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SUNSET
(&? REX BEACn
Author of ' ‘ Spoilers," "The Iron Trail}
“The Silver Horde" E>tc.
\
SYNOPSIS.
^^fAPTER i—afoot and alon^ by an
accident in the desert near the Rio Grande
Mrs. Alai re Austin, mistress of Im Pai
irias and la Feria ranches, meets Dave
Law, Texas Ranger, at a water hole and
is compelled to spend the night there with
hirn, as he is in ambush for a murderer
and cannot leave his post.
CHAPTER II—Next day at evening the
murderer appears with a companion.
CHAPTER 111-Law captures the mur
derer but Is compelled to kill his con™Pa"'
Ion, Panfilo Sanchez who happens tob® ;
a cousin of Mrs. Austin's horsebreaxer, (
Jose Sanchez.
CHAPTER IV—At I.a* Palmas Alaire
tells her husband. Ed, that his carousals .
and Inebriety must stop per cattle |
at La Feria, the Mexican ranch, are coin
ftscated by Longoria, Mexican federal :
general, and she finds that it is because
Ed has been helping the rebel junta.
CHAPTER VI—Entertained at their
home by Blaze Jones and his daughter
Paloma, Dave hears something about the
Tad Lewis outfit, which Is suspected of
cattle stealing With Ricardo Guzman and
his boys Dave and Blaze go on a scout
after cattle thieves.
CHAPTER VII-Law catches two of the I
Lewis outfit branding a stolen calf and In
a fight kills one and has his horse shot
under him He trails the other thief to
I.as Palmas, where he Is Insulted by Ed
Austin whom he knows to be very friend
ly with the Lewis outfit.
CHAPTER VIII—Law follows up the
trail of Urbina, the escaped thief, to no
purpose except to confirm Austin's con
nection with the Lewis outfit.
CHAPTER IX—On her homeward Jour
ney Xlalre again meets Ixmgorlo, who
openly makes love to her. She obtains
release of Juan Garcia from prison.
CHAPTER X—Jose Sanchex swears to
Itnd out the truth about the slaying of
panfilo. Dave gets further Information
gtrnut the Lewis outfit. Ricardo Guzman
goes to Mexico to sell horses to the fed
erate.
“You 3o~ speak their language,”
Alaire wild, ufter she had watched
them for a few minutes. “You have
bewitched the creature.” Dave nod*
CHAPTER XI—Dave and Alaire attend
the I^as Palmas rodeo. She presents Dave
with a horse to replace the one killed by
the cattle thieves. They discuss the kill
ing of Panfllo.
CHAPTER XII—Gutman does not re
turn from Mexico and his reported killing
arouses Americans. Dave and Blaze ar
range to go to Romero across the river
ana recover the body. Jose hears that
Dave killed Panfllo and goes to Join Lon
gorlo. Paloma and Alaire arrange to go
to the river to await the return of Blase
and Dave. Longorlo appears at I.as Pal
mas with an escort and overhears Ed
telephoning news of the trip after Guz
man to Tad Lewis.
CHAPTER XIII—Longorlo compels Ed
to go to the river with him. The girls
follow and hide In the pumphouse. The
Lewis outfit appears. When Blaze and
Dave cross the river a general mlx-up Is
prevented by Captain Evans and his rang
ers who appear on the scene and support
Dave. Dave arrests Urbina.
CHAPTER XIV—Blaze dodges dress
makers and fortune tellers.
CHAPTER XV—-Strange, a fortune tell
er. warns Dave that Jose la cooking up
trouble for him and Alaire. Dave goes to
see her and In a moment of emotional
stress they confess their love,
“Atlength, "having "sufficiently recov
ered his health to begin drinking again,
he yielded one evening to an alcoholic
impulse, and, just ns Alaire hade him
good night, clumsily sought to force
un explanation.
“See here 1” he shot at her. “What’s
the matter with you lately?” He saw
thut he had startled her, and that she
made an effort to collect her wander
ing thoughts. “You're about ns warm
and wifely as a stone Idol.”
“Am I any different to what I have
always been?”
“Humph! You hnven’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 1 I’m lonesome.’’
Alalre regarded him speculatively,
then shook her head as If In answer to
some thought.
In an obvious and somewhat too mel-1
low effort to be friendly, Kd continued:
"Don’t let’s go on like this, Alalre. You ^
bluiAe me for going uway so much, but i
when I’m home I feel like an Inter
loper. You treat me like a cow-thief.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve tried to be every
thing I should. I’m the Interloper.”
“Nonsense 1 If we only got along
together ns well as we seem to from the
outside, It wouldn’t be bad at all. But
you're 100 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 1 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 nnd 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! Tmean thut, since
we’re man and wife, It’s up to you to
be a little more—broad-gauge In your
views.”
“In other wor<js, you want me to Ig
nore your conduct. Is that it? I’m
afruid we can’t argue that, Ed.”
“All right; don’t let’s try to argue
IW” bfi. l.uuglm& W'Uil what he. gangly.
prod an admirable show of magnanim
ity. "I hate arguments, anyhow; I’d
much rather have n good night kiss.”
But when he stooped over her Alnire
held him off and turned her iiead.
“.\n!” she said.
“You haven’t kissed me for—’’
“I don't wish to kiss yo{f.”
“Don’t he silly,” he insisted. “Come,
now, I want a kiss.”
A1 aire thrust him hack strongly, and
lie saw tlint her face had whitened.
Oddly enough, her stubbornness an
gered 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?”
Alnire nodded.
“Well, I’ll be d-d !” Ed was dum
founded. “Isn’t this rather sudden?"
he managed to inquire.
“Oh, no. You’ve suggested it more
than once.”
“1 thought you didn’t believe in di
vorces—couldn't stomach ’em? What’s
happened?”
i jtave cnnngect my nund.
“Humph! People don't change their
minds in a minute,” lie cried angrily.
“Is there some other man?”
Now Ed Austin had no faintest idea
that Ids wife would answer in the atlir
rnative, for he had long ago learned f<>
put implicit confidence in her, and her
life had been so open that he could
not imagine that it held it double in
terest. Therefore her reply struck him
speechless.
“Yes, Ed," she said quietly. “There
is another man.”
It was like her not to evade. Sin
had never lied to 1dm.
Ed's mouth opened; his reddened
eyes protruded. “Well—” he stain
mered. “Well!" Then after a moment
“Who is it, the greaser or the cow
boy?” He laughed loudly, disagree
ably. “It must ho one or the other, foi
you haven't seen any men except them
Another man ! Well, you're cool atiou
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 oceur to you that
I might object?” he demanded.
Alaire eyed him scornfully. “Whnt
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
•yes rove over her with a kind of angry
ippreciation. “You're pretty enough to
itampede any ntun,” he admitted
•> s, and you’ve got money, too. IT;
bet it’s the Ranger. Hull! We’n
tarred with the same stick.”
“Y'ou don’t really believe that." she
told him, sharply.
“Why not? You’ve had enough op
portunity. I don't see anything of you.
Well, 1 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 wiflt you ns
long ns I have. I knew you were weak,
nasty—so I was prepared for some
thing like this. But I never thought
you were a downright criminal until—”
“Criminal? Rot!”
How nbout that Guzman nflfnlr?
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
t 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?" lie leered at her unpleasantly,
then followed a step us she drew back.
“Don’t you touch me!” she cried.
A flush was deepening Ed’s purplf
; cheeks; his voice was peculiarly bru
tal and throaty as he said: “The de
cree isn’t entered yet, and so long a>
! you are Mrs. Austin I have rights. Yes
j and I intend to exercise them. You’vt
made me jealous, and—’’ He made ti
encircle her with his arms, and wa>
j half successful, but when Alalre felt
the heat of his hreath in her face, »
I sick loathing sprang up within her
and, setting her hack against the wall
she sent him reeling. Whether sht
struck him or merely pushed him away
j she never knew, for during the Install!
of their struggle she was blind with in
{ dlgnution and fury. Profiting by hei
advantage, she dodged past him, fled tc
her room, and locked herself in.
She heard hint muttering profanely:
heard him approach her chamber snort
than once, then retire uncertainly, hut
she knew him too well to he afraid.
Later that night she wrote two let
ters—one to Judge Ellsworth, the ot.iei
to Dave Law.
*******
1 Jose Sanchez rode to the Morales
house feeling some concern over lh$
summons thnt took him thither. He
wondered whut could hnve induced
General Longorio to forsake his many
important duties in order to make the
long trip front Nuevo Pueblo; surely
It could he due to no lack of zeal on
his (Jose’s) part. No! The horse
breaker flattered himself that he hnd
made it very good spy indeed; that he
had been Longorio’s eyes and ears sc.
far as circumstances permitted. Not
did he feel that he had been lnx in
I muking his reports, for through Rosa
. he had written the general several
lengthy letters, and just for good meas
ure these two had conjured up sundry
■ imaginary happenings to prove beyond
doubt thnt Senora Austin was miser
ably unhappy with her husband, find
ready to welcome such a dashing iovei
: as J.ongorio. Therefore Jose could nol
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.
Rut Longorio, when he arrived at the
meeting-place, was not In a bad humor
Having sesit Rosa away on some er
rand. he turned to Jose with a flashing
smile, and said:
“Well, my good friend, the time hns
come.”
Now Jose had no faintest idea what
the general was talking about, but tc
lie called the good friend of so illustri
ous a person was flattering. He nod
ded decisively.
“Yes, beyond doubt,” he agreed.
The general Inid an affectionate ham1
upon Jose’s shoulder. “The first time
I saw you I said: ‘There’s a boy aftet
my own heart. I shnll learn to love
thnt Jose, and I shall put him in the
way of his fortune.’ Well, I have not
chnnged my mind, and the time h
coine. You are going to help me and 1
am going to help you.”
Jose Sanchez thrilled with elatior
from head to foot. This promised te
he the greatest day of his life, and he
felt that he must be dreaming.
“You haven’t tire>d of Rosa, eh? You
still wish to marry her?” Longorio was
inquiring.
i ps. But or course I nm a pom
man.'*
‘Must so. I .shall attend to that
Now we come to the object of my visit
Jose, I proposed to make you riel'
enough in one day so that you can
marry.”
“Tint first, wait!” exclaimed the
horse-breaker. ‘‘I bring you something
of value, too.” Desiring to render fa
vor for favor, and to show that he was
fully deserving of the general’s gene
rosity, Jose removed from Inside the
sweatband of his hat a sealed, stamped
letter, which he handed to his em
ployer. “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 In
scription. und then opened the enve
lope. Jose looked on with pleasure
while he spelled out the contents.
When the general had finished read
ing, be exclaimed: “IIo! A miracle!
Now I know all that I wish to know.”
“Then I did well to steal the letter
«h?”
“Diablo! Yes ! That brute of a bus
band makes my angel’s life unbearable,
ind she flees to Tat Kerin to be rid of
bim. Good! It fits in with my plans.
>he will be surprised to see me there.
Then, when the war comes, and all is
■linos—then what? I’ll warrant 1 can
Jiake her forget certain things and cer
ain people.” Longorio nodded with
satisfaction. “You did very well, Jose.”
The latter leaned forward, his eyes
uight. “That lady is rich. A fine
prize, truly. She would bring a huge
ransom.”
This reninrk brought a smile to Ixm
gorio’s i ace. “My dear friend, you do
not in the least understand,” he snid.
“Ransom! What an idea!” He lost
himself in meditation, then, rousing,
spoke briskly : "Listen ! In two, three
days your senorn will leave Las Pal
mas. When she is gone you will per
form your work, like the brave man I
know you to be. You will relieve her
of her husband.”
Jose hesitated, and the smile van
ished from his face. "Senor Ed is not
a bHd man. He likes me; he—” Lon
goria’s gaze altered and Jose fell silent.
“Come! Yon are not losing heart,
eh? Have I not promised to make you
a rich man? Well, the time has ar
rived." Seeing that Jose still mani
fested no eugerness, the general went i
"Then I Did Well to Steal That Let
ter, Eh?"
:>n In a different tone: "Do not thlnh
that you can withdraw from our little
1 arrangement, oh, im! Do you remem
ber a promise I made to you when you
:ame_to me In ltomero? I bjiid that U
rou played me false I would bury you
o the neck in an ant-hill and till yopi
xiouth with honey. I keep my premi
ses.”
Jose’s struggle was brief; he prompt
y resigned himself to the inevitable
tVith every evidence of sincerity he as
sured Longorlo of his loyalty, and de
lied the least intention of betraylnj
lls general’s confidence. After all, th«
gringos were enemies, and there wai
10 one of them who did not merit de
itruction.
Pleased with these sentiments, ant
'eeling sufficiently assured that Jos*
vas now really in the proper frame 01
niud to suit his purpose, Longorit
ook the winding trail buck towart
Sungre de Cristo.
CHAPTER XVII.
A Warning.
A few days after she had written t<
fudge Ellsworth Alaire followed he!
etter in person, for, huving ut last de
tided to divorce Ed, she acted witl
fiinracteristlc decision. Since Ells
vorth had more than once advised thii
rery course, she went to Brownsville
mlisting his willing support. She hat
written Dave Law, telling him tha
die intended to go to La Feria, then
o remain pending the hearing of hei
suit. To be sure, she would have pre
ferred some place of refuge other thai
La Feria, hut she reasoned that then
she would at least be undisturbed, ant
that Ed, even if he wished to effect i
•econclliatlon, would not dare to follow
tier, since he was persona non gratt
in federal Mexico.
She had counted upon seeing Davt
luring her stay in Brownsville, and hei
failure to do so was a grave dlsap
.^ointment as she knew that he was it
town attending court. Yet she tok
nerself that it was' brave of him t«
ihey her injunctions so literally and t<
leave her unembarrassed by his pres
?nce ut this particular time. It in
spired her to be equally brave and tc
wait patiently for the day when sin
could welcome him with clean hand!
und a soul unashamed.
In the midst of Aluires uncertainty
of mind it gratified her to realize tlia
Duve alone would know of her where
nhouts. She wondered if he woult
come to see her. He was a reckless
headstrong lover, and his desires wer«
all too likely to overcome his delib
erate resolves. She rather hoped thai
in spite of his promise he would ven
lure to cross the border so that sht
could see and be near him, if only foi
a day or for an hour. The possibility
(Tightened and yet pleased her. Thi
conventional woman within hei
frowned, but her outlaw heart beut
fust at the thought.
Alaire did not explain her plans ever
to Dolores, but when her preparation*
were complete she took the Mexicur
woman with her, and during Ed’s ab
sence slipped away from the ranch
I Boarding the train at Jonesvilla, she
was in Pueblo that night.
It seemed at last that war with
Mexico was Imminent. After month*
of uncertainty the question had conic
to issue, and tliut lowering cloud which
had hung above the horizon took omi
nous shupe und size. Ellsworth awoke
one morning to learn that an ultima
tum hud gone forth to President Po
tosi; that the Atluntic fleet hud been
ordered south; and that marines were
being rushed aboard transports pend
ing a general army mobilization. It
looked as if the United States had
finally risen in wrath, and as if noth
ing less than a miracle could now avert
the long-expected conflict.
Blaze Jones took the San Antonio
paper out upon the porch and com
posed himself In the hammock to rent
the latest war news. Invasion ! Troops
The Stars and Stripes! Those wer<
words that stirred Jones deeply am
caused him to neglect his work. Nov
that his country had fully awnkenec
to the necessity of a war with Mexici
—a necessity he had long felt—he was
fired with the loftiest patriotism and
youthful eagerness to enlist. Blazt
realized that he was old und fat am
near-sighted; but what of that? II*
could fight. Fighting, In fact, had
been one of his earliest accomplish
ments, and he prided himself upon
knowing as much about it as any
man could learn. He believed in flghi
ing both as a principle and as an ex
ercise; in fact, lie attributed his good
health to his various neighborly ‘‘un
pleasantnesses,” and he hud 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 mis
takes ills 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 al
most treasonable to one of Blaze’s in
tense 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 1‘uloma had been entertaining a
caller in the front room. Their con
versation had not disturbed h<m at
first, hut now an occasional word or
sentence forced its meaning through
his preoccupation, and he found him
self listening.
Fnloma’s visitor was a woman, and
as Blaze harkened to her voice, lie fell
his heart sink. It was Mrs. Strange.
She was here again. With difiiculty
lilaze conquered an Impulse to flee,
for she was recounting a slory all Uni
tttudU' to Uim,
“Why, it seemed ns if the whole eity
of Galveston was there, and yet no
body offered to help ns," the dress
maker was saying. "Phil was a per
fect hero, for the ruffian was twice
his size. Oh, it.was an awful fight!
1 hate to think of it.”
"What ninde him pinch you?”
Pulowa inquired.
“Heaven only knows. Some men are
dreadful that way. Why, he left a
bluck-aud-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
op across the boulevard and in among
file tents, and then—” Mrs. Strange
lowered her voice until only a mur
mur reached the listening man. A mo
ment, then both women burst into
shrill, excited laughter, und Blaze him
self blushed furiously.
This was unbearable! It was bad
enough to have that woman in Jones
ville, a constant menace to his good
name, but to allow her Hccess to his
own home was unthinkable. Sooner
or later they were bound to meet, and
then Paloma would learn the disgrace
ful truth—yes, and the whole neigh
borhood would likewise know his
shame. In fancy. Blaze saw his rep
utation torn to shreds and himself ex
posed to the gibes of the people who
venerated him. He would become a
scandal among men, nn offense to re
spectable 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
Jonesvllle. He rose from his ham
mock and tiptoed down the porch into
tite kitchen, from which point of se
curity he called loudly for his daugh
ter.
Alarmed at his tone, Paloma came
running. “What is the matter?” she
asked, quickly.
“Get her out!” Blaze cried, suvagely.
“Get shed of her.”
“Her? Who?”
“That varmint."
- * tuner, want mis you?"
“Nothin’ ails me, but I don’t want
that caterpillar crawlin’ arouud my
premises. I don’t like her.”
Paloma regarded her parent curi
ously. “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—”
j “Get her out, and keep her out,”
I Blaze rumbled. “She ain’t right; she
! ain’t—human. Why, what d’you reek
' on I saw her do, the other day? Makes
| me shiver now. You remember that
big bull-snuke that lives under the
barn, the one I’ve been layiu’ for?
Well, you won’t believe me, but him
and her are friends. Fact! I sow
her pick him tip and play with him.
Win—ee ! The goose-flesh popped out
on me till it busted the buttons of my
vest. She ain’t my kind of people,
Paloma. ’Strange’ ain’t no name for
her; ro, 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 speetacles; he
pawed the air freely with his hands.
“How can you let her touch you? I
couldn’t. I’ll bet she carries a pocket
ful of dried toads and—and keeps live
lizards in her hair. 1 knew an old voo
doo woman thnt nte cockroaches. Get
shed of her. Paloma, and we’ll fumi
gate 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 ex
claimed : "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 puz
zled light flickered in her black eyes.
“Seems to me we’ve met somewhere.
Imt—I've met so many people.” She
extended her hand, and Blaze took
it us if expecting to find It cold and
scaly. He muttered something unin
telligible. “I’ve been dying to see you,"
she told him, “and thunk you for giv
ing me I’aloma's work. 1 love you
both for It.”
Blaze was immensely relieved that
this dreaded crisis hud come und goue;
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 diNguised
voice inquired, “Now where do you
reckon you ever saw me?”
The seamstress shook l*»r head. “I
don’t know, but I’ll place you before
long. Anyhow, I’m glad you aren’t
hurt. From the way you culled Palotua
I thought you were. I’m handy around
sick people, so I—”
“Listen!” 1'aloma interrupted.
“There’s someone at the front door.”
She left the room; Blaze was edging
after her when he heard her utter a
stifled scream und call his natntt.
Now I’alonm was not the kind of
girl to scream without cause, and her
cry brought Blaze to the front of tin*
house at a run. But what he saw there
reassured him momentarily; nothing
was iu ^jght more alarming than one
of the depot hacks, iu the rear seat of
which was huddled the figure of a
man. i’aloma was flying down the walk
foward the j^ate. und FhU S “ se. was
awaiting on the porch. A* Blare flung
himself Into view the latter exclaimed:
"I brought him straight here, Mr.
Jones, ’cause I knew you was his best
friend.”
“Who? Who Is It?”
“Dave Law. lie must have come In
on the noon train. Anyhow, I found
him—like that.” The two men hurried
toward the road, side by stde. _
“What’s wrong with him?” Blake de
manded.
“I don’t know. He’s queer—he’s off
his bean. I’ve had a hard tlme^vlth
him.”
Pnloma was In the carriage at Dave’s
side now, and calling his name; but
I,nw, it seemed, was scarcely con
scious. Ee 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—
nil right now.”
“Why, you’d hardly recognize the
j boy!” Rlaze exclaimed; then he added
| his appeal to his daughter’s. But they
‘ could not arouse the sick man from
: his coma.
i “He asked me to take him to Las
Palmas.” Strange explained. “Looks
to me like a sunstroke."
Paloma turned an agonized face to
her father. “Get a doctor, quick,” she
implored ; “he frightens me.”
But Mrs. Strange had followed, and
now slie spoke up In n matter-of-fact
tone: “Doctor nothing,” she said. “I
know more than all the doctors. Pa
loma, you go into the house and get a
bed ready for him, and you iner; lug
him in. Come, now, on the run, all of
you! I’ll show you what to dr.” 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
X / jflH|
"I'm Going to Pack His Head in It."
the young man’s frenzied clutch from
the carriage and, holding his hands in
hern, talked to him in such a way that
he gradually relaxed. It was she who
helped him out anu then supported him
into the house. It was she who got
him uj>stalrs aud into bed. end It was
she who tinaliy stilled his bald lc
“The poor man is burning up with a
fever,’’ she told the others, "and fevers
are my long suit. Get me some towels
nnd a lot of Ice.”
Blaze, who hud watched the snake
charmer’s deft ministrations with
mingled amazement and suspicion, in
quired: “What are you going to do
with ice? Ice ain’t medicine.”
“I’m going to pack his head in It.”
Blaze was horrified. “Do you want
to freeze ills brain?”
Mrs. Strange turned on him angrily.
“You gel 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
howls and bottles and various reme
dies which she had commandeered. He
summoned sufficient courage to block
her way and inquire:
“What you got there, now, mu’ain?”'
Mrs. Strange glared at him Imlefully.
With an effort at patience she in
quired: “Say! What ails you, any
how?”
Jones swallowed hard. “Understand,
he’s a friend of mine. No magic goes.-’
“Magic?”
"No—cockroaches or snakes’ tongues,
or—”
Mrs. Strange fingered a heavy china
howl as if temntcd to bounce it from
Blase’s head. Then, not deigning to
argue, she whisked past him and into
the sickroom. It wae evident from her
expression that she considered the
master of the house a harmless hut
offensive old busybody.
For some time longer Blaze hung
about the sickroom: then, his presence
being completely ignored, h*' risked
further antagonism by telephoning for
Jonesvtlle’s leading doctor. Not- find
ing the physician at home, he sneuked.
out to the barn and, taking Palomu’sl
car, drove away in search of him. It
was fully two hours later when he re
turned to discover that Dave was sleep
Ing^quletlj.
(Contihued Next Week )
Figure in the Newt.
“My boy Is fond of fairy stories, bat
I don’t like for him to read about
giants and pirates. I consider it Imroi
ful. Don't you?” “JMinim. How are
you going to keep the baseball columns
> away from tuia'f”