HEART
pftho
SUNSET
r&? REX BEACrt
Author of *' Spoilers" "The Iron Trail"
"The Silver Horde ,** Etc.
¥ H*>>~ m *«*•.
SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I—Set afoot and alone by an
accident in the desert near the Rio Grande
Mrs. Alaire Austin, mistress of Ia»s Pal
aias and La Ferla ranches, meets Dave
Law. Texas Ranger, at a water hole and
is compelled to spend the night there with
him, 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 III—law captures the mur
derer but is compelled to kill his compan
ion, Panfllo Sanchez, who happens to be
a cousin of Mrs. Austin's horsebreaker,
Jose Sanchez.
CHAPTER IV—At Las Palmas Alaire
tells her husband, Ed, that his carousals
and Inebriety must stop. Her cattle
at I.a Perla, the Mexican ranch, are con
fiscated by Longorto, 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 tlie
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
Lewie outfit branding a stolen calf and In
a fight kills one and has hlg horse shot
under him. He trails the other thief to
Las Palmas, where he is insulted by Ed
Austin, whom he knows to be very friend
ly with the I^ewls 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 Alaire again meets l^jngorlo, who
openly makes love to her. She obtains
the release of Juan Garcia from prison.
CHAPTER X—Jose Sanchez swears to
find out the truth about the slaying of
Panfllo. Dave gets further information
about the Lewis outfit. Ricardo Guzman
goes to Mexico to sell horses to the fed
erate.
"You 3o sportk their danpuHRe,"
Alaire said, after she hud watched
them for a few minutes. “Yon have
bewitched the creature.” Dave nod
CHAPTER XI—Dave and Alaire attend
the Lag Palmas rodeo. She presents Dave
with a horse to replace the one killed bv
the cattle thieves. They discuss the kill
ing of Panfllo.
v CHAPTER XII—Guzman does not re
turn from Mexico and his reported killing
arouses Americans. Dave and Blaze ar
TOve killed Panfllo and goes to join l»n
gorlo. Paloma and Alalre arrange to go
to the river to await the return of Blaze
and Dave. Longorlo appears at l.aa Pal
mas with an escort and overhears Ed
telephoning news of the trip after Guz
man to Tad Lewis.
CHAPTER XIII—Iiongorlo 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 mix-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 ttnd fortune tellers.
CHAPTER XV—Strange, a fortune tell
er. warns Dave that Jose Is cooking up
trouble for him and Alalre. Dave goes to
see her and In a moment of emotional
stress they confess their leva.
CHAPTER XVI—Ed, who had disap
peared after the Guzman Incident, comes
back and Alalre decides to divorce him.
She writes to her lawyer and to Dave.
Jose carries Dave’s letter to Longorio,
who orders him to kill Ed.
Dave slept for twenty hours, nntl
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 bis head was gone,
hut imagined himself to be still In the
maddening local train from Browns
ville. By and by he recognized Palo
rna and Mrs. Struuge, and tried to talk
to them, hut the connection between
brain and tongue was Imperfect, and
he made a bad business of conversa
tion. It seemed queer that he should
be in bed at the Joneses’. When he had
recovered from his surprise he turned
his head and saw Mrs. Strange slum
bering in a chair beside his bed; from
her uncomfortable position and evi
dent fatigue he Judged that she must
have kept a long and faithful vigil
aver him.
A little Inter 1’aloma, pale ana 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.”
Puloraa smiled and nodded. “Sick!
Why, Dave, you frightened us nearly to
death! You were clenr out of your
head.”
Mrs. Strange broke Into his frown
ing meditation to ask, “How long since
you had a night’s sleep?"
“I— Oh, the prosecutor at Browns
ville ain’t let me alone a minute for a
week.”
“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 sculd him If he
did.”
“I seem to remember talking a good
deal,” Dave ventured. “I reckon 1—
said a lot of foolish things." He caught
the look that passed between his
nurses and Its significance distressed
bint.
Mrs. Strange continued: "That’s
bow we jHiessed Sb& jour trouble
was, and (lint’s why I wouldn't lot that
fool doctor disturb you. Xow that
you’ve had a sleep and are nil right
again, l tn going home and change my
clothes. I haven't had them off for
two nights.”
“Two nights!” Dave stared in be
wilderment. Then he lamely apolo
gised for the trouble he had caused,
and tried to thank the women for their
kindness.
lie was shaky when, an hour later,
he came downstairs for breakfast; hut
otherwise he felt better than for many
days; and Blaze’s open delight at see
ing him did him as much good as tin
food he ate.
Dave spent part of the morning sun
ning himself on the porch, reading the
papers with their exciting nows. Dur
ing his absence Paloma had done her
best to spoil Montrosa, and among oth
er marks of favor had allowed her free
run of tin* yard, where the shade was
cool tind the grass fine, arid where de
licious tidbits were to tie had from the
kitchen for the mere asking. In con
sequence, Dave did not remain there
long until he was discovered. M<,nt
rosa signaled, then trotted toward birr,
with ears and tail lifted. Her delight
was open and extravagant; her wel
come was as enthusiastic as a horse
could make it. Gone were her coquetry
and airs; she nosed and nibbled Dave;
she rubbed and rooted him with the
violence of a battering-ram, and per
inittbd him to hug her nnrf murmur
words of love into her velvet ears. Sin
swapped confidence for confidence,
too; and then, when he finally walked
hack 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 l beat It out here. I hung
around all day yesterday waiting to
see you, but you was batty.”
edged. “Mrs. Strange was mighty kind
to me.’’
"Welt people get !»r Bftnt. She's go!
u way with 'em and with animals, too.
Why, Rajah, the hlg python with our
show, took sick one /ear, and he’d have
died sure only for her. Same with a
lot of the other animals. She knows
niore'n any vet I ever saw.”
“Perhaps I needed a veterinary in
stead of a doctor,” Dave smiled. “1
guess I’ve got some horse blood in me.
See.'” Montrosa had thrust her head
under his arm gild was waiting for
Idm to sera Mi her ears.
“Well, I brought you some mail,”
Strange fumbled in ids pocket for a
small bundle of letters, explaining:
“Blaze gave me these for you as 1
passed the post office.”
Dave took the letters with a word of
thanks, and thrust them carelessly in
to his pocket. “What seems to be the
trouble?" be inquired.
“Ton remember our hist 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 regulnr.”
Dave passed an uncertain band over
Ills 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 und Jose exited to
make n 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 oil."
“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 kid
nap her? Nonsense! One man couldn't
do such a thing.”
JT didn’t say he could," l'hil de
fended 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
l’ldi’s suggestions.
“It's too utterly preposterous. Mrs.
Austin has ip* enemies; she's a person
o£ Importance.* If by any chance t je
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 lu
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 a
trick of his own tired 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
.vou didn’t understand the message, did
you ?”
Strange shrugged. “Maybe I didn’t.
Suppose you try. You sabe the lingo.”
Dave 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 In
quired :
“iVell, what do you make of it?”
“I don’t know. She wasn’t khhinped,
that's a cinch, for Dolores went with
her. I—think we're exciting ourselves
unduly.”
The little fortune-teller broke out
excitedly ; “Yes we are! Why do you
suppose I’ve been ploying that Morales
girl? 1 tell you there’s something
crooked going on. Don’t I know?
Didn't 1 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 elear his tired brain.
“Very well,” he suid. “If yon're so
sure. I’ll go to I,as Palmas. I’ll find
out all about it, and where she went.
If anybody has dared to—” He drew
a deep breath and his'listiessness van
ished ; his eyes gleamed with a'hint of
their customary fire. “I reckon I’ve
got one punch left in me.” lie turned
and strode to his room.
As nave enanged into his service
clothes he wns surprised to feel a new
vigor in his limbs and n new strength
of purpose in his mind. When he stood
in liis old boots and felt the familiar
drag of his curtridge-belt, when he
tested bis free muscles, he realised
that lie wns another man. Kven .vet
he could not put much faith in Phil
Strange's words—nevertheless, there
might he a danger threatening Aiaire;
und if so, it was time to act.
Phil watched his friend saddle the
hay mare, then as Dave tied his rifie
scabbard to its thong he laughed nerv
ously,
“You’re loaded for bear.”
The horseman answered, grimly:
*I*m loaded for Jose Sanchez. It I lay
hands on him I’ll learn what he
knows.”
“You cnn1t get nothing out of a Mexi
can.”
“No? I’ve made Filipinos talk. Be
lieve me, I can be some persuasive
"'lien I try.” With that he swung a leg
over Montrosa’s back and rode away.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Surprise.
Law found it good to feel a horse
between bis knees. He bad not realized
until now bow 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 coun
try. Heat waves danced above the
patches of hare ground; insects smig
noisily from every side; far ahead the
road ran a wavering course through a
deceitful mirage of rippling ponds. It
was nil familiar, pleasant; it was
home. WitIi every mile lie covered his
strength and courage increased.
Such changes had come into his life
since ills 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 build
ings would look older, that the trees
would have grown taller, and so when
he flnully came in sight of his desti
nation he reined in 4(> look.
nenintt inm lie heard tne hum of an
approaching motor, an<l he turned to |
behold a oar racing along the road he
had just traveled. The machine was
tunning fast, us a long streamer of
choking dust gave evidence, and Dave
soon recognized it as belonging to
Janesville's prosecuting attorney. As
!t 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 i
motion him to follow. When the mu- ■
chine slowed down a half-mile ahead j
and veered abruptly into the Las I*nl- i
mas gateway, Dave lifted Montrosa to
h run, wondering what pressing neees- 1
slt.v could have induced the prnsecut- i
ing attorney to risk such a reckless
burst of speed.
Dave told himself that he was un
duly apprehensive; that Strange’s
warnings had worked upon his nerves, i
Nevertheless, la* continued to ride so
hard that almost before the dust had
settled he, too, turned Into the shade'
of the pulms.
Yes, there was excitement here;
something wus evidently very much
amiss, judging from the groups of ;
ranch-hands assemhled 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,
hut 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 wall
ing 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
nat#e 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.
Dave Stood Staring at the Master of
Las Palmas.
his fingers unclenched, a great sigh
whistled 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 rnu his eyes over the room, and |
then asked, sharply, “Where is Mrs.
Austin?”
He was answered by Benito Gon
tales, who had edged closer. “She’s
not here, senor.”
“Have you notified her?"
Benito shrugged. “There has been
so time, it all happened so quickly—”
Someone Interrupted, and Dave saw
:hat it was the local sheriff—evidently
t was Jhe who had waved from the
speeding machine a few moments be
fore. ,
“Pm glad you’re here. Dave, for you
can give me a hand. I’m going to round j
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 gained better con
trol of himself he took Benito outdoors
and demanded full details of the trag
edy. With many lamentations and in
coherencies 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 fomid the body, still
warm, near the edge of the pecan
grove. He had retained enough sense
lo telephone at once to Jonesville. and
then—Benito hardly knew what he had
done since then, he wus so badly
shaken by the tragedy.
“What time did it ’»nppen?”
“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 in- ;
deed lost no time, and that his uluriu
had met with instant response.
“Now tell me, who did it?”
Benito thing his hands high. “God
knows! Some enemy, of course; but
Don Eduardo had many.”
xvot thut sort or enemies. There
was nobody who could wish to kill
him.” '
“That Is as it is.”
“Haven’t you any suspicions?”
“No, seuor."
“You say Mrs. Austin is gone?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know."
Dave spoke brusquely: "Come. Beni
to; you must know, for your wife went
with tier. Are you trying to keet
something hack?”
"No, no! As God is my judge!’'
Benllo declared. “1 didn't know thej
were going until the very last, and
even then Dolores would tell me noth
ing. We were having bad times hen
at Las Palmas; there were st«»rmj
scenes yonder in the house. Senor Kd
was drinking again, you understand*
The senorn had reason to go."
“You think she run away to escape
him?”
“Exactly."
Dave breathed more easily, for this
seemed to settle Strange’s theory. Tlu
next Instant, however, his apprehen
sions were doubled, for Benito added
“No doubt she went to L'n Feria.”
Law uttered an im-redulons exclama
tion. “Not there! Surely site wouldn’t
go to La Feria at such a time. Why
that country Is ablaze. Americans an
fleeing front Mexico."
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Benlte
confessed. “But if she didn’t go there
where did she go? Saints above! li
Is a flue couditlou_ of uffuirs when i
]
wife keeps secrets from her husband
eh? T suppose Dolores feared I woult
tell Don Eduardo, God rest his soul
This much 1 do know, however: no1
long ago there came n letter froir
General Longorio, offering settlement
for those cattle he stole In his goverg
intuit s name. Dolort*s told me tlu
senoru was highly pleased and was go
lug to Mexico for her money. It was t
mark of Longorto’s favor, you under
stand me? He’s a great—friend, at
ardent admirer.” Benito winked. “Do
lores told me all about that, too. No
1 think they went to La Feria."
Dave remembered his first converse
tlon with Phil Strange and the fortune
teller’s Insistence that some powerfn
person was behind Jose Sanchez. Mor*
than three weeks ngo Strange had fore |
cast something very like this murdei
of Ed Austin. Dave felt as if he wert
the victim of an hysterical Imagine
tion. Nevertheless, he forced himseli
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—
Hilt wait! I’ll ask Juan if he saw him ;
yes. and Victoria, too. That is Victorlt
you hear squalling in the kitchen. Wait
here.”
Henito hurried away, leaving Dttve t
prey to perplexity; but he was back
again in a few moments. His face wei
grave.
“Jose did not go to the east pa»
Hire.” lie said.
“Whore is he now?”
“No one seems to know.”
i.:*\v wniKtHi to his horse, mounted
:iml gill loped away. Benito, wbc
watched him, saw that lie turned to
ward the river road which led to th«
I.;is Palmas pumping plant.
The more I hive 1110111:111 about Ec
Austin's death, the more certain he be
came that it was in some way con
nected with A in ire’s disappearance:
and the loose end by which the tangh
might he unraveled, it seemed to him
lay in the hands of Rosa Morales
Jose’s sweetheart. That Sanchez wai
the murderer Dave now had little
doubt; but since the chance of appre
hending 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 gen
tle methods. If she knew aught of
Alnire’s whereabouts or the mystery ol
her departure from Das Palmas, he
would find a way to wring the truth
from her. Dave’s fare, a trifle too som
ber at all times, took on a grimmer
aspect now; he /elt a slow’ fury kind
ling in bis breast.
Years of experience had taught nim
to tie always alert, even during his mo
ments of deepest preoccupation, and
so, from force of haliit, when he came
lo the pumphouse road he carefully
scanned' it. In the dust were fresh
hoof-prints leading toward the river.
Now he knew this road to oe seldom
used, and therefore he wondered wht
could he riding it at a gallop In this
hllsicrfng midday heat. A few rods
farther on and his quick eye detected
something else—some tiny object that
brought him from his saddle. Out of
the rut he picked a cigarette butt, the
Are of which was cold hut the paper oi
which was still wet from the smoker's
lips. He examined it carefully; then
tie remounted and rode ^in. pondering
its significance.
Dave loped out of the thicket*and
straight across the clearing to tin
Morales house. Leaving Montrosa’f
reins hanging, he opened the door and
entered without knocking. Rosa ap
peared in the opening to another room
her eyes wide with fright at this ap
pnrition, 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 Crlsto.
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 hus
come. You are the first. And have
you no manners to stride Into a re
sped able house—?”
Dave broke in harshly: “Rosa, you’re
lying, .lose 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 .lose?"
“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 w ho betrayed Panfilo,
and his blood is on your hands, as
sassin !” With the last word she fnade
as If to retreat, but I>uve was too
fluick; he seized her, and for an In
stant they struggled breathlessly.
Dave had reasoned beforehand that
his only chance of vllseoverlng any
thing from this girl lay in utterly ter
rorising her and in profiting by her
first panic; therefore lie pressed his
advantage, lie succeeded better than
he had dared to hope.
“You know who killed Renor Ed,” ho !
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 cap
tor’s flesh. In her body was the
strength of a full-grown man, and Dave
could hardly hold her. Rut suddenly,
ns the two scuffled, from the hack room
or the house came a sound which
caused Dave to release the girl iis ah- j
CUptJy as hj; lmd seized tier—it was the
clink and tinkle of Mexican spurs upon
a wooden floor.
CHAPTER XIX.
Tha Water-Cure.
Without on instnnt’s hesitation Pave
flung himself past Rosa and through
the inner door.
Jose Snnchez met him with a shout;
the shock of their collision overbore
the lighter man, nnd the two went
down together, arms and legs Inter
twined. The horse-breaker' fired his
revolver blindly—a deafening explo
sion inside those four walls—but he
was powerless against his antagonist’s
strength and ferocity. It required but
a moment for I,nw to master him, to
wrench the weapon from his grasp, and
then, with the aid of Jose’s silk neck
scarf, to bind Ids wrists tightly.
From the front of the little house
came the crash of a door violently
slummed as Rosa profited by the diver
sion to save herself.
When finally Jose stood, panting and
snarling, his hack to the wall, Dave re
garded him with a sinister contraction
, of the lips (hat 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.” i
‘•It’s lucky I rode to I.as Palmas this
morning. In another hour you would
have been across the Rio Gflnde—
with ltosa and all her fine clothes, eh?
Now you will be hanged. Well, that I*
how foriune goes.”
The horse-hreaker tossed his head
end shrugged with a brave assumption
of Indifference; he laughed shortly.
■‘You can prove nothing.”
“Yes,” continued Dave, “and Rosa
will go to prison, loo. Now—suppose
I should let you go? Would you help
me? In ten minutes you could he safe.”
He inclined his head toward the
muddy, silent river outside. “Would
you he willing to help me?”
Jose’s brows lifted. “What’s this
you are saying?” he inquired, eagerly.
“I would only ask you a few ques
tions.”
“What questions?”
“Where is Seuorn Austin?"
Jose’s fnee became blank. “I don’t
know.” •
“Oh yes, you do. She started tor La
Feria. But—did she got there? Or did
j Longorlo have other (dans for her?
You’d better leil me the truth, for
your general can't help you uow.” Dave
did hla best to read the Mexican’s ex*
prossion, but failed. "Xr-rmriM's TeaTfT
means nothing to me,” be went on,
“but t must know where his wife i*.
and f'tn willing to pay. with yonr 111)
erty.” In spite of hituself his anxiety
was plain.
Jose exclaimed: “ITo! I under
I stand. He was in your way and you're
glad to lie rid of hint. 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 sud
den fury. His teeth bared themselves.
He took a step forward, crying:
“By heaven! You will tell me!”1
Seizing his prisoner by the throat', he
pinned him to the wall; then with his
free hand he cocked Longorio’s re
volver and thrust its muzzle against
Jose’s body. “Tell me!” he repeated.
His osuutenance was so distorted, hla
expression so maniacal, that Jose felt
ids hour had come. The latter, being
In all ways Mexican, did not struggle;
Instead, he squured 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 cov^tmt
of himself and the murder light fltete
ero»l ont of his ryes. He flung Ms pris
oner aside anil cast the revolver Into
a corner of the room.
Jose picked himself tip, cursing Ids
captor eloquently, "i'lju gnng<,>s,ilon’t
know how to dip.” he said. /'Iteatli ;
P»h! We must die some time, And
supposing I do know something iRmit
ihe senorn. do you think you cun force
me to speak? Torture wouldn't vpcu
tuy lips."
Law did not trust himself to repr.r;
and I lie horse-breaker went on with
growing defiance :
(Continued Next Week.)