid before Alaire. It +was an order for the release of Juan Garcia. "The salvo conducto which +will permit Juan and his Inez and their Juanito to return to their farm +is being made out," he explained. "Are you satisfied?" + +Alaire looked up wonderingly, "I am deeply grateful. You overwhelm me. +You are--a strange man." + +"Dear lady, I live to serve you. Your wish is my law. How can I prove +it further?" As he stood beside her chair the fervor of his gaze caused +her eyes to droop and a faint color to come into her cheeks. She felt a +sudden sense of insecurity, for the man was trembling; the evident +desire to touch her, to seize her in his arms, was actually shaking him +like an ague. What next would he do? Of what wild extravagance was he +not capable? He was a queer mixture of fire and ice, of sensuality and +self-restraint. She knew him to be utterly lawless in most things, and +yet toward her he had shown scrupulous restraint. What possibilities +were in a man of his electric temperament, who had the strength to +throttle his fiercest longings? + +The strained, throbbing silence that followed Longorio's last words did +more to frighten the woman than had his most ardent advances. + +After a time he lifted Alaire's hand; she felt his lips hot and damp +upon her flesh; then he turned and went away with the document. + +When he reappeared he was smiling. "These Garcias shall know who +interceded 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 there be in +a good deed unless one receives public credit and thanks for it? I am +not like that." + +He would have lingered indefinitely over the table, but Alaire soon +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 could only +look his keen distress. + +As they stepped out into the street Alaire was afforded that treat +which Longorio had so thoughtfully arranged for her. There in the +gutter stood Inez Garcia with her baby in her arms, and beside her the +ragged figure of a young man, evidently her Juan. The fellow was +emaciated, his face was gaunt and worn and frightened, his feet were +bare even of sandals, the huge peaked straw hat which he clutched over +his breast was tattered, and yet in his eye there was a light. + +They had waited patiently, these Garcias, heedful of Longorio's orders, +and now they burst into a torrent of thanks. They flung themselves to +their knees and kissed the edge of Alaire's dress. Their instructions +had been plain, and they followed them to the letter, yet their +gratitude was none the less genuine for being studied. The little +mother's hysteria, for instance, could not have been entirely assumed, +and certainly no amount of rehearsals could have taught the child to +join his cries so effectively to his parents'. Between them all they +made such a racket as to summon 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 beaming eyes +expressed the hope that Alaire was fully satisfied with the moment. But +the Garcias, having been thoroughly coached, insisted upon rendering +full measure of thanks, and there seemed to be no way of shutting them +off until the general ordered them to their feet. + +"That is enough!" he declared. "Hombre, you are free, so go about your +business and fight no more with those accursed rebels." + +Juan, of course, was ready at this moment to fight for any one he was +told to fight for, particularly Longorio himself, and he so declared. +His life was at the service of the benefactor who had spared him; his +wife and baby lived only to bless the illustrious general. + +"They look very poor," said Alaire, and opened her purse; but Longorio +would not permit her to give. Extracting a large roll of paper money +from his own pocket, he tossed it, without counting, to Juan, and then +when the onlookers applauded he loudly called to one of his officers, +saying: + +"Oiga! Give these good friends of mine two horses, and see that they +are well cared for. Now, Juan," he addressed the dazed countryman, "I +have one order for you. Every night of your life you and your pretty +wife must say a prayer for the safety and happiness 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 for the +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: "VIVA LONGORIO!" + +The general bowed smilingly; then, taking Alaire's arm, he waved the +idlers out of his path with a magnificent gesture. + +When, later in the day, Mrs. Austin came to say good-by and thank the +Mexican for his courtesies, he humbly begged permission to pay his +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 of poor Juan +Garcia to unlock Heaven for that bandit. He is the wickedest man I ever +met--yes, probably the wickedest man in the world." + +"He has been kind to us." + +"Bah! He has a motive. Do you notice the way he looks at you? It is +enough to damn him for all eternity." + +Upon her arrival at the hotel Alaire received an agreeable surprise, +for as her vehicle paused, at the curb David Law stepped forward, 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 a poor +Greaser. But he ain't here. And you, ma'am?" + +Alaire briefly outlined the reasons that had taken her to La Feria and +the duties that had kept her busy since her return, while Dave nodded +his understanding. When, however, he learned that she was counting upon +General Luis Longorio's aid in securing justice, his expression +altered. He regarded her with some curiosity as he inquired: + +"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 we consider +them peculiar--probably because they are different to us. Anyhow, we +don't understand their business methods or their habits of mind; even +their laughter and their tears are different to ours, but--from my +experience with them I wouldn't put much confidence in this Longorio's +word. I say this, and I'm supposed to have a little Mexican blood in +me." + +During this brief conversation they had entered the hotel, and now the +lobby idlers took quick cognizance of Mrs. Austin's presence. The +lanky, booted Ranger excited no comment, for men of his type were +common here; but Alaire was the heroine of many stories and the object +of a wide-spread curiosity; therefore she received open stares and +heard low whisperings. Naturally resenting this attention, she gave her +hand to Law more quickly than she would have done otherwise. + +"I hope we shall see each other again," she murmured. + +"That's more'n likely; I'm located in your neighborhood now," he +informed 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 an automobile." + +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 along the +line." + +"Good! It is a large car and"--she smiled at him--"if we have tire +trouble 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 +fancy branding-iron. His mechanical knowledge is limited to a +bridle-bit and a cinch, and I'm almost certain he believes there is +something ungodly about horseless wagons." + +Dave was nearly speechless with delight, and when the mistress of Las +Palmas had gone up-stairs he felt inclined to pinch himself to see if +he were dreaming. He had pursued a fruitless quest during the past few +days, and his resentment had grown as he became certain that Tad Lewis +had sent him on a wild-goose chase; but the sight of Alaire +miraculously restored his good spirits, and the prospect of a long, +intimate ride in her company changed the whole trend of his thoughts. +His disappointment at not seeing her upon his visit to Las Palmas had +only served to enhance his memories of their first meeting, and time, +now, had deepened his interest tenfold. Yes, she was "The Lone Star," +the estrella brillante of his empty sky. + +When the supper-hour came he managed by carefully watching the +dining-room to time his meal with Mrs. Austin's. He even ventured to +hope that they might share the same table, but in this he was +disappointed. However, from where he sat he could see her profile and +worship her to his heart's content, and when she favored him with a +smile and a nod he was happy. + +All without his knowledge, Dave realized, this woman had secured an +amazing hold over him. He had thought a great deal about her, of +course, but his thoughts had been idle, and it had required this second +encounter to make him know the truth. Now, however, there could be no +doubt about his feelings; he was more than romantically interested, the +mere sight of her had electrified him. The discovery distressed him, +and he very properly decided that the affair should end here, since it +could lead to nothing except disappointment. + +But who can govern a wayward fancy? One moment Law promised himself to +see no more of this married woman; the next he wondered how she would +occupy the evening, and ventured to hope that he might have a chance to +talk with her. + +After supper, however, she was nowhere to be found. When his first +chagrin had passed he decided that this was exactly as it should be. He +didn't like to see women make themselves conspicuous in hotels. + +At the time of this story relations between the United States and the +established government of Mexico were at such high tension that a +hostility had sprung up between the troops fronting each other along +the Rio Grande, and in consequence their officers no longer crossed the +boundary, even when off duty. It created a flurry 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 an hour? the +Ranger asked himself. Why should he presume to call upon her unless--he +was interested? Mexican officers, in these parlous times, were not +given to social courtesies, and Longorio's reputation was sufficiently +notorious to render his attentions a cause for gossip under any +circumstances. + +Dave rose and strolled restlessly about the hotel. A half-hour passed +and Longorio did not reappear; an hour dragged by, and then Dave took +occasion to go to his room. A glance through the open parlor door +showed the foreigner in closest conversation with Mrs. Austin. They +were laughing; they were alone; even Dolores was nowhere to be seen. + +When Dave returned to his big rocking-chair he found it uncomfortable; +he watched the clock anxiously; he chewed several cigars 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's +willingness to help her exact reparation from his government. Fine +doings 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. What went on +up-stairs certainly was none of his business, and he had better far +amuse himself. In accordance with this excellent reasoning, he went to +a picture-show. But he could not become interested. The flat images on +the screen failed to divert him, and the only faces he saw were those +of Luis Longorio and the lone mistress of Las Palmas. + +Had Dave only known the truth, he would have gained a grim comfort from +it, for Alaire Austin was not enjoying herself this evening. Her caller +stayed on interminably and she became restive under the flow of his +conversation. For some reason or other Longorio was not the romantic +figure he had been; in his citizen's clothes he was only a dandified +Mexican 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-skinned foreigner whose ardor was +distasteful. Longorio was tiresome. + + + + +XIV + +JOSE SANCHEZ SWEARS AN OATH + + +On this same evening a scene of no little significance was taking place +at Las Palmas. Ed Austin was entertaining callers, and these were none +other than Tad Lewis and Adolfo Urbina. + +The progress of events during the last few days had shaped this +conference, for, as Dave had forecast during his conversation with +Judge Ellsworth, the local prosecuting attorney saw in the Guzman +cattle case an opportunity to distinguish himself, and was taking +action accordingly. He had gathered considerable evidence against +Urbina, and was exerting himself to the utmost for an indictment. He +had openly declared that the testimony of Ricardo Guzman and his other +witnesses would convict the suspect, and the fact that his politics +were opposed to Ed Austin's complicated matters still further. It was +the unwelcome news of all this which had brought Tad Lewis and his +Mexican helper to Las Palmas under cover of darkness. Having gone over +the circumstances in detail, Lewis concluded: + +"We're depending on you, Ed. You got to stand pat." + +But Austin was lukewarm. He had experienced a change of heart, and the +cause appeared when he read aloud a letter that day received from Judge +Ellsworth, in which the judge told of his meeting with Dave Law, and +the Ranger's reasons for doubting Ed's word. + +"I've got to take water," "Young Ed" told his visitors, "or I'll get +myself into trouble." Then querulously he demanded of Adolfo: "Why in +hell did you come here, anyhow? Why didn't you keep to the chaparral?" + +Adolfo shrugged. "I thought you were my friend." + +"Sure!" Tad agreed. "Urbina's been a friend to you, now you got to +stick to him. We got to hang together, all of us. My evidence wouldn't +carry no weight; but there ain't a jury in South Texas that would +question yours. Adolfo done the right thing." + +"I don't see it," Ed declared, petulantly. "What's the use of getting +me into trouble? There's the river; they can't follow you across." + +But Urbina shook his head. + +"You know he can't cross," Tad explained. "His people would shoot him +if he ever went to Mexico." + +"Well, he'll be caught if he stays here. You daren't send that damned +Ranger on another blind trail. If Adolfo can't go south he'll have to +go north." + +"Not on your life," affirmed Lewis. "If he runs it'll prove his guilt +and look bad for me. I'm the one they're after, and I don't stand 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 dragged into +the thing. You've no business rustling stock, anyhow. You don't have +to." + +Urbina exhaled a lungful of cigarette smoke and inquired, "You won't +help me, eh?" + +"No, I won't." + +"Very well! If I go to prison you shall go, too. I shall tell all I +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 ever convicted, even when the +embargo was in effect. Why, the government winks at anybody who helps +the Rebels." + +"Oh, that is nothing!" Urbina agreed; "but you would not wish to be +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 he knows +about them horses? Suppose he tells how you framed it to have your own +stock run across, on shares, so's you could get more money to go +hifalutin' around San Antone without your wife knowing it? 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 asserted Lewis. + +"Nobody'd believe such a thing." + +"Folks are ready to believe 'most anything about you. Your wife would +believe it. Ain't Las Palmas in her name, and don't she give you so +much a month to spend? If them ain't facts, you lied to me." + +"Yes!" Urbina supplemented. "I can swear to all that. And I can swear +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, if you +would steal your wife's horses, why would you not steal your neighbor's +cattle? The relatives of poor Pino Garza--God rest his soul!--will bear +me out. I have arranged for that. Suppose I tell the jury that there +were three of us in that pasture of yours, instead of two? What then? I +would be lonely in prison without a good compadre to bear me company." +Urbina grinned in evil triumph. + +"This is the damnedest outrage I ever heard of," gasped "Young Ed." +"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 to the brush +and live like a javelin just for your sake, when you could square him +with a word." + +There was a moment or two of silence, during which the visitors watched +the face of the man whose weakness they both knew. At last Ed Austin +ventured to say, apologetically: + +"I'm willing to do almost anything to help Adolfo, but--they'll make a +liar of me if I take the stand. Isn't there some other way out?" + +"I don't know of any," said Lewis. + +"Money'll square anything," Ed urged, hopefully, whereupon Urbina waved +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 I have. +If he was out of the way there wouldn't be nothin' to this case, 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. I would see to +that." + +The color receded from Ed Austin's purple cheeks, and he rose abruptly. +"This is getting too strong for me," he cried. "I won't listen to this +sort of talk. I won't be implicated in any such doings." + +"Nobody's goin' to implicate you," Tad told him. "Adolfo wants to keep +you out of trouble. There's plenty of people on both sides of the river +that don't like Guzman any better'n we do. Me an' Adolfo was 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. He knew only +too well the character of his two visitors; he had learned much about +Tad Lewis during the past few months, and, as for the Mexican, he +thought the fellow capable of any crime. At this moment Ed bitterly +regretted his acquaintance with these neighbors, for both men knew more +about his affairs than he cared to have made public. He was angry and +resentful at Tad for taking sides against him, and more than a little +fearful of Adolfo's enmity if he refused assistance. The owner of Las +Palmas still retained a shred of self-respect, a remnant of pride in +his name; he did not consider himself a bad man. He was determined now +to escape from this situation without loss of credit, no matter what +the price--if escape were possible--and he vowed earnestly to himself +that hereafter he would take ample pains never to become similarly +involved. + +Austin remained out of the room for some time; when he returned his +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. "Do you +think I'm going to be tangled up in a--murder? I've got nothing against +Don Ricardo." + +"Who said anything about murder? Things ain't like they was when your +father owned Las Palmas; he done his share of killin', but nowadays +there's too dam' much law layin' around loose. All you've got 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," he +said, sullenly. "I'm broke. And, anyhow, I don't see what good it'll +do." + +"You better dig it up, somehow, just for your own sake." + +The two men eyed each other for a moment; then Austin mumbled something +about his willingness to try, and left the room for a second time. The +money which Alaire kept on hand for current expenses was locked in her +safe, but he knew the combination. + +It was with an air of resignation, with a childish, half-hearted +protest, that he counted out the desired amount into Lewis's hand, +salving his conscience with the statement: "I'm doing this to help +Adolfo out of his trouble, understand? I hope it'll enable you to +square things." + +"Maybe it will and maybe it won't," sneered Lewis. "Anyhow, I ain't +scared of tryin'. I got the guts to make a battle, even if you haven't." + +Ed Austin was greatly relieved when his unwelcome callers rode away; as +he composed himself for sleep, an hour later, he refrained from +analyzing too deeply the motives behind this forced loan, and refused +to speculate too long upon the purpose to which it might be put. The +whole occurrence was unfortunate. Ed Austin sincerely hoped he had +heard the last of it. + +Jose Sanchez made use of the delay at Pueblo to institute further +inquiries regarding his missing cousin, but nowhere could he find the +slightest trace. Panfilo had set out to ride to this point and thence +to La Feria, but the last seen of him had been at the water-hole, one +day's ride from the home ranch. At that point the earth had opened and +swallowed him. If he were alive why had he not written to his +sweetheart, Rosa? + +Jose swore an oath that he would learn the truth if it required his +whole lifetime, and, if it should turn out that his sainted relative +had indeed met with foul play--well! Jose told his friends they could +judge, by looking at him, the sort of man he was. He proudly displayed +Longorio's revolver, and called it his cousin's little avenger. The +weapon had slain many; it had a duty still to perform, so he said. + +Jose intended to confide his purpose to Mrs. Austin, but when it came +time to start for Las Palmas there was a fourth passenger in the +automobile, and he was obliged to hold his tongue for the moment. + +A motor trip along the lower Rio Grande would prove a novel and not +altogether agreeable experience to the average automobilist, for there +are few improved roads and the rest offer many difficulties, not the +least of which are frequent fords, some deep, some shallow. So it was +that Alaire considered it necessary to make an early start. + +In spite of the unhealthy fancies that Dave Law had taken to bed with +him, he arose this morning in fine spirits and with a determination to +put in a happy day. Alaire, too, was in good humor and expressed her +relief at escaping from everything Mexican. + +"I haven't seen a newspaper for ages, and I don't know what is going on +at Jonesville or anywhere else," she confided. + +Dave told her of the latest developments in the Mexican situation, the +slow but certain increase of tension between the two governments, and +then of home happenings. When she asked him about his own doings, he +informed her of the affair which had brought him to Pueblo. + +Of course all three of his companions were breathlessly interested in +the story of Pino Garza's death; Dolores and Jose did not allow a word +to escape them. + +"So they cut our fence and ran the calves into our pasture to brand!" +Alaire said. "It's time somebody like you came to Jonesville, Mr. Law." + +"Caramba! It required bravery to ride alone into that rincon," Jose +declared. "I knew Pino Garza well, and he could shoot like the devil." + +"You said your horse saved your life," Mrs. Austin went on. "How do you +mean?" When Dave had explained, she cried, quickly, "You weren't +riding--Bessie Belle?" + +"Yes. She's buried where she dropped." + +"Oh-h!" Alaire's exclamation was eloquent of pity, and Law smiled +crookedly. + +"I've been right lonesome since she went away. 'Most every day I find +myself stealing sugar for her, the way I used to do. See!" He fumbled +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. Of course, 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 my cheek wet where she'd kissed it. She'd +leave the nicest grass just to come and visit with me." + +Alaire turned a quick glance upon the speaker to find his face set and +his eyes miserable. Impulsively she laid her hand upon his arm, saying: + +"I know how you must feel. Do you know what has always been my dearest +wish? To be able to talk with animals; and to have them trust me. Just +think what fun it would be to talk with the wild things and make +friends of them. Oh, when I was a little girl I used to dream about it!" + +Law nodded his vigorous appreciation of such a desire. "Dogs and horses +sabe more than we give them credit for. I've learned a few bird words, +too. You remember those quail at the water-hole?" + +"Oh yes." + +Dave smiled absent-mindedly. "There's a wonderful book about birds--one +of the keenest satires ever written, I reckon. It's about a +near-sighted old Frenchman who was cast away on a penguin island. He +saw the big birds walking around and thought they were human beings." + +"How did you happen to read Anatole France?" Alaire asked, with a sharp +stare of surprise. + +The Ranger stirred, but he did not meet her eyes. "Well," said he, "I +read 'most anything I can get. A feller meets up with strange books +just like he meets up with strange people." + +"Not books like--that." There was a brief silence. "Mr. Law, every now +and then you say something that makes me think you're a--rank impostor." + +"Pshaw!" said he. "I know cowboys that read twice as good as I do." + +"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 of which +there lurked the faintest twinkle. "Cornell," said he. + +Alaire gasped. After a while she remarked, stiffly, "You have a +peculiar sense of humor." + +"Now don't be offended," he begged of her. "I'm a good deal like a +chameleon; I unconsciously change my color to suit my surroundings. +When we first met I saw that you took me for one thing, and since then +I've tried not to show you your mistake." + +"Why did you let me send you those silly books? Now that you have begun +to tell the truth, keep it up. How many of them had you read?" + +"We-ll, I hadn't read any of them--lately." + +"How disagreeable of you to put it that way!" The car leaped forward as +if spurred by Alaire's mortification. "I wondered how you knew about +the French Revolution. 'That Bastilly was some calaboose, wasn't it'?" +She quoted his own words scornfully. "I dare 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 of muddy +water, and Law was forced to get out to plug the carburetor and stop +the oil-intakes to the crankcase. This done, Alaire ran the 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 cry over +those romances." + +"Don't you still believe in chivalry?" + +Alaire turned her eyes upon the questioner, and there were no girlish +illusions in them. "Do you?" she queried, with a faint curl of her lip. + +"Why--yes." + +She shook her head. "Men have changed. Nowadays they are all selfish +and sordid. But--I shouldn't generalize, for I'm a notorious man-hater, +you know." + +"It seems to me that women are just as selfish as men--perhaps more +so--in all but little things." + +"Our definitions of 'little things' may differ. What do you call a big +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 in love?" +He nodded, whereupon she eyed him speculatively. "Let us see. You are a +man--how far would you go for the woman you loved?" + +"The limit!" + +Mrs. Austin frowned at this light-seeming answer. "I suppose you mean +that you would make any sacrifice?" + +"Yes; that's it." + +"Would you give up the woman herself, if you considered it your duty?" + +"No. There couldn't be any duty higher than love--to my way of +thinking. But you shouldn't take me as a specimen. I'm not a good +representative of my sex." + +"I think you are a very good one," Alaire said, quietly, and Dave +realized that no flattery was intended. Although he was willing to talk +further on this subject, Mrs. Austin gave him no opportunity of airing +his views. Love, it appeared, was a thing she did not care to discuss +with him on their footing of semi-intimacy. + +Despite the rough roads, they made fair time, and the miles of cactus +and scrawny brush rolled swiftly past. Occasionally a lazy jack-rabbit +ambled out of his road-side covert and watched them from a safe +distance; now and then a spotted road-runner raced along the dusty ruts +ahead of them. The morning sun swung higher, and by midday the metal of +the automobile had become as hot as a frying-pan. They stopped at +various goat-ranches to inquire about Adolfo Urbina, and at noon halted +beside a watercourse for lunch. + +Dave was refilling the radiator when he overheard Jose in conversation +with Mrs. Austin. + +"Nowhere a trace!" the horse-breaker was saying. "No one has seen him. +Poor Rosa Morales will die of a broken heart." + +Alaire explained to her guest: "Jose is worried about his cousin +Panfilo. It seems he has disappeared." + +"So! You are Panfilo's cousin?" Dave eyed the Mexican with new interest. + +"Si!" + +"You remember the man?" Alaire went on. "He was with that fellow you +arrested at the water-hole." + +"Oh yes. I remember him." With steady fingers Dave shook some tobacco +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 Pueblo there was +not a word. It is strange." + +"Panfilo was in bad company when I saw him." Law finished rolling his +cigarette and lit it, still conscious of Alaire's questioning gaze. "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. "This little +fellow will have something to say." + +Dave looked him over idly, from head to heel, then murmured: "You would +do well to go slow, compadre. Panfilo made his own quarrels." + +"We were like brothers, and I do not know of any quarrels. But I shall +find out. It begins to look bad for somebody. After he left that charco +there is--nothing. Where did he go? Whom did he encounter? Rosa will +ask me those questions. I am not given to boasting, 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 had finished +eating and her two employees had begun their meal, she climbed 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 after her. +When they stood face to face in the shade of a gnarly oak-tree, Alaire +asked him point-blank: + +"Where is Panfilo Sanchez?" + +Dave met her eyes squarely; his own were cold and hard. "He's where he +dropped at my second shot," said he. + +He could hear his companion's sharp inhalation. He did not flinch at +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 his eyes, +then opened them upon hers. "He had it coming. He stole my horse. He +took a chance." + +Mrs. Austin turned away. For a time they were silent and Dave felt +himself pitilessly condemned. + +"Why didn't you tell me at the time?" she asked. "Why didn't you report +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 tell everything +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 sickly yellow. + +"You've no right to say that," he told her, harshly. "You've plumb +overstepped yourself, ma'am, and--I reckon you've formed quite a wrong +opinion of me and of the facts. Let me tell you something about that +killing and about myself, so you'll have it all straight before you +bring in your verdict. You say Panfilo was unarmed, and you call +it--murder. He had his six-shooter and he used it; he had the darkness +and the swiftest horse, too. He intended to ambush me and release his +companion, but I forced his hand; 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 the last, but I haven't lost any sleep over it, and I'd have +killed him just as quick if I hadn't been an officer. That's the kind +of man 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 to stay; +and he's just as dead under the stars as he'd be under the sand. I'd +rather lie facing the sky than the grass roots." + +"But--you must have known it would get out, sometime. This puts both 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 seem to +consider that an insult. If it is, I don't know how to compliment you, +ma'am." + +Alaire pondered this statement briefly before saying, "You have a +strange 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 would +consider a nice person; the death of Panfilo Sanchez means nothing +whatever to me. If you can grasp that fact, you'll see that your own +reputation weighed heavier in my mind than the lives of a dozen +Mexicans--or whites, for that matter. People know me for what I am, +and--that may have had something to do with my decision." + +"I go anywhere, everywhere. No one has ever had the effrontery to +question 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 an +impatient frown to her brow. "You don't seem to realize that he will +try to revenge himself." + +"You might warn him against any such foolishness. Jose has some sense." + +The woman looked up curiously. "Don't you know how to be afraid? +Haven't you any fear?" she asked. + +Dave's gray eyes were steady as he answered: "Yes'm! I'm afraid this +thing is going to spoil our friendship. I've been desperately afraid, +all along, that I might have hurt your reputation. Even now I'm afraid, +on your account, to make public Panfilo Sanchez's death. 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 matter entirely. +A Ranger can get away with a heap more than killing a Mexican. 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 their +seats 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 the +wheel, for her nerves were indeed unsteady and she was grateful for an +opportunity to think out the best course to pursue in this unexpected +difficulty. Later, as she listened to Law's inconsequential talk with +Dolores and Jose, and watched the way he handled the car, she marveled +at his composure. She wondered if this man could have a heart. + +It became evident to Dave, as the afternoon progressed, that they would +be very late in arriving at Las Palmas; for although he drove as +rapidly as he dared over such roads, the miles were long and the going +heavy. They were delayed, too, by a mishap that held them back for an +hour or two, and he began to fear that his hostess would feel in duty +bound to insist upon his spending the night at her home. To accept, +after his clash with Ed Austin, was of course impossible, and he +dreaded another explanation at this particular crisis. + +That a crisis in their relations had arisen he felt sure. He had tried +to make plain his attitude of mind toward the killing of Panfilo +Sanchez, and the wisdom of his course thereafter, but he doubted if +Alaire understood the one or agreed with the other. Probably she +considered him inhuman, or, what was worse, cowardly in attempting to +avoid the consequences of his act. And yet he could not explain his +full anxiety to protect her good name without confessing to a deeper +interest in her than he dared. And his interest was growing by leaps +and bounds. This woman fascinated him; he was infatuated--bewitched by +her personality. To be near her affected him mentally and physically in +a way too extraordinary to analyze or to describe. It was as if they +were so sympathetically attuned that the mere sound of her voice set +his whole being into vibrant response, where all his life he had lain +mute. She played havoc with his resolutions, too, awaking in him the +wildest envy and desire. He no longer thought of her as unattainable; +on the contrary, her husband's shortcomings seemed providential. +Absurd, impossible ways of winning her suggested themselves. To risk a +further estrangement, therefore, was intolerable. + +But as if his thoughts were telepathic messages, she did the very thing +he feared. + +"We won't be in before midnight," she said, "but I'll send you to +Jonesville 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 a reputation for +inhospitableness at Las Palmas that I want to overcome." In spite of +their recent clash, in spite of the fact that this fellow's +ruthlessness and indifference to human life shocked her, Alaire was +conscious of her obligation to him, and aware also of a growing +friendship between them which made the present situation all the more +trying. Law was likable, and he inspired her with a sense of security +to which she had long been a stranger. "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 Jonesville somehow." + +"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 through a +tunnel of light walled in by swiftly moving shadows. + +The windows of Las Palmas were black, the house silent, when they +arrived at their journey's end; Dolores was fretful, and her mistress +ached in every bone. When Jose had helped his countrywoman into the +house Alaire said: + +"If you insist upon going through you must take the car. You can return +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 fondle it +in that detestable Mexican fashion of which she had lately experienced +so much; glad that the grasp of his long, strong fingers was merely +firm and friendly. When he stepped back into the car and drove off +through the night she stood for some time looking after him. + +Blaze Jones had insisted that Dave live at his house, and the Ranger +had accepted the invitation; but as it was late when the latter arrived +at Jonesville, he went to the hotel for a few hours' rest. When he +drove his borrowed machine up to the Jones house, about breakfast-time, +both Blaze and Paloma were delighted to 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 looked over +the car critically. "These automobiles are all right, but whenever I +want to go somewhere and get back I take a team of hay-burners. Mules +don't puncture. The first automobile Paloma had nearly scared me to +death. On the road to Brownsville there used to be a person who didn't +like me--we'd had a considerable unpleasantness, in fact. One day +Paloma and I were lickety-splittin' along past his place when we had a +blow-out. It was the first one I'd ever heard, and it fooled me +complete--comin' right at that particular turn of the road. I sure +thought this party I spoke of had cut down on me, so I r'ared up and +unlimbered. I shot out three window-lights in his house before Paloma +could explain. If he'd been in sight I'd have beefed him then and +there, and saved six months' delay. No, gas-buggies are all right for +people with 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 whole road, +too. You know these Mexicans are slow about pulling their wagons to one +side. Well, father got mad one day, and when a team refused him the +right of way he whipped out his revolver and fired." + +Blaze smiled broadly. "It worked great. And believe me, them Greasers +took to the ditch. I went through like a hot wind, but I shot 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 suppose you +refused because of the way Ed treated you? Well, I'd have accepted just +to spite him. Tell me, is she nice?" + +"She's lovely." + +This vehement declaration brought a sudden gleam of interest into the +questioner's eyes. + +"They say she has the most wonderful gowns and jewels, and dresses for +dinner every night. Well"--Paloma tossed her head--"I'm going to 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-dress suit, +spillin' soup on my shirt." Then to his guest he complained, feelingly: +"I don't know what's come over Paloma lately; this new dressmaker has +plumb stampeded her. Somebody'd ought to run that feline 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, and he's +a bad hombre. He backed me up against a waterin'-trough and told my +fortune yesterday. He said I'd be married twice and have many children. +He told me I was fond of music and a skilled performer on the organ, +but melancholy and subject to catarrh, Bright's disease, and ailments +of the legs. He said I loved widows, and unless I was poisoned by a +dark lady I'd live to be eighty 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 some of the things he said. 'A dark lady!' That's his +wife. I give you warnin', Paloma, don't you ask her to stay for meals. +People like them 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' around +ladders, and spittin' through crossed fingers, and countin' the spots +on their nails. He interprets their dreams and locates lost articles." + +"Maybe he can tell me where to find Adolfo Urbina?" Dave suggested. + +"Humph! If he can't, Tad Lewis can. Say, Dave, this case of yours has +stirred up a lot of feelin' against Tad. The prosecutin' attorney says +he'll sure cinch him and Urbina, both. One of Lewis's men got on a +bender the other night and declared Adolfo would never come to trial." + +"What did he mean?" + +"It may have been mescal talk, but witnesses sometimes have a way of +disappearin'. I wouldn't put anything past that gang." + +Not long after breakfast Don Ricardo Guzman appeared at the Jones house +and warmly greeted his two friends. To Dave he explained: + +"Last night I came to town, and this morning I heard you had returned, +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 very +Colonel Blanco who commands the forces at Romero. He would scarcely +venture to return to Federal territory. However, I go to meet 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 fortune at +every turn. He honors my poor thirsty rancho with a visit and brings a +glorious rain; then he destroys my enemies like a thunderbolt. No +sooner is this done than I receive from the Federals an offer for fifty +of my best horses. Caramba! Such a price, too. They are in a great +hurry, which looks as if they expected an attack from the Candeleristas +at Matamoras. I hope so. God grant these traitors are defeated. Anyhow, +the horses have gone, 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. I wouldn't +trust them." + +"They know, also, that I am an American, like you gentlemen," proudly +asserted Guzman. "That makes a difference. I supported the +Liberator--God rest his soul!--and I secretly assist those who fight +his assassins, but so does everybody else. I am receiving a fine price +for those horses, so it is worth a little risk. Now, senor," he +addressed himself to the Ranger, "I have brought you a little 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 a magnificent bridle of plaited +horsehair. It was cunningly wrought, and lavishly decorated with silver +fittings. "You recognize those hairs?" he queried. "They came from the +mane and tail of your bonita." + +"Bessie Belle!" Law accepted the handsome token, then held out his hand +to the Mexican. "That was mighty fine of you, Ricardo. I--You couldn't +have pleased me more." + +"You like it?" eagerly demanded the old man. "That is good. I am repaid +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 their fingers, too. +That mare will always guide you now, wherever you go. And we handled +her gently, for your sake." + +Dave nodded. "You're a good man, Ricardo. We're going to be friends." + +Guzman's delight was keen, his grizzled face beamed, and he showed his +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 hands heartily and rode +away, waving his hat. + +"There's a good Greaser," Blaze said, with conviction, and Dave agreed, +feelingly: + +"Yes! I'd about go to hell for him, after this." Then he took the +bridle in for Paloma to admire. + + + + +XVI + +THE RODEO + + +It was with a feeling of some reluctance that Dave drove up to Las +Palmas shortly after the lunch hour, for he had no desire to meet +"Young Ed." However, to his relief, Austin did not appear, and inasmuch +as Alaire did not refer to her husband in any way, Dave decided that he +must be absent, perhaps on one of his notorious sprees. + +The mistress of the big ranch was in her harness, having at once +assumed her neglected duties. She came to welcome her caller in a short +khaki riding-suit; her feet were encased in tan boots; she wore a +mannish felt hat and gauntlet gloves, showing that she had spent the +morning in the saddle. Dave thought she looked exceedingly capable and +business-like, and not less beautiful in these clothes; he feasted his +eyes covertly upon her. + +"I expected you for luncheon," she smiled; and Dave could have kicked +himself. "I'm just going out now. If you're not in too great 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 back toward the +farm buildings she explained: "I'm selling off a bunch of cattle. +Benito is rounding them up and cutting out the best ones." + +"You keep them, I reckon." + +"Always. That's how I improve the grade. You will see a splendid herd +of animals, Mr. Law--the best in South Texas. I suppose you're +interested in such things." + +"I'd rather watch a good herd of stock than the best show in New York," +he told her. + +When they came to the corrals, an intricate series of pens and chutes +at the rear of the outbuildings, Law beheld two thoroughbred 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 the fine +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 and sister, +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 full import of +her words, she added: "Yours to keep, I mean. You must make 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 to +stroke her shining coat while she turned an intelligent face to him, +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 over the +animal, like a small boy tempted beyond his strength, Alaire laughed. +"I owe you something, Mr. Law, and a horse more or less means very +little to me." + +He yielded; he could not possibly continue his resistance, and in his +happy face Alaire took her reward. + +The mare meanwhile was doubtfully nosing her new master, deciding +whether or not she liked him; but when he offered her a cube of sugar +her uncertainties disappeared and they became friends then and there. +He talked to her, too, in a way that would have won any female heart, +and it was plain to any one who knew horses that she began to consider +him wholly delightful. Now, Montrosa was a sad coquette, but this man +seemed to say, "Rosa, you rogue, if you try your airs with me I will +out-flirt you." Who could resist such a person? Why, the touch of his +hands was positively thrilling. He was gentle, but masterful, and--he +had a delicious smell. Rosa felt that she understood him perfectly, and +was enraptured to discover that he understood her. There was some +satisfaction in knowing such a man. + +"You DO speak their language," Alaire said, after she had watched them +for a few minutes. "You have bewitched the creature." Dave nodded +silently, and his face was young. Then half to herself the woman +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 to myself?" + +"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 Lone Star." + +Alaire smiled in tacit assent; then when the two friends had completely +established their intimacy she mounted her own horse and led the way to +the round-up. + +Dave's unbounded delight filled the mistress of Las Palmas with the +keenest pleasure. He laughed, he hummed snatches of songs, he kept up a +chatter addressed as much to the mare as to his companion, and under it +Montrosa romped like a tomboy. It was gratifying to meet with such +appreciation as this; Alaire felt warm and friendly to the whole world, +and decided that out of her abundance she must do more for other people. + +Of course Dave had to tell of Don Ricardo's thoughtful gift, and +concluded by saying, "I think this must be my birthday, although it +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 go across +the river." There was a pause. "If anybody harms him I reckon 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 me bigger +than a skinned ox. They say gratitude is an elemental, primitive +emotion--" + +"Perhaps that's why it is so rare nowadays," said Alaire, not more than +half in jest. + +"You find it rare?" Dave looked up keenly. "Well, you have certainly +laid up a store of it to-day." + +Benito and his men had rounded up perhaps three thousand head of cattle +when Alaire and her companion appeared, and they were in the process of +"cutting out." Assembled near a flowing well which gave life to a +shallow pond, the herd was held together by a half-dozen horsemen who +rode its outskirts, heading off and driving back the strays. Other men, +under Benito's personal direction, were isolating the best animals and +sending them back to the pasture. It was an animated scene, one fitted +to rouse enthusiasm in any plainsman, for the stock was fat and +healthy; there were many calves, and the incessant, rumbling complaint +of the herd was blood-stirring. 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 the +hoarse, unceasing undertone from countless bovine throats. Out near the +grub-wagon the remuda was grazing, and thither at intervals came the +perspiring horsemen to change their mounts. + +Benito, wet, dusty, and tired, rode up to his employer to report +progress. + +"Dios! This is hot work for an old man. We will never finish by dark," +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 among those +gopher-holes." He slid out of his seat and, with an arm around the +mare's neck, whispered into her ear, "We won't have any broken legs and +broken hearts, will we, honey girl?" Rosa answered by nosing the +speaker over with brazen familiarity; then when he had 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 his loop +over a buckskin, preparatory to joining the cowboys. + +The giant herd milled and eddied, revolving like a vast pool of deep, +swift water. The bulls were quarrelsome, the steers were stubborn, and +the wet cows were distracted. Motherless calves dodged about in +bewilderment. In and out of this confusion the cowboys rode, following +the animals selected for separation, forcing them out with devious +turnings and twistings, and then running them madly in a series of +breakneck crescent dashes over flats and hummocks, through dust and +brush, until they had joined the smaller herd of choice animals which +were to remain on the ranch. It was swift, sweaty, exhausting work, the +kind these Mexicans loved, for it was not only spectacular, but held an +element of danger. Once he had secured a pony Dave Law made himself one +of them. + +Alaire sat her horse in the heart of the crowding herd, with a sea of +rolling eyes, lolling tongues, and clashing horns all about her, and +watched the Ranger. Good riding she was accustomed to; the horses of +Las Palmas were trained to this work as bird dogs are trained to +theirs; they knew how to follow a steer and, as Ed Austin boasted, +"turn on a dime with a nickel to spare." But Law, it appeared, was a +born horseman, and seemed to inspire his mount with an exceptional +eagerness and intelligence. In spite of the man's unusual size, he rode +like a feather; he was grace and life and youth personified. Now he sat +as erect in his saddle as a swaying 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 the depleted +herd was driven to the water. It moved thither in a restless, thirsty +mass; it churned the shallow pond to milk, and from a high knoll, where +Alaire had taken her stand, she looked down upon a vast undulating +carpet many acres in extent formed by the backs of living creatures. +The voice of these cattle was like the 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, for as 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 in that 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. Some of them were stubborn and risked all +upon a spirited dash back toward the homes they were leaving and toward +the mothers who would not answer. It took hard, sharp riding to run +them down, for they fled like rabbits, bolting through prickly-pear and +scrub, their tails bravely aloft, their stiff legs flying. Others, too +tired and thirsty to go farther, lay down and refused to budge, and +these had to be carried over the saddlehorn until they had rested. Some +hid themselves cunningly in the mesquite clumps or burrowed 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 or with +painless blows from loose-coiled riatas; they picked them up in their +arms and rode with them. + +Once through the gate and safe inside the restraining pasture fence, +the herd was allowed to settle down. Then began a patient search by +outraged mothers, a series of mournful quests that were destined to +continue far into the night; endless nosings and sniffings and +caressings, which would keep up until each cow had found her own, until +each calf was butting its head against maternal ribs and gaining that +consolation which it craved. + +A new moon was swinging in the sky as Alaire and Dave rode back toward +Las Palmas. The dry, gray grass was beginning to jewel with dew; the +paths were ribbons of silver between dark blots of ink where the bushes +grew. Behind rose the jingle of spurs and bridles, the creak of +leather, the voices of men. It was an hour in which to talk freely, an +environment suited to confidences, and Dave Law was happier than he had +been for years. He closed his eyes to the future, he stopped his ears +to misgivings; with a song in 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 she +never knew. Certainly he gave no voice to his feeling, save, perhaps, +by some unconscious tone or trick of speech; rather, the knowledge came +to her intuitively as the result of some subconscious interchange of +thought, some responsive vibration, which only a psychologist could +analyze. However it was, Alaire knew to-night that she was dear to her +companion, and, strange to say, this certainty did not disturb her. +Inasmuch as the thing existed, why deny its right to exist? she asked +herself. Since it was in no wise dishonorable, how could it be wrong, +provided it went no further? Alaire had been repelled by Luis +Longorio's evident love for her, but a similar emotion in this man's +breast had quite the opposite effect. She was eager for friendship, +hungry for affection, starved for that worship which every woman lives +upon. Having a wholesome confidence in her own strength of character, +and complete faith in Law's sense of honor, she was neither alarmed nor +offended. + +For the first time in years she allowed her intimate thoughts free +expression, and spoke of her hopes, her interests, and her efforts; +under the spell of the moonlight she even confided something about +those dreams that kept her company and robbed her world of its +sordidness. Dave Law discovered that she lived in a fanciful land of +unrealities, and the glimpse he gained of it was delightful. + +Supper was waiting when they arrived at Las Palmas, and Dolores +announced that "Young Ed" had telephoned from the Lewis ranch that he +would not be home. Yielding to a sudden impulse, Alaire said to her +companion: + +"You must dine with me. Dolores will show you to a room. I will be +ready 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 of misgivings; but +the next instant he asked himself wherein he was doing wrong. Surely +there was no law which denied him the right to love, provided he kept +that love a secret. The inner voice did not argue with him; yet he was +disquieted and restless as he paced the big living-room, waiting for +his hostess. + +The Austin ranch-house offered a contrast to the majority of Texas +country homes. "Young Ed" had built almost a mansion for his bride, and +in the latter years Alaire had remodeled and changed it to suit her own +ideas. The verandas were wide, the rooms large and cool and open; +polished floors, brilliant grass mats, and easy wicker furniture gave +it a further airiness. The place was comfortable, luxurious; yet it was +a home and it had an atmosphere. + +Not for many years had Dave Law been a guest amid such surroundings, +and as the moments dragged on he began to feel more and more out of +place. With growing discomfort he realized that the mistress of this +residence was the richest woman in all this part of Texas, and that he +was little better than a tramp. His free life, his lack of care and +responsibility, had bred in him a certain contempt for money; +nevertheless, when through the door to the dining-room he saw Alaire +pause to give a final touch to the table, he was tempted to beat an +ignominious retreat, for she was a radiant vision in evening dress. She +was stately, beautiful; her hair was worn high, her arms were bare +underneath a shimmer of lace, her gown exposed a throat round and +smooth and adorable. In reality, she was simply clad; but to the +Ranger's untrained eye she seemed regal, and his own rough clothes +became painfully conspicuous by contrast. + +Alaire knew how to be a gracious and winning hostess; of course she did +not appear to notice her guest's embarrassment. She had rather welcomed +the thought that this man cared for her, and yet, had she deliberately +planned to dampen his feeling, she could hardly have succeeded better +than by showing him the wide disparity in their lives and situations. +Dave was dismayed; he felt very poor and ridiculous. Alaire was no +longer the woman he had ridden with through the solitudes; her very +friendliness seemed to be a condescension. + +He did not linger long after they had dined, for he wished to be alone, +where he could reach an understanding with himself. On the steps 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 it all +day; but even yet I don't know what to tell you. One moment I think the +truth would merely provoke another act of violence; the next I feel +that it must be made public regardless of consequences. As for its +effect upon myself--you know I care very little what people say or +think." + +"I'm sorry I killed the fellow--I shouldn't have done it, but--one sees +things differently out in the rough and here in the settled country. +Laws don't work alike in all places; they depend a good deal +upon--geography. There are times when the theft of a crust of bread +would warrant the punishment I gave Panfilo. I can't help but 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 deviltry together." + +"That is hardly an excuse." Alaire smiled faintly. + +"Oh, I know!" Dave agreed. "But, you see, I don't feel the need of one. +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 at things, and +I must confess that I tolerate actions that would have shocked me +before I came to know this country. Panfilo is dead and gone--rightly +or wrongly, I don't know. What I dread now is further consequences." + +"Don't weaken on my account." + +"No! I'm not thinking of the consequences to you or to me. You are the +kind of man who can protect himself, I'm sure; your very ability 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 yourself enough +over it, ma'am," he said; "splitting hairs as to what's right and +what's wrong, when it doesn't matter much, in either case. Suppose you +continue to think it over at your leisure." + +"Perhaps I'd better. And now"--Alaire extended her hand--"won't you and +Montrosa come to see me once in a while? I'm very lonesome." + +"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 a bridle-bit +came from the driveway, and he smiled. "There's her acceptance now." + +"Oh no! She merely heard your voice, the fickle creature." + +Alaire watched her guest until he had disappeared into the shadows, +then she heard him talking to the mare. Benito's words at the rodeo +recurred to her, and she wondered if this Ranger might not 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 had passed +with no word from him, his sons became alarmed and started an +investigation, but without the slightest result. Even Colonel Blanco +himself could not hazard a guess as to Guzman's fate; the man had +disappeared, it seemed, completely and mysteriously. Meanwhile, from +other quarters of the Mexican town came rumors that 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 the time it +raised a storm of indignation as the crowning atrocity of the Mexican +revolution, serving further to disturb the troubled waters of diplomacy +and threatening for a moment to upset the precariously balanced +relations of the two countries. + +At first the facts appeared plain: a citizen of the United States had +been lured across the border and done to death by Mexican soldiers--for +it soon became evident that Ricardo was dead. The outrage was a casus +belli such as no self-respecting people could ignore; so ran the +popular verdict. Then when that ominous mailed serpent 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 was +generally known that President Potosi had long resented Yankee enmity, +particularly as that enmity was directed at him personally. A +succession of irritating diplomatic skirmishes, an unsatisfactory +series of verbal sparring matches, had roused the old Indian's anger, +and it was considered likely that he had adopted this means of +permanently severing his relations with Washington. + +Of course, the people of Texas were delighted that the long-delayed +hour had struck; accordingly, when the State Department seemed +strangely loath to investigate the matter, when, in fact, it manifested +a willingness to allow Don Ricardo ample time in which to come to life +in preference to putting a further strain upon international relations, +they were both surprised and enraged. Telegraph wires began to buzz; +the governor of the state sent a crisply sarcastic message to the +national capital, offering to despatch a company of Rangers after +Guzman's body just to prove that he was indeed dead and that the +Mexican authorities were lying when they professed ignorance of the +fact. + +This offer not only caught the popular fancy north of the Rio Grande, +but it likewise had an effect on the other side of the river, for on +the very next day General Luis Longorio set out for Romero to +investigate personally the rancher's disappearance. + +Now, throughout all this public clamor, truth, as usual, lay hidden at +the bottom of its well, and few even of Ricardo's closest friends +suspected the real reason for his murder. + +Jonesville, of course, could think or talk of little else than this +outrage, and Blaze Jones, as befitted its leading citizen, was loudest +in his criticism of the government's weak-kneed policy. + +"It makes me right sore to think I'm an American," he confided to Dave. +"Why, if Ricardo had been an Englishman the British consul at Mexico +City would have called on Potosi the minute the news came. He'd have +stuck a six-shooter under the President's nose and made him locate Don +Ricardo, or pay an indemnity and kiss the Union Jack." Blaze's +conception of diplomacy was peculiar. "If Potosi didn't talk straight +that British consul would have bent a gun-bar'l over the old ruffian's +bean and telephoned for a couple hundred battle-ships. England protects +her sons. But we Americans are cussed with notions of brotherly love +and universal peace. Bah! We're bound to have war, Dave, some day or +other. Why not start it now?" + +Dave nodded his agreement. "Yes. We'll have to step in and take the +country over, sooner or later. But--everybody has the wrong idea of +this Guzman killing. The Federal officers in Romero didn't frame 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 remember one +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 draw your 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 has +blown up, eh?" + +"Absolutely. Lewis has been selling 'wet' stock to the Federals, and he +probably arranged with some of them to murder Ricardo. At any rate, +that's my theory." + +Blaze cursed eloquently. "I'd like to hang it on to Tad; I'd sure clean +house down his way if I was positive." + +"I sent a man over to Romero," Dave explained further. "He tells me +Ricardo is dead, all right; but nobody knows how he died, or why. +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 in Romero lately." +The speaker watched his friend closely. "Ricardo's family 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 he really faced a firing-squad, for +instance--I reckon Washington would 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 all the +lies, and perhaps force Colonel Blanco to make known the real facts. It +might even mean a case against Tad Lewis. What do you think of my +reasoning?" + +"It's eighteen karat. What d'you say we go over there and get Ricardo?" + +Dave smiled. "That's what I've been leading up to. Will you take a +chance?" + +"Hell, yes!" + +"I knew you would. All we need is a pair of Mexicans to--do the work. 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 be +discharged from the Ranger service." + +"I ain't very good at runnin'--not from Mexicans." Blaze's eyes were +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 of +absence from Las Palmas, especially since Benito was not a little +interested in the unexplained disappearance of Panfilo and work was +light at this time. Benito did not think it necessary to mention the +horse-breaker's journey to his employer; so that Alaire knew nothing +whatever about the matter until Jose himself asked permission to see +her on a matter of importance. + +The man had ridden hard most of the previous night, and his excitement +was patent. Even before he spoke Alaire realized that Panfilo's fate +was known to him, and she decided swiftly that there must be no further +concealment. + +"Senora! A terrible thing!" Jose burst forth. "God knows, I am nearly +mad with grief. It is about my sainted cousin. It is strange, +unbelievable! My head whirls--" + +Alaire quieted him, saying in Spanish, "Calm yourself, Jose, and tell +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 you saw +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 you +suspect, and why? Tell me all. There is something black and hellish +here, and I must know about it quickly." + +"Suppose you tell me your story first," Alaire answered, "and remember +that you are excited." + +The Mexican lowered his voice. "Bueno! Forgive me if I seem half +crazed. Well, I rode to that water-hole and found--nothing. It is a +lonely place; only the brush cattle use it; but I said to myself, +'Panfilo drank here. He was here. Beyond there is nothing. So I will +begin.' God was my helper, senora. I found him--his bones as naked and +clean as pebbles. Caramba! You should have heard me then! I was like a +demon! I couldn't think, I couldn't reason. I rode from that accursed +spot as if Panfilo's ghost pursued me and--I am here. I shall rouse the +country; the people shall demand the blood of my cousin's assassin. It +is the crime of a century." + +"Wait! When you spoke to me last I didn't dream that Panfilo was dead, +but since then I have learned the truth, and why he was killed. You +must let me tell you everything, Jose, just as it happened; then--you +may do whatever you think best. And you shall have the whole truth." + +It was a trying situation; in spite of her brave beginning, Alaire was +tempted to send the Mexican on to Jonesville, there to receive an +explanation directly from David Law himself; but such a course she +dared not risk. Jose was indeed half crazed, and at this moment quite +irresponsible; if he met Dave, terrible consequences would surely +follow. Accordingly, it was with a peculiar, apprehensive flatter in +her breast that Alaire realized the crisis had come. Heretofore she had +blamed Law, but now, oddly enough, she found herself interested in +defending him. As calmly as she could she related all that had led up +to the tragedy, while Jose listened with eyes wide and mouth open. + +"You see, I had no suspicion of the truth," she concluded. "It was a +terrible thing, and Mr. Law regrets it deeply. He would have made a +report to the authorities, only--he feared it might embarrass me. He +will repeat to you all that I have said, and he is ready to meet the +consequences." + +Jose was torn with rage, yet plainly a prey to indecision; he rolled +his eyes and cursed under his breath. "These Rangers!" he muttered. +"That is the kind of men they are. They murder honest people." + +"This was not murder," Alaire cried, sharply. "Panfilo was aiding a +felon to escape. The courts will not punish Mr. Law." + +"Bah! Who cares for the courts? This man is a Gringo, and these are +Gringo laws. But I am Mexican, and Panfilo was my cousin. We shall see." + +Alaire's eyes darkened. "Don't be rash, Jose," she exclaimed, +warningly. "Mr. Law bears you no ill-will, but--he is a dangerous man. +You would do well to make some inquiries about him. You are a good man; +you have a long life before you." Reading the fellow's black look, she +argued: "You think I am taking his part because he is my countryman, +but he needs no one to defend him. He will make this whole story public +and face the consequences. I like you, and I don't wish to see you come +to a worse end than your cousin Panfilo." + +Jose continued to glower. Then, turning away, he said, without meeting +his employer's eyes, "I would like to draw my money." + +"Very well. I am sorry to have you leave Las Palmas, for I have +regarded 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 General +Longorio. He is in Romero, just across the river; he knows a brave man +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 demon of a Jose +whose cousin was murdered by the Rangers. Yes, I have the heart of a +bandit." + +Alaire smiled faintly. "You will be shot," she told him. "Those +soldiers have little to eat and no money at all." + +But Jose's bright eyes remained hostile and his expression baffling. It +was plain to Alaire that her explanation of his cousin's death had +carried not the slightest conviction, and she even began to fear that +her part in the affair had caused him to look upon her as an accessory. +Nevertheless, when she paid him his wages she gave him a good horse, +which Jose accepted with thanks but without gratitude. As Alaire +watched him ride away with never a backward glance she decided that she +must lose no time in apprising the Ranger of this new condition of +affairs. + +She drove her automobile to Jonesville that afternoon, more worried +than she cared to admit. It was a moral certainty, she knew, that Jose +Sanchez would, sooner or later, attempt to take vengeance upon his +cousin's slayer, and there was no telling when he might become +sufficiently inflamed with poisonous Mexican liquor to be in the mood +for killing. Then, too, there were friends 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 had never called +upon Paloma, and had made it almost impossible for the girl to visit +Las Palmas, the meeting of the two women was somewhat formal. But no +one could long remain stiff or constrained with Paloma Jones; the girl +had a directness of manner and an honest, friendly smile that simply +would not be denied. Her delight that Alaire had come to see her +pleased and shamed the elder woman, who hesitatingly confessed the +object of her visit. + +"Oh, I thought you were calling on me." Paloma pouted her pretty lips. +"Dave isn't here. He and father--have gone away." A little pucker 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's +eyes; Alaire told her story quickly. "Mr. Law must be warned right +away," she added, "for the man is capable of anything." + +Paloma nodded. "Dave told us how he had killed Panfilo--" She +hesitated, and then cried, impulsively: "Mrs. Austin, I'm going to +confess something--I've got to tell somebody or I'll burst. I was +walking the floor when you came. Well, Dad and Dave have completely +lost their wits. They have gone across the river--to get 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 he was +killed. Dave knows where he's buried, and he's doing this for Ricardo's +family--some foolish sentiment about a bridle--but Dad, I think, merely +wants to start a war between the United States and Mexico." + +"My dear girl, aren't you dreaming?" + +"I thought I must be when I heard about it. Dad wouldn't have told me +at all, only he thought I ought to know in case anything happens to +him." Paloma's breath failed her momentarily. "They'll be killed. I +told them so, but Dave seems to enjoy the risk. He said Ricardo had a +sentimental nature--and, of course, the possibility of danger delighted +both him and Dad. They're perfect fools." + +"When did they go? Tell me everything." + +"They left an hour ago in my machine, with two Mexicans to help them. +They intend to cross at your pumping-plant as soon as it gets dark, and +be back by mid-night--that is, if they ever get back." + +"Why, it's--unbelievable." + +"It's too much for me. Longorio himself is in Romero, and he'd have +them shot if he caught them. We'd never even hear of it." Paloma's face +was pale, her eyes were strained and tragic. "Father always has been a +trial to me, but I thought I could do something with Dave." She made a +hopeless gesture, and Alaire wondered momentarily whether the girl's +anxiety was keenest for the safety of her father or--the other? + +"Can't we prevent them from going?" she inquired. "Why, they are +breaking the law, aren't they?" + +"Something like that. But what can we do? It's nearly dark, and they'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. And +think of Dad--a man of property! Dave declares Tad Lewis is at the +bottom of it all and put the Federals up to murder Ricardo; he thinks +in this way he can force them into telling the truth. But Dad is just +looking for a fight and wants to be a hero!" + +There was a moment of silence. Then Alaire reasoned aloud: "I presume +they chose our pumping-plant because it is directly opposite the Romero +cemetery. I could have Benito and some trusty men 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 they got +into trouble." + +"Come, then! We'll have supper at Las Palmas and slip down to the river +and wait." + +Paloma was gone with a rush. In a moment she returned, ready for the +trip, and with her she carried a Winchester rifle nearly as long as +herself. + +"I hope you aren't afraid of firearms," she panted. "I've owned this +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 and Dave very far." + +Jose Sanchez was true to his declared purpose. With a horse of his own +between his knees, with money in his pocket and hate in his heart, he +left Las Palmas, and, riding to the Lewis crossing, forded the Rio +Grande. By early afternoon he was in Romero, and there, after some +effort, he succeeded in finding General Longorio. + +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 for the presence +of Colonel Blanco's detachment of troops, it would have presented much +the same appearance as any one of the lazy border villages. A scow +ferry had at one time linked it on the American side with a group of +'dobe houses which were sanctified by the pious name of Sangre de +Cristo, but of late years more advantageous crossings above and below +had come into some use and Romero's ferry had been abandoned. Perhaps a +mile above Sangre de Cristo, and directly opposite Romero's weed-grown +cemetery, stood the pumping-plant of Las Palmas, its corrugated iron +roof and high-flung chimney forming a conspicuous landmark. + +Luis Longorio had just awakened from his siesta when Jose gained +admittance to his presence. The general lay at ease in the best bed of +the best house in the village; he greeted the new-comer with a smile. + +"So, my brave Jose, you wish to become a soldier and fight for your +country, eh?" + +"Yes, my general." + +Longorio yawned and stretched lazily. "Body of Christ! This is a hard +life. Here am I in this goatherd's hovel, hot, dirty, and half starved, +and all because of a fellow I never saw who got himself killed. You +would think this Ricardo was an Englishman instead of a Gringo, for the +fuss that is made. Who was he? Some great jefe? + +"A miserable fellow. I knew him well. Then he is indeed dead?" + +"Quite dead, I believe," Longorio said, carelessly; then turning his +large, bright eyes upon the visitor, he continued, with more interest, +"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", he +said, quietly, "if you harm her in the least I shall bury you to the +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 as +connectedly as he knew how all about his cousin's death and his reasons +for leaving Las Palmas. + +"Ah-h!" Longorio relaxed. "You gave me a start. At first I thought you +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 a little +secret: I love your senora! Yes, I love her madly, furiously; I can +think of nothing but her. I came to this abominable village more to see +her than to annoy myself over the death of Ricardo Guzman. I must see +my divinity; I must hear her blessed voice, or I shall go mad. Why do I +tell you this? Because I have decided that you shall lead me to her +to-night." The general fell silent for a moment, then, "I intend to +have her some day, Jose, and--perhaps you will be my right hand. See, I +make you my confidant because you will not dare to anger me or--Well, +my little friend, you must understand what fate would befall you in +that case. I can reach across the Rio Grande." + +Amazement and then fear were depicted in Jose's face as he listened; 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 your services. +Perhaps I shall also arrange so that you may have a reckoning with the +murderer of your cousin. What is his name?" + +It was Jose's opportunity to make an impression, and he used it to the +full, telling all that he knew of the killing of Panfilo, and +describing 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 me jealous." + +"Impossible!" Jose raised protesting palms. He was sure the general was +wrong. Senora Austin was above suspicion of any kind. + +"And yet this man met her in Pueblo and rode with her to Las Palmas? He +comes to see her frequently, you say?" The general bent his bright, +keen eyes upon the visitor. + +"Yes. She gave him the finest horse at Las Palmas, too, and--" A new +thought presented itself to Jose. "Ho! By the way, they were alone at +the water-hole when my cousin Panfilo was shot. Now that I think of it, +they were alone together for a day and a night. I begin to wonder--" + +Longorio breathed an oath and swung his long legs over the edge of the +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? I cannot bear +to think of this! See, I am beside myself. Caramba! I live in paradise; +I come flying on the wings of the wind, only to learn that my blessed +divinity has a lover. If only my excellent Blanco had shot this fellow +Law instead of that Guzman! If only I could lay hands upon him here in +Mexico! Ha! There would be something to print in the American papers." +He began to dress himself feverishly, muttering, as he did so: "I will +permit no one to come between us. ... The thought kills me. ... You +bring me bad news, Jose, and yet I am glad you came. I accept your +offer, and you shall be my man henceforth; ... but you shall not go out +to be shot by those rebels. No, you shall return to Las Palmas to be my +eyes and my ears, and, when the time comes, you shall be my hands, too. +... I will avenge your cousin Panfilo for you, my word on that. Yes, +and I will make you a rich man." + +Jose listened hungrily to these promises. He was relieved at the change +in his plans, for, after all, a soldier's life offered few attractions, +and--the food at Las Palmas was good. The general promised him fine +wages, too. Truly, it was fortunate that he had come to Romero. + +"Now we have settled this," Jose's new employer declared, "run away and +amuse yourself until dark. Then we will take a little journey by way of +the old ferry." + +"It is not altogether safe," ventured Jose. "That country over there is +alive with refugees." + +"I will take some men with me," said Longorio. "Now go and let me +think." + + + + +XVIII + +ED AUSTIN TURNS AT BAY + + +Had it not been for her fears, Paloma Jones would have taken her visit +to the Austin ranch as an unmixed enjoyment. To her Alaire had always +been an ideally romantic figure. More than once, in her moments of +melancholy, Paloma had envied Mrs. Austin's unhappiness and yearned to +bear a similar sorrow--to be crossed in love and to become known as a +woman of tragedy. To have one's life blasted, one's happiness slain by +some faithless lover, impressed the girl as interesting, thrilling. +Moreover, it was a misfortune calculated to develop one's highest +spiritual nature. Surely nothing could be more sadly satisfying than to +live alone with regretful memories and to have the privilege of +regarding the world as a vain show. Unfortunately, however, Paloma was +too healthy and too practical to remain long occupied with such +thoughts. She was disgustingly optimistic and merry; misanthropy was +entirely lacking in her make-up; and none of her admirers seemed the +least bit inclined to faithlessness. On the contrary, the men she knew +were perfect nuisances in their earnestness of purpose, and she could +not manage to fall in love with any one sufficiently depraved to +promise her the slightest misery. Paloma felt that she was hopelessly +commonplace. + +Now that she had an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with the +object of her envy, she made the most of it. She soon found, however, +that Alaire possessed anything but an unhappy disposition, and that to +pity her was quite impossible. Mrs. Austin was shy and retiring, +certainly, at first, but, once the ice was broken, she was delightfully +frank, friendly, and spirited. + +Paloma's curiosity was all-consuming, and she explored every phase of +her new friend's life with interest and delight. She even discovered +that imaginary world of Alaire's, and learned something about 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 actually see +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 feel terribly. +But they're much nicer than flesh-and-blood children, for they have no +bad traits whatever, and they're so amazingly intelligent." + +Such exchanges of confidence drew the women into fairly close relations +by the time they had arrived at Las Palmas, but the thought of what had +brought them together had a sobering effect, and during their hasty +supper they discussed the situation in all its serious phases. + +In offering to lend a hand in this difficulty, Alaire had acted largely +upon impulse, and now that she took time to think over the affair more +coolly, she asked herself what possible business of hers it could be. +How did this effort to secure Don Ricardo's body concern her? And how +could she hope or expect to be of help to the men engaged in the +hazardous attempt? With Paloma, of course, it was different: the girl +was anxious on her father's account, and probably concerned more deeply +than was Alaire for the safety of Dave Law. Probably she and Dave had +an understanding--it would be natural. Well, Paloma was a nice girl and +she would make a splendid wife for any man. + +For her part, Paloma was troubled by no uncertainty of purpose; it did +not seem to her at all absurd to go to her father's assistance, and she +was so eager to be up and away that the prospect of a long evening's +wait made her restless. + +As usual, Ed Austin had not taken the trouble to inform his wife of his +whereabouts; Alaire was relieved to find that he was out, and she +decided that he had probably stayed at Tad Lewis's for supper. + +The women were seated on the porch after their meals when up the +driveway rode two horsemen. A moment later a tall figure mounted the +steps and came forward with outstretched hand, crying, in Spanish: + +"Senora! I surprise you. Well, I told you some day I should give myself +this great pleasure. I am here!" + +"General Longorio! But--what a surprise!" Alaire's amazement was naive; +her face was that of a startled school-girl. The Mexican warmly kissed +her fingers, then turned to meet Paloma Jones. As he bowed the women +exchanged glances over his head. Miss Jones looked frankly frightened, +and her expression plainly asked the meaning of Longorio's presence. To +herself, she was wondering if it could have 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 and +motionless beside her chair, inquiring smoothly: "What brings you into +Texas at such a time, my dear general? This is quite extraordinary." + +"Need you ask me?" cried the man. "I would ride through a thousand +perils, senora. God in his graciousness placed that miserable village +Romero close to the gates of Heaven. Why should I not presume to look +through them briefly? I came two days ago, and every hour since then I +have turned my eyes in the direction of Las Palmas. At last I could +wait no longer." A courtly bow at the conclusion of these words robbed +the speech of its audacity and tinged it with the licensed extravagance +of Latin flattery. Nevertheless, Paloma gasped and Alaire stirred +uncomfortably. The semi-darkness of the veranda was an invitation to +even more daring compliments, and, therefore, as she murmured a polite +word of welcome, Alaire stepped through the French window at her back +and into the brightly lighted living-room. Paloma Jones followed as if +in 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 of paradise!" + +"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 care for 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 brave man, +and fear is a stranger to you, but, nevertheless, you must have regard +for the Fatherland'; so I took measures to protect myself in case of +eventualities." + +"How?" + +"By bringing with me some of my troopers. Oh, they are peaceable +fellows!" he declared, quickly; "and they are doubtless enjoying +themselves with our friend and sympathizer, Morales." + +"Where?" asked Alaire. + +"I left them at your pumping-plant, senora." Paloma Jones sat down +heavily in the nearest chair. "But you need have no uneasiness. They +are quiet and orderly; they will molest nothing; no one would believe +them to be soldiers. I take liberties with the laws and the customs of +your country, dear lady, but--you would not care for 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, since entering +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. "Or is it," he asked--"is +it that you are indeed apprehensive for me?" + +Alaire tried to speak quietly. "I should never forgive myself if you +came to harm here at my ranch." + +Longorio sighed. "And I hoped for a warmer welcome--especially since I +have done you another favor. You saw that hombre who came with me?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, you would never guess that it is your Jose Sanchez, whom I +prevailed upon to return to your employ. But it is no other; and he +comes to beg your forgiveness for leaving. He was distracted at the +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 poor fellow +this Panfilo--evidently a very bad man, indeed--but Jose admired 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, why follow in his footsteps? You +will not make a good soldier. Go back to your beautiful employer, be +loyal to her, and think no more about this unhappy affair.' It required +some argument, I assure you, but--he is here. He comes to ask your +forgiveness and to resume his position of trust." + +"I am glad to have him back if he feels that way. I have nothing +whatever to forgive him." + +"Then he will be happy, and I have served you. That is the end of the +matter." With a graceful gesture Longorio dismissed the subject. "Is it +to be my pleasure," he next inquired, "to meet Senor Austin, your +husband?" + +"I am afraid not." + +"Too bad. I had hoped to know him and convince him that we Federales +are not such a bad people as he seems to think. We ought to be friends, +he and I. Every loyal Mexican, in these troublesome times, desires the +goodwill and friendship of such important personages as Senor Austin. +This animosity is a sad thing." + +Under this flow of talk Paloma stirred uneasily, and at the first +opportunity burst out: "It's far from safe for you to remain here, +General Longorio. This neighborhood is terribly excited over the death +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 report that +nothing whatever could be discovered about him. Certainly he is nowhere +in Romero, and it is my personal belief that the poor fellow was either +drowned in the river or made way with for his money. Probably the truth +will never be known. It is a distressing event, but I assure you my +soldiers do not kill American citizens. It is our boast that Federal +territory is safe; one can come or go at will in any part of Mexico +that is under Potosista control. I sincerely hope that we have heard +the last of this Guzman affair." + +Longorio had come to spend the evening, and his keen pleasure in Alaire +Austin's company made him so indifferent to his personal safety that +nothing short of a rude dismissal would have served to terminate his +visit. Neither Alaire nor her companion, however, had the least idea +how keenly he resented the presence of Paloma Jones. Ed Austin's +absence he had half expected, and he had wildly hoped for an evening, +an hour, a few moments, alone with the object of his desires. Jose's +disclosures, earlier in the day, had opened the general's eyes; they +had likewise inflamed him with jealousy and with passion, and +accordingly he had come prepared to force his attentions with +irresistible fervor should the slightest opportunity offer. To find +Alaire securely chaperoned, therefore, and to be compelled to press his +ardent advances in the presence of a third party, was like gall to him; +the fact that he made the most 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 of respectability; +and on the other hand, a woman, bored, resentful, and tortured at the +moment by fear about what was happening at the river-bank. + +Alaire, too, had a further cause for worry. Of late Ed Austin had grown +insultingly suspicious. More than once he had spoken of Dave Law in a +way to make his wife's face crimson, and he had wilfully misconstrued +her recital of Longorio's attentions. Fearing, therefore, that in spite +of Paloma Jones's presence Ed would resent the general's call, Alaire +strained her ears for the sound of his coming. + +It was late when Austin arrived. Visitors at Las Palmas were unusual at +any time; hence the sound of strange voices in the brightly lighted +living-room at such an hour surprised him. He came tramping in, booted +and spurred, a belligerent look of inquiry upon his bloated features. +But when he had met his wife's guests his surprise turned to black +displeasure. His own sympathies in the Mexican struggle were so +notorious that Longorio's presence seemed to him to have but one +possible significance. Why Paloma Jones was here he could not imagine. + +Thus far Alaire's caller had succeeded in ignoring Miss Jones, and now, +with equal self-assurance, he refused to recognize Ed's hostility. He +remained at ease, and appeared to welcome this chance of meeting +Austin. Yet it soon became evident that his opinion of his host was far +from flattering; beneath his politeness he began to show an amused +contempt, which Alaire perceived, even though her husband did not. Luis +Longorio was the sort of man who enjoys a strained situation, and one +who shows to the best advantage under adverse conditions. Accordingly, +Ed's arrival, instead of hastening his departure, merely served to +prolong his stay. + +It was growing very late now, and Paloma was frantic. Profiting by her +first opportunity, she whispered to Alaire "For God's sake, send him +away." + +Alaire's eyes were dark with excitement, "Yes," said she. "Talk to him, +and give me a chance to have a word alone with Ed." + +The opportunity came when Austin went into the dining-room for a drink. +Alaire excused herself to follow him. When they were out of sight 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 here in 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 crazy to +risk such a thing." + +"Crazy?" Ed's lip curled. "He isn't crazy. I suppose he couldn't stay +away any longer. By God, Alaire--" + +Alaire checked this outburst with a sharp exclamation: "Don't make a +scene! Don't you understand he holds over fifty thousand dollars' worth +of La Feria cattle? Don't you understand we can't antagonize him?" + +"Is that what he came to see you about?" + +"Yes." She bit her lip. "I'll explain everything, but--you must help me +send him back, right away." Glancing at the clock, Alaire saw that it +was drawing on toward midnight; with quick decision she seized her +husband by the arm, explaining feverishly: "There is something big +going on to-night, Ed! Longorio brought a guard of soldiers with him +and left them at our pump-house. Well, it so happens that Blaze Jones +and Mr. Law have gone to the Romero cemetery 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 encounter Longorio's +men--You understand?" + +"God Almighty!" Austin burst forth. "Ricardo Guzman's body!" He wet his +lips and swallowed with difficulty. "Why--do they want the body?" + +"To prove that he is really dead and--to prove who killed him." Noting +the effect of these words, Alaire cried, sharply, "What's the matter, +Ed?" + +But Austin momentarily was beyond speech. The decanter from which he +was trying to pour himself a drink played a musical tattoo upon his +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 you understand? +They are over there now, and they'll be back about midnight. If +Longorio had come alone, or if he had left his men at Sangre de Cristo, +everything would be all right. But those soldiers at Morales's house +will be up and awake. Why, it couldn't have happened worse!" "How many +men has he got?" Austin nodded in the 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 in the +hunted, desperate way in which his eyes were running over the room, +alarmed Alaire. + +Ed utterly disregarded her question. Catching sight of the telephone, +which stood upon a stand in the far corner of the room, he ran to it +and, snatching the receiver, violently oscillated the hook. + +"Don't do that!" Alaire cried, following him. "Wait! It mustn't get +out." + +"Hello! Give me the Lewis ranch--quick--I've forgotten the number." +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 the instrument 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 the +adjoining room. + +"Keep your hands off, I tell you. Hello! Is that you, Tad?" Again +Austin thrust his wife violently aside. "Listen! I've just learned that +Dave Law and old man Jones have crossed over to dig up Ricardo's body. +Yes, to-night! They're over there now--be back inside of an hour." + +Alaire leaned weakly against the table, her frightened eyes fixed upon +the speaker. Even yet she could not fully grasp the meaning of her +husband's behavior and tried to put aside those fears that were +distracting her. Perhaps, after all, she told herself, Ed was taking +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 crossed at 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 was shaking so +that he could scarcely retain his hold upon the telephone. "How the +hell do I know?" he chattered. "It's up to you. 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 wife turned. +The open double-door to the living-room framed the tall figure of the +Mexican general. + + + + +XIX + +RANGERS + + +Longorio stared first at the huddled, perspiring man beside the +telephone 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 four he was +the least excited. + +From the background Paloma quavered: "You told us Ricardo was not dead, +so--it is all right. There is no--harm done." + +A brief silence ensued, then Longorio shrugged. "Who knows? Let us hope +that he suffered no harm on Mexican soil. That would be serious, +indeed; yes, very serious, for I have given my word to your government. +This--David Law--" he pronounced the name carefully, but with a +strange, foreign accent--"he is a reckless person to defy the border +regulations. It is a grave matter to invade foreign territory on such a +mission." Longorio again bent his brilliant eyes upon Alaire. "I see +that you are concerned for his safety. You would not desire him to come +to trouble, eh? He has done you favors; he is your friend, as I am. +Well"--a mirthless smile exposed his splendid white teeth--"we must +think of 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 men of +mine are stupid fellows and there is danger of a misunderstanding. In +the dark anything may happen. I should like to 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 moves slowly. 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 Grande +to-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 the river, and my +horse will remain here until I return for him." + +There was no mistaking the command in Longorio's tone; the master of +Las Palmas rose as if under compulsion. He took his hat, and the two +men left the room. + +"Oh, my God!" Paloma gasped. "They'll be in time, and so will the Lewis +gang." + +"Quick! Ed will take his runabout--we'll follow in my car." Alaire fled +to make herself ready. A few moments later she looked out from her +window and saw the headlights of Ed's runabout flash down the driveway +to the road; then she and Paloma rushed to the garage where the +touring-car stood. + +"They'll never expect us to follow them"--Alaire tried to speak +hopefully--"and we'll drive without lights. Maybe we'll get there in +time, after all." As the machine rolled out through the gate she +elaborated the half-formed plan that had come to her: "The brush is +thick along the river; we can leave the car hidden and steal up to the +pump-house. When we hear the boat coming maybe we can call out in time +to warn your father." + +"The moon is rising," Paloma half sobbed. "They'll be sure to see us. +Do you think we're ahead of Tad Lewis?" + +"Oh yes. He hasn't had time to get here yet, but--he'll come fast when +he starts. This is the only plan I can think of." + +Alaire drove as swiftly as she dared, following the blurred streak of +gray that was the road, and taking the bumps with utter recklessness. +Already the yellow rim of the moon was peering over the horizon to her +right, and by its light she found the road that turned abruptly toward +the Rio Grande, a mile or more distant. The black mud from the last +heavy rain had hardened; the ruts in this side road were deep, and the +car leaped and plunged, flinging its occupants from side to side. Ahead +loomed the dark ridge of the river thickets, a dense rampart of +mesquite, ebony, and coma, with here and there a taller alamo or +hackberry thrusting itself skyward. But even before they were sheltered +from the moonlight Paloma saw the lights of another automobile +approaching along the main-traveled highway behind them--the lights, +evidently, of Tad Lewis's machine. A moment later Alaire's car drove +into the black shadows, but, fearing to switch on her headlights, she +felt her way cautiously between the walls of foliage until at her right +another opening showed, like a narrow arroyo, diverging from the one +they followed. Into this she swerved, regardless of the fact that it +was half grown up with brush. Thorny branches swept the sides of the +machine; rank, dew-soaked grass rose to the height of the tonneau. The +car came to a jolting pause, then the motor ceased its purring, and the +two women sat motionless, listening for the rattle of the on-coming +machine. It had been a short, swift, exciting ride. "Young Ed's" +runabout could not be many minutes ahead of them. + +Alaire knew the Tad Lewis car, an old-style, cheap affair, which +advertised its mechanical imperfections by a loud clashing of gears and +a noisy complaint of loose parts; therefore, when the leafy canon walls +behind her hiding-place were brilliantly illuminated and a car stole +silently past at low speed, she seized Paloma 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 motor entirely." + +The women got out, then breasted the high grass and brambles between +their hiding-place and the pump-house road. As soon as they 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, they discovered the machine in question +standing dark and deserted in the shadows. Evidently the driver, +whoever he was, well knew what he was about, and had not blundered upon +this place by accident. A hundred yards away they could now see the +ghostly Rio Grande, its saffron surface faintly silvered by the low +moon; lights gleamed from the windows of Morales's house. In the +distance the vague outlines of the Mexican shore were resolving +themselves, and far beyond winked the evidence that some belated +citizens of Romero were still awake. + +Paloma had brought with her the long-barreled Winchester rifle, and +this she clutched nervously as she and Alaire stood whispering. +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 the beginning of the irrigation +ditch, and in the shadow of these the women worked their way forward, +unobserved. They had nearly reached their goal when out into the +clearing behind them, with metallic rattle and clang, burst another +automobile, and Paloma whispered, excitedly: + +"There's the Lewis outfit at last." + +In the Lewis car were several men. They descended hurriedly, and when +one of them ran around the front of the car to turn off its lights both +women saw that he carried a rifle. Evidently Tad Lewis had come +prepared for desperate measures. + +A small door gave entrance to the boiler-room, and into the lock of +this Mrs. Austin fitted a key; the next moment she and Paloma were +safely inside. They found themselves in utter darkness now, with a +smooth brick floor beneath their feet and a strong odor of oil and +burnt fuel in their nostrils. + +Alaire was agreeably surprised in Paloma Jones, for, although the girl +was wrought to a pitch of hysterical excitement, she had, nevertheless, +retained her wits; nor had she faltered in the slightest. It was +evident that the fighting blood of her father was 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 father and +Dave have come and gone. Anyhow, we can warn them just as well by +firing into the air." + +In reply to this suggestion Paloma merely muttered something under her +breath. + +The brief night ride had given Alaire time in which to recover from her +first apprehensions, and now she was surprised at her own coolness. +Ed's behavior had shocked and horrified her; she was still half +paralyzed at his treachery; nevertheless, her mind was clear, and she +was determined to avert a tragedy if possible. She knew only too well +what would happen when Blaze Jones and Dave Law encountered the Lewis +gang; the presence of Longorio's soldiers merely made more certain the +outcome of that meeting. The general was furious; it was plain that he +would not tolerate this expedition, the avowed purpose of which was to +prove him a liar. It would make but little difference, therefore, +whether the quest for Ricardo Guzman's body had been successful or not: +even the fact that this was American soil would not deter Longorio from +violent action, for the Rio Grande was no real boundary, and this part +of Texas was as truly Mexican as that other river-bank which lay two +hundred yards distant. + +A confusion of such thoughts were racing through Alaire's mind as she +felt her way out of the boiler-room and into that part of the building +where the pumping machinery stood. Dusty, cobwebbed windows let in a +faint ghost-glow of moonlight, but prevented clear observation of +anything outside; Alaire's fumbling fingers found the latch of the +front door and began to lift it, when some one spoke, just outside the +building. + +"What did you discover?" inquired a voice which neither woman +recognized. Paloma clutched blindly for her companion; the two +eavesdroppers stood rooted in their tracks. The pounding of their +hearts sounded loudly. Since the building was little more than a wooden +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 who just +came, senor." + +There followed some whispered words indistinguishable to the listeners, +then a rustle of bodies moving through the tall grass and weeds. + +Paloma placed her lips close to Alaire's ear. "Who are those people?" +she breathed. + +"I don't know. They must be the ones who came in that strange +automobile." + +Paloma chattered viciously: "Everybody in Texas is here. I wish we'd +thought to scatter tacks behind us." + +Cautiously they swung the door back and looked out. The open space +along the river-bank was leveled by the moonlight; from Morales's +house, to their right, came the sound of voices. The women waited. + +A few moments, then a number of men appeared. Paloma judged there were +at least a dozen, but she was too excited to count them. As they came +straggling toward the pump-house one of them called back: + +"Morales! Put out your damned lights," Both women recognized Tad Lewis +as the speaker. + +Alaire had stubbornly refused to charge her husband with any active +share in this evil business, but her faith in Ed suddenly vanished 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 leaned weakly against +the door. "I'm going to leave, and let you-all attend to the rest," he +was saying. But Tad Lewis halted him as he turned from the group. + +"Where are you going, Ed? You left your car back yonder by the road. I +almost ran into it." + +"Eh? What are you talking about? My car is over by Morales's house." + +"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 this open +charge of cowardice, Austin began a voluble defense, but in the 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 the +words: "That's right, Ed. You've got to stick, for once in your life." + +"What do you mean, you nearly ran into my car back yonder?" Austin +asked, 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 the direction he +had indicated; but at that moment a man came running from the +riverbank, crying, softly: + +"Look out! They come." + +"I'm going to shoot," Paloma Jones gasped, but Alaire, who once again +heard the sound of whispering in the shadows just outside their +hiding-place, managed to restrain her companion. It was well that she +succeeded, for even as Paloma raised her weapon a man passed swiftly by +the crack of the half-open door and scarcely ten feet beyond the muzzle +of the rifle. He was followed by three others. + +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, then Tad +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 skiff coming +yonder?" he inquired. + +"Well, it don't look like a steamboat." Lewis laughed, disagreeably. +"We're havin' a little party of our own. I reckon you fellows had +better beat it. Understand?" + +The outposts that had been sent to cover the bank in both directions +were now coming in. Through the stillness of the night there sounded +the thump of oar-locks. Seeing that the stranger did not seem to take +his hint, Lewis raised his voice menacingly: + +"That's your road back yonder. It's a right good road, and I'd advise +you to travel it, fast." + +But this suggestion was also ignored; in fact, it appeared to amuse the +man addressed, for he, too, laughed. He turned, and the women 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 he raised +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 away and +ran out into the moonlight, trailing her absurd firearm after her. + +"Now, boys," the Ranger captain was saying, "I know 'most every one of +you, and we ain't going to have the least bit of trouble over this +thing, are we? I reckon you-all are friends of Ricardo Guzman, and you +just couldn't wait to find out about him, eh?" + +Alaire, who had followed Paloma, was close enough now to recognize the +two Guzman boys as members of the Ranger party. Lewis and his men had +drawn together at the first alarm; Longorio's Mexicans had gathered +about their leader. The entire situation had changed in a moment, and +the Ranger captain was in control of it. + +Soon Dave Law and Blaze Jones came up over the river-bank; they paused, +stricken with surprise at finding a score of people where they had +expected no more than four. + +Blaze was the first to speak. "What the hell?" he cried. He peered +near-sightedly from one to the other; then his huge bulk shook with +laughter: "Say, do my glasses magnify, or is this an Odd-Fellows +meetin'?" + +"Dad! Oh, Dad!" Paloma scurried to him and flung herself into his arms. + +"Lord of mercy, kid!" the father exclaimed. "Why, you'd ought to be +home and abed, long ago. You'll catch your death of cold. Is that gun +loaded." + +Dave Law was even more amazed than his companion. His first glimpse of +the waiting figures had warned him that something had gone wrong, and, +therefore, he did not stop to ask himself how Tad Lewis and Longorio +could have learned of this affair, or what could have brought Alaire +and Ed Austin to the scene. Recovering from his first surprise, he took +a position beside his superior officer. + +Captain Evans did not seem at all troubled by the disparity in numbers. +One Ranger, or two at the most, had always been sufficient to quell a +Texan disturbance; now that there were three of them, he felt equal to +an invasion of Mexican soil, if necessary. In consequence he relaxed +his watchful vigilance, and to Dave he drawled: + +"We've got most of the leading citizens of the county, and I reckon +somebody in the outfit will be able to identify Guzman." + +"There's no trouble about that, sir. We found him. Pedro and Raoul can +make sure." The sons of Ricardo Guzman stepped forward promptly, and +Law waved them toward the boat landing, where the two helpers were +waiting with Ricardo's remains. + +Despite the Ranger captain's easy assumption of command, the strain of +the situation had not subsided, and Longorio drew swift attention to +himself when he said: + +"It is fortunate that I chanced to learn of this matter. You have done +me a great service, Senor Law, for I came to Romero purposely to +examine into the death of this unfortunate man. But I could learn +nothing; nobody knew anything whatever about the matter, and so I +became convinced that it amounted to little. Now--behold! I discover +that I was deceived. Or--perhaps there still may be a mistake." + +Blaze Jones thrust his daughter aside and advanced toward the speaker. +"There's no mistake," he declared, belligerently. "I don't make +mistakes when I go grave-robbin'. Don Ricardo was shot by your men. He +had five thousand dollars on him, or he should have had, and he was an +American citizen. Your Colonel Blanco covered the body, but he'll have +a hell of a job coverin' the facts. 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 is +regrettable that you used this means when a word to me would have +served the purpose, for--it is no trivial matter to desecrate a Mexican +graveyard. My country, too, has a government. An officer of 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 words amused +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 this minute, and I'll +bet if I frisked you I'd find that you was under arms." The Mexican +understood English sufficiently well to grasp the 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 any rate, +we must have no international complications. There is a more practical +side to the matter: if Don Ricardo Guzman met his death in Mexico there +will be a rigid investigation, I assure you." + +Evans agreed. "That's fair! And I'll make a bargain with you: you keep +still and so'll we. We never aimed for this affair to get out, anyhow. +I reckon these men"--he indicated Lewis and his followers--"ain't +liable to talk much." + +The two Guzman boys, greatly moved, returned to announce that they had +indeed identified their father's body, and Longorio could not well +refuse to accept their evidence. + +"Very well," said he. "I am indebted to you. Since there is nothing +more to be said, apparently, I will return to Romero." With a bow to +Mrs. Austin, who had silently watched the play of these opposing +motives, he turned away, and Tad Lewis followed him. + +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 better of it, +he yielded with bad grace, bitterly regretting the curiosity which had +prompted him to remain to the end of this interesting 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. Ed Austin knows +where you was the day that stock was stole." He and his two remaining +men moved toward their automobile, and a moment later the vehicle went +clattering away up the thicket road. + +So ended the attempt to foil the return of Ricardo Guzman's body to +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 as nothing +to that which followed the recovery of his body. By the next afternoon +it was known from Mexico to the Canadian border that the old ranchman +had been shot by Mexican soldiers in Romero. It was reported that a +party of Americans had invaded foreign soil and snatched Ricardo's +remains from under the nose of General Longorio. But there all reliable +information ceased. Just how the rescue had been effected, by whom it +had been done, what reasons had prompted it, were a mystery. With the +first story the newspapers printed a terse telegram, signed by Captain +Evans and addressed to the Governor of Texas, which read: + +"Ranger force crossed Rio Grande and brought back the body of Ricardo +Guzman." + +This message created tremendous enthusiasm, for the Texas Rangers have +ever stood for prompt and decisive action; but two hours after the +publication of this despatch there came a sharp inquiry from +Washington, and on the heels of that the State House at Austin denied +the receipt of any such message. + +When this denial was in turn made public, the newspapers demanded to +know who had performed this sensational exploit. One rumor had it that +the sons of Ricardo Guzman had risked their lives to insure their +father Christian burial. This was amplified by a touching pen-picture +of the rancher's weeping family waiting at the bank of the Rio Grande, +and an affecting account of the grief of the beautiful Guzman girls. It +mattered not that there were no daughters. + +In other quarters the expedition was credited to members of a secret +order to which Ricardo had belonged; from a third source came a +statement that the Guzman family had hired a band of Mexicans to exhume +the body, so that proof of death might be sufficient to satisfy an +insurance company in which the rancher had held a policy. Even at +Jonesville there were conflicting rumors. + +But, whatever the facts of the rescue, it was generally recognized that +the result had been to bring on a crisis in the affairs of the two +nations. People declared that since the outrage was now proven the next +move was the duty of the State Department at Washington. Therefore, +when several days passed and nothing was done, a wide-spread feeling of +indignation grew. What mattered these diplomatic communications between +the two governments? it was asked. Why wait for another investigation +by General Longorio? + +Strong influences, however, were at work to prevent that very outcome +for which the people of Texas prayed. During the delay there arose a +report that Ricardo Guzman had borne an evil reputation, and that he +had been so actively associated with the Rebel cause as to warrant +punishment by the Federal government. Moreover, a legal question as to +his American citizenship was raised--a question which seemed to have +important bearing upon the case. + +Public interest is short-lived; few living men can hold it more than a +day or two, and it reckons no dead man worthy of more than an obituary +notice. Other Mexican offenses, equally grave, had failed to stir the +Administration to definite action; the death of this obscure border +ranchman did not seem to weigh very heavily in Washington. Thus in the +course of time the Guzman incident was in a fair way of being +officially forgotten and forgiven. + +Of course the people of Texas did not forget, nor did those who had +personally known Ricardo forgive. Dave Law, for instance, felt bitter +over the matter, for he had counted upon prompt and definite results. A +little pressure, properly applied, would have wrung the truth from +Colonel Blanco and fastened some measure of guilt upon the men who had +actually arranged the murder. Dave did not doubt Tad Lewis's part in +it, but there was only one source from which pressure could be brought, +and when this failed he found his further efforts blocked. There +remained to him only the consolation of knowing that he had in a +measure squared his account with old Ricardo. + +But there were several persons who felt intense relief at the course +events had taken, and among these was Alaire Austin. In the days +following that midnight expedition she had had ample time in which to +meditate upon her husband's actions, "Young Ed" had taken advantage of +the confusion to slip out of the crowd and escape in his roadster, and +when Alaire arrived at Las Palmas she had found that he was gone, +leaving behind no word as to when he would return. It seemed probable +that he had fled to San Antonio, there to remain until interest in the +Guzman matter had abated. If Ed was relieved to escape the immediate +consequences of his connection with the affair, his wife was no less +thankful for his absence, since it left her free to think and to plan. +Their relations were becoming constantly more difficult; she realized +that it was impossible for her to go on in this way much longer. Before +leaving Ed had again rifled the safe, thus disregarding for a second +time his explicit agreement with his wife. Of course, he was welcome to +whatever money he needed, even in excess of his allowance; but his act +showed his weak sense of honor and strengthened Alaire's conviction +that he was in every way rapidly deteriorating. As yet she could not +believe him really wicked at heart--he had many qualities which were +above the average--nor could she convince herself that he had been +criminally involved in Tad Lewis's schemes. And yet, what other +explanation could there be? Ed's behavior had been extraordinary; his +evident terror at news of Dave Law's expedition, his conversation with +Tad Lewis over the telephone, his subsequent actions at the river, all +seemed to indicate that he had some vital interest in maintaining the +mystery of Guzman's death. What could it be? + +Suspicions like these were extremely disturbing. In spite of herself +Alaire began to think more seriously about that separation which Ed had +so frequently offered her. Her whole nature, it is true, recoiled at +the thought of divorce; it was a thing utterly repugnant to her +sentiment and her creed--a thing that stood for notoriety, gossip, +scandal. Deep in her heart she felt that divorce was wicked, for +marriage to her had always meant a sacred and unbreakable bond. And yet +there seemed to be no alternative. She wished Ed would go away--leave +her quietly and for ever, so that she might live out her empty life in +seclusion--but that, of course, he would never do. + +Such longings were not strangers to Alaire; they were old and +persistent enemies; but of late the prospect of a loveless, childless +future was growing more and more unbearable. Even her day dreams failed +to give their customary relief; those imaginary figures with whom she +took counsel were strangely unresponsive. + +She had told Paloma Jones about her dream-children, but she had not +confessed the existence of another and a far more intimate creature of +her brain--one who occupied the place Ed Austin should have held. There +was such a person, however, and Alaire called him her dream husband. +Now this man's physical aspect was never long the same; it altered +according to her changing ideals or to the impression left by new +acquaintances; nevertheless, he was in some ways the most real and the +most tangible of all her pale romantic fancies. No one who has watched +a solitary child at play can doubt that it sees and hears playmates +invisible to others. Alaire Austin, in the remotest depths of her +being, was still a child. Of late her prince had assumed new +characteristics and a new form. He was no longer any one of the many +shapes he had been; he was more like the spirit of the out-of-doors--a +strong-limbed, deep-chested, sun-bronzed creature, with a strain of +gipsy blood that called to hers. He was moody, yet tender, roughly +masculine, and yet possessed of the gentleness and poetry of a girl. He +was violent tempered; he was brave; he rode a magnificent bay mare that +worshiped him, as did all animals. + +During one of these introspective periods Alaire telephoned Dave Law, +arguing to herself that she must learn more about her husband's +connection with the Lewis gang. Dave arrived even sooner than she had +expected. She made him dine with her, and they spent the evening on the +dim-lit gallery. In the course of their conversation Alaire discovered +that Dave, too, had a hidden side of his nature; that he possessed an +imagination, and with it a quaint, whimsical, exploratory turn of mind +which enabled him to talk interestingly of many things and many places. +On this particular evening he was anything but the man of iron she had +known--until she ventured to speak of Ed. Then he closed up like a +trap. He was almost gruff in his refusal to say a word about her +husband. + +Because of Ed's appropriation of the ranch cash, Alaire found it +necessary a few days later to go to the bank, and, feeling the need of +exercise, she rode her horse Montrose. When her errands had been +attended to, she suddenly decided to call on Paloma Jones. 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 feminine +torture known as a "fitting"; but insecurely basted, pinned, and tucked +as she was, she came flying down to the gate to meet her visitor. + +Alaire was introduced to Mrs. Strange, the dressmaker, a large, +acidulous brunette, with a mouthful of pins; and then, when Paloma had +given herself once more into the seamstress's hands, the two friends +gossiped. + +Since Mrs. Strange was the first capable dressmaker who had ever come +to Jonesville, Paloma had closed her eyes and plunged with reckless +extravagance. Now the girl insisted upon a general exhibition of her +new wardrobe, a sort of grand fashion review, for the edification of +her caller, in the course of which she tried on all her dresses. + +Paloma was petite and well proportioned, and the gowns were altogether +charming. Alaire was honest in her praise, and Paloma's response was +one of whole-hearted pleasure. The girl beamed. Never before had she +been so admired, never until this moment had she adored a person as she +adored Mrs. Austin, whose every suggestion as 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 these +dresses," Paloma confessed. + +"Your father is a mighty queer man," Mrs. Strange observed. "I haven'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." Taking advantage of +the dressmaker's momentary absence from the room, Paloma continued in a +whisper: "I wish you'd talk to Dad and see what you make of him. He's +absolutely--queer. Mrs. Strange seems to 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 in spells. +You know, Mrs. Strange's husband is a sort of--necromancer." + +"How silly!" + +There was no further opportunity for words, as the woman reappeared at +that instant; but a little later Alaire went in search of Blaze, still +considerably mystified. As she neared the farm buildings she glimpsed a +man's figure hastily disappearing into the barn. The figure bore a +suspicious resemblance to Blaze Jones, yet when she followed he was +nowhere to be seen. Now this was curious, for Texas barns are less +pretentious than those of the North, and this one was little more than +a carriage-house and a shelter for agricultural implements. + +"Mr. Jones!" Alaire called. She repeated Blaze's name several times; +then something stirred. The door of a harness closet opened cautiously, +and out of the blackness peered Paloma's father. He looked more owlish +than ever behind his big, gold-rimmed spectacles. "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 of +breeziness. "I was fixin' some harness, but I'm right glad to see you." + +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 see +looks 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 a jinx 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 till +lately, but now I'm worse than a plantation nigger. I tell you there's +things in this world we don't sabe. I wish you'd get Paloma to fire +her. I've tried and failed. I wish you'd tell her those dresses are +rotten." + +"But they're very nice; they're lovely; and I've just been +complimenting her. Now what has this woman done to you?" + +It seemed impossible that a man of Blaze Jones's character could +actually harbor crude superstitions, and yet there was no mistaking his +earnestness when he said: + +"I ain't sure whether she's to blame, or her husband, but misfortune +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, my +heart's actin' up, I've got rheumatism, my stomach feels like I'd +swallowed something alive--" + +"You're smoking too much," Alaire affirmed, with conviction. + +But skepticism aroused Blaze's indignation. With elaborate sarcasm he +retorted: "I reckon that's why my best team of mules run away and +dragged me through a ten-acre patch of grass burrs--on my belly, eh? +It's a wonder I wasn't killed. I reckon I smoked so much that I give a +tobacco heart to the best three-year-old bull in my pasture! Well, I +smoked him to death, all right. Probably it was nicotine poisonin' that +killed twenty acres of my cotton, too; and maybe if I'd cut out Bull +Durham I'd have floated that bond issue on the irrigation ditch. But I +was wedded to cigarettes, so my banks are closin' down on me. Sure! +That's what a man gets for smokin'." + +"And do you attribute all these misfortunes to Paloma's dressmaker?" + +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've carried +a bowie-knife in my bootleg ever since I was a babe in arms, you might +say; but the other day I jabbed myself with it and nearly got +blood-poisonin'. The very first time I ever laid eyes on this man and +his wife a great misfortune overtook me, and ever since they come to +Jonesville I've had a close squeeze to make a live of it. This fellow +Strange, with his fortune-tellin' and his charms and his conjures, has +hocus-pocussed the whole neighborhood. He's gettin' rich off of the +Mexicans. He knows more secrets 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 to invest their money." + +"He is nothing more than a circus fakir, Mr. Jones." + +"Yes'm! Just the same, these Greasers'd vote him into the legislature +if he asked 'em. Why, he knows who fetched back Ricardo 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 that I want to +know?" + +"Now don't you get him started," Blaze cautioned, hastily, "or he'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 with Lewis. +Dave thinks Tad was at the bottom of the killin', and he hoped 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 about Ed's dealin's than you do, +Miz Austin: all I know is that I got a serpent in my household and I +can't get shed of her. I've got a lapful of troubles of my own. I've +ordered Paloma to let that woman 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. You mark what I say, that female spider'll sew venom into +those dresses. I never seen a woman with a mustache that was any good. +Look here!" Blaze drew a well-thumbed pack of playing-cards from his +pocket. "Shuffle 'em, and I'll prove what I say. If I don't turn 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, he +exposed the queen of spades. + +"What did I tell you? There's the bearded lady herself! Now I'll +shuffle and you cut." + +Alaire smilingly followed directions; she separated the deck into three +piles, after which Jones interpreted the oracle. + +"You got a good fortune, Miz Austin. There's a light man comin' to your +house, danger, and--marriage. You're goin' to marry a light man." + +Alaire's laughter rang out unaffectedly. "Now you see how utterly +absurd it is." + +"Maybe it is, and maybe it ain't." From another pocket Jones drew a +small volume entitled The Combination Fortune-Teller and Complete +Dictionary of Dreams. Alaire reached to take it, and the book 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's +ranch-hands appeared in the door to ask him a question. When the fellow +had gone his employer rose and tiptoed after him; then he spat through +his crossed fingers in the direction the man had taken. + +"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'm interested +in what you say about Mr. Strange. If the Mexicans tell him so much, +perhaps he can tell me something. I do hope you have no more +misfortunes." + +"You stay to supper," Blaze urged, hospitably. "I'll be in as soon as +that tarantula's gone." + +But Alaire declined. After a brief chat with Paloma she remounted +Montrose and prepared for the homeward ride. At the gate, however, she +met Dave Law on his new mare, and when Dave had learned the object of +her visit to Jonesville he insisted upon accompanying her. + +"You have enough money in those saddle-bags to tempt some of our very +best citizens," he told her. "If you don't mind, I'll just be your +bodyguard." + +"Very well," she smiled; "but to make perfectly sure of our safety, +cross your fingers and spit." + +"Eh?" Seeing the amusement in her eyes, he declared: "You've been +talking to Blaze. Well, last night I dreamed I was eating chestnuts, +and he told me I was due for a great good fortune. You see, there's +something in it, after all." + +"And you must be the 'light man' I discovered in the cards. Blaze +declared you were coming to my house." They jogged along side by side, +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 to Jones, +he recounted the tale of that disastrous defeat on the beach at +Galveston. When he had finished the story, which he ingeniously +elaborated, Alaire was doubled over her saddle. It was the first +spontaneous laugh she had had for days, and it seemed to banish her +worries magically. Alaire was not of a melancholy temperament; gaiety +was natural to her, and it had required many heartaches, 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 better +she felt a certain happy restfulness in his company. + +The ride was long, and the two proceeded leisurely, stopping now and +then to talk or to admire the banks of wild flowers beside the road. No +country is richer in spring blooms than is South Texas. The cactus had +nearly done blooming now, and its ever-listening ears were absurdly +warted with fruit; gorgeous carpets of bluebonnets were spread beside +the ditches, while the air above was filled with thousands of yellow +butterflies, like whirling, wind-blown petals of the prickly-pear +blossom. Montrose and Montrosa enjoyed the journey also; it was just +the mode of traveling to please equine hearts, for there were plenty of +opportunities to nibble at the juicy grass and to drink at the little +pools. Then, too, there were mad, romping races during which the riders +laughed and shouted. + +It was Law who finally discovered that they had somehow taken the wrong +road. The fact that Alaire had failed to notice this gave him a sudden +thrill. It aroused in his mind such a train of dizzy, drunken +speculations that for some time following the discovery he jogged +silently at his companion's side. + +It was early dusk when they reached Las Palmas; it was nearly midnight +when Dave threw his leg across his saddle and started home. + +Alaire's parting words rang sweetly in his ears: "This has been the +pleasantest day I can remember." + +The words themselves meant little, but Dave had caught a wistful +undertone in the speaker's voice, and fancied he had seen in her eyes a +queer, half-frightened expression, as of one just awakened. + +Jose Sanchez had beheld Dave Law at the Las Palmas table twice within a +few days. He spent this evening laboriously composing a letter to his +friend and patron, General Luis Longorio. + + + + +XXI + +AN AWAKENING + + +Time was when Phil Strange boasted that he and his wife had played +every fair-ground and seaside amusement-park from Coney Island to +Galveston. In his battered wardrobe-trunks were parts of old costumes, +scrapbooks of clippings, and a goodly collection of lithographs, some +advertising the supernatural powers of "Professor Magi, Sovereign of +the Unseen World," and others the accomplishments of "Mlle. Le Garde, +Renowned Serpent Enchantress." In these gaudy portraits of "Magi the +Mystic" no one would have recognized Phil Strange. And even more +difficult would it have been to trace a resemblance between Mrs. +Strange and the blond, bushy-headed "Mlle. Le Garde" of the posters. +Nevertheless, the likenesses at one time had been considered not too +flattering, and Phil treasured them as evidences of imperishable +distinction. + +But the Stranges had tired of public life. For a long time the wife had +confessed to a lack of interest in her vocation which amounted almost +to a repugnance. Snake-charming, she had discovered, was far from an +ideal profession for a woman of refinement. It possessed unpleasant +features, and even such euphemistic titles as "Serpent Enchantress" and +"Reptilian Mesmerist" failed to rob the calling of a certain odium, a +suggestion of vulgarity in the minds of the more discriminating. This +had become so distressing to Mrs. Strange's finer sensibilities that +she had voiced a yearning to forsake the platform and pit for something +more congenial, and finally she had prevailed upon Phil to make a +change. + +The step had not been taken without misgivings, but a benign Providence +had watched over the pair. Mrs. Strange was a natural seamstress, and +luck had directed her and Phil to a community which was not only in +need of a good dressmaker, but peculiarly ripe for the talents of a +soothsayer. Phil, too, had intended to embrace a new profession; but he +had soon discovered that Jonesville offered better financial returns to +a man of his accepted gifts than did the choicest of seaside +concessions, and therefore he had resumed his old calling under a +slightly different guise. Before long he acknowledged himself well +pleased with the new environment, for his wife was far happier in +draping dress goods upon the figures of her customers than in hanging +python folds about her own, and he found his own fame growing with +every day. His mediumistic gifts came into general demand. The country +people journeyed miles to consult him, and Blaze Jones's statement that +they confided in the fortune-teller as they would have confided in a +priest was scarcely an exaggeration. Phil did indeed become the +repository for confessions of many sorts. + +Contrary to Blaze's belief, however, Strange was no Prince of Darkness, +and took little joy in some of the secrets forced upon him. Phil was a +good man in his way--so conscientious that certain information he +acquired weighed him down with a sense of unpleasant responsibility. +Chancing to meet Dave Law one day, he determined to relieve himself of +at least one troublesome burden. + +But Dave was not easily approachable. He met the medium's allusions to +the occult with contemptuous amusement, nor would he consent to a +private "reading," Strange grew almost desperate enough to speak the +ungarnisned truth. + +"You'd better pay a little attention to me," he grieved; "I've got a +message to you from the 'Unseen World.'" + +"Charges 'collect,' I reckon," the Ranger grinned. + +Strange waved aside the suggestion. "It came unbidden and I pass it 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 psychic +discussions. If Dave cared to come to his room, where the surroundings +were favorable to thought transference, and where Phil'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 back while the medium closed his eyes +and prepared to explore the Invisible. After a brief delay Phil began: + +"I see a great many things--that woman I told you about, and three men. +One of 'em is you, the other two is Mexicans. You're at a water-hole in +the mesquite. Now there's a shooting scrape; I see the body of a dead +man." The speaker became silent; evidently his cataleptic vision was +far from perfect. But he soon began to drone again. "Now I behold a +stranger at the same water-hole. He's alone--he's looking for +something. He rides in circles. He's off his horse and bending +over--What? A skeleton! Yes, it's the skeleton of one of them other +Mexicans." Strange's voice became positively sepulchral as his spirit +control took fuller possession of his earthly shell and as his visions +resolved themselves into clearer outline. "See! He swears an oath to +avenge. And now--the scene changes. Everything dissolves. I'm in a +mansion; and the red-haired woman comes toward me. Over her head floats +that skeleton--" + +Dave broke in crisply. "All right! Let's get down to cases. What's on +your mind, Strange?" + +The psychic simulated a shudder--a painful contortion, such as any one +might suffer if rudely jerked out of the spirit world. + +"Eh? What was I--? There! You've broke the connection," he declared. +"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 the danger +of interrupting a seance of this sort, but Law remained obdurate. + +"You can put over that second-sight stuff with the Greasers," he +declared, sharply, "but not with me. So, Jose Sanchez has been to see +you and you want to warn me. Is that it?" + +"I don't know any such party," Strange protested. He eyed his caller +for a moment; then with an abrupt change of manner he complained: "Say, +Bo! What's the matter with you? I've got a reputation to protect, and I +do things my own way. I'm getting set to 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 all about--" + +"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--his +sweetheart has. Rosa Morales comes regular." + +"Rosa! Jose's sweetheart!" + +"Yes. Her and Jose have joined out together since you shot Panfilo, 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 of course 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 make one +and two count four. I have to tell more'n I'm told; I have to shoot my +game on the wing, for nobody tells me any more'n they dast. All the +same, I'm sure Jose ain't carving no epitaph for you. From what I've +dug out of Rosa, he's acting for a third party--somebody with pull and +a lot of coin--but who it is I don't know. Anyhow, he's cooking trouble +for the Austins, and I want to stand from under." + +Now that the speaker had dropped all pretense, he answered Dave's +questions without evasion and told what he knew. It was not much, to +Dave's way of thinking, but it was enough to give cause for thought, +and when the men finally parted it was with the understanding that +Strange would promptly communicate any further intelligence 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 morning train; but +as he continued to meditate over Strange's words he decided that, +before going, he ought to advise Alaire of the fellow's suspicions in +order that she might discharge Jose Sanchez and in other ways protect +herself against his possible spite. Since the matter was one that could +not well be talked over by telephone, Dave determined to go in person +to Las Palmas that evening. Truth to say, he was hungry to see Alaire. +By this time he had almost ceased to combat the feeling she aroused in +him, and it was in obedience to an impulse far stronger than friendly +anxiety that he hired a machine and, shortly after dark, took the river +road. + +The Fates are malicious jades. They delight in playing ill-natured +pranks upon us. Not content with spinning and measuring and cutting the +threads of our lives to suit themselves, they must also tangle the +skein, causing us to cut capers to satisfy their whims. + +At no time since meeting Alaire had Dave Law been more certain of his +moral strength than on this evening; at no time had his grip upon +himself seemed firmer. Nor had Alaire the least reason to doubt her +self-control. Dave, to be sure, had appealed to her fancy and her +interest; in fact, he so dominated her thoughts that the imaginary +creature whom she called her dream-husband had gradually taken on his +physical likeness. But the idea that she was in any way enamoured of +him had never entered her mind; that she could ever be tempted to yield +to him, to be false to her ideals of wifehood, was inconceivable. In +such wise do the Fates amuse themselves. + +Alaire had gone to her favorite after-dinner refuge, a nook on one of +the side-galleries, where there was a wide, swinging wicker couch; and +there in a restful obscurity fragrant with unseen flowers she had +prepared to spend the evening with her dreams. + +She did not hear Dave's automobile arrive. Her first intimation of his +presence came with the sound of his heel upon the porch. When he +appeared it was almost like the materialization of her uppermost +thought--quite as if a figure from her fancy had stepped forth full +clad. + +She rose and met him, smiling. "How did you know I wanted to see you?" +she inquired. + +Dave took her hand and looked down at her, framing a commonplace reply. +But for some reason the words lay unspoken upon his tongue. Alaire's +informal greeting, her parted lips, the welcoming light in her eyes, +had sent them flying. It seemed to him that the dim half-light which +illumined this nook emanated from her face and her person, that the +fragrance which came to his nostrils was the perfume of her breath, and +at the prompting of these thoughts all his smothered longings rose as +if at a signal. As mutinous prisoners in a jail delivery overpower +their guards, so did Dave's long-repressed emotions gain the upper hand +of him now, and so swift was their uprising that he could not summon +more than a feeble, panicky resistance. + +The awkwardness of the pause which followed Alaire's inquiry +strengthened the rebellious impulses within him, and quite +unconsciously his friendly grasp upon her fingers tightened. For her +part, as she saw this sudden change sweep over him, her own face +altered and she felt something within her breast leap into life. No +woman could have failed to read the meaning of his sudden agitation, +and, strange to say, it worked a similar state of feeling in Alaire. +She strove to control herself and to draw away, but instead found that +her hand had answered his, and that her eyes were flashing recognition +of his look. All in an instant she realized how deathly tired of her +own struggle she had become, and experienced a reckless impulse to cast +away all restraint and blindly meet his first advance. She had no time +to question her yearnings; she seemed to understand only that this man +offered her rest 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 a moment of +hesitation on the part of either. A drunken, breathless instant of +uncertainty, then Alaire was on Dave's breast, and his strength, his +ardor, his desire, was throbbing through her. Her bare arms were about +his neck; a sigh, the token of utter surrender, fluttered from her +throat. She raised her face to his and their lips melted together. + +For a time they were all alone in the universe, the center of all +ecstasy. Dave was whispering wild incoherencies as Alaire lay in his +embrace, her limbs relaxed, her flesh touching his, her body clinging +to his. + +"Dream-man!" she murmured. + +As consciousness returns after a swoon, so did realization return to +Alaire Austin. Faintly, uncertainly at first, then with a swift, strong +effort she pushed herself out of Dave's reluctant arms. 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 fighting. 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 a pillar, 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 else matters. +And you love me! God! I wonder if I'm awake." + +"Dream-man," she repeated, more slowly. "Oh, why did you come so late?" + +"So late?" + +"Yes. We must think it out, the best way we can, I--wonder what you +think of me?" + +"You must know. There's no need for excuses; there's nothing to +explain, except the miracle that such great happiness could come to a +fellow like me." + +"Happiness? It means anything but that. I was miserable enough before, +what shall I do now?" + +"Why, readjust your life," he cried, roughly. "Surely you won't +hesitate after this?" + +But Alaire did not seem to hear him. She was staring out into the night +again. "What a failure I must be!" she murmured, finally. "I suppose I +should have seen this coming, but--I didn't. And in his house, too! +This dress is his, and these jewels--everything!" She held up her hands +and stared curiously at the few rings she wore, as if seeing them for +the first time. "How does that make you feel?" + +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!" He waved a vigorous +gesture of defiance. "I'll take you away from him at any cost. I'll see +that he gives you up, somehow. You're all I have." + +"Of course the law provides a way, but you wouldn't, couldn't, +understand how I feel about divorce." The mere mention of the word was +difficult and caused Alaire to clench her hands. "We're both too 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, so I'm not +sure I have any right to take you away from all this." He turned a +hostile eye upon their surroundings. "Most people would say that I've +simply wasted my life. Perhaps I have--that depends upon the way you +look at it and upon what you consider worth while--anyhow, all I can +offer you is love--" He broke off momentarily as if his breath had +suddenly failed him. "Greater love, 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 had everything except +the very thing you offer--and how I've longed for that! How I've envied +other people! Do you think I'll be allowed, somehow, to have it?" + +"Yes! I've something to say about that. You gave me the right when you +gave me that kiss." + +Alaire shook her head. "I'm not sure. It seems easy now, while you are +here, but how will it seem later? I'm in no condition at this minute to +reason. Perhaps, as you say, it is all a dream; perhaps this feeling I +have is just a passing frenzy." + +Dave laughed softly, confidently. "It's too new yet for you to +understand, but wait. It is frenzy, witchery--yes, and more. To-morrow, +and every day after, it will grow and grow and grow! Trust me, I've +watched it in myself." + +"So you cared for me from the very first?" Alaire questioned. It was +the woman's curiosity, the woman's hunger to hear over and over again +that truth which never fails to thrill and yet never fully satisfies. + +"Oh, even before that, I think! When you came to my fire that evening +in the chaparral I knew every line of your face, every movement of your +body, every tone of your voice, as a man knows and recognizes his +ideal. But it took time for me to realize all you meant to me." + +Alaire nodded. "Yes, and it must have been the same with me." She met +his eyes frankly, but when he reached toward her she held him away. +"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 can control +myself better--I'll send for you. But you must promise not to come +until then, for you would only make it harder." + +It required all Dave's determination to force himself to obey her wish, +and the struggle nearly kept him from recalling the original object of +his visit. Remembering, he tried to tell Alaire what he had learned +from Phil Strange; but so broken and so unconvincing was his recital +that he doubted if she understood in the least what he was talking +about. + +At last he took her hand and kissed her wrist, just over her pulse, as +if to speed a message to her heart, then into her rosy palm he +whispered a tender something that thrilled her. + +She stood white, motionless, against the dim illumination of the porch +until he had gone, and not until the last sound of his motor had died +away did she stir. Then she pressed her own lips to the palm 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 himself still +somewhat dazed by his sudden happiness; the more he thought of it the +more wonderful it seemed. During the day he went through his court +duties like a man in a trance. Such joy as this was unbelievable; he +felt as if he must tell the world about it. He well understood Alaire's +repugnance to divorce, but he was sure that he could overcome it, if +indeed her own truer understanding of herself did not relieve him of +that necessity; for at this moment his desires were of a heat +sufficient to burn away all obstacles, no matter how solid. It seemed, +therefore, that the future was all sunshine. + +He had no opportunity of speaking with Judge Ellsworth until court +adjourned. Then the judge took him by the arm, with that peculiarly +flattering assumption of intimacy of which he was master, and led the +way toward his office, inquiring meanwhile for news of Jonesville. +Dave's high spirits surprised him and finally impelled him to ask the +cause. When Dave hinted unmistakably at the truth, Ellsworth exclaimed, +with a sharp stare of curiosity: + +"See here! You haven't forgotten what I told you that night on the +train?" + +"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 arson or +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 muttered uncertainly: +"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 of +amusement. Old folks are usually curious, he reflected; and they are +prone to presume upon the privileges that go with age. In this +instance, however, it might be well to make a clean breast of the +affair, since Ellsworth was Alaire's attorney, and would doubtless be +selected to secure her divorce. + +The judge was waiting when Dave called after supper, but for some time +he maintained a flow of conversation relating to other things than the +one they had met to discuss. At last, however, he appeared to summon +his determination; he cleared his throat and settled himself in his +chair--premonitory signs unusual in a man of Ellsworth's poise and +self-assurance. + +"I reckon you think I'm trying to mix up in something that doesn't +concern me," he began; "and perhaps I am. Maybe you'll make me wish I'd +minded my own business--that's what usually happens. I remember once, +out of pure chivalry, trying to stop a fellow from beating his wife. Of +course they both turned on me--as they always do. I went to the +hospital for a week, and lost a profitable divorce case. However, we +try to do our duty as we see it." + +This was anything but a promising preamble; Dave wondered, too, at his +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 a failure." + +"Oh no! All men are failures until they marry. I'm thinking of what +marriage means; of the new duties it brings, of the man's duty to +himself, to the woman, and to society; I'm thinking of what 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've studied +heredity, too, and--you mustn't marry." + +Law stirred in his chair and smiled whimsically. "I've done some +studying along those lines, too, and I reckon I know myself pretty +well. 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 his caller, and now his +lids were lifted until the eyes peered out bright, hard, and piercing; +something in his face startled Dave. "I was your father's attorney and +his friend. I know how he lived and 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, come +through. 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 family history?" +Dave shook his head. "Well, then--he was insane." + +"Insane?" + +"Yes; violently." + +"Really, I--Why--I suppose you know what you're talking about, but it +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 no +newspapers in that part of Mexico; you, of course, were a boy at school +in the United States. Nevertheless, it's true. That part of the story +which I didn't know at the time I learned by talking with General +Guadalupe and others. It was very shocking." + +Dave's face was a study; his color had lessened slightly; he wet his +lips. "This is news, of course," said he, "but it doesn't explain 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 kill +Frank Law." Ellsworth maintained his fixity of gaze, and when Dave +started he nodded his head. "It's God's truth. The details were +too--dreadful. Your father turned his hand against the woman he loved +and--died a wife-killer. The Guadalupes had to destroy him like a mad +dog. I'm sorry you had to learn the truth from me, my boy, but it seems +necessary that I tell you. When I knew Frank Law he was like any other +man, quick-tempered, a little too violent, perhaps, but apparently as +sane as you or I, and yet the thing was there." + +Dave rose from his chair and bent over the desk. "So THAT'S what you've +been driving at," he gasped. "That's what you meant when you said I +shouldn't marry." He began to tremble now; his voice became hoarse with +fury. "Now I understand. You're trying to tell me 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 even +suspected." + +Dave struck the desk violently with his clenched fist. "Bosh! You're +hipped on this heredity subject. Crazy! Why, you doddering old fool--" +With an effort he calmed himself, realizing that he had shouted his +last words. He turned away and made a circuit of the room before +returning to face his friend. "I didn't mean to speak 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'm not 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 voice rose +again, but it was plain from the lawyer's expression that to a man of +his training no mere conviction unsupported by proof had weight. This +skepticism merely kept Dave's impatience at a white heat. "Very well, +then," he argued, angrily, "let's say that I'm wrong 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 a disease. Me, insane? Rot!" He +laughed harshly, took another uncertain turn around the room, then sank +into his chair and buried 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 a disease, Dave, +or worse, and there's no way of proving that you haven't inherited it. +If there is the remotest possibility that you have--if you have the +least cause to suspect--why, you couldn'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 villainous +temper. I'm all right again afterward." + +"I wasn't thinking so much of that. But are you sure it's altogether +temper?" the judge insisted. "You don't merely lose control of +yourself; you've told me more than once that you go completely out of +your mind; that you see red and want to kill and--" + +"Don't you?" + +"I never felt the slightest desire to destroy, no matter how angry I +chanced to be. I've always asserted that murderers, homicides, +suicides, were irresponsible; that they were sick here." Ellsworth +touched his forehead. "I can't see how any sane man can take his own or +another's life, no matter what the provocation. But I'm not a doctor, +and that's an extreme view, I know. Anyhow, you'll agree that if you +have Frank Law's blood in your veins it won't do to marry." + +"I haven't got it," the younger man groaned, his gaze turned sullenly +downward. "Even granting that I have, that's no sign I'd ever--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 to the +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 his gun +pretty well." + +"He was about the worst man of his day. He was shot in Dodge City on +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. The other one +disappeared mysteriously." + +"I believe so. He just walked away from his wife and family and +business one day and was never heard of again." + +Ellsworth seemed to consider this admission significant. "Now the +sister, 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 of +which I have here." Ellsworth thrust his finger into the loose pile of +documents before him. Avoiding his caller's eyes he continued: "You +can't very well ignore such a family history, Dave. I've never traced +it back beyond the last generation, but you 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, but I +can't put much faith in that childhood fancy of yours. Run it down; +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 too well +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 the +desk, seized his caller roughly by the shoulder. "What are you telling +me? Good God, Alaire! A married woman! So you--cut under Ed Austin, +eh?" Momentarily Ellsworth lost control of himself; his eyes blazed and +his fingers tightened painfully. "What damnable trick have you played +on that girl? Tell me before I choke you." + +For once Dave Law's passion failed to ignite at the heat of another's +anger; he only sat limp and helpless in the judge's grasp. Finally he +muttered: "I played square enough. It's one of those things that just +happen. We couldn't help ourselves. She'll come to you for her divorce." + +The lawyer uttered a shocking oath. "Then it's no mere romantic +infatuation on her part?" + +"Oh no!" + +Ellsworth loosed his grip. He turned away and began to pace the office +floor, shaking his head. "This is--unfortunate. Alaire, of all +people--as if she didn't have enough to bear." He turned fiercely upon +the cowering figure in the chair, saying: "I'll tell her the whole +truth myself, before she goes any further." + +"No! Oh, please! Let me, in my own way." Dave writhed and sank his face +in his hands once more. After a while he said, "I'm waiting for you to +tell me it's all a nightmare." + +"Humph!" The judge continued his restless pacing. "I was sorry for you +when you came in here, and it took all my strength to tell you; but now +you don't matter at all. I was prepared to have you go 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 his walk +abruptly. "I'm all broken up, Dave," he confessed in a gentler tone +than he had used heretofore. "But you'll thank me some day." + +Law was no longer the big, strong, confident fellow who had entered the +office such a short time before. He had collapsed; he seemed to have +shrunk; he was pitifully appealing. Although there were many things he +would have said, many questions upon his tongue, he could not voice +them now, and it was with extreme difficulty 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 entered his hotel the clerk and +some of the idlers in the lobby looked at him queerly, but he did not +see them. + +All that night Dave walked the floor of his room or sat hunched up on +the edge of his bed, staring at the wall and fighting the fears that +preyed upon him. + +He had faith enough in Alaire to believe that she would marry him +regardless of the facts; her kiss, that one delirious moment when he +had held her to his breast, had taught him much, and it was, in fact, +this very certainty which made his struggle so hard. After all, why +not? he asked himself a thousand times. Ellsworth's fears were surely +exaggerated. Who could say that Frank Law had passed on his heritage? +There was at least a chance that he had not, and it would require more +than a remote possibility, more evidence than Ellsworth could summon, +to dismay Alaire. Suppose it should transpire that he was somehow +defective? What then? The signs of his mental failing would give ample +warning. He could watch himself carefully and study his symptoms. He +could lead the life of a sentinel perpetually on guard. The thing might +never come--or at the worst it probably would not manifest itself until +he was further 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 too officious by far. This +was something that did not concern him. + +But such reasoning naturally brought little comfort. Dave's fears would +not be put down. In common with most men of splendid physique, he had a +vague contempt for those less perfect; disease or deformity had never +failed to awaken his pity, and he had often argued that defective human +beings, like unhealthy stock, should not be allowed to mate and to +perpetuate their weaknesses. This eugenic conviction had helped to ease +his conscience somewhat during his acquaintance with Alaire, for he had +told himself that Ed Austin, by reason of his inherited vices, had +sacrificed all right to love and marriage. These thoughts came home now +to roost. What was Ed's evil heritage compared to his own? It was as +vinegar to 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 two that followed his +interview with Ellsworth, it afforded him almost the 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 duties automatically, +taking no interest whatever in his work; his nights he spent in morose +meditation. Unable to sleep, he tramped the hot streets in an effort to +fight off his growing nervousness. He became irritable, despondent; his +eyes took on the look of an invalid's; his face aged and grayed. +Physically, too, he grew very tired, for no burden is heavier to bear +than that of doubt and indecision. + +One afternoon Ellsworth entered his office to find Dave waiting for +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 the +courthouse. I'm licked. The worst of it is, I don't know whether it's +all imagination, or whether you really stirred up that devilish +sleeping thing in me. Anyhow, something has got me. All I can do is +study and analyze and watch and imagine--I sit all night +thinking--thinking, until everything gets queer and distorted. If I +were sane before, you've about unbalanced me with your damnable +suggestions." + +"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 WERE sick. +No, I'm going to get out." + +"Where? How?" + +"I'm going north to look up the members of my family and learn who I +really am. I resigned from the Ranger force to-day. That's no place 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 get away now +is that Alaire will expect me to come to her when she sends 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 own +mind." + +In an effort to cheer, Ellsworth put his arm about the sufferer's +shoulders. "I'm sure you'll do the right thing, Dave," he said. "Maybe, +after all, your instinct is true and you're not Frank Law's boy. I hope +so, for this thing weighs me down as it weighs you; but you mustn't let +it whip you. Don't give in, and meanwhile, above all things, try to get +some sleep." + +Dave nodded and mumbled something; then he slouched out, leaving the +lawyer overcome by a great pity. Ellsworth had seen men, stunned by a +court sentence, turn away from the bar with that same dumb, fixed look +of hopelessness in their eyes. Impulsively he cursed the sense of duty +that had prompted him to interfere. + + + + +XXIII + +THE CRASH + + +The several days following Dave's unexpected call at Las Palmas Alaire +spent in a delightful reverie. She had so often wrestled with the +question of divorce that she had begun to weary of it; and now, when +she tried to summon energy to consider it anew, she found herself, as +usual, reasoning in a circle and arriving at no decision. She gave up +trying, at length, and for the time being rested content in the +knowledge that she loved and was loved. In her heart she knew well +enough what her ultimate course would be: sooner or later events would +force her action. Yielding to a natural cowardice, therefore, she +resigned herself to dreamy meditations and left the future to take care +of itself. A week passed while she hugged her thoughts to her breast, +and then one evening she rode home to learn that Ed had returned from +San Antonio. + +But Ed was ill, and he did not appear at dinner. It had been years +since either had dared invade the other's privacy, and now, inasmuch as +her husband did not send for her, Alaire did not presume to offer her +services as nurse. As a matter of fact, she considered this quite +unnecessary, for she felt sure that he was either suffering the +customary after-effects of a visit to the city or else that he lacked +the moral courage to undertake an explanation of his hurried flight +from the ranch. In either event she was glad he kept to his room. + +Heretofore their formal relations had made life at least tolerable to +Alaire, but now she experienced a feeling of guilt at finding herself +under the same roof with him. Oddly enough, it seemed to her that in +this she wronged Dave and not her husband; for she reasoned that, +having given her love to one man, her presence in the 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 was jumpy and +irritable, he seemed determined by an assumption of high spirits and +exaggerated friendliness to avert criticism. Since Alaire spared him +all reproaches, his efforts seemed to meet with admirable success. Now +Ed's opinion of women was not high, for those with whom he habitually +associated were of small intelligence; and, seeing that his wife +continued to manifest a complete indifference to his past actions, he +decided that his apprehensions had been groundless. If Alaire +remembered the Guzman affair at all, or if she had suspected him of +complicity in it, time had evidently dulled her suspicions, and he was +a little sorry he had taken pains to stay away so long. + +Before many days, however, he discovered that this indifference of hers +was not assumed, and that in some way or other she had changed. Ed was +accustomed, when he returned exhausted from a debauch, to seeing in his +wife's eyes a strained misery; he had learned to expect in her bearing +a sort of pitying, hopeless resignation. But this time she was not in +the least depressed. On the contrary, she appeared happier, fresher, +and younger than he had seen her for a long time. It was mystifying. +When, one morning, he overheard her singing in her room, he was +shocked. Over this phenomenon he meditated with growing amazement and a +faint stir of resentment in his breast, for he lived a self-centered +life, considering himself the pivot upon which revolved all the affairs +of his little world. To feel that he had lost even the power to make +his wife unhappy argued that he had overestimated his importance. + +At length, having sufficiently recovered his health to begin drinking +again, he yielded one evening to an alcoholic impulse and, just as +Alaire bade him good night, clumsily sought to force an 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 to collect her +wandering thoughts. "You're about as warm and wifely as a stone idol." + +"Am I any different to what I have always been?" + +"Humph! You haven't been exactly sympathetic of late. Here I come home +sick, and you treat me like one of the help. Don't you think I have +feelings? Jove! I'm lonesome." + +Alaire regarded him speculatively, then shook her head as if in answer +to some thought. + +In an obvious and somewhat too mellow effort to be friendly, Ed +continued: "Don't let's go on like this, Alaire. You blame me for going +away so much, but, good Lord! when I'm home I feel like an interloper. +You treat me like a cow-thief." + +"I'm sorry. I've tried to be everything I should. I'm the interloper." + +"Nonsense! If we only got along together as well as we seem to from 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 fellows who forget themselves +and do things they shouldn't, but they don't mean anything by it. They +have wives and homes to go to when it's all over. But have I? You're as +glad to see me as if I had smallpox. Maybe we've made a mess of things, +but married life isn't what young girls think it is, A wife must learn +to give and take." + +"I've given. What have I taken?" she asked him in a voice that quivered. + +Ed made an impatient gesture. "Oh, don't be so literal! I mean that, +since we're man and wife, it's up to you to be a little +more--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 of new +impressions, and at this moment he realized that his wife was +undoubtedly the most attractive woman physically he had ever known. Of +course she was cold, but she had not always been so. He had chilled +her; he had seen the fire die year by year, but now the memory of her +as she had once been swept over him, bringing a renewed appreciation of +her charms. His recent dissipation had told upon him as heavily as a +siege of sickness, and this evening he was in that fatuous, sentimental +mood which comes with convalescence, Having no fault to find with +himself, and feeling merely a selfish desire to make more pleasant his +life at Las Palmas, he undertook to bend Alaire to his will. + +"All right; don't let's try to argue it," he laughed, with what he +considered 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 her head. +"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 physical resistance +excited his love of conquest and awoke something like the mood of a +lover--such a lover as a man like Ed could be. For a moment he felt as +if Alaire were some other woman than his wife, a woman who refused and +yet half expected to be overcome; therefore he laughed self-consciously +and repeated, "Come now, I want a kiss." + +Alaire thrust him back strongly, and he saw that her face had whitened. +Oddly enough, her stubbornness angered him out of all reason, and he +began a harsh remonstrance. But he halted when she cried: + +"Wait! I must tell you something, Ed. It's all over, and has been for 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 rather sudden?" +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 in the +affirmative, for he had long ago learned to put implicit confidence in +her, and her life had been so open that he could not imagine that it +held a double interest. Therefore her reply struck him 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--" he stammered. +"Well, by God!" Then after a moment: "Who is it, the Greaser or the +cowboy?" He laughed loudly, disagreeably. "It must be 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 ever occur 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, who is it? +Ain't I entitled to know that much?" As Alaire remained silent he let +his eyes rove over her with a kind of angry appreciation. "You're +pretty enough to stampede any man," he admitted. "Yes, and you've got +money, too. I'll bet it's the Ranger. 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 of you, +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: "I wonder how +I have managed to live with you as long as I have. I knew you were +weak, nasty--so I was prepared for something like this. But I never +thought you were a downright criminal until--" + +"Criminal? Rot!" + +"How about that Guzman affair? You can't go much lower, Ed, and you +can't keep me here with you." + +"I can't keep you, eh?" he growled. "Well, perhaps not. I suppose +you've got enough on me to secure a divorce, but I can air some of your +dirty linen. Oh, don't look like that! I mean it! Didn't you spend a +night with David Law?" He leered at her unpleasantly, then followed a +step as she drew back. + +"Don't you touch me!" she cried. + +A flush was deepening Ed's purple cheeks; his voice was peculiarly +brutal and throaty as he said: "The decree isn't entered yet, and so +long as you are Mrs. Austin I have rights. Yes, and I intend to +exercise them. You've made me jealous, and, by God--" He made to +encircle her with his arms and was half successful, but when Alaire +felt the heat of his breath in her face a sick loathing sprang up +within her, and, setting her back against the wall, she sent him +reeling. Whether she struck him or merely pushed him away she never +knew, for during the instant of their struggle she was blind with +indignation and fury. Profiting by her advantage, she dodged past him, +fled to her room, and locked herself in. + +She heard him muttering profanely; heard him approach her chamber more +than once, then retire uncertainly, but she knew him too well to 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 over the +summons that took him thither. He wondered what could have induced +General Longorio to forsake his many important duties in order to make +the long trip from Nuevo Pueblo; surely it could be due to no lack of +zeal on his, Jose's, part. No! The horse-breaker flattered himself that +he had made a very good spy indeed; that he had been Longorio's eyes +and ears so far as circumstances permitted. Nor did he feel that he had +been lax in making his reports, for through Rosa he had written the +general several lengthy letters, and just for good measure these two +had conjured up sundry imaginary happenings to prove beyond doubt that +Senora Austin was miserably unhappy with her husband and ready to +welcome such a dashing lover as Longorio. Therefore Jose could not for +the life of him imagine wherein he had been remiss. Nevertheless, he +was uneasy, and he hoped that nothing had occurred to anger his general. + +But Longorio, when he arrived at the meeting-place, was not in a bad +humor. Having sent Rosa away on some errand, he turned to Jose with 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 was flattering. +He nodded decisively. + +"Yes, beyond doubt," he agreed. + +"Mexico is in a bad way. These rebels are growing by the thousands; +they overrun the country like ants. You read the papers, eh?" + +"Sometimes; when there are enough pictures," said Jose. + +"Ha! Then I doubt if you know what is happening. Well, I'll have to +tell you. Our enemies have taken all northern Mexico except that part +which is under my control; but they are pushing toward me from two +sides, and I prepare to retreat. That is not the worst, however; the +Gringos are hoping to profit by Mexico's distress; they are making +ready to invade our Fatherland, and every Mexican must fight or become +a slave." + +This was indeed news! Jose began patriotically cursing the whole +American people. + +"Understand, I make you my confidant because I think a great deal of +you, Jose." The general laid an affectionate hand upon Jose's shoulder. +"The first time I saw you I said: 'There's a boy after my own heart. I +shall learn to love that Jose, and I shall put him in the way of his +fortune.' Well, I have not changed my mind, and the time is come. You +are going to help me and I am going to help you." + +Jose Sanchez thrilled with elation from head to foot. This promised to +be the greatest day of his life, and he felt that he must 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 my +visit. Jose, I propose to make you rich enough in one day so that you +can marry." + +"But first, wait!" exclaimed the horse-breaker. "I bring you something +of value, too." Desiring to render favor for favor, and to 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 I carried the mail to town, but as I +rode away from Las Palmas the senora handed me this, with a silver +dollar for myself. Look! It is written to the man we both hate." + +Longorio took the letter, read the inscription, and then opened the +envelope. Jose looked on with pleasure while he spelled out the +contents. + +When the general had finished reading, he exclaimed: "Ho! A miracle! +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 life unbearable, +and she flees to La Feria to be rid of him. Good! It fits 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 warrant I can make her forget certain +things and certain people." Longorio nodded with satisfaction. "You did +very well, Jose." + +The latter leaned forward, his eyes bright. "That lady is rich. A fine +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 an idea!" He lost +himself in meditation, then, rousing, spoke briskly: "Listen! In two, +three days, your senora will leave Las Palmas. When she is gone you +will perform your work, like the brave man I know you to be. You will +relieve her of her husband." + +Jose hesitated, and the smile vanished from his face. "Senor Ed is not +a bad man. He likes me; he--" Longorio's gaze altered and Jose fell +silent. + +"Come! You are not losing heart, eh? Have I not promised to make you a +rich man? Well, the time has arrived." Seeing that Jose still +manifested no eagerness, the general went on in a different tone: "Do +not think that you can withdraw from our little arrangement. Oh no! Do +you remember a promise I made to you when you came to me in Romero? I +said that if you played me false I would bury you to the neck in an +anthill and fill your mouth with honey. I keep my promises." + +Jose's struggle was brief; he promptly resigned himself to the +inevitable. With every evidence of sincerity he assured Longorio of his +loyalty, and denied the least intention of betraying his general's +confidence. What, after all, was his mission upon earth if not to serve +Longorio's interests? One might have a peaceful heart and still be a +man. Jose was every inch a man; he was a very devil when he let himself +go, and his Excellency need have no fears as to the outcome of their +plan. After all, the GRINGOS were enemies, and there was no one of them +who did not merit destruction. + +Pleased with these sentiments, and feeling sufficiently assured that +Jose was now really in the proper frame of mind to suit his purpose, +Longorio took the winding trail back toward Sangre de Cristo. + + + + +XXIV + +DAVE LAW COMES HOME + + +A few days after she had written to Judge Ellsworth Alaire followed her +letter in person, for, having at last decided to divorce Ed, she acted +with characteristic decision. Since Ellsworth had more than once +advised this very course, she went to Brownsville anticipating his +willing support. She was greatly amazed, therefore, to find that he had +completely changed his views and to hear him argue strongly against her +determination. Hurt and puzzled at first by this strange lack of +sympathy, Alaire soon began to grow angry, and when the judge persisted +in his arguments she quarreled with him for the first time in their +acquaintance. But it was not until she had threatened to secure another +attorney that he reluctantly gave in, even then making it plain that in +meeting her wishes he was acting against his best judgment. + +Now Alaire had desired Ellsworth's advice, also, as to her own +immediate plans, since it was of course impossible for her longer to +share Ed's roof. She had written Dave Law, telling him that she +intended to go to La Feria, there to remain pending the hearing of her +suit; but later she had come to doubt the wisdom of such a course, +inasmuch as the war talk grew louder with every day. However, her +attorney's inexplicable change of front and his stubborn opposition to +her wishes prevented her from confiding in him any more than was +necessary, and she returned to Las Palmas determined to use her own +best judgment. To be sure, she would have preferred some place of +refuge other than La Feria, but she reasoned that there she would at +least be undisturbed, and that Ed, even if he wished to effect a +reconciliation, would not dare to follow her, since he was persona non +grata in Federal Mexico. Nor were her doubts of Ellsworth's loyalty +entirely allayed. All in all, therefore, it seemed to her that the +Mexican ranch offered her 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 of his +resignation from the Force had at first perplexed her; then she had +thrilled at the thought that his action must have something to do with +her; that doubtless he, too, was busied in making plans for their new +life. She told herself that it was brave of him to obey her injunctions +so literally and to leave her unembarrassed by his presence at this +particular time. It inspired her to be equally brave and to wait +patiently for the day when she could welcome him with clean hands and a +soul unashamed. + +In the midst of Alaire's uncertainty of mind it gratified her to +realize that Dave alone would know of her whereabouts. She wondered if +he would come to see her. He was a reckless, headstrong lover, and his +desires were all too likely to overcome his deliberate resolves. She +rather hoped that in spite of his promise he would venture to cross the +border so that she could see and be near him, if only for a day or for +an hour. The possibility frightened and yet pleased her. The +conventional woman within her frowned, but her outlaw heart beat fast +at the thought. + +Alaire did not explain her plans even to Dolores, but when her +preparations were complete she took the Mexican woman with her, and +during Ed's absence slipped away from the ranch. Boarding the train at +Jonesville, she was in Pueblo that night. + +If Alaire's clash with Ellsworth had been trying to her, it had been no +less painful to the lawyer himself. Feeling himself bound by his +promise to Dave, he had not dared to tell her the truth; consequently +he had been hard put to it to dissuade her from taking immediate +action. When she would not listen, he found himself in the most +unpleasant position of his life; for although he could not but +sympathize with her desire to be free from Ed Austin, it distressed him +beyond measure to see her riding blindly to a fall. More than once +after their strained parting he was tempted to go to Las Palmas and set +himself right in her eyes; but he managed to hold to his determination +and to school himself to await Dave's return. + +Before long, however, Ellsworth found other worries engaging him, for +it seemed at last that war with Mexico was imminent. After months of +uncertainty the question had come to issue, and that lowering cloud +which had hung above the horizon took ominous shape and size. Ellsworth +awoke one morning to learn that an ultimatum had gone forth to +President Potosi; that the Atlantic fleet had been ordered south; and +that marines were being rushed aboard transports pending a general army +mobilization. It looked as if the United States had finally risen in +wrath, and as if nothing less than a miracle could now avert the +long-expected conflict. + +Naturally Brownsville, like other border towns, was plunged into a +panic, and Ellsworth, as a leading citizen of his community, had his +hands full. + +In the midst of this excitement, and while suspense was at its highest, +Dave Law returned. Ellsworth found him in his office one morning and +fell upon the young man eagerly. Two weeks had worked a shocking change +in Dave; he was gaunt, ill; his eyes were bright and tired and +feverish. They had a new expression, too, which the judge at first +could not fathom, but which he took to be fear. Dave's brown cheeks had +bleached; his hands hung loose and unmanageable at his sides. + +"I've had a long trip," he said, somberly, "months--years long, it +seems 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 except +verification. I'm sorry I went. The Law blood is tainted, all right--it +reeks. The whole damned outfit were crazy. On my mother's side, though, +I'm healthy enough--and there appears to be some mystery or something +queer about me as a baby. That's all I've discovered so far. But I've a +relative in San Antone, a cousin of my mother's, who runs a +curio-store. He deals in Mexican jewelry and antiques, and all +that--strange old fellow. He says he has a trunkful of stuff that +belonged to his family, and he has promised 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 can see it +myself now." + +"Why, boy, that's imagination, nothing else." + +"Perhaps," Dave agreed, listlessly. "I'm reading everything on the +subject of insanity that I can get hold of." + +Ellsworth tried to laugh. "That in itself is enough to unbalance you." + +"I'm moody, depressed; I'm getting so I imagine things. By and by I'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 of the dark. +Fancy! I don't sleep very often, and when I do I wake up in a puddle of +sweat, shivering. And dreams! God, what dreams! I know they're dreams, +now, but sooner or later I suppose I'll begin to 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 healthy man +could wreck his reason this way. You must stop it. You must do +something 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. I joined +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. "I didn'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?" thickly inquired +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 be a +quitter?" Ellsworth waited a minute. "Do you want me to tell her for +you, Dave?" + +Law shook his head slowly, wearily. "No, I'll do it. I'm game. I'd +rather she heard it from me." + +Blaze Jones took the San Antonio paper out upon the porch and composed +himself in the hammock to read the latest war news. Invasion! Troops! +The Stars and Stripes! Those were words that stirred Jones deeply and +caused him to neglect his work. Now that his country had fully awakened +to the necessity of a war with Mexico--a necessity he had long felt--he +was fired with the loftiest patriotism and a youthful eagerness to +enlist. Blaze realized that he was old and fat and near-sighted; but +what of that? He could fight. Fighting, in fact, had been one of his +earliest accomplishments, and he prided himself upon knowing as much +about it as any one man could learn. He believed in fighting both as a +principle and as an exercise; in fact, he attributed his good health to +his various neighborly "unpleasantnesses," and he had more than once +argued that no great fighter ever died of a sluggish liver or of any +one of the other ills that beset sedentary, peace-loving people. +Nations were like men--too much ease made them flabby. And Blaze had +his own ideas of strategy, too. So during the perusal of his paper he +bemoaned the mistakes his government was making. Why waste time with +ultimatums? he argued to himself. He had never done so. Experience had +taught him that the way to win a battle was to beat the other fellow to +the draw; hence this diplomatic procrastination filled him with +impatience. It seemed almost treasonable to one of Blaze's intense +patriotism. + +He was engaged in laying out a plan of campaign for the United States +when he became conscious of voices behind him, and realized that for +some time Paloma had been entertaining a caller in the front room. +Their conversation had not disturbed him at first, but now an +occasional word or sentence forced its meaning through his +preoccupation, 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 was recounting a +story all too familiar to him. + +"Why, it seemed as if the whole city of Galveston was there, and yet +nobody offered to help us," the dressmaker was saying. "Phil was a +perfect hero, for the ruffian was twice his size. Oh, it was an 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 a +black-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. You could see +it in his face." + +"How DID you escape?" + +"Well, I'll tell you. We chased him up across the boulevard and in +among the tents, and then--" Mrs. Strange lowered her voice until only +a murmur reached the listening man. A moment, then both women burst +into shrill, excited laughter, and Blaze himself blushed furiously. + +This was unbearable! It was bad enough to have that woman in +Jonesville, a constant menace to his good name, but to allow her access +to his own home was unthinkable. Sooner or later they were bound to +meet, and then Paloma would learn the disgraceful truth--yes, and the +whole neighborhood would likewise know his shame. In fancy, Blaze saw +his reputation torn to shreds and himself exposed to the gibes of the +people who venerated him. He would become a scandal among men, an +offense to respectable women; children would shun him. Blaze could not +bear to think of the consequences, for he was very fond of the women +and children of Jonesville, especially the women. He rose from his +hammock and tiptoed down the porch into the kitchen, from which point +of security he called loudly 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't like +her when you've never seen her?" + +"Oh, I've seen her, all I want to; and I heard her talkin' to you just +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 other day? Makes +me shiver now. You remember that big bull-snake that lives under the +barn, the one I've been layin' for? Well, you won't believe me, but him +and her are friends. Fact! I saw her pick him up and play with him. +WHO-EE! The goose-flesh popped out on me till it busted the buttons off +my vest. She ain't my kind of people, Paloma. 'Strange' ain't no name +for her; no, sir! That woman's dam' near peculiar." + +Paloma remained unmoved. "I thought you knew. She used to be a +snake-charmer." + +"A--WHAT?" There was no doubt about it. Blaze's hair lifted. He blinked +through his big spectacles; he pawed the air feebly with his hands. +"How can you let her touch you? I couldn't. I'll bet she carries a +pocketful of dried toads and--and keeps live lizards in her hair. I +knew an old voodoo woman that ate cockroaches. Get shed of her, Paloma, +and we'll fumigate the house." + +At that moment Mrs. Strange herself opened the kitchen door to inquire, +"Is anything wrong?" Misreading Blaze's expression for one of pain, she +exclaimed: "Mercy! Now, what have you done to yourself?" + +But the object of her solicitude backed away, making peculiar clucking +sounds deep in his throat. Paloma was saying: + +"This is my father, Mrs. Strange. You and he have never happened to +meet before." + +"Why, yes we have! I know you," the seamstress exclaimed. Then a +puzzled light flickered in her black eyes. "Seems to me we've met +somewhere, but--I've met so many people." She extended her hand, and +Blaze took it as if expecting to find it cold and scaly. He muttered +something unintelligible. "I've been dying to see you," she told him, +"and thank you for giving me Paloma's work. I love you both for it." + +Blaze was immensely relieved that this dreaded crisis had come and +gone; but wishing to make assurance doubly sure, he contorted his +features into a smile the like of which his daughter had never seen, +and in a disguised voice inquired, "Now where do you reckon you ever +saw me?" + +The seamstress shook her head. "I don't know, but I'll place you before +long. Anyhow, I'm glad you aren't hurt. From the way you called Paloma +I thought you were. I'm handy around sick people, so I--" + +"Listen!" Paloma interrupted. "There's some one at the front door." She +left the room; Blaze was edging after her when he heard her utter a +stifled scream and call his name. + +Now Paloma was not the kind of girl to scream without cause, and her +cry brought Blaze to the front of the house at a run. But what he saw +there reassured him momentarily; nothing was in sight more alarming +than one of the depot hacks, in the rear seat of which was huddled the +figure of a man. Paloma was flying down the walk toward the gate, and +Phil Strange was waiting on the porch. As Blaze flung himself into view +the latter explained: + +"I brought him straight here, Mr. Jones, 'cause I knew you was his best +friend." + +"Who? Who is it?" + +"Dave Law. He must have came in on the noon train. Anyhow, I found +him--like that." The two men hurried toward the road, side by side. + +"What's wrong with him?" Blaze demanded. + +"I don't know. He's queer--he's off his bean. I've had a hard time with +him." + +Paloma was in the carriage at Dave's side now, and calling his name; +but Law, it seemed, was scarcely conscious. He had slumped together; +his face was vacant, his eyes dull. He was muttering to himself a +queer, delirious jumble of words. + +"Oh, Dad! He's sick--sick," Paloma sobbed. "Dave, don't you know us? +You're home, Dave. Everything is--all right now." + +"Why, you'd hardly recognize the boy!" Blaze exclaimed; then he added +his appeal to his daughter's. But they could not arouse the sick man +from his coma. + +"He asked me to take him to Las Palmas," Strange explained. "Looks to +me like a sunstroke. You'd ought to hear him rave when he gets started." + +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 all the doctors. +Paloma, you go into the house and get a bed ready for him, 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 the situation, and when Dave refused to +leave the carriage and began to fight off his friends, gabbling wildly, +it was she who quieted him. Elbowing Blaze and her husband out of the +way, she loosed the young man's frenzied clutch from the carriage and, +holding his hands in hers, talked to him in such a way that he +gradually relaxed. It was she who helped him out and then supported him +into the house. It was she who got him up-stairs and into bed, and it +was 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 of ice." + +Blaze, who had watched the snake-charmer's deft ministrations with +mingled amazement and suspicion, inquired: "What are you going to do +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 his brain?" + +Mrs. Strange turned on him angrily. "You get out of my way and mind +your own business. 'Freeze his brain!'" With a sniff of indignation she +pushed past the interloper. + +But Blaze was waiting for her when she returned a few moments later +with bowls and bottles and various remedies which she had commandeered. +He summoned sufficient courage to block her way and inquire: + +"What you got there, now, ma'am?" + +Mrs. Strange glared at him balefully. With an effort at patience she +inquired: "Say! What ails you, anyhow?" + +Jones swallowed hard. "Understand, he's a friend of mine. No damned +magic goes." + +"Magic?" + +"No--cockroaches or snakes' tongues, or--" + +Mrs. Strange fingered a heavy china bowl as if tempted to bounce it +from Blaze's head. Then, not deigning to argue, she whisked past him +and into the sick-room. It was evident from her expression that she +considered the master of the house a harmless but offensive old +busybody. + +For some time longer Blaze hung about the sick-room; then, his presence +being completely ignored, he risked further antagonism by telephoning +for Jonesville's leading doctor. Not finding the physician at home, he +sneaked out to the barn and, taking Paloma's car, drove away in search +of him. It was fully two hours later when 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 not to a +clear appreciation of his surroundings. At first he was relieved to +find that the splitting pain in his head was gone, but imagined himself +to be still in the maddening local train from Brownsville. By and by he +recognized Paloma and Mrs. Strange, and tried to talk to them, but the +connection between brain and tongue was imperfect, and he made a bad +business of conversation. It seemed queer that he should be in bed at +the Joneses', and almost ludicrous for Mrs. Strange to support him +while Paloma fed him. In the effort to understand these mysteries, he +dozed again. After interminable periods of semi-consciousness +alternating with complete oblivion, he roused himself to discover that +it was morning and that he felt better than for weeks. When he had +recovered from his surprise he turned his head and saw Mrs. Strange +slumbering in a chair beside his bed; from her uncomfortable position +and evident fatigue he judged that she must have 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 right sick and +troublesome to you." + +Paloma smiled and nodded. "Sick! Why, Dave, you frightened us nearly 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, he reasoned with a sinking +heart that another brain-storm might overtake him at any time. He had +imagined that the thing would give a hint of its coming, but evidently +it did not. + +Mrs. Strange broke into his frowning meditation to ask, "How long since +you had a night's sleep?" + +"I--Oh, it must be weeks." + +"Umph! I thought so. You puzzled that pill-roller, but doctors don't +know anything, anyhow. Why, he wanted to wake you up to find out what +ailed you! I threatened to scald him if he did." + +"I seem to remember talking a good deal," Dave ventured. "I reckon +I--said a lot of foolish things." He caught the look that passed +between his nurses and its significance distressed him. + +Mrs. Strange continued: "That's how we guessed what your trouble was, +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 going home and change +my clothes. I haven't had them off for two nights." + +"Two nights!" Dave stared in bewilderment. Then he lamely apologized +for the trouble he had caused, and tried to thank the women for their +kindness. + +He was shaky when, an hour later, he came down-stairs for breakfast; +but otherwise he felt better than for many days; and Blaze's open +delight at seeing did him as much good as the food he ate. + +Dave spent the morning sunning himself on the porch, reading the papers +with their exciting news, and speculating over the significance of his +mental collapse. The more he thought of it now the more ominous it +seemed. One result which particularly distressed him was the change it +had wrought in Paloma Jones's bearing; for of a sudden the girl had +become distant and formal. The reason was not far to seek; Dave could +not doubt that the knowledge of his secret had frightened her. Well, +that was to be expected--he would probably lose all his friends in +time. It was a bitter thought; life would be very dull and flat without +friends. He wondered how he could bear to see those who loved him turn +away; to see their liking change to restraint and fear, as it +threatened 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 her he came +to his feet. Montrosa would trust him. She had given him her heart, and +her loyalty would never waver. With a clutch at his throat, and a +little pain in his breast, he stumbled down the steps and went in +search of her. + +Now during Dave's absence Paloma had done her best to spoil the mare, +and among other marks of favor had allowed her free run of the yard, +where the shade was cool and the grass fine, and where delicious +tidbits were to be had from the kitchen for the mere asking. In +consequence, Dave did not go far until he was discovered. Montrosa +signaled, then trotted toward him with ears and tail lifted. Her +delight was open and extravagant; her welcome was as enthusiastic as a +horse could make it. Gone were her coquetry and her airs; she nosed and +nibbled Dave; she rubbed and rooted him with the violence of a +battering-ram, and permitted him to hug her and murmur words of love +into her velvet ears. She swapped confidence for confidence, too; and +then, when he finally walked back toward the house, she followed +closely, as if fearful that he might again desert her. + +Phil Strange met the lovers as they turned the corner of the porch, and +warmly shook Dave's hand. "Teeny--my wife--told me you was better," he +began, "so I beat it out here. I hung around all day yesterday, waiting +to see you, but you was batty." + +"I was pretty sick," Dave acknowledged. "Mrs. Strange was mighty kind +to me." + +"Sick people get her goat. She's got a way with 'em, and with animals, +too. Why, Rajah, the big python with our show, took sick one year, and +he'd have died sure only for her. Same with a lot of the 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 had thrust her +head under his arm and was waiting for him to scratch her ears. + +"Well, I brought you some mail." Strange fumbled in his pocket for a +small bundle of letters, explaining: "Blaze gave me these for you as I +passed the post office. Now I wonder if you feel good enough to talk +business." + +Dave took the letters with a word of thanks, and thrust them carelessly +into his pocket. "What seems to be the trouble?" he inquired. + +"You remember our last talk? Well, them Mexicans have got me rattled. +I've been trying everywhere to locate you. If you hadn't come 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. "Rosa +Morales has been to see me regular." + +Dave passed an uncertain hand over his forehead. "I'm not in very good +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 and Jose +expect to make a lump of quick money, jump to Mexico, get married, 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 ransom along this +river; yes, and Americans, too, if you can believe the stories. +Anything goes in that country over there." + +"You think Jose is planning to kidnap her? Nonsense! One man couldn'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 tell me." + +There was a brief silence, during which Dave stood frowning. Then he +appeared to shake himself free from Phil's suggestions. + +"It's too utterly preposterous. Mrs. Austin has no enemies; she's a +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 you was +laid up and couldn't help me, I 'phoned her ranch; somebody answered in +Spanish, and from what I could make out they don't know where she is." + +Dave wondered if he had understood Strange aright, or if this could be +another trick of his own disordered brain. Choosing his words +carefully, he said: "Do you mean to tell me that she's missing and they +haven't given an alarm? I reckon you didn't understand the message, did +you?" + +Strange shrugged. "Maybe I didn't. Suppose you try. You sabe the lingo." + +Dave agreed, although reluctantly, for at this moment he wished nothing +less than to undertake a mental effort, and he feared, in spite of +Strange's statement, that he might hear Alaire's voice over the wire. +That would be too much; he felt as if he could not summon 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 a +queer, 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; then Phil +inquired: + +"Well, what do you make of it?" + +"I don't know. She wasn't kidnapped, that's a cinch, for Dolores went +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 you there's +something crooked going on. Don't I know? Didn't I wise you three weeks +ago that something like this was coming off?" It was plain that Phil +put complete faith in his powers of divination, and at this moment his +earnestness carried a certain degree of conviction. Dave made an effort +to clear his tired brain. + +"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 has dared to--" +He drew a deep breath and his listlessness vanished; his eyes gleamed +with a hint of their customary fire. "I reckon I'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 feel a new +vigor in his limbs and a new strength of purpose in his mind. His brain +was clearer than it had been for a long time. The last cobweb was gone, +and for the moment at least he was lifted out of himself as by a +strong, invigorating drink. When he stood in his old boots and felt the +familiar drag of his cartridge-belt, when he tested his free muscles, +he realized that he was another man. Even yet he could not put much +faith in Phil Strange's words--nevertheless, there might be a danger +threatening Alaire; and if so, it was time to act. + +Phil watched his friend saddle the bay mare, then as Dave tied his +Winchester scabbard to its thongs he laughed nervously. + +"You're loaded for bear." + +The horseman answered, grimly: "I'm loaded for Jose Sanchez. If I lay +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 some persuasive +when I try." With that he swung a leg over Montrosa's back and rode +away. + +Law found it good to feel a horse between his knees. He had not +realized until now how long Montrosa's saddle had been empty. The sun +was hot and friendly, the breeze was sweet in his nostrils as he swept +past the smiling fields and out into the mesquite country. Heat waves +danced above the patches of bare ground; insects sang noisily from +every side; far ahead the road ran a wavering course through a +deceitful mirage of rippling ponds. It was all familiar, pleasant; it +was home; black moods were impossible amid such surroundings. The +chemistry of air and earth and sunshine were at work dissolving away +the poisons of his imagination. Of course Dave's trouble did not wholly +vanish; it still lurked in the back of his mind and rode with him; but +from some magic source he was deriving a power to combat it. With every +mile he covered his strength and courage increased. + +Such changes had come into his life since his last visit to Las Palmas +that it gave him a feeling of unreality to discover no alteration in +the ranch. He had somehow felt that the buildings would look older, +that the trees would have grown taller, and so when he finally came in +sight of his destination he reined in to look. + +Behind him he heard the hum of an approaching motor, and he turned to +behold a car racing along the road he had just traveled. The machine +was running fast, as a long streamer of choking dust gave evidence, and +Dave soon recognized it as belonging to Jonesville's prosecuting +attorney. As it tore past him its owner shouted something, but the +words were lost. In the automobile with the driver were several +passengers, and one of these likewise called to Dave and seemed to +motion him to follow. When the machine slowed down a half-mile ahead +and veered abruptly into the Las Palmas gateway, Dave lifted Montrosa +to a run, wondering what pressing necessity could have induced the +prosecuting attorney to risk such a reckless burst of speed. + +Dave told himself that he was unduly apprehensive; that Strange's +warnings had worked upon his nerves. Nevertheless, he continued to ride +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 much +amiss, judging from the groups of ranch-hands assembled upon the porch. +They were clustered about the doors and windows, peering in. Briefly +they turned their faces toward Law; then they crowded closer, and he +perceived that they were not talking. Some of them had removed their +hats and held them in their hands. + +Dave's knees shook under him as he dismounted; for one sick, giddy +instant the scene swam before his eyes; then he ran toward the house +and up the steps. He tried to frame a question, but his lips were stiff +with fright. Heedless of those in his path, he forced his way into the +house, then down the hall toward an open door, through which he saw a +room full of people. From somewhere came the shrill wailing of a woman; +the house was full of hushed voices and whisperings. Dave had but one +thought. From the depths of his being 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 of +white-faced people. With rough hands Law cleared a way for himself, and +then stopped, frozen in his tracks. His arms relaxed, his fingers +unclenched, a great sigh whistled slowly from his lungs. Before him, +booted, spurred, and fully dressed, lay the dead body of Ed Austin. + +Dave was still staring at the master of Las Palmas when the prosecuting +attorney spoke to him. + +"God! This is terrible, isn't it?" he said. "He must have died +instantly." + +"Who--did it?" + +"We don't know yet. Benito found him and brought him in. He hasn't been +dead an hour." + +Law ran his eyes over the room, and then asked, sharply, "Where is Mrs. +Austin?" + +He was answered by Benito Gonzales, who had edged closer. "She's not +here, senor." + +"Have you notified her?" + +Benito shrugged. "There has been no time, it all happened so quickly--" + +Some one interrupted, and Dave saw that it was the local +sheriff--evidently it was he who had waved from the speeding machine a +few moments before. + +"I'm glad you're here, Dave, for you can give me a hand. I'm going to +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 see what you can +learn." + +When Dave had regained better control of himself he took Benito +outdoors and demanded full details of the tragedy. With many +lamentations and incoherencies, the range boss told what he knew. + +Ed had met his death within a half-mile of Las Palmas as he rode home +for dinner. Benito, himself on his way to the house, had found the +body, still warm, near the edge of the pecan-grove. He had retained +enough sense to telephone at once to Jonesville, and then--Benito +hardly knew what he had done since then, he was so badly 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 it was now +only a few minutes past one. It was evident, therefore, that Benito had +indeed lost no time, and that his alarm had met with 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 kill him." + +"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 wife went +with her. Are you trying to keep something back?" + +"No, no! As God is my judge!" Benito declared, "I didn't know they were +going until the very last, and even then Dolores would tell me nothing. +We were having bad times here at Las Palmas; there were stormy scenes +yonder in the house. Senor Ed was drinking again, 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's theory. +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 she wouldn't +go to La Feria at such a time. Why, that country is ablaze. Americans +are fleeing from Mexico." + +"I hadn't thought of that," Benito confessed. "But if she didn't go +there, where did she go? Saints above! It is a fine condition of +affairs when a wife keeps secrets from her husband, eh? I suppose +Dolores feared I would tell Don Eduardo, God rest his soul! This much I +do know, however: not long ago there came a letter from General +Longorio, offering settlement for those cattle he stole in his +government's name. Dolores told me the senora was highly pleased and +was going to Mexico for her money. It was a mark of Longorio's favor, +you understand me? He's a great--friend, an ardent admirer." Benito +winked. "Dolores told me all about that, too. No, I think they went to +La Feria." + +Dave remembered his first conversation with Phil Strange and the +fortune-teller's insistence that some powerful person was behind Jose +Sanchez. More than three weeks ago Strange had forecast something very +like murder of Ed Austin. Dave felt as if he were the victim of an +hysterical imagination. Nevertheless, he forced himself to ask, quietly: + +"Is Jose Sanchez anywhere about?" + +The range boss shrugged. "I sent him to the east pasture this morning." + +"Did he go?" + +"Eh? So! You suspect Jose of this. God in heaven! Jose is a wild +boy--But wait! I'll ask Juan if he saw him; yes, and Victoria, too. +That is Victoria you hear squalling in the kitchen. Wait here." + +Benito hurried away, leaving Dave a prey to perplexity; but he was back +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, who +watched him, saw that he turned toward the river road which led to the +Las Palmas pumping-plant. + +The more Dave thought about Ed Austin's death, the more certain he +became that it was in some way connected with Alaire's disappearance; +and the loose end by which the tangle might be unraveled, it seemed to +him, lay in the hands of Rosa Morales, Jose's sweetheart. That Sanchez +was the murderer Dave now had little doubt; but since the chance of +apprehending him was small, he turned his attention to the girl. He +would make Rosa speak, he told himself, if he had to use force--this +was no time for gentle methods. If she knew aught of Alaire's +whereabouts or the mystery of her departure from Las Palmas, he would +find a way to wring the truth 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 his breast. + +Years of experience had taught him to be always alert even during his +moments of deepest preoccupation, and so, from force of habit, when he +came to the pump-house road he carefully scanned it. In the dust were +fresh hoof-prints leading toward the river. Now he knew this road to be +seldom used, and therefore he wondered who could be riding it at a +gallop in this blistering midday heat. A few rods farther on and his +quick eye detected something else--something that brought him from his +saddle. Out of the rut he picked a cigarette butt, the fire of which +was cold but the paper of which was still wet from the smoker's lips. +He examined it carefully; then he remounted and rode on, pondering its +significance. + +Dave loped out of the thicket and straight across the clearing to the +Morales house. Leaving Montrosa's reins hanging, he opened the door and +entered without knocking. Rosa appeared in the opening to another room, +her eyes wide with fright at this apparition, and Dave saw that she was +dressed in her finest, as if for a holiday or 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 black brows +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 been here +within an hour. Where is he?" When the girl only grew whiter and 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 began to tremble. +"Why do you want Jose?" + +"You know why. He killed Don Eduardo, and then he rode here. Come! I +know everything." + +"Lies! Lies!" Rosa's voice grew shrill. "Out of this house! I know you. +It was you who betrayed Panfilo, and his blood is on your hands, +assassin!" With the last word she made as if to retreat, but Dave was +too quick; he seized her, and for an instant they struggled +breathlessly. + +Dave had reasoned beforehand that his only chance of discovering +anything from this girl lay in utterly terrorizing her and in profiting +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 into her +captor's flesh. In her body was the strength of a full-grown man, and +Dave could hardly hold her. But suddenly, as the two scuffled, from the +back room of the house came a sound which caused 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 and +through the inner door. + +Jose Sanchez met him with a shout; the shock of their collision +overbore the lighter man, and the two went down together, arms and legs +intertwined. The horse-breaker fired his revolver blindly--a deafening +explosion inside those four walls--but he was powerless against his +antagonist's strength and ferocity. It required but a moment 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 his wrists tightly. + +From the front of the little house came the crash of a door violently +slammed as Rosa profited by the diversion to save herself. + +When finally Jose stood, panting and snarling, his back to the wall, +Dave regarded him with a sinister contraction of the lips that was +almost a grin. + +"Well," he said, drawing a deep breath, "I see you didn't go to the +east pasture this morning." + +"What do you want of me?" Jose managed to gasp. + +There was a somewhat prolonged silence, during which Dave continued to +stare at his prisoner with that same disquieting expression. "Why did +you kill Don Eduardo?" he asked. + +"I? Bah! Who says I killed him?" Jose glared defiance. "Why are you +looking at me? Come! Take me to jail, if you think that will do any +good." + +"It's lucky I rode to Las Palmas this morning. In another hour you +would have been across the Rio Grande--with Rosa and all her fine +clothes, eh? Now you will be hanged. Well, that is how fortune goes." + +The horse-breaker tossed his head and shrugged with a brave assumption +of indifference; he laughed shortly. "You can prove nothing." + +"Yes," continued Dave, "and Rosa will go to prison, too. Now--suppose I +should let you go? Would you help me? In ten minutes you could be +safe." He inclined his head toward the muddy, silent river 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 the truth, +for your general can't help you now." Dave did his best to read the +Mexican's expression, but failed. "Senor Ed's death means nothing 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 himself his anxiety was plain. + +Jose exclaimed: "Ho! I understand. He was in your way and you're glad +to be rid of him. Well, we have no business fighting with each 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 bared themselves. +He took a step forward, crying: + +"By God! You WILL tell me!" Seizing his prisoner by the throat, he +pinned him to the wall; then with his free hand he cocked Longorio's +revolver and thrust its muzzle against Jose's body. "Tell me!" he +repeated. His countenance was so distorted, his expression so maniacal, +that Jose felt his hour had come. The latter, being in all ways +Mexican, did not struggle; instead, he squared his shoulders and, +staring fearlessly into the face above him, cried: + +"Shoot!" + +For a moment the two men remained so; then Dave seemed to regain +control of himself and the murder light flickered out of his eyes. He +flung his prisoner aside and cast the revolver into a corner of the +room. + +Jose picked himself up, cursing his captor eloquently. "You Gringos +don't know how to die," he said. "Death? Pah! We must die some time. +And supposing I do know something about the senora, do you think you +can force me to speak? Torture wouldn't open my lips." + +Law did not trust himself to reply; and the horse-breaker went on with +growing defiance: + +"I am innocent of any crime; therefore I am brave. But you--The blood +of innocent men means nothing to you--Panfilo's murder proves 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 the bitterness of +his vituperation he seemed to invite death. Dave interrupted his +vitriolic curses to ask harshly: + +"Will you tell me, or will you force me to wring the truth out of you?" + +Jose answered by spitting at his captor; then he gritted an unspeakable +epithet from between his teeth. + +Dave addressed him with an air of finality. "You killed that man and +your life is forfeit, so it doesn't make much difference whether I take +it or whether the State takes it. You are brave enough to die--most of +you Mexicans are--but the State can't force you to speak, and I can." +Jose sneered. "Oh yes, I can! I intend to know all that you know, and +it will be better for you to tell me voluntarily. I must learn where +Senora Austin is, and I must learn 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 fire will +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 his +prisoner could do more than wrench at his bonds, and with him he +brought his lariat and his canteen. + +"What are you going to do?" Jose inquired, backing away until he was +once more at bay. + +"I'm going to give you a drink." + +"Whisky? You think you can make me drunk?" The horse-breaker laughed +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 your employer +and where General Longorio has taken his wife. Yes, and everything else +I want to know." Seizing the amazed Mexican, Dave flung him upon +Morales's hard board bed, and in spite of the fellow's struggles deftly +made him fast. When he had finished--and it was no easy job--Jose lay +"spread-eagled" upon his back, his wrists and ankles firmly bound to +the head and foot posts, his body secured by a tight loop over his +waist. The rope cut painfully and brought a curse from the prisoner +when he strained at it. Law surveyed him with a face of stone. + +"I don't want to do this," he declared, "but I know your kind. I give +you one more chance. Will you tell me?" + +Jose drew his lips back in a snarl of rage and pain, and Dave realized +that further words were useless. He felt a certain pity for his victim +and no little admiration for his courage, but such feelings were of +small consequence as against his agonizing fears for Alaire's safety. +Had he in the least doubted Jose's guilty knowledge of Longorio's +intentions, Dave would have hesitated before employing the barbarous +measures he had in mind, but--there was nothing else for it. He pulled +the canteen cork and jammed the mouthpiece firmly to Jose's lips. +Closing the fellow's nostrils with his free hand, he forced him to +drink. + +Jose clenched his teeth, he tried to roll his head, he held his breath +until his face grew purple and his eyes bulged. He strained like a man +upon the rack. The bed creaked to his muscular contortions; the rope +tightened. It was terribly cruel, this crushing of a strong will bent +on resistance to the uttermost; but never was an executioner more +pitiless, never did a prisoner's agony receive less consideration. The +warm water spilled over Jose's face, it drenched his neck and chest; +his joints cracked as he strove for freedom and tried to twist his head +out of Law's iron grasp. The seconds dragged, until finally Nature +asserted herself. The imprisoned breath burst forth; there sounded a +loud gurgling cry and a choking inhalation. Jose's body writhed with +the convulsions of drowning as the water and air were sucked into his +lungs. Law was kneeling over his victim now, his weight and strength so +applied that Jose had no liberty of action and could only drink, +coughing and fighting for air. Somehow he managed to revive himself +briefly and again shut his teeth; but a moment more and he was again +retched with the furious battle for air, more desperate now than +before. After a while Law freed his victim's nostrils and allowed him a +partial breath, then once more crushed the mouthpiece against his lips. +By and by, to relieve his torture, Jose began to drink in great noisy +gulps, striving to empty the vessel. + +But the stomach's capacity is limited. In time Jose felt himself +bursting; the liquid began to regurgitate. This was not mere pain that +he suffered, but the ultimate nightmare horror of a death more awful +than anything he had ever imagined. Jose would have met a bullet, a +knife, a lash, without flinching; flames would not have served to +weaken his resolve; but this slow drowning was infinitely worse than +the worst he had thought possible; he was suffocating by long, black, +agonizing minutes. Every nerve and muscle of his body, every cell in +his bursting lungs, fought against the outrage in a purely physical +frenzy over which his will power had no control. Nor would +insensibility come to his relief--Law watched him too carefully for +that. He could not even voice his sufferings by shrieks; he could only +writhe and retch and gurgle while the ropes bit into his flesh and his +captor knelt upon him like a monstrous stone weight. + +But Jose had made a better fight than he knew. The canteen ran dry at +last, and Law was forced to release his hold. + +"Will you speak?" he demanded. + +Thinking that he had come safely through the ordeal, Jose shook his +head; he rolled his bulging, bloodshot eyes and vomited, then managed +to call God to witness his innocence. + +Dave went into the next room and refilled the canteen. When he +reappeared with the dripping vessel in his hand, Jose tried to scream. +But his throat was torn and strained; the sound of his own voice +frightened him. + +Once more the torment began. The tortured man was weaker now, and in +consequence he resisted more feebly; but not until he was less than +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 were bleeding; he was +stretched like a dumb animal upon the vivisectionist's table, and no +surgeon with lance and scalpel could have shown less emotion than did +his inquisitor. Having no intention of defeating his own ends, Dave +allowed his victim ample time in which to regain his ability to suffer. + +Alaire Austin had been right when she said that Dave might be ruthless; +and yet the man was by no means incapable of compassion. At the present +moment, however, he considered himself simply as the instrument by +which Alaire was to be saved. His own feelings had nothing to do with +the matter; neither had the sufferings of this Mexican. Therefore he +steeled himself to prolong the agony until the murderer's stubborn +spirit was worn down. Once again he put his question, and, again +receiving defiance, jammed the canteen between Jose's teeth. + +But human nature is weak. For the first time in his life Jose Sanchez +felt terror--a terror too awful to be endured--and he made the sign. + +He was no longer the insolent defier, the challenger, but an imploring +wretch, whose last powers of resistance had been completely shattered. +His frightened eyes were glued to that devilish vessel in which his +manhood had dissolved, the fear of it made a woman of him. + +Slowly, in sighs and whimpers, in agonies of reluctance, his story +came; his words were rendered almost incomprehensible by his abysmal +fright. When he had purged himself of his secret Dave promptly unbound +him; then leaving him more than half dead, he went to the telephone +which connected the pumping station with Las Palmas and called up the +ranch. + +He was surprised when Blaze Jones answered. Blaze, it seemed, had just +arrived, summoned by news of the tragedy. The countryside had been +alarmed and a search for Ed Austin's slayer was being organized. + +"Call it off," Dave told him. "I've got your man." Blaze stuttered his +surprise and incredulity. "I mean it. It's Jose Sanchez, and he 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 the clearing +beside the river, and, leaving his motor running, leaped from the car. + +Dave met him at the door of the Morales house and briefly told him the +story of Jose's capture. + +"Say! That's quick work," the rancher cried, admiringly. "Why, Ed ain't +cold yet! You gave him the 'water-cure,' eh? Now I reckoned it would +take more than water to make a Mexican talk." + +"Jose was hired for the work; he laid for Ed Austin in the pecan grove +and shot him as he passed." + +"Hired! Why this hombre needs quick hangin', don't he? I told 'em at +Las Palmas that you'd rounded up the guilty party, so I reckon they'll +be here in a few minutes. We'll just stretch this horse-wrangler, and +save the county some expense." Law shrugged. "Do what you like with +him, but--it isn't necessary. He'll confess in regulation form, I'm +sure. I had to work fast to learn what became of 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 safe before +they killed Ed." + +"'They?' Who the hell are you talkin' about?" + +"I mean Longorio and his outfit. He's got her over yonder." Dave flung +out a trembling hand toward the river. Seeing that his hearer failed to +comprehend, he explained, swiftly: "He's crazy about her--got one of +those Mexican infatuations--and you know what that means. He couldn't +steal her from Las Palmas--she wouldn't have anything to do with +him--so he used that old cattle deal as an excuse to get her across the +border. Then he put Ed out of the way. She went of her own accord, and +she didn't tell Austin, 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 how white and +set was his friend's face. + +"Longorio must have foreseen what was coming," Dave went on. "That +country's aflame; Americans aren't safe over there. If war is declared, +a good many of them will never be heard from. He knows that. 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 out of her +head. But we've got to do something. We've got to burn the wires to +Washington--yes, and to Mexico City. We must get the government to send +soldiers after her. God! What have we got 'em for, anyhow?" + +"Washington won't do anything. What can be done when there are +thousands of American women in the same danger? What steps can the +government take, with the fleet on its way to Vera Cruz, with the army +mobilizing, and with diplomatic relations suspended? Those Greasers are +filling their jails with our people--rounding 'em up for 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's in there--trapped." + +Blaze took the speaker by the shoulder and faced him about. "Look +here," said he, "I'm beginnin' to get wise to you. I believe +you're--the man in the case." When Dave nodded, he vented his amazement +in a long whistle. After a moment he asked, "Well, why did you want me +to come here alone, ahead of the others?" + +"Because I want you to know the whole inside of this thing so that you +can get busy when I'm gone; because I want to borrow what money 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 the soldiers." + +But Dave hardly seemed to hear him. "You must start things moving at +once," he said, urgently. "Spread the news, get the story into the +papers, notify the authorities. Get every influence at work, from here +to headquarters; get your Senator and the Governor of the state at +work. Ellsworth will help you. And now give me your last dollar." + +Blaze emptied his pockets, shaking his shaggy head the while. "La Feria +is a hundred and fifty miles in," he remonstrated. + +"By rail from Pueblo, yes. But it's barely a hundred, straight from +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, and that's +me. Yes, I've got bad blood in me, Blaze--bad blood--and I'm taking it +back where I got it. But listen!" He turned a sick, colorless face to +his friend. "They'll whittle a cross for Longorio if I do get through." +He called to Montrosa, and the mare came to him, holding her head to +one side so as not to tread upon her 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 had twenty men +like you we might cut our way in and out, but there's no time to +organize, and, anyhow, the government would probably stop us. I've got +a hunch that I'll make it. If I don't--why, it's all right." + +The two men shook hands lingeringly, awkwardly; then Blaze managed to +wish his friend luck. "If you don't come back," he said, with a +peculiar catch in his voice, "I reckon there's enough good Texans left +to follow your trail. I'll sure look forward to it." + +Dave took the river-bank to Sangre de Cristo, where, by means of the +dilapidated ferry, he gained the Mexican side. Once across, he rode +straight up toward the village of Romero. When challenged by an +under-sized soldier he merely spurred Montrosa forward, eyeing the +sentry so grimly that the man did no more than finger his rifle +uncertainly, cursing under his breath the overbearing airs of all +Gringos. Nor did the rider trouble to make the slightest detour, but +cantered the full length of Romero's dusty street, the target of more +than one pair of hostile eyes. To those who saw him, soldiers and +civilians alike, it was evident that this stranger had business, and no +one felt called upon to question its nature. There are men who carry an +air more potent than a bodyguard, and Dave Law was one of these. Before +the village had thoroughly awakened to his coming he was gone, without +a glance to the right or left, without a word to anyone. + +When Romero was at his back he rode for a mile or two through a region +of tiny scattered farms and neglected garden patches, after which he +came out into the mesquite. For all the signs he saw, he might then +have been in the heart of a foreign country. Mexico had swallowed him. + +As the afternoon heat subsided, Montrosa let herself out into a freer +gait and began to cover the distance rapidly, heading due west through +a land of cactus and dagger, of thorn and barb and bramble. + +The roads were unfenced, the meadows desolate; the huts were frequently +untenanted. Ahead the sky burned splendidly, and the sunset grew more +brilliant, more dazzling, until it glorified the whole mean, thirsty, +cruel countryside. + +Dave's eyes were set upon that riot of blazing colors, but for the time +it failed to thrill him. In that welter of changing hues and tints he +saw only red. Red! That was the color of blood; it stood for passion, +lust, violence; and it was a fitting badge of color for this land of +revolutions and alarms. At first he saw little else--except the hint of +black despair to follow. But there was gold in the sunset, too--the +yellow gold of ransom! That was Mexico--red and yellow, blood and gold, +lust and license. Once the rider'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. The deepening blue of the high sky overhead was the hue +of a certain woman's eyes. A warm, soft breeze out of the west beat +into his face, and he remembered how warm and soft Alaire's breath had +been upon 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. The thought +aroused him; the sense of his unworthiness vanished, the blight fell +from him; he felt only a throbbing eagerness to see her 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, a few +days after their arrival at La Feria. "They tell me that Mexico is +invaded and that the American soldiers have already killed more than a +thousand women and children." + +"Who tells you this?" Alaire asked. + +"The men--everybody," Dolores waved a hand in the direction of the +other ranch buildings. "Our people are buzzing like bees with the news, +and, of course, no one cares to work when the Americans are coming." + +"I shall have to put an end to such talk." + +"This morning the word came that the revolution is ended and that the +soldiers of both parties are uniting to fight for their liberties. 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, at Espinal"--Dolores's eyes were +round--"would you believe it?--those Yankee soldiers ate a baby! They +roasted the little dear like a cabrito and ate it! I tell you, it makes +wild talk among the peladors." + +"Do you believe such stories?" Alaire inquired, with some amusement. + +"Um-m--not altogether. But, all the same, I think it is time we were +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 are +nervous I'll send you back to Las Palmas at once." + +"Glory of God! It would be the end of me. These Mexicans would +recognize me instantly as an American, for I have the appearance and +the culture. You can imagine what would happen to me. They would tear +me from the train. It was nothing except General Longorio's soldiers +that brought us safely through from Nuevo Pueblo." + +"Then I'm glad that he insisted upon sending them with us. Now tell the +ranch-hands to put no faith in these ridiculous stories. If they wish +the truth let them ask General Longorio; he will be here 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 his money. +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 fountain and +its rank, untended plants. "Why do you insist that he loves me?" she +asked. "All Mexicans are gallant and pay absurd compliments. It's just +a way they have. He has never spoken a word that could give offense." +As Dolores said nothing, she went on, hesitatingly, "I can't very well +refuse to see him, for I don't possess even a receipt to show that he +took those cattle." + +"Oh, you must not offend him," Dolores agreed, hastily, "or we'd never +leave Mexico alive." With which cheering announcement the housekeeper +heaved a deep sigh and went about her duties with a gloomy face. + +Longorio arrived that afternoon, and Alaire received him in the great +naked living room of the hacienda, with her best attempt at formality. +But her coolness served not in the least to chill his fervor. + +"Senora," he cried, eagerly, "I have a thousand things to tell you, +things of the greatest importance. They have been upon my tongue for +hours, but now that I behold you I grow drunk with delight and my lips +frame nothing but words of admiration for your beauty. So! I feast my +eyes." He retained his warm clasp of her fingers, seeming to envelop +her uncomfortably with his ardor. + +"What is it you have to tell me?" she asked him, withdrawing her hand. + +"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 to startle you and +set your brain in a whirl. I planned to send a messenger ahead of me, +and then I said: 'No, this is a crisis; therefore no tongue but mine +shall apprise her, no hand but mine shall comfort her. Only a coward +shrinks from the unpleasant; I shall lighten her distress and awaken in +her breast new hope, new happiness'--" + +"What do you mean?" Alaire inquired, sharply. "You say you bring bad +news?" + +The general nodded. "In a way, terrible, shocking! And yet I look +beyond the immediate and see in it a blessing. So must you. To me it +spells the promise of my unspoken longings, my whispered prayers." +Noting his hearer's growing bewilderment, he laid a hand familiarly +upon her arm. "No matter how I tell you, it will be a blow, 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. My +knowledge of your long unhappiness alone gives me courage to speak." + +Alaire raised her fluttering fingers to her throat; her eyes were wide +as she said: "You don't mean--Mr. Austin?" + +"Yes." Longorio scrutinized her closely, as if to measure the effect of +his disclosure. "Senora, you are free!" + +Alaire uttered a breathless exclamation; then, feeling his gaze burning +into her, turned away, but not before he had noted her sudden pallor, +the blanching of her lips. + +This unexpected announcement dazed her; it scattered her thoughts and +robbed her of words, but just what her dominant emotion was at the +moment she could not tell. Once her first giddiness had passed, +however, once the truth had borne in upon her, she found that she felt +no keen anguish, and certainly no impulse to weep. Rather she +experienced a vague horror, such as the death of an acquaintance or of +a familiar relative might evoke. Ed had been anything but a true +husband, and her feeling now was more for the memory of the man he had +been, for the boy she had known and loved, than for the man whose name +she bore. So he was gone and, as Longorio said, she was free. It meant +much. She realized dimly that in this one moment her whole life had +changed. She had never thought of this way out of her embarrassments; +she had been prepared, in fact, for anything except this. Dead! It was +deplorable, for Ed was young. Once the first shock had passed away, she +became conscious of a deep pity for the man, and a complete forgiveness +for the misery he had caused her. After a time 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 your concern +and I share your intimate thoughts. No, it was an accident, ordained by +God. His end was the result of his own folly, a gunshot wound while he +was drunk, I believe. Now you will understand why I said that I bore +tidings both good and evil and why I, of all people, should be the one +to impart them." + +Alaire turned questioning eyes upon him, as if to fathom his meaning, +and he answered her with his brilliant smile. Failing to evoke a +response, he went on: + +"Ever since I heard of it I have repeated over and over again, 'It is a +miracle; it is the will of God.' Come, then, we know each other so well +that we may speak frankly. Let us be honest and pretend to no +counterfeit emotions. Let us recognize in this only your deliverance +and the certainty of that blessed happiness which Divine Providence +offers us both." + +"Both?" she repeated, dully. + +"Need I be plainer? You know my heart. You have read me. You understand +how I have throttled my longings and remained mute while 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. This is no time--" +Her indignation rose with the sound of her own voice, causing her to +stammer. + +Taking advantage of her loss of words, he hurried on: "You must pardon +my impetuosity, but I am a man of tremendous force, and my life moves +swiftly. I am not shackled by conventions--they are less than nothing +to me. If it seems to you that my eagerness carries me away, remember +that war is upon us and that affairs of moment 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 is here, the future rushes forward to +meet us." + +"Indeed, you forget yourself," she said, warmly. Then, changing her +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 leave here." + +Alaire stared at him incredulously. + +"It is true. Mexico is a seething caldron of hate; the country is +convulsed. 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 Alaire +continued, more calmly, "If that is so, there is all the more reason +why I should lose no time." + +"Listen!" The general was deeply in earnest. "You have no conception of +the chaos out there." He waved a comprehensive gesture. "If the +explosion has not come, it will come within a few hours. That is why I +flew to your side. Battleships are hurrying toward our coast, troops +are massing against our border, and Mexico has risen like one man. The +people are in a frenzy; they are out of bounds; there is sack and +pillage in the cities. Americans are objects of violence everywhere and +the peons are frantic." He paused impressively. "We face the greatest +upheaval of history." + +"Then why are you here?" Alaire demanded. "This is no place for you 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 on heedlessly. "I have told +you I harken only to my heart; that for one smile from you I would +behead myself; that for your favor I would betray my fatherland; that +for your kiss I would face damnation. Well, I am here at your side. The +deluge comes, but you shall be unharmed." He would not permit her to +check him, crying: "Wait! You must hear me through, senora, so that you +may comprehend fully why I am forced to speak at this time. Out of this +coming struggle I shall emerge a heroic figure. Now that Mexico unites, +she will triumph, and of all her victorious sons the name of Luis +Longorio will be sung the loudest, for upon him more than upon any +other depends the Republic's salvation. I do not boast. I merely state +facts, for I have made all my plans, and tomorrow I put them into +effect. That is why I cannot wait to speak. The struggle will be long, +but you shall be my guiding star in the hour of darkness." + +Under other circumstances the man's magnificent egotism might have +provoked a smile. And yet, for all its grandiloquence, there was +something in his speech that rang hard and true. Unquestionably +Longorio was dangerous--a real personality, and no mere swaggering +pretender. Alaire felt a certain reluctant respect for him, and at the +same time a touch of chilling fear such as she had hardly experienced +before. She faced him silently for a moment; then she said: + +"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 merely keep +you from certain destruction. You cannot go by train, because the +railroad has suspended public service, nor can you ride or drive. I +tell you, senora, the people are aroused. For the moment you must +accept my protection, whether you wish to or not. Tomorrow"--Longorio +smiled warmly, meaningly-"perhaps you will not be in such haste to +refuse it, or to leave La Feria. Wait until you understand me better. +Then--But enough of this. You are unstrung, you wish to be alone with +your thoughts, and what I have to say can wait for a few hours. In the +mean time, may I beg the hospitality of your ranch for myself and my +men?" + +Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Longorio saluted her fingers in his +customary manner, and then, with a look eloquent of things unsaid, he +went out to see to the comfort of his command. + +Alaire sank into the nearest chair, her nerves quivering, her mind in a +turmoil. This Mexican was detestable, and he was far from being the +mere maker of audaciously gallant speeches, the poetically fervent +wooer of every pretty woman, she had blindly supposed him. His was no +sham ardor; the man was hotly, horribly in earnest. There had been a +glint of madness in his eyes. And he actually seemed to think that she +shared his infatuation. It was intolerable. Yet Longorio, she was sure, +had an abundance of discretion; he would not dare to offer her +violence. He had pride, too; and in his way he was something of a +gentleman. So far, she had avoided giving him offense. But if once she +made plain to him how utterly loathsome to her was his pursuit, she was +sure that he would cease to annoy her. Alaire was self-confident, +strong-willed; she took courage. + +Her thoughts turned from her fears to the amazing reality of her +widowhood. Even yet she could not wholly credit the fact that Ed's +wasted life had come to an end and that she was free to make the most +of her own. Alaire remembered her husband now with more tenderness, +more charity, than she would have believed possible, and it seemed to +her pitiful that one so blessed with opportunity should have worked +such havoc with himself and with those near to him. + +Doubtless it was all a part of some providential scheme, too blind for +her to solve. Perhaps, indeed, her own trials had been designed to the +end that her greater, truer love, when it did come, would find her +ripe, responsive, ready. As for this Mexican general, she would put him +in his place. + +Alaire was still walking the floor of her chamber when Dolores entered, +at dusk, to say that supper was ready and that General Longorio was +waiting. + +"Ask him to excuse me," she told her servant. + +But Longorio himself spoke from the next room, saying: "Senora, I beg +of you to honor me. I have much of importance to say, and time presses. +Control your grief and give me the pleasure of your company." + +After an instant's consideration Alaire yielded. It was best to have +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 still extravagantly +courteous, beautifully attentive; he maintained a flow of conversation +that relieved her of any effort, and yet he displayed a repressed +excitement that was disturbing. In his eyes there was a gloating look +of possession hard to endure. Despite her icy formality, he appeared to +be holding himself within the bounds of propriety only by an effort of +will, and she was not surprised when, at the conclusion of the meal, he +cast restraint aside. + +She did not let him go far with his wooing before warning him: "I won't +listen to you. You are a man of taste; you must realize how offensive +this is." + +"Let us not deceive each other," he insisted. "We are alone. Let us be +honest. Do not ask me to put faith in your grief. I find my excuse in +the extraordinary nature of this situation." + +"Nothing can excuse indelicacy," she answered, evenly. "You transgress +the commonest rules of decency." + +But he was impatient. "What sentiment! You did not love your husband. +You were for years his prisoner. Through the bars of your prison I saw +and loved you. Dios! The first sight of your face altered the current +of my life. I saw heaven in your eyes, and I have dreamed of nothing +else ever since. Well, Providence opened the doors and set you free; +God gave heed to my prayers and delivered you to me. Now you pretend to +grieve at your deliverance; you ask me to respect the memory of your +jailer! Decency? Delicacy? What are they except artificialities, which +vanish in times of stress? Alexander the Great, Caesar, Napoleon, +Porfirio Diaz--they were strong, purposeful men; they lived as I live. +Senora, you dally with love." + +Alaire's face was white with anger as she replied: "You cause me to +forget that you are my guest. Are you the man I considered you or the +man you are reported to be?" + +"Eh?" + +"Are you the gentleman, the friend, you pretended to be, or--the vandal +whom no woman can trust? You treat me as if you were my jailer. What do +you mean? What kind of man are you to take advantage of my bereavement?" + +After a moment's consideration Longorio began haltingly: "I don't know +what kind of man I am, for you have changed me so. There was a +time--I--I have done things--I have scorned all restraint, all laws +except those of my desires, and so, perhaps, I am a vandal. Make sure +of this, however--I shall not injure you. Christ is no more sacred to +me than you, my heart's treasure. You accuse me of indelicacy because I +lack the strength to smother my admiration. I adore you; my being +dissolves, my veins are afire with longing for you; 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 by a dazzling light; I +suffer agonies. But see! I refuse to touch you. I am a giant in my +restraint. The strength of heroes is mine, and I strangle my impulses +as they are born, although the effort kills me. Senora, I await the +moment of your voluntary surrender. I wait for you." He extended his +arms, and Alaire saw that his olive features were distorted with +emotion; that his hands, his whole 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 you something, if my +tongue will frame the thoughts in my mind. My passion is so deep and so +sacred that I would not be content with less than all of you. Your lips +would not satisfy mine unless they were hot with love, your kisses wet +with desire. I must have you all, and so I wait, trembling. I say this +so badly that I doubt if you understand. Listen, then: to possess you +by force would be--well, as if I sacked a cathedral of its golden +images and expected to gain heaven by clutching the Madonna in my arms. +Senora, in you I see the priceless jewel of my life, which I shall wear +to dazzle the world, and without which I shall destroy myself. Now let +me tell you what I can offer you, what setting I can build for this +treasure. Marriage with Luis Longorio--" + +Alaire could not control a start. + +As if quickened by his intensity, the man read her thought. "You did +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 meant a +moment ago. That is why you refuse my embraces. No, no! Other women +have feared me and I have laughed in their hair as they tore at my +arms, but you--you will be my wife, and all Mexico shall bow at your +feet." He checked her denial with a gesture. "Wait until I tell you the +vision I have seen during these days of my despair. I see Mexico made +whole by my hands; a land of peace and plenty; a people with one name +upon their lips--the name of Longorio the Deliverer; and you as the +first lady of them all. You know me for a 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-handed bandit of no culture. Candeleria, his chief? The +idol of the ignorant and a dreamer of no force. Potosi? He is President +today, but what of tomorrow? Those who surround him are weaklings, and +he stumbles toward oblivion. Who will succeed him? Who will issue from +the coming struggle as the dominant figure of Mexico? Who but that +military genius who checks the Yankee hordes and saves the fatherland? +I am he. Fate points the path of glory and I am her man 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 the richest woman in the world. Senora, I +offer you dominion. I offer you the President's palace and Chapultepec. +And with all that I offer you such passionate love as no woman of +history ever possessed." + +He paused, spent by the force of his own intensity; it was plain that +he expected an immediate surrender. + +Alaire's lips parted in the faintest of mocking smiles. "You have great +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 he could 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 I see. +Your modesty forbids you to acknowledge your love--is that it? Well, I +know that you admire me, for I can see it. All women admire me, and +they all end by loving me." His chest arched imperceptibly; with a +slender finger he delicately smoothed his black eyebrows. Alaire felt a +wild impulse to laugh, but was glad she had subdued it when he +continued: "I am impetuous, but impetuosity has made me what I am. I +act, and then mold fate to suit my own ends. Opportunity has delivered +to me my heart's desire, and I will not be cheated out of it. Among the +men I brought with me to La Feria is a priest. He is dirty, for I +caught him as he was fleeing toward the border; but he is a priest, and +he 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 this +evening. I cannot waste more time here, for necessity calls me away. +You shall go as my wife." + +"Do you think I would remarry on the very day I find myself a widow?" + +"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 had more +time I could afford to wait." He ogled her with his luminous gaze. "I +would let you play with me to your heart's content and exercise your +power until you tired and were ready to surrender." + +Alaire raised her head proudly, her nostrils dilated, her eyes ablaze +with hostility. "This is very humiliating, but you force me to tell you +that I hate you." + +Longorio was incredulous rather than offended. He drew himself up to +his full height and smiled, saying, "That is impossible." Then, +ignoring her impatience: "Come! You cannot deceive me. The priest is +waiting." + +When Alaire spoke next it was with an expression and with a tone of +such loathing that his yellow face paled "Your conceit is +insufferable," 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! You have 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 real +Longorio speaks." + +He flung up his hands as if to ward off her fury. "No? Have I not made +myself clear? I shall embrace you only with the arms of a husband, for +this is not the passion of a moment, but of a lifetime, and I have +myself to consider. The wife of Mexico's next President must be above +reproach; there must be no scandal, no secrets hidden away for enemies +to unearth. She must stand before the 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 he +intercepted her, saying: "You cannot hold me at bay. It is destiny. You +shall be mine tonight. Think a moment! We are alone in the heart of a +country lacking in every law but mine. Your friends do not know where +you are, and, even if they knew, they could not help you. Your nation's +protest would avail nothing. Outside of these walls are enemies who +will not let you leave this house 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. In God's +name have I not waited long enough? My strength is gone." Impulsively +he half encircled her with his thin arms, but she seemed armored with +ice, and he dropped them. She could hear him grind his teeth. "I dare +not lay hands upon you," he chattered. "Angel of my dreams, I am faint +with longing. To love you and yet to be denied; to feel myself aflame +and yet to see you cold; to be halted at the very doors of Paradise! +What torture!" + +The fellow's self-control in the midst of his frenzy frightened Alaire +more than did his wildest avowals; it was in something of a panic that +she said: + +"One moment you tell me I am safe, the next you threaten me. You say 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 he was +halted by a woman's shriek which issued from somewhere inside the +house. It was repeated. There was an outburst in a masculine voice, +then the patter of footsteps approaching down the tiled hallway. +Dolores burst into her mistress's presence, her face blanched, her hair +disordered. She flung herself into Alaire's arms, 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 like this:"' + +"A man--See I One of those dirty peladors. Look where he tore my dress! +I warned him, but he was like a tiger. Benito will kill me when he +learns--" + +"Calm yourself. Speak sensibly. Tell me what happened." + +"One of those miserable soldiers who came today--pig!" Dolores was +shaking, her voice was shrill. "He followed me. He has been drinking. +He followed me about like a cat, purring and grinning and saying the +most horrible things. Just now, when I went to your room, he was +waiting in the darkness and he seized me. God! It was dreadful." + +"A soldier? One of my men?" Longorio was incredulous. + +Alaire turned upon him with a blazing anger in her face. "Is this more +of your protection?" she stormed. "I give you and your men the freedom +of my ranch, and you insult me while they assault my women." + +He ignored her accusation, inquiring of the elder woman, "Who was the +fellow?" + +"How do I know," Dolores sobbed. "He is a--a thick, black fellow with 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 the wooden +shutters of a window and, leaning far out, whistled sharply on 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 me black +Felipe, the fellow with the torn lip. Quick!" + +"Yes, general," came the voice; then the metallic rattle of spurs and +accoutrements as the sentry trotted away. + +Dolores had completely broken down now, and Alaire was trying to +comfort her. Their guest remained by the window, frowning. After a time +there sounded a murmur of voices, then a shuffling of feet in the hall; +Alaire's friend, the old lieutenant, appeared in the doorway, saluting. +Behind him were several others. + +"Here is Felipe," he announced. + +"Bring him in." + +A sullen, frowning man in soiled uniform was pushed forward, and +Dolores 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 transfixed his +trooper with a stare; then, as the latter seemed bereft of his voice, +"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." He grinned at +his comrades, who had crowded in behind old Pancho. + +"So! Let us go outside and learn more about this." Longorio waved his +men before him and followed them out of the room and down the hall and +into the night. + +When a moment or two had dragged past, Dolores quavered. "What are they +going to do with him?" + +"I don't know. Anyhow, you need not fear--" + +There sounded the report of a gunshot, deadened indeed by the thick +adobe walls of the house, yet sudden and loud enough to startle the +women. + +When Longorio reappeared he found Alaire standing stiff and white +against the wall, with Dolores kneeling, her face still buried in her +mistress's gown. + +"Give yourself no concern," he told them, quickly. "I beg a thousand +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 to be +firm. Now your woman is badly frightened. Send her away so that we 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. Very well! My +affairs will have to wait. Take a few hours to think over what I have +told you. When you have slept you will feel differently about me. You +will meet me with a smile, eh?" He beamed hopefully. + +"Sleep? You expect me to sleep?" + +"Please," he begged. "Beauty is like a delicate flower, and sleep is +the dew that freshens it. Believe me, you can rest in all security, for +no one can come or go without my consent. You are cruel to postpone my +delight; nevertheless, I yield to your feelings. But, star of my life, +I shall dream of you, and of that little priest who waits with the key +of Paradise in his hands." + +He bowed over Alaire's cold fingers, then stood erect until she and +Dolores had gone. + + + + +XXIX + +THE PRIEST FROM MONCLOVA + + +That was a night of terror for the women. Although Longorio's +discipline was in some ways strict, in others it was extremely lax. +From some quarter his men had secured a supply of mescal, and, +forgetful of Felipe's unhappy fate, they rendered the hours hideous. +There were singing and quarreling, and a shot or two sounded from the +direction of the outbuildings. Morning found both Alaire and Dolores +sadly overwrought. But they felt some relief upon learning that the +general had been unexpectedly summoned from his bed at daylight, and +had ridden to the telegraph office. + +Profiting by his absence, Alaire ventured from her room, racking her +brain to devise some means of escape. But soldiers were everywhere; +they lolled around the servants' quarters; they dozed in the shade of +the ranch buildings, recovering from the night's debauch; and an armed +sentinel who paced the hacienda road gave evidence that, despite their +apparent carelessness, they had by no means relaxed their vigilance. A +round of the premises convinced Alaire that the place was effectually +guarded, and showed her the futility of trying to slip away. She +realized, too, that even if she managed to do so, her plight would be +little better. For how could she hope to cover the hundred miles +between La Feria and the Rio Grande when every peon was an enemy? + +She was standing in one of the open, sashless windows when her former +protector, the old lieutenant, bade her good morning and paused to +smoke a cigarette. + +"Well, it was a great night, wasn't it?" he began. "And we have great +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 of +Washington is a fine city, and very rich, is it not?" + +"Oh yes." + +"It's full of loot, eh? Especially the President's palace? That is +good. 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 soldiers march +upon Mexico City, it would be a brilliant piece of strategy for General +Longorio to invade the United States, would it not? It would be funny +to capture Washington and hold your President for ransom, eh?" + +"Very funny," Alaire agreed, dryly. "How would you go about it?" + +Pancho shrugged. "That is the trouble. We would have to march around +Texas, I presume." + +"Around Texas?" + +"Yes. You see, Texas is a bad country; it is full of--barbarians who +know how to fight. If it were not for Texas we would have the United +States at our mercy." After some consideration he ventured this +opinion: "We could afford to pay the Texans for allowing us to ride +through their country, provided we stole nothing and paid for 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! General Longorio +is going to marry you. We all got drunk last night to celebrate the +wedding. Yes, and the priest is waiting." + +"I will make you rich." + +"Ho! I wouldn't live to spend a single peso. Felipe disobeyed orders, +and the general shot him before he could cross himself. Boom! The poor +fellow was in hell in a minute. No. We will all be rich 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 the young fellows, and prepare for +my old age." + +Seeing that she could not enlist Pancho's aid, Alaire begged him to +fetch the priest. + +"You wish spiritual comfort, senora?" + +"Perhaps." + +"Well, he doesn't look like much of a priest, but probably he will do. +As for me, I don't believe in such things. Churches are all very well +for ignorant people, but we Mexicans are too intelligent; we are making +an end of them." + +The priest was a small, white-haired man with a gentle, almost timid +face, and at the moment when he appeared before Alaire he was in +anything but a happy frame of mind. He had undergone, he told her, a +terrible experience. His name was O'Malley. He had come from Monclova, +whence the Rebels had banished him under threat of death. He had seen +his church despoiled of its valuables, his school closed; he himself +had managed to escape only by a miracle. During his flight toward the +border he had suffered every indignity, and finally Longorio had +intercepted him and brought him here, practically in chains. + +"What a situation! What chaos!" he lamented. "The land is overrun with +bandits; there is no law, no authority, no faith; religion is made a +mockery. The men are becoming infidels and atheists, and in many places +they will not allow us to give comfort even to their women." + +"Is it as bad as that?" + +Father O'Malley shook his head sadly. "You've no idea. What do you +think of a people who forbid the mention of God's name in their +schools? That is what the revolutionists are doing. Candeleria claims +that the churches are the property of the State. He confiscates them, +and he charges admission. He has banished all except a few of us +priests, and has shamefully persecuted our Sisters of Mercy. Oh, the +outrages! Mexico is, today, the blackest spot on the map of +Christendom." His voice broke. "That is the freedom, 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 his prisoner, to solemnize an unholy +marriage! He treats me like a dog. Last night I slept in a filthy +hovel--" + +"Oh! I'm sorry," Alaire exclaimed. "But I'm half crazed with my own +troubles. You must come into the house; the best I have is yours. You +shall be as much my guest as I can make you, and--perhaps you will help +me to escape." + +"Escape?" The little man smiled mournfully. "You are watched and +guarded, and so am I. Even if you got away from here, what then? You +can't imagine the condition 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 are war +times; the man is a fiend, and he puts no restraint upon his desires. +If he is madly bent on having you, how can you prevent it? In normal +times he would not dare injure one so prominent as you, but now--" +Father O'Malley lifted his hands. "I only wonder that he suggests a +lawful marriage. Suppose you refuse? Will he not sacrifice you to his +passions? He has done worse things." After a moment's consideration he +said: "Of course it is possible that I misjudge him. Anyhow, if you +desire me to do so I will refuse to perform the ceremony. But--I'm +afraid it will just mean ruin for both of us." + +"Surely he wouldn't harm you?" + +The Father shrugged. "What am I? An obscure priest. Many of my brothers +are buried in Mexico. However, I shall do as you wish." + +As the day wore on Alaire realized even more clearly the fact that she +was Longorio's prisoner. His men, in spite of their recent debauch, +kept a very good watch over her, and it was plain that they would obey +his orders, no matter how extreme. It occurred to her finally that he +was staying away purposely, in order to give her a fuller appreciation +of her position--so that she might beat her 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 positive trial. + +Half distracted, Alaire roamed through the house, awaiting her captor's +coming, steeling herself for their final battle. But the delay was +trying; she longed for the crisis to come, that this intolerable +suspense might be ended. At such an hour her thoughts naturally turned +to Dave Law, and she found herself yearning for him with a yearning +utterly new. His love had supported her through those miserable days at +Las Palmas, but now it was a torture; she called his name wildly, +passionately. He knew her whereabouts and her peril--why did he not +come? Then, more calmly, she asked herself what he, or what any one, +could do for her. How could she look for succor when two nations were +at war? + +Night had come before she finally gave up and acknowledged the +hopelessness of her situation. She had fought bravely, but with +darkness her fears grew blacker. She was on the verge of her first +breakdown when, in the early dusk outside, she heard voices and the +stamping of horses' hoofs. The sounds were muffled by the heavy wooden +shutters she had taken pains to close and bar, but they told her that +Longorio had returned. Since it was futile to deny him entrance, she +waited where she was. Old Pancho's voice sounded outside; then there +came a knock upon the door of the room in 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 on important 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 strode +swiftly into the lamplight. He paused, blinking as if momentarily +blinded, and Alaire clutched at the nearest chair for support. A +roaring began in her ears; she felt herself sway forward as if the +strength had left her knees. She heard Dave's voice faintly; he was +saying: + +"Take care of my horse. Feed and water her well. Understand? When +General Longorio comes tell him I am waiting here." + +As if in a dream, Alaire saw the Mexican go out, closing the door +behind him. Then she saw Dave come toward her, heard him speak her +name, felt his arms around her. + +Alaire did not swoon, but she never could remember very distinctly +those first few moments. Scarcely knowing what she did, she found +herself clinging to her lover, laughing, weeping, feeling him over with +shaking hands that would not be convinced of his reality. She was aware +of his kisses upon her lips, her eyes, her hair; he was saying +something which she could not understand because of that roaring in her +ears. + +"You heard me calling," she told him at last. "Oh, I was--so +frightened!" She clung closer to him. After a time she discovered that +she was mechanically nodding and shaking her head at the questions he +was putting to her, but had only the vaguest idea what they were. By +and by she began to tell him about Longorio, speaking in a sort of +hypnotic murmur, as if her words issued at his mental suggestion. And +all the time she snuggled against his breast. + +"Dearest!" Dave held her away in gentle hands. "I was afraid you'd go +to pieces like this, but I had to break through the best way I could. I +learned you were here and something about what was going on from the +people at the next ranch. But I expected to find HIM here, too." + +"How did you manage to get here?" + +"I hardly know. I just wouldn't let 'em stop me. This lieutenant +wouldn't let me in until I told him I was from Monterey with important +news. I don't remember all I did tell him. I tried to get here last +night, but I had trouble. They caught me, and I had to buy my way +through. I've bribed and bullied and lied clear from Romero. I reckon +they couldn't imagine I'd risk being here if I wasn't a friend." + +It was more Dave's tone than his words that roused Alaire to an +appreciation of what he said. + +"Are you alone?" she asked, in vague dismay. "Then what are we going 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 realized that it +was very haggard, very old and tired. "They lifted my guns--a bunch of +fellows at the Rio Negro crossing. Some of them were drunk and wouldn't +believe I was an amigo. So I finally had to ride for it." + +"Can't you take me away?" she asked, faintly. "What will you do +when--he comes?" + +"I reckon I'll manage him somehow." His grip upon her tightened +painfully, and she could feel him tremble. "I was afraid I wouldn't +find you. I--O God, Alaire!" He buried his face in her hair. + +"I had a terrible scene with him last night. He insists upon marrying +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 did you +learn?" + +"From Jose. I caught him within an hour of the murder, and made him +tell me everything." + +Alaire's eyes dilated; she held herself away, saying, breathlessly: +"Murder! Is that what it was? He--Longorio--told me something 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 again quickly, +however, and her cheeks were white. "Then he won't spare you, Dave." +She choked for an instant. "We must get away before he comes. There +must be some way of escape. Think!" + +"I'm pretty tired to think. I'm pretty near played out," he confessed. + +"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 together as +if in the labor of concentration. When she lifted her lids her eyes +were alight, her voice was eager. "I know how. I see it. He won'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 it open, +called down the hall: + +"Father! Father O'Malley! Quick!" Then she summoned Dolores. + +The priest answered; he hurried from his room and, with a dazed lack of +comprehension, acknowledged his swift introduction to Dave. Alaire was +keenly alive and vibrant with purpose now. Dolores, too, came running, +and while the men were exchanging greetings her mistress murmured +something in her ear, then hastened 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," he expostulated. + +"Nor I," echoed Dave. + +"You don't need to understand. I know what I'm doing. I've thought of a +way to save us all." + +Through Dave's mind flashed the memory of that thing which had haunted +him and made his life a nightmare. An incoherent refusal was upon his +lips, but Alaire's face besought him; it was shining with a strange, +new ecstasy, and he could not bring himself to deny 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 were trapped. This might serve, somehow, to +cheat Longorio, and--Alaire would 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 three +black-haired, black-shawled house servants, bundling them through the +door and ranging them along the wall. + +Father O'Malley's face was puckered; he said, hesitatingly: "My dear +madam, this isn't regular; you are not Catholics. How can I bless you?" + +"You can marry us legally, just the same, can't you?" Alaire was +breathing rapidly, and some part of her eagerness began to thrill her +hearers. + +"Oh yes, but--" + +"Then marry us. And make haste, please! Please!" + +Law nodded. He could not speak, for his mouth was dry. A voice within +him shouted a warning, but he would not listen. His heart was beating +violently; his temples were pounding; all the blood of his body seemed +centered in his head. + +Before the eyes of the four wondering women Father O'Malley married +them. It seemed to Alaire that he would never reach the end, 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 signified their +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 I think he means it. +He is amazingly egotistical. He has tremendous ambitions. He thinks +this war is his great opportunity, and he means to be President--he's +sure of it. He loves me, but he loves himself better, I'm sure. Now, +don't you see? He'll have to choose one or the other." + +Father O'Malley did not appear to appreciate the full force of this +reasoning. "My dear," he said, gravely, "he can make you a widow 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 go quickly, +before it's known what we've done." + +Dave stared at her in bewilderment. "I? I go, and--leave you?" He +seemed 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 he finds you're +gone and he can't lay hands on you, what can he do but 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, his head 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 THEM out of the way. +With Dave gone I'll be safe. He can't ignore our marriage. But +otherwise--There's no telling what he may do. Why, he'll kill you, +Dave, as he killed Ed." She upturned a face eloquent with pleading. +"Won't you do this for me?" + +"No!" Law declared, firmly. "You wouldn't ask it if you were in your +senses. Get me a gun and I'll shoot my way out. We'll go until they +stop us. But don't ask me to leave you." + +She searched his face eagerly, piteously, then with a quivering sigh +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 understand that it was he +who effected the death of--Mr. Austin?" + +Dave recounted as coherently as he could the circumstances of Ed's +death, and told how he had learned, through Jose, of Longorio's +intentions. As the priest listened a spot of color grew in his cheeks, +his eyes glowed with indignation. He was about to make known what was +in his mind when Alaire raised her hand and in a strained whisper +exclaimed: + +"'Sh-h! Listen!" + +The heavy door of the hacienda creaked, a quick tread sounded on the +tiles, the door to the living-room was flung open, and Longorio +entered. He was hot and dusty from his ride, but with a lover's +impetuosity he had made straight for this lighted room. + +For the briefest instant he balanced himself just inside the portal, +and the smile remained fixed upon his lips. Then his eyes became ringed +with white and he made a swift, catlike movement of retreat. 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 heard you +ride up, sir, so I ran to tell you about this fellow." + +But the general cut him short. "Call your men, quick," he cried in a +voice that sent the soldier leaping back into the night. + +Alaire was clinging to Dave, merely clutching him the tighter when he +tried to unclasp her hold. Her movement into the shelter of his rival's +arms infuriated Longorio, who uttered an exclamation and fumbled +uncertainly with his holster. But his fingers were clumsy. He could not +take his eyes from the pair, and he seemed upon the point of rushing +forward to tear them apart. + +"Don't touch her! Don't--" he began, cursing in a high-pitched voice. +"God! What a reckoning!" Then he stamped his feet, he wrung his hands, +he called shrilly at the top of his voice: "Lieutenant! Ho, Pancho! You +fellows! Quickly!" Under the stress of his excitement the feminine side +of his character betrayed itself. + +Alaire felt her newly made husband gather himself for a spring; he was +muttering to her to release him; he was trying to push her aside, but +she held fast with the strength of desperation. + +"You can't harm us," she declared, flinging her words defiantly at the +Mexican. "You dare not. You are too late. Father O'Malley has just +married us." + +Longorio uttered a peculiar, wordless cry of dismay; his mouth fell +open; his arms dropped; he went limp all over, paralyzed momentarily by +surprise and horror; his eyes protruded; he swayed as if his sight had +blurred. + +"I said I'd never marry you," she rushed on, vibrantly. "This is the +man I love--the only man. Yes, and I've learned the truth about 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. He waved 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 care what you do, +Longorio. I have married these people, and you can't undo what I have +done. We are American citizens. The laws of civilization protect us." + +The Mexican fought for his voice, then stammered: "You are my priest; I +brought you here. I offered to marry her. Now--you force me to damn my +soul." Turning his eyes wildly upon Alaire, he shouted: "Too late, eh? +You say I am too late! It seems that I am barely in time." + +Dave added his words to the others: "You are ten to one, but you can't +have her," he cried, defiantly. "Jose Sanchez confessed to the murder +of Mr. Austin, and told how you had got Mrs. Austin to come here. The +whole thing is known in Washington and Mexico City by this time. The +newspapers have it; everybody knows you are keeping her as your +prisoner, and that I have come for her. If she is harmed, all Mexico, +all the world, will know that you are worse than a murderer." + +Longorio reached behind his back and slammed the door in the faces of +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 in his +face and made a quick decision. "There's a limit to what you dare to +do, Longorio. I'm unarmed; I make no resistance, so there is no excuse +for violence. I surrender to you, and claim protection 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 the doorknob, but before +he could turn it the Catholic priest had him by the arm, and with a +strength surprising in one of his stature wrenched him away. Father +O'Malley's face was white and terrible; his voice was deep, menacing; +the hand he raised above Longorio seemed to brandish a weapon. + +"Stop!" he thundered. "Are you a madman? Destruction hangs over you; +destruction of body and soul. You dare not separate those whom God hath +joined." + +"God! God!" the other shrilled. "I don't believe in Him. I am a god; I +know of no other." + +"Blasphemer!" roared the little man. "Listen, then. So surely as you +harm these people, so surely do you kill your earthly prospects. You, +the first man of Mexico, the Dictator indeed! Think what you are doing +before it is too late. Is your dream of greatness only a dream? Will +you sacrifice yourself and all your aspirations in the heat of this +unholy and impossible passion? Tonight, now, you must choose whether +you will be famous or infamous, glorious or shameful, honored or +dishonored! Restrain your hatred and conquer your lust, or forego for +ever your dreams of empire and pass into oblivion." + +"You are a meddler," Longorio stormed. "You make a loud noise, but I +shall rid Mexico of your kind. We shall have no more of you priests." + +Father O'Malley shook the speaker as a parent shakes an unruly child. +"See! You have completely lost your head. But I want you to listen to +what I am saying. Whether you are more good than evil, God must judge, +but the people of Mexico are good people, and they will not be ruled by +a man who is wholly bad. You have the power to remove this man and this +woman, yes, and this priest who dares to point out the pit at your +feet; but if you do you will never command another Mexican army. There +is no war. We are not your enemies. The world knows we are here, and it +holds you accountable for our safety. To-morrow you will have to face +the reckoning." + +Longorio listened. It was plain that he recognized the truth of +O'Malley's words, but he was convulsed with rage. + +"Good!" he cried. "I see my dreams dissolve, but I am not the first +great man to trade an empire for a woman. Antony, the Roman general, +laid his honor in a woman's arms. I had a shining destiny, but Mexico +will be the sufferer by my betrayal. Instead of 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. I have +something more to say to you." He flung open the door into the hall +and, taking the general by the arm, fairly dragged him from the room +and into the one opposite. The lieutenant and his men looked on in +amazement, shuffling their feet and shifting their 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 cast his +eyes desperately over the room, conscious all the time that he was +being watched with suspicion by the men outside. He stirred restlessly +and moistened his lips. "Longorio would be crazy to injure you." + +Ten minutes passed; fifteen. Alaire leaned, motionless, against the +table; Dave paced about, followed by the eyes of the soldiers. One of +the latter struck a match, and in the silence it sounded like a +gunshot. Dave started, at which the soldiers laughed. They began to +talk in murmurs. The odor of cigarette smoke drifted in to the man and +the woman. + +Finally the door through which Father O'Malley and Longorio had passed +opened, and the priest emerged. He was alone. His face was flushed and +damp; his eyes were glowing. He forced the Mexicans out of his way and, +entering the living-room, closed the door behind him. + +"Well?" his two friends questioned, anxiously. + +"I've done all I can. The rest is out of our hands." The little man 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, so +distracted." + +"Then he is wavering. Oh-h!" Alaire clasped her hands in thanksgiving, +but the Father cautioned her: + +"Don't be too sanguine. He is not afraid of consequences. He appears to +have no conscience. He is without mercy and seems lost to shame. I have +never met a man quite like him. Do you know what he feels at this +moment? Chagrin. Yes, mortification raised to the highest pitch, and a +sort of stupefaction that you should prefer another 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 to appeal 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 a flash I saw the man's soul laid +bare before me, and--I think I played upon it with some cunning. I +don't remember all I said, for I 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 fact that the world knows we are here and that it +trusts him. He aspires to the Presidency; he believes he is destined to +be Mexico's Dictator; so I painted a picture that surpassed his own +imaginings. He would have been suspicious of mere flattery, so I went +far beyond that and inflamed him with such extravagant visions as only +a child or an unblushing egotist like him could accept. I swelled his +vanity; I inflated his conceit. For a moment, at least, I lifted him +out of himself and raised him to the heights." + +From beyond the closed door came Longorio's voice, issuing some command +to his men. A moment passed; then he appeared before the three +Americans. He seemed taller, thinner, more erect and hawklike than +ever. His head was held more proudly and his chest was fuller. A set, +disdainful smile was graven upon his face. + +He began by addressing his words directly to Alaire. "Senora," he said, +"I am a man of deep feeling and I scorn deceit. Therefore I offer no +apology for my recent display of emotion. If I have seemed to press my +advances with undue fervor, it is because, at heart, I am as great a +lover as I am a statesman or a soldier. But there are other things than +love. Nature constituted me a leader, and he who climbs high must climb +alone. I offered Chapultepec as a shrine for your beauty. I offered to +share Mexico with you, and I 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 voice throbbed with a sudden fierce desire, and his long, +lean hands closed convulsively. "You must realize that I have the +courage and the power to defy the world, eh?" He seemed to challenge +denial of this statement, but, receiving none, he went on, fixing his +brilliant, feverish eyes once more upon Alaire. "As a man of sentiment +I am unique; I am different from any you have ever known. I would not +possess a flower without its fragrance. You did not 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 no patriot in history ever made a +more splendid sacrifice for his country than I make now. Some day the +world will wonder how I had the 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. "I have +ordered your horses to be saddled." + +Dave, who had with difficulty restrained his anger at the fellow's +bombast, was upon the point of speaking when Father O'Malley took the +words out of his mouth: + +"Would you send this woman out of her own house into a country +like--like this? Remember the fortune in cattle you have already +taken--" + +Longorio broke in with a snarl: "Is it my fault that the country is in +arms? Military necessity compels me to remain here. I consider myself +magnanimous. I--" His voice cracked, and he made a despairing, violent +gesture. "Go, before I change my mind." + +Dave signaled to the others, and Alaire slipped away to make herself +ready. During the uncomfortable silence which succeeded her departure, +Longorio paced the room, keeping his eyes resolutely 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 and +unclasping his fists behind his back. + +With the sound of hoofs outside, Alaire and Dolores appeared, and the +Mexican straightened himself with an effort. + +"Adios, senora!" he said, with a stiff bow. "We have had a pleasant +friendship and a thrilling flirtation, eh? I shall never cease to +regret that Fate interrupted at such an interesting moment. Adios! +Adios!" He bowed formally, in turn to Dave and to the priest, then +resumed his pacing, with his hands at his back and his brow furrowed as +if in a struggle with affairs of greater moment than this. + +But when he heard the outside door creak shut behind them his +indifference vanished and he halted with head turned in an effort to +catch the last sounds of their departure. His face was like tallow now, +his lips were drawn back from his teeth as if in supreme agony. A +moment and the hoofbeats had died away. Then Longorio slipped his leash. + +He uttered a cry--a hoarse, half-strangled shriek that tore his throat. +He plucked the collar from his neck as if it choked him; he beat his +breast. Seizing whatever article his eye fell upon, he tore and crushed +it; he swept the table clean of its queer Spanish bric-a-brac, and +trampled the litter under his heels. Spying a painting of a saint upon +the wall, he ran to it, ripped it from its nail, and, raising it over +his head, smashed frame and glass, cursing all saints, all priests, and +churchly people. Havoc followed him as he raged about the place +wreaking his fury upon inanimate objects. When he had well-nigh wrecked +the contents of the room, and when his first paroxysm had spent its +violence, he hurled himself into a chair, writhing in agony. He bit his +wrists, he pounded his fists, he kicked; finally he sprawled full +length upon the floor, clawing at the cool, smooth tiles until his +nails bled. + +"Christ! O Christ!" he screamed. + +The sound of his blasphemies reached the little group of soldiers who +had lingered curiously outside, and they listened open-mouthed. One by +one they crossed themselves and stole away into the darkness, muttering. + + + + +XXXI + +A SPANISH WILL + + +With a singing heart Alaire rode through the night at her husband's +side. The strain of the last few hours had been so intense, the relief +at her deliverance so keen, that now she felt curiously weak, and she +kept close to Dave, comforted by his nearness and secure in the +knowledge of his strength. + +Although he was unusually taciturn and rode with his chin upon his +breast, 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, and not +infrequently he dozed for a moment or two in his saddle. Yet it was not +this which stilled his tongue, but a growing sense of guilt and dismay +at what he had brought upon himself. In a moment of weakness he had +done the very thing against which he had fought so bitterly, and now he +faced the consequences. How, when, where could he find strength to undo +his action? he asked himself. The weight of this question bent his +shoulders, paralyzed his wits. + +Some two hours out from La Feria the riders halted at a point where the +road dipped into a rocky stream-bed; then, as the horses drank, Dolores +voiced a thought that had troubled all of them. + +"If that bandit really means to spare us, why did he send us away in +the night, like this?" she asked. "I shall be surprised if we are not +assassinated before morning." + +"He must have meant it." Alaire spoke with a conviction she did not +entirely feel. "Father O'Malley aroused the finer side of his nature." + +"Perhaps," agreed the priest. "Somewhere in him there is a fear of God." + +But Dave was skeptical. "More likely a fear of the gringo Government," +said he. "Longorio is a four-flusher. When he realized he was licked he +tried to save his face by a grandstand play. 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 one of 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 moment I saw you all my +fears vanished. I was like a lost child who suddenly sees her father; +in your arms I felt perfectly safe, for the first time in all my life, +I think. I--I couldn't bear to go on without you, after this." + +Dave found nothing to say; they rode along side by side for a time in a +great contentment that required no speech. Then Alaire asked: + +"Dear, have you considered how we--are going to explain our marriage?" + +"Won't the circumstances explain it?" + +"Perhaps. And yet--It seems ages since I learned--what happened to Ed, +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 secret for +the present. I promise not to--act like a husband." + +With a little reckless laugh she confessed, "I--I'm afraid I'll find it +difficult to be conventional." + +"My wife!" he cried in sharp agony. Leaning far out, he encircled her +with his arm; then, half lifting her from her saddle, he crushed his +lips to hers. It was his first display of emotion since Father O'Malley +had united them. + +There were few villages along the road they followed, and because of +the lateness of the hour all were dark, hence the party passed through +without exciting attention except from an occasional wakeful dog. But +as morning came and the east began to glow Dave told 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 the little +man. "I'm famished, too." + +At the next rancho they came to they applied for shelter, but were +denied; in fact, the owner cursed them so roundly for being Americans +that they were glad to ride onward. A mile or two farther along they +met a cart the driver of which refused to answer their greetings. As +they passed out of his sight they saw that he had halted his lean oxen +and was staring after them curiously. Later, when the sun was well up +and the world had fully awakened, they descried a mounted man, +evidently a cowboy, riding through the chaparral. He saw them, too, and +came toward the road, but after a brief scrutiny he whirled his horse +and galloped off through the cactus, shouting something over his +shoulder. + +"This won't do," O'Malley declared, uneasily. "I don't like the actions +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 this +elevation beheld ahead of them a small village of white houses shining +from the shelter of a grove. The rancheria was perhaps two miles away, +and galloping toward it was the vaquero who had challenged them. + +"That's the Rio Negro crossing," Dave announced. Then spying a little +house squatting a short distance back from the road, he said: "We'd +better try yonder. If they turn us down we'll have to take to the +brush." + +O'Malley agreed. "Yes, and we have no time to lose. That horseman is +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 through cactus +and sage to a gate, entering which they approached the straw-thatched +jacal they had seen. A naked boy baby watched them draw near, then +scuttled for shelter, piping an alarm. A man appeared from somewhere, +at sight of whom the priest rode forward with a pleasant greeting. But +the fellow was unfriendly. His wife, too, emerged from the dwelling and +joined her husband in warning Father O'Malley away. + +"Let me try," Alaire begged, and spurred her horse up to the group. She +smiled down at the country people, saying: "We have traveled a long +way, and we're tired and hungry. Won't you give us something 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. Rushing forward, she +took the edge of Alaire's skirt in her hands and kissed 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 our lives. On your +knees, shameless one! It is she who delivered you from the prison." + +Juan stared unbelievingly, then his face changed; his teeth flashed 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 is Inez," he +declared. "Heaven bless you and forgive me." + +"Now I know you," Alaire laughed, and slipped down from her saddle. +"This is a happy meeting. So! You live here, and that was little Juan +who ran away as if we were going to eat him. Well, we are hungry, but +not hungry enough to devour Juanito." + +Turning to her companions, she explained the circumstances of her first +meeting with these good people, and as she talked the Garcias broke in +joyfully, adding their own account of her goodness. + +"We've fallen among friends," Alaire told Dave and Father O'Malley. +"They will let us rest here, I am sure." + +Husband and wife agreed in one voice. In fact, they were overjoyed at +an opportunity of serving her; and little Juan, his suspicions +partially allayed, issued from hiding and waddled forward to take part +in the welcome. + +Shamefacedly the elder Garcia explained his inhospitable reception of +the travelers. "We hear the gringos are coming to kill us and take our +farms. Everybody is badly frightened. We are driving our herds away and +hiding what we can. Yesterday at the big Obispo ranch our people shot +two Americans and burned some of their houses. They intend to kill all +the Americans they find, so you'd better be careful. Just now a fellow +rode up shouting that you were coming, but of course I didn't know--" + +"Yes, of course. We're trying to reach the border," Father O'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 to sleep?" +Dave asked. His eyes were heavy; he had been almost constantly in the +saddle since leaving Jonesville, and now could barely keep himself +awake. + +"Trust me," the Mexican assured them, confidently. "If somebody comes +I'll send them away. Oh, I can lie with the best of them." + +The Garcias were not ordinary people, and they lived in rather good +circumstances for country folk. There were three rooms to their little +house, all of which were reasonably clean. The food that 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 his advances +halfway he began, before long, to look upon her with particular favor. +Once they had thoroughly made friends, he showered her with the most +flattering attentions. His shyness, it seemed, was but a pretense--at +heart he was a bold and enterprising fellow--and so, as a mark of his +admiration, he presented her with all his personal treasures. First he +fetched and laid in her lap a cigar-box wagon with wooden +wheels--evidently the handiwork of his father. Then he gave her, one by +one, a highly prized blue bottle, a rusty Mexican spur, and the ruins +of what had been a splendid clasp knife. There were no blades in the +knife, but he showed her how to peep through a tiny hole in the handle, +where was concealed the picture of a dashing Spanish bullfighter. The +appreciation which these gifts evoked intoxicated the little man and +roused him to a very madness of generosity. He pattered away and +returned shortly, staggering and grunting under the weight of another +and a still greater offering. It was a dog--a patient, hungry dog with +very little hair. The animal was alive with fleas--it scratched +absent-mindedly with one hind paw, even while Juanito strangled it +against his naked breast--but it was the apple of its owner's eye, and +when Inez unfeelingly banished it from the house Juanito began to +squall lustily. Nor could he be conciliated until Alaire took him upon +her knee and told him about another boy, of precisely his own age and +size, who planted a magic bean in his mother's dooryard, which grew up +and up until it reached clear to the sky, where a giant lived. Juanito +Garcia had never heard the like. He was spellbound with 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 door with a +warning. + +"Conceal yourselves," he said, quickly. "Some of our neighbors are +coming this way." Inez led her guests into the bedchamber, a bare room +with a dirt floor, from the window of which they watched Juan go to +meet a group of horsemen. Inez went out, too, and joined in the parley. +Then, after a time, the riders galloped away. + +When Alaire, having watched the party out of sight, turned from the +window she found that Dave had collapsed upon a chair and was sleeping, +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." With the +assistance of Dolores they succeeded in lifting Dave to the bed, but he +half roused himself. "Lie down, dear," Alaire told him. "Close your +eyes for a few minutes. We're safe now." + +"Somebody has to keep watch," he muttered, thickly, and tried to fight +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 covered with +straw matting, Alaire folded the garment for a pillow; as she did so a +handful of soiled, frayed letters spilled out upon the floor. + +"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 I ought to tell you, +but--I can't now--not now. Too sleepy." His head drooped again; she +forced him back; he stretched himself out with a sigh, and was asleep +almost instantly. + +Alaire motioned the others out of the room, then stood looking down at +the man into whose keeping she had given her life. As she looked her +face became radiant. Dave was unkempt, unshaven, dirty, but to her he +was of a godlike beauty, and the knowledge that he was hers to comfort +and guard was strangely thrilling. Her love for Ed, even that first +love of her girlhood, had been nothing like this. How could it have +been like this? she asked herself. How could she have loved deeply +when, at the time, her own nature lacked depth? Experience had +broadened her, and suffering had uncovered depths in her being which +nothing else had had the power to uncover. Stooping, she kissed Dave +softly, then let her cheek rest against his. Her man! Her man! She +found herself whispering the words. + +Her eyes were wet, but there was a smile upon her lips when she +gathered up the letters which had dropped from her husband's pocket. +She wondered, with a little jealous twinge, who could be writing to +him. It seemed to her that she owned him now, and that she could not +bear to share him with any other. She studied the inscriptions with a +frown, noticing as she did so that several of the envelopes were +unopened--either Dave was careless about such things 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? Dave had +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 ineffable mysteries 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 which +Alaire had heard--but who was Maria Josefa Law? Alaire scanned the +sheets curiously, and on the reverse side of the last one discovered 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 I told you +about. At the time of her death she was not possessed of the property +mentioned herein, and so the original document was never filed for +record, but came to me along with certain family possessions of small +value. It seems to contain the information you desire. + +Y'rs aff'ly, + +FRANCISCO RAMIREZ. + +The will of Dave's mother! Then Maria Josefa Law was that poor woman +regarding whose tragic end Judge Ellsworth had spoken so peculiarly. +Alaire felt not a little curiosity to know more about the mother of the +man whose name she had taken. Accordingly, after a moment of debate +with herself, she sat down to translate the instrument. Surely Dave +would not object if she occupied herself thus 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 nothing formed +it, and my body I order returned to earth, and which, as soon as it +shall become a corpse, it is my wish shall be shrouded with a blue +habit in resemblance to those used by the monks of our Seraphic Father, +St. Francis; to be interred with high mass, without pomp-- + +Alaire mused with a certain reverent pleasure that Dave's mother had +been a devout woman. + +Second: I declare to have, in the possession of my husband, Franklin +Law, three horses, with splendid equipment of saddles and bridles, +which are to be sold and the proceeds applied to masses for the benefit +of my soul. I so declare, that it may appear. + +Third: I declare to owe to Mrs. Guillelmo Perez about twenty dollars, +to be ascertained by what she may have noted in her book of accounts. +So I declare, that this debt may be paid as I have ordered. + +Fourth: In just remuneration for the services of my cousin, Margarita +Ramirez, I bequeath and donate a silver tray which weighs one hundred +ounces, seven breeding cows, and four fine linen and lace tablecloths. +So I declare, that it may appear. + +Fifth: I bequeath to my adopted son, David, offspring of the +unfortunate American woman who died in my house at Escovedo, the share +of land-- + +Alaire re-read this paragraph wonderingly, then let the document fall +into her lap. So Dave was an adopted son, and not actually the child of +this woman, Maria Josefa Law. She wondered if he knew it, and, if so, +why he hadn't told her? But, after all, what difference did it make who +or what he was? He was hers to love and to comfort, hers to cherish and +to serve. + +For a long time she sat gazing at him tenderly; then she tiptoed out +and delighted the naked Garcia baby by taking him in her arms and +hugging him. Inez thought the beautiful senora's voice was like the +music of birds. + +It was growing dark when Dave was awakened by cool hands upon his face +and by soft lips upon his. He opened his eyes to find Alaire bending +over him. + +"You must get up," she smiled. "It is nearly time to go, and Inez is +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 so for a +while, whispering now and then, trying ineffectually to voice 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 one eye +on you. I'm terribly selfish; I can't bear to lose one minute." After a +while she said: "I've made a discovery. Father O'Malley snores +dreadfully! Juanito never heard anything like it, and it frightened him +nearly to death. He says the Father must be a very fierce man to growl +so loudly. He says, too, that he likes me much better than his mother." + +It seemed to Dave that the bliss of this awakening and the sweet +intimacy of this one moment more than rewarded him for all he had gone +through, and paid him for any unhappiness the future might hold in +store. + +He felt called upon to tell Alaire the truth about himself; but with +her in his arms he had no strength of purpose; her every endearment +made him the more aware of his weakness. Again he asked himself when +and how he could bear to tell her? Not now. Certainly not now when she +was trembling under his caresses. + +"I've been busy, too," she was saying. "I sent Juan to the village to +learn the news, and it's not very nice. It's good we stopped here. He +says Nuevo Pueblo has been destroyed, and the Federal forces are all +moving south, away from the border. So our troubles aren'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 of myself." + +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 of unopened +letters?" + +"Oh, those! They came just as I was leaving Jonesville, and I haven't +thought of them since. You know, I haven't had my clothes off." + +"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 a jealous +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 with pain. + +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 are you +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 expecting this. +It seems I've been carrying it around all this time--" + +"Why don't you read it?" she insisted. "There's light enough there by +the window. I supposed you knew all about it or I wouldn't have joked +with you." + +He opened his lips to speak, but, seeing something in her eyes, he +stepped to the window and read swiftly. A moment, and then he uttered a +cry. + +"Alaire!" he exclaimed, hoarsely. "Read this--My eyes--O God!" + +Wonderingly she took the sheets from his shaking hands and read aloud +the paragraph he indicated: Fifth: I bequeath to my adopted son, David, +offspring of the unfortunate American woman who died in my house at +Escovedo-- + +Again Dave cried out and knelt at Alaire's feet, his arms about her +knees, his face buried in her dress. His shoulders were heaving and his +whole body was racked with sobs. + +Shocked, frightened, Alaire tried to raise him, but he encircled her in +a tighter embrace. + +"Dave! What is it? What have I done?" she implored. "Have I hurt you +so?" + +It was a long time before he could make known the significance of that +paragraph, and when he finally managed to tell her about the terrible +fear that had lain so heavily upon his soul it was in broken, choking +words which showed his deep emotion. The story was out at last, +however, and he stood over her transfigured. + +Alaire lifted her arms and placed them upon his shoulders. "Were you +going to give me up for that?--for a shadow?" + +"Yes. I had made up my mind. I wouldn't have dared marry you last +night, but--I never expected to see today's sun. I didn't think it +would make much difference. It was more than a shadow, Alaire. It was +real. I WAS mad--stark, staring mad--or in a fair way of becoming so. I +suppose I brooded too much. Those violent spells, those wild moments I +sometimes have, made me think it must be true. I dare say they are no +more than temper, but they seemed to prove 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. We would have +met it together when it came, just as we'll meet everything now--you +and I, together." + +"My wife!" He laid his lips against her hair. + +They were standing beside the window, speechless, oblivious to all +except their great love, when Dolores entered to tell them that supper +was ready and that the horses were saddled. + + + + +XXXII + +THE DAWN + + +Juan Garcia proved to be a good guide, and he saved the refugees many +miles on their road to the Rio Grande. But every farm and every village +was a menace, and at first they were forced to make numerous detours. +As the night grew older, however, they rode a straighter course, urging +their horses to the limit, hoping against hope to reach the border +before daylight overtook them. This they might have done had it not +been for Father O'Malley and Dolores, who were unused to the saddle and +unable to maintain the pace Juan set for them. + +About midnight the party stopped on the crest of a flinty ridge to give +their horses breath and to estimate their progress. The night was fine +and clear; outlined against the sky were the stalks of countless +sotol-plants standing slim and bare, like the upright lances 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 me we'll +never reach Romero by morning, at this rate," he said; and Dave was +forced to agree. "I think you and he and Alaire had better go on and +leave Dolores and me to follow as best we can." + +Dolores plaintively seconded this suggestion. "I would rather be burned +at the stake than suffer these agonies," she confessed. "My bones are +broken. The devil is in this horse." She began to weep softly. "Go, +senora. Save yourself! It is my accursed fat stomach that hinders me. +Tell Benito that I perished breathing his name, and see to it, when he +remarries, that he retains none of my treasures." + +Alaire reassured her by saying: "We won't leave you. Be brave and make +the best of it." + +"Yes, grit your teeth and hold on," Dave echoed. "We'll manage to make +it somehow." + +But progress was far slower than it should have been, and the elder +woman continued to lag behind, voicing her distress in groans and +lamentations. The priest, who was made of sterner stuff, did his best +to bear his tortures cheerfully. + +In spite of their efforts the first rosy heralds of dawn discovered +them still a long way from the river and just entering a more thickly +settled country. Daylight came swiftly, and Juan finally gave them +warning. + +"We can't go on; the danger is too great," he told them. "If the +soldiers are still in Romero, what then?" + +"Have you no friends hereabouts who would take us in?" Dave inquired. + +The Mexican shook his head. + +Dave considered for a moment. "You must hide here," he told his +companions, "while I ride on to Romero and see what can be done. I +suspect Blanco's troops have left, and in that case everything will be +all right." + +"Suppose they haven't?" Alaire inquired. All night she had been in the +lightest of moods, and had steadily refused to take their perils +seriously. Now her smile chased the frown from her husband's face. + +"Well, perhaps I'll have breakfast with them," he laughed. + +"Silly. I won't let you go," she told him, firmly; and, reading the +expression in her face, he felt a dizzy wonder. "We'll find a nice +secluded spot; then we'll sit down and wait for night to come. We'll +pretend we're having a picnic." + +Dolores sighed at the suggestion. "That would be heaven, but there can +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 very soldiers now! +See!" + +Far away, but evidently approaching at a smart gait, was a body of +mounted 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 he took Juan's +Winchester, saying: "Ride in a little way farther and wait. I'm going +back. If you hear me shoot, break for the river. Ride hard and keep +under cover as much as possible." Before they could remonstrate he had +wheeled Montrosa and was gone. + +This was luck, he told himself. Ten miles more and they would have been +safe, for the Rio Grande is not a difficult river either to ford or to +swim. He dismounted and made his way on foot to a point where he could +command a view, but he had barely established himself when he found +Alaire at his side. + +"Go back," he told her. But she would not, and so they waited together. + +There were perhaps a dozen men in the approaching squad, and Dave saw +that they were heavily accoutred. They rode fast, too, and at their +head galloped a large man under a wide-brimmed felt hat. It soon became +evident that the soldiers were not uniformed. Therefore, Dave reasoned, +they were not Federals, but more probably some Rebel scouting band from +the south, and yet--He rubbed his eyes and stared again. + +Dave pressed forward eagerly, incredulously; the next instant he had +broken cover with a shout. Alaire was at his side, clapping her hands +and laughing with excitement. + +The cavalcade halted; the big man tumbled from his saddle and came +straddling through the high grass, waving his hat and yelling. + +"Blaze! You old scoundrel!" Dave cried, and seized one of the +ranchman's palms while Alaire shook the other. + +"Say! We're right glad to see you-all," Jones exclaimed. "We reckoned +you might be havin' a sort of unpleasantness with Longorio, so we +organized up and came to get you." + +The other horsemen were crowding close now, and their greetings were +noisy. There were the two Guzman boys, Benito Gonzales, Phil Strange, +and a number of Jonesville's younger and more adventurous citizens. + +In the midst of the tumult Benito inquired for his wife, and Dave +relieved his anxiety by calling Dolores and Father O'Malley. Then, in +answer to the questions showered upon him, he swiftly sketched the +story of Alaire's rescue and their flight from La Feria. + +When he had finished Blaze Jones drew a deep breath. "We're mighty glad +you got out safe, but you've kicked the legs from under one of my pet +ambitions. I sure had planned to nail Longorio's hide on my barn door. +Yes, and you've taken the bread out of the mouths of the space writers +and sob sisters from here to Hudson's Bay. Miz Austin, 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 and singin' battle hymns, +but I reckon the government figures that the original of those +newspaper pictures would be safe anywhere. Well, we've got our own +ideas in Jonesville, so some of us assembled ourselves and declared war +on our own hook. These gentlemen"--Blaze waved his hand proudly at his +neighbors--"constitute the Jonesville Guards, the finest body of +American men that has invaded Mexican soil since me and Dave went after +Ricardo Guzman's remains. Blamed if I ain't sorry you sidetracked our +expedition." + +It was evident, from the words of the others, that the Jonesville +Guards were indeed quite as heedless of international complications as +was their commander. One and all were highly incensed at Longorio's +perfidy, and, had Alaire suggested such a thing, it was patent that +they would have ridden on to La Feria and exacted a reckoning from him. + +Such proof of friendship affected her deeply, and it was not until they +were all under way back toward Romero that she felt she had made her +appreciation fully known. When she reflected that these men were some +of the very neighbors whom she had shunned and slighted, and whose +honest interest she had so habitually misconstrued all these years, it +seemed very strange that they should feel the least concern over her. +It gave her a new appreciation of their chivalry and their worth; it +filled her with a humble desire to know them better and to strengthen +herself in their regard. Then, too, the esteem in which they held +Dave--her husband--gratified her intensely. It made no more difference +to them than to her that he was a poor man, a man without authority or +position; they evidently saw and loved in him the qualities which she +saw and loved. And that was as it should be. + +They were gentle and considerate men, too, as she discovered when they +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 been attended to. Jose +Sanchez, it appeared, had confessed freely. Although her new friends +made plain their indignation at the manner of Ed's taking off, they +likewise let her know that they considered his death only a slight +loss, either to her or to the community. Not one of them pretended it +was anything except a blessing. + +The journey drew to an end very quickly. Romero, deserted now by its +garrison, stirred and stared sleepily at the invaders, but concerned +itself with their presence no more than to wonder why they laughed and +talked so spiritedly. Plainly, these gringos were a barbarous race of +people, what with their rushing here and there, and with their loud, +senseless laughter. God had wisely placed 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, the air so clear, +the sky so high, the world so smiling, as here and now. The men who had +ridden forth to seek her were smiling, too, and they were shaking her +hands and congratulating her. Even the Guzman boys, who were shy in the +presence of American ladies, were wishing her the best of fortune and +the greatest of happiness. + +Blaze Jones was the last to leave. With especial emphasis upon her +name, he said: "Miz Austin, Paloma and me would like to have you come +to our house and stay until you feel like goin' back to Las Palmas." + +When Alaire declined with moistened eyes, explaining that she could not +well accept his invitation, he signified his understanding. + +"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 of good +people in this part of Texas, and them that ain't so good God and the +Rangers is slowly weedin' out. We don't always know the ones we like +best until something happens to 'em, but if you'd heard the prayers the +folks of Jonesville have been sayin' lately you'd know you was our +favorite." Then, with a meaning twinkle in his eye, he told her, +gravely: "It seems a pity that I ain't younger 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 our wishes." + +Father O'Malley had ridden on ahead with Benito and Dolores; Dave and +Alaire followed leisurely. Now that the moment of their parting was at +hand, they lingered by the way, delaying it as long as possible, +feeling a natural constraint at what was in their minds. + +"How long--will it be?" he asked her, finally. "How long before I can +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 the heart +of each of them. + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Heart of the Sunset, by Rex Beach + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEART OF THE SUNSET *** + +***** This file should be named 5099.txt or 5099.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/5099/ + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Heart of the Sunset + +Author: Rex Beach + +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5099] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 25, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, HEART OF THE SUNSET *** + + + + +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +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 plaster +hard. It burned like hot slag, and except for a panting lizard +here and there, or a dust-gray jack-rabbit, startled from its +covert, nothing animate stirred upon its face. High and motionless +in the blinding sky a buzzard poised; long-tailed Mexican crows +among the thorny branches creaked and whistled, choked and +rattled, snored and grunted; a dove mourned inconsolably, and out +of the air issued metallic insect cries--the direction whence they +came as unascertainable as their source was hidden. + +Although the sun was half-way down the west, its glare remained +untempered, and the tantalizing shade of the sparse mesquite was +more of a trial than a comfort to the lone woman who, refusing its +deceitful invitation, plodded steadily over the waste. Stop, +indeed, she dared not. In spite of her fatigue, regardless of the +torture from feet and limbs unused to walking, she must, as she +constantly assured herself, keep going until strength failed. So +far, fortunately, she had kept her head, and she retained +sufficient reason to deny the fanciful apprehensions which +clamored for audience. If she once allowed herself to become +panicky, she knew, she would fare worse--far worse--and now, if +ever, 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, devoid +of landmarks and lacking well-defined water-courses. The unending +mesquite with its first spring foliage resembled a limitless +peach-orchard sown by some careless and unbelievably prodigal +hand. Out of these false acres occasional knolls and low stony +hills lifted themselves so that one came, now and then, to +vantage-points where the eye leaped for great distances across +imperceptible valleys to horizons so far away that the scattered +tree-clumps were blended into an unbroken carpet of green. To the +woman these outlooks were unutterably depressing, merely serving +to reveal the vastness of the desolation about her. + +At the crest of such a rise she paused and studied the country +carefully, but without avail. She felt dizzily for the desert bag +swung from her shoulder, only to find it flat and dry; the +galvanized mouthpiece burned her fingers. With a little shock she +remembered that she had done this very thing several times before, +and her repeated forgetting frightened her, since it seemed to +show that her mind had been slightly unbalanced by the heat. That +perhaps explained why the distant horizon swam and wavered so. + +In all probability a man situated as she was would have spoken +aloud, in an endeavor to steady himself; but this woman did +nothing of the sort. Seating herself in the densest shade she +could find--it was really no shade at all--she closed her eyes and +relaxed--no easy thing to do in such a stifling temperature and +when her throat was aching with drought. + +At length she opened her eyes again, only to find that she could +make out nothing familiar. Undoubtedly she was lost; the water- +hole might be anywhere. She listened tensely, and the very air +seemed to listen with her; the leaves hushed their faint +whisperings; 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 with +hers, yet no sound came save only the monotonous crescendo and +diminuendo of those locust-cries coming out of nowhere and +retreating into the voids. At last, as if satisfied, the leaves +began to whisper softly again. + +Away to her left lay the yellow flood of the Rio Grande, but the +woman, though tempted to swing in that direction, knew better than +to yield. At least twenty miles of barrens lay between, and she +told herself that she could never cover such a distance. No, the +water-hole was nearer; it must be close at hand. If she could only +think a little more clearly, she could locate it. Once more she +tried, as she had tried many times before, to recall the exact +point where she had shot her horse, and to map in her mind's eye +the foot-weary course she had traveled from that point onward. + +Desert travel was nothing new to her, thirst and fatigue were old +acquaintances, yet she could not help wondering if, in spite of +her training, in spite of that inborn sense of direction which she +had prided herself upon sharing with the wild creatures, she were +fated to become a victim of the chaparral. The possibility was +remote; death at this moment seemed as far off as ever--if +anything it was too far off. No, she would find the water-hole +somehow; or the unexpected would happen, as it always did when one +was 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 her +shoulder and the loose cartridge-belt at her hip, then set her +dusty feet down the slope. + +Day died lingeringly. The sun gradually lost its cruelty, but a +partial relief from the heat merely emphasized the traveler's +thirst and muscular distress. Onward she plodded, using her eyes +as carefully as she knew how. She watched the evening flight of +the doves, thinking to guide herself by their course, but she was +not shrewd enough to read the signs correctly. The tracks she +found were old, for the most part, and they led in no particular +direction, nowhere uniting into anything like a trail. She +wondered, if she could bring herself to drink the blood of a jack- +rabbit, and if it would quench her thirst. But the thought was +repellent, and, besides, she was not a good shot with a revolver. +Nor did the cactus offer any relief, since it was only just coming +into bloom, and as yet bore no fruit. + +The sun had grown red and huge when at last in the hard-baked dirt +she discovered fresh hoof-prints. These seemed to lead along the +line in which she was traveling, and she followed them gladly, +encouraged when they were joined by others, for, although they +meandered aimlessly, they formed something more like a trail than +anything she had as yet seen. Guessing at their general direction, +she hurried on, coming finally into a region where the soil was +shallow and scarcely served to cover the rocky substratum. A low +bluff rose on her left, and along its crest scattered Spanish +daggers were raggedly silhouetted against the sky. + +She was in a well-defined path now; she tried to run, but her legs +were heavy; she stumbled a great deal, and her breath made +strange, distressing sounds as it issued from her open lips. +Hounding the steep shoulder of the ridge, she hastened down a +declivity into a knot of scrub-oaks and ebony-trees, then halted, +staring ahead of her. + +The nakedness of the stony arroyo, the gnarled and stunted +thickets, were softened by the magic of twilight; the air had +suddenly cooled; overhead the empty, flawless sky was deepening +swiftly from blue to purple; the chaparral had awakened and echoed +now to the sounds of life. Nestling in a shallow, flinty bowl was +a pool of water, and on its brink a little fire was burning. + +It was a tiny fire, overhung with a blackened pot; the odor of +greasewood and mesquite smoke was sharp. A man, rising swiftly to +his feet at the first sound, was staring at the new-comer; he was +as alert as any wild thing. But the woman scarcely heeded him. She +staggered directly toward the pond, seeing nothing after the first +glance except the water. She would have flung herself full length +upon the edge, but the man stepped forward and stayed her, then +placed a tin cup in her hand. She mumbled something in answer to +his greeting and the hoarse, raven-like croak in her voice +startled her; then she drank, with trembling eagerness, drenching +the front of her dress. The water was warm, but it was clean and +delicious. + +"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 grateful +that she was tempted to fling herself bodily into the pool. The +man was still talking, but she took no heed of what he said. Then +at last she sank back, her feet curled under her, her body +sagging, her head drooping. She felt the stranger's hands beneath +her arms, felt herself lifted to a more comfortable position. +Without asking permission, the stranger unlaced first one, then +the other of her dusty boots, seeming not to notice her weak +attempt at resistance. Once he had placed her bare feet in the +water, she forgot her resentment in the intense relief. + +The man left her seated in a collapsed, semi-conscious state, and +went back to his fire. For the time she was too tired to do more +than refill the drinking-cup occasionally, or to wet her face and +arms, but as her pores drank greedily her exhaustion lessened and +her vitality returned. + +It was dark when for the first time she turned her head toward the +camp-fire and stared curiously at the figure there. The appetizing +odor of broiling bacon had drawn her attention, and as if no move +went unnoticed the man said, without lifting his eyes: + +"Let 'em soak! Supper'll be ready directly. How'd you like your +eggs--if we had any?" + +Evidently he expected no reply, for after a chuckle he began to +whistle softly, in a peculiarly clear and liquid tone, almost like +some bird-call. He had spoken with an unmistakable Texas drawl; +the woman put him down at once for a cowboy. She settled her back +against a boulder and rested. + +The pool had become black and mysterious, the sky was studded with +stars when he called her, and she laboriously drew on her +stockings and boots. Well back from the fire he had arranged a +seat for her, using a saddle-blanket for a covering, and upon this +she lowered herself stiffly. As she did so she took fuller notice +of 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 strong +enough to walk on its hands, and I reckon about two cups of it'll +rastle you into shape." As she raised the tin mug to her lips he +waved a hand and smiled. "Drink hearty!" He set a plate of bread +and bacon in her lap, then opened a glass jar of jam. "Here's the +dulces. I've got a sort of sweet tooth in my head. I reckon you'll +have to make out with this, 'cause I rode in too late to rustle +any fresh meat, and the delivery-wagon won't be 'round before +morning." 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 watched +her through the smoke from a husk cigarette. It was perhaps +fortunate for her peace of mind that she could not correctly +interpret his expression, for had she been able to do so she would +have realized something of the turmoil into which her presence had +thrown him. He was accustomed to meeting men in unexpected places- +-even in the desert's isolation--but to have a night camp in the +chaparral 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 of +his solitary habits. + +"Have you had your supper?" she finally inquired. + +"Who, me? Oh, I'll eat with the help." He smiled, and when his +flashing teeth showed white against his leathery tan the woman +decided he was not at all bad-looking. He was very tall and quite +lean, with the long legs of a horseman--this latter feature +accentuated by his high-heeled boots and by the short canvas +cowboy coat that reached only to his cartridge-belt. His features +she could not well make out, for the fire was little more than a +bed of coals, and he fed it, Indian-like, with a twig or two at a +time. + +"I beg your pardon. I'm selfish." She extended her cup and plate +as an invitation for him to share their contents. "Please eat with +me." + +But he refused. "I ain't hungry," he affirmed. "Honest!" + +Accustomed as she was to the diffidence of ranch-hands, she +refrained from urging him, and proceeded with her repast. When she +had 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 I +made 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 ten +miles straightaway, and I reckon you came crooked. Eh?" + +"Yes. And it was very hot. I was never here but once, and--the +country 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 fact +appeared to please him, for he nodded again as he went on with his +meal. "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 East +outfit, or some of the other big cattle-ranches in the +Hebbronville district. Probably he was a range boss or a foreman. +After a time she said, "I suppose the nearest ranch is that Balli +place?" + +"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 in +the morning." + +He looked up at her from under the brim of his hat. "D'you reckon +you 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?" he +asked. "I reckon you need a good rest about as much as anybody I +ever 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 to +stay 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." Heedless +of her dismay, he continued, "Yes'm, about sundown." + +"But--I can't stay here. I'll ride to Balli's and have your horse +back 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't +interfere with your appointment to let me--" + +Law smiled slowly, and, setting his plate aside, selected a fresh +cigarette; then as he reached for a coal he explained: + +"I haven't got what you'd exactly call an appointment. This feller +I'm expectin' is a Mexican, and day before yesterday he killed a +man over in Jim Wells County. They got me by 'phone at +Hebbronville 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. I +was 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 my +man comes. Do you live around here?" The speaker looked up +inquiringly, and after an instant's hesitation the woman said, +quietly: + +"I am Mrs. Austin." She was grateful for the gloom that hid her +face. "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 when +we had that fight near there." + +"You were a Maderista?" + +"Yes'm. Machine-gun man. That's a fine country over there. Seems +like God Almighty got mixed and put the Mexicans on the wrong side +of the Rio Grande. But I reckon you haven't seen much of La Feria +since 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 La +Feria." + +Law shrugged his broad shoulders. "Oh, well, the revolution isn't +over! A ranch in Mexico is my idea of a bad investment." He rose +and, taking his blanket, sought a favorable spot upon which to +spread it. Then he helped Mrs. Austin to her feet--her muscles had +stiffened until she could barely stand--after which he fetched his +saddle for a pillow. He made no apologies for his meager +hospitality, nor did his guest expect any. + +When he had staked out his horse for the night he returned to find +the woman rolled snugly in her covering, as in a cocoon. The dying +embers flickered into flame and lit her hair redly. She had laid +off her felt Stetson, and one loosened braid lay over her hard +pillow. Thinking her asleep, Law stood motionless, making no +attempt 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 tame +him. 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 his +slicker, turned away. + +As he lay staring up through the thorny mesquite branches that +roofed him inadequately from the dew he marveled mightily. A +bright, steady-burning star peeped through the leaves at him, and +as he watched it he remembered that this red-haired woman with the +still, white face was known far and wide through the lower valley +as "The Lone Star." Well, he mused, the name fitted her; she was, +if reports were true, quite as mysterious, quite as cold and fixed +and unapproachable, as the title implied. Knowledge of her +identity had come as a shock, for Law knew something of her +history, and to find her suing for his protection was quite +thrilling. Tales of her pale beauty were common and not tame, but +she was all and more than she had been described. And yet why had +no one told him she was so young? This woman's youth and +attractiveness amazed him; he felt that he had made a startling +discovery. Was she so cold, after all, or was she merely reserved? +Red hair above a pure white face; a woman's form wrapped in his +blanket; ripe red lips caressing the rim of his mean drinking-cup! +Those were things to think about. Those were pictures for a lonely +man. + +She had not been too proud and cold to let him help her. In her +fatigue she had allowed him to lift her and to make her more +comfortable. Hot against his palms--palms unaccustomed to the +touch of woman's flesh--he felt the contact of her naked feet, as +at the moment when he had placed them in the cooling water. Her +feeble resistance had only called attention to her sex--to the +slim whiteness of her ankles beneath her short riding-skirt. + +Following his first amazement at beholding her had come a +fantastic explanation of her presence--for a moment or two it had +seemed as if the fates had taken heed of his yearnings and had +sent her to him out of the dusk--wild fancies, like these, bother +men who are much alone. Of course he had not dreamed that she was +the mistress of Las Palmas. That altered matters, and yet--they +were to spend a long idle day together. If the Mexican did not +come, another night like this would follow, and she was virtually +his 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 their +traces. The toxins of fatigue not only poisoned her muscles with +aches and pains, but drugged her brain and rendered the night a +long succession of tortures during which she experienced for a +second time the agonies of thirst and fatigue and despair. Extreme +physical ordeals, like profound emotional upheavals, leave +imprints upon the brain, and while the body may recover quickly, +it often requires considerable time to rest exhausted nerves. The +finer the nervous organism, the slower is the process of +recuperation. Like most normal women, Alaire had a surprising +amount of endurance, both nervous and muscular, but, having drawn +heavily against her reserve force, she paid the penalty. During +the early hours of the night she slept hardly at all, and as soon +as her bodily discomfort began to decrease her mind became unruly. +Twice she rose and limped to the water-hole for a drink, and it +was not until nearly dawn that she dropped off into complete +unconsciousness. She was awakened by a sunbeam which pierced her +leafy shelter and with hot touch explored her upturned face. + +It was still early; the sun had just cleared the valley's rim and +the ground was damp with dew. Somewhere near by an unfamiliar bird +was sweetly trilling. Alaire listened dreamily until the bird- +carol changed to the air of a familiar cowboy song, then she sat +up, queerly startled. + +David Law was watering his horse, grooming the animal meanwhile +with a burlap doth. Such attention was unusual in a stock country +where horses run wild, but this horse, Mrs. Austin saw, justified +unusual care. It was a beautiful blood-bay mare, and as the woman +looked it lifted its head, then with wet, trembling muzzle +caressed its owner's cheek. Undoubtedly this attention was meant +for a kiss, and was as daintily conferred as any woman's favor. It +brought a reward in a lump of sugar. There followed an exhibition +of equine delight; the mare's lips twitched, her nose wrinkled +ludicrously, she stretched her neck and tossed her head as the +sweetness tickled her palate. Even the nervous switching of her +tail was eloquent of pleasure. Meanwhile the owner showed his +white teeth in a smile. + +"Good morning," said Mrs. Austin. + +Law lifted his hat in a graceful salute as he approached around +the edge of the pool, his spurs jingling musically. The mare +followed. + +"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." Law +paused, and the mare, with sharp ears cocked forward, looked over +his shoulder inquisitively. "Tell the lady good morning, Bessie +Belle," he directed. The animal flung its head high, then stepped +forward and, stretching its neck, sniffed doubtfully at the +visitor. + +"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 plumb +ignorant. But she's got all the airs of a fine lady now. Sometimes +I 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 Belle +tossed her head high. "That's 'yes,' with the reverse English," +the speaker explained. "Now you just rest yourself, ma'am, and +order 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 sure +be 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 the +arroyo, then returned, and, taking his Winchester from its +scabbard, explained: "There's a pair of 'top-knots' on that side- +hill waitin' for a drink. Watch 'em run into my lap when I give +the distress signal of our secret order." He skirted the water- +hole, and seated himself with his heels together and his elbows +propped upon his spread knees in the military position for close +shooting. From where he sat he commanded an unobstructed view of +the thicket's edge. Next he moistened his lips and uttered an +indescribable low whistle. At intervals he repeated the call, +while the woman looked on with interest. Suddenly out of the grass +burst a blue quail, running with wings outstretched and every +feather ruffled angrily. It paused, the man's cheeks snuggled +against the stock of his gun, and the bark of the thirty-thirty +sounded loudly. Mrs. Austin saw that he had shot the little bird's +head off. She spoke, but he stilled her with a gesture, threw in a +second shell, and repeated his magic call. There was a longer wait +this time, but finally the performance was repeated. The marksman +rose, 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 good +shot." + +"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 snake +has got me. I reckon each one thinks the other is in trouble and +comes to the rescue. Anyhow, it's a mighty mean trick." + +He would not permit her to help with the breakfast, so she lay +back enjoying the luxury of her hard bed and watching her host, +whose personality, now that she saw him by daylight, had begun to +challenge her interest. Of late years she had purposely avoided +men, and circumstances had not permitted her to study those few +she had been forced to meet; but now that fate had thrown her into +the company of this stranger, she permitted some play to her +curiosity. + +Physically Law was of an admirable make--considerably over six +feet in height, with wide shoulders and lean, strong limbs. +Although his face was schooled to mask all but the keenest +emotions, the deftness of his movements was eloquent, betraying +that complete muscular and nervous control which comes from life +in the open. A pair of blue-gray, meditative eyes, with a +whimsical fashion of wrinkling half-shut when he talked, relieved +a countenance that otherwise would have been a trifle grim and +somber. The nose was prominent and boldly arched, the ears large +and pronounced and standing well away from the head; the mouth was +thin-lipped and mobile. Alaire tried to read that bronzed visage, +with little success until she closed her eyes and regarded the +mental image. Then she found the answer: Law had the face and the +head of a hunter. The alert ears, the watchful eyes, the predatory +nose were like those of some hunting animal. Yes, that was +decidedly the strongest impression he gave. And yet in his face +there was nothing animal in a bad sense. Certainly it showed no +grossness. The man was wild, untamed, rather than sensual, and +despite his careless use of the plains vernacular he seemed to be +rather above the average in education and intelligence. At any +rate, without being stupidly tongue-tied, he knew enough to remain +silent when there was nothing to say, and that was a blessing, for +Mrs. Austin herself was not talkative, and idle chatter distressed +her. + +On the whole, when Alaire had finished her analysis she rather +resented the good impression Law had made upon her, for on general +principles she chose to dislike and distrust men. Rising, she +walked painfully to the pond and made a leisurely toilet. + +Breakfast was ready when she returned, and once more the man sat +upon his heels and smoked while she ate. Alaire could not catch +his eyes upon her, except when he spoke, at which time his gaze +was direct and open; yet never did she feel free from his +intensest observation. + +After a while she remarked: "I'm glad to see a Ranger in this +county. There has been a lot of stealing down our way, and the +Association men can't seem to stop it. Perhaps you can." + +"The Rangers have a reputation in that line," he admitted. "But +there is stealing all up and down the border, since the war. You +lost any stuff?" + +"Yes. Mostly horses." + +"Sure! They need horses in Mexico." + +"The ranchers have organized. They have formed a sort of vigilance +committee in each town, and talk of using bloodhounds." + +"Bloodhounds ain't any good, outside of novels. If beef got +scarce, 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 got +in 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 express +her surprise without too personal an implication. "I can't imagine +anybody--that is, a man like you, as a common soldier." + +"Well, I wasn't exactly that," he grinned. "No, I was about the +most UNcommon soldier out there. I had a speakin' acquaintance +with most of the guard-houses in the islands before I got +through." + +"But why did you enlist--a man like you?" + +"Why?" He pondered the question. "I was young. I guess I needed +the excitement. I have to get about so much or I don't enjoy my +food." + +"Did you join the Maderistas for excitement?" + +"Mostly. Then, too, I believed Panchito Madero was honest and +would 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 they +are told to fight. There is no PATRIOTISM in them," said she. + +"I think," he said, with grave deliberateness, "the majority feel +something big and vague and powerful stirring inside them. They +don't know exactly what it is, perhaps, but it is there. Mexico +has outgrown her dictators. They have been overthrown by the same +causes that brought on the French Revolution." + +"The French Revolution!" Alaire leaned forward, eying the speaker +with startled intensity. "You don't talk like a--like an enlisted +man. What do you know about the French Revolution?" + +Reaching for a coal, the Ranger spoke without facing her. "I've +read 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't +suppose 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 a +native," 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, and +something 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 of +adventure and a happy lack of settled purpose had led him to +neglect his more commonplace opportunities and sent him first into +the army and thence into the Ranger service. The world is full of +such, and the frontier is their gathering-place. Mrs. Austin had +met a number of men like Law, and to her they seemed to be the +true soldiers of fortune--fellows who lived purely for the fun of +living, and leavened their days with adventure. They were buoyant +souls, for the most part, drifting with the tide, resentful of +authority and free from care; meeting each day with enthusiastic +expectancy for what it held in store. They were restless and +improvident; the world counted them ne'er-do-wells, and yet she +knew that at least their hours were full and that their names-- +some of them--were written large in the distant places. Alaire +Austin often told herself that, had she been born a man, such a +life as this might have been hers, and she took pleasure in +dreaming sometimes of the experience that fate, in such a case, +would have brought to her. + +Being a woman, however, and being animated at this particular +moment by a peculiarly feminine impulse, she felt urged to add her +own touch to what nature had roughed out. This man had been denied +what she termed an education; therefore she decided to put one in +his way. + +"Do you like to read?" she asked him. + +"Say! It's my favorite form of exercise." Law's blue-gray eyes +were expressionless, his face was bland. "Why?" + +"I have a great many books at Las Palmas. You might enjoy some of +them." + +"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 come +borrowin'." + +"Oh, I'll send you a boxful when I get back," said Alaire, and +Dave thanked her humbly. + +Later, when he went to move his mare into a shady spot, the Ranger +chuckled and slapped his thigh with his hat. "Bessie Belle, we're +going to improve our minds," he said, aloud. "We're going to be +literary and read Pilgrim's Progress and Alice in Wonderland. I +bet we'll enjoy 'em, eh? But--doggone! She's a nice lady, and your +coat 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 the +heat of the forenoon she dozed. + +Asleep she exercised upon him an even more disturbing effect than +when awake, for now he could study her beauty deliberately, from +the loose pile of warm, red hair to the narrow, tight-laced boots. +What he saw was altogether delightful. Her slightly parted lips +offered an irresistible attraction--almost an invitation; the heat +had lent a feverish flush to her cheeks; Dave could count the slow +pulsations of her white throat. He closed his eyes and tried to +quell his unruly longings. He was a strong man; adventurous days +and nights spent in the open had coarsened the masculine side of +his character, perhaps at expense to his finer nature, for it is a +human tendency to revert. He was masterful and ruthless; lacking +obligations or responsibilities of any sort, he had been +accustomed to take what he wanted; therefore the gaze he fixed +upon the sleeping woman betrayed an ardor calculated to deepen the +color in her cheeks, had she beheld it. + +And yet, strangely enough, Dave realized that his emotions were +unaccountably mixed. This woman's distress had, of course, brought +a prompt and natural response; but now her implicit confidence in +his honor and her utter dependence upon him awoke his deepest +chivalry. Then, too, the knowledge that her life was unhappy, +indeed tragic, filled him with a sort of wondering pity. As he +continued to look at her these feelings grew until finally he +turned away his face. With his chin in his hands he stared out +somberly into the blinding heat. He had met few women, of late +years, and never one quite like this--never one, for instance, who +made 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, and +since there was really nothing for her to do until the heat +abated, Alaire, when she awoke, obliged the Ranger to amuse her. + +Although she was in fact younger than he, married life had matured +her, and she treated him therefore like a boy. Law did not object. +Mrs. Austin's position in life was such that most men were humble +in her presence, and now her superior wisdom seemed to excite the +Ranger's liveliest admiration. Only now and then, as if in an +unguarded moment, did he appear to forget himself and speak with +an authority equaling her own. What he said at such times +indicated either a remarkably retentive memory or else an ability +to think along original lines too rare among men of his kind to be +easily credited. + +For instance, during a discussion of the Mexican situation--and of +course their talk drifted thither, for at the moment it was the +one vitally interesting topic along the border--he excused the +barbarous practices of the Mexican soldiers by saying: + +"Of course they're cruel, vindictive, treacherous, but after all +there are only a hundred and forty generations between us and +Adam; only a hundred and forty lifetimes since the Garden of Eden. +We civilized peoples are only a lap or two ahead of the +uncivilized ones. When you think that it takes ten thousand +generations to develop a plant and root out some of its early +heredities, you can see that human beings have a long way yet to +go 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-browned +cowboy sitting cross-legged under a mesquite-tree. + +From under her hat-brim Alaire Austin eyed the speaker with a +curiosity into which there had come a vague hostility. For the +moment she was suspicious and piqued, but Law did not appear to +notice, and as he talked on her doubts gradually subsided. + +"You said, last night, that you were born on the other side?" She +inclined her ruddy head to the west. + +"Yes'm. My father was a mining man, and he done well over there +until he locked horns with the Guadalupes. Old Don Enrique and him +had a run-in at the finish, over some land or something. It was +when the Don was gobbling all the property in the state, and +laying the foundation for his big fortune. You know he had +permission from the president to steal all the land he cared to, +just like the rest of those local governors had. Well, Guadalupe +tried 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 good +Americans been killed in Mexico and nothing done about it, even in +our 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 the +Philippines the Madero fuss was just brewing, so I went over and +joined it. But it didn't last long, and there wasn't enough +fighting to suit me. I've been back, off and on, since, and I've +burned a good deal of Guadalupe property and swum a good many head +of Guadalupe stock." + +As the morning progressed Law proved himself an interesting +companion, and in spite of the discomforts of the situation the +hours slipped past rapidly. Luncheon was a disagreeable meal, +eaten while the arroyo baked and the heat devils danced on the +hills; but the unpleasantness was of brief duration, and Law +always managed to banish boredom. Nor did he seem to waste a +thought upon the nature of that grim business which brought him to +this place. Quite the contrary, in the afternoon he put his mare +through her tricks for Alaire's edification, and gossiped idly of +whatever 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 safer +covert. + +Returning, he carefully obliterated all traces of the camp. He +watered the ashes of the fire, gathered up the tell-tale scraps of +paper and fragments of food, and then when the place suited him +fell 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 stay +there, ma'am. It may be a long wait, for something may have +happened. If so we'll have to lie close. And don't worry yourself +none, ma'am; he won't make no trouble." + +The afternoon drew to a close. Gradually the blinding white glare +of the sun lessened and yellowed, the shadow of the bluffs began +to stretch out. The shallow pool lay silent, deserted save for +furtive little shapes that darted nervously out of the leaves, or +for 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 cowered +low in her hiding-place. But it was only the advance-guard of a +bunch 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 remotest +edge of the tanque, then, alarmed at some imaginary sight or +sound, went clattering up the ravine. + +Once again the water-hole lay sleeping. + +Alaire's retreat was far from comfortable; there was an ants' nest +somewhere near her and she thought of moving; but suddenly her +breath caught and her heart jumped uncontrollably. She crouched +lower, for directly opposite her position, and outlined against +the sky where the sharp ridge cut it, was the figure of a mounted +man. Rider and horse were silhouetted against the pearl-gray +heaven like an equestrian statue. How long they had been there +Alaire had no faintest notion. Perhaps it was their coming which +had alarmed the cattle. She was conscious that a keen and hostile +pair of eyes was searching the coverts surrounding the charco. +Then, as silently as it had appeared, the apparition vanished +beyond the ridge, and Alaire wondered if the rider had taken +alarm. She earnestly hoped so; this breathless vigil was getting +on her nerves, and the sight of that threatening figure had set +her pulses to throbbing. The rider was on his guard, that was +plain; he was armed, too, and probably desperate. The ominous +possibilities of this ambush struck her forcibly. + +Alaire lay close, as she had been directed, praying that the +horseman had been warned; but shortly she heard again the rustle +of stiff branches, and out into the opening rode a Mexican. He was +astride a wiry gray pony, and in the strong twilight Alaire could +see his every feature--the swarthy cheeks, the roving eyes beneath +the black felt hat. A carbine lay across his saddle-horn, a riata +was coiled beside his leg, a cartridge-belt circled his waist. +There was something familiar about the fellow, but at the moment +Alaire could not determine what it was. + +After one swift appraising glance the new-comer rode straight to +the verge of the water-hole and dismounted; then he and his horse +drank side by side. + +It was the moment for a complete and effective surprise, but +nothing happened. Why didn't Law act? Alaire bent low, straining +eyes and ears, but no command came from the Ranger. After a while +the traveler rose to his feet and stretched his limbs. Next he +walked to the ashes of the fire and looked down at them, stirring +them 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 the +possibility; this delay was beyond her comprehension. + +Then, as if in answer to her perplexity, a second horseman +appeared, 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 second +rider flung himself from his saddle and made for the water. He was +lying prone and drinking deeply when out of nowhere came a sharp +command. + +"Oiga! Hands up, both of you!" + +The first arrival jumped as if a rattlesnake had buzzed at his +back, the second leaped to his feet with an oath; they stared in +the direction whence the voice had come. + +"Drop your gun, companero!" The order was decisive; it was +directed at the man who had first appeared, for the other had left +his 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 dark +hands rose slowly. Then the Ranger went on in Spanish: + +"Anto, lower your left hand and unbuckle your belt." Anto did as +he was told, his revolver and cartridge-belt dropped to the +ground. "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. He +emptied the three discarded weapons, then, walking to Anto's +horse, he removed the second carbine from beneath the saddle-flap +and 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 done +nothing." 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, both +prisoners burst into clamorous explanation of their presence +together. Panfilo, it seemed, had encountered his companion purely +by chance, and was horrified now to learn that his newly made +friend was wanted by the authorities. In the midst of his +incoherent protestations Mrs. Austin appeared. + +"He is telling you the truth, Mr. Law," she said, quietly. "He is +one of my men." + +Both Mexicans looked blank. At sight of the speaker their mouths +fell open, and Panfilo ceased his gesticulations. + +Mrs. Austin went on: "He is my horse-breaker's cousin. He couldn't +have had any part in that murder in Jim Wells County, for he was +at Las Palmas when I left." + +Panfilo recovered from his amazement, removed his sombrero, and +blessed his employer extravagantly; then he turned triumphantly +upon his captor. "Behold!" cried he. "There you have the truth. I +am an excellent, hard-working man and as honest as God." + +"Surely you don't want him," Alaire appealed to Law. "He was +probably 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. "Now +then, boys, it will soon be dark and we'll need some supper before +we start. It won't hurt Anto's horse to rest a bit, either. You +are under arrest," he added, addressing the latter. "You +understand 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. The +senora will need a cup of tea, for we three have a long ride ahead +of us." + +No time was lost. Both Mexicans fell to with a will, and in a +surprisingly short time water was boiling. When it came Law's turn +to eat, Alaire, who was eager to be gone, directed her employee to +fetch the Ranger's horse. Panfilo acquiesced readily and buckled +on his cartridge-belt and six-shooter. He was about to pick up his +rifle, too, but finding Law's eyes inquiringly fixed upon him, he +turned with a shrug and disappeared down the arroyo. It was plain +that he considered his friendly relations well established and +resented the Ranger's suspicion. + +"How long has that fellow been working for you?" Law jerked his +head 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 all +right." + +"Is he looking up range for you?" + +"N--no! I left him at the ranch. I don't know how he came to be +here, unless--It IS rather strange!" + +Dave shot a swift, interrogatory glance at Panfilo's traveling +companion, but Anto's face was stony, his black eyes were fixed +upon the fire. + +With an abrupt gesture Law flung aside the contents of his cup and +strode to Panfilo's horse, which stood dejectedly with reins +hanging. + +"Where are you--going?" Alaire rose nervously. + +It was nearly dark now; only the crests of the ridges were plain +against the luminous sky; in the brushy bottom of the arroyo the +shadows were deep. Alaire had no wish to be left alone with the +prisoner. + +With bridle-rein and carbine in his left hand, the Ranger halted, +then, stooping for Anto's discarded cartridge-belt, he looped it +over his saddle-horn. He vaulted easily into the seat, saying: + +"I hid that mare pretty well. Your man may not be able to find +her." Then he turned his borrowed horse's head toward the brush. + +Anto had squatted motionless until this moment; he had not even +turned his eyes; but now, without the slightest warning, he +uttered a loud call. It might have served equally well as a +summons or as an alarm, but it changed the Ranger's suspicions +into certainty. Dave uttered an angry exclamation, then to the +startled woman he cried: + +"Watch this man! He can't hurt you, for I've got his shells." To +his prisoner he said, sharply: "Stay where you are! Don't move!" +The next instant he had loped into the brush on the tracks of +Panfilo Sanchez, spurring the tired gray pony into vigorous +action. + +It was an uncomfortable situation in which Alaire now found +herself. Law was too suspicious, she murmured to herself; he was +needlessly melodramatic; she felt exceedingly ill at ease as the +pony's hoof-beats grew fainter. She was not afraid of Anto, having +dealt with Mexican vaqueros for several years, yet she could not +forget that he was a murderer, and she wondered what she was +expected to do if he should try to escape. It was absurd to +suppose that Panfilo, her own hired man, could be capable of +treachery; the mere suspicion was a sort of reflection upon her. + +Alaire was startled by hearing other hoof-beats now; their +drumming came faint but unmistakable. Yes, there were two horses +racing down the arroyo. Anto, the fugitive, rose to his feet and +stared into the dusk. "Sit down!" Alaire ordered, sharply. He +obeyed, muttering beneath his breath, but his head was turned as +if in an effort to follow the sounds of the pursuit. + +Next came the distant rattle of loosened stones--evidently one +horse was being urged toward the open high ground--then the +peaceful quiet evening was split by the report of Law's thirty- +thirty. Another shot followed, and then a third. Both Alaire and +her prisoner were on their feet, the woman shaking in every limb, +the Mexican straining his eyes into the gloom and listening +intently. + +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 Alaire +felt she must be dreaming, or that there had been some idiotic +mistake. She wondered if the Ranger's sudden charge had not simply +frightened Panfilo into a panicky flight, and she tried to put her +thoughts into words the Mexican would understand, but his answer +was unintelligible. His black scowl, however, was eloquent of +uncertainty and apprehension. + +Alaire had begun to feel the strain of the situation and was +trying to decide what next to do, when David Law came riding out +of the twilight. He was astride the gray; behind him at the end of +a 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 with +fury; he seemed gigantic in his rage. Without a word he raised his +right hand and cuffed the Mexican to his knees. Then he leaped +upon him, as a dog might pounce upon a rabbit, rolled him to his +face, 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's +grasp. Law knelt upon him, and with a jerk of his riata secured +the fellow's wrists; rising, he set the knot with another heave +that dragged the prisoner to his knees. Next he booted Anto to his +feet. + +"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 turned +upon her. The man's face was contorted, his eyes were blazing +insanely, his chest was heaving, and for an instant he seemed to +include her in his anger. Ignoring her inquiry, he went to his +mare and ran his shaking hands over her as if in search of an +injury; his questing palms covered every inch of glistening hide +from forelock to withers, from shoulder to hoof, and under cover +of 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 snuggles +close to the man of her choice, he addressed the mare: "I reckon +nobody is going to steal you, eh? Not if I know it. No, sir; that +hombre wasn't any good, was he?" + +Alaire wet her lips. "Then you--shot him?" + +Law laughed grimly, almost mockingly. "Say! He must be a favorite +of yours?" + +"N-no! I hardly knew the fellow. But--did you?" + +"I didn't say I shot him," he told her, gruffly. "I warned him +first, and he turned on me--blew smoke in my face. Then he took to +the brush, afoot, and--I cut down on him once more to help him +along." + +"He got away?" + +"I reckon so." + +"Oh, oh!" Alaire's tone left no doubt of her relief. "He was +always a good man--" + +"Good? Didn't he steal my horse? Didn't he aim to get me at the +first chance and free his compadre? That's why he wanted his +Winchester. Say! I reckon he--needs killin' about as much as +anybody 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 his +head in Anto's direction. "I was afraid he--he'd try something. If +he had--" Such a possibility, oddly enough, seemed to choke the +speaker, 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's +go." + +The stars had thickened and brightened, rounding the night sky +into a glittering dome. Anto, the murderer, with his ankles lashed +beneath his horse's belly, rode first; next, in a sullen silence, +came the Ranger, his chin upon his breast; and in the rear +followed Alaire Austin. + +In spite of her release from a trying predicament, the woman was +scarcely more eager to go home than was the prisoner, for while +Anto's trail led to a jail, hers led to Las Palmas, and there was +little difference. These last two days in the open had been like a +glimpse of freedom; for a time Alaire had almost lost the taste of +bitter memories. It had required an effort of will to drug +remembrance, but she had succeeded, and had proven her ability to +forget. But now--Las Palmas! It meant the usual thing, the same +endless battle between her duty and her desire. She was tired of +the fight that resulted neither in victory nor defeat; she longed +now, 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 were +exhausted? There was David Law, for instance; he was utterly +carefree, no duties shackled him. He had his horse, his gun, and +his 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 with +himself as she supposed. Even yet his mind was in a black turmoil +from his recent anger, and of late, be it said, these spells of +temper had given him cause for uneasiness. Then, too, there was a +lie upon his lips. + +Under the stars, at the break of the arroyo, three hundred yards +below the water-hole, a coyote was slinking in a wide circle +around the body of Panfilo Sanchez. + + + + +IV + +AN EVENING AT LAS PALMAS + + +Although the lower counties of southwest Texas are flat and badly +watered, they possess a rich soil. They are favored, too, by a +kindly climate, subtropic in its mildness. The days are long and +bright and breezy, while night brings a drenching dew that keeps +the grasses green. Of late years there have been few of those +distressing droughts that gave this part of the state an evil +reputation, and there has been a corresponding increase in +prosperity. The Rio Grande, jaundiced, erratic as an invalid, +wrings its saffron blood from the clay bluffs and gravel canons of +the hill country, but near its estuary winds quietly through a low +coastal plain which the very impurities of that blood have +richened. Here the river's banks are smothered in thickets of +huisache, ebony, mesquite, oak, and alamo. + +Railroads, those vitalizing nerve-fibers of commerce, are so +scarce along this division of the border that even in this day +when we boast, or lament, that we no longer have a frontier, there +remain in Texas sections larger than some of our Eastern states +which hear the sound of iron wheels only on their boundaries. To +travel from Brownsville north along the international line one +must, for several hundred miles, avail oneself of horses, mules, +or motor-cars, since rail transportation is almost lacking. And on +his way the traveler will traverse whole counties where the houses +are jacals, where English is a foreign tongue, and where peons +plow their fields with crooked sticks as did the ancient +Egyptians. + +That part of the state which lies below the Nueces River was for a +time disputed territory, and long after Texans had given their +lives to drive the Eagle of Mexico across the Rio Grande much of +it remained a forbidden land. Even to-day it is alien. It is a +part of our Southland, but a South different to any other that we +have. Within it there are no blacks, and yet the whites number but +one in twenty. The rest are swarthy, black-haired men who speak +the Spanish tongue and whose citizenship is mostly a matter of +form. + +The stockmen, pushing ahead of the nesters and the tillers of the +soil, were the first to invade the lower Rio Grande, and among +these "Old Ed" Austin was a pioneer. Out of the unmapped prairie +he had hewed a foothold, and there, among surroundings as Mexican +as Mexico, he had laid the beginnings of his fortune. + +Of "Old Ed's" early life strange stories are told; like the other +cattle barons, he was hungry for land and took it where or how he +could. There are tales of fertile sections bought for ten cents an +acre, tales of Mexican ranchers dispossessed by mortgage, by +monte, or by any means that came to hand; stories even of some, +more stubborn than the rest, who refused to feed the Austin greed +for land, and who remained on their farms to feed the buzzards +instead. Those were crude old days; the pioneers who pushed their +herds into the far pastures were lawless fellows, ruthless, +acquisitive, mastered by the empire-builder's urge for acres and +still more acres. They were the Reclaimers, the men who seized and +held, and then seized more, concerning themselves little or not at +all with the moral law as applicable to both Mexican and white, +and leaving it to the second generation to justify their acts, if +ever justification were required. + +As other ranches grew under the hands of such unregenerate owners, +so also under "Old Ed" Austin's management did Las Palnaas +increase and prosper. The estate took its name from a natural +grove of palms in which the house was built; it comprised an +expanse of rich river-land backed by miles of range where "Box A" +cattle lived and bred. In his later years the old man sold much +land, and some he leased; but when he handed Las Palmas to his +son, "Young Ed," as a wedding gift, the ranch still remained a +property to be proud of, and one that was known far and wide for +its size and richness. Leaving his boy to work out of it a fortune +for 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 span +exactly as suited him best. The rancher's ideal of an agreeable +old age comprised three important items--to wit, complete leisure, +unlimited freedom of speech, and two pints of rye whisky daily. He +enjoyed them all impartially, until, about a year before this +story opens, he died profanely and comfortably. He had a big +funeral, and was sincerely mourned by a coterie of gouty old +Indian-fighters. + +Las Palmas had changed greatly since Austin, senior, painfully +scrawled his slanting signature to the deed. It was a different +ranch now to what the old man had known; indeed, it was doubtful +if 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 on +the afternoon following her departure from the water-hole, and she +felt a thrill of pride at the acres of sprouting corn, the dense +green fields of alfalfa so nicely fitted between their fences. +They were like clean, green squares of matting spread for the feet +of summer. + +A Mexican boy came running to care for her horse, a Mexican woman +greeted her as she entered the wide, cool hall and went to her +room. Alaire had ridden far. Part of the night had been spent at +the Balli goat-ranch, the remainder of the journey had been hot +and dusty, and even yet she was not wholly recovered from her +experience 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 the +present instance, Dolores fixed a bath and laid out clean clothes +with no more than a running accompaniment of chatter concerned +with household affairs. Dolores, indeed, was superior to the +ordinary servant; she was a woman of some managerial ability, and +she combined the duties of personal maid with those of +housekeeper. She was a great gossip, and possessed such a talent +for gaining information that through her husband, Benito, the +range boss, she was able to keep her mistress in fairly intimate +touch with ranch matters. + +Alaire, however, was at this moment in no mood to resume the +tiresome details of management; she quickly dismissed her servitor +and proceeded to revel in the luxury of a cool bath, after which +she took a nap. Later, as she leisurely dressed herself, she +acknowledged that it was good to feel the physical comforts of her +own house, even though her home-coming gave her no especial joy. +She made it a religious practice to dress for dinner, regardless +of Ed's presence, though often for weeks at a time she sat in +solitary state, presiding over an empty table. Nevertheless, she +kept to her custom, for not only did the formality help her to +retain her own self-respect, but it had its influence upon the +servants. Without companionship one needs to be ever upon guard to +retain the nice refinements of gentle breeding, and any one who +has exercised authority in savage countries soon learns the +importance of leaving unbridged the gulf of color and of class. + +But Alaire looked forward to no lonely dinner to-night, for Ed was +at home. It was with a grave preoccupation that she made herself +ready to meet him. + +Dolores bustled in for a second time and straightway launched +herself into a tirade against Juan, the horse-boy. + +"Devil take me if there was ever such a shameless fellow," she +cried, angrily. "He delights in tormenting me, and--Dios!--he is +lazier than a snake. Work? Bah! He abhors it. All day long he +snaps his revolver and pretends to be a bandido, and when he is +not risking bell's fire in that way he is whirling his riata and +jumping through it. Useless capers! He ropes the dog, he ropes the +rose-bushes, he ropes fat Victoria, the cook, carrying a huge bowl +of hot water to scald the ants' nest. Victoria's stomach is boiled +red altogether, and so painful that when she comes near the stove +she curses in a way to chill your blood. What does he do this +morning but fling his wicked loop over a calf's head and break off +one of its little horns. It was terrible; but Senor Austin only +laughed 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 his +cocktails." + +"He knows I am at home?" + +"I told him." + +Alaire went on dressing. After a little she asked: "Has Benito +finished branding the calves in the south pasture?" + +"He finished yesterday and sent the remuda to the Six Mile. Jose +Sanchez will have completed the rodeo by this afternoon. Benito +rode 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 a +look 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 father +works the big pump-engine at the river. Well, he is not above +anything, that man; not above selling his own flesh and blood, and +the girl is no better. She thinks about nothing except men, and +she attends all the bailes for miles around, on both sides of the +river. Panfilo loved her; he was mad about her. That's why he came +here to work." + +"They were engaged, were they not?" + +"Truly. And Panfilo was jealous of any man who looked at Rosa. Now +you can understand why--he was sent away." Dolores's sharp eyes +narrowed meaningly. "Senor Ed has been riding toward the river +every day, lately. Panfilo was furious, so--" + +"I see! That is all I care to hear." Alone, Alaire stood +motionless for some time, her face fixed, her eyes unseeing; but +later, when she met her husband in the dining-room, her greeting +was no less civil than usual. + +Ed acknowledged his wife's entrance with a careless nod, but did +not trouble to remove his hands from his pockets. As he seated +himself heavily at the table and with unsteady fingers shook the +folds from his napkin, he said: + +"You stayed longer than you intended. Um-m--you were gone three +days, weren't you?" + +"Four days," Alaire told him, realizing with a little inward start +how very far apart she and Ed had drifted. She looked at him +curiously for an instant, wondering if he really could be her +husband, or--if he were not some peculiarly disagreeable stranger. + +Ed had been a handsome boy, but maturity had vitiated his good +looks. He was growing fat from drink and soft from idleness; his +face was too full, his eyes too sluggish; there was an unhealthy +redness in his cheeks. In contrast to his wife's semi-formal +dress, he was unkempt--unshaven and soiled. He wore spurred boots +and a soft shirt; his nails were grimy. When in the city he +contrived to garb himself immaculately; he was in fact something +of a dandy; but at home he was a sloven, and openly reveled in a +freedom of speech and a coarseness of manner that were sad trials +to Alaire. His preparations for dinner this evening had been +characteristically simple; he had drunk three dry cocktails and +flung his sombrero into a corner. + +"I've been busy while you were gone," he announced. "Been down to +the pump-house every day laying that new intake. It was a nasty +job, too. I had Morales barbecue a cabrito for my lunch, and it +was good, but I'm hungry again." Austin attacked his meal with an +enthusiasm strange in him, for of late his appetite had grown as +errant as his habits. Ed boasted, in his clubs, that he was an +outdoor man, and he was wont to tell his friends that the rough +life was the life for him; but as a matter of fact he spent much +more time in San Antonio than he did at home, and each of his +sojourns at Las Palmas was devoted principally to sobering up from +his last visit to the city and to preparing for another. Nor was +he always sober even in his own house; Ed was a heavy and a +constant drinker at all times. What little exercise he took was +upon the back of a horse, and, as no one knew better than his +wife, the physical powers he once had were rapidly deteriorating. + +By and by he inquired, vaguely: "Let's see, ... Where did you go +this 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 lease +it?" + +"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 the +rebels take that country. I stand mighty well with them." + +"That's the trouble," Alaire told him. "You stand too well--so +well that I want to get my stock out of Federal territory as soon +as possible." + +Ed shrugged carelessly. "Suit yourself; they're your cows." + +The meal went on with a desultory flow of small talk, during which +the husband indulged his thirst freely. Alaire told him about the +accident to her horse and the unpleasant ordeal she had suffered +in the mesquite. + +"Lucky you found somebody at the water-hole," Ed commented. "Who +was this Ranger? Never heard of the fellow," he commented on the +name. "The Rangers are nothing like they used to be." + +"This fellow would do credit to any organization." As Alaire +described how expeditiously Law had made his arrest and handled +his 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. "I +knew you were short-handed at La Feria." There was an interval of +silence, 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've +let you run things to suit yourself--" + +"Wait! We had our understanding." Alaire's voice was low and +vibrant. "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 to +do, something to live for and think about, except--your actions. +The ranch has doubled in value, every penny is accounted for, and +you have more money to spend on yourself than ever before. You +have no reason to complain." + +Austin crushed his napkin into a ball and flung it from him; with +a scowl he shoved himself back from the table. + +"It was an idiotic arrangement, just the same. I agreed because I +was sick. Dad thought I was all shot to pieces. But I'm all right +now and able to run my own business." + +"Nevertheless, it was a bargain, and it will stand. If your father +were alive he'd make you live up to it." + +"Hell! You talk as if I were a child," shouted her husband; and +his 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 still +enough of a man to keep your word, I believe, so long as I observe +my 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 these +eternal wrangles and jangles." + +"You HAVE welched." + +"Eh?" Austin frowned belligerently. + +"You agreed to go away when you felt your appetite coming on, and +you 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 in +Brownsville." + +"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 seething +emotions within her. "I never inquire into your actions at San +Antonio or other large cities, although of course I have ears and +I can't help hearing about them; but these border towns are home +to 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 the +breaking-point." + +"Indeed?" Austin leaned forward, his eyes inflamed. His tone was +raised, heedless of possible eavesdroppers. "Then why don't you +end it? Why don't you divorce me? God knows I never see anything +of you. You have your part of the house and I have mine; all we +share in common is meal-hours, and--and a mail address. You're +about as much my wife as Dolores is." + +Alaire turned upon him eyes dark with misery. "You know why I +don't divorce you. No, Ed, we're going to live out our agreement, +and these Brownsville episodes are going to cease." Her lips +whitened. "So are your visits to the pumping-station." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"You transferred Panfilo because he was growing jealous of you and +Rosa." + +Ed burst into sudden laughter. "Good Lord! There's no harm in a +little 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 your +tenant--almost your servant. What kind of a man are you? Haven't +you any decency left?" + +"Say! Go easy! I guess I'm no different to most men." Austin's +unpleasant laughter had been succeeded by a still more unpleasant +scowl. "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 a +night together in the chaparral--" + +"Ed!" Alaire's exclamation was like the snap of a whip. She rose +and faced her husband, quivering as if the lash had stung her +flesh. + +"That went home, eh? Well, I'm no fool! I've seen something of the +world, and I've found that women are about like men. I'd like to +have a look at this David Law, this gunman, this Handsome Harry +who waits at water-holes for ladies in distress." Ed ignored his +wife's outflung hand, and continued, mockingly: "I'll bet he's all +that's manly and splendid, everything that I'm NOT." + +"You'd--better stop," gasped the woman. "I can't stand +everything." + +"So? Well, neither can I." + +"After--this, I think you'd better go--to San Antonio. Maybe I'll +forget before you come back." + +To this "Young Ed" agreed quickly enough. "Good!" said he. "That +suits me. It's hell around Las Palmas, anyhow, and I'll at least +get a little peace at my club." He glowered after his wife as she +left the room. Then, still scowling, he lurched out to the gallery +where 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 of +her grimmest pranks. The father had had faults, but they were +those of his virtues; he had been a strong man, at least, and had +"ridden herd" upon his unruly passions with the same thoroughness +as over his wild cattle. The result was that he had been +universally respected. At first the son seemed destined to be like +his father. It was not until "Young Ed" had reached his full +manhood that his defects had become recognizable evil tendencies, +that his infirmity had developed into a disease. Like sleeping +cancers, the Austin vices had lain dormant in him during boyhood; +it had required the mutation from youth to manhood, and the +alterative effect of marriage, to rouse them; but, once awakened, +their ravages had been swift and destructive. Ed's marriage to +Alaire had been inevitable. They had been playmates, and their +parents had considered the union a consummation of their own +lifelong friendship. Upon her mother's death, Alaire had been sent +abroad, and there she remained while "Young Ed" attended an +Eastern college. For any child the experience would have been a +lonesome one, and through it the motherless Texas girl had grown +into an imaginative, sentimental person, living in a make-believe +world, peopled, for the most part, with the best-remembered +figures of romance and fiction. There were, of course, some few +flesh-and-blood heroes among the rest, and of these the finest and +the noblest had been "Young Ed" Austin. + +When she came home to marry, Alaire was still very much of a +child, and she still considered Ed her knight. As for him, he was +captivated by this splendid, handsome girl, whom he remembered +only as a shy, red-headed little comrade. + +Never was a marriage more propitious, never were two young people +more 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 of +lands across the Rio Grande beyond the twenty-league belt by which +Mexico fatuously strives to guard her border. And to Las Palmas +had come the bride and groom to live, to love, and to rear their +children. + +But rarely has there been a shorter honeymoon, seldom a swifter +awakening. Within six months "Young Ed" had killed his wife's love +and had himself become an alcoholic. Others of his father's vices +revived, and so multiplied that what few virtues the young man had +inherited were soon choked. The change was utterly unforeseen; its +cause was rooted too deeply in the past to be remedied. Maturity +had 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 was +desperately frightened, too, and lived a nightmare life, the while +she tried in every way to check the progress of that +disintegration which was eating up her happiness. The wreck of her +hopes and glad imaginings left her sick, bewildered, in the face +of "the thing that couldn't." + +Nor had the effect of this transformation in "Young Ed" been any +less painful to his father. For a time the old man refused to +credit it, but finally, when the truth was borne in upon him +unmistakably, and he saw that Las Palmas was in a fair way to +being ruined through the boy's mismanagement, the old cattleman +had risen in his wrath. The ranch had been his pride as Ed had +been his joy; to see them both go wrong was more than he could +bear. There had been a terrible scene, and a tongue-lashing +delivered in the language of early border days. There had followed +other visits from Austin, senior, other and even bitterer +quarrels; at last, when the girl-wife remained firm in her refusal +to divorce her husband, the understanding had been reached by +which the management of Las Palmas was placed absolutely in her +hands. + +Of course, the truth became public, as it always does. This was a +new country--only yesterday it had been the frontier, and even yet +a frontier code of personal conduct to some extent prevailed. +Nevertheless, "Young Ed" Austin's life became a scorn and a +hissing among his neighbors. They were not unduly fastidious, +these neighbors, and they knew that hot blood requires more than a +generation to cool, but everything Ed did outraged them. In trying +to show their sympathy for his wife they succeeded in wounding her +more deeply, and Alaire withdrew into herself. She became almost a +recluse, and fenced herself away not only from the curious, but +also from those who really wished to be her friends. In time +people remarked that Ed Austin's metamorphosis was no harder to +understand than that of his wife. + +It was true. She had changed. The alteration reached to the very +bone and marrow of her being. At first the general pity had +wounded her, then it had offended, and finally angered her. That +people should notice her affliction, particularly when she strove +so desperately to hide it, seemed the height of insolence. + +The management of Las Palmas was almost her only relief. Having +sprung from a family of ranchers, the work came easy, and she grew +to like it--as well as she could like anything with that ever- +present pain in her breast. The property was so large that it gave +ample excuse for avoiding the few visitors who came, and the range +boss, Benito Gonzales, attended to most of the buying and selling. +Callers gradually became rarer; friends dropped away almost +entirely. Since Las Palmas employed no white help whatever, it +became in time more Mexican than in the days of "Old Ed" Austin's +ownership. + +In such wise had Alaire fashioned her life, living meanwhile under +a sort of truce with her husband. + +But Las Palmas had prospered to admiration, and La Feria would +have prospered equally had it not been for the armed unrest of the +country across the border. No finer stock than the "Box A" was to +be found anywhere. The old lean, long-horned cattle had been +interbred with white-faced Herefords, and the sleek coats of their +progeny were stretched over twice the former weight of beef. +Alaire had even experimented with the Brahman strain, importing +some huge, hump-backed bulls that set the neighborhood agog. +People proclaimed they were sacred oxen and whispered that they +were intended for some outlandish pagan rite--Alaire by this time +had gained the reputation of being "queer"--while experienced +stockmen declared the venture a woman's folly, affirming that +buffaloes had never been crossed successfully with domestic +cattle. It was rumored that one of these imported animals cost +more than a whole herd of Mexican stock, and the ranchers +speculated freely as to what "Old Ed" Austin would have said of +such extravagance. + +It was Blaze Jones, one of the few county residents granted access +to Las Palmas, who first acquainted himself with the outcome of +Alaire's experiment, and it was he who brought news of it to some +visiting 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 about +your prize Northern stock; but I claim that the bigger the state +the bigger the cattle it raises. That's why old Texas beats the +world." + +"But it doesn't," some one contradicted. + +"It don't, hey? My boy"--Blaze jabbed a rigid finger into the +speaker's ribs, as if he expected a ground-squirrel to scuttle +forth--"we've got steers in this valley that are damn near the +size of the whole state of Rhode Island. If they keep on growin' I +doubt if you could fatten one of 'em in Delaware without he'd +bulge over into some neighboring commonwealth. It's the God's +truth! 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're +all swollen up with cow-knowledge, now, ain't you?" He eyed them +from beneath his black eyebrows. "Well, some of our people thought +they did, too. They figured they'd inherited all there was to know +about live stock, and they grew plumb arrogant over their wisdom. +But--pshaw! They didn't know nothing. Miz Austin has bred in that +Brayma 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 many +ticks as you gentlemen." + +Some of the cattlemen were incredulous, but Blaze maintained his +point with emphasis. "It's true. They're a grave disappointment to +every kind of parasite." + +But Alaire had not confined her efforts to cattle; she had +improved the breed of "Box A" horses, too, and hand in hand with +this work she had carried on a series of agricultural experiments. + +Las Palmas, so people used to say, lay too far up the river to be +good farming-land; nevertheless, once the pumping-plant was in, +certain parts of the ranch raised nine crops of alfalfa, and corn +that stood above a rider's head. + +There was no money in "finished" stock; the border was too far +from market--that also had long been an accepted truism--yet this +woman built silos which she filled with her own excess fodder in +scientific proportions, and somehow or other she managed to ship +fat beeves direct to the packing-houses and get big prices for +them. + +These were but a few of her many ventures. She had her hobbies, of +course, 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 palms +was all but hidden by a forest of strange trees, which were +reported to ripen everything from moth-balls to bicycle tires. +Blaze Jones was perhaps responsible for this report, for Alaire +had shown him several thousand eucalyptus saplings and some +ornamental rubber-plants. + +"That Miz Austin is a money-makin' piece of furniture," he once +told his daughter Paloma. "I'm no mechanical adder--I count mostly +on my fingers--but her and me calculated the profits on them +eucher--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 plenty +of land." + +Blaze, in truth, was embarrassed by the size of his holdings, but +he shook his head. "No, I'm too old to go rampagin' after new +gods. I 'ain't got the imagination to raise anything more +complicated than a mortgage; but if I was younger, I'd organize +myself up and do away with that Ed Austin. I'd sure help him to an +untimely end, and then I'd marry them pecan-groves, and blooded +herds, 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 her +Mexican guards were not encouraging to visitors. Business +inevitably brought her into contact with a considerable number of +people, and of these the one she saw most frequently was Judge +Ellsworth of Brownsville, her attorney. + +It was perhaps a week after Ed had left for San Antonio that +Alaire felt the need of Ellsworth's counsel, and sent for him. He +responded promptly, as always. Ellsworth was a kindly man of +fifty-five, with a forceful chin and a drooping, heavy-lidded eye +that could either blaze or twinkle. He was fond of Alaire, and his +sympathy, like his understanding, was of that wordless yet +comprehensive kind which is most satisfying. Judge Ellsworth knew +more than any four men in that part of Texas; information had a +way of seeking him out, and his head was stored to repletion with +facts of every variety. He was a good lawyer, too, and yet his +knowledge of the law comprised but a small part of that mental +wealth upon which he prided himself. He knew human nature, and +that he considered far more important than law. His mind was like +a full granary, and every grain lay where he could put his hand +upon it. + +He motored out from Brownsville, and, after ridding himself of +dust, insisted upon spending the interval before dinner in an +inspection of Alaire's latest ranch improvements. He had a +fatherly way of walking with his arm about Alaire's shoulders, and +although she sometimes suspected that his warmth of good- +fellowship was merely a habit cultivated through political +necessities, nevertheless it was comforting, and she took it at +its face value. + +Not until the dinner was over did Ellsworth inquire the reason for +his 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 this +very 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 the +Rebel 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 always +does 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 profit +more by claiming allegiance to the German or the English or some +other foreign flag. The American eagle isn't screaming very loudly +on the other side of the Rio Grande just now, and our dusky +neighbors have learned that it's perfectly safe to pull his tail +feathers." + +"I'm surprised at you," Alaire smiled. "Just the same, I want your +help in taking up the matter with Washington." + +Ellsworth was pessimistic. "It won't do any good, my dear," he +said. "You'll get your name in the papers, and perhaps cause +another diplomatically worded protest, but there the matter will +end. 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 been +more than courteous." + +"Longorio has a bad reputation. I strongly advise against your +going." + +"Why, Judge, people are going and coming all the time! Mexico is +perfectly safe, and I know the country as well as I know Las +Palmas." + +"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, for +I'm busy in court. You could probably accomplish more than anybody +else, if Longorio will listen to reason, and, after all, you are a +person of such importance that I dare say you'd be safe. But it +will be a hard trip, and you won't know whether you are in Rebel +or in Federal territory." + +"Well, people here are asking whether Texas is in the United +States or Mexico," Alaire said, lightly, "Sometimes I hardly +know." After a moment she continued: "Since you know everything +and 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 much +of 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 flitted +over 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, and +certainly they both met a violent end. I was instrumental in +saving what property Frank Law left, but it didn't last Dave very +long. He's right careless in money matters. Dave's a fine fellow +in some ways--most ways, I believe, but--" The Judge lost himself +in frowning meditation. + +"I have never known you to damn a friend or a client with such +faint 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, for +instance. If you know the parents it's easy to read their +children." Again he lapsed into silence, nodding to himself. "Yes, +Nature mixes her prescriptions like any druggist. I'm glad you and +Ed--have no babies." + +Alaire mumured something unintelligible. + +"And yet," the lawyer continued, "many people are cursed with an +inheritance 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 a +privilege of age, my dear." + + + + +VI + +A JOURNEY, AND A DARK MAN + + +Alaire's preparations for the journey to La Feria were made with +little delay. Owing to the condition of affairs across the border, +Ellsworth had thought it well to provide her with letters from the +most influential Mexicans in the neighborhood; what is more, in +order to pave her way toward a settlement of her claim he +succeeded in getting a telegram through to Mexico City--no mean +achievement, with most of the wires in Rebel hands and the +remainder burdened with military business. But Ellsworth's +influence was not bounded by the Rio Grande. + +It was his advice that Alaire present her side of the case to the +local military authorities before making formal representation to +Washington, though in neither case was he sanguine of the outcome. + +The United States, indeed, had abetted the Rebel cause from the +start. Its embargo on arms had been little more than a pretense of +neutrality, which had fooled the Federals not at all, and it was +an open secret that financial assistance to the uprising was +rendered from some mysterious Northern source. The very presence +of American troops along the border was construed by Mexicans as a +threat against President Potosi, and an encouragement to revolt, +while the talk of intervention, invasion, and war had intensified +the natural antagonism existing between the two peoples. So it was +that Ellsworth, while he did his best to see to it that his client +should make the journey in safety and receive courteous treatment, +doubted the wisdom of the undertaking and hoped for no practical +result. + +Alaire took Dolores with her, and for male escort she selected, +after some deliberation, Jose Sanchez, her horse-breaker. Jose was +not an ideal choice, but since Benito could not well be spared, no +better 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 the +road followed the river and ran through a lonesome country, +unpeopled save for an occasional goat-herd and his family, or a +glaring-hot village of some half-dozen cubical houses crouching on +the river-bank as if crowded over from Mexican soil. This road +remained much as the first ox-carts had laid it out; the hills +were gashed by arroyos, some of which were difficult to negotiate, +and in consequence the journey was, from an automobilist's point +of view, decidedly slow. The first night the travelers were forced +to spend at a mud jacal, encircled, like some African jungle +dwelling, by a thick brush barricade. + +Jose Sanchez was in his element here. He posed, he strutted, he +bragged, he strove to impress his countrymen by every device. Jose +was, indeed, rather a handsome fellow, with a bold insolence of +bearing that marked him as superior to the common pelador, and, +having dressed himself elaborately for this journey, he made the +most of his opportunities for showing off. Nothing would do him +but a baile, and a baile he had. Once the arrangements were made, +other Mexicans appeared mysteriously until there were nearly a +score, and until late into the night they danced upon the hard- +packed earth of the yard. Alaire fell asleep to the sounds of feet +scuffling and scraping in time to a wheezy violin. + +Arriving at Pueblo on the following day, Alaire secured her +passports from the Federal headquarters across the Rio Grande, +while Jose attended to the railroad tickets. On the second morning +after leaving home the party was borne southward into Mexico. + +Although train schedules were uncertain, the railroad journey +itself was similar to many Alaire had taken, except for occasional +evidences of the war. The revolution had ravaged most of northern +Mexico; long rows of rusting trucks and twisted car skeletons +beside the track showed how the railway's rolling-stock had +suffered in this particular vicinity; and as the train penetrated +farther south temporary trestles and the charred ruins of station- +houses spoke even more eloquently of the struggle. Now and then a +steel water-tank, pierced with loop-holes and ripped by cannon +balls, showed where some detachment had made a stand. There was a +military guard on the train, too--a dozen unkempt soldiers loaded +down with rifles and bandoliers of cartridges, and several +officers, neatly dressed in khaki, who rode in the first-class +coach and occupied themselves by making eyes at the women. + +At its frequent stops the train was besieged by the customary +crowd of curious peons; the same noisy hucksters dealt out +enchiladas, tortillas, goat cheeses, and coffee from the same +dirty baskets and pails; even their outstretched hands seemed to +bear the familiar grime of ante-bellum days. The coaches were +crowded; women fanned themselves unceasingly; their men snored, +open-mouthed, over the backs of the seats, and the aisles were +full of squalling, squabbling children. + +As for the country itself, it was dying. The ranches were stripped +of stock, no carts creaked along the highways, and the roads, like +the little farms, were growing up to weeds. Stores were empty, the +people were idle. Over all was an atmosphere of decay, and, what +was far more significant, the people seemed content. + +All morning the monotonous journey continued--a trial to Alaire +and Dolores, but to Jose Sanchez a red-letter experience. He +covered the train from end to end, making himself acquainted with +every one and bringing to Alaire the gossip that he picked up. + +It was not until midday that the first interruption occurred; then +the train pulled in upon a siding, and after an interminable delay +it transpired that a north-bound troop-train was expected. + +Jose brought this intelligence: "Soon you will behold the flower +of the Mexican army," he told Alaire. "You will see thousands of +Longorio's veterans, every man of them a very devil for blood. +They are returning to Nuevo Pueblo after destroying a band of +those rebels. They had a great victory at San Pedro--thirty +kilometers 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, for +he takes his army with him wherever he goes. He is a great +fighter; he has a nose for it, that man, and he strikes like the +lightning--here, there, anywhere." Jose, it seemed, was a rabid +Potosista. + +But Dolores held opposite sympathies. She uttered a disdainful +sniff. "To be sure he takes his army with him, otherwise the +Constitutionalistas would kill him. Wait until Pancho Gomez meets +this 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 that +bandit. Pancho Gomez fights like a savage. Think of the cowardly +manner in which he captured Espinal the last time. What did he do +then? I'll tell you. He laid in wait and allowed a train-load of +our troops to pass through his lines toward Chihuahua; then he +took possession of the telegraph wires and pretended to be the +Federal commander. He sent a lying message back to Espinal that +the 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 into +freight-cars like cattle so that not a head could be seen--and the +devil himself would never have guessed what was in those cars. Of +course he succeeded. No one suspected the truth until his infamous +army was in Espinal. Then it was too late. The carnage was +terrible. But do you call that a nice action? It was nothing but +the 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 the +Plaza, 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, and +then--you will see some of the swiftest running in all the world." + +"Yes! Truly!" Dolores was trembling with excitement, her voice was +shrill. "God will need to lend them speed to catch this army of +Longorio'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 a +serious quarrel. + +"When the train arrives," she told her horse-breaker, "I want you +to find General Longorio and ask him to come here." + +"But, senora!" Jose was dumfounded, shocked. "He is a great +general--" + +"Give him this note." Quickly writing a few lines on a page from +her note-book, she gave him the scrap of paper, which he carefully +placed in his hat; then, shaking his head doubtfully, he left the +car. + +Flushed with triumph, Dolores took the first occasion to enlarge +upon her theme. + +"You will see what a monster this Longorio is," she declared. "It +was like him to steal your beautiful cattle; he would steal a +crucifix. Once there was a fine ranch owned by a man who had two +lovely daughters--girls of great respectability and refinement. +But the man was a Candelerista. Longorio killed him--he and his +men killed everybody on the hacienda except the daughters, and +those he captured. He took them with him, and for no good purpose, +either, as you can imagine. Naturally the poor creatures were +nearly dead with fright, but as they rode along the elder one +began talking with Longorio's soldiers. She made friends with +them. She pretended to care nothing about her fate; she behaved +like a lost person, and the soldiers laughed. They liked her +spirit, God pity them! Finally she declared she was a famous shot +with a pistol, and she continued to boast until one of her guards +gave her his weapon with which to show her skill. Then what? +Before they could hinder her she turned in her saddle and shot her +younger sister through the brain. Herself she destroyed with a +bullet 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 on +the main track and stopped, to the great interest of the +southbound travelers. It was made up of many stock cars crowded +with cavalry horses. Each animal bore its equipment of saddle and +bridle, 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 occupants +of the two trains, and meanwhile the hot sun glared balefully upon +the huddled figures on the car tops. A half-hour passed, then +occurred a commotion at the forward end of Alaire's coach. + +A group of officers climbed aboard, and among them was one who +could be none other than Luis Longorio. As he came down the +passageway Alaire identified him without the aid of his insignia, +for he stood head and shoulders above his companions and bore +himself with an air of authority. He was unusually tall, at least +six feet three, and very slim, very lithe; he was alert, keen; he +was like the blade of a rapier. The leanness of his legs was +accentuated 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 of +a clear, pale, olive tint, which sun and weather apparently were +powerless to darken; his eyes were large, bold, and brilliant; his +nostrils thin and sensitive, like those of a blooded horse. He +seemed almost immature until he spoke, then one realized with a +curious shock that he was a man indeed, and a man, moreover, with +all the ardor and passion of a woman. Such was Alaire's first +hasty impression of Luis Longorio, the Tarleton of Potosi's army. + +Disdain, hauteur, impatience, were stamped upon the general's +countenance as he pushed briskly through the crowd, turning his +head from side to side in search of the woman who had summoned +him. + +Not until she rose did he discover Alaire; then he halted; his +eyes fixed themselves upon her with a stare of startled amazement. + +Alaire felt herself color faintly, for the man seemed to be +scanning her from head to foot, taking in every detail of her face +and form, and as he did so his expression remained unaltered. For +what seemed a full minute Longorio stood rooted; then the stiff- +vizored cap was swept from his head; he bowed with the grace of a +courtier until Alaire saw the part in his oily black hair. + +"Senora! A thousand apologies for my delay," he said. "Caramba! I +did not dream--I did not understand your message." He continued to +regard her with that same queer intensity. + +"You are General Longorio?" Alaire was surprised to note that her +voice quavered uncertainly, and annoyed to feel her face still +flushing. + +"Your obedient servant." + +With a gesture Mrs. Austin directed Dolores to vacate her seat, +and invited the General to take it. But Longorio checked the +maid's movement; then with a brusque command he routed out the +occupants of the seat ahead, and, reversing the back, took a +position facing Alaire. Another order, and the men who had +accompanied him withdrew up the aisle. His luminous eyes returned +once more to the woman, and there was no mistaking his admiration. +He seemed enchanted by her pale beauty, her rich, red hair held +him fascinated, and with Latin boldness he made his feelings +crassly 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 name +conveyed nothing, she explained, "I am told that your army +confiscated my cattle." + +"Ah yes! Now I understand." The Mexican nodded mechanically, but +it was plain that he was not heeding her words in the least. All +his mental powers appeared to be concentrated in that +disconcerting stare which he still bent upon her. "We confiscate +everything--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 his +wits. It was now quite patent that the sight of Alaire, the sound +of her voice, her first glance, had stricken him with an odd semi- +paralysis. As if to shut out a vision or to escape some dazzling +sight, he dosed his eyes. Alaire wondered if the fellow had been +drinking. She turned to Dolores to find that good woman wearing an +expression of stupefaction. It was very queer; it made Alaire +extremely ill at ease. + +Longorio opened his eyes and smiled. "It seems that I have seen +you before--as if we were old friends--or as if I had come face to +face with myself," said he. "I am affected strangely. It is +unaccountable. I know you well--completely--everything about you +is familiar to me, and yet we meet for the first time, eh? How do +you 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 those +perverse fancies that so interfered with his thoughts. + +In moments of stress the attention often centers upon trivial +things and the mind photographs unimportant objects. Alaire +noticed now that one of Longorio's fingers was decorated with a +magnificent diamond-and-ruby ring, and this interested her +queerly. No ordinary man could fittingly have worn such an +ornament, yet on the hand of this splendid barbarian it seemed not +at 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 not +assure you, senora, that you have only to command me. Your ranch +has 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 your +government to pay me for my cattle." Alaire laughed nervously. + +"Ah! But a lady of refinement should not discuss such a miserable +business. It is a matter for men. Bother your pretty head no more +about it, and leave me to punish the guilty in my own way." + +She endeavored to speak in a brisk, business-like tone. "La Feria +belongs to me, personally, and I have managed it for several +years, just as I manage Las Palmas, across the river. I am a woman +of affairs, General Longorio, and you must talk to me as you would +talk to a man. When I heard about this raid I came to look into +it--to see you, or whoever is in charge of this district, and to +make a claim for damages. Also, I intend to see that nothing +similar occurs again. I have delayed making representations to my +own government in the hope that I could arrange a satisfactory +settlement, and so avoid serious complications. Now you understand +why I am here and why I wished to see you." + +"Valgame Dios! This is amazing. I become more bewildered +momentarily." + +"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 place +it apart as a precious gift from God which nothing shall defile. +They do not discuss such things with their women. Now this sordid +affair 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? You +came alone into Mexico, where we are fighting and killing each +other? Well! That is spirit. You are wonderful, superb!" He +smiled, showing the whitest and evenest teeth. + +Such extravagant homage was embarrassing, yet no woman could be +wholly displeased by admiration so spontaneous and intense as that +which Longorio manifested in every look and word. It was plain to +Alaire that something about her had completely bowled him over; +perhaps it was her strange red hair and her white foreign face, or +perhaps something deeper, something behind all that. Sex phenomena +are strange and varied in their workings. Who can explain the +instant attraction or repulsion of certain types we meet? Why does +the turn of a head, a smile, a glance, move us to the depths? Why +does the touch of one stranger's hand thrill us, while another's +leaves us quite impassive? Whence springs that personal magnetism +which has the power to set the very atoms of our being into new +vibrations, like a highly charged electric current? + +Alaire knew the susceptibility of Mexican men, and was immune to +ordinary flattery; yet there was something exciting about this +martial hero's complete captivation. To have charmed him to the +point of bewilderment was a unique triumph, and under his hungry +eyes she felt an adventurous thrill. + +It is true that Luis Longorio was utterly alien, and in that sense +almost repellent to Alaire; moreover, she suspected him of being a +monster so depraved that no decent woman could bring herself to +accept his attentions. Nevertheless, in justice to the fellow, she +had to acknowledge that externally, at least, he was immensely +superior to the Mexicans she had met. Then, too, his aristocracy +was unmistakable, and Alaire prided herself that she could +recognize good blood in men as quickly as in horses. The fellow +had been favored by birth, by breeding, and by education; and +although military service in Mexico was little more than a form of +banditry, nevertheless Longorio had developed a certain genius for +leadership, nor was there any doubt as to his spectacular courage. +In some ways he was a second Cid--another figure out of Castilian +romance. + +While he and Alaire were talking the passengers had returned to +their seats; they were shouting good-byes to the soldiers +opposite; the engine-bell was clanging loudly; and now the +conductor approached to warn Longorio that the train was about to +leave. But the railway official had learned a wholesome respect +for uniforms, and therefore he hung back until, urged by +necessity, he pushed forward and informed the general of his train +orders. + +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 the +conductor backed away, expressing by voice and gesture his most +hearty approval of the change of plan. + +"We mustn't hold the train," Alaire said, quickly. "I will arrange +to see you in Nuevo Pueblo when I return." + +Longorio smiled brilliantly and lifted a brown hand. "No, no! I am +a selfish man; I refuse to deprive myself of this pleasure. The +end must come all too soon, and as for these peladors, an hour +more or less will make no difference. Now about these cattle. +Mexico does not make war upon women, and I am desolated that the +actions of my men have caused annoyance to the most charming lady +in the world." + +"Ah! You are polite." Knowing that in this man's help alone lay +her chance of adjusting her loss, Alaire deliberately smiled upon +him. "Can I count upon your help in obtaining my rights?" she +asked. + +"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, and +this we must remove. First, may I ask, are you a friend to our +cause?" + +"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; American +money supports it; and your men bear arms against us. Your tyrant +President 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 is +something that concerns no one except you and me." + +Longorio was plainly flattered by her words, and took no trouble +to hide his pleasure. "Ah! If that were only true! We would +arrange everything to your satisfaction without another word." His +admiring gaze seemed to envelop her, and its warmth was +unmistakable. "No one could have the cruelty to deny your +slightest 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 a +complication. Your husband, senora, is an active Candelerista." + +For a moment Alaire was at a loss; then she replied with some +spirit: "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 rebels +conspiring to give our country into the hands of outlaws. What a +terrible spectacle it is! Enough to bring tears to the eyes of any +patriot!" He turned his melancholy gaze from Alaire to her +companion, and for the first time Dolores stirred. + +She had watched her countryman with a peculiar fascination, and +she had listened breathlessly to his words. Now she inhaled +deeply, 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. Alaire +turned upon her with a sharp exclamation, conscious meanwhile that +the woman's tone, even more than her words, had enlightened +Longorio to some extent. His lifted brows were eloquent of +surprise and curiosity, but he held his tongue. + +"Am I to understand, then, that you rob me because of my husband's +action?" Alaire asked. + +"No. But we must combat our enemies with the weapons we have--not +only those who bear arms with Candeleria, but those who shelter +themselves beyond the Rio Grande." + +Alaire's face fell. "I had hoped that you would understand and +help me, but I shall go to Mexico City and demand my rights, if +necessary." + +"Wait! I SHALL help." Longorio beamed enthusiastically. "It shall +be the object of my life to serve you, and you and I shall arrange +this matter satisfactorily. I have influence, believe me. A word +from Luis Longorio will go further with my chief than a protest +from your President. General Potosi is a man of the highest honor, +and I am his right hand. Very well, then! Duty calls me to Nuevo +Pueblo, and you shall return with me as the guest of my +government. Dios! It is a miserable train, but you shall occupy +the coach and travel as befits a queen of beauty--like a royal +princess with her guard of honor." He rose to his feet, but his +eagerness soon gave place to disappointment. + +"Thank you," said Alaire, "but I must first go to La Feria and get +all the facts." + +"Senora! It is a wretched journey. See!" He waved a contemptuous +gesture at the car, crowded to congestion. "There is no food; you +have no one to wait upon you. In my company you will be safe. Upon +my honor you will enjoy the highest courtesy--" + +"Of course. But I must go on. I have Dolores and Jose to look +after me." Alaire indicated Sanchez, who had edged his way close +and 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 suitable +answer, but his employer held out her hand, and General Longorio +bent over it, raising it to his lips. + +"Senora, one favor you can grant me. No! It is a right I shall +claim." He called one of his subordinates closer and ordered that +a lieutenant and six soldiers be detached to act as an escort to +Mrs. Austin's party. "It is nothing," he assured her. "It is the +least I can do. Have no uneasiness, for these men are the bravest +of my command, and they shall answer with their lives for your +safety. As for that teniente--ah, he is favored above his +general!" Longorio rolled his eyes. "Think of it! I could be +faithless to duty--a traitor to my country--for the privilege he +is to enjoy. It is the sacred truth! Senora, the hours will drag +until I may see you again and be of further service. Meanwhile I +shall be tortured with radiant dreams. Go with God!" For a second +time he bowed and kissed the hand he held, then, taking Jose +Sanchez intimately by the arm, he turned to the door. + +Dolores collapsed into her seat with an exclamation. "Caramba! The +man is a demon! And such eyes. Uf! They say he was so furious at +losing those two sisters I told you about that he killed the +soldier with the very weapon--" + +Dolores was interrupted by Longorio's voice beneath the open +window. The general stood, cap in hand, holding up to Alaire a +solitary wild flower which he had plucked beside the track. + +"See!" he cried. "It is the color of your adorable eyes--blue like +a sapphire gem. I saw it peeping at me, and it was lonely. But +now, behold how it smiles--like a star that sees Paradise, eh? And +I, too, have seen Paradise." He placed the delicate bloom in +Alaire's fingers and was gone. + +"Cuidado!" breathed Dolores. "There is blood on it; the blood of +innocents. He will burn for a million years in hell, that man." + +Longorio made good his promise; soon a grizzled old teniente, with +six 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, and +until the car had dwindled away down the track, foreshortening to +a mere rectangular dot, Luis Longorio remained motionless, staring +with eager eyes through the capering dust and the billowing heat +waves. + +Jose Sanchez came plowing into Alaire's car, tremendously excited. +"Look, senora!" he cried. "Look what the general gave me," and he +proudly displayed Longorio's service revolver. Around Jose's waist +was the cartridge-belt and holster that went with the weapon. +"With his own hands he buckled it about me, and he said, 'Jose, +something tells me you are a devil for bravery. Guard your +mistress with your life, for if any mishap befalls her I shall cut +out 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. Shortly +after the train had got under way the lieutenant in command of +Alaire's guard brought her a small package, saying: + +"The general commanded me to hand you this, with his deepest +regard." + +Alaire accepted the object curiously. It was small and heavy and +wrapped in several leaves torn from a notebook, and it proved to +be nothing less than the splendid diamond-and-ruby ring she had +admired. + +"God protect us, now!" murmured Dolores, crossing herself +devoutly. + + + + +VIII + +BLAZE JONES'S NEMESIS + + +Blaze Jones rode up to his front gate and dismounted in the shade +of the big ebony-tree. He stepped back and ran an approving eye +over another animal tethered there. It was a thoroughbred bay mare +he had never seen, and as he scanned her good points he reflected +that the time had come when he would have to accustom himself to +the sight of strange horses along his fence and strange +automobiles beside the road, for Paloma was a woman now, and the +young men of the neighborhood had made the discovery. Yes, and +Paloma was a pretty woman; therefore the hole under the ebony-tree +would probably be worn deep by impatient hoofs. He was glad that +most of the boys preferred saddles to soft upholstery, for it +argued that some vigor still remained in Texas manhood, and that +the country had not been entirely ruined by motors, picture-shows, +low shoes, and high collars. Of course the youths of this day were +nothing like the youths of his own, and yet--Blaze let his gaze +linger fondly on the high-bred mare and her equipment--here at +least was a person who knew a good horse, a good saddle, and a +good gun. + +As he came up the walk he heard Paloma laugh, and his own face +lightened, for Paloma's merriment was contagious. Then as he +mounted the steps and turned the corner of the "gallery" he +uttered 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 filibustering +around with the Maderistas." + +Blaze seated himself with a grateful sigh where the breeze played +over him. He was a big, bearlike, swarthy man with the square- +hewn, deep-lined face of a tragedian, and a head of long, curly +hair which he wore parted in a line over his left ear. Jones was a +character, a local landmark. This part of Texas had grown up with +Blaze, and, inasmuch as he had sprung from a free race of +pioneers, he possessed a splendid indifference to the artificial +fads of dress and manners. It was only since Paloma had attained +her womanhood that he had been forced to fight down his deep- +seated distrust of neckwear and store clothes and the like; but +now that his daughter had definitely asserted her rights, he had +acquired numerous unwelcome graces, and no longer ventured among +strangers without the stamp of her approval upon his appearance. +Only at home did he maintain what he considered a manly +independence of speech and habit. To-day, therefore, found him in +a favorite suit of baggy, wrinkled linen and with a week's stubble +of beard upon his chin. He was so plainly an outdoor man that the +air of erudition lent him by the pair of gold-rimmed spectacles +owlishly perched upon his sunburned nose was strangely +incongruous. + +"So you're a Ranger, and got notches on your gun." Blaze rolled +and lit a tiny cigarette, scarcely larger than a wheat straw. +"Well, you'd ought to make a right able thief-catcher, Dave, only +for your size--you're too long for a man and you ain't long enough +for a snake. Still, I reckon a thief would have trouble getting +out of your reach, and once you got close to him--How many men +have 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 had +permitted 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 a +vicious ancestry. They're bad rams, most of 'em." + +"There aren't many," said Paloma. "Dave tells me the whole Force +has been cut down to sixteen." + +"That's plenty," her father averred. "It's like when Cap'n Bill +McDonald 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 a +case, Dave?" + +"Um-m--yes! People are missing a lot of stock hereabouts." + +"It's these blamed refugees from the war! A Mexican has to steal +something or he gets run down and pore. If it ain't stock, it's +something else. Why, one morning I rode into Jonesville in time to +see four Greasers walkin' down the main street with feed-sacks +over their shoulders. Each one of those gunnie's had something +long and flat and heavy in it, and I growed curious. When I +investigated, what d'you suppose I found? Tombstones! That's +right; four marble beauties fresh from the cemetery. Well, it made +me right sore, for I'd helped to start Jonesville. I was its city +father. I'd made the place fit to live in, and I aimed to keep it +safe to die in, and so, bein' a sort of left-handed, self- +appointed deppity-sheriff, I rounded up those ghouls and drove 'em +to the county-seat in my spring wagon. I had the evidence propped +up against the front of our real-estate office--'Sacred to the +Memory' of four of our leading citizens--so I jailed 'em. But +that's all the good it did." + +"Couldn't convict, eh?" + +Blaze lit his cigarette for the third time. "The prosecuting +attorney and I wasn't very good friends, seeing as how I'd had to +kill his daddy, so he turned 'em loose. I'm damned if those four +Greasers didn't beat me back to Jonesville." Blaze shook his head +ruminatively. "This was a hard country, those days. There wasn't +but two honest men in this whole valley--and the other one was a +nigger." + +Dave Law's duties as a Ranger rested lightly upon him; his +instructions were vague, and he had a leisurely method of "working +up" his evidence. Since he knew that Blaze possessed a thorough +knowledge of this section and its people, it was partly business +which had brought him to the Jones home this afternoon. + +Strictly speaking, Blaze was not a rancher, although many of his +acres were under cultivation and he employed a sizable army of +field-hands. His disposition was too adventurous, his life had +been too swift and varied, for him to remain interested in slow +agricultural pursuits; therefore, he had speculated heavily in raw +lands, and for several years past he had devoted his energies to a +gigantic colonization scheme. Originally Blaze had come to the Rio +Grande valley as a stock-raiser, but the natural advantages of the +country had appealed to his gambling instinct, and he had "gone +broke" buying land. + +He had located, some fifteen miles below the borders of Las +Palmas, and there he had sunk a large fortune; then as a first +step in his colonization project he had founded the town of +Jonesville. Next he had caused the branch line of the Frisco +railroad to be extended until it linked his holdings with the main +system, after which he had floated a big irrigation company; and +now the feat of paying interest on its bonds and selling farms +under the ditch to Northern people kept him fully occupied. It was +by no means a small operation in which he was engaged. The venture +had taken foresight, courage, infinite hard work; and Blaze was +burdened with responsibilities that would have broken down a man +of weaker fiber. + +But his pet relaxation was reminiscence. His own experience had +been wide, he knew everybody in his part of the state, and +although events in his telling were sometimes colored by his rich +imagination, the information he could give was often of the +greatest value--as Dave Law knew. + +After a time the latter said, casually, "Tell me something about +Tad Lewis." + +Blaze looked up quickly. "What d'you want to know?" + +"Anything. Everything." + +"Tad owns a right nice ranch between here and Las Palmas," Blaze +said, 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 father +agreed, "and Lewis's land runs back from the Rio Grande in its old +Spanish form. It's a natural outlet for those brush-country +ranchos. But I haven't anything against Tad except a natural +dislike. He stands well with some of our best people, so I'm +probably wrong. I usually am." + +"You can't call Ed Austin one of our best people," sharply +objected Paloma. "They claim that arms are being smuggled across +to the Rebels, Dave, and, if it's true, Ed Austin--" + +"Now, Paloma," her father remonstrated mildly. "The Regulars and +the River Guards watched Lewis's ranch till the embargo was +lifted, 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 go +pirootin' around Tad's place you're more'n apt to make yourself +unpopular, Dave. I'd grieve some to see you in a wooden kimono. +Tad's too well fixed to steal cattle, and if he runs arms it's +because of his sympathy for those noble, dark-skinned patriots we +hear 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 ran +arms myself, before I joined the Force." + +When meal-time drew near, both Jones and his daughter urged their +guest 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. All +we need is good farmers. Those we've got are mostly back-to-nature +students who leaped a drug-counter expecting to 'light in the lap +of luxury. In the last outfit we sold there wasn't three men that +knew which end of a mule to put the collar on. But they'll learn. +Nature's with 'em, and so am I. God supplies 'em with all the +fresh air and sunshine they need, and when they want anything else +they come to Old Blaze. Ain't that right, Paloma?" + +"Yes, father." + +Paloma Jones had developed wonderfully since Dave Law had last +seen her. She had grown into a most wholesome and attractive young +woman, with an unusually capable manner, and an honest, humorous +pair of brown eyes. During dinner she did her part with a grace +that made watching her a pleasure, and the Ranger found it a great +treat to sit at her table after his strenuous scouting days in the +mesquite. + +"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 wants +Blaze to have a finger in the pie. I'm interested in the bank, the +sugar-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 out +of it last year?" + +"I've no idea." + +"Twenty-seven thousand dollars!" The father of Jonesville spoke +proudly, impressively, and then through habit called upon his +daughter 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 his +visitor's laughter. "How can a man get along without the co- +operation of his own household?" he inquired, naively. "Maybe it +was next year I was thinking about." Thereafter he confined +himself to statements which required no corroboration. + +Dave had long since learned that to hold Blaze Jones to a strict +accountability with fact was to rob his society of its greatest +charm. A slavish accuracy in figures, an arid lack of imagination, +reduces conversation to the insipidness of flat wine, and Blaze's +talk was never dull. He was a keen, shrewd, practical man, but +somewhere in his being there was concealed a tremendous, lop-sided +sense of humor which took the form of a bewildering imagery. An +attentive audience was enough for him, and, once his fancy was in +full swing, there was no limit to his outrageous exaggerations. A +light of credulity in a hearer's eye filled him with prodigious +mirth, and it is doubtful if his listeners ever derived a fraction +of 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, much +of 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 were +liable to consider him generally untruthful. But even in this +misconception Blaze took a quiet delight, secure in the knowledge +that all who knew him well regarded him as a rock of integrity. As +a matter of fact, his genuine exploits were quite as sensational +as those of his manufacture. + +When, after supper, Blaze had hitched a pair of driving-mules to +his buckboard, preparatory to showing his guest the glories of +Jonesville, Dave said: + +"Paloma's getting mighty pretty." + +"She's as pretty as a blue-bonnet flower," her father agreed. "And +she runs me around something scandalous. I 'ain't got the freedom +of a peon." Blaze sighed and shook his shaggy head. "You know me, +Dave; I never used to be scared of nobody. Well, it's different +now. 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're +going to stay right here with us as long as you're in town; I want +you to see how I cringe." In spite of Blaze's plaintive tone it +was patent that he was inordinately proud of Paloma and well +content with his serfdom. + +Jonesville proved to be a typical Texas town of the modern +variety, and altogether different to the pictured frontier +village. There were no one-storied square fronts, no rows of +saloons with well-gnawed hitching-rails, no rioting cowboys. On +the contrary, the larger buildings were of artificial stone, the +sidewalks 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 was +too new and crude and awkward for that. It fitted loosely into its +clothes, for its citizens had patterned it with regard for the +future, and it sprawled over twice its legitimate area. But to its +happy founder it seemed well-nigh perfect, and its destiny roused +his maddest enthusiasm. He showed Dave the little red frame +railroad station, distinguished in some mysterious way above the +hundred thousand other little red frame railroad stations of the +identical size and style; he pointed out the Odd Fellows Hall, the +Palace Picture Theater, with its glaring orange lights and +discordant electric piano; he conducted Law to the First National +Bank, of which Blaze was a proud but somewhat ornamental director; +then to the sugar-mill, the ice-plant, and other points of equally +novel interest. + +Everywhere he went, Jones was hailed by friends, for everybody +seemed to know him and to want to shake his hand. + +"SOME town and SOME body of men, eh?" he inquired, finally, and +Dave agreed: + +"Yes. She's got a grand framework, Blaze. She'll be most as big as +Fort Worth when you fatten her up." + +Jones waved his buggy-whip in a wide circle that took in the miles +of level prairie on all sides. "We've got the whole blamed state +to grow in. And, Dave, I haven't got an enemy in the place! It +wasn't many years ago that certain people allowed I'd never live +to raise this town. Why, it used to be that nobody dared to ride +with me--except Paloma, and she used to sleep with a shot-gun at +her 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 fat +in prosecuting their feuds, but this was subject which the elder +man invariably found embarrassing, and now he said: + +"Pshaw! I never was the blood-letter people think. I'm as gentle +as a sheep." Then to escape further curiosity on that point he +suggested that they round out their riotous evening with a game of +pool. + +Law boasted a liberal education, but he was no match for the +father of Jonesville, who wielded a cue with a dexterity born of +years of devotion to the game. In consequence, Blaze's enjoyment +was in a fair way to languish when the proprietor of the Elite +Billiard Parlor returned from supper to say: + +"Mr. Jones, there's a real good pool-player in town, and he wants +to 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 a +chair and watch your uncle clean this tenderfoot. If he's got +class, I'll make him mayor of the town, for a good pool-shooter is +all this metropolis lacks. Why, sometimes I go plumb to San Antone +for a game." He whispered in his friend's ear, "Paloma don't let +me gamble, but if you've got any dinero, get it down on me." Then, +addressing the bystanders, he proclaimed, "Boys, if this pilgrim +is good enough to stretch me out we'll marry him off and settle +him down." + +"No chance, Uncle Blaze; he's the most married person in town," +some one volunteered. "His wife is the new dressmaker--and she's +got a mustache." For some reason this remark excited general +mirth. + +"That's too bad. I never saw but one woman with a mustache, and +she licked me good. If he's yoked up to that kind of a lady, I +allow his nerves will be wrecked before he gets here. I hope to +God he ain't entirely done for." Blaze ran the last three balls +from a well-nigh impossible position, then racked up the whole +fifteen with trembling eagerness and eyed the door expectantly. He +was wiping his spectacles when the proprietor returned with a +slim, sallow man whom he introduced as Mr. Strange. + +"Welcome to our city!" Blaze cried, with a flourish of his +glasses. "Get a prod, Mr. Strange, and bust 'em, while I clean my +wind-shields. These fellow-townsmen of mine handle a cue like it +was 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, and +pocketed it, following which he ran the remaining fourteen. Blaze +watched this procedure near-sightedly, and when the table was bare +he thumped his cue loudly upon the floor. He beamed upon his +opponent; he appeared ready to embrace him. + +"Bueno! There's art, science, and natural aptitude! Fly at 'em +again, Mr. Strange, and take your fill." He finished polishing his +spectacles, and readjusted them. "I aim to make you so comfortable +in Jonesville that---" Blaze paused, he started, and a peculiar +expression crept over his face. + +It seemed to Law that his friend actually turned pale; at any +rate, his mouth dropped open and his gaze was no longer +hypnotically following the pool-balls, but was fixed upon his +opponent. + +Now there were chapters in the life of Blaze Jones that had never +been fully written, and it occurred to Dave that such a one had +been suddenly reopened; therefore he prepared himself for some +kind of an outburst. But Blaze appeared to be numbed; he even +jumped nervously when Mr. Strange missed a shot and advised him +that his chance had come. + +As water escapes from a leaky pail, so had Jones's fondness for +pool oozed away, and with it had gone his accustomed skill. He +shot blindly, and, much to the general surprise, missed an easy +attempt. + +"Can't expect to get 'em all," comfortingly observed Mr. Strange +as he executed a combination that netted him two balls and broke +the bunch. After that he proved the insincerity of his statement +by clearing the cloth for a second time. The succeeding frames +went much the same, and finally Blaze put up his cue, mumbling: + +"I reckon I must have another chill coming on. My feet are plumb +dead." + +"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 tell +you 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 the +ability to read fortunes. I foretell good an' evil, questions of +love and mattermony by means of numbers, cards, dice, dominoes, +apple-parings, egg-shells, tea-leaves, an' coffee-grounds." The +speaker's voice had taken on the brazen tones of a circus barker. +"I pro'nosticate by charms, ceremonies, omens, and moles; by the +features of the face, lines of the hand, spots an' blemishes of +the skin. I speak the language of flowers. I know one hundred and +eighty-seven weather signs, and I interpet dreams. Now, ladies and +gents, this is no idle boast. Triflin' incidents, little marks on +the cuticle, although they appear to be the effect of chance, are +nevertheless of the utmost consequence, an' to the skilled +interpeter they foretell the temper of, an' the events that will +happen to, the person bearin' 'em. Now let us take this little +deck of common playing-cards---" + +The monologist, suiting the action to the word, conjured a deck of +cards from somewhere, and extended them to Blaze. "Select one; any +one---" + +"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." Extracting +from another pocket a tiny pair of scissors and a sheet of carbon +paper, Mr. Strange, with the undivided attention of the audience +upon him, began to cut Blaze's silhouette. He was extraordinarily +adept, and despite his subject's restlessness he completed the +likeness in a few moments; then, fixing it upon a plain white +cardboard, 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 the +buckboard. + +"Serves me right for leaving my six-shooter at home," panted the +rancher. "Well, I might have known they'd find me some day." + +"'They'? Who?" + +"That hombre and his wife--the woman with the mustache. They swore +they'd get me, and it looks like they will, for I daresn't raise +my hand to protect myself." + +This was very mystifying to Dave, and he said so. + +"The woman'll recognize me, quick enough," Blaze asserted, and +then, "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 day +I decided to take a swim, so I hired a suit and a room to cache my +six-shooter in. It was foolish proceedings for a man my age, but +the 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 three +days, and I hadn't got any sleep. I was plumb feverish, and needed +a dip. Well, I'm no water-dog, Dave; I can't swim no better than a +tarrapin with its legs cut off, but I sloshed around some in the +surf, and then I took a walk to dreen off and see the sights. It +was right interesting when I got so I could tell the women from +the men--you see I'd left my glasses in the bath-house. + +"Now I'd sort of upheld the general intemperance of that poker +game for three days and nights--but I don't offer my condition as +an excuse for what follows. No gentleman ought to lay his +indecencies onto John Barley corn when they're nothing more nor +less than the outcroppin's of his own orneriness. Liquor has got +enough to answer for without being blamed for human depravities. I +dare say I was friendlier than I had any right to be; I spoke to +strangers, and some of the girls hollered at me, but I wouldn't +have harmed a soul. + +"Well, in the course of my promenade I came to a couple of fellers +setting half-buried in the sand, and just as I was passing one of +them got up--sort of on all-fours and--er--facing away from me-- +sabe? That's where the trouble hatched. I reached out and, with +nothing 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 from +behind. When I got up and squared around, there was that man we +just left cutting didos out of black paper. + +"'What d'you mean by pinching my wife?' he says, and he was +r'arin' mad. + +"'Your WIFE?' I stammers, and with that he climbs me. Dave, I was +weak 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 a +little black mustache, and here she came! + +"We started in right there. I never saw such a poisonous person as +that woman. She was coiled, her head was up, and her rattles +agoing, and so I finally lit out But I'm sort of fat, and they +over-ran me. They bayed me against the sea-wall, and all I had the +heart to do was to hold 'em off some more. Soon as I got my wind I +shook '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 people +kept 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 my +legs. By and by I got so short of breath that I couldn't run, so I +fell on top of the man. But the woman got me by the legs and +rolled me under. I busted out and hoofed it again, but they caught +me and down we went, me on top. Then that man's helpmate grabbed +my legs and rolled me over, like she did before. Finally I got too +tired to do anything but paw like a puppy. It seems like we must +have fought that way all the morning, Dave. Anyhow, people +gathered from long distances and cheered the woman. I got +desperate toward the last, and I unraveled the right hip of my +bathing suit grabbing for my gun. I couldn't see the bath-house +for the sand in my eyes, so I must have led 'em up across the +boulevard and into the tent colony, for after a while we were +rolling around among tent-pegs and tangling up in guy-ropes, and +all the time our audience was growing. Dave, those tent-ropes +sounded like guitar strings." + +Blaze paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, whereupon his +listener inquired in a choking voice: + +"How did you come out?" + +"I reckon I'd have got shed of 'em somehow, for I was resting up +on top of my man, but that stinging lizard of a woman got her +claws 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 an +eel, 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 ears +and went through those sight-seers like a jack-rabbit. I never +knew a man could run like I did. I could hear people holler, 'Here +he comes,' 'There he goes,' 'Yonder he went,' but I was never +headed. I hurdled the sea-wall like an antelope, and before they +got eyes on me I was into my bath-house. + +"When I'd got dressed, I sneaked up to the Galvez for a drink. In +the 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 kill +the man who attacked his wife, and the newspapers called on the +police to discover the ruffian." + +There was a protracted silence; then Law controlled his voice +sufficiently to say: "It's fortunate he didn't recognize you to- +night." + +"Maybe he did. Anyhow, his wife is the new dressmaker Paloma's +hired. I 'ain't got a chance, Dave. That story will ruin me in the +community, and Paloma will turn me out when she learns I'm a--a +lady-pincher." + +"What are you going to do about it?" + +Blaze sighed. "I don't know, yet. Probably I'll end by running +from those scorpions, like I did before." + + The next morning at breakfast Paloma announced, "Father, you must +help 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 the +only person who knows the Lewis gang as well as you do." + +Jones shook his head doubtfully. "Don Ricardo has been working up +his own private feud with that outfit. If I was the kind that went +looking for a fight, I wouldn't have paid freight on myself from +the Panhandle down here. I could have got one right at home, any +morning before breakfast." + +"Ricardo Guzman is something of a black sheep himself," Law spoke +up. + +"Pshaw! He's all right. I reckon he has changed a few brands in +his time, but so has everybody else. Why, that's how 'Old Ed' +Austin got his start. If a cowman tells you he never stole +anything, he's either a dam' good liar or a dam' bad roper. But +Ricardo's going straight enough now." + +"He has lost his share of stock," Paloma explained, "and he'll +work with you if father asks him. You go along with Dave---" + +"I'm too busy," Blaze demurred, "and I ain't feeling good. I had +bad dreams all night." + +"I don't want you around here this morning. That new dressmaker is +coming." + +Jones rose abruptly from the table. "I reckon my business can +wait. Hustle up, Dave." A few moments later, as they were saddling +their horses, he lamented: "What did I tell you? Here I go, on the +dodge 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. An +accident of birth had made him a citizen of the United States--his +father having owned a ranch which lay north instead of south of +the Rio Grande. Inasmuch as the property had fallen to Ricardo, +his sons, too, were Yankees in the eyes of the law. But in all +other respects Don Ricardo and his family differed not at all from +the many Guzmans who lived across the border. The Guzman ranch +comprised a goodly number of acres, and, since live stock multiply +rapidly, its owner had in some sort prospered. On the bank of a +resaca---a former bed of the Rio Grande--stood the house, an adobe +structure, square, white, and unprotected from the sun by shrub or +tree. Behind it were some brush corrals and a few scattered mud +jacals, in which lived the help. + +Ricardo had just risen from a siesta when his two visitors rode +up, and he made them welcome with the best he had. There followed +a complimentary exchange of greetings and the usual flow of small +talk. Ricardo had suffered a severe toothache--the same abominable +affliction that had lost Porfirio Diaz an empire. It had been a +dry 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 recounted +his own doings; Law told of Ranger activities along the lower +border. In the cool of the afternoon Ricardo rode with his +visitors, and then, cordial relations being now established, he +began to divulge information of value to Law. + +Yes, he had endured many depredations from thieves. It was +shameful, but doubtless God willed that a certain amount of +stealing should go on in the world. The evil-doers were certainly +favored by nature, in this locality, for the great expanse of +brush country to the north and east offered almost perfect +security, and the river, to the south, gave immunity from pursuit +or prosecution. The beeves were driven north into the wilderness, +but the horses went to Mexico, where the war had created a market +for 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 was +quite another; and conviction was difficult under the best of +circumstances. Why, even a cow's recognition of her own calf was +not evidence for a court, and alibis were easily proven. Unless +the thieves were caught in the very act there was no case against +them, and--por Dios!--one could not be for ever on guard. Who +could tell where the malefactors would strike next? Now, in Mexico +one could afford to kill an undesirable neighbor without so much +formality. But, thank God! Don Ricardo was not a Mexican. No, he +was a good American citizen. It was something to make him sleep +well in these war-times. + +"Just the same, I'll bet he'd sleep better if the Lewis outfit was +cleaned up," Dave ventured, and Blaze agreed. + +Guzman caught his enemy's name and nodded. + +"Ah! That sin verguenza! He sells arms to the Candeleristas and +horses 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? Lewis +employs 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 I +do not aid the tyrant Potosi with my other hand. Yes, and who is +richer, 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 strange +stories 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 morning +Blaze rode home, leaving the Ranger behind for the time being as +Guzman's guest. + +Dave put in the next two days riding the pastures, familiarizing +himself with the country, and talking with the few men he met. +About all he discovered, however, was the fact that the Guzman +range not only adjoined some of Lewis's leased land, but also was +bounded for several miles by the Las Palmas fence. + +It was pleasant to spend the days among the shy brush-cattle, with +Bessie Belle for company. The mare seemed to enjoy the excursions +as much as her owner. Her eyes and ears were ever alert; she +tossed her head and snorted when a deer broke cover or a jack- +rabbit scuttled out of her path; she showed a friendly interest in +the awkward calves which stood and eyed her with such amazement +and then galloped stiffly off with tails high arched. + +Law had many times undertaken to break Bessie Belle of that habit +of flinging her head high at sudden sounds, but she was nervous +and inquisitive, and this was the one thing upon which she +maintained a feminine obstinacy. + +On the second evening the Ranger rode home through a drizzle that +had materialized after a long, threatening afternoon and now +promised to become a real rain. Ricardo met him at the door to +say: + +"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 shall +ride the fences, and if we encounter a cut wire--diablo!--we shall +have a story to tell, eh?" + +The sky was leaden, the rain still fell in the morning when Dave +and his two companions set out. Until noon they rode, their +slickers dripping, their horses steaming; then they ate an +uncomfortable lunch under the thickest hackberry-tree they could +find, after which they resumed their patrol. Ricardo's tongue at +length ran down under this discomfort, and the three riders sat +their saddles silently, swaying to the tireless fox-trot of their +horses, their eyes engaged in a watchful scrutiny. + +At last Pedro, who was ahead, reined in and pointed; the others +saw where the barbed-wire strands of the fence they had been +following were clipped. A number of horse and calf tracks led +through the opening, and after an examination Ricardo announced: + +"There are two men. They have come and gone, with the calves tied +neck and neck." + +"That is Las Palmas, isn't it?" Law indicated the pasture into +which the trail led. + +Father and son answered, "Si, senor." + +For a time the Ranger lounged sidewise in his saddle, studying the +country before him. The land was open and comparatively flat; it +was broken by tiny clumps of mesquite and low, sprawling beds of +cactus. Perhaps a half-mile away, however, began a long, narrow +patch of woods, with the tops of occasional oaks showing, and this +ran parallel with the fence for a considerable distance. + +"They took them in yonder, to brand," he said, straightening +himself. "Maybe we'll be in time." + +Side by side the three men rode off Guzman's land, following the +tracks to the nearest point of woods; there Law stopped to give +his directions. + +"Pedro, you ride down this side; Ricardo, you skirt the outside. I +shall keep to the middle. Walk your horses, for I shall go +slowly." He slipped his carbine from its scabbard; the others did +the same. + +But Dave's plan did not commend itself to Ricardo; the old man's +face 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 they +will not wait to learn that you are an officer. Perhaps I had +better ride with you." + +But Law declined the well-meant offer, and with a dubious shake of +the head Ricardo rode away, while Dave guided Bessie Belle into +the grove. + +The mare seemed to know that something unusual was afoot. Perhaps +some nervous tensity of her rider made itself felt, perhaps with +equine sagacity she had understood from the first the nature of +this scouting expedition. Dave was inclined to believe the latter- +-he had often averred that Bessie Belle knew quite as much as or +more than he. At any rate she picked her way with admirable care, +her hoofs made almost no sound upon the wet soil; only the +complaint of the saddle leathers or the swish of a wet branch rose +above the steady patter of the raindrops. It was not necessary to +guide her; she selected the openings of her own free will, her +small, sharp ears were alert, and her eyes searched the glades +intently. + +Dave smiled at this excess of caution and stroked Bessie Belle's +wet neck encouragingly, whereupon she turned her head and it +seemed 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 and +then they stopped to listen, but the rain was heavy enough to +drown all other noises. Encountering fresh tracks finally, Dave +leaned from his saddle and studied them. What he saw caused him to +push 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 few +yards farther on Law fancied that he could detect the smell of a +wood fire. Almost without a signal from him the mare halted in her +tracks until he had satisfied himself. Still farther along they +came to a place where the brush was low, and there, rising through +the tree-tops beyond, they saw a wavering plume of blue smoke. + +The Ranger rode into sight of the branding-fire with his +Winchester across his saddle-horn and his thumb upon the hammer; +what followed came with almost the blinding suddenness of a +lightning crash, though afterward the events of that crowded +moment lingered as a clear-cut memory. First there was the picture +of a sandy glade in the center of which burned a fire with +branding-irons in it, and a spotted calf tied to a tree, but +otherwise no sign of life. Then, without warning, Bessie Belle +threw up her head in that characteristic trick of hers, and +simultaneously Dave saw a figure rise out of the grass at his left +with rifle leveled. The Ranger remembered afterward the odd +foreshortening of the weapon and the crooked twist of the face +behind it. With the first jerk of his horse's head his own gun had +leaped to his shoulder--he was not conscious of having willed it +to do so--and even as he pressed the trigger he beheld a jet of +smoke spurt from the muzzle aimed at him. With the kick of his +carbine he felt Bessie Belle give way--it seemed to Dave that he +shot while she was sinking. The next instant his feet, still in +the 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 had +been her end. The breath escaped slowly from her lungs; it was as +if she heaved a lingering sigh; one leg contracted and then +relaxed. + +For a moment the Ranger was dazed. He stood staring down at his +pet; then the truth engulfed him. He realized that he had ridden +her to her death, and at the thought he became like a woman bereft +of her child, like a lover who had seen his sweetheart slain. + +A shout--it was a hoarse, inarticulate cry; a swift, maddened +scrutiny that searched the sodden scene of the ambush; then he was +down beside the mare, calling her name heartbrokenly, his arms +around her neck, his face against her warm, wet, velvet hide. + +Law knew that two men had entered the thicket, and therefore one +still remained to be reckoned with, but he gave no thought to +that. Nor did he rise to look after the grotesquely huddled figure +that had been a cattle thief only a moment before--both he and his +assailant had been too close to miss. From the corner of his eye +he 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 the +body he heard a calf stirring, but he let it struggle. + +Bessie Belle's bright eyes were glazing; she did not hear her +lover's voice. Her muzzle, softer than any satin, was loose, her +lips would never twitch with that clumsy, quivering caress which +pleased her master so. One front hoof, washed as clean as agate, +was awkwardly bent under her, the other had plowed a furrow in the +soft earth as she sank, and against this leg her head lay tipped. + +Don Ricardo and his son burst out of the brush from opposite +directions almost at the same moment, to find the Ranger with his +face buried in his horse's mane. + +"Caramba! What is this?" The old man flung himself from the saddle +and came running. "You are injured?" + +Pedro, too, bent over the officer, his brown face pale with +apprehension. "Mother of God!" breathed the latter. "It was a wild +thing to do, to ride alone---" + +"I'm all right," Law said, rising stiffly, whereupon both Mexicans +voiced 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 his +back, and Pedro uttered a loud cry. + +"Look!" Father and son ran through the grass, then recoiled and +broke 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 realized +it." + +"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 knew +something. 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 heard +but one shot from here, then after an instant my father's gun. And +yet here is a dead horse and a dead man." + +"This fellow and I fired at about the same instant," Dave +explained, but even when he had related the history of the +encounter his companions could scarcely believe that such quick +shooting was possible. + +It was difficult to secure a connected story from Ricardo, but he +finally made it plain that at the first report the other thief had +fled, exposing himself only long enough for the old man to take a +quick shot in his direction. Ricardo had missed, and the miscreant +was doubtless well away by this time. He had ridden a sorrel +horse, that was all Ricardo could remember. + +Law looked only briefly at the gruesome results of his +marksmanship, then he turned back to the body of his beloved mare. +Ricardo noticed at length that he was crying; as the Ranger knelt +beside the dead thoroughbred the old Mexican whispered to his son: + +"Valgame Dios! This is a strange fellow. He weeps like a woman. He +must have loved that horse as a man loves his wife. Who can +understand these Gringos?" After a time he approached cautiously +and inquired: "What shall we do with this hombre, senor? Pedro has +found his horse." + +Law roused himself. With his own hands he gently removed Bessie +Belle's saddle, bridle, and blanket, then he gave his orders. + +"I'll take your horse, Ricardo, and you take--that fellow's. Get a +wagon 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 the +exchange of mounts had been effected and all was ready, Law made a +request that amazed both father and son. + +"If I'm not back by morning, I want you to bury my mare." His +voice 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 be +back to see that it's done right. Understand?" + +"Bueno! I understand perfectly. She was a pretty horse. She was +your--bonita, eh? Well, you have a big heart, senor, as a brave +man should have. Everything shall be done as you wish; I give you +my hand on it." Ricardo reached down and gripped Law's palm. "We +will name our pasture for her, too, because it is plain you loved +her dearly. So, then, until to-morrow." + +Law watched his two friends ride away, then he wiped his +Winchester and saw to his cinch. This done he raised Bessie +Belle's head and kissed the lip that had so often explored his +palm for sugar. With a miserable ache in his throat he mounted and +rode off to pick up the trail of the man on the sorrel pony. + +Fortunately this was not difficult, for the tracks of a running +horse are plain in soft ground. Finding where his quarry had +broken cover, Law set out at a lope. + +The fellow had ridden in a wide semicircle at first, then, finding +he was not pursued, he had slackened pace, and, in consequence, +the signs became more difficult to follow. They seemed to lead in +the direction of Las Palmas, which Dave judged must be fully +twelve miles away, and when they continued to maintain this course +the Ranger became doubly interested. Could it be, he asked +himself, that his quarry would have the audacity to ride to the +Austin headquarters? If so, his identification promised to become +easy, for a man on a sorrel cow-pony was more than likely to be +observed. Perhaps he thought himself secure and counted upon the +assistance of some friend or confederate among the Las Palmas +ranch-hands in case of pursuit. That seemed not unreasonable, +particularly inasmuch as he could have no suspicion that it was a +Ranger who was on his trail. + +Dave lost the hoof-prints for a time, but picked them up again at +the pasture gate a few miles farther on, and was able to trace +them far enough to assure himself that his quarry was indeed +headed for the Austin house and had no intention of swinging +southward toward the Lewis headquarters. + +By this time the rain had done its work, and to follow the tracks +became a matter of guesswork. Night was coming on also, and Dave +realized that at this rate darkness would find him far from his +goal. Therefore he risked his own interpretation of the rider's +intent and pushed on without pausing to search out the trail step +by step. At the second gate the signs indicated that his man was +little more than an hour ahead of him. + +The prospect of again seeing the ruddy-haired mistress of Las +Palmas stirred Law more deeply than he cared to admit. Alaire +Austin had been seldom out of his thoughts since their first +meeting, for, after the fashion of men cut off from human society, +he was subject to insistent fancies. Dave had many times lived +over those incidents at the water-hole, and for the life of him he +could not credit the common stories of Alaire's coldness. To him, +at least, she had appeared very human, and after they had once +become acquainted she had been unaffected and friendly. + +Since that meeting Dave had picked up considerable information +about the object of his interest, and although much of this was +palpably false, it had served to make her a still more romantic +figure in his eyes. Alaire now seemed to be a sort of superwoman, +and the fact that she was his friend, that something deep within +her had answered to him, afforded him a keen satisfaction, the +greater, 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 was +disagreeable to contemplate; she was unbelievably rich, and a +person of influence in the state, while he had nothing except his +health, 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 in +the weeping mesquite. He found several cubes of sugar in his +pocket, and with an oath flung them from him. Don Ricardo's horse +seemed stiff-gaited and stubborn. + +Dave remembered how Mrs. Austin had admired the mare. No doubt she +would grieve at the fate that had befallen her, and that would +give them something to talk about. His own escape would interest +her, too, and--Law realized, not without some natural +gratification, that he would appear to her as a sort of hero. + +The mist and an early dusk prevented him from seeing Las Palmas +itself until he was well in among the irrigated fields. A few +moments later when he rode up to the out-buildings he encountered +a middle-aged Mexican who proved to be Benito Gonzalez, the range +boss. + +Dave made himself known, and Benito answered his questions with +apparent honesty. No, he had seen nothing of a sorrel horse or a +strange rider, but he had just come in himself. Doubtless they +could learn more from Juan, the horse-wrangler, who was somewhere +about. + +Juan was finally found, but he proved strangely recalcitrant. At +first he knew nothing, though after some questioning he admitted +the possibility that he had seen a horse of the description given, +but was not sure. More pressure brought forth the reluctant +admission 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 not +recollect just where or when he had seen the pony, and he was +certain 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 you +want to go to jail?" Juan had no such desire. "Then tell the +truth. 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 until +he yelled. "You will make a nice little prisoner, Juanito, and we +shall find a way to make you speak." + +Gonzalez was inclined to resent such high-handed treatment of his +underling, but respect for the Rangers was deep-rooted, and Juan's +behavior was inexplicable. + +At last the horse-boy confessed. He had seen both horse and rider, +but knew neither. Mr. Austin and the stranger had arrived +together, and the latter had gone on. That was the truth. + +"Bueno!" Law released his prisoner, who slunk away rubbing his +shoulder. "Now, Benito, we will find Mr. Austin." + +A voice answered from the dusk: "He won't take much finding," and +Ed Austin himself emerged from the stable door. "Well, what do you +want?" he asked. + +"You are Mr. Austin, I reckon?" + +"I am. What d'you mean by abusing my help?" The master of Las +Palmas 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 the +reason 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. I +trailed him from where he and his partner cut into your south +pasture." + +Benito stirred and muttered an oath, but Austin was unmoved. "I +reckon you must be a bad trailer," he laughed. "We've got no +thieves 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 should +behave in this extraordinary manner, unless perhaps he was drunk. + +"Well, I saw the calves, and I left the fellow that was branding +them with a wet saddle-blanket over his face." + +"Eh? What's that?" Austin started, and Gonzalez uttered a +smothered exclamation. "You killed him? He's dead?" + +"Dead enough to skin. I caught him with his irons in the fire and +the calves necked up in your pasture. Now I want his companero." + +"I--hope you don't think we know anything about him," Ed +protested. + +"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 do +with this affair. Would you know your man? Did you get a look at +him?" + +"No. But I reckon Don Ricardo could tell his horse." + +"Humph!" Austin grunted, disagreeably. "So just for that you come +prowling around threatening my help, eh? Trying to frame up a +case, maybe? Well, it don't go. I was out with one of Tad Lewis's +men." + +"What was his name?" Dave managed to inquire. + +"Urbina. He had a sorrel under him, but there are thousands of +sorrel horses." + +"What time did you meet him?" + +"I met him at noon and--I've been with him ever since. So you see +you're wrong. I presume your man doubled back and is laughing at +you." + +Law's first bewilderment had given place to a black rage; for the +moment he was in danger of disregarding the reason for "Young +Ed's" incivility and giving free rein to his passion, but he +checked 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. He +was astonished at his own self-control, though the certainty that +Austin was drunk helped him to steady himself. Nevertheless, he +dared not trust himself to speak. + +Construing this silence as an acknowledgment of defeat, Ed turned +to go. Some tardy sense of duty, however, prompted him to fling +back, carelessly: + +"I suppose you've come a good ways. If you're hungry, Benito will +show you the way to the kitchen." Then he walked away into the +darkness, 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. I +reckon I can chew my bridle-reins if I get too hungry." Walking to +his horse, he vaulted into the saddle. + +Benito laid a hand upon his thigh and apologized. "Senor Ed is a +strange 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 see +Urbina." + +At this the Mexican shook his head as if apprehensive of the +result, but he said nothing more. + +Law hesitated as he was about to spur out of the yard. "By the +way," he ventured, "you needn't mention this to Mrs. Austin." + +"She is not here," Gonzalez told him. "She has gone to La Feria to +see about her affairs. She would not permit of this occurrence if +she 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 house +with his head bowed thoughtfully. + +"It is very strange," he muttered. "How could Don Eduardo have met +this Garza at noon when, with my own eyes, I saw him ride away +from Las Palmas at three o'clock in the afternoon? It is very +strange." + + + + +XI + +JUDGE ELLSWORTH EXACTS A PROMISE + + +On his way to the Lewis ranch Dave Law had a struggle with +himself. He had earned a reputation as a man of violent temper, +and the time was not long past when a fraction of the insult Ed +Austin had offered him would have provoked a vigorous +counterblast. The fact that on this occasion he had managed to +restrain himself argued an increase of self-control that +especially gratified him, because his natural tendency to "fly off +the handle" had led more than once to regrettable results. In +fact, it was only since he had assumed the duties of a peace +officer that he had made a serious effort at self-government. A +Ranger's work calls for patience and forbearance, and Dave had +begun to realize the perils of his temperament. Normally he was a +level-headed, conservative fellow, but when angered a thousand +devils sprang up in him and he became capable of the wildest +excess. This instability, indeed, had been largely to blame for +his aimless roaming. Deep inside himself he knew that it was +nothing but his headstrong temper which had brought on all his +misfortunes and left him, well along in his thirties, a wanderer, +with nothing he could call his own. As with most men of his +turbulent disposition, fits of fury were usually followed by keen +revulsions of feeling. In Dave these paroxysms had frequently been +succeeded by such a sense of shame as to drive him from the scene +of his actions, and in the course of his rovings he had acquired +an ample store of regrets--bitter food for thought during the +silent hours when he sat over his camp-fire or rode alone through +the mesquite. His hatreds were keen and relentless, his passions +wild, and yet, so far as he knew, they had never led him to commit +a 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 of +frenzy. + +The killing of men in the fierce exultation of battle, the slaying +of a criminal by an officer under stress of duty, even the taking +of life under severe personal provocation, were acts that did not +put one beyond the pale. Such blood washes off. But there were +stains of a different kind. + +Dave was glad that he had swallowed "Young Ed's" incivility, not +only for his own sake, but for the sake of Alaire. + +After all, he argued, it was barely possible that Ed had spoken +the truth. There WERE many sorrel horses; the evidence of those +rain-washed hoof-prints was far from conclusive; even the fact +that Urbina belonged to the Tad Lewis outfit was no more than a +suspicious circumstance. And yet, earnestly as he strove to +convince himself of these possibilities, the Ranger could not down +the conviction that the rancher had lied and that he himself was +on the right track. + +It was late when he arrived at his destination, but Lewis's house +was dark, and it required some effort to awaken the owner. When +Tad at last appeared, clad in undershirt and trousers, he greeted +the Ranger with a leveled Winchester; but when Dave had made known +his identity he invited him in, though with surly reluctance. + +Lewis was a sandy-complexioned man of about forty, with colorless +brows and a mean, shifty eye. Formerly a cowboy, he had by the +exercise of some natural ability acquired a good property--and a +bad reputation. Just how or why he had prospered was a mystery +which his neighbors never tired of discussing. + +Tad, it seemed, resented any interruption of his rest, and showed +the 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't +steal 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 and +its outcome. He was aware, meanwhile, that Lewis's family were +listening, for behind a half-open bedroom door he could hear an +excited whispering. + +"Killed him the first shot, eh?" Tad was dumfounded. "Now I never +thought Pino was that bad. But you never can tell about these +Greasers, can you? They'll all steal if they get a chance. I let +Pino go, 'bout a week back; but he's been hangin' around, aimin' +to visit some of his relatives up in the brush country. It was +probably one of them old Guzman saw. Anyhow, it couldn't of been +Adolfo 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 he +understood the situation, was in marked contrast to the behavior +of Austin. In fact, his offer to help was almost too willingly +given to suit Dave, who expected him to protest at being dragged +out on such a night. No protest came, however; Lewis slipped into +his boots and slicker, explaining meanwhile: + +"I'm sorry this play came up, for I don't want folks to think I +got a gang of thieves workin' for me." + +But Adolfo Urbina was nowhere to be found. No one had seen him +since about seven o'clock, nor could it be discovered where he was +spending the night. Dave remembered that it had been about seven +when he left Las Palmas, and ascertained, indirectly, that Tad had +a telephone. On his way from Austin's Law had stopped at a rancho +for 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 again +in 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 it +could avail nothing to wait here for Urbina's return. Unless the +fellow gave himself up, he probably could not be found, now that +the alarm was given, without a considerable search--in view of +which Dave finally remounted his borrowed horse and rode away in +the 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 been +almost constantly in the saddle for twenty-four hours, and Don +Ricardo's cow-pony was almost exhausted. + +Blaze and Paloma, of course, were tremendously interested in his +story. + +"Say, now, that's quick work," the latter exclaimed, heartily. +"You're some thief-buster, Dave, and if you'll just stay around +here little calves can grow up with some comfort." + +When Dave rode to Jonesville, after breakfast, he found that the +body of his victim had been brought in during the night, and that +the town was already buzzing with news of the encounter. During +the forenoon Don Ricardo and his sons arrived, bringing additional +information, which they promptly imparted to the Ranger. The +Guzmans were people of action. All three of them had spent the +night on horseback, and Pedro had made a discovery. On the day +previous Garza had been seen riding in company with a man astride +a 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 seen +together proved, beyond question, that unless Urbina had flown he +could not have arrived at the place in question by noon, the hour +Ed Austin had fixed. + +This significant bit of information, however, Dave advised the +Guzmans not to make public for the time being. + +Toward midday Tad Lewis and three of his men arrived with the news +that Urbina had left for Pueblo before they could intercept him. + +"He's got a girl up there, and he's gone to get married," Tad +explained. "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'll +back him. So 'll Ed Austin, I guess me an' Ed are responsible, +ain't we?" Some skeptical expression in his hearer's face prompted +him to inquire, brusquely, "Don't you believe what I'm telling you +about his goin' to Pueblo?" + +"I guess he's gone--somewhere." + +Tad uttered an angry exclamation. "Looks to me like you'd made up +your 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 him +railroaded, 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 his +alibis. And you take this for what it's worth to you: I'm going to +get all the cattle-rustlers in this county--ALL of them, +understand?" + +Lewis flushed redly and sputtered: "If you make this stick with +Adolfo, nobody 'll be safe. I reckon Urbina's word is as good as +old 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 have +lived all my life among horses, and to me they are like men. I +seldom forget." + +"Very well. Tad says Urbina has gone to Pueblo to get married, so +I'm going to follow him, and I shall be there when he arrives." + +"Bueno! Another matter"--Ricardo hesitated--"your bonita--the +pretty mare. She is buried deep." + +"I'm glad," said Dave. "I think I shall sleep better for knowing +that." + +Since the recent rain had rendered the black valley roads +impassable for automobiles, Dave decided to go to Pueblo by rail, +even though it was a roundabout way, and that afternoon found him +jolting over the leisurely miles between Jonesville and the main +line. He was looking forward to a good night's sleep when he +arrived at the junction; but on boarding the north-bound through +train he encountered Judge Ellsworth, who had just heard of the +Garza killing, and of course was eager for details. The two sat in +the observation-car talking until a late hour. + +Knowing the judge for a man of honor and discretion. Dave +unburdened himself with the utmost freedom regarding his +suspicions of Ed Austin. + +Ellsworth nodded. "Yes, Ed has thrown in with the Rebel junta in +San Antone, and Tad Lewis is the man they use to run arms and +supplies in this neighborhood. That's why he and Ed are so +friendly. Urbina is probably your cattle thief, but he has a hold +over Ed, and so he rode to Las Palmas when he was pursued, knowing +that 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 what +he'll do. I'd hate to see you crowd him, Dave." + +"They call you the best lawyer in this county because you settle +so 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 Ed +Austin out of trouble." + +"How?" + +"The prosecuting attorney is a new man, and he wants to make a +reputation by breaking up the Lewis gang." + +"Well?" + +"He intends to cinch Urbina, on Ricardo's and my testimony. You're +a friend of Austin's; you'd better tip him to set his watch ahead +a few hours and save himself a lot of trouble. The prosecuting +attorney don't like Ed any too well. Understand?" + +The judge pondered this suggestion for a moment. "'Young Ed' is a +queer fellow. Once in a while he gets his neck bowed." + +"So do I," Law declared, quietly. "He treated me like a hobo--sent +me to the kitchen for a hand-out. That sticks. If I hadn't tamed +down considerably these late years, I'd have--wound him up, right +there." + +From beneath his drooping lids Ellsworth regarded the Ranger +curiously. "You HAVE a bad temper, haven't you?" + +"Rotten!" + +"I know. You were a violent boy. I've often wondered how you were +getting along. How do you feel when you're--that way?" + +It was the younger man's turn to hesitate. "Well, I don't feel +anything 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 my +father 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 hardly +know what I mean, Judge. But you've had hunches, haven't you? +Didn't you ever KNOW that something you thought was true wasn't +true at all? Well, I never felt as if I had Frank Law's blood in +me." + +"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, for +instance, 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 one +thing. We both know plenty of people with a Latin strain in them +who look like Anglo-Saxons. Isn't there anything else?" + +"Nothing I can lay my finger on, except some kid fancies and--that +hunch I spoke about." + +Ellsworth sat back with a deep breath. "You were educated in the +North, and your boyhood was spent at school and college, away from +everything Mexican." + +"That probably accounts for it," Law agreed; then his face lit +with a slow smile. "By the way, don't tell Mrs. Austin that I'm a +sort of college person. She thinks I'm a red-neck, and she sends +me books." + +Ellsworth laughed silently. "Your talk is to blame, Dave. Has she +sent you The Swiss Family Robinson?" + +"No. Mostly good, sad romances with an uplift--stories full of +lances at rest, and Willie-boys in tin sweaters. Life must have +been mighty interesting in olden days, there was so much loving +and killing going on. The good women were always beautiful, too, +and the villains never had a redeeming trait. It's a shame how +human 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 a +ranch like Las Palmas. Say, Judge, how'd you like to have to live +with 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 kiss +the hem of her dress and make a man of himself? That's what she +wants--love and sacrifice, and lots of both. If I were Ed Austin +I'd wear her glove in my bosom and treat her like those queens in +the 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 divorce +that bum--she could do it easy enough--and then marry a chap who +could 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 make +a bad husband, Dave." + +"She ought to know how to get along with a bad husband, by this +time." + +Both men had been but half serious. Ellsworth knew his companion's +words 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," Dave +averred. + +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 safe +from your mercenary schemes for some years. Just the same, if you +ever do think of marrying--remember--I want you to come to me--and +I'll cure you." + + + + +XII + +LONGORIO MAKES BOLD + + +Upon her arrival at La Feria Alaire discovered that the Federal +depredations had been even greater than she had feared. Not only +had the soldiers taken a great many head of cattle, but they had +practically cleared the ranch of horses, leaving scarcely enough +with 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 how +much land she really owned--and the property fronted upon a stream +of water. In any other country it would have been a garden of +riches, but agriculture was well-nigh impossible in northern +Mexico. For several years now the instability of the government +had precluded any plan of development, and, in consequence, the +fields were out of cultivation and cattle grazed over the moist +bottom lands, belly deep in grass. The entire ranch had been given +over to pasture, and even now, after Alaire had sold off much of +her stock because of the war, the task of accurately counting what +remained required a longer time than she had expected, and her +visit lengthened. + +However, life in the roomy, fortress-like adobe house was pleasant +enough. Dolores saw to her mistress's wants, and the regular +inhabitants of La Feria were always extravagantly glad to make +their employer welcome. They were a simple, mirth-loving, +industrious people, little concerned over the war, so long as they +were unmolested, but obviously relieved to see Alaire because of +their recent fright at the incursion of Longorio's troops. + +In the work that now went forward Jose Sanchez took a prominent +part. For once in his life he was a person of recognized +importance. Not only was he the right hand of the owner of La +Feria, but the favor of that redoubtable general, the hero of a +hundred tales, rested upon his shoulders like a mantle. Jose's +extravagant praises of the Federal commander, together with the +daily presence of the military guard, forcibly brought home to the +ranch-dwellers the fact that war was actually going on, and that +Luis 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 one +trouble. He had expected to find his cousin, Panfilo, here, and +the fact that nothing whatever had been heard from him filled him +with great uneasiness. Of course he came to Alaire, who told him +of seeing Panfilo at the water-hole on the day after her husband +had 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 that +affair. Believing that Panfilo would turn up at La Feria in due +time, she gave little heed to Jose's dark threats of vengeance for +any injury to his relative. + +The horse-breaker's concern increased as the days passed, and to +the lieutenant and members of the guard he repeated his threats. +Truly, he declared, if any evil had fallen upon his beloved cousin +Panfilo, he, Jose, would exact a terrible reckoning, a revenge +befitting 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 her +own pastures without the whole martial squad following at her +heels. Protest was unavailing; the lieutenant was mulishly +stubborn. He had been ordered to keep the senora in sight at all +times, so he said, and that ended the matter as far as he was +concerned. His life and the lives of his six followers depended +entirely upon her safety and happiness, for General Longorio was a +man of his word. + +Of course the lieutenant would not offend for the world--the +object of his solicitude was at liberty to tread upon his +worthless old carcass--but orders were orders, especially when +they came from a certain source. He besought Alaire to exercise +forbearance toward him, and, above all, to use the extremest +caution in regard to her own well-being, for if aught befell her, +if even a despicable rattlesnake should rise out of the grass to +sting her--caramba! The teniente, in that case, would better +destroy himself on the spot. Otherwise he would surely find +himself, in a short time, with his back to a stone wall and his +face to a firing-squad. That was the sort of man Longorio was. + +The speaker wondered if Mrs. Austin really understood his chief's +nature; how determined he was; how relentless he could be. General +Longorio was a remarkable person. Opposition of any sort he could +not brook. His discipline was rigorous and his punishments were +severe; being utterly without fear himself, he insisted upon +implicit obedience in others at whatever cost. For instance, +during the battle of San Pedro, just south of here, a handful of +Rebels had taken refuge in a small, one-roomed adobe house, where +they resisted all efforts at dislodgment. Time and again the +Federals had charged, only to meet a fire too murderous to face. +The slaughter had been terrific. The lieutenant, veteran of many +revolutions, vowed he had never seen a street so full of dead and +wounded as the one in front of this house. Finally the soldiers +had refused to advance again, and their captain had sent for a +cannon. 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 old +lieutenant paused dramatically. + +"Well, the capitan explained that an army was insufficient to take +that house; that it meant death to all who approached. I was not +present--God be praised!--but others told me what happened. +General Longorio dismounted and embraced the capitan--he kissed +him 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 his +head. "Longorio took two dynamite grenades, and, laughing like a +boy, he ran forward before any one knew what he was about. It is +nothing but the truth, senora, and he a general! This capitan +loved him dearly, and so his bones turned to rope when the windows +of that accursed house began to vomit fire and the dust began to +fly. They say that the dead men in the street rose to their knees +and crossed themselves--I only repeat what I was told by those who +looked on. Anyhow, I have seen things quite as remarkable. + +"Never was such courage, senora! God must have been moved to +astonishment and admiration, for He diverted those bullets, every +one. When our general came to the house he lit the fuses from his +cigarette, then he cried, 'Viva Potosi!' and hurled one bomb to +the roof; the other he flung through a window into the very faces +of his enemies. Those Rebels were packed in there like goats in a +corral, and they say such a screaming you never heard. Doubtless +many of them died from sheer terror the rest were blown through +each other. "The lieutenant breathed an admiring oath. "Truly, it +must 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 and +destroyed what Rebel officers we found--" + +"You mean--your prisoners?" + +"Si. But there were only a few, and doubtless some of them would +have died from their wounds. Well then, after that General +Longorio called his old friend--that capitan--out before his +troops and with his own hand he shot him. Then every fifth man +among those who had refused to charge he ordered executed. It +effected much good, I assure you." + +For a moment Alaire and her companion rode in silence, but the +teniente was not content with this praise of his leader. + +"And yet General Longorio has another side to his character," he +continued. "He can be as mild as the shyest senorita, and he +possesses the most beautiful sentiments. Women are mad over him. +But he is hard to please--strangely so. Truly, the lady who +captivates his fancy may count herself fortunate." The old soldier +turned in his saddle and, with a grace surprising in one of his +rough appearance, removed his hat and swept Alaire a bow the +unmistakable meaning of which caused her to start and to stammer +something unintelligible. + +Alaire was angry at the fellow's presumption, and vexed with +herself for showing that she understood his insinuation. She +spurred her horse into a gallop, leaving him to follow as he +could. + +It was absurd to take the man's word seriously; indeed, he +probably believed he had paid her a compliment. Alaire assured +herself that Longorio's attentions were inspired merely by a +temporary extravagance of admiration, characteristic of his +nationality. Doubtless he had forgotten all about her by this +time. That, too, was characteristic of Latin men. Nevertheless, +the possibility that she had perhaps stirred him more deeply than +she believed was disturbing--one might easily learn to fear +Longorio. 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 she +was not permitted entirely to forget, for Dolores echoed the +teniente's sentiments. + +In marked contrast to Jose Sanchez's high and confident spirits +was the housekeeper's conviction of dire calamity. In the presence +of these armed strangers she saw nothing but a menace, and +considered herself and her mistress no more nor less than +prisoners destined for a fate as horrible as that of the two +beautiful sisters of whom she never tired of speaking. Longorio +was a blood-thirsty beast, and he was saving them as prey for his +first leisure moment--that was Dolores's belief. Abandoning all +hope of ever seeing Las Palmas again, she gave herself up to +thoughts of God and melancholy praises of her husband's virtues. + +In spite of all this, however, Alaire welcomed the change in her +daily life. Everything about La Feria was restfully un-American, +from the house itself, with its bare walls and floors, its +brilliantly flowering patio, and its primitive kitchen +arrangements, to the black-shawled, barefooted Indian women and +their naked children rolling in the dust. Even the timberless +mountains that rose sheer from the westward plain into a tumbling +purple-shadowed rampart were Mexican. La Feria was several miles +from the railroad; therefore it could not have been more foreign +had it lain in the very heart of Mexico rather than near the +northern boundary. + +In such surroundings, and in spite of faint misgivings, it was not +strange that, after a few days, Alaire's unhappiness assumed a +vaguely impersonal quality and that her life, for the moment, +seemed not to be her own. Even the thought of her husband, Ed +Austin, became indistinct and unreal. Then all too soon she +realized that the purpose of her visit was accomplished and that +she had no excuse for remaining longer. She was now armed with +sufficient facts to make a definite demand upon the Federal +government. + +The lieutenant took charge of the return journey to the railroad, +and the two women rode to the jingling accompaniment of metal +trappings. When at last they were safely aboard the north-bound +train, Alaire mildly teased Dolores about her recent timidity. But +Dolores 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 hear +those ruffianly soldiers quarreling over me--it is what comes from +good looks." Dolores mechanically smoothed the wrinkles from her +dress 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 not +born ugly." + +Alaire could not forbear a smile, for she who thus resigned +herself to the penalties of beauty had never been well favored, +and age had destroyed what meager attractions she may have once +possessed. + +Dolores went on after a time. "My Benito will not long remain +unmarried. He is like all men. More than once I have suspected him +of making eyes at young women, and any girl in the country would +marry him just for my fine silver coffee-pot and those spoons. +There is my splendid silk mantilla, with fringe half as long as +your arm, too. Oh, I have treasures enough!" She shook her head +mournfully. "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 one +molest us? Who could wish us harm?" she asked. + +"Ha! Did you see that general? He was like a drunken man in your +presence; 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 a +husband? He only cares that you have long, bright hair, redder +than rust, and eyes like blue flowers, and a skin like milk. An +angel could not be so beautiful." + +"Ah, Dolores, you flatterer! Seriously, though, don't you realize +that we are Americans, and people of position? An injury to us +would 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 had +brought that shawl and that silver coffee-pot with me." + +The homeward journey was a repetition of the journey out; there +were the same idle crowds, the same displays of filthy viands at +the stopping-places, the same heat and dust and delays. Longorio's +lieutenant hovered near, and Jose, as before, was news-gatherer. +Hour after hour they crept toward the border, until at last they +were again laid out on a siding for an indefinite wait. + +The occasion for this was made plain when an engine drawing a +single caboose appeared. Even before it had come to a pause a tall +figure in spotless uniform leaped to the ground and strode to the +waiting coaches. It was Luis Longorio. He waved a signal to the +conductor, then swung aboard the north-bound train. + +The general was all smiles as he came down the and bowed low over +Alaire'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. "I +have blamed myself for allowing you to take this abominable +journey! I have been in torment lest something befall you. Every +night I have prayed that you might be spared all harm. When I +received 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 beg +of you," he entreated. "I have arranged for reparation of that +miserable mistake. You shall see what I have done. With your own +eyes you shall read the furious correspondence I have carried on +with 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?" the +general queried, earnestly. "Fix the damages at your own figure +and I shall see that you receive justice. If the government will +not pay, I will. I have means; I am not a poor man. All I possess +would 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 lost +more 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, and +no 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 have +thought of you every hour; the duties that held me in Nuevo Pueblo +were like irksome chains. I was in madness. I would have flown to +La Feria but--I could not." + +"My husband will thank you for your great courtesy to me," Alaire +managed to say. + +But the mention of husbands was not agreeable to one of Longorio's +sensitiveness, and his face betrayed a hint of impatience. + +"Yes, yes," he agreed, carelessly. "Senor Austin and I must know +each 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 be +surprised to greet me at Las Palmas some day soon, eh? When you +tell 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 are +in Romero, directly opposite. Mexico is not at war with your +country, and when I am in citizen's clothes I am merely an +ordinary person. I have made inquiries, and they tell me Las +Palmas is beautiful, heavenly, and that you are the one who +transformed it. I believe them. You have the power to transform +all 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 of +you." Longorio drew from his pocket several photographs of the +Austin ranch-house. + +"Where did you get those?" Alaire asked in astonishment. + +"Ah! My secret. See! They are badly worn already, for I keep them +next 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 of +Candeleristas--" + +"Cattle!" said the officer, with a careless shrug. "Did not that +great 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 my +mind. Those Englishmen know nothing of passion. Your American men +are cold. Only a Mexican can love. We have fire in our veins, +senora." + +To these perfervid protestations Dolores listened with growing +fright; her eyes were wide and they were fixed hypnotically upon +the speaker; she presented much the appearance of a rabbit charmed +by a serpent. But to Longorio she did not exist; she was a +chattel, 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 to +return the general's ring, with the pretense that she considered +it no more than a talisman loaned her for the time being. But it +was 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 than +a trifling evidence of his esteem. But Alaire was firm. + +"Your customs are different to ours," she told him. "An American +woman is not permitted to accept valuable presents, and this would +cause disagreeable comment." + +At such a thought the general's finest sensibilities were wounded, +but nothing, it seemed, could permanently dampen his ardor, and he +soon proceeded to press his attentions with even more vehemence +than before. He had brought Alaire candies of American +manufacture, Mexican sweetmeats of the finest variety, a beautiful +silken shawl, and at midday the grizzled teniente came with a +basket of lunch containing dainties and fruits and vacuum bottles +with hot and cold drinks. + +When invited to share the contents, the general was plainly +overjoyed, but he was so enthralled by his companion's beauty that +he could eat but little. + +It was a most embarrassing situation. Longorio kept Alaire for +ever upon the defensive, and it sorely taxed her ingenuity to hold +the conversation in safe channels. As the journey proceeded it +transpired that the man had made use of his opportunities to learn +everything about her, even to her life with Ed. His information +was extensive, and his deductions almost uncanny in their +correctness. He told her about Austin's support of the Rebel cause +and her own daily doings at Las Palmas; he intimated that her +unhappiness was almost more than he could bear. + +This intimate knowledge and sympathy he seemed to regard as a bond +that somehow united them. He was no longer a new acquaintance, but +a close and loyal friend whose regard was deathless. + +Undoubtedly the man had a way with him. He impressed people, and +his magnetism was potent. Moreover, he knew the knack of holding +what ground he gained. + +It was an odd, unreal ride, through the blazing heat of the long +afternoon. Longorio cast off all pretense and openly laid siege to +the red-haired woman's heart--all without offering her the +smallest chance to rebuff him, the slightest ground for open +resentment, so respectful and guarded were his advances. But he +was forceful in his way, and the very intensity of his desires +made him incapable of discouragement. So the duel progressed-- +Alaire cool and unyielding, he warm, persistent, and tireless. He +wove about her an influence as difficult to combat as the +smothering folds of some flocculent robe or the strands of an +invisible web, and no spider was ever more industrious. + +When the train arrived at its destination his victim was well-nigh +exhausted from the struggle. He helped her into a coach with the +gentlest and gravest courtesy, and not until the vehicle rolled +away did Alaire dare to relax. Through her fatigue she could still +hear his soft farewell until the morrow, and realized that she had +committed herself to his further assistance. His palms against +hers had been warm, his adoring eyes had caressed her, but she did +not care. All she wished now was to reach her hotel, and then her +bed. + +After a good night's rest, however, Alaire was able to smile at +yesterday's adventure. Longorio did not bulk so large now; even +these few hours had greatly diminished his importance, so that he +appeared merely as an impulsive foreigner who had allowed a woman +to turn his head. Alaire knew with what admiration even a +moderately attractive American woman is greeted in Mexico, and she +had no idea that this fellow had experienced anything more than a +fleeting infatuation. Now that she had plainly shown her distaste +for his outlaw emotions, and convinced him that they awoke in her +no faintest response, she was confident that his frenzy would run +its brief course and die. Meanwhile, it was not contrary to the +standards of feminine ethics to take advantage of the impression +she had made upon him and with his help push through a fair +financial settlement of her loss. + +Once back across the river, however, she discovered that there +were obstacles to a prompt adjustment of her claim. The red tape +of her own government was as nothing to that of Mexico. There were +a thousand formalities, a myriad of maddening details to be +observed, and they called for the services of an advocate, a +notary, a jefe politico, a jefe de armas--officials without end. +All of these worthies were patient and polite, but they displayed +a malarial indifference to delay, and responsibility seemed to +rest nowhere. During the day Alaire became bewildered, almost lost +in the mazes of official procedure, and was half minded to +telegraph for Judge Ellsworth. But that again meant delay, and she +was 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 was +delighted with her grasp of detail and her knowledge of business +essentials. At his word all Nuevo Pueblo bowed and scraped to her, +she was treated with impressive formality, and even the military +guards 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 American +soil 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 hand +in hand with him for some holy cause. + + + + +XIII + +DAVE LAW BECOMES JEALOUS + + +"You can never know what these two days have been for me," the +general said as he and Alaire lingered over their meal. "They will +afford me something to think about all my life! It is a delicious +comfort to know that you trust me, that you do not dislike me. And +you 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 am +not like other men. Would to God I were, for then I could close my +eyes and--forget. You have your great tragedy--it is old to you; +but mine, dear lady, is just beginning. I can look forward to +nothing except unhappiness." He sighed deeply. + +"I'm sorry you are unhappy," Alaire parried. "Surely you have +every pleasant prospect." + +"It would seem so. I am young, rich, a hero, I serve my country in +glorious fashion, but what is all that if there is no pretty one +to care? Even the meanest peon has his woman, his heart's +treasure. I would give all I have, I would forego my hope of +heaven and doom myself to eternal tortures, for one smile from a +pair of sweet lips, one look of love. I am a man of iron--yes, an +invincible soldier--and yet I have a heart, and a woman could rule +me." + +"You say you have a heart." Alaire studied her vis-avis curiously +as he met her eyes with his mournful gaze. "How is it that I hear +such 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: "It +is a necessity of war. Listen, senora! We have twelve million +Indians in Mexico and a few selfish men who incite them to revolt. +Everywhere there is intrigue, and nowhere is there honor. To war +against the government is treason, and treason is punishable by +death. 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. I +am still a young man, and--at present there is but one other +capable of this gigantic task. For the time being, therefore, I +permit myself to serve under him, and--I salute him. Viva Potosi!" +The speaker lifted his glass and drank. "Madero was a wicked +believer in spells and charms; he talked with the dead. He, and +those who came after him, fired the peons to revolt and despoiled +our country, leaving her prone and bleeding. We of the Cientificos +have set ourselves to stop her wounds and to nourish her to life +again. We shall drive all traitors into the sea and feed them to +the sharks. We shall destroy them all, and Mexico shall have +peace. But I am not a bloodthirsty man. No, I am a poet and a +lover at heart. As great a patriot as I am, I could be faithless +to my country for one smile from the woman I adore." + +Alaire did not color under the ardent glance that went with this +declaration. 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 more +than a child herself--whose husband is in prison. She told me how +she had come all the way from the country and is living with +friends, just to be near him. Every day she goes to the carcel, +but is denied admission, and every day she comes to plead with the +jefe de armas for her husband's life. But he will not see her, and +the 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 was +pitiful." Alaire leaned forward with an earnest appeal in her +face, 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 appear +as an angel of mercy, eh? Your heart is touched?" + +"Deeply." + +"Bastante! There is no more to be said." Longorio rose and went +into the next room where were certain members of his staff. After +a time he returned with a paper in his hand, and this he laid +before Alaire. It was an order for the release of Juan Garcia. +"The salvo conducto which will permit Juan and his Inez and their +Juanito to return to their farm is being made out," he explained. +"Are you satisfied?" + +Alaire looked up wonderingly, "I am deeply grateful. You overwhelm +me. You are--a strange man." + +"Dear lady, I live to serve you. Your wish is my law. How can I +prove it further?" As he stood beside her chair the fervor of his +gaze caused her eyes to droop and a faint color to come into her +cheeks. She felt a sudden sense of insecurity, for the man was +trembling; the evident desire to touch her, to seize her in his +arms, was actually shaking him like an ague. What next would he +do? Of what wild extravagance was he not capable? He was a queer +mixture of fire and ice, of sensuality and self-restraint. She +knew him to be utterly lawless in most things, and yet toward her +he had shown scrupulous restraint. What possibilities were in a +man of his electric temperament, who had the strength to throttle +his fiercest longings? + +The strained, throbbing silence that followed Longorio's last +words did more to frighten the woman than had his most ardent +advances. + +After a time he lifted Alaire's hand; she felt his lips hot and +damp upon her flesh; then he turned and went away with the +document. + +When he reappeared he was smiling. "These Garcias shall know who +interceded 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 there +be in a good deed unless one receives public credit and thanks for +it? I am not like that." + +He would have lingered indefinitely over the table, but Alaire +soon 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 could +only look his keen distress. + +As they stepped out into the street Alaire was afforded that treat +which Longorio had so thoughtfully arranged for her. There in the +gutter stood Inez Garcia with her baby in her arms, and beside her +the ragged figure of a young man, evidently her Juan. The fellow +was emaciated, his face was gaunt and worn and frightened, his +feet were bare even of sandals, the huge peaked straw hat which he +clutched over his breast was tattered, and yet in his eye there +was a light. + +They had waited patiently, these Garcias, heedful of Longorio's +orders, and now they burst into a torrent of thanks. They flung +themselves to their knees and kissed the edge of Alaire's dress. +Their instructions had been plain, and they followed them to the +letter, yet their gratitude was none the less genuine for being +studied. The little mother's hysteria, for instance, could not +have been entirely assumed, and certainly no amount of rehearsals +could have taught the child to join his cries so effectively to +his parents'. Between them all they made such a racket as to +summon 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 beaming +eyes expressed the hope that Alaire was fully satisfied with the +moment. But the Garcias, having been thoroughly coached, insisted +upon rendering full measure of thanks, and there seemed to be no +way of shutting them off until the general ordered them to their +feet. + +"That is enough!" he declared. "Hombre, you are free, so go about +your business and fight no more with those accursed rebels." + +Juan, of course, was ready at this moment to fight for any one he +was told to fight for, particularly Longorio himself, and he so +declared. His life was at the service of the benefactor who had +spared him; his wife and baby lived only to bless the illustrious +general. + +"They look very poor," said Alaire, and opened her purse; but +Longorio would not permit her to give. Extracting a large roll of +paper money from his own pocket, he tossed it, without counting, +to Juan, and then when the onlookers applauded he loudly called to +one of his officers, saying: + +"Oiga! Give these good friends of mine two horses, and see that +they are well cared for. Now, Juan," he addressed the dazed +countryman, "I have one order for you. Every night of your life +you and your pretty wife must say a prayer for the safety and +happiness 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 for +the 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: "VIVA +LONGORIO!" + +The general bowed smilingly; then, taking Alaire's arm, he waved +the idlers out of his path with a magnificent gesture. + +When, later in the day, Mrs. Austin came to say good-by and thank +the Mexican for his courtesies, he humbly begged permission to pay +his 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 of +poor Juan Garcia to unlock Heaven for that bandit. He is the +wickedest man I ever met--yes, probably the wickedest man in the +world." + +"He has been kind to us." + +"Bah! He has a motive. Do you notice the way he looks at you? It +is enough to damn him for all eternity." + +Upon her arrival at the hotel Alaire received an agreeable +surprise, for as her vehicle paused, at the curb David Law stepped +forward, 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 a +poor Greaser. But he ain't here. And you, ma'am?" + +Alaire briefly outlined the reasons that had taken her to La Feria +and the duties that had kept her busy since her return, while Dave +nodded his understanding. When, however, he learned that she was +counting upon General Luis Longorio's aid in securing justice, his +expression altered. He regarded her with some curiosity as he +inquired: + +"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 we +consider them peculiar--probably because they are different to us. +Anyhow, we don't understand their business methods or their habits +of mind; even their laughter and their tears are different to +ours, but--from my experience with them I wouldn't put much +confidence in this Longorio's word. I say this, and I'm supposed +to have a little Mexican blood in me." + +During this brief conversation they had entered the hotel, and now +the lobby idlers took quick cognizance of Mrs. Austin's presence. +The lanky, booted Ranger excited no comment, for men of his type +were common here; but Alaire was the heroine of many stories and +the object of a wide-spread curiosity; therefore she received open +stares and heard low whisperings. Naturally resenting this +attention, she gave her hand to Law more quickly than she would +have done otherwise. + +"I hope we shall see each other again," she murmured. + +"That's more'n likely; I'm located in your neighborhood now," he +informed 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 an +automobile." + +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 along +the line." + +"Good! It is a large car and"--she smiled at him--"if we have tire +trouble 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 fancy +branding-iron. His mechanical knowledge is limited to a bridle-bit +and a cinch, and I'm almost certain he believes there is something +ungodly about horseless wagons." + +Dave was nearly speechless with delight, and when the mistress of +Las Palmas had gone up-stairs he felt inclined to pinch himself to +see if he were dreaming. He had pursued a fruitless quest during +the past few days, and his resentment had grown as he became +certain that Tad Lewis had sent him on a wild-goose chase; but the +sight of Alaire miraculously restored his good spirits, and the +prospect of a long, intimate ride in her company changed the whole +trend of his thoughts. His disappointment at not seeing her upon +his visit to Las Palmas had only served to enhance his memories of +their first meeting, and time, now, had deepened his interest +tenfold. Yes, she was "The Lone Star," the estrella brillante of +his empty sky. + +When the supper-hour came he managed by carefully watching the +dining-room to time his meal with Mrs. Austin's. He even ventured +to hope that they might share the same table, but in this he was +disappointed. However, from where he sat he could see her profile +and worship her to his heart's content, and when she favored him +with a smile and a nod he was happy. + +All without his knowledge, Dave realized, this woman had secured +an amazing hold over him. He had thought a great deal about her, +of course, but his thoughts had been idle, and it had required +this second encounter to make him know the truth. Now, however, +there could be no doubt about his feelings; he was more than +romantically interested, the mere sight of her had electrified +him. The discovery distressed him, and he very properly decided +that the affair should end here, since it could lead to nothing +except disappointment. + +But who can govern a wayward fancy? One moment Law promised +himself to see no more of this married woman; the next he wondered +how she would occupy the evening, and ventured to hope that he +might have a chance to talk with her. + +After supper, however, she was nowhere to be found. When his first +chagrin had passed he decided that this was exactly as it should +be. He didn't like to see women make themselves conspicuous in +hotels. + +At the time of this story relations between the United States and +the established government of Mexico were at such high tension +that a hostility had sprung up between the troops fronting each +other along the Rio Grande, and in consequence their officers no +longer crossed the boundary, even when off duty. It created a +flurry 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 an +hour? the Ranger asked himself. Why should he presume to call upon +her unless--he was interested? Mexican officers, in these parlous +times, were not given to social courtesies, and Longorio's +reputation was sufficiently notorious to render his attentions a +cause for gossip under any circumstances. + +Dave rose and strolled restlessly about the hotel. A half-hour +passed and Longorio did not reappear; an hour dragged by, and then +Dave took occasion to go to his room. A glance through the open +parlor door showed the foreigner in closest conversation with Mrs. +Austin. They were laughing; they were alone; even Dolores was +nowhere to be seen. + +When Dave returned to his big rocking-chair he found it +uncomfortable; he watched the clock anxiously; he chewed several +cigars 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's +willingness to help her exact reparation from his government. Fine +doings 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. What +went on up-stairs certainly was none of his business, and he had +better far amuse himself. In accordance with this excellent +reasoning, he went to a picture-show. But he could not become +interested. The flat images on the screen failed to divert him, +and the only faces he saw were those of Luis Longorio and the lone +mistress of Las Palmas. + +Had Dave only known the truth, he would have gained a grim comfort +from it, for Alaire Austin was not enjoying herself this evening. +Her caller stayed on interminably and she became restive under the +flow of his conversation. For some reason or other Longorio was +not the romantic figure he had been; in his citizen's clothes he +was only a dandified Mexican 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-skinned +foreigner whose ardor was distasteful. Longorio was tiresome. + + + + +XIV + +JOSE SANCHEZ SWEARS AN OATH + + +On this same evening a scene of no little significance was taking +place at Las Palmas. Ed Austin was entertaining callers, and these +were none other than Tad Lewis and Adolfo Urbina. + +The progress of events during the last few days had shaped this +conference, for, as Dave had forecast during his conversation with +Judge Ellsworth, the local prosecuting attorney saw in the Guzman +cattle case an opportunity to distinguish himself, and was taking +action accordingly. He had gathered considerable evidence against +Urbina, and was exerting himself to the utmost for an indictment. +He had openly declared that the testimony of Ricardo Guzman and +his other witnesses would convict the suspect, and the fact that +his politics were opposed to Ed Austin's complicated matters still +further. It was the unwelcome news of all this which had brought +Tad Lewis and his Mexican helper to Las Palmas under cover of +darkness. Having gone over the circumstances in detail, Lewis +concluded: + +"We're depending on you, Ed. You got to stand pat." + +But Austin was lukewarm. He had experienced a change of heart, and +the cause appeared when he read aloud a letter that day received +from Judge Ellsworth, in which the judge told of his meeting with +Dave Law, and the Ranger's reasons for doubting Ed's word. + +"I've got to take water," "Young Ed" told his visitors, "or I'll +get myself into trouble." Then querulously he demanded of Adolfo: +"Why in hell did you come here, anyhow? Why didn't you keep to the +chaparral?" + +Adolfo shrugged. "I thought you were my friend." + +"Sure!" Tad agreed. "Urbina's been a friend to you, now you got to +stick to him. We got to hang together, all of us. My evidence +wouldn't carry no weight; but there ain't a jury in South Texas +that would question yours. Adolfo done the right thing." + +"I don't see it," Ed declared, petulantly. "What's the use of +getting me into trouble? There's the river; they can't follow you +across." + +But Urbina shook his head. + +"You know he can't cross," Tad explained. "His people would shoot +him if he ever went to Mexico." + +"Well, he'll be caught if he stays here. You daren't send that +damned Ranger on another blind trail. If Adolfo can't go south +he'll have to go north." + +"Not on your life," affirmed Lewis. "If he runs it'll prove his +guilt and look bad for me. I'm the one they're after, and I don't +stand 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 dragged +into the thing. You've no business rustling stock, anyhow. You +don't have to." + +Urbina exhaled a lungful of cigarette smoke and inquired, "You +won't help me, eh?" + +"No, I won't." + +"Very well! If I go to prison you shall go, too. I shall tell all +I 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 ever +convicted, even when the embargo was in effect. Why, the +government winks at anybody who helps the Rebels." + +"Oh, that is nothing!" Urbina agreed; "but you would not wish to +be 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 he +knows about them horses? Suppose he tells how you framed it to +have your own stock run across, on shares, so's you could get more +money to go hifalutin' around San Antone without your wife knowing +it? 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 asserted +Lewis. + +"Nobody'd believe such a thing." + +"Folks are ready to believe 'most anything about you. Your wife +would believe it. Ain't Las Palmas in her name, and don't she give +you so much a month to spend? If them ain't facts, you lied to +me." + +"Yes!" Urbina supplemented. "I can swear to all that. And I can +swear 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, if +you would steal your wife's horses, why would you not steal your +neighbor's cattle? The relatives of poor Pino Garza--God rest his +soul!--will bear me out. I have arranged for that. Suppose I tell +the jury that there were three of us in that pasture of yours, +instead of two? What then? I would be lonely in prison without a +good compadre to bear me company." Urbina grinned in evil triumph. + +"This is the damnedest outrage I ever heard of," gasped "Young +Ed." "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 to +the brush and live like a javelin just for your sake, when you +could square him with a word." + +There was a moment or two of silence, during which the visitors +watched the face of the man whose weakness they both knew. At last +Ed Austin ventured to say, apologetically: + +"I'm willing to do almost anything to help Adolfo, but--they'll +make a liar of me if I take the stand. Isn't there some other way +out?" + +"I don't know of any," said Lewis. + +"Money'll square anything," Ed urged, hopefully, whereupon Urbina +waved 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 I +have. If he was out of the way there wouldn't be nothin' to this +case, 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. I +would see to that." + +The color receded from Ed Austin's purple cheeks, and he rose +abruptly. "This is getting too strong for me," he cried. "I won't +listen to this sort of talk. I won't be implicated in any such +doings." + +"Nobody's goin' to implicate you," Tad told him. "Adolfo wants to +keep you out of trouble. There's plenty of people on both sides of +the river that don't like Guzman any better'n we do. Me an' Adolfo +was 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. He +knew only too well the character of his two visitors; he had +learned much about Tad Lewis during the past few months, and, as +for the Mexican, he thought the fellow capable of any crime. At +this moment Ed bitterly regretted his acquaintance with these +neighbors, for both men knew more about his affairs than he cared +to have made public. He was angry and resentful at Tad for taking +sides against him, and more than a little fearful of Adolfo's +enmity if he refused assistance. The owner of Las Palmas still +retained a shred of self-respect, a remnant of pride in his name; +he did not consider himself a bad man. He was determined now to +escape from this situation without loss of credit, no matter what +the price--if escape were possible--and he vowed earnestly to +himself that hereafter he would take ample pains never to become +similarly involved. + +Austin remained out of the room for some time; when he returned +his 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. "Do +you think I'm going to be tangled up in a--murder? I've got +nothing against Don Ricardo." + +"Who said anything about murder? Things ain't like they was when +your father owned Las Palmas; he done his share of killin', but +nowadays there's too dam' much law layin' around loose. All you've +got 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," he +said, sullenly. "I'm broke. And, anyhow, I don't see what good +it'll do." + +"You better dig it up, somehow, just for your own sake." + +The two men eyed each other for a moment; then Austin mumbled +something about his willingness to try, and left the room for a +second time. The money which Alaire kept on hand for current +expenses was locked in her safe, but he knew the combination. + +It was with an air of resignation, with a childish, half-hearted +protest, that he counted out the desired amount into Lewis's hand, +salving his conscience with the statement: "I'm doing this to help +Adolfo out of his trouble, understand? I hope it'll enable you to +square things." + +"Maybe it will and maybe it won't," sneered Lewis. "Anyhow, I +ain't scared of tryin'. I got the guts to make a battle, even if +you haven't." + +Ed Austin was greatly relieved when his unwelcome callers rode +away; as he composed himself for sleep, an hour later, he +refrained from analyzing too deeply the motives behind this forced +loan, and refused to speculate too long upon the purpose to which +it might be put. The whole occurrence was unfortunate. Ed Austin +sincerely hoped he had heard the last of it. + +Jose Sanchez made use of the delay at Pueblo to institute further +inquiries regarding his missing cousin, but nowhere could he find +the slightest trace. Panfilo had set out to ride to this point and +thence to La Feria, but the last seen of him had been at the +water-hole, one day's ride from the home ranch. At that point the +earth had opened and swallowed him. If he were alive why had he +not written to his sweetheart, Rosa? + +Jose swore an oath that he would learn the truth if it required +his whole lifetime, and, if it should turn out that his sainted +relative had indeed met with foul play--well! Jose told his +friends they could judge, by looking at him, the sort of man he +was. He proudly displayed Longorio's revolver, and called it his +cousin's little avenger. The weapon had slain many; it had a duty +still to perform, so he said. + +Jose intended to confide his purpose to Mrs. Austin, but when it +came time to start for Las Palmas there was a fourth passenger in +the automobile, and he was obliged to hold his tongue for the +moment. + +A motor trip along the lower Rio Grande would prove a novel and +not altogether agreeable experience to the average automobilist, +for there are few improved roads and the rest offer many +difficulties, not the least of which are frequent fords, some +deep, some shallow. So it was that Alaire considered it necessary +to make an early start. + +In spite of the unhealthy fancies that Dave Law had taken to bed +with him, he arose this morning in fine spirits and with a +determination to put in a happy day. Alaire, too, was in good +humor and expressed her relief at escaping from everything +Mexican. + +"I haven't seen a newspaper for ages, and I don't know what is +going on at Jonesville or anywhere else," she confided. + +Dave told her of the latest developments in the Mexican situation, +the slow but certain increase of tension between the two +governments, and then of home happenings. When she asked him about +his own doings, he informed her of the affair which had brought +him to Pueblo. + +Of course all three of his companions were breathlessly interested +in the story of Pino Garza's death; Dolores and Jose did not allow +a word to escape them. + +"So they cut our fence and ran the calves into our pasture to +brand!" Alaire said. "It's time somebody like you came to +Jonesville, Mr. Law." + +"Caramba! It required bravery to ride alone into that rincon," +Jose declared. "I knew Pino Garza well, and he could shoot like +the devil." + +"You said your horse saved your life," Mrs. Austin went on. "How +do you mean?" When Dave had explained, she cried, quickly, "You +weren't riding--Bessie Belle?" + +"Yes. She's buried where she dropped." + +"Oh-h!" Alaire's exclamation was eloquent of pity, and Law smiled +crookedly. + +"I've been right lonesome since she went away. 'Most every day I +find myself stealing sugar for her, the way I used to do. See!" He +fumbled 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. Of +course, 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 my +cheek wet where she'd kissed it. She'd leave the nicest grass just +to come and visit with me." + +Alaire turned a quick glance upon the speaker to find his face set +and his eyes miserable. Impulsively she laid her hand upon his +arm, saying: + +"I know how you must feel. Do you know what has always been my +dearest wish? To be able to talk with animals; and to have them +trust me. Just think what fun it would be to talk with the wild +things and make friends of them. Oh, when I was a little girl I +used to dream about it!" + +Law nodded his vigorous appreciation of such a desire. "Dogs and +horses sabe more than we give them credit for. I've learned a few +bird words, too. You remember those quail at the water-hole?" + +"Oh yes." + +Dave smiled absent-mindedly. "There's a wonderful book about +birds--one of the keenest satires ever written, I reckon. It's +about a near-sighted old Frenchman who was cast away on a penguin +island. He saw the big birds walking around and thought they were +human beings." + +"How did you happen to read Anatole France?" Alaire asked, with a +sharp stare of surprise. + +The Ranger stirred, but he did not meet her eyes. "Well," said he, +"I read 'most anything I can get. A feller meets up with strange +books just like he meets up with strange people." + +"Not books like--that." There was a brief silence. "Mr. Law, every +now and then you say something that makes me think you're a--rank +impostor." + +"Pshaw!" said he. "I know cowboys that read twice as good as I +do." + +"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 of +which there lurked the faintest twinkle. "Cornell," said he. + +Alaire gasped. After a while she remarked, stiffly, "You have a +peculiar sense of humor." + +"Now don't be offended," he begged of her. "I'm a good deal like a +chameleon; I unconsciously change my color to suit my +surroundings. When we first met I saw that you took me for one +thing, and since then I've tried not to show you your mistake." + +"Why did you let me send you those silly books? Now that you have +begun to tell the truth, keep it up. How many of them had you +read?" + +"We-ll, I hadn't read any of them--lately." + +"How disagreeable of you to put it that way!" The car leaped +forward as if spurred by Alaire's mortification. "I wondered how +you knew about the French Revolution. 'That Bastilly was some +calaboose, wasn't it'?" She quoted his own words scornfully. "I +dare 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 of +muddy water, and Law was forced to get out to plug the carburetor +and stop the oil-intakes to the crankcase. This done, Alaire ran +the 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 cry +over those romances." + +"Don't you still believe in chivalry?" + +Alaire turned her eyes upon the questioner, and there were no +girlish illusions in them. "Do you?" she queried, with a faint +curl of her lip. + +"Why--yes." + +She shook her head. "Men have changed. Nowadays they are all +selfish and sordid. But--I shouldn't generalize, for I'm a +notorious man-hater, you know." + +"It seems to me that women are just as selfish as men--perhaps +more so--in all but little things." + +"Our definitions of 'little things' may differ. What do you call a +big 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 in +love?" He nodded, whereupon she eyed him speculatively. "Let us +see. You are a man--how far would you go for the woman you loved?" + +"The limit!" + +Mrs. Austin frowned at this light-seeming answer. "I suppose you +mean that you would make any sacrifice?" + +"Yes; that's it." + +"Would you give up the woman herself, if you considered it your +duty?" + +"No. There couldn't be any duty higher than love--to my way of +thinking. But you shouldn't take me as a specimen. I'm not a good +representative of my sex." + +"I think you are a very good one," Alaire said, quietly, and Dave +realized that no flattery was intended. Although he was willing to +talk further on this subject, Mrs. Austin gave him no opportunity +of airing his views. Love, it appeared, was a thing she did not +care to discuss with him on their footing of semi-intimacy. + +Despite the rough roads, they made fair time, and the miles of +cactus and scrawny brush rolled swiftly past. Occasionally a lazy +jack-rabbit ambled out of his road-side covert and watched them +from a safe distance; now and then a spotted road-runner raced +along the dusty ruts ahead of them. The morning sun swung higher, +and by midday the metal of the automobile had become as hot as a +frying-pan. They stopped at various goat-ranches to inquire about +Adolfo Urbina, and at noon halted beside a watercourse for lunch. + +Dave was refilling the radiator when he overheard Jose in +conversation with Mrs. Austin. + +"Nowhere a trace!" the horse-breaker was saying. "No one has seen +him. Poor Rosa Morales will die of a broken heart." + +Alaire explained to her guest: "Jose is worried about his cousin +Panfilo. It seems he has disappeared." + +"So! You are Panfilo's cousin?" Dave eyed the Mexican with new +interest. + +"Si!" + +"You remember the man?" Alaire went on. "He was with that fellow +you arrested at the water-hole." + +"Oh yes. I remember him." With steady fingers Dave shook some +tobacco 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 Pueblo +there was not a word. It is strange." + +"Panfilo was in bad company when I saw him." Law finished rolling +his cigarette and lit it, still conscious of Alaire's questioning +gaze. "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. "This +little fellow will have something to say." + +Dave looked him over idly, from head to heel, then murmured: "You +would do well to go slow, compadre. Panfilo made his own +quarrels." + +"We were like brothers, and I do not know of any quarrels. But I +shall find out. It begins to look bad for somebody. After he left +that charco there is--nothing. Where did he go? Whom did he +encounter? Rosa will ask me those questions. I am not given to +boasting, 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 had +finished eating and her two employees had begun their meal, she +climbed 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 after +her. When they stood face to face in the shade of a gnarly oak- +tree, Alaire asked him point-blank: + +"Where is Panfilo Sanchez?" + +Dave met her eyes squarely; his own were cold and hard. "He's +where he dropped at my second shot," said he. + +He could hear his companion's sharp inhalation. He did not flinch +at 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 his +eyes, then opened them upon hers. "He had it coming. He stole my +horse. He took a chance." + +Mrs. Austin turned away. For a time they were silent and Dave felt +himself pitilessly condemned. + +"Why didn't you tell me at the time?" she asked. "Why didn't you +report 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 tell +everything 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 sickly +yellow. + +"You've no right to say that," he told her, harshly. "You've plumb +overstepped yourself, ma'am, and--I reckon you've formed quite a +wrong opinion of me and of the facts. Let me tell you something +about that killing and about myself, so you'll have it all +straight before you bring in your verdict. You say Panfilo was +unarmed, and you call it--murder. He had his six-shooter and he +used it; he had the darkness and the swiftest horse, too. He +intended to ambush me and release his companion, but I forced his +hand; 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 the +last, but I haven't lost any sleep over it, and I'd have killed +him just as quick if I hadn't been an officer. That's the kind of +man 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 to +stay; and he's just as dead under the stars as he'd be under the +sand. I'd rather lie facing the sky than the grass roots." + +"But--you must have known it would get out, sometime. This puts +both 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 seem +to consider that an insult. If it is, I don't know how to +compliment you, ma'am." + +Alaire pondered this statement briefly before saying, "You have a +strange 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 would +consider a nice person; the death of Panfilo Sanchez means nothing +whatever to me. If you can grasp that fact, you'll see that your +own reputation weighed heavier in my mind than the lives of a +dozen Mexicans--or whites, for that matter. People know me for +what I am, and--that may have had something to do with my +decision." + +"I go anywhere, everywhere. No one has ever had the effrontery to +question 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 an +impatient frown to her brow. "You don't seem to realize that he +will try to revenge himself." + +"You might warn him against any such foolishness. Jose has some +sense." + +The woman looked up curiously. "Don't you know how to be afraid? +Haven't you any fear?" she asked. + +Dave's gray eyes were steady as he answered: "Yes'm! I'm afraid +this thing is going to spoil our friendship. I've been desperately +afraid, all along, that I might have hurt your reputation. Even +now I'm afraid, on your account, to make public Panfilo Sanchez's +death. 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 matter +entirely. A Ranger can get away with a heap more than killing a +Mexican. 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 their +seats 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 the +wheel, for her nerves were indeed unsteady and she was grateful +for an opportunity to think out the best course to pursue in this +unexpected difficulty. Later, as she listened to Law's +inconsequential talk with Dolores and Jose, and watched the way he +handled the car, she marveled at his composure. She wondered if +this man could have a heart. + +It became evident to Dave, as the afternoon progressed, that they +would be very late in arriving at Las Palmas; for although he +drove as rapidly as he dared over such roads, the miles were long +and the going heavy. They were delayed, too, by a mishap that held +them back for an hour or two, and he began to fear that his +hostess would feel in duty bound to insist upon his spending the +night at her home. To accept, after his clash with Ed Austin, was +of course impossible, and he dreaded another explanation at this +particular crisis. + +That a crisis in their relations had arisen he felt sure. He had +tried to make plain his attitude of mind toward the killing of +Panfilo Sanchez, and the wisdom of his course thereafter, but he +doubted if Alaire understood the one or agreed with the other. +Probably she considered him inhuman, or, what was worse, cowardly +in attempting to avoid the consequences of his act. And yet he +could not explain his full anxiety to protect her good name +without confessing to a deeper interest in her than he dared. And +his interest was growing by leaps and bounds. This woman +fascinated him; he was infatuated--bewitched by her personality. +To be near her affected him mentally and physically in a way too +extraordinary to analyze or to describe. It was as if they were so +sympathetically attuned that the mere sound of her voice set his +whole being into vibrant response, where all his life he had lain +mute. She played havoc with his resolutions, too, awaking in him +the wildest envy and desire. He no longer thought of her as +unattainable; on the contrary, her husband's shortcomings seemed +providential. Absurd, impossible ways of winning her suggested +themselves. To risk a further estrangement, therefore, was +intolerable. + +But as if his thoughts were telepathic messages, she did the very +thing he feared. + +"We won't be in before midnight," she said, "but I'll send you to +Jonesville 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 a +reputation for inhospitableness at Las Palmas that I want to +overcome." In spite of their recent clash, in spite of the fact +that this fellow's ruthlessness and indifference to human life +shocked her, Alaire was conscious of her obligation to him, and +aware also of a growing friendship between them which made the +present situation all the more trying. Law was likable, and he +inspired her with a sense of security to which she had long been a +stranger. "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 Jonesville +somehow." + +"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 through +a tunnel of light walled in by swiftly moving shadows. + +The windows of Las Palmas were black, the house silent, when they +arrived at their journey's end; Dolores was fretful, and her +mistress ached in every bone. When Jose had helped his +countrywoman into the house Alaire said: + +"If you insist upon going through you must take the car. You can +return 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 fondle +it in that detestable Mexican fashion of which she had lately +experienced so much; glad that the grasp of his long, strong +fingers was merely firm and friendly. When he stepped back into +the car and drove off through the night she stood for some time +looking after him. + +Blaze Jones had insisted that Dave live at his house, and the +Ranger had accepted the invitation; but as it was late when the +latter arrived at Jonesville, he went to the hotel for a few +hours' rest. When he drove his borrowed machine up to the Jones +house, about breakfast-time, both Blaze and Paloma were delighted +to 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 looked +over the car critically. "These automobiles are all right, but +whenever I want to go somewhere and get back I take a team of hay- +burners. Mules don't puncture. The first automobile Paloma had +nearly scared me to death. On the road to Brownsville there used +to be a person who didn't like me--we'd had a considerable +unpleasantness, in fact. One day Paloma and I were lickety- +splittin' along past his place when we had a blow-out. It was the +first one I'd ever heard, and it fooled me complete--comin' right +at that particular turn of the road. I sure thought this party I +spoke of had cut down on me, so I r'ared up and unlimbered. I shot +out three window-lights in his house before Paloma could explain. +If he'd been in sight I'd have beefed him then and there, and +saved six months' delay. No, gas-buggies are all right for people +with 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 whole +road, too. You know these Mexicans are slow about pulling their +wagons to one side. Well, father got mad one day, and when a team +refused him the right of way he whipped out his revolver and +fired." + +Blaze smiled broadly. "It worked great. And believe me, them +Greasers took to the ditch. I went through like a hot wind, but I +shot 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 suppose +you refused because of the way Ed treated you? Well, I'd have +accepted just to spite him. Tell me, is she nice?" + +"She's lovely." + +This vehement declaration brought a sudden gleam of interest into +the questioner's eyes. + +"They say she has the most wonderful gowns and jewels, and dresses +for dinner every night. Well"--Paloma tossed her head--"I'm going +to 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-dress +suit, spillin' soup on my shirt." Then to his guest he complained, +feelingly: "I don't know what's come over Paloma lately; this new +dressmaker has plumb stampeded her. Somebody'd ought to run that +feline 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, and +he's a bad hombre. He backed me up against a waterin'-trough and +told my fortune yesterday. He said I'd be married twice and have +many children. He told me I was fond of music and a skilled +performer on the organ, but melancholy and subject to catarrh, +Bright's disease, and ailments of the legs. He said I loved +widows, and unless I was poisoned by a dark lady I'd live to be +eighty 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 some +of the things he said. 'A dark lady!' That's his wife. I give you +warnin', Paloma, don't you ask her to stay for meals. People like +them 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' around +ladders, and spittin' through crossed fingers, and countin' the +spots on their nails. He interprets their dreams and locates lost +articles." + +"Maybe he can tell me where to find Adolfo Urbina?" Dave +suggested. + +"Humph! If he can't, Tad Lewis can. Say, Dave, this case of yours +has stirred up a lot of feelin' against Tad. The prosecutin' +attorney says he'll sure cinch him and Urbina, both. One of +Lewis's men got on a bender the other night and declared Adolfo +would never come to trial." + +"What did he mean?" + +"It may have been mescal talk, but witnesses sometimes have a way +of disappearin'. I wouldn't put anything past that gang." + +Not long after breakfast Don Ricardo Guzman appeared at the Jones +house and warmly greeted his two friends. To Dave he explained: + +"Last night I came to town, and this morning I heard you had +returned, 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 very +Colonel Blanco who commands the forces at Romero. He would +scarcely venture to return to Federal territory. However, I go to +meet 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 fortune +at every turn. He honors my poor thirsty rancho with a visit and +brings a glorious rain; then he destroys my enemies like a +thunderbolt. No sooner is this done than I receive from the +Federals an offer for fifty of my best horses. Caramba! Such a +price, too. They are in a great hurry, which looks as if they +expected an attack from the Candeleristas at Matamoras. I hope so. +God grant these traitors are defeated. Anyhow, the horses have +gone, 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. I +wouldn't trust them." + +"They know, also, that I am an American, like you gentlemen," +proudly asserted Guzman. "That makes a difference. I supported the +Liberator--God rest his soul!--and I secretly assist those who +fight his assassins, but so does everybody else. I am receiving a +fine price for those horses, so it is worth a little risk. Now, +senor," he addressed himself to the Ranger, "I have brought you a +little 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 a +magnificent bridle of plaited horsehair. It was cunningly wrought, +and lavishly decorated with silver fittings. "You recognize those +hairs?" he queried. "They came from the mane and tail of your +bonita." + +"Bessie Belle!" Law accepted the handsome token, then held out his +hand to the Mexican. "That was mighty fine of you, Ricardo. I--You +couldn't have pleased me more." + +"You like it?" eagerly demanded the old man. "That is good. I am +repaid 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 their +fingers, too. That mare will always guide you now, wherever you +go. And we handled her gently, for your sake." + +Dave nodded. "You're a good man, Ricardo. We're going to be +friends." + +Guzman's delight was keen, his grizzled face beamed, and he showed +his 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 hands +heartily and rode away, waving his hat. + +"There's a good Greaser," Blaze said, with conviction, and Dave +agreed, feelingly: + +"Yes! I'd about go to hell for him, after this." Then he took the +bridle in for Paloma to admire. + + + + +XVI + +THE RODEO + + +It was with a feeling of some reluctance that Dave drove up to Las +Palmas shortly after the lunch hour, for he had no desire to meet +"Young Ed." However, to his relief, Austin did not appear, and +inasmuch as Alaire did not refer to her husband in any way, Dave +decided that he must be absent, perhaps on one of his notorious +sprees. + +The mistress of the big ranch was in her harness, having at once +assumed her neglected duties. She came to welcome her caller in a +short khaki riding-suit; her feet were encased in tan boots; she +wore a mannish felt hat and gauntlet gloves, showing that she had +spent the morning in the saddle. Dave thought she looked +exceedingly capable and business-like, and not less beautiful in +these clothes; he feasted his eyes covertly upon her. + +"I expected you for luncheon," she smiled; and Dave could have +kicked himself. "I'm just going out now. If you're not in too +great 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 back +toward the farm buildings she explained: "I'm selling off a bunch +of cattle. Benito is rounding them up and cutting out the best +ones." + +"You keep them, I reckon." + +"Always. That's how I improve the grade. You will see a splendid +herd of animals, Mr. Law--the best in South Texas. I suppose +you're interested in such things." + +"I'd rather watch a good herd of stock than the best show in New +York," he told her. + +When they came to the corrals, an intricate series of pens and +chutes at the rear of the outbuildings, Law beheld two +thoroughbred 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 the +fine 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 and +sister, 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 full +import of her words, she added: "Yours to keep, I mean. You must +make 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 to +stroke her shining coat while she turned an intelligent face to +him, 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 over +the animal, like a small boy tempted beyond his strength, Alaire +laughed. "I owe you something, Mr. Law, and a horse more or less +means very little to me." + +He yielded; he could not possibly continue his resistance, and in +his happy face Alaire took her reward. + +The mare meanwhile was doubtfully nosing her new master, deciding +whether or not she liked him; but when he offered her a cube of +sugar her uncertainties disappeared and they became friends then +and there. He talked to her, too, in a way that would have won any +female heart, and it was plain to any one who knew horses that she +began to consider him wholly delightful. Now, Montrosa was a sad +coquette, but this man seemed to say, "Rosa, you rogue, if you try +your airs with me I will out-flirt you." Who could resist such a +person? Why, the touch of his hands was positively thrilling. He +was gentle, but masterful, and--he had a delicious smell. Rosa +felt that she understood him perfectly, and was enraptured to +discover that he understood her. There was some satisfaction in +knowing such a man. + +"You DO speak their language," Alaire said, after she had watched +them for a few minutes. "You have bewitched the creature." Dave +nodded silently, and his face was young. Then half to herself the +woman 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 to +myself?" + +"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 Lone +Star." + +Alaire smiled in tacit assent; then when the two friends had +completely established their intimacy she mounted her own horse +and led the way to the round-up. + +Dave's unbounded delight filled the mistress of Las Palmas with +the keenest pleasure. He laughed, he hummed snatches of songs, he +kept up a chatter addressed as much to the mare as to his +companion, and under it Montrosa romped like a tomboy. It was +gratifying to meet with such appreciation as this; Alaire felt +warm and friendly to the whole world, and decided that out of her +abundance she must do more for other people. + +Of course Dave had to tell of Don Ricardo's thoughtful gift, and +concluded by saying, "I think this must be my birthday, although +it 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 go +across the river." There was a pause. "If anybody harms him I +reckon 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 me +bigger than a skinned ox. They say gratitude is an elemental, +primitive emotion--" + +"Perhaps that's why it is so rare nowadays," said Alaire, not more +than half in jest. + +"You find it rare?" Dave looked up keenly. "Well, you have +certainly laid up a store of it to-day." + +Benito and his men had rounded up perhaps three thousand head of +cattle when Alaire and her companion appeared, and they were in +the process of "cutting out." Assembled near a flowing well which +gave life to a shallow pond, the herd was held together by a half- +dozen horsemen who rode its outskirts, heading off and driving +back the strays. Other men, under Benito's personal direction, +were isolating the best animals and sending them back to the +pasture. It was an animated scene, one fitted to rouse enthusiasm +in any plainsman, for the stock was fat and healthy; there were +many calves, and the incessant, rumbling complaint of the herd was +bloodstirring. 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 the +hoarse, unceasing undertone from countless bovine throats. Out +near the grub-wagon the remuda was grazing, and thither at +intervals came the perspiring horsemen to change their mounts. + +Benito, wet, dusty, and tired, rode up to his employer to report +progress. + +"Dios! This is hot work for an old man. We will never finish by +dark," 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 among +those gopher-holes." He slid out of his seat and, with an arm +around the mare's neck, whispered into her ear, "We won't have any +broken legs and broken hearts, will we, honey girl?" Rosa answered +by nosing the speaker over with brazen familiarity; then when he +had 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 his +loop over a buckskin, preparatory to joining the cowboys. + +The giant herd milled and eddied, revolving like a vast pool of +deep, swift water. The bulls were quarrelsome, the steers were +stubborn, and the wet cows were distracted. Motherless calves +dodged about in bewilderment. In and out of this confusion the +cowboys rode, following the animals selected for separation, +forcing them out with devious turnings and twistings, and then +running them madly in a series of breakneck crescent dashes over +flats and hummocks, through dust and brush, until they had joined +the smaller herd of choice animals which were to remain on the +ranch. It was swift, sweaty, exhausting work, the kind these +Mexicans loved, for it was not only spectacular, but held an +element of danger. Once he had secured a pony Dave Law made +himself one of them. + +Alaire sat her horse in the heart of the crowding herd, with a sea +of rolling eyes, lolling tongues, and clashing horns all about +her, and watched the Ranger. Good riding she was accustomed to; +the horses of Las Palmas were trained to this work as bird dogs +are trained to theirs; they knew how to follow a steer and, as Ed +Austin boasted, "turn on a dime with a nickel to spare." But Law, +it appeared, was a born horseman, and seemed to inspire his mount +with an exceptional eagerness and intelligence. In spite of the +man's unusual size, he rode like a feather; he was grace and life +and youth personified. Now he sat as erect in his saddle as a +swaying 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 the +depleted herd was driven to the water. It moved thither in a +restless, thirsty mass; it churned the shallow pond to milk, and +from a high knoll, where Alaire had taken her stand, she looked +down upon a vast undulating carpet many acres in extent formed by +the backs of living creatures. The voice of these cattle was like +the 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, for +as 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 in +that 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. Some +of them were stubborn and risked all upon a spirited dash back +toward the homes they were leaving and toward the mothers who +would not answer. It took hard, sharp riding to run them down, for +they fled like rabbits, bolting through prickly-pear and scrub, +their tails bravely aloft, their stiff legs flying. Others, too +tired and thirsty to go farther, lay down and refused to budge, +and these had to be carried over the saddlehorn until they had +rested. Some hid themselves cunningly in the mesquite clumps or +burrowed 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 or +with painless blows from loose-coiled riatas; they picked them up +in their arms and rode with them. + +Once through the gate and safe inside the restraining pasture +fence, the herd was allowed to settle down. Then began a patient +search by outraged mothers, a series of mournful quests that were +destined to continue far into the night; endless nosings and +sniffings and caressings, which would keep up until each cow had +found her own, until each calf was butting its head against +maternal ribs and gaining that consolation which it craved. + +A new moon was swinging in the sky as Alaire and Dave rode back +toward Las Palmas. The dry, gray grass was beginning to jewel with +dew; the paths were ribbons of silver between dark blots of ink +where the bushes grew. Behind rose the jingle of spurs and +bridles, the creak of leather, the voices of men. It was an hour +in which to talk freely, an environment suited to confidences, and +Dave Law was happier than he had been for years. He closed his +eyes to the future, he stopped his ears to misgivings; with a song +in 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 she +never knew. Certainly he gave no voice to his feeling, save, +perhaps, by some unconscious tone or trick of speech; rather, the +knowledge came to her intuitively as the result of some +subconscious interchange of thought, some responsive vibration, +which only a psychologist could analyze. However it was, Alaire +knew to-night that she was dear to her companion, and, strange to +say, this certainty did not disturb her. Inasmuch as the thing +existed, why deny its right to exist? she asked herself. Since it +was in no wise dishonorable, how could it be wrong, provided it +went no further? Alaire had been repelled by Luis Longorio's +evident love for her, but a similar emotion in this man's breast +had quite the opposite effect. She was eager for friendship, +hungry for affection, starved for that worship which every woman +lives upon. Having a wholesome confidence in her own strength of +character, and complete faith in Law's sense of honor, she was +neither alarmed nor offended. + +For the first time in years she allowed her intimate thoughts free +expression, and spoke of her hopes, her interests, and her +efforts; under the spell of the moonlight she even confided +something about those dreams that kept her company and robbed her +world of its sordidness. Dave Law discovered that she lived in a +fanciful land of unrealities, and the glimpse he gained of it was +delightful. + +Supper was waiting when they arrived at Las Palmas, and Dolores +announced that "Young Ed" had telephoned from the Lewis ranch that +he would not be home. Yielding to a sudden impulse, Alaire said to +her companion: + +"You must dine with me. Dolores will show you to a room. I will be +ready 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 of +misgivings; but the next instant he asked himself wherein he was +doing wrong. Surely there was no law which denied him the right to +love, provided he kept that love a secret. The inner voice did not +argue with him; yet he was disquieted and restless as he paced the +big living-room, waiting for his hostess. + +The Austin ranch-house offered a contrast to the majority of Texas +country homes. "Young Ed" had built almost a mansion for his +bride, and in the latter years Alaire had remodeled and changed it +to suit her own ideas. The verandas were wide, the rooms large and +cool and open; polished floors, brilliant grass mats, and easy +wicker furniture gave it a further airiness. The place was +comfortable, luxurious; yet it was a home and it had an +atmosphere. + +Not for many years had Dave Law been a guest amid such +surroundings, and as the moments dragged on he began to feel more +and more out of place. With growing discomfort he realized that +the mistress of this residence was the richest woman in all this +part of Texas, and that he was little better than a tramp. His +free life, his lack of care and responsibility, had bred in him a +certain contempt for money; nevertheless, when through the door to +the dining-room he saw Alaire pause to give a final touch to the +table, he was tempted to beat an ignominious retreat, for she was +a radiant vision in evening dress. She was stately, beautiful; her +hair was worn high, her arms were bare underneath a shimmer of +lace, her gown exposed a throat round and smooth and adorable. In +reality, she was simply clad; but to the Ranger's untrained eye +she seemed regal, and his own rough clothes became painfully +conspicuous by contrast. + +Alaire knew how to be a gracious and winning hostess; of course +she did not appear to notice her guest's embarrassment. She had +rather welcomed the thought that this man cared for her, and yet, +had she deliberately planned to dampen his feeling, she could +hardly have succeeded better than by showing him the wide +disparity in their lives and situations. Dave was dismayed; he +felt very poor and ridiculous. Alaire was no longer the woman he +had ridden with through the solitudes; her very friendliness +seemed to be a condescension. + +He did not linger long after they had dined, for he wished to be +alone, where he could reach an understanding with himself. On the +steps 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 it +all day; but even yet I don't know what to tell you. One moment I +think the truth would merely provoke another act of violence; the +next I feel that it must be made public regardless of +consequences. As for its effect upon myself--you know I care very +little what people say or think." + +"I'm sorry I killed the fellow--I shouldn't have done it, but--one +sees things differently out in the rough and here in the settled +country. Laws don't work alike in all places; they depend a good +deal upon--geography. There are times when the theft of a crust of +bread would warrant the punishment I gave Panfilo. I can't help +but 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 deviltry +together." + +"That is hardly an excuse." Alaire smiled faintly. + +"Oh, I know!" Dave agreed. "But, you see, I don't feel the need of +one. 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 at +things, and I must confess that I tolerate actions that would have +shocked me before I came to know this country. Panfilo is dead and +gone--rightly or wrongly, I don't know. What I dread now is +further consequences." + +"Don't weaken on my account." + +"No! I'm not thinking of the consequences to you or to me. You are +the kind of man who can protect himself, I'm sure; your very +ability 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 yourself +enough over it, ma'am," he said; "splitting hairs as to what's +right and what's wrong, when it doesn't matter much, in either +case. Suppose you continue to think it over at your leisure." + +"Perhaps I'd better. And now"--Alaire extended her hand--"won't +you and Montrosa come to see me once in a while? I'm very +lonesome." + +"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 a +bridle-bit came from the driveway, and he smiled. "There's her +acceptance now." + +"Oh no! She merely heard your voice, the fickle creature." + +Alaire watched her guest until be had disappeared into the +shadows, then she heard him talking to the mare. Benito's words at +the rodeo recurred to her, and she wondered if this Ranger might +not 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 had +passed with no word from him, his sons became alarmed and started +an investigation, but without the slightest result. Even Colonel +Blanco himself could not hazard a guess as to Guzman's fate; the +man had disappeared, it seemed, completely and mysteriously. +Meanwhile, from other quarters of the Mexican town came rumors +that 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 the +time it raised a storm of indignation as the crowning atrocity of +the Mexican revolution, serving further to disturb the troubled +waters of diplomacy and threatening for a moment to upset the +precariously balanced relations of the two countries. + +At first the facts appeared plain: a citizen of the United States +had been lured across the border and done to death by Mexican +soldiers--for it soon became evident that Ricardo was dead. The +outrage was a casus belli such as no self-respecting people could +ignore; so ran the popular verdict. Then when that ominous mailed +serpent 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 was +generally known that President Potosi had long resented Yankee +enmity, particularly as that enmity was directed at him +personally. A succession of irritating diplomatic skirmishes, an +unsatisfactory series of verbal sparring matches, had roused the +old Indian's anger, and it was considered likely that he had +adopted this means of permanently severing his relations with +Washington. + +Of course, the people of Texas were delighted that the long- +delayed hour had struck; accordingly, when the State Department +seemed strangely loath to investigate the matter, when, in fact, +it manifested a willingness to allow Don Ricardo ample time in +which to come to life in preference to putting a further strain +upon international relations, they were both surprised and +enraged. Telegraph wires began to buzz; the governor of the state +sent a crisply sarcastic message to the national capital, offering +to despatch a company of Rangers after Guzman's body just to prove +that he was indeed dead and that the Mexican authorities were +lying when they professed ignorance of the fact. + +This offer not only caught the popular fancy north of the Rio +Grande, but it likewise had an effect on the other side of the +river, for on the very next day General Luis Longorio set out for +Romero to investigate personally the rancher's disappearance. + +Now, throughout all this public clamor, truth, as usual, lay +hidden at the bottom of its well, and few even of Ricardo's +closest friends suspected the real reason for his murder. + +Jonesville, of course, could think or talk of little else than +this outrage, and Blaze Jones, as befitted its leading citizen, +was loudest in his criticism of the government's weak-kneed +policy. + +"It makes me right sore to think I'm an American," he confided to +Dave. "Why, if Ricardo had been an Englishman the British consul +at Mexico City would have called on Potosi the minute the news +came. He'd have stuck a six-shooter under the President's nose and +made him locate Don Ricardo, or pay an indemnity and kiss the +Union Jack." Blaze's conception of diplomacy was peculiar. "If +Potosi didn't talk straight that British consul would have bent a +gun-bar'l over the old ruffian's bean and telephoned for a couple +hundred battle-ships. England protects her sons. But we Americans +are cussed with notions of brotherly love and universal peace. +Bah! We're bound to have war, Dave, some day or other. Why not +start it now?" + +Dave nodded his agreement. "Yes. We'll have to step in and take +the country over, sooner or later. But--everybody has the wrong +idea of this Guzman killing. The Federal officers in Romero didn't +frame 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 remember +one 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 draw +your 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 has +blown up, eh?" + +"Absolutely. Lewis has been selling 'wet' stock to the Federals, +and he probably arranged with some of them to murder Ricardo. At +any rate, that's my theory." + +Blaze cursed eloquently. "I'd like to hang it on to Tad; I'd sure +clean house down his way if I was positive." + +"I sent a man over to Romero," Dave explained further. "He tells +me Ricardo is dead, all right; but nobody knows how he died, or +why. 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 in +Romero lately." The speaker watched his friend closely. "Ricardo's +family 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 he +really faced a firing-squad, for instance--I reckon Washington +would 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 all +the lies, and perhaps force Colonel Blanco to make known the real +facts. It might even mean a case against Tad Lewis. What do you +think of my reasoning?" + +"It's eighteen karat. What d'you say we go over there and get +Ricardo?" + +Dave smiled. "That's what I've been leading up to. Will you take a +chance?" + +"Hell, yes!" + +"I knew you would. All we need is a pair of Mexicans to--do the +work. 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 be +discharged from the Ranger service." + +"I ain't very good at runnin'--not from Mexicans." Blaze's eyes +were 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 of +absence from Las Palmas, especially since Benito was not a little +interested in the unexplained disappearance of Panfilo and work +was light at this time. Benito did not think it necessary to +mention the horse-breaker's journey to his employer; so that +Alaire knew nothing whatever about the matter until Jose himself +asked permission to see her on a matter of importance. + +The man had ridden hard most of the previous night, and his +excitement was patent. Even before he spoke Alaire realized that +Panfilo's fate was known to him, and she decided swiftly that +there must be no further concealment. + +"Senora! A terrible thing!" Jose burst forth. "God knows, I am +nearly mad with grief. It is about my sainted cousin. It is +strange, unbelievable! My head whirls--" + +Alaire quieted him, saying in Spanish, "Calm yourself, Jose, and +tell 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 you +saw 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 you +suspect, and why? Tell me all. There is something black and +hellish here, and I must know about it quickly." + +"Suppose you tell me your story first," Alaire answered, "and +remember that you are excited." + +The Mexican lowered his voice. "Bueno! Forgive me if I seem half +crazed. Well, I rode to that water-hole and found--nothing. It is +a lonely place; only the brush cattle use it; but I said to +myself, 'Panfilo drank here. He was here. Beyond there is nothing. +So I will begin.' God was my helper, senora. I found him--his +bones as naked and clean as pebbles. Caramba! You should have +heard me then! I was like a demon! I couldn't think, I couldn't +reason. I rode from that accursed spot as if Panfilo's ghost +pursued me and--I am here. I shall rouse the country; the people +shall demand the blood of my cousin's assassin. It is the crime of +a century." + +"Wait! When you spoke to me last I didn't dream that Panfilo was +dead, but since then I have learned the truth, and why he was +killed. You must let me tell you everything, Jose, just as it +happened; then--you may do whatever you think best. And you shall +have the whole truth." + +It was a trying situation; in spite of her brave beginning, Alaire +was tempted to send the Mexican on to Jonesville, there to receive +an explanation directly from David Law himself; but such a course +she dared not risk. Jose was indeed half crazed, and at this +moment quite irresponsible; if he met Dave, terrible consequences +would surely follow. Accordingly, it was with a peculiar, +apprehensive flatter in her breast that Alaire realized the crisis +had come. Heretofore she had blamed Law, but now, oddly enough, +she found herself interested in defending him. As calmly as she +could she related all that had led up to the tragedy, while Jose +listened with eyes wide and mouth open. + +"You see, I had no suspicion of the truth," she concluded. "It was +a terrible thing, and Mr. Law regrets it deeply. He would have +made a report to the authorities, only--he feared it might +embarrass me. He will repeat to you all that I have said, and he +is ready to meet the consequences." + +Jose was torn with rage, yet plainly a prey to indecision; he +rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath. "These Rangers!" he +muttered. "That is the kind of men they are. They murder honest +people." + +"This was not murder," Alaire cried, sharply. "Panfilo was aiding +a felon to escape. The courts will not punish Mr. Law." + +"Bah! Who cares for the courts? This man is a Gringo, and these +are Gringo laws. But I am Mexican, and Panfilo was my cousin. We +shall see." + +Alaire's eyes darkened. "Don't be rash, Jose," she exclaimed, +warningly. "Mr. Law bears you no ill-will, but--he is a dangerous +man. You would do well to make some inquiries about him. You are a +good man; you have a long life before you." Reading the fellow's +black look, she argued: "You think I am taking his part because he +is my countryman, but he needs no one to defend him. He will make +this whole story public and face the consequences. I like you, and +I don't wish to see you come to a worse end than your cousin +Panfilo." + +Jose continued to glower. Then, turning away, he said, without +meeting his employer's eyes, "I would like to draw my money." + +"Very well. I am sorry to have you leave Las Palmas, for I have +regarded 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 General +Longorio. He is in Romero, just across the river; he knows a brave +man 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 demon +of a Jose whose cousin was murdered by the Rangers. Yes, I have +the heart of a bandit." + +Alaire smiled faintly. "You will be shot," she told him. "Those +soldiers have little to eat and no money at all." + +But Jose's bright eyes remained hostile and his expression +baffling. It was plain to Alaire that her explanation of his +cousin's death had carried not the slightest conviction, and she +even began to fear that her part in the affair had caused him to +look upon her as an accessory. Nevertheless, when she paid him his +wages she gave him a good horse, which Jose accepted with thanks +but without gratitude. As Alaire watched him ride away with never +a backward glance she decided that she must lose no time in +apprising the Ranger of this new condition of affairs. + +She drove her automobile to Jonesville that afternoon, more +worried than she cared to admit. It was a moral certainty, she +knew, that Jose Sanchez would, sooner or later, attempt to take +vengeance upon his cousin's slayer, and there was no telling when +he might become sufficiently inflamed with poisonous Mexican +liquor to be in the mood for killing. Then, too, there were +friends 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 had +never called upon Paloma, and had made it almost impossible for +the girl to visit Las Palmas, the meeting of the two women was +somewhat formal. But no one could long remain stiff or constrained +with Paloma Jones; the girl had a directness of manner and an +honest, friendly smile that simply would not be denied. Her +delight that Alaire had come to see her pleased and shamed the +elder woman, who hesitatingly confessed the object of her visit. + +"Oh, I thought you were calling on me." Paloma pouted her pretty +lips. "Dave isn't here. He and father--have gone away." A little +pucker 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's +eyes; Alaire told her story quickly. "Mr. Law must be warned right +away," she added, "for the man is capable of anything." + +Paloma nodded. "Dave told us how he had killed Panfilo--" She +hesitated, and then cried, impulsively: "Mrs. Austin, I'm going to +confess something--I've got to tell somebody or I'll burst. I was +walking the floor when you came. Well, Dad and Dave have +completely lost their wits. They have gone across the river--to +get 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 he +was killed. Dave knows where he's buried, and he's doing this for +Ricardo's family--some foolish sentiment about a bridle--but Dad, +I think, merely wants to start a war between the United States and +Mexico." + +"My dear girl, aren't you dreaming?" + +"I thought I must be when I heard about it. Dad wouldn't have told +me at all, only he thought I ought to know in case anything +happens to him." Paloma's breath failed her momentarily. "They'll +be killed. I told them so, but Dave seems to enjoy the risk. He +said Ricardo had a sentimental nature--and, of course, the +possibility of danger delighted both him and Dad. They're perfect +fools." + +"When did they go? Tell me everything." + +"They left an hour ago in my machine, with two Mexicans to help +them. They intend to cross at your pumping-plant as soon as it +gets dark, and be back by mid-night--that is, if they ever get +back." + +"Why, it's--unbelievable." + +"It's too much for me. Longorio himself is in Romero, and he'd +have them shot if he caught them. We'd never even hear of it." +Paloma's face was pale, her eyes were strained and tragic. "Father +always has been a trial to me, but I thought I could do something +with Dave." She made a hopeless gesture, and Alaire wondered +momentarily whether the girl's anxiety was keenest for the safety +of her father or--the other? + +"Can't we prevent them from going?" she inquired. "Why, they are +breaking the law, aren't they?" + +"Something like that. But what can we do? It's nearly dark, and +they'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. And +think of Dad--a man of property! Dave declares Tad Lewis is at the +bottom of it all and put the Federals up to murder Ricardo; he +thinks in this way he can force them into telling the truth. But +Dad is just looking for a fight and wants to be a hero!" + +There was a moment of silence. Then Alaire reasoned aloud: "I +presume they chose our pumping-plant because it is directly +opposite the Romero cemetery. I could have Benito and some trusty +men 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 they +got into trouble." + +"Come, then! We'll have supper at Las Palmas and slip down to the +river and wait." + +Paloma was gone with a rush. In a moment she returned, ready for +the trip, and with her she carried a Winchester rifle nearly as +long as herself. + +"I hope you aren't afraid of firearms," she panted. "I've owned +this 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 and +Dave very far." + +Jose Sanchez was true to his declared purpose. With a horse of his +own between his knees, with money in his pocket and hate in his +heart, he left Las Palmas, and, riding to the Lewis crossing, +forded the Rio Grande. By early afternoon he was in Romero, and +there, after some effort, he succeeded in finding General +Longorio. + +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 for +the presence of Colonel Blanco's detachment of troops, it would +have presented much the same appearance as any one of the lazy +border villages. A scow ferry had at one time linked it on the +American side with a group of 'dobe houses which were sanctified +by the pious name of Sangre de Cristo, but of late years more +advantageous crossings above and below had come into some use and +Romero's ferry had been abandoned. Perhaps a mile above Sangre de +Cristo, and directly opposite Romero's weed-grown cemetery, stood +the pumping-plant of Las Palmas, its corrugated iron roof and +high-flung chimney forming a conspicuous landmark. + +Luis Longorio had just awakened from his siesta when Jose gained +admittance to his presence. The general lay at ease in the best +bed of the best house in the village; he greeted the new-comer +with a smile. + +"So, my brave Jose, you wish to become a soldier and fight for +your country, eh?" + +"Yes, my general." + +Longorio yawned and stretched lazily. "Body of Christ! This is a +hard life. Here am I in this goatherd's hovel, hot, dirty, and +half starved, and all because of a fellow I never saw who got +himself killed. You would think this Ricardo was an Englishman +instead of a Gringo, for the fuss that is made. Who was he? Some +great jefe? + +"A miserable fellow. I knew him well. Then he is indeed dead?" + +"Quite dead, I believe," Longorio said, carelessly; then turning +his large, bright eyes upon the visitor, he continued, with more +interest, "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", he +said, quietly, "if you harm her in the least I shall bury you to +the 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 as +connectedly as he knew how all about his cousin's death and his +reasons for leaving Las Palmas. + +"Ah-h!" Longorio relaxed. "You gave me a start. At first I thought +you 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 a +little secret: I love your senora! Yes, I love her madly, +furiously; I can think of nothing but her. I came to this +abominable village more to see her than to annoy myself over the +death of Ricardo Guzman. I must see my divinity; I must hear her +blessed voice, or I shall go mad. Why do I tell you this? Because +I have decided that you shall lead me to her to-night." The +general fell silent for a moment, then, "I intend to have her some +day, Jose, and--perhaps you will be my right hand. See, I make you +my confidant because you will not dare to anger me or--Well, my +little friend, you must understand what fate would befall you in +that case. I can reach across the Rio Grande." + +Amazement and then fear were depicted in Jose's face as he +listened; 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 your +services. Perhaps I shall also arrange so that you may have a +reckoning with the murderer of your cousin. What is his name?" + +It was Jose's opportunity to make an impression, and he used it to +the full, telling all that he knew of the killing of Panfilo, and +describing 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 me +jealous." + +"Impossible!" Jose raised protesting palms. He was sure the +general was wrong. Senora Austin was above suspicion of any kind. + +"And yet this man met her in Pueblo and rode with her to Las +Palmas? He comes to see her frequently, you say?" The general bent +his bright, keen eyes upon the visitor. + +"Yes. She gave him the finest horse at Las Palmas, too, and--" A +new thought presented itself to Jose. "Ho! By the way, they were +alone at the water-hole when my cousin Panfilo was shot. Now that +I think of it, they were alone together for a day and a night. I +begin to wonder--" + +Longorio breathed an oath and swung his long legs over the edge of +the 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? I +cannot bear to think of this! See, I am beside myself. Caramba! I +live in paradise; I come flying on the wings of the wind, only to +learn that my blessed divinity has a lover. If only my excellent +Blanco had shot this fellow Law instead of that Guzman! If only I +could lay hands upon him here in Mexico! Ha! There would be +something to print in the American papers." He began to dress +himself feverishly, muttering, as he did so: "I will permit no one +to come between us. ... The thought kills me. ... You bring me bad +news, Jose, and yet I am glad you came. I accept your offer, and +you shall be my man henceforth; ... but you shall not go out to be +shot by those rebels. No, you shall return to Las Palmas to be my +eyes and my ears, and, when the time comes, you shall be my hands, +too. ... I will avenge your cousin Panfilo for you, my word on +that. Yes, and I will make you a rich man." + +Jose listened hungrily to these promises. He was relieved at the +change in his plans, for, after all, a soldier's life offered few +attractions, and--the food at Las Palmas was good. The general +promised him fine wages, too. Truly, it was fortunate that he had +come to Romero. + +"Now we have settled this," Jose's new employer declared, "run +away and amuse yourself until dark. Then we will take a little +journey by way of the old ferry." + +"It is not altogether safe," ventured Jose. "That country over +there is alive with refugees." + +"I will take some men with me," said Longorio. "Now go and let me +think." + + + + +XVIII + +ED AUSTIN TURNS AT BAY + + +Had it not been for her fears, Paloma Jones would have taken her +visit to the Austin ranch as an unmixed enjoyment. To her Alaire +had always been an ideally romantic figure. More than once, in her +moments of melancholy, Paloma had envied Mrs. Austin's unhappiness +and yearned to bear a similar sorrow--to be crossed in love and to +become known as a woman of tragedy. To have one's life blasted, +one's happiness slain by some faithless lover, impressed the girl +as interesting, thrilling. Moreover, it was a misfortune +calculated to develop one's highest spiritual nature. Surely +nothing could be more sadly satisfying than to live alone with +regretful memories and to have the privilege of regarding the +world as a vain show. Unfortunately, however, Paloma was too +healthy and too practical to remain long occupied with such +thoughts. She was disgustingly optimistic and merry; misanthropy +was entirely lacking in her make-up; and none of her admirers +seemed the least bit inclined to faithlessness. On the contrary, +the men she knew were perfect nuisances in their earnestness of +purpose, and she could not manage to fall in love with any one +sufficiently depraved to promise her the slightest misery. Paloma +felt that she was hopelessly commonplace. + +Now that she had an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with +the object of her envy, she made the most of it. She soon found, +however, that Alaire possessed anything but an unhappy +disposition, and that to pity her was quite impossible. Mrs. +Austin was shy and retiring, certainly, at first, but, once the +ice was broken, she was delightfully frank, friendly, and +spirited. + +Paloma's curiosity was all-consuming, and she explored every phase +of her new friend's life with interest and delight. She even +discovered that imaginary world of Alaire's, and learned something +about 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 actually +see 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 feel +terribly. But they're much nicer than flesh-and-blood children, +for they have no bad traits whatever, and they're so amazingly +intelligent." + +Such exchanges of confidence drew the women into fairly close +relations by the time they had arrived at Las Palmas, but the +thought of what had brought them together had a sobering effect, +and during their hasty supper they discussed the situation in all +its serious phases. + +In offering to lend a hand in this difficulty, Alaire had acted +largely upon impulse, and now that she took time to think over the +affair more coolly, she asked herself what possible business of +hers it could be. How did this effort to secure Don Ricardo's body +concern her? And how could she hope or expect to be of help to the +men engaged in the hazardous attempt? With Paloma, of course, it +was different: the girl was anxious on her father's account, and +probably concerned more deeply than was Alaire for the safety of +Dave Law. Probably she and Dave had an understanding--it would be +natural. Well, Paloma was a nice girl and she would make a +splendid wife for any man. + +For her part, Paloma was troubled by no uncertainty of purpose; it +did not seem to her at all absurd to go to her father's +assistance, and she was so eager to be up and away that the +prospect of a long evening's wait made her restless. + +As usual, Ed Austin had not taken the trouble to inform his wife +of his whereabouts; Alaire was relieved to find that he was out, +and she decided that he had probably stayed at Tad Lewis's for +supper. + +The women were seated on the porch after their meals when up the +driveway rode two horsemen. A moment later a tall figure mounted +the steps and came forward with outstretched hand, crying, in +Spanish: + +"Senora! I surprise you. Well, I told you some day I should give +myself this great pleasure. I am here!" + +"General Longorio! But--what a surprise!" Alaire's amazement was +naive; her face was that of a startled school-girl. The Mexican +warmly kissed her fingers, then turned to meet Paloma Jones. As he +bowed the women exchanged glances over his head. Miss Jones looked +frankly frightened, and her expression plainly asked the meaning +of Longorio's presence. To herself, she was wondering if it could +have 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 and +motionless beside her chair, inquiring smoothly: "What brings you +into Texas at such a time, my dear general? This is quite +extraordinary." + +"Need you ask me?" cried the man. "I would ride through a thousand +perils, senora. God in his graciousness placed that miserable +village Romero close to the gates of Heaven. Why should I not +presume to look through them briefly? I came two days ago, and +every hour since then I have turned my eyes in the direction of +Las Palmas. At last I could wait no longer." A courtly bow at the +conclusion of these words robbed the speech of its audacity and +tinged it with the licensed extravagance of Latin flattery. +Nevertheless, Paloma gasped and Alaire stirred uncomfortably. The +semi-darkness of the veranda was an invitation to even more daring +compliments, and, therefore, as she murmured a polite word of +welcome, Alaire stepped through the French window at her back and +into the brightly lighted living-room. Paloma Jones followed as if +in 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 of +paradise!" + +"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 care +for 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 brave +man, and fear is a stranger to you, but, nevertheless, you must +have regard for the Fatherland'; so I took measures to protect +myself in case of eventualities." + +"How?" + +"By bringing with me some of my troopers. Oh, they are peaceable +fellows!" he declared, quickly; "and they are doubtless enjoying +themselves with our friend and sympathizer, Morales." + +"Where?" asked Alaire. + +"I left them at your pumping-plant, senora." Paloma Jones sat down +heavily in the nearest chair. "But you need have no uneasiness. +They are quiet and orderly; they will molest nothing; no one would +believe them to be soldiers. I take liberties with the laws and +the customs of your country, dear lady, but--you would not care +for 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, since +entering 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. "Or +is it," he asked--"is it that you are indeed apprehensive for me?" + +Alaire tried to speak quietly. "I should never forgive myself if +you came to harm here at my ranch." + +Longorio sighed. "And I hoped for a warmer welcome--especially +since I have done you another favor. You saw that hombre who came +with me?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, you would never guess that it is your Jose Sanchez, whom I +prevailed upon to return to your employ. But it is no other; and +he comes to beg your forgiveness for leaving. He was distracted at +the 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 poor +fellow this Panfilo--evidently a very bad man, indeed--but Jose +admired 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, why +follow in his footsteps? You will not make a good soldier. Go back +to your beautiful employer, be loyal to her, and think no more +about this unhappy affair.' It required some argument, I assure +you, but--he is here. He comes to ask your forgiveness and to +resume his position of trust." + +"I am glad to have him back if he feels that way. I have nothing +whatever to forgive him." + +"Then he will be happy, and I have served you. That is the end of +the matter." With a graceful gesture Longorio dismissed the +subject. "Is it to be my pleasure," he next inquired, "to meet +Senor Austin, your husband?" + +"I am afraid not." + +"Too bad. I had hoped to know him and convince him that we +Federales are not such a bad people as he seems to think. We ought +to be friends, he and I. Every loyal Mexican, in these troublesome +times, desires the goodwill and friendship of such important +personages as Senor Austin. This animosity is a sad thing." + +Under this flow of talk Paloma stirred uneasily, and at the first +opportunity burst out: "It's far from safe for you to remain here, +General Longorio. This neighborhood is terribly excited over the +death 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 report +that nothing whatever could be discovered about him. Certainly he +is nowhere in Romero, and it is my personal belief that the poor +fellow was either drowned in the river or made way with for his +money. Probably the truth will never be known. It is a distressing +event, but I assure you my soldiers do not kill American citizens. +It is our boast that Federal territory is safe; one can come or go +at will in any part of Mexico that is under Potosista control. I +sincerely hope that we have heard the last of this Guzman affair." + +Longorio had come to spend the evening, and his keen pleasure in +Alaire Austin's company made him so indifferent to his personal +safety that nothing short of a rude dismissal would have served to +terminate his visit. Neither Alaire nor her companion, however, +had the least idea how keenly he resented the presence of Paloma +Jones. Ed Austin's absence he had half expected, and he had wildly +hoped for an evening, an hour, a few moments, alone with the +object of his desires. Jose's disclosures, earlier in the day, had +opened the general's eyes; they had likewise inflamed him with +jealousy and with passion, and accordingly he had come prepared to +force his attentions with irresistible fervor should the slightest +opportunity offer. To find Alaire securely chaperoned, therefore, +and to be compelled to press his ardent advances in the presence +of a third party, was like gall to him; the fact that he made the +most 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 of +respectability; and on the other hand, a woman, bored, resentful, +and tortured at the moment by fear about what was happening at the +river-bank. + +Alaire, too, had a further cause for worry. Of late Ed Austin had +grown insultingly suspicious. More than once he had spoken of Dave +Law in a way to make his wife's face crimson, and he had wilfully +misconstrued her recital of Longorio's attentions. Fearing, +therefore, that in spite of Paloma Jones's presence Ed would +resent the general's call, Alaire strained her ears for the sound +of his coming. + +It was late when Austin arrived. Visitors at Las Palmas were +unusual at any time; hence the sound of strange voices in the +brightly lighted living-room at such an hour surprised him. He +came tramping in, booted and spurred, a belligerent look of +inquiry upon his bloated features. But when he had met his wife's +guests his surprise turned to black displeasure. His own +sympathies in the Mexican struggle were so notorious that +Longorio's presence seemed to him to have but one possible +significance. Why Paloma Jones was here he could not imagine. + +Thus far Alaire's caller had succeeded in ignoring Miss Jones, and +now, with equal self-assurance, he refused to recognize Ed's +hostility. He remained at ease, and appeared to welcome this +chance of meeting Austin. Yet it soon became evident that his +opinion of his host was far from flattering; beneath his +politeness he began to show an amused contempt, which Alaire +perceived, even though her husband did not. Luis Longorio was the +sort of man who enjoys a strained situation, and one who shows to +the best advantage under adverse conditions. Accordingly, Ed's +arrival, instead of hastening his departure, merely served to +prolong his stay. + +It was growing very late now, and Paloma was frantic. Profiting by +her first opportunity, she whispered to Alaire "For God's sake, +send him away." + +Alaire's eyes were dark with excitement, "Yes," said she. "Talk to +him, and give me a chance to have a word alone with Ed." + +The opportunity came when Austin went into the dining-room for a +drink. Alaire excused herself to follow him. When they were out of +sight 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 here +in 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 crazy +to risk such a thing." + +"Crazy?" Ed's lip curled. "He isn't crazy. I suppose he couldn't +stay away any longer. By God, Alaire--" + +Alaire checked this outburst with a sharp exclamation: "Don't make +a scene! Don't you understand he holds over fifty thousand +dollars' worth of La Feria cattle? Don't you understand we can't +antagonize him?" + +"Is that what he came to see you about?" + +"Yes." She bit her lip. "I'll explain everything, but--you must +help me send him back, right away." Glancing at the clock, Alaire +saw that it was drawing on toward midnight; with quick decision +she seized her husband by the arm, explaining feverishly: "There +is something big going on to-night, Ed! Longorio brought a guard +of soldiers with him and left them at our pump-house. Well, it so +happens that Blaze Jones and Mr. Law have gone to the Romero +cemetery 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 encounter +Longorio's men--You understand?" + +"God Almighty!" Austin burst forth. "Ricardo Guzman's body!" He +wet his lips and swallowed with difficulty. "Why--do they want the +body?" + +"To prove that he is really dead and--to prove who killed him." +Noting the effect of these words, Alaire cried, sharply, "What's +the matter, Ed?" + +But Austin momentarily was beyond speech. The decanter from which +he was trying to pour himself a drink played a musical tattoo upon +his 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 you +understand? They are over there now, and they'll be back about +midnight. If Longorio had come alone, or if he had left his men at +Sangre de Cristo, everything would be all right. But those +soldiers at Morales's house will be up and awake. Why, it couldn't +have happened worse!" "How many men has he got?" Austin nodded in +the 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 in +the hunted, desperate way in which his eyes were running over the +room, alarmed Alaire. + +Ed utterly disregarded her question. Catching sight of the +telephone, which stood upon a stand in the far corner of the room, +he ran to it and, snatching the receiver, violently oscillated the +hook. + +"Don't do that!" Alaire cried, following him. "Wait! It mustn't +get out." + +"Hello! Give me the Lewis ranch--quick--I've forgotten the +number." 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 the +instrument 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 the +adjoining room. + +"Keep your hands off, I tell you. Hello! Is that you, Tad?" Again +Austin thrust his wife violently aside. "Listen! I've just learned +that Dave Law and old man Jones have crossed over to dig up +Ricardo's body. Yes, to-night! They're over there now--be back +inside of an hour." + +Alaire leaned weakly against the table, her frightened eyes fixed +upon the speaker. Even yet she could not fully grasp the meaning +of her husband's behavior and tried to put aside those fears that +were distracting her. Perhaps, after all, she told herself, Ed was +taking 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 crossed +at 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 was +shaking so that he could scarcely retain his hold upon the +telephone. "How the hell do I know?" he chattered. "It's up to +you. 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 wife +turned. The open double-door to the living-room framed the tall +figure of the Mexican general. + + + + +XIX + +RANGERS + + +Longorio stared first at the huddled, perspiring man beside the +telephone 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 four +he was the least excited. + +From the background Paloma quavered: "You told us Ricardo was not +dead, so--it is all right. There is no--harm done." + +A brief silence ensued, then Longorio shrugged. "Who knows? Let us +hope that he suffered no harm on Mexican soil. That would be +serious, indeed; yes, very serious, for I have given my word to +your government. This--David Law--" he pronounced the name +carefully, but with a strange, foreign accent--"he is a reckless +person to defy the border regulations. It is a grave matter to +invade foreign territory on such a mission." Longorio again bent +his brilliant eyes upon Alaire. "I see that you are concerned for +his safety. You would not desire him to come to trouble, eh? He +has done you favors; he is your friend, as I am. Well"--a +mirthless smile exposed his splendid white teeth--"we must think +of 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 men +of mine are stupid fellows and there is danger of a +misunderstanding. In the dark anything may happen. I should like +to 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 moves +slowly. 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 Grande +to-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 the +river, and my horse will remain here until I return for him." + +There was no mistaking the command in Longorio's tone; the master +of Las Palmas rose as if under compulsion. He took his hat, and +the two men left the room. + +"Oh, my God!" Paloma gasped. "They'll be in time, and so will the +Lewis gang." + +"Quick! Ed will take his runabout--we'll follow in my car." Alaire +fled to make herself ready. A few moments later she looked out +from her window and saw the headlights of Ed's runabout flash down +the driveway to the road; then she and Paloma rushed to the garage +where the touring-car stood. + +"They'll never expect us to follow them"--Alaire tried to speak +hopefully--"and we'll drive without lights. Maybe we'll get there +in time, after all." As the machine rolled out through the gate +she elaborated the half-formed plan that had come to her: "The +brush is thick along the river; we can leave the car hidden and +steal up to the pump-house. When we hear the boat coming maybe we +can call out in time to warn your father." + +"The moon is rising," Paloma half sobbed. "They'll be sure to see +us. Do you think we're ahead of Tad Lewis?" + +"Oh yes. He hasn't had time to get here yet, but--he'll come fast +when he starts. This is the only plan I can think of." + +Alaire drove as swiftly as she dared, following the blurred streak +of gray that was the road, and taking the bumps with utter +recklessness. Already the yellow rim of the moon was peering over +the horizon to her right, and by its light she found the road that +turned abruptly toward the Rio Grande, a mile or more distant. The +black mud from the last heavy rain had hardened; the ruts in this +side road were deep, and the car leaped and plunged, flinging its +occupants from side to side. Ahead loomed the dark ridge of the +river thickets, a dense rampart of mesquite, ebony, and coma, with +here and there a taller alamo or hackberry thrusting itself +skyward. But even before they were sheltered from the moonlight +Paloma saw the lights of another automobile approaching along the +main-traveled highway behind them--the lights, evidently, of Tad +Lewis's machine. A moment later Alaire's car drove into the black +shadows, but, fearing to switch on her headlights, she felt her +way cautiously between the walls of foliage until at her right +another opening showed, like a narrow arroyo, diverging from the +one they followed. Into this she swerved, regardless of the fact +that it was half grown up with brush. Thorny branches swept the +sides of the machine; rank, dew-soaked grass rose to the height of +the tonneau. The car came to a jolting pause, then the motor +ceased its purring, and the two women sat motionless, listening +for the rattle of the on-coming machine. It had been a short, +swift, exciting ride. "Young Ed's" runabout could not be many +minutes ahead of them. + +Alaire knew the Tad Lewis car, an old-style, cheap affair, which +advertised its mechanical imperfections by a loud clashing of +gears and a noisy complaint of loose parts; therefore, when the +leafy canon walls behind her hiding-place were brilliantly +illuminated and a car stole silently past at low speed, she seized +Paloma 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 motor +entirely." + +The women got out, then breasted the high grass and brambles +between their hiding-place and the pump-house road. As soon as +they 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, they +discovered the machine in question standing dark and deserted in +the shadows. Evidently the driver, whoever he was, well knew what +he was about, and had not blundered upon this place by accident. A +hundred yards away they could now see the ghostly Rio Grande, its +saffron surface faintly silvered by the low moon; lights gleamed +from the windows of Morales's house. In the distance the vague +outlines of the Mexican shore were resolving themselves, and far +beyond winked the evidence that some belated citizens of Romero +were still awake. + +Paloma had brought with her the long-barreled Winchester rifle, +and this she clutched nervously as she and Alaire stood +whispering. 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 the +beginning of the irrigation ditch, and in the shadow of these the +women worked their way forward, unobserved. They had nearly +reached their goal when out into the clearing behind them, with +metallic rattle and clang, burst another automobile, and Paloma +whispered, excitedly: + +"There's the Lewis outfit at last." + +In the Lewis car were several men. They descended hurriedly, and +when one of them ran around the front of the car to turn off its +lights both women saw that he carried a rifle. Evidently Tad Lewis +had come prepared for desperate measures. + +A small door gave entrance to the boiler-room, and into the lock +of this Mrs. Austin fitted a key; the next moment she and Paloma +were safely inside. They found themselves in utter darkness now, +with a smooth brick floor beneath their feet and a strong odor of +oil and burnt fuel in their nostrils. + +Alaire was agreeably surprised in Paloma Jones, for, although the +girl was wrought to a pitch of hysterical excitement, she had, +nevertheless, retained her wits; nor had she faltered in the +slightest. It was evident that the fighting blood of her father +was 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 father +and Dave have come and gone. Anyhow, we can warn them just as well +by firing into the air." + +In reply to this suggestion Paloma merely muttered something under +her breath. + +The brief night ride had given Alaire time in which to recover +from her first apprehensions, and now she was surprised at her own +coolness. Ed's behavior had shocked and horrified her; she was +still half paralyzed at his treachery; nevertheless, her mind was +clear, and she was determined to avert a tragedy if possible. She +knew only too well what would happen when Blaze Jones and Dave Law +encountered the Lewis gang; the presence of Longorio's soldiers +merely made more certain the outcome of that meeting. The general +was furious; it was plain that he would not tolerate this +expedition, the avowed purpose of which was to prove him a liar. +It would make but little difference, therefore, whether the quest +for Ricardo Guzman's body had been successful or not: even the +fact that this was American soil would not deter Longorio from +violent action, for the Rio Grande was no real boundary, and this +part of Texas was as truly Mexican as that other river-bank which +lay two hundred yards distant. + +A confusion of such thoughts were racing through Alaire's mind as +she felt her way out of the boiler-room and into that part of the +building where the pumping machinery stood. Dusty, cobwebbed +windows let in a faint ghost-glow of moonlight, but prevented +clear observation of anything outside; Alaire's fumbling fingers +found the latch of the front door and began to lift it, when some +one spoke, just outside the building. + +"What did you discover?" inquired a voice which neither woman +recognized. Paloma clutched blindly for her companion; the two +eavesdroppers stood rooted in their tracks. The pounding of their +hearts sounded loudly. Since the building was little more than a +wooden 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 who +just came, senor." + +There followed some whispered words indistinguishable to the +listeners, then a rustle of bodies moving through the tall grass +and weeds. + +Paloma placed her lips close to Alaire's ear. "Who are those +people?" she breathed. + +"I don't know. They must be the ones who came in that strange +automobile." + +Paloma chattered viciously: "Everybody in Texas is here. I wish +we'd thought to scatter tacks behind us." + +Cautiously they swung the door back and looked out. The open space +along the river-bank was leveled by the moonlight; from Morales's +house, to their right, came the sound of voices. The women waited. + +A few moments, then a number of men appeared. Paloma judged there +were at least a dozen, but she was too excited to count them. As +they came straggling toward the pump-house one of them called +back: + +"Morales! Put out your damned lights," Both women recognized Tad +Lewis as the speaker. + +Alaire had stubbornly refused to charge her husband with any +active share in this evil business, but her faith in Ed suddenly +vanished 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 leaned +weakly against the door. "I'm going to leave, and let you-all +attend to the rest," he was saying. But Tad Lewis halted him as he +turned from the group. + +"Where are you going, Ed? You left your car back yonder by the +road. I almost ran into it." + +"Eh? What are you talking about? My car is over by Morales's +house." + +"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 this +open charge of cowardice, Austin began a voluble defense, but in +the 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 the +words: "That's right, Ed. You've got to stick, for once in your +life." + +"What do you mean, you nearly ran into my car back yonder?" Austin +asked, 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 the +direction he had indicated; but at that moment a man came running +from the riverbank, crying, softly: + +"Look out! They come." + +"I'm going to shoot," Paloma Jones gasped, but Alaire, who once +again heard the sound of whispering in the shadows just outside +their hiding-place, managed to restrain her companion. It was well +that she succeeded, for even as Paloma raised her weapon a man +passed swiftly by the crack of the half-open door and scarcely ten +feet beyond the muzzle of the rifle. He was followed by three +others. + +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, then +Tad 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 skiff +coming yonder?" he inquired. + +"Well, it don't look like a steamboat." Lewis laughed, +disagreeably. "We're havin' a little party of our own. I reckon +you fellows had better beat it. Understand?" + +The outposts that had been sent to cover the bank in both +directions were now coming in. Through the stillness of the night +there sounded the thump of oar-locks. Seeing that the stranger did +not seem to take his hint, Lewis raised his voice menacingly: + +"That's your road back yonder. It's a right good road, and I'd +advise you to travel it, fast." + +But this suggestion was also ignored; in fact, it appeared to +amuse the man addressed, for he, too, laughed. He turned, and the +women 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 he +raised 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 away +and ran out into the moonlight, trailing her absurd firearm after +her. + +"Now, boys," the Ranger captain was saying, "I know 'most every +one of you, and we ain't going to have the least bit of trouble +over this thing, are we? I reckon you-all are friends of Ricardo +Guzman, and you just couldn't wait to find out about him, eh?" + +Alaire, who had followed Paloma, was close enough now to recognize +the two Guzman boys as members of the Ranger party. Lewis and his +men had drawn together at the first alarm; Longorio's Mexicans had +gathered about their leader. The entire situation had changed in a +moment, and the Ranger captain was in control of it. + +Soon Dave Law and Blaze Jones came up over the river-bank; they +paused, stricken with surprise at finding a score of people where +they had expected no more than four. + +Blaze was the first to speak. "What the hell?" he cried. He peered +near-sightedly from one to the other; then his huge bulk shook +with laughter: "Say, do my glasses magnify, or is this an Odd- +Fellows meetin'?" + +"Dad! Oh, Dad!" Paloma scurried to him and flung herself into his +arms. + +"Lord of mercy, kid!" the father exclaimed. "Why, you'd ought to +be home and abed, long ago. You'll catch your death of cold. Is +that gun loaded." + +Dave Law was even more amazed than his companion. His first +glimpse of the waiting figures had warned him that something had +gone wrong, and, therefore, he did not stop to ask himself how Tad +Lewis and Longorio could have learned of this affair, or what +could have brought Alaire and Ed Austin to the scene. Recovering +from his first surprise, he took a position beside his superior +officer. + +Captain Evans did not seem at all troubled by the disparity in +numbers. One Ranger, or two at the most, had always been +sufficient to quell a Texan disturbance; now that there were three +of them, he felt equal to an invasion of Mexican soil, if +necessary. In consequence he relaxed his watchful vigilance, and +to Dave he drawled: + +"We've got most of the leading citizens of the county, and I +reckon somebody in the outfit will be able to identify Guzman." + +"There's no trouble about that, sir. We found him. Pedro and Raoul +can make sure." The sons of Ricardo Guzman stepped forward +promptly, and Law waved them toward the boat landing, where the +two helpers were waiting with Ricardo's remains. + +Despite the Ranger captain's easy assumption of command, the +strain of the situation had not subsided, and Longorio drew swift +attention to himself when he said: + +"It is fortunate that I chanced to learn of this matter. You have +done me a great service, Senor Law, for I came to Romero purposely +to examine into the death of this unfortunate man. But I could +learn nothing; nobody knew anything whatever about the matter, and +so I became convinced that it amounted to little. Now--behold! I +discover that I was deceived. Or--perhaps there still may be a +mistake." + +Blaze Jones thrust his daughter aside and advanced toward the +speaker. "There's no mistake," he declared, belligerently. "I +don't make mistakes when I go grave-robbin'. Don Ricardo was shot +by your men. He had five thousand dollars on him, or he should +have had, and he was an American citizen. Your Colonel Blanco +covered the body, but he'll have a hell of a job coverin' the +facts. 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 is +regrettable that you used this means when a word to me would have +served the purpose, for--it is no trivial matter to desecrate a +Mexican graveyard. My country, too, has a government. An officer +of 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 words +amused 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 this +minute, and I'll bet if I frisked you I'd find that you was under +arms." The Mexican understood English sufficiently well to grasp +the 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 any +rate, we must have no international complications. There is a more +practical side to the matter: if Don Ricardo Guzman met his death +in Mexico there will be a rigid investigation, I assure you." + +Evans agreed. "That's fair! And I'll make a bargain with you: you +keep still and so'll we. We never aimed for this affair to get +out, anyhow. I reckon these men"--he indicated Lewis and his +followers--"ain't liable to talk much." + +The two Guzman boys, greatly moved, returned to announce that they +had indeed identified their father's body, and Longorio could not +well refuse to accept their evidence. + +"Very well," said he. "I am indebted to you. Since there is +nothing more to be said, apparently, I will return to Romero." +With a bow to Mrs. Austin, who had silently watched the play of +these opposing motives, he turned away, and Tad Lewis followed +him. + +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 better +of it, he yielded with bad grace, bitterly regretting the +curiosity which had prompted him to remain to the end of this +interesting 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. Ed +Austin knows where you was the day that stock was stole." He and +his two remaining men moved toward their automobile, and a moment +later the vehicle went clattering away up the thicket road. + +So ended the attempt to foil the return of Ricardo Guzman's body +to 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 as +nothing to that which followed the recovery of his body. By the +next afternoon it was known from Mexico to the Canadian border +that the old ranchman had been shot by Mexican soldiers in Romero. +It was reported that a party of Americans had invaded foreign soil +and snatched Ricardo's remains from under the nose of General +Longorio. But there all reliable information ceased. Just how the +rescue had been effected, by whom it had been done, what reasons +had prompted it, were a mystery. With the first story the +newspapers printed a terse telegram, signed by Captain Evans and +addressed to the Governor of Texas, which read: + +"Ranger force crossed Rio Grande and brought back the body of +Ricardo Guzman." + +This message created tremendous enthusiasm, for the Texas Rangers +have ever stood for prompt and decisive action; but two hours +after the publication of this despatch there came a sharp inquiry +from Washington, and on the heels of that the State House at +Austin denied the receipt of any such message. + +When this denial was in turn made public, the newspapers demanded +to know who had performed this sensational exploit. One rumor had +it that the sons of Ricardo Guzman had risked their lives to +insure their father Christian burial. This was amplified by a +touching pen-picture of the rancher's weeping family waiting at +the bank of the Rio Grande, and an affecting account of the grief +of the beautiful Guzman girls. It mattered not that there were no +daughters. + +In other quarters the expedition was credited to members of a +secret order to which Ricardo had belonged; from a third source +came a statement that the Guzman family had hired a band of +Mexicans to exhume the body, so that proof of death might be +sufficient to satisfy an insurance company in which the rancher +had held a policy. Even at Jonesville there were conflicting +rumors. + +But, whatever the facts of the rescue, it was generally recognized +that the result had been to bring on a crisis in the affairs of +the two nations. People declared that since the outrage was now +proven the next move was the duty of the State Department at +Washington. Therefore, when several days passed and nothing was +done, a wide-spread feeling of indignation grew. What mattered +these diplomatic communications between the two governments? it +was asked. Why wait for another investigation by General Longorio? + +Strong influences, however, were at work to prevent that very +outcome for which the people of Texas prayed. During the delay +there arose a report that Ricardo Guzman had borne an evil +reputation, and that he had been so actively associated with the +Rebel cause as to warrant punishment by the Federal government. +Moreover, a legal question as to his American citizenship was +raised--a question which seemed to have important bearing upon the +case. + +Public interest is short-lived; few living men can hold it more +than a day or two, and it reckons no dead man worthy of more than +an obituary notice. Other Mexican offenses, equally grave, had +failed to stir the Administration to definite action; the death of +this obscure border ranchman did not seem to weigh very heavily in +Washington. Thus in the course of time the Guzman incident was in +a fair way of being officially forgotten and forgiven. + +Of course the people of Texas did not forget, nor did those who +had personally known Ricardo forgive. Dave Law, for instance, felt +bitter over the matter, for he had counted upon prompt and +definite results. A little pressure, properly applied, would have +wrung the truth from Colonel Blanco and fastened some measure of +guilt upon the men who had actually arranged the murder. Dave did +not doubt Tad Lewis's part in it, but there was only one source +from which pressure could be brought, and when this failed he +found his further efforts blocked. There remained to him only the +consolation of knowing that he had in a measure squared his +account with old Ricardo. + +But there were several persons who felt intense relief at the +course events had taken, and among these was Alaire Austin. In the +days following that midnight expedition she had had ample time in +which to meditate upon her husband's actions, "Young Ed" had taken +advantage of the confusion to slip out of the crowd and escape in +his roadster, and when Alaire arrived at Las Palmas she had found +that he was gone, leaving behind no word as to when he would +return. It seemed probable that he had fled to San Antonio, there +to remain until interest in the Guzman matter had abated. If Ed +was relieved to escape the immediate consequences of his +connection with the affair, his wife was no less thankful for his +absence, since it left her free to think and to plan. Their +relations were becoming constantly more difficult; she realized +that it was impossible for her to go on in this way much longer. +Before leaving Ed had again rifled the safe, thus disregarding for +a second time his explicit agreement with his wife. Of course, he +was welcome to whatever money he needed, even in excess of his +allowance; but his act showed his weak sense of honor and +strengthened Alaire's conviction that he was in every way rapidly +deteriorating. As yet she could not believe him really wicked at +heart--he had many qualities which were above the average--nor +could she convince herself that he had been criminally involved in +Tad Lewis's schemes. And yet, what other explanation could there +be? Ed's behavior had been extraordinary; his evident terror at +news of Dave Law's expedition, his conversation with Tad Lewis +over the telephone, his subsequent actions at the river, all +seemed to indicate that he had some vital interest in maintaining +the mystery of Guzman's death. What could it be? + +Suspicions like these were extremely disturbing. In spite of +herself Alaire began to think more seriously about that separation +which Ed had so frequently offered her. Her whole nature, it is +true, recoiled at the thought of divorce; it was a thing utterly +repugnant to her sentiment and her creed--a thing that stood for +notoriety, gossip, scandal. Deep in her heart she felt that +divorce was wicked, for marriage to her had always meant a sacred +and unbreakable bond. And yet there seemed to be no alternative. +She wished Ed would go away--leave her quietly and for ever, so +that she might live out her empty life in seclusion--but that, of +course, he would never do. + +Such longings were not strangers to Alaire; they were old and +persistent enemies; but of late the prospect of a loveless, +childless future was growing more and more unbearable. Even her +day dreams failed to give their customary relief; those imaginary +figures with whom she took counsel were strangely unresponsive. + +She had told Paloma Jones about her dream-children, but she had +not confessed the existence of another and a far more intimate +creature of her brain--one who occupied the place Ed Austin should +have held. There was such a person, however, and Alaire called him +her dream husband. Now this man's physical aspect was never long +the same; it altered according to her changing ideals or to the +impression left by new acquaintances; nevertheless, he was in some +ways the most real and the most tangible of all her pale romantic +fancies. No one who has watched a solitary child at play can doubt +that it sees and hears playmates invisible to others. Alaire +Austin, in the remotest depths of her being, was still a child. Of +late her prince had assumed new characteristics and a new form. He +was no longer any one of the many shapes he had been; he was more +like the spirit of the out-of-doors--a strong-limbed, deep- +chested, sun-bronzed creature, with a strain of gipsy blood that +called to hers. He was moody, yet tender, roughly masculine, and +yet possessed of the gentleness and poetry of a girl. He was +violent tempered; he was brave; he rode a magnificent bay mare +that worshiped him, as did all animals. + +During one of these introspective periods Alaire telephoned Dave +Law, arguing to herself that she must learn more about her +husband's connection with the Lewis gang. Dave arrived even sooner +than she had expected. She made him dine with her, and they spent +the evening on the dim-lit gallery. In the course of their +conversation Alaire discovered that Dave, too, had a hidden side +of his nature; that he possessed an imagination, and with it a +quaint, whimsical, exploratory turn of mind which enabled him to +talk interestingly of many things and many places. On this +particular evening he was anything but the man of iron she had +known--until she ventured to speak of Ed. Then he closed up like a +trap. He was almost gruff in his refusal to say a word about her +husband. + +Because of Ed's appropriation of the ranch cash, Alaire found it +necessary a few days later to go to the bank, and, feeling the +need of exercise, she rode her horse Montrose. When her errands +had been attended to, she suddenly decided to call on Paloma +Jones. 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 feminine +torture known as a "fitting"; but insecurely basted, pinned, and +tucked as she was, she came flying down to the gate to meet her +visitor. + +Alaire was introduced to Mrs. Strange, the dressmaker, a large, +acidulous brunette, with a mouthful of pins; and then, when Paloma +had given herself once more into the seamstress's hands, the two +friends gossiped. + +Since Mrs. Strange was the first capable dressmaker who had ever +come to Jonesville, Paloma had closed her eyes and plunged with +reckless extravagance. Now the girl insisted upon a general +exhibition of her new wardrobe, a sort of grand fashion review, +for the edification of her caller, in the course of which she +tried on all her dresses. + +Paloma was petite and well proportioned, and the gowns were +altogether charming. Alaire was honest in her praise, and Paloma's +response was one of whole-hearted pleasure. The girl beamed. Never +before had she been so admired, never until this moment had she +adored a person as she adored Mrs. Austin, whose every suggestion +as 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 these +dresses," Paloma confessed. + +"Your father is a mighty queer man," Mrs. Strange observed. "I +haven'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." Taking +advantage of the dressmaker's momentary absence from the room, +Paloma continued in a whisper: "I wish you'd talk to Dad and see +what you make of him. He's absolutely--queer. Mrs. Strange seems +to 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 in +spells. You know, Mrs. Strange's husband is a sort of-- +necromancer." + +"How silly!" + +There was no further opportunity for words, as the woman +reappeared at that instant; but a little later Alaire went in +search of Blaze, still considerably mystified. As she neared the +farm buildings she glimpsed a man's figure hastily disappearing +into the barn. The figure bore a suspicious resemblance to Blaze +Jones, yet when she followed he was nowhere to be seen. Now this +was curious, for Texas barns are less pretentious than those of +the North, and this one was little more than a carriage-house and +a shelter for agricultural implements. + +"Mr. Jones!" Alaire called. She repeated Blaze's name several +times; then something stirred. The door of a harness closet opened +cautiously, and out of the blackness peered Paloma's father. He +looked more owlish than ever behind his big, gold-rimmed +spectacles. "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 of +breeziness. "I was fixin' some harness, but I'm right glad to see +you." + +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 see +looks 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 a +jinx 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 till +lately, but now I'm worse than a plantation nigger. I tell you +there's things in this world we don't sabe. I wish you'd get +Paloma to fire her. I've tried and failed. I wish you'd tell her +those dresses are rotten." + +"But they're very nice; they're lovely; and I've just been +complimenting her. Now what has this woman done to you?" + +It seemed impossible that a man of Blaze Jones's character could +actually harbor crude superstitions, and yet there was no +mistaking his earnestness when he said: + +"I ain't sure whether she's to blame, or her husband, but +misfortune 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, my +heart's actin' up, I've got rheumatism, my stomach feels like I'd +swallowed something alive--" + +"You're smoking too much," Alaire affirmed, with conviction. + +But skepticism aroused Blaze's indignation. With elaborate sarcasm +he retorted: "I reckon that's why my best team of mules run away +and dragged me through a ten-acre patch of grass burrs--on my +belly, eh? It's a wonder I wasn't killed. I reckon I smoked so +much that I give a tobacco heart to the best three-year-old bull +in my pasture! Well, I smoked him to death, all right. Probably it +was nicotine poisonin' that killed twenty acres of my cotton, too; +and maybe if I'd cut out Bull Durham I'd have floated that bond +issue on the irrigation ditch. But I was wedded to cigarettes, so +my banks are closin' down on me. Sure! That's what a man gets for +smokin'." + +"And do you attribute all these misfortunes to Paloma's +dressmaker?" + +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've +carried a bowie-knife in my bootleg ever since I was a babe in +arms, you might say; but the other day I jabbed myself with it and +nearly got blood-poisonin'. The very first time I ever laid eyes +on this man and his wife a great misfortune overtook me, and ever +since they come to Jonesville I've had a close squeeze to make a +live of it. This fellow Strange, with his fortune-tellin' and his +charms and his conjures, has hocus-pocussed the whole +neighborhood. He's gettin' rich off of the Mexicans. He knows more +secrets 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 to +invest their money." + +"He is nothing more than a circus fakir, Mr. Jones." + +"Yes'm! Just the same, these Greasers'd vote him into the +legislature if he asked 'em. Why, he knows who fetched back +Ricardo 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 that +I want to know?" + +"Now don't you get him started," Blaze cautioned, hastily, "or +he'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 with +Lewis. Dave thinks Tad was at the bottom of the killin', and he +hoped 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 about +Ed's dealin's than you do, Miz Austin: all I know is that I got a +serpent in my household and I can't get shed of her. I've got a +lapful of troubles of my own. I've ordered Paloma to let that +woman 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. You +mark what I say, that female spider'll sew venom into those +dresses. I never seen a woman with a mustache that was any good. +Look here!" Blaze drew a well-thumbed pack of playing-cards from +his pocket. "Shuffle 'em, and I'll prove what I say. If I don't +turn 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, he +exposed the queen of spades. + +"What did I tell you? There's the bearded lady herself! Now I'll +shuffle and you cut." + +Alaire smilingly followed directions; she separated the deck into +three piles, after which Jones interpreted the oracle. + +"You got a good fortune, Miz Austin. There's a light man comin' to +your house, danger, and--marriage. You're goin' to marry a light +man." + +Alaire's laughter rang out unaffectedly. "Now you see how utterly +absurd it is." + +"Maybe it is, and maybe it ain't." From another pocket Jones drew +a small volume entitled The Combination Fortune-Teller and +Complete Dictionary of Dreams. Alaire reached to take it, and the +book 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's +ranch-hands appeared in the door to ask him a question. When the +fellow had gone his employer rose and tiptoed after him; then he +spat through his crossed fingers in the direction the man had +taken. + +"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'm +interested in what you say about Mr. Strange. If the Mexicans tell +him so much, perhaps he can tell me something. I do hope you have +no more misfortunes." + +"You stay to supper," Blaze urged, hospitably. "I'll be in as soon +as that tarantula's gone." + +But Alaire declined. After a brief chat with Paloma she remounted +Montrose and prepared for the homeward ride. At the gate, however, +she met Dave Law on his new mare, and when Dave had learned the +object of her visit to Jonesville he insisted upon accompanying +her. + +"You have enough money in those saddle-bags to tempt some of our +very best citizens," he told her. "If you don't mind, I'll just be +your bodyguard." + +"Very well," she smiled; "but to make perfectly sure of our +safety, cross your fingers and spit." + +"Eh?" Seeing the amusement in her eyes, he declared: "You've been +talking to Blaze. Well, last night I dreamed I was eating +chestnuts, and he told me I was due for a great good fortune. You +see, there's something in it, after all." + +"And you must be the 'light man' I discovered in the cards. Blaze +declared you were coming to my house." They jogged along side by +side, 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 to +Jones, he recounted the tale of that disastrous defeat on the +beach at Galveston. When he had finished the story, which he +ingeniously elaborated, Alaire was doubled over her saddle. It was +the first spontaneous laugh she had had for days, and it seemed to +banish her worries magically. Alaire was not of a melancholy +temperament; gaiety was natural to her, and it had required many +heartaches, 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 better +she felt a certain happy restfulness in his company. + +The ride was long, and the two proceeded leisurely, stopping now +and then to talk or to admire the banks of wild flowers beside the +road. No country is richer in spring blooms than is South Texas. +The cactus had nearly done blooming now, and its ever-listening +ears were absurdly warted with fruit; gorgeous carpets of +bluebonnets were spread beside the ditches, while the air above +was filled with thousands of yellow butterflies, like whirling, +wind-blown petals of the prickly-pear blossom. Montrose and +Montrosa enjoyed the journey also; it was just the mode of +traveling to please equine hearts, for there were plenty of +opportunities to nibble at the juicy grass and to drink at the +little pools. Then, too, there were mad, romping races during +which the riders laughed and shouted. + +It was Law who finally discovered that they had somehow taken the +wrong road. The fact that Alaire had failed to notice this gave +him a sudden thrill. It aroused in his mind such a train of dizzy, +drunken speculations that for some time following the discovery he +jogged silently at his companion's side. + +It was early dusk when they reached Las Palmas; it was nearly +midnight when Dave threw his leg across his saddle and started +home. + +Alaire's parting words rang sweetly in his ears: "This has been +the pleasantest day I can remember." + +The words themselves meant little, but Dave had caught a wistful +undertone in the speaker's voice, and fancied he had seen in her +eyes a queer, half-frightened expression, as of one just awakened. + +Jose Sanchez had beheld Dave Law at the Las Palmas table twice +within a few days. He spent this evening laboriously composing a +letter to his friend and patron, General Luis Longorio. + + + + +XXI + +AN AWAKENING + + +Time was when Phil Strange boasted that he and his wife had played +every fair-ground and seaside amusement-park from Coney Island to +Galveston. In his battered wardrobe-trunks were parts of old +costumes, scrapbooks of clippings, and a goodly collection of +lithographs, some advertising the supernatural powers of +"Professor Magi, Sovereign of the Unseen World," and others the +accomplishments of "Mlle. Le Garde, Renowned Serpent Enchantress." +In these gaudy portraits of "Magi the Mystic" no one would have +recognized Phil Strange. And even more difficult would it have +been to trace a resemblance between Mrs. Strange and the blond, +bushy-headed "Mlle. Le Garde" of the posters. Nevertheless, the +likenesses at one time had been considered not too flattering, and +Phil treasured them as evidences of imperishable distinction. + +But the Stranges had tired of public life. For a long time the +wife had confessed to a lack of interest in her vocation which +amounted almost to a repugnance. Snake-charming, she had +discovered, was far from an ideal profession for a woman of +refinement. It possessed unpleasant features, and even such +euphemistic titles as "Serpent Enchantress" and "Reptilian +Mesmerist" failed to rob the calling of a certain odium, a +suggestion of vulgarity in the minds of the more discriminating. +This had become so distressing to Mrs. Strange's finer +sensibilities that she had voiced a yearning to forsake the +platform and pit for something more congenial, and finally she had +prevailed upon Phil to make a change. + +The step had not been taken without misgivings, but a benign +Providence had watched over the pair. Mrs. Strange was a natural +seamstress, and luck had directed her and Phil to a community +which was not only in need of a good dressmaker, but peculiarly +ripe for the talents of a soothsayer. Phil, too, had intended to +embrace a new profession; but he had soon discovered that +Jonesville offered better financial returns to a man of his +accepted gifts than did the choicest of seaside concessions, and +therefore he had resumed his old calling under a slightly +different guise. Before long he acknowledged himself well pleased +with the new environment, for his wife was far happier in draping +dress goods upon the figures of her customers than in hanging +python folds about her own, and he found his own fame growing with +every day. His mediumistic gifts came into general demand. The +country people journeyed miles to consult him, and Blaze Jones's +statement that they confided in the fortune-teller as they would +have confided in a priest was scarcely an exaggeration. Phil did +indeed become the repository for confessions of many sorts. + +Contrary to Blaze's belief, however, Strange was no Prince of +Darkness, and took little joy in some of the secrets forced upon +him. Phil was a good man in his way--so conscientious that certain +information he acquired weighed him down with a sense of +unpleasant responsibility. Chancing to meet Dave Law one day, he +determined to relieve himself of at least one troublesome burden. + +But Dave was not easily approachable. He met the medium's +allusions to the occult with contemptuous amusement, nor would he +consent to a private "reading," Strange grew almost desperate +enough to speak the ungarnisned truth. + +"You'd better pay a little attention to me," he grieved; "I've got +a message to you from the 'Unseen World.'" + +"Charges 'collect,' I reckon," the Ranger grinned. + +Strange waved aside the suggestion. "It came unbidden and I pass +it 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 psychic +discussions. If Dave cared to come to his room, where the +surroundings were favorable to thought transference, and where +Phil'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 back +while the medium closed his eyes and prepared to explore the +Invisible. After a brief delay Phil began: + +"I see a great many things--that woman I told you about, and three +men. One of 'em is you, the other two is Mexicans. You're at a +water-hole in the mesquite. Now there's a shooting scrape; I see +the body of a dead man." The speaker became silent; evidently his +cataleptic vision was far from perfect. But he soon began to drone +again. "Now I behold a stranger at the same water-hole. He's +alone--he's looking for something. He rides in circles. He's off +his horse and bending over--What? A skeleton! Yes, it's the +skeleton of one of them other Mexicans." Strange's voice became +positively sepulchral as his spirit control took fuller possession +of his earthly shell and as his visions resolved themselves into +clearer outline. "See! He swears an oath to avenge. And now--the +scene changes. Everything dissolves. I'm in a mansion; and the +red-haired woman comes toward me. Over her head floats that +skeleton--" + +Dave broke in crisply. "All right! Let's get down to cases. What's +on your mind, Strange?" + +The psychic simulated a shudder--a painful contortion, such as any +one might suffer if rudely jerked out of the spirit world. + +"Eh? What was I--? There! You've broke the connection," he +declared. "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 the +danger of interrupting a seance of this sort, but Law remained +obdurate. + +"You can put over that second-sight stuff with the Greasers," he +declared, sharply, "but not with me. So, Jose Sanchez has been to +see you and you want to warn me. Is that it?" + +"I don't know any such party," Strange protested. He eyed his +caller for a moment; then with an abrupt change of manner he +complained: "Say, Bo! What's the matter with you? I've got a +reputation to protect, and I do things my own way. I'm getting set +to 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 all +about--" + +"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--his +sweetheart has. Rosa Morales comes regular." + +"Rosa! Jose's sweetheart!" + +"Yes. Her and Jose have joined out together since you shot +Panfilo, 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 of +course 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 make +one and two count four. I have to tell more'n I'm told; I have to +shoot my game on the wing, for nobody tells me any more'n they +dast. All the same, I'm sure Jose ain't carving no epitaph for +you. From what I've dug out of Rosa, he's acting for a third +party--somebody with pull and a lot of coin--but who it is I don't +know. Anyhow, he's cooking trouble for the Austins, and I want to +stand from under." + +Now that the speaker had dropped all pretense, he answered Dave's +questions without evasion and told what he knew. It was not much, +to Dave's way of thinking, but it was enough to give cause for +thought, and when the men finally parted it was with the +understanding that Strange would promptly communicate any further +intelligence 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 morning +train; but as he continued to meditate over Strange's words he +decided that, before going, he ought to advise Alaire of the +fellow's suspicions in order that she might discharge Jose Sanchez +and in other ways protect herself against his possible spite. +Since the matter was one that could not well be talked over by +telephone, Dave determined to go in person to Las Palmas that +evening. Truth to say, he was hungry to see Alaire. By this time +he had almost ceased to combat the feeling she aroused in him, and +it was in obedience to an impulse far stronger than friendly +anxiety that he hired a machine and, shortly after dark, took the +river road. + +The Fates are malicious jades. They delight in playing ill-natured +pranks upon us. Not content with spinning and measuring and +cutting the threads of our lives to suit themselves, they must +also tangle the skein, causing us to cut capers to satisfy their +whims. + +At no time since meeting Alaire had Dave Law been more certain of +his moral strength than on this evening; at no time had his grip +upon himself seemed firmer. Nor had Alaire the least reason to +doubt her self-control. Dave, to be sure, had appealed to her +fancy and her interest; in fact, he so dominated her thoughts that +the imaginary creature whom she called her dream-husband had +gradually taken on his physical likeness. But the idea that she +was in any way enamoured of him had never entered her mind; that +she could ever be tempted to yield to him, to be false to her +ideals of wifehood, was inconceivable. In such wise do the Fates +amuse themselves. + +Alaire had gone to her favorite after-dinner refuge, a nook on one +of the side-galleries, where there was a wide, swinging wicker +couch; and there in a restful obscurity fragrant with unseen +flowers she had prepared to spend the evening with her dreams. + +She did not hear Dave's automobile arrive. Her first intimation of +his presence came with the sound of his heel upon the porch. When +he appeared it was almost like the materialization of her +uppermost thought--quite as if a figure from her fancy had stepped +forth full clad. + +She rose and met him, smiling. "How did you know I wanted to see +you?" she inquired. + +Dave took her hand and looked down at her, framing a commonplace +reply. But for some reason the words lay unspoken upon his tongue. +Alaire's informal greeting, her parted lips, the welcoming light +in her eyes, had sent them flying. It seemed to him that the dim +half-light which illumined this nook emanated from her face and +her person, that the fragrance which came to his nostrils was the +perfume of her breath, and at the prompting of these thoughts all +his smothered longings rose as if at a signal. As mutinous +prisoners in a jail delivery overpower their guards, so did Dave's +long-repressed emotions gain the upper hand of him now, and so +swift was their uprising that he could not summon more than a +feeble, panicky resistance. + +The awkwardness of the pause which followed Alaire's inquiry +strengthened the rebellious impulses within him, and quite +unconsciously his friendly grasp upon her fingers tightened. For +her part, as she saw this sudden change sweep over him, her own +face altered and she felt something within her breast leap into +life. No woman could have failed to read the meaning of his sudden +agitation, and, strange to say, it worked a similar state of +feeling in Alaire. She strove to control herself and to draw away, +but instead found that her hand had answered his, and that her +eyes were flashing recognition of his look. All in an instant she +realized how deathly tired of her own struggle she had become, and +experienced a reckless impulse to cast away all restraint and +blindly meet his first advance. She had no time to question her +yearnings; she seemed to understand only that this man offered her +rest 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 a +moment of hesitation on the part of either. A drunken, breathless +instant of uncertainty, then Alaire was on Dave's breast, and his +strength, his ardor, his desire, was throbbing through her. Her +bare arms were about his neck; a sigh, the token of utter +surrender, fluttered from her throat. She raised her face to his +and their lips melted together. + +For a time they were all alone in the universe, the center of all +ecstasy. Dave was whispering wild incoherencies as Alaire lay in +his embrace, her limbs relaxed, her flesh touching his, her body +clinging to his. + +"Dream-man!" she murmured. + +As consciousness returns after a swoon, so did realization return +to Alaire Austin. Faintly, uncertainly at first, then with a +swift, strong effort she pushed herself out of Dave's reluctant +arms. 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 a +pillar, 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 else +matters. And you love me! God! I wonder if I'm awake." + +"Dream-man," she repeated, more slowly. "Oh, why did you come so +late?" + +"So late?" + +"Yes. We must think it out, the best way we can, I--wonder what +you think of me?" + +"You must know. There's no need for excuses; there's nothing to +explain, except the miracle that such great happiness could come +to a fellow like me." + +"Happiness? It means anything but that. I was miserable enough +before, what shall I do now?" + +"Why, readjust your life," he cried, roughly. "Surely you won't +hesitate after this?" + +But Alaire did not seem to hear him. She was staring out into the +night again. "What a failure I must be!" she murmured, finally. "I +suppose I should have seen this coming, but--I didn't. And in his +house, too! This dress is his, and these jewels--everything!" She +held up her hands and stared curiously at the few rings she wore, +as if seeing them for the first time. "How does that make you +feel?" + +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!" He +waved a vigorous gesture of defiance. "I'll take you away from him +at any cost. I'll see that he gives you up, somehow. You're all I +have." + +"Of course the law provides a way, but you wouldn't, couldn't, +understand how I feel about divorce." The mere mention of the word +was difficult and caused Alaire to clench her hands. "We're both +too 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, so +I'm not sure I have any right to take you away from all this." He +turned a hostile eye upon their surroundings. "Most people would +say that I've simply wasted my life. Perhaps I have--that depends +upon the way you look at it and upon what you consider worth +while--anyhow, all I can offer you is love--" He broke off +momentarily as if his breath had suddenly failed him. "Greater +love, 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 had +everything except the very thing you offer--and how I've longed +for that! How I've envied other people! Do you think I'll be +allowed, somehow, to have it?" + +"Yes! I've something to say about that. You gave me the right when +you gave me that kiss." + +Alaire shook her head. "I'm not sure. It seems easy now, while you +are here, but how will it seem later? I'm in no condition at this +minute to reason. Perhaps, as you say, it is all a dream; perhaps +this feeling I have is just a passing frenzy." + +Dave laughed softly, confidently. "It's too new yet for you to +understand, but wait. It is frenzy, witchery--yes, and more. To- +morrow, and every day after, it will grow and grow and grow! Trust +me, I've watched it in myself." + +"So you cared for me from the very first?" Alaire questioned. It +was the woman's curiosity, the woman's hunger to hear over and +over again that truth which never fails to thrill and yet never +fully satisfies. + +"Oh, even before that, I think! When you came to my fire that +evening in the chaparral I knew every line of your face, every +movement of your body, every tone of your voice, as a man knows +and recognizes his ideal. But it took time for me to realize all +you meant to me." + +Alaire nodded. "Yes, and it must have been the same with me." She +met his eyes frankly, but when he reached toward her she held him +away. "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 can +control myself better--I'll send for you. But you must promise not +to come until then, for you would only make it harder." + +It required all Dave's determination to force himself to obey her +wish, and the struggle nearly kept him from recalling the original +object of his visit. Remembering, he tried to tell Alaire what he +had learned from Phil Strange; but so broken and so unconvincing +was his recital that he doubted if she understood in the least +what he was talking about. + +At last he took her hand and kissed her wrist, just over her +pulse, as if to speed a message to her heart, then into her rosy +palm he whispered a tender something that thrilled her. + +She stood white, motionless, against the dim illumination of the +porch until he had gone, and not until the last sound of his motor +had died away did she stir. Then she pressed her own lips to the +palm 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 himself +still somewhat dazed by his sudden happiness; the more he thought +of it the more wonderful it seemed. During the day he went through +his court duties like a man in a trance. Such joy as this was +unbelievable; he felt as if he must tell the world about it. He +well understood Alaire's repugnance to divorce, but he was sure +that he could overcome it, if indeed her own truer understanding +of herself did not relieve him of that necessity; for at this +moment his desires were of a heat sufficient to burn away all +obstacles, no matter how solid. It seemed, therefore, that the +future was all sunshine. + +He had no opportunity of speaking with Judge Ellsworth until court +adjourned. Then the judge took him by the arm, with that +peculiarly flattering assumption of intimacy of which he was +master, and led the way toward his office, inquiring meanwhile for +news of Jonesville. Dave's high spirits surprised him and finally +impelled him to ask the cause. When Dave hinted unmistakably at +the truth, Ellsworth exclaimed, with a sharp stare of curiosity: + +"See here! You haven't forgotten what I told you that night on the +train?" + +"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 arson +or 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 muttered +uncertainly: "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 of +amusement. Old folks are usually curious, he reflected; and they +are prone to presume upon the privileges that go with age. In this +instance, however, it might be well to make a clean breast of the +affair, since Ellsworth was Alaire's attorney, and would doubtless +be selected to secure her divorce. + +The judge was waiting when Dave called after supper, but for some +time he maintained a flow of conversation relating to other things +than the one they had met to discuss. At last, however, he +appeared to summon his determination; he cleared his throat and +settled himself in his chair--premonitory signs unusual in a man +of Ellsworth's poise and self-assurance. + +"I reckon you think I'm trying to mix up in something that doesn't +concern me," he began; "and perhaps I am. Maybe you'll make me +wish I'd minded my own business--that's what usually happens. I +remember once, out of pure chivalry, trying to stop a fellow from +beating his wife. Of course they both turned on me--as they always +do. I went to the hospital for a week, and lost a profitable +divorce case. However, we try to do our duty as we see it." + +This was anything but a promising preamble; Dave wondered, too, at +his 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 a +failure." + +"Oh no! All men are failures until they marry. I'm thinking of +what marriage means; of the new duties it brings, of the man's +duty to himself, to the woman, and to society; I'm thinking of +what 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've +studied heredity, too, and--you mustn't marry." + +Law stirred in his chair and smiled whimsically. "I've done some +studying along those lines, too, and I reckon I know myself pretty +well. 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 his +caller, and now his lids were lifted until the eyes peered out +bright, hard, and piercing; something in his face startled Dave. +"I was your father's attorney and his friend. I know how he lived +and 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, come +through. 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 family +history?" Dave shook his head. "Well, then--he was insane," + +"Insane?" + +"Yes; violently." + +"Really, I--Why--I suppose you know what you're talking about, but +it 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 no +newspapers in that part of Mexico; you, of course, were a boy at +school in the United States. Nevertheless, it's true. That part of +the story which I didn't know at the time I learned by talking +with General Guadalupe and others. It was very shocking." + +Dave's face was a study; his color had lessened slightly; he wet +his lips. "This is news, of course," said he, "but it doesn't +explain 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 kill +Frank Law." Ellsworth maintained his fixity of gaze, and when Dave +started he nodded his head. "It's God's truth. The details were +too--dreadful. Your father turned his hand against the woman he +loved and--died a wife-killer. The Guadalupes had to destroy him +like a mad dog. I'm sorry you had to learn the truth from me, my +boy, but it seems necessary that I tell you. When I knew Frank Law +he was like any other man, quick-tempered, a little too violent, +perhaps, but apparently as sane as you or I, and yet the thing was +there." + +Dave rose from his chair and bent over the desk. "So THAT'S what +you've been driving at," he gasped. "That's what you meant when +you said I shouldn't marry." He began to tremble now; his voice +became hoarse with fury. "Now I understand. You're trying to tell +me 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 even +suspected." + +Dave struck the desk violently with his clenched fist. "Bosh! +You're hipped on this heredity subject. Crazy! Why, you doddering +old fool--" With an effort he calmed himself, realizing that he +had shouted his last words. He turned away and made a circuit of +the room before returning to face his friend. "I didn't mean to +speak 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'm +not 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 voice +rose again, but it was plain from the lawyer's expression that to +a man of his training no mere conviction unsupported by proof had +weight. This skepticism merely kept Dave's impatience at a white +heat. "Very well, then," he argued, angrily, "let's say that I'm +wrong 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 a +disease. Me, insane? Rot!" He laughed harshly, took another +uncertain turn around the room, then sank into his chair and +buried 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 a +disease, Dave, or worse, and there's no way of proving that you +haven't inherited it. If there is the remotest possibility that +you have--if you have the least cause to suspect--why, you +couldn'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 villainous +temper. I'm all right again afterward." + +"I wasn't thinking so much of that. But are you sure it's +altogether temper?" the judge insisted. "You don't merely lose +control of yourself; you've told me more than once that you go +completely out of your mind; that you see red and want to kill +and--" "Don't you?" + +"I never felt the slightest desire to destroy, no matter how angry +I chanced to be. I've always asserted that murderers, homicides, +suicides, were irresponsible; that they were sick here." Ellsworth +touched his forehead. "I can't see how any sane man can take his +own or another's life, no matter what the provocation. But I'm not +a doctor, and that's an extreme view, I know. Anyhow, you'll agree +that if you have Frank Law's blood in your veins it won't do to +marry." + +"I haven't got it," the younger man groaned, his gaze turned +sullenly downward. "Even granting that I have, that's no sign I'd +ever--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 to +the 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 his +gun pretty well." + +"He was about the worst man of his day. He was shot in Dodge City +on 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. The +other one disappeared mysteriously." + +"I believe so. He just walked away from his wife and family and +business one day and was never heard of again." + +Ellsworth seemed to consider this admission significant. "Now the +sister, 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 of +which I have here." Ellsworth thrust his finger into the loose +pile of documents before him. Avoiding his caller's eyes he +continued: "You can't very well ignore such a family history, +Dave. I've never traced it back beyond the last generation, but +you 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, but +I can't put much faith in that childhood fancy of yours. Run it +down; 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 too +well 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 the +desk, seized his caller roughly by the shoulder. "What are you +telling me? Good God, Alaire! A married woman! So you--cut under +Ed Austin, eh?" Momentarily Ellsworth lost control of himself; his +eyes blazed and his fingers tightened painfully. "What damnable +trick have you played on that girl? Tell me before I choke you." + +For once Dave Law's passion failed to ignite at the heat of +another's anger; he only sat limp and helpless in the judge's +grasp. Finally he muttered: "I played square enough. It's one of +those things that just happen. We couldn't help ourselves. She'll +come to you for her divorce." + +The lawyer uttered a shocking oath. "Then it's no mere romantic +infatuation on her part?" + +"Oh no!" + +Ellsworth loosed his grip. He turned away and began to pace the +office floor, shaking his head. "This is--unfortunate. Alaire, of +all people--as if she didn't have enough to bear." He turned +fiercely upon the cowering figure in the chair, saying: "I'll tell +her the whole truth myself, before she goes any further." + +"No! Oh, please! Let me, in my own way." Dave writhed and sank his +face in his hands once more. After a while he said, "I'm waiting +for you to tell me it's all a nightmare." + +"Humph!" The judge continued his restless pacing. "I was sorry for +you when you came in here, and it took all my strength to tell +you; but now you don't matter at all. I was prepared to have you +go 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 his +walk abruptly. "I'm all broken up, Dave," he confessed in a +gentler tone than he had used heretofore. "But you'll thank me +some day." + +Law was no longer the big, strong, confident fellow who had +entered the office such a short time before. He had collapsed; he +seemed to have shrunk; he was pitifully appealing. Although there +were many things he would have said, many questions upon his +tongue, he could not voice them now, and it was with extreme +difficulty 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 entered +his hotel the clerk and some of the idlers in the lobby looked at +him queerly, but he did not see them. + +All that night Dave walked the floor of his room or sat hunched up +on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall and fighting the fears +that preyed upon him. + +He had faith enough in Alaire to believe that she would marry him +regardless of the facts; her kiss, that one delirious moment when +he had held her to his breast, had taught him much, and it was, in +fact, this very certainty which made his struggle so hard. After +all, why not? he asked himself a thousand times. Ellsworth's fears +were surely exaggerated. Who could say that Frank Law had passed +on his heritage? There was at least a chance that he had not, and +it would require more than a remote possibility, more evidence +than Ellsworth could summon, to dismay Alaire. Suppose it should +transpire that he was somehow defective? What then? The signs of +his mental failing would give ample warning. He could watch +himself carefully and study his symptoms. He could lead the life +of a sentinel perpetually on guard. The thing might never come--or +at the worst it probably would not manifest itself until he was +further 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 too +officious by far. This was something that did not concern him. + +But such reasoning naturally brought little comfort. Dave's fears +would not be put down. In common with most men of splendid +physique, he had a vague contempt for those less perfect; disease +or deformity had never failed to awaken his pity, and he had often +argued that defective human beings, like unhealthy stock, should +not be allowed to mate and to perpetuate their weaknesses. This +eugenic conviction had helped to ease his conscience somewhat +during his acquaintance with Alaire, for he had told himself that +Ed Austin, by reason of his inherited vices, had sacrificed all +right to love and marriage. These thoughts came home now to roost. +What was Ed's evil heritage compared to his own? It was as vinegar +to 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 two +that followed his interview with Ellsworth, it afforded him almost +the 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 duties +automatically, taking no interest whatever in his work; his nights +he spent in morose meditation. Unable to sleep, he tramped the hot +streets in an effort to fight off his growing nervousness. He +became irritable, despondent; his eyes took on the look of an +invalid's; his face aged and grayed. Physically, too, he grew very +tired, for no burden is heavier to bear than that of doubt and +indecision. + +One afternoon Ellsworth entered his office to find Dave waiting +for 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 the +courthouse. I'm licked. The worst of it is, I don't know whether +it's all imagination, or whether you really stirred up that +devilish sleeping thing in me. Anyhow, something has got me. All I +can do is study and analyze and watch and imagine--I sit all night +thinking--thinking, until everything gets queer and distorted. If +I were sane before, you've about unbalanced me with your damnable +suggestions." + +"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 WERE +sick. No, I'm going to get out." + +"Where? How?" + +"I'm going north to look up the members of my family and learn who +I really am. I resigned from the Ranger force to-day. That's no +place 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 get +away now is that Alaire will expect me to come to her when she +sends 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 own +mind." + +In an effort to cheer, Ellsworth put his arm about the sufferer's +shoulders. "I'm sure you'll do the right thing, Dave," he said. +"Maybe, after all, your instinct is true and you're not Frank +Law's boy. I hope so, for this thing weighs me down as it weighs +you; but you mustn't let it whip you. Don't give in, and +meanwhile, above all things, try to get some sleep." + +Dave nodded and mumbled something; then he slouched out, leaving +the lawyer overcome by a great pity. Ellsworth had seen men, +stunned by a court sentence, turn away from the bar with that same +dumb, fixed look of hopelessness in their eyes. Impulsively he +cursed the sense of duty that had prompted him to interfere. + + + + +XXIII + +THE CRASH + + +The several days following Dave's unexpected call at Las Palmas +Alaire spent in a delightful reverie. She had so often wrestled +with the question of divorce that she had begun to weary of it; +and now, when she tried to summon energy to consider it anew, she +found herself, as usual, reasoning in a circle and arriving at no +decision. She gave up trying, at length, and for the time being +rested content in the knowledge that she loved and was loved. In +her heart she knew well enough what her ultimate course would be: +sooner or later events would force her action. Yielding to a +natural cowardice, therefore, she resigned herself to dreamy +meditations and left the future to take care of itself. A week +passed while she hugged her thoughts to her breast, and then one +evening she rode home to learn that Ed had returned from San +Antonio. + +But Ed was ill, and he did not appear at dinner. It had been years +since either had dared invade the other's privacy, and now, +inasmuch as her husband did not send for her, Alaire did not +presume to offer her services as nurse. As a matter of fact, she +considered this quite unnecessary, for she felt sure that he was +either suffering the customary after-effects of a visit to the +city or else that he lacked the moral courage to undertake an +explanation of his hurried flight from the ranch. In either event +she was glad he kept to his room. + +Heretofore their formal relations had made life at least tolerable +to Alaire, but now she experienced a feeling of guilt at finding +herself under the same roof with him. Oddly enough, it seemed to +her that in this she wronged Dave and not her husband; for she +reasoned that, having given her love to one man, her presence in +the 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 was +jumpy and irritable, he seemed determined by an assumption of high +spirits and exaggerated friendliness to avert criticism. Since +Alaire spared him all reproaches, his efforts seemed to meet with +admirable success. Now Ed's opinion of women was not high, for +those with whom he habitually associated were of small +intelligence; and, seeing that his wife continued to manifest a +complete indifference to his past actions, he decided that his +apprehensions had been groundless. If Alaire remembered the Guzman +affair at all, or if she had suspected him of complicity in it, +time had evidently dulled her suspicions, and he was a little +sorry he had taken pains to stay away so long. + +Before many days, however, he discovered that this indifference of +hers was not assumed, and that in some way or other she had +changed. Ed was accustomed, when he returned exhausted from a +debauch, to seeing in his wife's eyes a strained misery; he had +learned to expect in her bearing a sort of pitying, hopeless +resignation. But this time she was not in the least depressed. On +the contrary, she appeared happier, fresher, and younger than he +had seen her for a long time. It was mystifying. When, one +morning, he overheard her singing in her room, he was shocked. +Over this phenomenon he meditated with growing amazement and a +faint stir of resentment in his breast, for he lived a self- +centered life, considering himself the pivot upon which revolved +all the affairs of his little world. To feel that he had lost even +the power to make his wife unhappy argued that he had +overestimated his importance. + +At length, having sufficiently recovered his health to begin +drinking again, he yielded one evening to an alcoholic impulse +and, just as Alaire bade him good night, clumsily sought to force +an 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 to +collect her wandering thoughts. "You're about as warm and wifely +as a stone idol." + +"Am I any different to what I have always been?" + +"Humph! You haven't been exactly sympathetic of late. Here I come +home sick, and you treat me like one of the help. Don't you think +I have feelings? Jove! I'm lonesome." + +Alaire regarded him speculatively, then shook her head as if in +answer to some thought. + +In an obvious and somewhat too mellow effort to be friendly, Ed +continued: "Don't let's go on like this, Alaire. You blame me for +going away so much, but, good Lord! when I'm home I feel like an +interloper. You treat me like a cow-thief." + +"I'm sorry. I've tried to be everything I should. I'm the +interloper." + +"Nonsense! If we only got along together as well as we seem to +from 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 fellows +who forget themselves and do things they shouldn't, but they don't +mean anything by it. They have wives and homes to go to when it's +all over. But have I? You're as glad to see me as if I had +smallpox. Maybe we've made a mess of things, but married life +isn't what young girls think it is, A wife must learn to give and +take." + +"I've given. What have I taken?" she asked him in a voice that +quivered. + +Ed made an impatient gesture. "Oh, don't be so literal! I mean +that, since we're man and wife, it's up to you to be a little +more--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 of +new impressions, and at this moment he realized that his wife was +undoubtedly the most attractive woman physically he had ever +known. Of course she was cold, but she had not always been so. He +had chilled her; he had seen the fire die year by year, but now +the memory of her as she had once been swept over him, bringing a +renewed appreciation of her charms. His recent dissipation had +told upon him as heavily as a siege of sickness, and this evening +he was in that fatuous, sentimental mood which comes with +convalescence, Having no fault to find with himself, and feeling +merely a selfish desire to make more pleasant his life at Las +Palmas, he undertook to bend Alaire to his will. + +"All right; don't let's try to argue it," he laughed, with what he +considered 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 her +head. "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 physical +resistance excited his love of conquest and awoke something like +the mood of a lover--such a lover as a man like Ed could be. For a +moment he felt as if Alaire were some other woman than his wife, a +woman who refused and yet half expected to be overcome; therefore +he laughed self-consciously and repeated, "Come now, I want a +kiss." + +Alaire thrust him back strongly, and he saw that her face had +whitened. Oddly enough, her stubbornness angered him out of all +reason, and he began a harsh remonstrance. But he halted when she +cried: + +"Wait! I must tell you something, Ed. It's all over, and has been +for 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 rather +sudden?" 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 in +the affirmative, for he had long ago learned to put implicit +confidence in her, and her life had been so open that he could not +imagine that it held a double interest. Therefore her reply struck +him 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--" he +stammered. "Well, by God!" Then after a moment: "Who is it, the +Greaser or the cowboy?" He laughed loudly, disagreeably. "It must +be 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 ever +occur 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, who +is it? Ain't I entitled to know that much?" As Alaire remained +silent he let his eyes rove over her with a kind of angry +appreciation. "You're pretty enough to stampede any man," he +admitted. "Yes, and you've got money, too. I'll bet it's the +Ranger. 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 of +you, 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: "I +wonder how I have managed to live with you as long as I have. I +knew you were weak, nasty--so I was prepared for something like +this. But I never thought you were a downright criminal until--" + +"Criminal? Rot!" + +"How about that Guzman affair? You can't go much lower, Ed, and +you can't keep me here with you." + +"I can't keep you, eh?" he growled. "Well, perhaps not. I suppose +you've got enough on me to secure a divorce, but I can air some of +your dirty linen. Oh, don't look like that! I mean it! Didn't you +spend a night with David Law?" He leered at her unpleasantly, then +followed a step as she drew back. + +"Don't you touch me!" she cried. + +A flush was deepening Ed's purple cheeks; his voice was peculiarly +brutal and throaty as he said: "The decree isn't entered yet, and +so long as you are Mrs. Austin I have rights. Yes, and I intend to +exercise them. You've made me jealous, and, by God--" He made to +encircle her with his arms and was half successful, but when +Alaire felt the heat of his breath in her face a sick loathing +sprang up within her, and, setting her back against the wall, she +sent him reeling. Whether she struck him or merely pushed him away +she never knew, for during the instant of their struggle she was +blind with indignation and fury. Profiting by her advantage, she +dodged past him, fled to her room, and locked herself in. + +She heard him muttering profanely; heard him approach her chamber +more than once, then retire uncertainly, but she knew him too well +to 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 over +the summons that took him thither. He wondered what could have +induced General Longorio to forsake his many important duties in +order to make the long trip from Nuevo Pueblo; surely it could be +due to no lack of zeal on his, Jose's, part. No! The horse-breaker +flattered himself that he had made a very good spy indeed; that he +had been Longorio's eyes and ears so far as circumstances +permitted. Nor did he feel that he had been lax in making his +reports, for through Rosa he had written the general several +lengthy letters, and just for good measure these two had conjured +up sundry imaginary happenings to prove beyond doubt that Senora +Austin was miserably unhappy with her husband and ready to welcome +such a dashing lover as Longorio. Therefore Jose could not for the +life of him imagine wherein he had been remiss. Nevertheless, he +was uneasy, and he hoped that nothing had occurred to anger his +general. + +But Longorio, when he arrived at the meeting-place, was not in a +bad humor. Having sent Rosa away on some errand, he turned to Jose +with 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 was +flattering. He nodded decisively. + +"Yes, beyond doubt," he agreed. + +"Mexico is in a bad way. These rebels are growing by the +thousands; they overrun the country like ants. You read the +papers, eh?" + +"Sometimes; when there are enough pictures," said Jose. + +"Ha! Then I doubt if you know what is happening. Well, I'll have +to tell you. Our enemies have taken all northern Mexico except +that part which is under my control; but they are pushing toward +me from two sides, and I prepare to retreat. That is not the +worst, however; the Gringos are hoping to profit by Mexico's +distress; they are making ready to invade our Fatherland, and +every Mexican must fight or become a slave." + +This was indeed news! Jose began patriotically cursing the whole +American people. + +"Understand, I make you my confidant because I think a great deal +of you, Jose." The general laid an affectionate hand upon Jose's +shoulder. "The first time I saw you I said: 'There's a boy after +my own heart. I shall learn to love that Jose, and I shall put him +in the way of his fortune.' Well, I have not changed my mind, and +the time is come. You are going to help me and I am going to help +you." + +Jose Sanchez thrilled with elation from head to foot. This +promised to be the greatest day of his life, and he felt that he +must 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 my +visit. Jose, I propose to make you rich enough in one day so that +you can marry." + +"But first, wait!" exclaimed the horse-breaker. "I bring you +something of value, too." Desiring to render favor for favor, and +to 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 I +carried the mail to town, but as I rode away from Las Palmas the +senora handed me this, with a silver dollar for myself. Look! It +is written to the man we both hate." + +Longorio took the letter, read the inscription, and then opened +the envelope. Jose looked on with pleasure while he spelled out +the contents. + +When the general had finished reading, he exclaimed: "Ho! A +miracle! 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 life +unbearable, and she flees to La Feria to be rid of him. Good! It +fits 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 warrant +I can make her forget certain things and certain people." Longorio +nodded with satisfaction. "You did very well, Jose." + +The latter leaned forward, his eyes bright. "That lady is rich. A +fine 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 an +idea!" He lost himself in meditation, then, rousing, spoke +briskly: "Listen! In two, three days, your senora will leave Las +Palmas. When she is gone you will perform your work, like the +brave man I know you to be. You will relieve her of her husband." + +Jose hesitated, and the smile vanished from his face. "Senor Ed is +not a bad man. He likes me; he--" Longorio's gaze altered and Jose +fell silent. + +"Come! You are not losing heart, eh? Have I not promised to make +you a rich man? Well, the time has arrived." Seeing that Jose +still manifested no eagerness, the general went on in a different +tone: "Do not think that you can withdraw from our little +arrangement. Oh no! Do you remember a promise I made to you when +you came to me in Romero? I said that if you played me false I +would bury you to the neck in an anthill and fill your mouth with +honey. I keep my promises." + +Jose's struggle was brief; he promptly resigned himself to the +inevitable. With every evidence of sincerity he assured Longorio +of his loyalty, and denied the least intention of betraying his +general's confidence. What, after all, was his mission upon earth +if not to serve Longorio's interests? One might have a peaceful +heart and still be a man. Jose was every inch a man; he was a very +devil when he let himself go, and his Excellency need have no +fears as to the outcome of their plan. After all, the GRINGOS were +enemies, and there was no one of them who did not merit +destruction. + +Pleased with these sentiments, and feeling sufficiently assured +that Jose was now really in the proper frame of mind to suit his +purpose, Longorio took the winding trail back toward Sangre de +Cristo. + + + + +XXIV + +DAVE LAW COMES HOME + + +A few days after she had written to Judge Ellsworth Alaire +followed her letter in person, for, having at last decided to +divorce Ed, she acted with characteristic decision. Since +Ellsworth had more than once advised this very course, she went to +Brownsville anticipating his willing support. She was greatly +amazed, therefore, to find that he had completely changed his +views and to hear him argue strongly against her determination. +Hurt and puzzled at first by this strange lack of sympathy, Alaire +soon began to grow angry, and when the judge persisted in his +arguments she quarreled with him for the first time in their +acquaintance. But it was not until she had threatened to secure +another attorney that he reluctantly gave in, even then making it +plain that in meeting her wishes he was acting against his best +judgment. + +Now Alaire had desired Ellsworth's advice, also, as to her own +immediate plans, since it was of course impossible for her longer +to share Ed's roof. She had written Dave Law, telling him that she +intended to go to La Feria, there to remain pending the hearing of +her suit; but later she had come to doubt the wisdom of such a +course, inasmuch as the war talk grew louder with every day. +However, her attorney's inexplicable change of front and his +stubborn opposition to her wishes prevented her from confiding in +him any more than was necessary, and she returned to Las Palmas +determined to use her own best judgment. To be sure, she would +have preferred some place of refuge other than La Feria, but she +reasoned that there she would at least be undisturbed, and that +Ed, even if he wished to effect a reconciliation, would not dare +to follow her, since he was persona non grata in Federal Mexico. +Nor were her doubts of Ellsworth's loyalty entirely allayed. All +in all, therefore, it seemed to her that the Mexican ranch offered +her 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 of +his resignation from the Force had at first perplexed her; then +she had thrilled at the thought that his action must have +something to do with her; that doubtless he, too, was busied in +making plans for their new life. She told herself that it was +brave of him to obey her injunctions so literally and to leave her +unembarrassed by his presence at this particular time. It inspired +her to be equally brave and to wait patiently for the day when she +could welcome him with clean hands and a soul unashamed. + +In the midst of Alaire's uncertainty of mind it gratified her to +realize that Dave alone would know of her whereabouts. She +wondered if he would come to see her. He was a reckless, +headstrong lover, and his desires were all too likely to overcome +his deliberate resolves. She rather hoped that in spite of his +promise he would venture to cross the border so that she could see +and be near him, if only for a day or for an hour. The possibility +frightened and yet pleased her. The conventional woman within her +frowned, but her outlaw heart beat fast at the thought. + +Alaire did not explain her plans even to Dolores, but when her +preparations were complete she took the Mexican woman with her, +and during Ed's absence slipped away from the ranch. Boarding the +train at Jonesville, she was in Pueblo that night. + +If Alaire's clash with Ellsworth had been trying to her, it had +been no less painful to the lawyer himself. Feeling himself bound +by his promise to Dave, he had not dared to tell her the truth; +consequently he had been hard put to it to dissuade her from +taking immediate action. When she would not listen, he found +himself in the most unpleasant position of his life; for although +he could not but sympathize with her desire to be free from Ed +Austin, it distressed him beyond measure to see her riding blindly +to a fall. More than once after their strained parting he was +tempted to go to Las Palmas and set himself right in her eyes; but +he managed to hold to his determination and to school himself to +await Dave's return. + +Before long, however, Ellsworth found other worries engaging him, +for it seemed at last that war with Mexico was imminent. After +months of uncertainty the question had come to issue, and that +lowering cloud which had hung above the horizon took ominous shape +and size. Ellsworth awoke one morning to learn that an ultimatum +had gone forth to President Potosi; that the Atlantic fleet had +been ordered south; and that marines were being rushed aboard +transports pending a general army mobilization. It looked as if +the United States had finally risen in wrath, and as if nothing +less than a miracle could now avert the long-expected conflict. + +Naturally Brownsville, like other border towns, was plunged into a +panic, and Ellsworth, as a leading citizen of his community, had +his hands full. + +In the midst of this excitement, and while suspense was at its +highest, Dave Law returned. Ellsworth found him in his office one +morning and fell upon the young man eagerly. Two weeks had worked +a shocking change in Dave; he was gaunt, ill; his eyes were bright +and tired and feverish. They had a new expression, too, which the +judge at first could not fathom, but which he took to be fear. +Dave's brown cheeks had bleached; his hands hung loose and +unmanageable at his sides. + +"I've had a long trip," he said, somberly, "months--years long, it +seems 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 except +verification. I'm sorry I went. The Law blood is tainted, all +right--it reeks. The whole damned outfit were crazy. On my +mother's side, though, I'm healthy enough--and there appears to be +some mystery or something queer about me as a baby. That's all +I've discovered so far. But I've a relative in San Antone, a +cousin of my mother's, who runs a curio-store. He deals in Mexican +jewelry and antiques, and all that--strange old fellow. He says he +has a trunkful of stuff that belonged to his family, and he has +promised 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 can +see it myself now." + +"Why, boy, that's imagination, nothing else." + +"Perhaps," Dave agreed, listlessly. "I'm reading everything on the +subject of insanity that I can get hold of." + +Ellsworth tried to laugh. "That in itself is enough to unbalance +you." + +"I'm moody, depressed; I'm getting so I imagine things. By and by +I'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 of +the dark. Fancy! I don't sleep very often, and when I do I wake up +in a puddle of sweat, shivering. And dreams! God, what dreams! I +know they're dreams, now, but sooner or later I suppose I'll begin +to 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 healthy +man could wreck his reason this way. You must stop it. You must do +something 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. I +joined 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. "I +didn'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?" thickly +inquired 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 be +a quitter?" Ellsworth waited a minute. "Do you want me to tell her +for you, Dave?" + +Law shook his head slowly, wearily. "No, I'll do it. I'm game. I'd +rather she heard it from me." + +Blaze Jones took the San Antonio paper out upon the porch and +composed himself in the hammock to read the latest war news. +Invasion! Troops! The Stars and Stripes! Those were words that +stirred Jones deeply and caused him to neglect his work. Now that +his country had fully awakened to the necessity of a war with +Mexico--a necessity he had long felt--he was fired with the +loftiest patriotism and a youthful eagerness to enlist. Blaze +realized that he was old and fat and near-sighted; but what of +that? He could fight. Fighting, in fact, had been one of his +earliest accomplishments, and he prided himself upon knowing as +much about it as any one man could learn. He believed in fighting +both as a principle and as an exercise; in fact, he attributed his +good health to his various neighborly "unpleasantnesses," and he +had more than once argued that no great fighter ever died of a +sluggish liver or of any one of the other ills that beset +sedentary, peace-loving people. Nations were like men--too much +ease made them flabby. And Blaze had his own ideas of strategy, +too. So during the perusal of his paper he bemoaned the mistakes +his government was making. Why waste time with ultimatums? he +argued to himself. He had never done so. Experience had taught him +that the way to win a battle was to beat the other fellow to the +draw; hence this diplomatic procrastination filled him with +impatience. It seemed almost treasonable to one of Blaze's intense +patriotism. + +He was engaged in laying out a plan of campaign for the United +States when he became conscious of voices behind him, and realized +that for some time Paloma had been entertaining a caller in the +front room. Their conversation had not disturbed him at first, but +now an occasional word or sentence forced its meaning through his +preoccupation, 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 was +recounting a story all too familiar to him. + +"Why, it seemed as if the whole city of Galveston was there, and +yet nobody offered to help us," the dressmaker was saying. "Phil +was a perfect hero, for the ruffian was twice his size. Oh, it was +an 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 a +black-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. You +could see it in his face." + +"How DID you escape?" + +"Well, I'll tell you. We chased him up across the boulevard and in +among the tents, and then--" Mrs. Strange lowered her voice until +only a murmur reached the listening man. A moment, then both women +burst into shrill, excited laughter, and Blaze himself blushed +furiously. + +This was unbearable! It was bad enough to have that woman in +Jonesville, a constant menace to his good name, but to allow her +access to his own home was unthinkable. Sooner or later they were +bound to meet, and then Paloma would learn the disgraceful truth-- +yes, and the whole neighborhood would likewise know his shame. In +fancy, Blaze saw his reputation torn to shreds and himself exposed +to the gibes of the people who venerated him. He would become a +scandal among men, an offense to respectable women; children would +shun him. Blaze could not bear to think of the consequences, for +he was very fond of the women and children of Jonesville, +especially the women. He rose from his hammock and tiptoed down +the porch into the kitchen, from which point of security he called +loudly 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't +like her when you've never seen her?" + +"Oh, I've seen her, all I want to; and I heard her talkin' to you +just 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 other +day? Makes me shiver now. You remember that big bull-snake that +lives under the barn, the one I've been layin' for? Well, you +won't believe me, but him and her are friends. Fact! I saw her +pick him up and play with him. WHO-EE! The goose-flesh popped out +on me till it busted the buttons off my vest. She ain't my kind of +people, Paloma. 'Strange' ain't no name for her; no, sir! That +woman's dam' near peculiar." + +Paloma remained unmoved. "I thought you knew. She used to be a +snake-charmer." + +"A--WHAT?" There was no doubt about it. Blaze's hair lifted. He +blinked through his big spectacles; he pawed the air feebly with +his hands. "How can you let her touch you? I couldn't. I'll bet +she carries a pocketful of dried toads and--and keeps live lizards +in her hair. I knew an old voodoo woman that ate cockroaches. Get +shed of her, Paloma, and we'll fumigate the house." + +At that moment Mrs. Strange herself opened the kitchen door to +inquire, "Is anything wrong?" Misreading Blaze's expression for +one of pain, she exclaimed: "Mercy! Now, what have you done to +yourself?" + +But the object of her solicitude backed away, making peculiar +clucking sounds deep in his throat. Paloma was saying: + +"This is my father, Mrs. Strange. You and he have never happened +to meet before." + +"Why, yes we have! I know you," the seamstress exclaimed. Then a +puzzled light flickered in her black eyes. "Seems to me we've met +somewhere, but--I've met so many people." She extended her hand, +and Blaze took it as if expecting to find it cold and scaly. He +muttered something unintelligible. "I've been dying to see you," +she told him, "and thank you for giving me Paloma's work. I love +you both for it." + +Blaze was immensely relieved that this dreaded crisis had come and +gone; but wishing to make assurance doubly sure, he contorted his +features into a smile the like of which his daughter had never +seen, and in a disguised voice inquired, "Now where do you reckon +you ever saw me?" + +The seamstress shook her head. "I don't know, but I'll place you +before long. Anyhow, I'm glad you aren't hurt. From the way you +called Paloma I thought you were. I'm handy around sick people, so +I--" + +"Listen!" Paloma interrupted. "There's some one at the front +door." She left the room; Blaze was edging after her when he heard +her utter a stifled scream and call his name. + +Now Paloma was not the kind of girl to scream without cause, and +her cry brought Blaze to the front of the house at a run. But what +he saw there reassured him momentarily; nothing was in sight more +alarming than one of the depot hacks, in the rear seat of which +was huddled the figure of a man. Paloma was flying down the walk +toward the gate, and Phil Strange was waiting on the porch. As +Blaze flung himself into view the latter explained: + +"I brought him straight here, Mr. Jones, 'cause I knew you was his +best friend." + +"Who? Who is it?" + +"Dave Law. He must have came in on the noon train. Anyhow, I found +him--like that." The two men hurried toward the road, side by +side. + +"What's wrong with him?" Blaze demanded. + +"I don't know. He's queer--he's off his bean. I've had a hard time +with him." + +Paloma was in the carriage at Dave's side now, and calling his +name; but Law, it seemed, was scarcely conscious. He had slumped +together; his face was vacant, his eyes dull. He was muttering to +himself a queer, delirious jumble of words. + +"Oh, Dad! He's sick--sick," Paloma sobbed. "Dave, don't you know +us? You're home, Dave. Everything is--all right now." + +"Why, you'd hardly recognize the boy!" Blaze exclaimed; then he +added his appeal to his daughter's. But they could not arouse the +sick man from his coma. + +"He asked me to take him to Las Palmas," Strange explained. "Looks +to me like a sunstroke. You'd ought to hear him rave when he gets +started." + +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 all +the doctors. Paloma, you go into the house and get a bed ready for +him, 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 the +situation, and when Dave refused to leave the carriage and began +to fight off his friends, gabbling wildly, it was she who quieted +him. Elbowing Blaze and her husband out of the way, she loosed the +young man's frenzied clutch from the carriage and, holding his +hands in hers, talked to him in such a way that he gradually +relaxed. It was she who helped him out and then supported him into +the house. It was she who got him up-stairs and into bed, and it +was 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 of +ice." + +Blaze, who had watched the snake-charmer's deft ministrations with +mingled amazement and suspicion, inquired: "What are you going to +do 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 his +brain?" + +Mrs. Strange turned on him angrily. "You get out of my way and +mind your own business. 'Freeze his brain!'" With a sniff of +indignation she pushed past the interloper. + +But Blaze was waiting for her when she returned a few moments +later with bowls and bottles and various remedies which she had +commandeered. He summoned sufficient courage to block her way and +inquire: + +"What you got there, now, ma'am?" + +Mrs. Strange glared at him balefully. With an effort at patience +she inquired: "Say! What ails you, anyhow?" + +Jones swallowed hard. "Understand, he's a friend of mine. No +damned magic goes." + +"Magic?" + +"No--cockroaches or snakes' tongues, or--" + +Mrs. Strange fingered a heavy china bowl as if tempted to bounce +it from Blaze's head. Then, not deigning to argue, she whisked +past him and into the sick-room. It was evident from her +expression that she considered the master of the house a harmless +but offensive old busybody. + +For some time longer Blaze hung about the sick-room; then, his +presence being completely ignored, he risked further antagonism by +telephoning for Jonesville's leading doctor. Not finding the +physician at home, he sneaked out to the barn and, taking Paloma's +car, drove away in search of him. It was fully two hours later +when 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 not +to a clear appreciation of his surroundings. At first he was +relieved to find that the splitting pain in his head was gone, but +imagined himself to be still in the maddening local train from +Brownsville. By and by he recognized Paloma and Mrs. Strange, and +tried to talk to them, but the connection between brain and tongue +was imperfect, and he made a bad business of conversation. It +seemed queer that he should be in bed at the Joneses', and almost +ludicrous for Mrs. Strange to support him while Paloma fed him. In +the effort to understand these mysteries, he dozed again. After +interminable periods of semi-consciousness alternating with +complete oblivion, he roused himself to discover that it was +morning and that he felt better than for weeks. When he had +recovered from his surprise he turned his head and saw Mrs. +Strange slumbering in a chair beside his bed; from her +uncomfortable position and evident fatigue he judged that she must +have 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 right +sick and troublesome to you." + +Paloma smiled and nodded. "Sick! Why, Dave, you frightened us +nearly 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, he +reasoned with a sinking heart that another brain-storm might +overtake him at any time. He had imagined that the thing would +give a hint of its coming, but evidently it did not. + +Mrs. Strange broke into his frowning meditation to ask, "How long +since you had a night's sleep?" + +"I--Oh, it must be weeks." + +"Umph! I thought so. You puzzled that pill-roller, but doctors +don't know anything, anyhow. Why, he wanted to wake you up to find +out what ailed you! I threatened to scald him if he did." + +"I seem to remember talking a good deal," Dave ventured. "I reckon +I--said a lot of foolish things." He caught the look that passed +between his nurses and its significance distressed him. + +Mrs. Strange continued: "That's how we guessed what your trouble +was, 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 going +home and change my clothes. I haven't had them off for two +nights." + +"Two nights!" Dave stared in bewilderment. Then he lamely +apologized for the trouble he had caused, and tried to thank the +women for their kindness. + +He was shaky when, an hour later, he came down-stairs for +breakfast; but otherwise he felt better than for many days; and +Blaze's open delight at seeing did him as much good as the food he +ate. + +Dave spent the morning sunning himself on the porch, reading the +papers with their exciting news, and speculating over the +significance of his mental collapse. The more he thought of it now +the more ominous it seemed. One result which particularly +distressed him was the change it had wrought in Paloma Jones's +bearing; for of a sudden the girl had become distant and formal. +The reason was not far to seek; Dave could not doubt that the +knowledge of his secret had frightened her. Well, that was to be +expected--he would probably lose all his friends in time. It was a +bitter thought; life would be very dull and flat without friends. +He wondered how he could bear to see those who loved him turn +away; to see their liking change to restraint and fear, as it +threatened 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 her +he came to his feet. Montrosa would trust him. She had given him +her heart, and her loyalty would never waver. With a clutch at his +throat, and a little pain in his breast, he stumbled down the +steps and went in search of her. + +Now during Dave's absence Paloma had done her best to spoil the +mare, and among other marks of favor had allowed her free run of +the yard, where the shade was cool and the grass fine, and where +delicious tidbits were to be had from the kitchen for the mere +asking. In consequence, Dave did not go far until he was +discovered. Montrosa signaled, then trotted toward him with ears +and tail lifted. Her delight was open and extravagant; her welcome +was as enthusiastic as a horse could make it. Gone were her +coquetry and her airs; she nosed and nibbled Dave; she rubbed and +rooted him with the violence of a battering-ram, and permitted him +to hug her and murmur words of love into her velvet ears. She +swapped confidence for confidence, too; and then, when he finally +walked back toward the house, she followed closely, as if fearful +that he might again desert her. + +Phil Strange met the lovers as they turned the corner of the +porch, and warmly shook Dave's hand. "Teeny--my wife--told me you +was better," he began, "so I beat it out here. I hung around all +day yesterday, waiting to see you, but you was batty." + +"I was pretty sick," Dave acknowledged. "Mrs. Strange was mighty +kind to me." + +"Sick people get her goat. She's got a way with 'em, and with +animals, too. Why, Rajah, the big python with our show, took sick +one year, and he'd have died sure only for her. Same with a lot of +the 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 had +thrust her head under his arm and was waiting for him to scratch +her ears. + +"Well, I brought you some mail." Strange fumbled in his pocket for +a small bundle of letters, explaining: "Blaze gave me these for +you as I passed the post office. Now I wonder if you feel good +enough to talk business." + +Dave took the letters with a word of thanks, and thrust them +carelessly into his pocket. "What seems to be the trouble?" he +inquired. + +"You remember our last talk? Well, them Mexicans have got me +rattled. I've been trying everywhere to locate you. If you hadn't +come 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. "Rosa +Morales has been to see me regular." + +Dave passed an uncertain hand over his forehead. "I'm not in very +good 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 and +Jose expect to make a lump of quick money, jump to Mexico, get +married, 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 ransom +along this river; yes, and Americans, too, if you can believe the +stories. Anything goes in that country over there." + +"You think Jose is planning to kidnap her? Nonsense! One man +couldn'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 tell +me." + +There was a brief silence, during which Dave stood frowning. Then +he appeared to shake himself free from Phil's suggestions. + +"It's too utterly preposterous. Mrs. Austin has no enemies; she's +a 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 you +was laid up and couldn't help me, I 'phoned her ranch; somebody +answered in Spanish, and from what I could make out they don't +know where she is." + +Dave wondered if he had understood Strange aright, or if this +could be another trick of his own disordered brain. Choosing his +words carefully, he said: "Do you mean to tell me that she's +missing and they haven't given an alarm? I reckon you didn't +understand the message, did you?" + +Strange shrugged. "Maybe I didn't. Suppose you try. You sabe the +lingo." + +Dave agreed, although reluctantly, for at this moment he wished +nothing less than to undertake a mental effort, and he feared, in +spite of Strange's statement, that he might hear Alaire's voice +over the wire. That would be too much; he felt as if he could not +summon 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 a +queer, 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; then +Phil inquired: + +"Well, what do you make of it?" + +"I don't know. She wasn't kidnapped, that's a cinch, for Dolores +went 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 you +there's something crooked going on. Don't I know? Didn't I wise +you three weeks ago that something like this was coming off?" It +was plain that Phil put complete faith in his powers of +divination, and at this moment his earnestness carried a certain +degree of conviction. Dave made an effort to clear his tired +brain. + +"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 has +dared to--" He drew a deep breath and his listlessness vanished; +his eyes gleamed with a hint of their customary fire. "I reckon +I'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 feel +a new vigor in his limbs and a new strength of purpose in his +mind. His brain was clearer than it had been for a long time. The +last cobweb was gone, and for the moment at least he was lifted +out of himself as by a strong, invigorating drink. When he stood +in his old boots and felt the familiar drag of his cartridge-belt, +when he tested his free muscles, he realized that he was another +man. Even yet he could not put much faith in Phil Strange's words- +-nevertheless, there might be a danger threatening Alaire; and if +so, it was time to act. + +Phil watched his friend saddle the bay mare, then as Dave tied his +Winchester scabbard to its thongs he laughed nervously. + +"You're loaded for bear." + +The horseman answered, grimly: "I'm loaded for Jose Sanchez. If I +lay 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 some +persuasive when I try." With that he swung a leg over Montrosa's +back and rode away. + +Law found it good to feel a horse between his knees. He had not +realized until now how long Montrosa's saddle had been empty. The +sun was hot and friendly, the breeze was sweet in his nostrils as +he swept past the smiling fields and out into the mesquite +country. Heat waves danced above the patches of bare ground; +insects sang noisily from every side; far ahead the road ran a +wavering course through a deceitful mirage of rippling ponds. It +was all familiar, pleasant; it was home; black moods were +impossible amid such surroundings. The chemistry of air and earth +and sunshine were at work dissolving away the poisons of his +imagination. Of course Dave's trouble did not wholly vanish; it +still lurked in the back of his mind and rode with him; but from +some magic source he was deriving a power to combat it. With every +mile he covered his strength and courage increased. + +Such changes had come into his life since his last visit to Las +Palmas that it gave him a feeling of unreality to discover no +alteration in the ranch. He had somehow felt that the buildings +would look older, that the trees would have grown taller, and so +when he finally came in sight of his destination he reined in to +look. + +Behind him he heard the hum of an approaching motor, and he turned +to behold a car racing along the road he had just traveled. The +machine was running fast, as a long streamer of choking dust gave +evidence, and Dave soon recognized it as belonging to Jonesville's +prosecuting attorney. As it tore past him its owner shouted +something, but the words were lost. In the automobile with the +driver were several passengers, and one of these likewise called +to Dave and seemed to motion him to follow. When the machine +slowed down a half-mile ahead and veered abruptly into the Las +Palmas gateway, Dave lifted Montrosa to a run, wondering what +pressing necessity could have induced the prosecuting attorney to +risk such a reckless burst of speed. + +Dave told himself that he was unduly apprehensive; that Strange's +warnings had worked upon his nerves. Nevertheless, he continued to +ride 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 much +amiss, judging from the groups of ranch-hands assembled upon the +porch. They were clustered about the doors and windows, peering +in. Briefly they turned their faces toward Law; then they crowded +closer, and he perceived that they were not talking. Some of them +had removed their hats and held them in their hands. + +Dave's knees shook under him as he dismounted; for one sick, giddy +instant the scene swam before his eyes; then he ran toward the +house and up the steps. He tried to frame a question, but his lips +were stiff with fright. Heedless of those in his path, he forced +his way into the house, then down the hall toward an open door, +through which he saw a room full of people. From somewhere came +the shrill wailing of a woman; the house was full of hushed voices +and whisperings. Dave had but one thought. From the depths of his +being 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 of +white-faced people. With rough hands Law cleared a way for +himself, and then stopped, frozen in his tracks. His arms relaxed, +his fingers unclenched, a great sigh whistled slowly from his +lungs. Before him, booted, spurred, and fully dressed, lay the +dead body of Ed Austin. + +Dave was still staring at the master of Las Palmas when the +prosecuting attorney spoke to him. + +"God! This is terrible, isn't it?" he said. "He must have died +instantly." + +"Who--did it?" + +"We don't know yet. Benito found him and brought him in. He hasn't +been dead an hour." + +Law ran his eyes over the room, and then asked, sharply, "Where is +Mrs. Austin?" + +He was answered by Benito Gonzales, who had edged closer. "She's +not here, senor." + +"Have you notified her?" + +Benito shrugged. "There has been no time, it all happened so +quickly--" + +Some one interrupted, and Dave saw that it was the local sheriff-- +evidently it was he who had waved from the speeding machine a few +moments before. + +"I'm glad you're here, Dave, for you can give me a hand. I'm going +to 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 see +what you can learn." + +When Dave had regained better control of himself he took Benito +outdoors and demanded full details of the tragedy. With many +lamentations and incoherencies, the range boss told what he knew. + +Ed had met his death within a half-mile of Las Palmas as he rode +home for dinner. Benito, himself on his way to the house, had +found the body, still warm, near the edge of the pecan-grove. He +had retained enough sense to telephone at once to Jonesville, and +then--Benito hardly knew what he had done since then, he was so +badly 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 it +was now only a few minutes past one. It was evident, therefore, +that Benito had indeed lost no time, and that his alarm had met +with 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 kill +him." + +"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 wife +went with her. Are you trying to keep something back?" + +"No, no! As God is my judge!" Benito declared, "I didn't know they +were going until the very last, and even then Dolores would tell +me nothing. We were having bad times here at Las Palmas; there +were stormy scenes yonder in the house. Senor Ed was drinking +again, 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's +theory. 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 she +wouldn't go to La Feria at such a time. Why, that country is +ablaze. Americans are fleeing from Mexico." + +"I hadn't thought of that," Benito confessed. "But if she didn't +go there, where did she go? Saints above! It is a fine condition +of affairs when a wife keeps secrets from her husband, eh? I +suppose Dolores feared I would tell Don Eduardo, God rest his +soul! This much I do know, however: not long ago there came a +letter from General Longorio, offering settlement for those cattle +he stole in his government's name. Dolores told me the senora was +highly pleased and was going to Mexico for her money. It was a +mark of Longorio's favor, you understand me? He's a great--friend, +an ardent admirer." Benito winked. "Dolores told me all about +that, too. No, I think they went to La Feria." + +Dave remembered his first conversation with Phil Strange and the +fortune-teller's insistence that some powerful person was behind +Jose Sanchez. More than three weeks ago Strange had forecast +something very like murder of Ed Austin. Dave felt as if he were +the victim of an hysterical imagination. Nevertheless, he forced +himself to ask, quietly: + +"Is Jose Sanchez anywhere about?" + +The range boss shrugged. "I sent him to the east pasture this +morning." + +"Did he go?" + +"Eh? So! You suspect Jose of this. God in heaven! Jose is a wild +boy--But wait! I'll ask Juan if he saw him; yes, and Victoria, +too. That is Victoria you hear squalling in the kitchen. Wait +here." + +Benito hurried away, leaving Dave a prey to perplexity; but he was +back 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, who +watched him, saw that he turned toward the river road which led to +the Las Palmas pumping-plant. + +The more Dave thought about Ed Austin's death, the more certain he +became that it was in some way connected with Alaire's +disappearance; and the loose end by which the tangle might be +unraveled, it seemed to him, lay in the hands of Rosa Morales, +Jose's sweetheart. That Sanchez was the murderer Dave now had +little doubt; but since the chance of apprehending him was small, +he turned his attention to the girl. He would make Rosa speak, he +told himself, if he had to use force--this was no time for gentle +methods. If she knew aught of Alaire's whereabouts or the mystery +of her departure from Las Palmas, he would find a way to wring the +truth 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 his +breast. + +Years of experience had taught him to be always alert even during +his moments of deepest preoccupation, and so, from force of habit, +when he came to the pump-house road he carefully scanned it. In +the dust were fresh hoof-prints leading toward the river. Now he +knew this road to be seldom used, and therefore he wondered who +could be riding it at a gallop in this blistering midday heat. A +few rods farther on and his quick eye detected something else-- +something that brought him from his saddle. Out of the rut he +picked a cigarette butt, the fire of which was cold but the paper +of which was still wet from the smoker's lips. He examined it +carefully; then he remounted and rode on, pondering its +significance. + +Dave loped out of the thicket and straight across the clearing to +the Morales house. Leaving Montrosa's reins hanging, he opened the +door and entered without knocking. Rosa appeared in the opening to +another room, her eyes wide with fright at this apparition, and +Dave saw that she was dressed in her finest, as if for a holiday +or 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 black +brows 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 been +here within an hour. Where is he?" When the girl only grew whiter +and 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 began +to 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 know +you. It was you who betrayed Panfilo, and his blood is on your +hands, assassin!" With the last word she made as if to retreat, +but Dave was too quick; he seized her, and for an instant they +struggled breathlessly. + +Dave had reasoned beforehand that his only chance of discovering +anything from this girl lay in utterly terrorizing her and in +profiting 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 into +her captor's flesh. In her body was the strength of a full-grown +man, and Dave could hardly hold her. But suddenly, as the two +scuffled, from the back room of the house came a sound which +caused 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 and +through the inner door. + +Jose Sanchez met him with a shout; the shock of their collision +overbore the lighter man, and the two went down together, arms and +legs intertwined. The horse-breaker fired his revolver blindly--a +deafening explosion inside those four walls--but he was powerless +against his antagonist's strength and ferocity. It required but a +moment 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 his +wrists tightly. + +From the front of the little house came the crash of a door +violently slammed as Rosa profited by the diversion to save +herself. + +When finally Jose stood, panting and snarling, his back to the +wall, Dave regarded him with a sinister contraction of the lips +that was almost a grin. + +"Well," he said, drawing a deep breath, "I see you didn't go to +the east pasture this morning." + +"What do you want of me?" Jose managed to gasp. + +There was a somewhat prolonged silence, during which Dave +continued to stare at his prisoner with that same disquieting +expression. "Why did you kill Don Eduardo?" he asked. + +"I? Bah! Who says I killed him?" Jose glared defiance. "Why are +you looking at me? Come! Take me to jail, if you think that will +do any good." + +"It's lucky I rode to Las Palmas this morning. In another hour you +would have been across the Rio Grande--with Rosa and all her fine +clothes, eh? Now you will be hanged. Well, that is how fortune +goes." + +The horse-breaker tossed his head and shrugged with a brave +assumption of indifference; he laughed shortly. "You can prove +nothing." + +"Yes," continued Dave, "and Rosa will go to prison, too. Now-- +suppose I should let you go? Would you help me? In ten minutes you +could be safe." He inclined his head toward the muddy, silent +river 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 the +truth, for your general can't help you now." Dave did his best to +read the Mexican's expression, but failed. "Senor Ed's death means +nothing 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 himself +his anxiety was plain. + +Jose exclaimed: "Ho! I understand. He was in your way and you're +glad to be rid of him. Well, we have no business fighting with +each 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 bared +themselves. He took a step forward, crying: + +"By God! You WILL tell me!" Seizing his prisoner by the throat, he +pinned him to the wall; then with his free hand he cocked +Longorio's revolver and thrust its muzzle against Jose's body. +"Tell me!" he repeated. His countenance was so distorted, his +expression so maniacal, that Jose felt his hour had come. The +latter, being in all ways Mexican, did not struggle; instead, he +squared his shoulders and, staring fearlessly into the face above +him, cried: + +"Shoot!" + +For a moment the two men remained so; then Dave seemed to regain +control of himself and the murder light flickered out of his eyes. +He flung his prisoner aside and cast the revolver into a corner of +the room. + +Jose picked himself up, cursing his captor eloquently. "You +Gringos don't know how to die," he said. "Death? Pah! We must die +some time. And supposing I do know something about the senora, do +you think you can force me to speak? Torture wouldn't open my +lips." + +Law did not trust himself to reply; and the horse-breaker went on +with growing defiance: + +"I am innocent of any crime; therefore I am brave. But you--The +blood of innocent men means nothing to you--Panfilo's murder +proves 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 the +bitterness of his vituperation he seemed to invite death. Dave +interrupted his vitriolic curses to ask harshly: + +"Will you tell me, or will you force me to wring the truth out of +you?" + +Jose answered by spitting at his captor; then he gritted an +unspeakable epithet from between his teeth. + +Dave addressed him with an air of finality. "You killed that man +and your life is forfeit, so it doesn't make much difference +whether I take it or whether the State takes it. You are brave +enough to die--most of you Mexicans are--but the State can't force +you to speak, and I can." Jose sneered. "Oh yes, I can! I intend +to know all that you know, and it will be better for you to tell +me voluntarily. I must learn where Senora Austin is, and I must +learn 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 fire +will 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 his +prisoner could do more than wrench at his bonds, and with him he +brought his lariat and his canteen. + +"What are you going to do?" Jose inquired, backing away until he +was once more at bay. + +"I'm going to give you a drink." + +"Whisky? You think you can make me drunk?" The horse-breaker +laughed 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 your +employer and where General Longorio has taken his wife. Yes, and +everything else I want to know." Seizing the amazed Mexican, Dave +flung him upon Morales's hard board bed, and in spite of the +fellow's struggles deftly made him fast. When he had finished--and +it was no easy job--Jose lay "spread-eagled" upon his back, his +wrists and ankles firmly bound to the head and foot posts, his +body secured by a tight loop over his waist. The rope cut +painfully and brought a curse from the prisoner when he strained +at it. Law surveyed him with a face of stone. + +"I don't want to do this," he declared, "but I know your kind. I +give you one more chance. Will you tell me?" + +Jose drew his lips back in a snarl of rage and pain, and Dave +realized that further words were useless. He felt a certain pity +for his victim and no little admiration for his courage, but such +feelings were of small consequence as against his agonizing fears +for Alaire's safety. Had he in the least doubted Jose's guilty +knowledge of Longorio's intentions, Dave would have hesitated +before employing the barbarous measures he had in mind, but--there +was nothing else for it. He pulled the canteen cork and jammed the +mouthpiece firmly to Jose's lips. Closing the fellow's nostrils +with his free hand, he forced him to drink. + +Jose clenched his teeth, he tried to roll his head, he held his +breath until his face grew purple and his eyes bulged. He strained +like a man upon the rack. The bed creaked to his muscular +contortions; the rope tightened. It was terribly cruel, this +crushing of a strong will bent on resistance to the uttermost; but +never was an executioner more pitiless, never did a prisoner's +agony receive less consideration. The warm water spilled over +Jose's face, it drenched his neck and chest; his joints cracked as +he strove for freedom and tried to twist his head out of Law's +iron grasp. The seconds dragged, until finally Nature asserted +herself. The imprisoned breath burst forth; there sounded a loud +gurgling cry and a choking inhalation. Jose's body writhed with +the convulsions of drowning as the water and air were sucked into +his lungs. Law was kneeling over his victim now, his weight and +strength so applied that Jose had no liberty of action and could +only drink, coughing and fighting for air. Somehow he managed to +revive himself briefly and again shut his teeth; but a moment more +and he was again retched with the furious battle for air, more +desperate now than before. After a while Law freed his victim's +nostrils and allowed him a partial breath, then once more crushed +the mouthpiece against his lips. By and by, to relieve his +torture, Jose began to drink in great noisy gulps, striving to +empty the vessel. + +But the stomach's capacity is limited. In time Jose felt himself +bursting; the liquid began to regurgitate. This was not mere pain +that he suffered, but the ultimate nightmare horror of a death +more awful than anything he had ever imagined. Jose would have met +a bullet, a knife, a lash, without flinching; flames would not +have served to weaken his resolve; but this slow drowning was +infinitely worse than the worst he had thought possible; he was +suffocating by long, black, agonizing minutes. Every nerve and +muscle of his body, every cell in his bursting lungs, fought +against the outrage in a purely physical frenzy over which his +will power had no control. Nor would insensibility come to his +relief--Law watched him too carefully for that. He could not even +voice his sufferings by shrieks; he could only writhe and retch +and gurgle while the ropes bit into his flesh and his captor knelt +upon him like a monstrous stone weight. + +But Jose had made a better fight than he knew. The canteen ran dry +at last, and Law was forced to release his hold. + +"Will you speak?" he demanded. + +Thinking that he had come safely through the ordeal, Jose shook +his head; he rolled his bulging, bloodshot eyes and vomited, then +managed to call God to witness his innocence. + +Dave went into the next room and refilled the canteen. When he +reappeared with the dripping vessel in his hand, Jose tried to +scream. But his throat was torn and strained; the sound of his own +voice frightened him. + +Once more the torment began. The tortured man was weaker now, and +in consequence he resisted more feebly; but not until he was less +than 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 were +bleeding; he was stretched like a dumb animal upon the +vivisectionist's table, and no surgeon with lance and scalpel +could have shown less emotion than did his inquisitor. Having no +intention of defeating his own ends, Dave allowed his victim ample +time in which to regain his ability to suffer. + +Alaire Austin had been right when she said that Dave might be +ruthless; and yet the man was by no means incapable of compassion. +At the present moment, however, he considered himself simply as +the instrument by which Alaire was to be saved. His own feelings +had nothing to do with the matter; neither had the sufferings of +this Mexican. Therefore he steeled himself to prolong the agony +until the murderer's stubborn spirit was worn down. Once again he +put his question, and, again receiving defiance, jammed the +canteen between Jose's teeth. + +But human nature is weak. For the first time in his life Jose +Sanchez felt terror--a terror too awful to be endured--and he made +the sign. + +He was no longer the insolent defier, the challenger, but an +imploring wretch, whose last powers of resistance had been +completely shattered. His frightened eyes were glued to that +devilish vessel in which his manhood had dissolved, the fear of it +made a woman of him. + +Slowly, in sighs and whimpers, in agonies of reluctance, his story +came; his words were rendered almost incomprehensible by his +abysmal fright. When he had purged himself of his secret Dave +promptly unbound him; then leaving him more than half dead, he +went to the telephone which connected the pumping station with Las +Palmas and called up the ranch. + +He was surprised when Blaze Jones answered. Blaze, it seemed, had +just arrived, summoned by news of the tragedy. The countryside had +been alarmed and a search for Ed Austin's slayer was being +organized. + +"Call it off," Dave told him. "I've got your man." Blaze stuttered +his surprise and incredulity. "I mean it. It's Jose Sanchez, and +he 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 the +clearing beside the river, and, leaving his motor running, leaped +from the car. + +Dave met him at the door of the Morales house and briefly told him +the story of Jose's capture. + +"Say! That's quick work," the rancher cried, admiringly. "Why, Ed +ain't cold yet! You gave him the 'water-cure,' eh? Now I reckoned +it would take more than water to make a Mexican talk." + +"Jose was hired for the work; he laid for Ed Austin in the pecan +grove and shot him as he passed." + +"Hired! Why this hombre needs quick hangin', don't he? I told 'em +at Las Palmas that you'd rounded up the guilty party, so I reckon +they'll be here in a few minutes. We'll just stretch this horse- +wrangler, and save the county some expense." Law shrugged. "Do +what you like with him, but--it isn't necessary. He'll confess in +regulation form, I'm sure. I had to work fast to learn what became +of 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 safe +before they killed Ed." + +"'They?' Who the hell are you talkin' about?" + +"I mean Longorio and his outfit. He's got her over yonder." Dave +flung out a trembling hand toward the river. Seeing that his +hearer failed to comprehend, he explained, swiftly: "He's crazy +about her--got one of those Mexican infatuations--and you know +what that means. He couldn't steal her from Las Palmas--she +wouldn't have anything to do with him--so he used that old cattle +deal as an excuse to get her across the border. Then he put Ed out +of the way. She went of her own accord, and she didn't tell +Austin, 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 how +white and set was his friend's face. + +"Longorio must have foreseen what was coming," Dave went on. "That +country's aflame; Americans aren't safe over there. If war is +declared, a good many of them will never be heard from. He knows +that. 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 out +of her head. But we've got to do something. We've got to burn the +wires to Washington--yes, and to Mexico City. We must get the +government to send soldiers after her. God! What have we got 'em +for, anyhow?" + +"Washington won't do anything. What can be done when there are +thousands of American women in the same danger? What steps can the +government take, with the fleet on its way to Vera Cruz, with the +army mobilizing, and with diplomatic relations suspended? Those +Greasers are filling their jails with our people--rounding 'em up +for 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's +in there--trapped." + +Blaze took the speaker by the shoulder and faced him about. "Look +here," said he, "I'm beginnin' to get wise to you. I believe +you're--the man in the case." When Dave nodded, he vented his +amazement in a long whistle. After a moment he asked, "Well, why +did you want me to come here alone, ahead of the others?" + +"Because I want you to know the whole inside of this thing so that +you can get busy when I'm gone; because I want to borrow what +money 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 the +soldiers." + +But Dave hardly seemed to hear him. "You must start things moving +at once," he said, urgently. "Spread the news, get the story into +the papers, notify the authorities. Get every influence at work, +from here to headquarters; get your Senator and the Governor of +the state at work. Ellsworth will help you. And now give me your +last dollar." + +Blaze emptied his pockets, shaking his shaggy head the while. "La +Feria is a hundred and fifty miles in," he remonstrated. + +"By rail from Pueblo, yes. But it's barely a hundred, straight +from 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, and +that's me. Yes, I've got bad blood in me, Blaze--bad blood--and +I'm taking it back where I got it. But listen!" He turned a sick, +colorless face to his friend. "They'll whittle a cross for +Longorio if I do get through." He called to Montrosa, and the mare +came to him, holding her head to one side so as not to tread upon +her 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 had +twenty men like you we might cut our way in and out, but there's +no time to organize, and, anyhow, the government would probably +stop us. I've got a hunch that I'll make it. If I don't--why, it's +all right." + +The two men shook hands lingeringly, awkwardly; then Blaze managed +to wish his friend luck. "If you don't come back," he said, with a +peculiar catch in his voice, "I reckon there's enough good Texans +left to follow your trail. I'll sure look forward to it." + +Dave took the river-bank to Sangre de Cristo, where, by means of +the dilapidated ferry, he gained the Mexican side. Once across, he +rode straight up toward the village of Romero. When challenged by +an under-sized soldier he merely spurred Montrosa forward, eyeing +the sentry so grimly that the man did no more than finger his +rifle uncertainly, cursing under his breath the overbearing airs +of all Gringos. Nor did the rider trouble to make the slightest +detour, but cantered the full length of Romero's dusty street, the +target of more than one pair of hostile eyes. To those who saw +him, soldiers and civilians alike, it was evident that this +stranger had business, and no one felt called upon to question its +nature. There are men who carry an air more potent than a +bodyguard, and Dave Law was one of these. Before the village had +thoroughly awakened to his coming he was gone, without a glance to +the right or left, without a word to anyone. + +When Romero was at his back he rode for a mile or two through a +region of tiny scattered farms and neglected garden patches, after +which he came out into the mesquite. For all the signs he saw, he +might then have been in the heart of a foreign country. Mexico had +swallowed him. + +As the afternoon heat subsided, Montrosa let herself out into a +freer gait and began to cover the distance rapidly, heading due +west through a land of cactus and dagger, of thorn and barb and +bramble. + +The roads were unfenced, the meadows desolate; the huts were +frequently untenanted. Ahead the sky burned splendidly, and the +sunset grew more brilliant, more dazzling, until it glorified the +whole mean, thirsty, cruel countryside. + +Dave's eyes were set upon that riot of blazing colors, but for the +time it failed to thrill him. In that welter of changing hues and +tints he saw only red. Red! That was the color of blood; it stood +for passion, lust, violence; and it was a fitting badge of color +for this land of revolutions and alarms. At first he saw little +else--except the hint of black despair to follow. But there was +gold in the sunset, too--the yellow gold of ransom! That was +Mexico--red and yellow, blood and gold, lust and license. Once the +rider'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. The +deepening blue of the high sky overhead was the hue of a certain +woman's eyes. A warm, soft breeze out of the west beat into his +face, and he remembered how warm and soft Alaire's breath had been +upon 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. The +thought aroused him; the sense of his unworthiness vanished, the +blight fell from him; he felt only a throbbing eagerness to see +her 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, a +few days after their arrival at La Feria. "They tell me that +Mexico is invaded and that the American soldiers have already +killed more than a thousand women and children." + +"Who tells you this?" Alaire asked. + +"The men--everybody," Dolores waved a hand in the direction of the +other ranch buildings. "Our people are buzzing like bees with the +news, and, of course, no one cares to work when the Americans are +coming." + +"I shall have to put an end to such talk." + +"This morning the word came that the revolution is ended and that +the soldiers of both parties are uniting to fight for their +liberties. 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, at +Espinal"--Dolores's eyes were round--"would you believe it?--those +Yankee soldiers ate a baby! They roasted the little dear like a +cabrito and ate it! I tell you, it makes wild talk among the +peladors." + +"Do you believe such stories?" Alaire inquired, with some +amusement. + +"Um-m--not altogether. But, all the same, I think it is time we +were 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 are +nervous I'll send you back to Las Palmas at once." + +"Glory of God! It would be the end of me. These Mexicans would +recognize me instantly as an American, for I have the appearance +and the culture. You can imagine what would happen to me. They +would tear me from the train. It was nothing except General +Longorio's soldiers that brought us safely through from Nuevo +Pueblo." + +"Then I'm glad that he insisted upon sending them with us. Now +tell the ranch-hands to put no faith in these ridiculous stories. +If they wish the truth let them ask General Longorio; he will be +here 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 his +money. 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 fountain +and its rank, untended plants. "Why do you insist that he loves +me?" she asked. "All Mexicans are gallant and pay absurd +compliments. It's just a way they have. He has never spoken a word +that could give offense." As Dolores said nothing, she went on, +hesitatingly, "I can't very well refuse to see him, for I don't +possess even a receipt to show that he took those cattle." + +"Oh, you must not offend him," Dolores agreed, hastily, "or we'd +never leave Mexico alive." With which cheering announcement the +housekeeper heaved a deep sigh and went about her duties with a +gloomy face. + +Longorio arrived that afternoon, and Alaire received him in the +great naked living room of the hacienda, with her best attempt at +formality. But her coolness served not in the least to chill his +fervor. + +"Senora," he cried, eagerly, "I have a thousand things to tell +you, things of the greatest importance. They have been upon my +tongue for hours, but now that I behold you I grow drunk with +delight and my lips frame nothing but words of admiration for your +beauty. So! I feast my eyes." He retained his warm clasp of her +fingers, seeming to envelop her uncomfortably with his ardor. + +"What is it you have to tell me?" she asked him, withdrawing her +hand. + +"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 to +startle you and set your brain in a whirl. I planned to send a +messenger ahead of me, and then I said: 'No, this is a crisis; +therefore no tongue but mine shall apprise her, no hand but mine +shall comfort her. Only a coward shrinks from the unpleasant; I +shall lighten her distress and awaken in her breast new hope, new +happiness'--" + +"What do you mean?" Alaire inquired, sharply. "You say you bring +bad news?" + +The general nodded. "In a way, terrible, shocking! And yet I look +beyond the immediate and see in it a blessing. So must you. To me +it spells the promise of my unspoken longings, my whispered +prayers." Noting his hearer's growing bewilderment, he laid a hand +familiarly upon her arm. "No matter how I tell you, it will be a +blow, 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. My +knowledge of your long unhappiness alone gives me courage to +speak." + +Alaire raised her fluttering fingers to her throat; her eyes were +wide as she said: "You don't mean--Mr. Austin?" + +"Yes." Longorio scrutinized her closely, as if to measure the +effect of his disclosure. "Senora, you are free!" + +Alaire uttered a breathless exclamation; then, feeling his gaze +burning into her, turned away, but not before he had noted her +sudden pallor, the blanching of her lips. + +This unexpected announcement dazed her; it scattered her thoughts +and robbed her of words, but just what her dominant emotion was at +the moment she could not tell. Once her first giddiness had +passed, however, once the truth had borne in upon her, she found +that she felt no keen anguish, and certainly no impulse to weep. +Rather she experienced a vague horror, such as the death of an +acquaintance or of a familiar relative might evoke. Ed had been +anything but a true husband, and her feeling now was more for the +memory of the man he had been, for the boy she had known and +loved, than for the man whose name she bore. So he was gone and, +as Longorio said, she was free. It meant much. She realized dimly +that in this one moment her whole life had changed. She had never +thought of this way out of her embarrassments; she had been +prepared, in fact, for anything except this. Dead! It was +deplorable, for Ed was young. Once the first shock had passed +away, she became conscious of a deep pity for the man, and a +complete forgiveness for the misery he had caused her. After a +time 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 your +concern and I share your intimate thoughts. No, it was an +accident, ordained by God. His end was the result of his own +folly, a gunshot wound while he was drunk, I believe. Now you will +understand why I said that I bore tidings both good and evil and +why I, of all people, should be the one to impart them." + +Alaire turned questioning eyes upon him, as if to fathom his +meaning, and he answered her with his brilliant smile. Failing to +evoke a response, he went on: + +"Ever since I heard of it I have repeated over and over again, 'It +is a miracle; it is the will of God.' Come, then, we know each +other so well that we may speak frankly. Let us be honest and +pretend to no counterfeit emotions. Let us recognize in this only +your deliverance and the certainty of that blessed happiness which +Divine Providence offers us both." + +"Both?" she repeated, dully. + +"Need I be plainer? You know my heart. You have read me. You +understand how I have throttled my longings and remained mute +while 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. This +is no time--" Her indignation rose with the sound of her own +voice, causing her to stammer. + +Taking advantage of her loss of words, he hurried on: "You must +pardon my impetuosity, but I am a man of tremendous force, and my +life moves swiftly. I am not shackled by conventions--they are +less than nothing to me. If it seems to you that my eagerness +carries me away, remember that war is upon us and that affairs of +moment 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 is +here, the future rushes forward to meet us." + +"Indeed, you forget yourself," she said, warmly. Then, changing +her 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 leave +here." + +Alaire stared at him incredulously. + +"It is true. Mexico is a seething caldron of hate; the country is +convulsed. 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 Alaire +continued, more calmly, "If that is so, there is all the more +reason why I should lose no time." + +"Listen!" The general was deeply in earnest. "You have no +conception of the chaos out there." He waved a comprehensive +gesture. "If the explosion has not come, it will come within a few +hours. That is why I flew to your side. Battleships are hurrying +toward our coast, troops are massing against our border, and +Mexico has risen like one man. The people are in a frenzy; they +are out of bounds; there is sack and pillage in the cities. +Americans are objects of violence everywhere and the peons are +frantic." He paused impressively. "We face the greatest upheaval +of history." + +"Then why are you here?" Alaire demanded. "This is no place for +you 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 on +heedlessly. "I have told you I harken only to my heart; that for +one smile from you I would behead myself; that for your favor I +would betray my fatherland; that for your kiss I would face +damnation. Well, I am here at your side. The deluge comes, but you +shall be unharmed." He would not permit her to check him, crying: +"Wait! You must hear me through, senora, so that you may +comprehend fully why I am forced to speak at this time. Out of +this coming struggle I shall emerge a heroic figure. Now that +Mexico unites, she will triumph, and of all her victorious sons +the name of Luis Longorio will be sung the loudest, for upon him +more than upon any other depends the Republic's salvation. I do +not boast. I merely state facts, for I have made all my plans, and +tomorrow I put them into effect. That is why I cannot wait to +speak. The struggle will be long, but you shall be my guiding star +in the hour of darkness." + +Under other circumstances the man's magnificent egotism might have +provoked a smile. And yet, for all its grandiloquence, there was +something in his speech that rang hard and true. Unquestionably +Longorio was dangerous--a real personality, and no mere swaggering +pretender. Alaire felt a certain reluctant respect for him, and at +the same time a touch of chilling fear such as she had hardly +experienced before. She faced him silently for a moment; then she +said: + +"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 merely +keep you from certain destruction. You cannot go by train, because +the railroad has suspended public service, nor can you ride or +drive. I tell you, senora, the people are aroused. For the moment +you must accept my protection, whether you wish to or not. +Tomorrow"--Longorio smiled warmly, meaningly-"perhaps you will not +be in such haste to refuse it, or to leave La Feria. Wait until +you understand me better. Then--But enough of this. You are +unstrung, you wish to be alone with your thoughts, and what I have +to say can wait for a few hours. In the mean time, may I beg the +hospitality of your ranch for myself and my men?" + +Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Longorio saluted her fingers in +his customary manner, and then, with a look eloquent of things +unsaid, he went out to see to the comfort of his command. + +Alaire sank into the nearest chair, her nerves quivering, her mind +in a turmoil. This Mexican was detestable, and he was far from +being the mere maker of audaciously gallant speeches, the +poetically fervent wooer of every pretty woman, she had blindly +supposed him. His was no sham ardor; the man was hotly, horribly +in earnest. There had been a glint of madness in his eyes. And he +actually seemed to think that she shared his infatuation. It was +intolerable. Yet Longorio, she was sure, had an abundance of +discretion; he would not dare to offer her violence. He had pride, +too; and in his way he was something of a gentleman. So far, she +had avoided giving him offense. But if once she made plain to him +how utterly loathsome to her was his pursuit, she was sure that he +would cease to annoy her. Alaire was self-confident, strong- +willed; she took courage. + +Her thoughts turned from her fears to the amazing reality of her +widowhood. Even yet she could not wholly credit the fact that Ed's +wasted life had come to an end and that she was free to make the +most of her own. Alaire remembered her husband now with more +tenderness, more charity, than she would have believed possible, +and it seemed to her pitiful that one so blessed with opportunity +should have worked such havoc with himself and with those near to +him. + +Doubtless it was all a part of some providential scheme, too blind +for her to solve. Perhaps, indeed, her own trials had been +designed to the end that her greater, truer love, when it did +come, would find her ripe, responsive, ready. As for this Mexican +general, she would put him in his place. + +Alaire was still walking the floor of her chamber when Dolores +entered, at dusk, to say that supper was ready and that General +Longorio was waiting. + +"Ask him to excuse me," she told her servant. + +But Longorio himself spoke from the next room, saying: "Senora, I +beg of you to honor me. I have much of importance to say, and time +presses. Control your grief and give me the pleasure of your +company." + +After an instant's consideration Alaire yielded. It was best to +have 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 still +extravagantly courteous, beautifully attentive; he maintained a +flow of conversation that relieved her of any effort, and yet he +displayed a repressed excitement that was disturbing. In his eyes +there was a gloating look of possession hard to endure. Despite +her icy formality, he appeared to be holding himself within the +bounds of propriety only by an effort of will, and she was not +surprised when, at the conclusion of the meal, he cast restraint +aside. + +She did not let him go far with his wooing before warning him: "I +won't listen to you. You are a man of taste; you must realize how +offensive this is." + +"Let us not deceive each other," he insisted. "We are alone. Let +us be honest. Do not ask me to put faith in your grief. I find my +excuse in the extraordinary nature of this situation." + +"Nothing can excuse indelicacy," she answered, evenly. "You +transgress the commonest rules of decency." + +But he was impatient. "What sentiment! You did not love your +husband. You were for years his prisoner. Through the bars of your +prison I saw and loved you. Dios! The first sight of your face +altered the current of my life. I saw heaven in your eyes, and I +have dreamed of nothing else ever since. Well, Providence opened +the doors and set you free; God gave heed to my prayers and +delivered you to me. Now you pretend to grieve at your +deliverance; you ask me to respect the memory of your jailer! +Decency? Delicacy? What are they except artificialities, which +vanish in times of stress? Alexander the Great, Caesar, Napoleon, +Porfirio Diaz--they were strong, purposeful men; they lived as I +live. Senora, you dally with love." + +Alaire's face was white with anger as she replied: "You cause me +to forget that you are my guest. Are you the man I considered you +or the man you are reported to be?" + +"Eh?" + +"Are you the gentleman, the friend, you pretended to be, or--the +vandal whom no woman can trust? You treat me as if you were my +jailer. What do you mean? What kind of man are you to take +advantage of my bereavement?" + +After a moment's consideration Longorio began haltingly: "I don't +know what kind of man I am, for you have changed me so. There was +a time--I--I have done things--I have scorned all restraint, all +laws except those of my desires, and so, perhaps, I am a vandal. +Make sure of this, however--I shall not injure you. Christ is no +more sacred to me than you, my heart's treasure. You accuse me of +indelicacy because I lack the strength to smother my admiration. I +adore you; my being dissolves, my veins are afire with longing for +you; 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 by +a dazzling light; I suffer agonies. But see! I refuse to touch +you. I am a giant in my restraint. The strength of heroes is mine, +and I strangle my impulses as they are born, although the effort +kills me. Senora, I await the moment of your voluntary surrender. +I wait for you." He extended his arms, and Alaire saw that his +olive features were distorted with emotion; that his hands, his +whole 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 you +something, if my tongue will frame the thoughts in my mind. My +passion is so deep and so sacred that I would not be content with +less than all of you. Your lips would not satisfy mine unless they +were hot with love, your kisses wet with desire. I must have you +all, and so I wait, trembling. I say this so badly that I doubt if +you understand. Listen, then: to possess you by force would be-- +well, as if I sacked a cathedral of its golden images and expected +to gain heaven by clutching the Madonna in my arms. Senora, in you +I see the priceless jewel of my life, which I shall wear to dazzle +the world, and without which I shall destroy myself. Now let me +tell you what I can offer you, what setting I can build for this +treasure. Marriage with Luis Longorio--" + +Alaire could not control a start. + +As if quickened by his intensity, the man read her thought. "You +did 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 meant +a moment ago. That is why you refuse my embraces. No, no! Other +women have feared me and I have laughed in their hair as they tore +at my arms, but you--you will be my wife, and all Mexico shall bow +at your feet." He checked her denial with a gesture. "Wait until I +tell you the vision I have seen during these days of my despair. I +see Mexico made whole by my hands; a land of peace and plenty; a +people with one name upon their lips--the name of Longorio the +Deliverer; and you as the first lady of them all. You know me for +a 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-handed +bandit of no culture. Candeleria, his chief? The idol of the +ignorant and a dreamer of no force. Potosi? He is President today, +but what of tomorrow? Those who surround him are weaklings, and he +stumbles toward oblivion. Who will succeed him? Who will issue +from the coming struggle as the dominant figure of Mexico? Who but +that military genius who checks the Yankee hordes and saves the +fatherland? I am he. Fate points the path of glory and I am her +man 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 the +richest woman in the world. Senora, I offer you dominion. I offer +you the President's palace and Chapultepec. And with all that I +offer you such passionate love as no woman of history ever +possessed. + +He paused, spent by the force of his own intensity; it was plain +that he expected an immediate surrender. + +Alaire's lips parted in the faintest of mocking smiles. "You have +great 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 he +could 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 I +see. Your modesty forbids you to acknowledge your love--is that +it? Well, I know that you admire me, for I can see it. All women +admire me, and they all end by loving me." His chest arched +imperceptibly; with a slender finger he delicately smoothed his +black eyebrows. Alaire felt a wild impulse to laugh, but was glad +she had subdued it when he continued: "I am impetuous, but +impetuosity has made me what I am. I act, and then mold fate to +suit my own ends. Opportunity has delivered to me my heart's +desire, and I will not be cheated out of it. Among the men I +brought with me to La Feria is a priest. He is dirty, for I caught +him as he was fleeing toward the border; but he is a priest, and +he 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 this +evening. I cannot waste more time here, for necessity calls me +away. You shall go as my wife." + +"Do you think I would remarry on the very day I find myself a +widow?" + +"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 had +more time I could afford to wait." He ogled her with his luminous +gaze. "I would let you play with me to your heart's content and +exercise your power until you tired and were ready to surrender." + +Alaire raised her head proudly, her nostrils dilated, her eyes +ablaze with hostility. "This is very humiliating, but you force me +to tell you that I hate you." + +Longorio was incredulous rather than offended. He drew himself up +to his full height and smiled, saying, "That is impossible." Then, +ignoring her impatience: "Come! You cannot deceive me. The priest +is waiting." + +When Alaire spoke next it was with an expression and with a tone +of such loathing that his yellow face paled "Your conceit is +insufferable," 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! You +have 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 real +Longorio speaks." + +He flung up his hands as if to ward off her fury. "No? Have I not +made myself clear? I shall embrace you only with the arms of a +husband, for this is not the passion of a moment, but of a +lifetime, and I have myself to consider. The wife of Mexico's next +President must be above reproach; there must be no scandal, no +secrets hidden away for enemies to unearth. She must stand before +the 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 he +intercepted her, saying: "You cannot hold me at bay. It is +destiny. You shall be mine tonight. Think a moment! We are alone +in the heart of a country lacking in every law but mine. Your +friends do not know where you are, and, even if they knew, they +could not help you. Your nation's protest would avail nothing. +Outside of these walls are enemies who will not let you leave this +house 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. In +God's name have I not waited long enough? My strength is gone." +Impulsively he half encircled her with his thin arms, but she +seemed armored with ice, and he dropped them. She could hear him +grind his teeth. "I dare not lay hands upon you," he chattered. +"Angel of my dreams, I am faint with longing. To love you and yet +to be denied; to feel myself aflame and yet to see you cold; to be +halted at the very doors of Paradise! What torture!" + +The fellow's self-control in the midst of his frenzy frightened +Alaire more than did his wildest avowals; it was in something of a +panic that she said: + +"One moment you tell me I am safe, the next you threaten me. You +say 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 he +was halted by a woman's shriek which issued from somewhere inside +the house. It was repeated. There was an outburst in a masculine +voice, then the patter of footsteps approaching down the tiled +hallway. Dolores burst into her mistress's presence, her face +blanched, her hair disordered. She flung herself into Alaire's +arms, 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 like +this:"' + +"A man--See I One of those dirty peladors. Look where he tore my +dress! I warned him, but he was like a tiger. Benito will kill me +when he learns--" + +"Calm yourself. Speak sensibly. Tell me what happened." + +"One of those miserable soldiers who came today--pig!" Dolores was +shaking, her voice was shrill. "He followed me. He has been +drinking. He followed me about like a cat, purring and grinning +and saying the most horrible things. Just now, when I went to your +room, he was waiting in the darkness and he seized me. God! It was +dreadful." + +"A soldier? One of my men?" Longorio was incredulous. + +Alaire turned upon him with a blazing anger in her face. "Is this +more of your protection?" she stormed. "I give you and your men +the freedom of my ranch, and you insult me while they assault my +women." + +He ignored her accusation, inquiring of the elder woman, "Who was +the fellow?" + +"How do I know," Dolores sobbed. "He is a--a thick, black fellow +with 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 the +wooden shutters of a window and, leaning far out, whistled sharply +on 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 me +black Felipe, the fellow with the torn lip. Quick!" + +"Yes, general," came the voice; then the metallic rattle of spurs +and accoutrements as the sentry trotted away. + +Dolores had completely broken down now, and Alaire was trying to +comfort her. Their guest remained by the window, frowning. After a +time there sounded a murmur of voices, then a shuffling of feet in +the hall; Alaire's friend, the old lieutenant, appeared in the +doorway, saluting. Behind him were several others. + +"Here is Felipe," he announced. + +"Bring him in." + +A sullen, frowning man in soiled uniform was pushed forward, and +Dolores 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 transfixed +his trooper with a stare; then, as the latter seemed bereft of his +voice, "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." He +grinned at his comrades, who had crowded in behind old Pancho. + +"So! Let us go outside and learn more about this." Longorio waved +his men before him and followed them out of the room and down the +hall and into the night. + +When a moment or two had dragged past, Dolores quavered. "What are +they going to do with him?" + +"I don't know. Anyhow, you need not fear--" + +There sounded the report of a gunshot, deadened indeed by the +thick adobe walls of the house, yet sudden and loud enough to +startle the women. + +When Longorio reappeared he found Alaire standing stiff and white +against the wall, with Dolores kneeling, her face still buried in +her mistress's gown. + +"Give yourself no concern," he told them, quickly. "I beg a +thousand 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 to +be firm. Now your woman is badly frightened. Send her away so that +we 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. Very +well! My affairs will have to wait. Take a few hours to think over +what I have told you. When you have slept you will feel +differently about me. You will meet me with a smile, eh?" He +beamed hopefully. + +"Sleep? You expect me to sleep?" + +"Please," he begged. "Beauty is like a delicate flower, and sleep +is the dew that freshens it. Believe me, you can rest in all +security, for no one can come or go without my consent. You are +cruel to postpone my delight; nevertheless, I yield to your +feelings. But, star of my life, I shall dream of you, and of that +little priest who waits with the key of Paradise in his hands." + +He bowed over Alaire's cold fingers, then stood erect until she +and Dolores had gone. + + + + +XXIX + +THE PRIEST FROM MONCLOVA + + +That was a night of terror for the women. Although Longorio's +discipline was in some ways strict, in others it was extremely +lax. From some quarter his men had secured a supply of mescal, +and, forgetful of Felipe's unhappy fate, they rendered the hours +hideous. There were singing and quarreling, and a shot or two +sounded from the direction of the outbuildings. Morning found both +Alaire and Dolores sadly overwrought. But they felt some relief +upon learning that the general had been unexpectedly summoned from +his bed at daylight, and had ridden to the telegraph office. + +Profiting by his absence, Alaire ventured from her room, racking +her brain to devise some means of escape. But soldiers were +everywhere; they lolled around the servants' quarters; they dozed +in the shade of the ranch buildings, recovering from the night's +debauch; and an armed sentinel who paced the hacienda road gave +evidence that, despite their apparent carelessness, they had by no +means relaxed their vigilance. A round of the premises convinced +Alaire that the place was effectually guarded, and showed her the +futility of trying to slip away. She realized, too, that even if +she managed to do so, her plight would be little better. For how +could she hope to cover the hundred miles between La Feria and the +Rio Grande when every peon was an enemy? + +She was standing in one of the open, sashless windows when her +former protector, the old lieutenant, bade her good morning and +paused to smoke a cigarette. + +"Well, it was a great night, wasn't it?" he began. "And we have +great 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 of +Washington is a fine city, and very rich, is it not?" + +"Oh yes." + +"It's full of loot, eh? Especially the President's palace? That is +good. 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 soldiers +march upon Mexico City, it would be a brilliant piece of strategy +for General Longorio to invade the United States, would it not? It +would be funny to capture Washington and hold your President for +ransom, eh?" + +"Very funny," Alaire agreed, dryly. "How would you go about it?" + +Pancho shrugged. "That is the trouble. We would have to march +around Texas, I presume." + +"Around Texas?" + +"Yes. You see, Texas is a bad country; it is full of--barbarians +who know how to fight. If it were not for Texas we would have the +United States at our mercy." After some consideration he ventured +this opinion: "We could afford to pay the Texans for allowing us +to ride through their country, provided we stole nothing and paid +for 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! General +Longorio is going to marry you. We all got drunk last night to +celebrate the wedding. Yes, and the priest is waiting." + +"I will make you rich." + +"Ho! I wouldn't live to spend a single peso. Felipe disobeyed +orders, and the general shot him before he could cross himself. +Boom! The poor fellow was in hell in a minute. No. We will all be +rich 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 the +young fellows, and prepare for my old age." + +Seeing that she could not enlist Pancho's aid, Alaire begged him +to fetch the priest. + +"You wish spiritual comfort, senora?" + +"Perhaps." + +"Well, he doesn't look like much of a priest, but probably he will +do. As for me, I don't believe in such things. Churches are all +very well for ignorant people, but we Mexicans are too +intelligent; we are making an end of them." + +The priest was a small, white-haired man with a gentle, almost +timid face, and at the moment when he appeared before Alaire he +was in anything but a happy frame of mind. He had undergone, he +told her, a terrible experience. His name was O'Malley. He had +come from Monclova, whence the Rebels had banished him under +threat of death. He had seen his church despoiled of its +valuables, his school closed; he himself had managed to escape +only by a miracle. During his flight toward the border he had +suffered every indignity, and finally Longorio had intercepted him +and brought him here, practically in chains. + +"What a situation! What chaos!" he lamented. "The land is overrun +with bandits; there is no law, no authority, no faith; religion is +made a mockery. The men are becoming infidels and atheists, and in +many places they will not allow us to give comfort even to their +women." + +"Is it as bad as that?" + +Father O'Malley shook his head sadly. "You've no idea. What do you +think of a people who forbid the mention of God's name in their +schools? That is what the revolutionists are doing. Candeleria +claims that the churches are the property of the State. He +confiscates them, and he charges admission. He has banished all +except a few of us priests, and has shamefully persecuted our +Sisters of Mercy. Oh, the outrages! Mexico is, today, the blackest +spot on the map of Christendom." His voice broke. "That is the +freedom, 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 his +prisoner, to solemnize an unholy marriage! He treats me like a +dog. Last night I slept in a filthy hovel--" + +"Oh! I'm sorry," Alaire exclaimed. "But I'm half crazed with my +own troubles. You must come into the house; the best I have is +yours. You shall be as much my guest as I can make you, and-- +perhaps you will help me to escape." "Escape?" The little man +smiled mournfully. "You are watched and guarded, and so am I. Even +if you got away from here, what then? You can't imagine the +condition 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 are +war times; the man is a fiend, and he puts no restraint upon his +desires. If he is madly bent on having you, how can you prevent +it? In normal times he would not dare injure one so prominent as +you, but now--" Father O'Malley lifted his hands. "I only wonder +that he suggests a lawful marriage. Suppose you refuse? Will he +not sacrifice you to his passions? He has done worse things." +After a moment's consideration he said: "Of course it is possible +that I misjudge him. Anyhow, if you desire me to do so I will +refuse to perform the ceremony. But--I'm afraid it will just mean +ruin for both of us." + +"Surely he wouldn't harm you?" + +The Father shrugged. "What am I? An obscure priest. Many of my +brothers are buried in Mexico. However, I shall do as you wish." + +As the day wore on Alaire realized even more clearly the fact that +she was Longorio's prisoner. His men, in spite of their recent +debauch, kept a very good watch over her, and it was plain that +they would obey his orders, no matter how extreme. It occurred to +her finally that he was staying away purposely, in order to give +her a fuller appreciation of her position--so that she might beat +her 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 positive +trial. + +Half distracted, Alaire roamed through the house, awaiting her +captor's coming, steeling herself for their final battle. But the +delay was trying; she longed for the crisis to come, that this +intolerable suspense might be ended. At such an hour her thoughts +naturally turned to Dave Law, and she found herself yearning for +him with a yearning utterly new. His love had supported her +through those miserable days at Las Palmas, but now it was a +torture; she called his name wildly, passionately. He knew her +whereabouts and her peril--why did he not come? Then, more calmly, +she asked herself what he, or what any one, could do for her. How +could she look for succor when two nations were at war? + +Night had come before she finally gave up and acknowledged the +hopelessness of her situation. She had fought bravely, but with +darkness her fears grew blacker. She was on the verge of her first +breakdown when, in the early dusk outside, she heard voices and +the stamping of horses' hoofs. The sounds were muffled by the +heavy wooden shutters she had taken pains to close and bar, but +they told her that Longorio had returned. Since it was futile to +deny him entrance, she waited where she was. Old Pancho's voice +sounded outside; then there came a knock upon the door of the room +in 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 on +important 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 strode +swiftly into the lamplight. He paused, blinking as if momentarily +blinded, and Alaire clutched at the nearest chair for support. A +roaring began in her ears; she felt herself sway forward as if the +strength had left her knees. She heard Dave's voice faintly; he +was saying: + +"Take care of my horse. Feed and water her well. Understand? When +General Longorio comes tell him I am waiting here." + +As if in a dream, Alaire saw the Mexican go out, closing the door +behind him. Then she saw Dave come toward her, heard him speak her +name, felt his arms around her. + +Alaire did not swoon, but she never could remember very distinctly +those first few moments. Scarcely knowing what she did, she found +herself clinging to her lover, laughing, weeping, feeling him over +with shaking hands that would not be convinced of his reality. She +was aware of his kisses upon her lips, her eyes, her hair; he was +saying something which she could not understand because of that +roaring in her ears. + +"You heard me calling," she told him at last. "Oh, I was--so +frightened!" She clung closer to him. After a time she discovered +that she was mechanically nodding and shaking her head at the +questions he was putting to her, but had only the vaguest idea +what they were. By and by she began to tell him about Longorio, +speaking in a sort of hypnotic murmur, as if her words issued at +his mental suggestion. And all the time she snuggled against his +breast. + +"Dearest!" Dave held her away in gentle hands. "I was afraid you'd +go to pieces like this, but I had to break through the best way I +could. I learned you were here and something about what was going +on from the people at the next ranch. But I expected to find HIM +here, too." + +"How did you manage to get here?" + +"I hardly know. I just wouldn't let 'em stop me. This lieutenant +wouldn't let me in until I told him I was from Monterey with +important news. I don't remember all I did tell him. I tried to +get here last night, but I had trouble. They caught me, and I had +to buy my way through. I've bribed and bullied and lied clear from +Romero. I reckon they couldn't imagine I'd risk being here if I +wasn't a friend." + +It was more Dave's tone than his words that roused Alaire to an +appreciation of what he said. + +"Are you alone?" she asked, in vague dismay. "Then what are we +going 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 realized +that it was very haggard, very old and tired. "They lifted my +guns--a bunch of fellows at the Rio Negro crossing. Some of them +were drunk and wouldn't believe I was an amigo. So I finally had +to ride for it." + +"Can't you take me away?" she asked, faintly. "What will you do +when--he comes?" + +"I reckon I'll manage him somehow." His grip upon her tightened +painfully, and she could feel him tremble. "I was afraid I +wouldn't find you. I--O God, Alaire!" He buried his face in her +hair. + +"I had a terrible scene with him last night. He insists upon +marrying 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 did +you learn?" + +"From Jose. I caught him within an hour of the murder, and made +him tell me everything." + +Alaire's eyes dilated; she held herself away, saying, +breathlessly: "Murder! Is that what it was? He--Longorio--told me +something 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 again +quickly, however, and her cheeks were white. "Then he won't spare +you, Dave." She choked for an instant. "We must get away before he +comes. There must be some way of escape. Think!" + +"I'm pretty tired to think. I'm pretty near played out," he +confessed. + +"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 together +as if in the labor of concentration. When she lifted her lids her +eyes were alight, her voice was eager. "I know how. I see it. He +won'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 it +open, called down the hall: + +"Father! Father O'Malley! Quick!" Then she summoned Dolores. + +The priest answered; he hurried from his room and, with a dazed +lack of comprehension, acknowledged his swift introduction to +Dave. Alaire was keenly alive and vibrant with purpose now. +Dolores, too, came running, and while the men were exchanging +greetings her mistress murmured something in her ear, then +hastened 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," he +expostulated. + +"Nor I," echoed Dave. + +"You don't need to understand. I know what I'm doing. I've thought +of a way to save us all." + +Through Dave's mind flashed the memory of that thing which had +haunted him and made his life a nightmare. An incoherent refusal +was upon his lips, but Alaire's face besought him; it was shining +with a strange, new ecstasy, and he could not bring himself to +deny 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 were +trapped. This might serve, somehow, to cheat Longorio, and--Alaire +would 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 three +black-haired, black-shawled house servants, bundling them through +the door and ranging them along the wall. + +Father O'Malley's face was puckered; he said, hesitatingly: "My +dear madam, this isn't regular; you are not Catholics. How can I +bless you?" + +"You can marry us legally, just the same, can't you?" Alaire was +breathing rapidly, and some part of her eagerness began to thrill +her hearers. + +"Oh yes, but--" + +"Then marry us. And make haste, please! Please!" + +Law nodded. He could not speak, for his mouth was dry. A voice +within him shouted a warning, but he would not listen. His heart +was beating violently; his temples were pounding; all the blood of +his body seemed centered in his head. + +Before the eyes of the four wondering women Father O'Malley +married them. It seemed to Alaire that he would never reach the +end, 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 signified +their 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 I +think he means it. He is amazingly egotistical. He has tremendous +ambitions. He thinks this war is his great opportunity, and he +means to be President--he's sure of it. He loves me, but he loves +himself better, I'm sure. Now, don't you see? He'll have to choose +one or the other." + +Father O'Malley did not appear to appreciate the full force of +this reasoning. "My dear," he said, gravely, "he can make you a +widow 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 go +quickly, before it's known what we've done." + +Dave stared at her in bewilderment. "I? I go, and--leave you?" He +seemed 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 he +finds you're gone and he can't lay hands on you, what can he do +but 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, his +head 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 THEM +out of the way. With Dave gone I'll be safe. He can't ignore our +marriage. But otherwise--There's no telling what he may do. Why, +he'll kill you, Dave, as he killed Ed." She upturned a face +eloquent with pleading. "Won't you do this for me?" + +"No!" Law declared, firmly. "You wouldn't ask it if you were in +your senses. Get me a gun and I'll shoot my way out. We'll go +until they stop us. But don't ask me to leave you." + +She searched his face eagerly, piteously, then with a quivering +sigh 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 understand +that it was he who effected the death of--Mr. Austin?" + +Dave recounted as coherently as he could the circumstances of Ed's +death, and told how he had learned, through Jose, of Longorio's +intentions. As the priest listened a spot of color grew in his +cheeks, his eyes glowed with indignation. He was about to make +known what was in his mind when Alaire raised her hand and in a +strained whisper exclaimed: + +"'Sh-h! Listen!" + +The heavy door of the hacienda creaked, a quick tread sounded on +the tiles, the door to the living-room was flung open, and +Longorio entered. He was hot and dusty from his ride, but with a +lover's impetuosity he had made straight for this lighted room. + +For the briefest instant he balanced himself just inside the +portal, and the smile remained fixed upon his lips. Then his eyes +became ringed with white and he made a swift, catlike movement of +retreat. 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 heard +you ride up, sir, so I ran to tell you about this fellow." + +But the general cut him short. "Call your men, quick," he cried in +a voice that sent the soldier leaping back into the night. + +Alaire was clinging to Dave, merely clutching him the tighter when +he tried to unclasp her hold. Her movement into the shelter of his +rival's arms infuriated Longorio, who uttered an exclamation and +fumbled uncertainly with his holster. But his fingers were clumsy. +He could not take his eyes from the pair, and he seemed upon the +point of rushing forward to tear them apart. + +"Don't touch her! Don't--" he began, cursing in a high-pitched +voice. "God! What a reckoning!" Then he stamped his feet, he wrung +his hands, he called shrilly at the top of his voice: "Lieutenant! +Ho, Pancho! You fellows! Quickly!" Under the stress of his +excitement the feminine side of his character betrayed itself. + +Alaire felt her newly made husband gather himself for a spring; he +was muttering to her to release him; he was trying to push her +aside, but she held fast with the strength of desperation. + +"You can't harm us," she declared, flinging her words defiantly at +the Mexican. "You dare not. You are too late. Father O'Malley has +just married us." + +Longorio uttered a peculiar, wordless cry of dismay; his mouth +fell open; his arms dropped; he went limp all over, paralyzed +momentarily by surprise and horror; his eyes protruded; he swayed +as if his sight had blurred. + +"I said I'd never marry you," she rushed on, vibrantly. "This is +the man I love--the only man. Yes, and I've learned the truth +about 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. He +waved 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 care +what you do, Longorio. I have married these people, and you can't +undo what I have done. We are American citizens. The laws of +civilization protect us." + +The Mexican fought for his voice, then stammered: "You are my +priest; I brought you here. I offered to marry her. Now--you force +me to damn my soul." Turning his eyes wildly upon Alaire, he +shouted: "Too late, eh? You say I am too late! It seems that I am +barely in time." + +Dave added his words to the others: "You are ten to one, but you +can't have her," he cried, defiantly. "Jose Sanchez confessed to +the murder of Mr. Austin, and told how you had got Mrs. Austin to +come here. The whole thing is known in Washington and Mexico City +by this time. The newspapers have it; everybody knows you are +keeping her as your prisoner, and that I have come for her. If she +is harmed, all Mexico, all the world, will know that you are worse +than a murderer." + +Longorio reached behind his back and slammed the door in the faces +of 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 in +his face and made a quick decision. "There's a limit to what you +dare to do, Longorio. I'm unarmed; I make no resistance, so there +is no excuse for violence. I surrender to you, and claim +protection 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 the +doorknob, but before he could turn it the Catholic priest had him +by the arm, and with a strength surprising in one of his stature +wrenched him away. Father O'Malley's face was white and terrible; +his voice was deep, menacing; the hand he raised above Longorio +seemed to brandish a weapon. + +"Stop!" he thundered. "Are you a madman? Destruction hangs over +you; destruction of body and soul. You dare not separate those +whom God hath joined." + +"God! God!" the other shrilled. "I don't believe in Him. I am a +god; I know of no other." + +"Blasphemer!" roared the little man. "Listen, then. So surely as +you harm these people, so surely do you kill your earthly +prospects. You, the first man of Mexico, the Dictator indeed! +Think what you are doing before it is too late. Is your dream of +greatness only a dream? Will you sacrifice yourself and all your +aspirations in the heat of this unholy and impossible passion? +Tonight, now, you must choose whether you will be famous or +infamous, glorious or shameful, honored or dishonored! Restrain +your hatred and conquer your lust, or forego for ever your dreams +of empire and pass into oblivion." + +"You are a meddler," Longorio stormed. "You make a loud noise, but +I shall rid Mexico of your kind. We shall have no more of you +priests." + +Father O'Malley shook the speaker as a parent shakes an unruly +child. "See! You have completely lost your head. But I want you to +listen to what I am saying. Whether you are more good than evil, +God must judge, but the people of Mexico are good people, and they +will not be ruled by a man who is wholly bad. You have the power +to remove this man and this woman, yes, and this priest who dares +to point out the pit at your feet; but if you do you will never +command another Mexican army. There is no war. We are not your +enemies. The world knows we are here, and it holds you accountable +for our safety. To-morrow you will have to face the reckoning." + +Longorio listened. It was plain that he recognized the truth of +O'Malley's words, but he was convulsed with rage. + +"Good!" he cried. "I see my dreams dissolve, but I am not the +first great man to trade an empire for a woman. Antony, the Roman +general, laid his honor in a woman's arms. I had a shining +destiny, but Mexico will be the sufferer by my betrayal. Instead +of 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. I +have something more to say to you." He flung open the door into +the hall and, taking the general by the arm, fairly dragged him +from the room and into the one opposite. The lieutenant and his +men looked on in amazement, shuffling their feet and shifting +their 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 cast +his eyes desperately over the room, conscious all the time that he +was being watched with suspicion by the men outside. He stirred +restlessly and moistened his lips. "Longorio would be crazy to +injure you." + +Ten minutes passed; fifteen. Alaire leaned, motionless, against +the table; Dave paced about, followed by the eyes of the soldiers. +One of the latter struck a match, and in the silence it sounded +like a gunshot. Dave started, at which the soldiers laughed. They +began to talk in murmurs. The odor of cigarette smoke drifted in +to the man and the woman. + +Finally the door through which Father O'Malley and Longorio had +passed opened, and the priest emerged. He was alone. His face was +flushed and damp; his eyes were glowing. He forced the Mexicans +out of his way and, entering the living-room, closed the door +behind him. + +"Well?" his two friends questioned, anxiously. + +"I've done all I can. The rest is out of our hands." The little +man 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, so +distracted." + +"Then he is wavering. Oh-h!" Alaire clasped her hands in +thanksgiving, but the Father cautioned her: + +"Don't be too sanguine. He is not afraid of consequences. He +appears to have no conscience. He is without mercy and seems lost +to shame. I have never met a man quite like him. Do you know what +he feels at this moment? Chagrin. Yes, mortification raised to the +highest pitch, and a sort of stupefaction that you should prefer +another 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 to +appeal 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 a +flash I saw the man's soul laid bare before me, and--I think I +played upon it with some cunning. I don't remember all I said, for +I 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 fact +that the world knows we are here and that it trusts him. He +aspires to the Presidency; he believes he is destined to be +Mexico's Dictator; so I painted a picture that surpassed his own +imaginings. He would have been suspicious of mere flattery, so I +went far beyond that and inflamed him with such extravagant +visions as only a child or an unblushing egotist like him could +accept. I swelled his vanity; I inflated his conceit. For a +moment, at least, I lifted him out of himself and raised him to +the heights." + +From beyond the closed door came Longorio's voice, issuing some +command to his men. A moment passed; then he appeared before the +three Americans. He seemed taller, thinner, more erect and +hawklike than ever. His head was held more proudly and his chest +was fuller. A set, disdainful smile was graven upon his face. + +He began by addressing his words directly to Alaire. "Senora," he +said, "I am a man of deep feeling and I scorn deceit. Therefore I +offer no apology for my recent display of emotion. If I have +seemed to press my advances with undue fervor, it is because, at +heart, I am as great a lover as I am a statesman or a soldier. But +there are other things than love. Nature constituted me a leader, +and he who climbs high must climb alone. I offered Chapultepec as +a shrine for your beauty. I offered to share Mexico with you, and +I 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 voice +throbbed with a sudden fierce desire, and his long, lean hands +closed convulsively. "You must realize that I have the courage and +the power to defy the world, eh?" He seemed to challenge denial of +this statement, but, receiving none, he went on, fixing his +brilliant, feverish eyes once more upon Alaire. "As a man of +sentiment I am unique; I am different from any you have ever +known. I would not possess a flower without its fragrance. You did +not 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 no +patriot in history ever made a more splendid sacrifice for his +country than I make now. Some day the world will wonder how I had +the 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. "I +have ordered your horses to be saddled." + +Dave, who had with difficulty restrained his anger at the fellow's +bombast, was upon the point of speaking when Father O'Malley took +the words out of his mouth: + +"Would you send this woman out of her own house into a country +like--like this? Remember the fortune in cattle you have already +taken--" + +Longorio broke in with a snarl: "Is it my fault that the country +is in arms? Military necessity compels me to remain here. I +consider myself magnanimous. I--" His voice cracked, and he made a +despairing, violent gesture. "Go, before I change my mind." + +Dave signaled to the others, and Alaire slipped away to make +herself ready. During the uncomfortable silence which succeeded +her departure, Longorio paced the room, keeping his eyes +resolutely 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 and +unclasping his fists behind his back. + +With the sound of hoofs outside, Alaire and Dolores appeared, and +the Mexican straightened himself with an effort. + +"Adios, senora!" he said, with a stiff bow. "We have had a +pleasant friendship and a thrilling flirtation, eh? I shall never +cease to regret that Fate interrupted at such an interesting +moment. Adios! Adios!" He bowed formally, in turn to Dave and to +the priest, then resumed his pacing, with his hands at his back +and his brow furrowed as if in a struggle with affairs of greater +moment than this. + +But when he heard the outside door creak shut behind them his +indifference vanished and he halted with head turned in an effort +to catch the last sounds of their departure. His face was like +tallow now, his lips were drawn back from his teeth as if in +supreme agony. A moment and the hoofbeats had died away. Then +Longorio slipped his leash. + +He uttered a cry--a hoarse, half-strangled shriek that tore his +throat. He plucked the collar from his neck as if it choked him; +he beat his breast. Seizing whatever article his eye fell upon, he +tore and crushed it; he swept the table clean of its queer Spanish +bric-a-brac, and trampled the litter under his heels. Spying a +painting of a saint upon the wall, he ran to it, ripped it from +its nail, and, raising it over his head, smashed frame and glass, +cursing all saints, all priests, and churchly people. Havoc +followed him as he raged about the place wreaking his fury upon +inanimate objects. When he had well-nigh wrecked the contents of +the room, and when his first paroxysm had spent its violence, he +hurled himself into a chair, writhing in agony. He bit his wrists, +he pounded his fists, he kicked; finally he sprawled full length +upon the floor, clawing at the cool, smooth tiles until his nails +bled. + +"Christ! O Christ!" he screamed. + +The sound of his blasphemies reached the little group of soldiers +who had lingered curiously outside, and they listened open- +mouthed. One by one they crossed themselves and stole away into +the darkness, muttering. + + + + +XXXI + +A SPANISH WILL + + +With a singing heart Alaire rode through the night at her +husband's side. The strain of the last few hours had been so +intense, the relief at her deliverance so keen, that now she felt +curiously weak, and she kept close to Dave, comforted by his +nearness and secure in the knowledge of his strength. + +Although he was unusually taciturn and rode with his chin upon his +breast, 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, and +not infrequently he dozed for a moment or two in his saddle. Yet +it was not this which stilled his tongue, but a growing sense of +guilt and dismay at what he had brought upon himself. In a moment +of weakness he had done the very thing against which he had fought +so bitterly, and now he faced the consequences. How, when, where +could he find strength to undo his action? he asked himself. The +weight of this question bent his shoulders, paralyzed his wits. + +Some two hours out from La Feria the riders halted at a point +where the road dipped into a rocky stream-bed; then, as the horses +drank, Dolores voiced a thought that had troubled all of them. + +"If that bandit really means to spare us, why did he send us away +in the night, like this?" she asked. "I shall be surprised if we +are not assassinated before morning." + +"He must have meant it." Alaire spoke with a conviction she did +not entirely feel. "Father O'Malley aroused the finer side of his +nature." + +"Perhaps," agreed the priest. "Somewhere in him there is a fear of +God." + +But Dave was skeptical. "More likely a fear of the gringo +Government," said he. "Longorio is a four-flusher. When he +realized he was licked he tried to save his face by a grandstand +play. 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 one +of 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 moment +I saw you all my fears vanished. I was like a lost child who +suddenly sees her father; in your arms I felt perfectly safe, for +the first time in all my life, I think. I--I couldn't bear to go +on without you, after this." + +Dave found nothing to say; they rode along side by side for a time +in a great contentment that required no speech. Then Alaire asked: + +"Dear, have you considered how we--are going to explain our +marriage?" + +"Won't the circumstances explain it?" + +"Perhaps. And yet--It seems ages since I learned--what happened to +Ed, 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 secret +for the present. I promise not to--act like a husband." + +With a little reckless laugh she confessed, "I--I'm afraid I'll +find it difficult to be conventional." + +"My wife!" he cried in sharp agony. Leaning far out, he encircled +her with his arm; then, half lifting her from her saddle, he +crushed his lips to hers. It was his first display of emotion +since Father O'Malley had united them. + +There were few villages along the road they followed, and because +of the lateness of the hour all were dark, hence the party passed +through without exciting attention except from an occasional +wakeful dog. But as morning came and the east began to glow Dave +told 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 the +little man. "I'm famished, too." + +At the next rancho they came to they applied for shelter, but were +denied; in fact, the owner cursed them so roundly for being +Americans that they were glad to ride onward. A mile or two +farther along they met a cart the driver of which refused to +answer their greetings. As they passed out of his sight they saw +that he had halted his lean oxen and was staring after them +curiously. Later, when the sun was well up and the world had fully +awakened, they descried a mounted man, evidently a cowboy, riding +through the chaparral. He saw them, too, and came toward the road, +but after a brief scrutiny he whirled his horse and galloped off +through the cactus, shouting something over his shoulder. + +"This won't do," O'Malley declared, uneasily. "I don't like the +actions 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 this +elevation beheld ahead of them a small village of white houses +shining from the shelter of a grove. The rancheria was perhaps two +miles away, and galloping toward it was the vaquero who had +challenged them. + +"That's the Rio Negro crossing," Dave announced. Then spying a +little house squatting a short distance back from the road, he +said: "We'd better try yonder. If they turn us down we'll have to +take to the brush." + +O'Malley agreed. "Yes, and we have no time to lose. That horseman +is 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 through +cactus and sage to a gate, entering which they approached the +straw-thatched jacal they had seen. A naked boy baby watched them +draw near, then scuttled for shelter, piping an alarm. A man +appeared from somewhere, at sight of whom the priest rode forward +with a pleasant greeting. But the fellow was unfriendly. His wife, +too, emerged from the dwelling and joined her husband in warning +Father O'Malley away. + +"Let me try," Alaire begged, and spurred her horse up to the +group. She smiled down at the country people, saying: "We have +traveled a long way, and we're tired and hungry. Won't you give us +something 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. Rushing +forward, she took the edge of Alaire's skirt in her hands and +kissed 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 our +lives. On your knees, shameless one! It is she who delivered you +from the prison." + +Juan stared unbelievingly, then his face changed; his teeth +flashed 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 is +Inez," he declared. "Heaven bless you and forgive me." + +"Now I know you," Alaire laughed, and slipped down from her +saddle. "This is a happy meeting. So! You live here, and that was +little Juan who ran away as if we were going to eat him. Well, we +are hungry, but not hungry enough to devour Juanito." + +Turning to her companions, she explained the circumstances of her +first meeting with these good people, and as she talked the +Garcias broke in joyfully, adding their own account of her +goodness. + +"We've fallen among friends," Alaire told Dave and Father +O'Malley. "They will let us rest here, I am sure." + +Husband and wife agreed in one voice. In fact, they were overjoyed +at an opportunity of serving her; and little Juan, his suspicions +partially allayed, issued from hiding and waddled forward to take +part in the welcome. + +Shamefacedly the elder Garcia explained his inhospitable reception +of the travelers. "We hear the gringos are coming to kill us and +take our farms. Everybody is badly frightened. We are driving our +herds away and hiding what we can. Yesterday at the big Obispo +ranch our people shot two Americans and burned some of their +houses. They intend to kill all the Americans they find, so you'd +better be careful. Just now a fellow rode up shouting that you +were coming, but of course I didn't know--" + +"Yes, of course. We're trying to reach the border," Father +O'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 to +sleep?" Dave asked. His eyes were heavy; he had been almost +constantly in the saddle since leaving Jonesville, and now could +barely keep himself awake. + +"Trust me," the Mexican assured them, confidently. "If somebody +comes I'll send them away. Oh, I can lie with the best of them." + +The Garcias were not ordinary people, and they lived in rather +good circumstances for country folk. There were three rooms to +their little house, all of which were reasonably clean. The food +that 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 his +advances halfway he began, before long, to look upon her with +particular favor. Once they had thoroughly made friends, he +showered her with the most flattering attentions. His shyness, it +seemed, was but a pretense--at heart he was a bold and +enterprising fellow--and so, as a mark of his admiration, he +presented her with all his personal treasures. First he fetched +and laid in her lap a cigar-box wagon with wooden wheels-- +evidently the handiwork of his father. Then he gave her, one by +one, a highly prized blue bottle, a rusty Mexican spur, and the +ruins of what had been a splendid clasp knife. There were no +blades in the knife, but he showed her how to peep through a tiny +hole in the handle, where was concealed the picture of a dashing +Spanish bullfighter. The appreciation which these gifts evoked +intoxicated the little man and roused him to a very madness of +generosity. He pattered away and returned shortly, staggering and +grunting under the weight of another and a still greater offering. +It was a dog--a patient, hungry dog with very little hair. The +animal was alive with fleas--it scratched absent-mindedly with one +hind paw, even while Juanito strangled it against his naked +breast--but it was the apple of its owner's eye, and when Inez +unfeelingly banished it from the house Juanito began to squall +lustily. Nor could he be conciliated until Alaire took him upon +her knee and told him about another boy, of precisely his own age +and size, who planted a magic bean in his mother's dooryard, which +grew up and up until it reached clear to the sky, where a giant +lived. Juanito Garcia had never heard the like. He was spellbound +with 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 door +with a warning. + +"Conceal yourselves," he said, quickly. "Some of our neighbors are +coming this way." Inez led her guests into the bedchamber, a bare +room with a dirt floor, from the window of which they watched Juan +go to meet a group of horsemen. Inez went out, too, and joined in +the parley. Then, after a time, the riders galloped away. + +When Alaire, having watched the party out of sight, turned from +the window she found that Dave had collapsed upon a chair and was +sleeping, 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." With +the assistance of Dolores they succeeded in lifting Dave to the +bed, but he half roused himself. "Lie down, dear," Alaire told +him. "Close your eyes for a few minutes. We're safe now." + +"Somebody has to keep watch," he muttered, thickly, and tried to +fight 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 covered +with straw matting, Alaire folded the garment for a pillow; as she +did so a handful of soiled, frayed letters spilled out upon the +floor. + +"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 I +ought to tell you, but--I can't now--not now. Too sleepy." His +head drooped again; she forced him back; he stretched himself out +with a sigh, and was asleep almost instantly. + +Alaire motioned the others out of the room, then stood looking +down at the man into whose keeping she had given her life. As she +looked her face became radiant. Dave was unkempt, unshaven, dirty, +but to her he was of a godlike beauty, and the knowledge that he +was hers to comfort and guard was strangely thrilling. Her love +for Ed, even that first love of her girlhood, had been nothing +like this. How could it have been like this? she asked herself. +How could she have loved deeply when, at the time, her own nature +lacked depth? Experience had broadened her, and suffering had +uncovered depths in her being which nothing else had had the power +to uncover. Stooping, she kissed Dave softly, then let her cheek +rest against his. Her man! Her man! She found herself whispering +the words. + +Her eyes were wet, but there was a smile upon her lips when she +gathered up the letters which had dropped from her husband's +pocket. She wondered, with a little jealous twinge, who could be +writing to him. It seemed to her that she owned him now, and that +she could not bear to share him with any other. She studied the +inscriptions with a frown, noticing as she did so that several of +the envelopes were unopened--either Dave was careless about euch +things 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? Dave +had 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 ineffable +mysteries 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 which +Alaire had heard--but who was Maria Josefa Law? Alaire scanned the +sheets curiously, and on the reverse side of the last one +discovered 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 I +told you about. At the time of her death she was not possessed of +the property mentioned herein, and so the original document was +never filed for record, but came to me along with certain family +possessions of small value. It seems to contain the information +you desire. + +Y'rs aff'ly, + +FRANCISCO RAMIREZ. + +The will of Dave's mother! Then Maria Josefa Law was that poor +woman regarding whose tragic end Judge Ellsworth had spoken so +peculiarly. Alaire felt not a little curiosity to know more about +the mother of the man whose name she had taken. Accordingly, after +a moment of debate with herself, she sat down to translate the +instrument. Surely Dave would not object if she occupied herself +thus 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 nothing +formed it, and my body I order returned to earth, and which, as +soon as it shall become a corpse, it is my wish shall be shrouded +with a blue habit in resemblance to those used by the monks of our +Seraphic Father, St. Francis; to be interred with high mass, +without pomp-- + +Alaire mused with a certain reverent pleasure that Dave's mother +had been a devout woman. + +Second: I declare to have, in the possession of my husband, +Franklin Law, three horses, with splendid equipment of saddles and +bridles, which are to be sold and the proceeds applied to masses +for the benefit of my soul. I so declare, that it may appear. + +Third: I declare to owe to Mrs. Guillelmo Perez about twenty +dollars, to be ascertained by what she may have noted in her book +of accounts. So I declare, that this debt may be paid as I have +ordered. + +Fourth: In just remuneration for the services of my cousin, +Margarita Ramirez, I bequeath and donate a silver tray which +weighs one hundred ounces, seven breeding cows, and four fine +linen and lace tablecloths. So I declare, that it may appear. + +Fifth: I bequeath to my adopted son, David, offspring of the +unfortunate American woman who died in my house at Escovedo, the +share of land-- + +Alaire re-read this paragraph wonderingly, then let the document +fall into her lap. So Dave was an adopted son, and not actually +the child of this woman, Maria Josefa Law. She wondered if he knew +it, and, if so, why he hadn't told her? But, after all, what +difference did it make who or what he was? He was hers to love and +to comfort, hers to cherish and to serve. + +For a long time she sat gazing at him tenderly; then she tiptoed +out and delighted the naked Garcia baby by taking him in her arms +and hugging him. Inez thought the beautiful senora's voice was +like the music of birds. + +It was growing dark when Dave was awakened by cool hands upon his +face and by soft lips upon his. He opened his eyes to find Alaire +bending over him. + +"You must get up," she smiled. "It is nearly time to go, and Inez +is 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 so +for a while, whispering now and then, trying ineffectually to +voice 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 one +eye on you. I'm terribly selfish; I can't bear to lose one +minute." After a while she said: "I've made a discovery. Father +O'Malley snores dreadfully! Juanito never heard anything like it, +and it frightened him nearly to death. He says the Father must be +a very fierce man to growl so loudly. He says, too, that he likes +me much better than his mother." + +It seemed to Dave that the bliss of this awakening and the sweet +intimacy of this one moment more than rewarded him for all he had +gone through, and paid him for any unhappiness the future might +hold in store. + +He felt called upon to tell Alaire the truth about himself; but +with her in his arms he had no strength of purpose; her every +endearment made him the more aware of his weakness. Again he asked +himself when and how he could bear to tell her? Not now. Certainly +not now when she was trembling under his caresses. + +"I've been busy, too," she was saying. "I sent Juan to the village +to learn the news, and it's not very nice. It's good we stopped +here. He says Nuevo Pueblo has been destroyed, and the Federal +forces are all moving south, away from the border. So our troubles +aren'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 of +myself." + +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 of +unopened letters?" + +"Oh, those! They came just as I was leaving Jonesville, and I +haven't thought of them since. You know, I haven't had my clothes +off." + +"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 a +jealous 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 with +pain. + +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 are +you 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 expecting +this. It seems I've been carrying it around all this time--" + +"Why don't you read it?" she insisted. "There's light enough there +by the window. I supposed you knew all about it or I wouldn't have +joked with you." + +He opened his lips to speak, but, seeing something in her eyes, he +stepped to the window and read swiftly. A moment, and then he +uttered a cry. + +"Alaire!" he exclaimed, hoarsely. "Read this--My eyes--O God!" + +Wonderingly she took the sheets from his shaking hands and read +aloud the paragraph he indicated: Fifth: I bequeath to my adopted +son, David, offspring of the unfortunate American woman who died +in my house at Escovedo-- + +Again Dave cried out and knelt at Alaire's feet, his arms about +her knees, his face buried in her dress. His shoulders were +heaving and his whole body was racked with sobs. + +Shocked, frightened, Alaire tried to raise him, but he encircled +her in a tighter embrace. + +"Dave! What is it? What have I done?" she implored. "Have I hurt +you so?" + +It was a long time before he could make known the significance of +that paragraph, and when he finally managed to tell her about the +terrible fear that had lain so heavily upon his soul it was in +broken, choking words which showed his deep emotion. The story was +out at last, however, and he stood over her transfigured. + +Alaire lifted her arms and placed them upon his shoulders. "Were +you going to give me up for that?--for a shadow?" + +"Yes. I had made up my mind. I wouldn't have dared marry you last +night, but--I never expected to see today's sun. I didn't think it +would make much difference. It was more than a shadow, Alaire. It +was real. I WAS mad--stark, staring mad--or in a fair way of +becoming so. I suppose I brooded too much. Those violent spells, +those wild moments I sometimes have, made me think it must be +true. I dare say they are no more than temper, but they seemed to +prove 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. We +would have met it together when it came, just as we'll meet +everything now--you and I, together." + +"My wife!" He laid his lips against her hair. + +They were standing beside the window, speechless, oblivious to all +except their great love, when Dolores entered to tell them that +supper was ready and that the horses were saddled. + + + + +XXXII + +THE DAWN + + +Juan Garcia proved to be a good guide, and he saved the refugees +many miles on their road to the Rio Grande. But every farm and +every village was a menace, and at first they were forced to make +numerous detours. As the night grew older, however, they rode a +straighter course, urging their horses to the limit, hoping +against hope to reach the border before daylight overtook them. +This they might have done had it not been for Father O'Malley and +Dolores, who were unused to the saddle and unable to maintain the +pace Juan set for them. + +About midnight the party stopped on the crest of a flinty ridge to +give their horses breath and to estimate their progress. The night +was fine and clear; outlined against the sky were the stalks of +countless sotol-plants standing slim and bare, like the upright +lances 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 me +we'll never reach Romero by morning, at this rate," he said; and +Dave was forced to agree. "I think you and he and Alaire had +better go on and leave Dolores and me to follow as best we can." + +Dolores plaintively seconded this suggestion. "I would rather be +burned at the stake than suffer these agonies," she confessed. "My +bones are broken. The devil is in this horse. "She began to weep +softly. "Go, senora. Save yourself! It is my accursed fat stomach +that hinders me. Tell Benito that I perished breathing his name, +and see to it, when he remarries, that he retains none of my +treasures." + +Alaire reassured her by saying: "We won't leave you. Be brave and +make the best of it." + +"Yes, grit your teeth and hold on," Dave echoed. "We'll manage to +make it somehow." + +But progress was far slower than it should have been, and the +elder woman continued to lag behind, voicing her distress in +groans and lamentations. The priest, who was made of sterner +stuff, did his best to bear his tortures cheerfully. + +In spite of their efforts the first rosy heralds of dawn +discovered them still a long way from the river and just entering +a more thickly settled country. Daylight came swiftly, and Juan +finally gave them warning. + +"We can't go on; the danger is too great," he told them. "If the +soldiers are still in Romero, what then?" + +"Have you no friends hereabouts who would take us in?" Dave +inquired. + +The Mexican shook his head. + +Dave considered for a moment. "You must hide here," he told his +companions, "while I ride on to Romero and see what can be done. I +suspect Blanco's troops have left, and in that case everything +will be all right." + +"Suppose they haven't?" Alaire inquired. All night she had been in +the lightest of moods, and had steadily refused to take their +perils seriously. Now her smile chased the frown from her +husband's face. + +"Well, perhaps I'll have breakfast with them," he laughed. + +"Silly. I won't let you go," she told him, firmly; and, reading +the expression in her face, he felt a dizzy wonder. "We'll find a +nice secluded spot; then we'll sit down and wait for night to +come. We'll pretend we're having a picnic." + +Dolores sighed at the suggestion. "That would be heaven, but there +can 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 very +soldiers now! See!" + +Far away, but evidently approaching at a smart gait, was a body of +mounted 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 he +took Juan's Winchester, saying: "Ride in a little way farther and +wait. I'm going back. If you hear me shoot, break for the river. +Ride hard and keep under cover as much as possible." Before they +could remonstrate he had wheeled Montrosa and was gone. + +This was luck, he told himself. Ten miles more and they would have +been safe, for the Rio Grande is not a difficult river either to +ford or to swim. He dismounted and made his way on foot to a point +where he could command a view, but he had barely established +himself when he found Alaire at his side. + +"Go back," he told her. But she would not, and so they waited +together. + +There were perhaps a dozen men in the approaching squad, and Dave +saw that they were heavily accoutred. They rode fast, too, and at +their head galloped a large man under a wide-brimmed felt hat. It +soon became evident that the soldiers were not uniformed. +Therefore, Dave reasoned, they were not Federals, but more +probably some Rebel scouting band from the south, and yet--He +rubbed his eyes and stared again. + +Dave pressed forward eagerly, incredulously; the next instant he +had broken cover with a shout. Alaire was at his side, clapping +her hands and laughing with excitement + +The cavalcade halted; the big man tumbled from his saddle and came +straddling through the high grass, waving his hat and yelling. + +"Blaze! You old scoundrel!" Dave cried, and seized one of the +ranchman's palms while Alaire shook the other. + +"Say! We're right glad to see you-all," Jones exclaimed. "We +reckoned you might be havin' a sort of unpleasantness with +Longorio, so we organized up and came to get you." + +The other horsemen were crowding close now, and their greetings +were noisy. There were the two Guzman boys, Benito Gonzales, Phil +Strange, and a number of Jonesville's younger and more adventurous +citizens. + +In the midst of the tumult Benito inquired for his wife, and Dave +relieved his anxiety by calling Dolores and Father O'Malley. Then, +in answer to the questions showered upon him, he swiftly sketched +the story of Alaire's rescue and their flight from La Feria. + +When he had finished Blaze Jones drew a deep breath. "We're mighty +glad you got out safe, but you've kicked the legs from under one +of my pet ambitions. I sure had planned to nail Longorio's hide on +my barn door. Yes, and you've taken the bread out of the mouths of +the space writers and sob sisters from here to Hudson's Bay. Miz +Austin, 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 and +singin' battle hymns, but I reckon the government figures that the +original of those newspaper pictures would be safe anywhere. Well, +we've got our own ideas in Jonesville, so some of us assembled +ourselves and declared war on our own hook. These gentlemen"-- +Blaze waved his hand proudly at his neighbors--"constitute the +Jonesville Guards, the finest body of American men that has +invaded Mexican soil since me and Dave went after Ricardo Guzman's +remains. Blamed if I ain't sorry you sidetracked our expedition." + +It was evident, from the words of the others, that the Jonesville +Guards were indeed quite as heedless of international +complications as was their commander. One and all were highly +incensed at Longorio's perfidy, and, had Alaire suggested such a +thing, it was patent that they would have ridden on to La Feria +and exacted a reckoning from him. + +Such proof of friendship affected her deeply, and it was not until +they were all under way back toward Romero that she felt she had +made her appreciation fully known. When she reflected that these +men were some of the very neighbors whom she had shunned and +slighted, and whose honest interest she had so habitually +misconstrued all these years, it seemed very strange that they +should feel the least concern over her. It gave her a new +appreciation of their chivalry and their worth; it filled her with +a humble desire to know them better and to strengthen herself in +their regard. Then, too, the esteem in which they held Dave--her +husband--gratified her intensely. It made no more difference to +them than to her that he was a poor man, a man without authority +or position; they evidently saw and loved in him the qualities +which she saw and loved. And that was as it should be. + +They were gentle and considerate men, too, as she discovered when +they 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 been +attended to. Jose Sanchez, it appeared, had confessed freely. +Although her new friends made plain their indignation at the +manner of Ed's taking off, they likewise let her know that they +considered his death only a slight loss, either to her or to the +community. Not one of them pretended it was anything except a +blessing. + +The journey drew to an end very quickly. Romero, deserted now by +its garrison, stirred and stared sleepily at the invaders, but +concerned itself with their presence no more than to wonder why +they laughed and talked so spiritedly. Plainly, these gringos were +a barbarous race of people, what with their rushing here and +there, and with their loud, senseless laughter. God had wisely +placed 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, the +air so clear, the sky so high, the world so smiling, as here and +now. The men who had ridden forth to seek her were smiling, too, +and they were shaking her hands and congratulating her. Even the +Guzman boys, who were shy in the presence of American ladies, were +wishing her the best of fortune and the greatest of happiness. + +Blaze Jones was the last to leave. With especial emphasis upon her +name, he said: "Miz Austin, Paloma and me would like to have you +come to our house and stay until you feel like goin' back to Las +Palmas." + +When Alaire declined with moistened eyes, explaining that she +could not well accept his invitation, he signified his +understanding. + +"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 of +good people in this part of Texas, and them that ain't so good God +and the Rangers is slowly weedin' out. We don't always know the +ones we like best until something happens to 'em, but if you'd +heard the prayers the folks of Jonesville have been sayin' lately +you'd know you was our favorite." Then, with a meaning twinkle in +his eye, he told her, gravely: "It seems a pity that I ain't +younger 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 our +wishes." + +Father O'Malley had ridden on ahead with Benito and Dolores; Dave +and Alaire followed leisurely. Now that the moment of their +parting was at hand, they lingered by the way, delaying it as long +as possible, feeling a natural constraint at what was in their +minds. + +"How long--will it be?" he asked her, finally. "How long before I +can 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 the +heart of each of them. + +THE END + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, HEART OF THE SUNSET *** + +This file should be named hrtft10.txt or hrtft10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, hrtft11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, hrtft10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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