j4uthorof* * The Spoilers, *’" The Iron Trailfm
"The Silver Horde*' Etc.
t'VU* « V Mm
I
SYNOPSIS.
H ■»!
CHAPTER I—Pet afoot and alone by an
accident in the desert near the Rio Grande
Mrs. Alaire Austin, mistress of Las Pal
Bias and 1 -a Feria 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—I^aw captures the mur
derer but is compelled to kill his compan
ion, Panfilo 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 IA Eeria, the Mexican ranch, are con
fiscated by Longorlo, 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*
Lewis outfit branding a stolen calf and In
a fight kills one and has his horse shot
under him. He trails the other thief to
Las Palmas, where he is Insulted by Ed
Austin, whom he knows to be very friend
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 TX- On her homeward Jour- j
ney Alaire again meets Longorlo, who
openly makes love to her. She obtains
the release of Juan Garcia from prison.
CHAPTER X—Jose Sancbez swears to
find out the truth about the slaying of
Panfilo. Dave gets further Information
about the Lewis outfit. Ricardo Guzman
goes to Mexico to sell horses to the fed
erals.
r “You speak their Inn^mif?e,”
Alalre said, after she had watched
them for a few minutes. “You have
bewitched the creature.” Dave nod*
CHAPTER XI—Dave and AlaJre attend
the Las Palmas rodeo. She presents Dave
With a horse to replace the one killed by
the cattle thieves. They discuss the kill
ins of Panfilo.
CHAPTER XII—Ottoman does not re
turn from Mexico and his reported killing
arouses Americans. Dave and Blaze ar
range to go to Romero across the river
—-•» ......vei the body. Jose hears that
Dave killed Panfilo and goes to Join Ten
frorlo. Paloma and Alalre arrange to go
o the river to await the return of Blaze
and Dave. Longorlo appears at Las Pal
mas with an escort and overhears Kid
telephoning news of the trip after Guz
man to Tad Lewis.
CHAPTER XIII—Longorlo compels Ed
to go to the river with Jilm. 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 Urblna.
CHAPTER XIV—Blaze dodges dress
makers and 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 love,
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 Longorlo,
who orders him to kill Ed.
CHAPTER XVII—Alalre moves to di
vorce Ed. War wil l Mexico seems Immi
nent. Dave comes to the Jones home
sick. Strange warns him that Alalre la
gone to La Ferla and Is In great danger. |
I
CHAPTER XVIII —Dave goes to Us
Palmas and arrives Just after the murder
of Ed Austin.
CHAPTBR XIX—He rounds up Joss,
gives him the water cure and gets from
him confession that he killed Kd, then
■tarts for \ja. Ferlft to protect Alalre,
whom he knows Ixtngorlo will capture. lie
Instructs Blaze to give the whole mailer
the widest publicity and to send Ellsworth
to Washington to sing battle hymns.
“It s run of loot, eh? Especially the
president's palace? Thnt is good. One
enn never believe nil one hears.
“Why do you ask?” Alaire was cu
rl ous.
“I was thinking It would pay us to
go there. If your soldiers march upon
Mexico City, It would he a brilliant
piece of strategy for General I.ongorlo
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 coun
try; 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
afTord to pay the Texnns for allowing
us to ride through their country, pro
vided we stole nothing and paid for
the cattle we ate. Well. Longorlo Is
a great one for schemes; he Is talking
over the telegraph with somebody at
this moment. Perhaps It is the presi
dent of Texas.”
“You are a poor mnn, are you not?
Alaire Inquired.
“Miserably poor.”
“Woyld 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 Ills Ufn.d XJ£
orously. “impossible! General I.on
gnrio is going to marry you. We all
sot drunk last night to celebrate the
wedding. Yes, and the priest is wait
ing.” ^
“I will make you rich?’ .
“Mo! I wouldn't live to spend a single
peso. Felipe disobeyed orders, and
the general shot him before he could
: cross himself. Boom 1 The poor fel
i low was passed in a minute. No. We
will all be rich after we win a few
battles and capture some American
i cities. I am nn old man; 1 shall leave
the drinking and the women to the
young fellows, and prepare for my old
age,”
Seeing that she could not enlist Pan
j cho’s aid, Alaire begged him to fetch
the priest.
“You wish spiritual comfort, se
nora ?” ,
“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 intel
ligent; we are making nn end of them.”
I The priest was a small, white-haired
rnan with a gentle, almost timid face,
and at the moment when he appeared
before Alaire he was in anything but
i happy frame of mind. Me had under
gone, he told her. a terrible experience.
Ills name was O'Malley. He hud come
Tom Monelnvu, whence the rebels had
innishod him under threat of death,
fie had seen his church despoiled of Its
valuables, his school closed; he him
self had managed to escape only by a
uiracle. During his flight toward the
inrder he had suffered every Indignity,
ind finally Longorio had Intercepted
lira and brought him here, practically
n chains.
"What, a situation! wnat chaos!"
le lamented. “The land is overrun
.vith bandits; there Is no law, no nu
ihority, no faith; religion Is made a
noekery. The men are becoming Inti
lols and atheists, and in many places
hey will not allow us to give comfort
»ven to their women.”
“Is It ns bnd as that?"
Father O'Malley shook his head sad
y. “You’ve no idea. What do you
hink of a people who forbid the men-'
ion of God’s name in their schools?
That is what the revolutionists are
Icing. Candeleria claims that the
•hurches are the property of the state.
Io <-onflscates them, and he charges
idmisslon. lie has banished all ex
’ept a few of us priests, and has
ihamefully persecuted our Sisters of
Viercy. Oh, the outrages! Mexico is,
oday, the blackest spot on the map
>f Christendom." His voice broke.
‘That is the freedom, the liberty, the
lemocrncy. for which they are figlit
ng. That is the new Mexico. And
he federals are not a bit better. This
jongorlo, for Instance, this—wolf—he
trings me here, as his prisoner, to sol
emnize an unholy marriage! He treats
ne like a dog. Last night I slept in a
ilthy hovel—”
“Oh! I’m sorry,” Alalre exclnimed.
‘But I’m half crazed with my own
troubles. You must come into the
loose; the best I have is yours. You
dial! be as much my guest as I can
nake you, nml—perhaps you will help
ne to escape.”
“Escape?” The little man smiled
Mournfully. “You are watched and
guarded, and so am I. Even if you
rot away from here, whnt then? You
•an't Imagine the condition of the
country.”
“I won’t marry him!” Alaire cried,
,vith a shudder. “I won’t 1”
“He can’t very well force you to do
w>. But remember, these are war
lines; the man is a fiend, and he puts
10 restraint upon his desires. If lie
s madly bent on having you, how cau
,’ou prevent it? In normal times he
vould not dare injure one so promi
ient as you, but now—” Father
| i’Malley lifted up his hands. “I only
! yonder that he suggests a lawful mar
•inge. Suppose you refuse? Will he
lot sacrifice you to his passions? He
ins done worse things.” After a mo
, nent’s consideration, he said: “Of
| murse it is possible that I misjudge
’ lim. Anyhow, if you desire me to do
io, I will refuse to perform the cere
Mony. But—I’m afraid it will just
liean ruin for both of us.”
“Surely he wouldn’t harm you?”
The father shrugged. “What am I?
\n obscure priest. Many of my broth
jrs are burled in Mexico. However,
l shall do us you wish.”
As the day wore on Alaire realized
?ven more clearly the fact that she
.vas Longorlo’p prisoner. His men, in
■ipite of their recent debauch, kept very
*?ood watch over her, and f was plain
that they would obey his orders, no
matter how extreme. It occurred to
her flnnlly that he was staying away
purposely, in order to give her a fui'er
appreciation of her position—so that
she might Jient her wings against the
cage until exhausted.
Afternoon came, then evening, ar.d
nUl~Longprlo did D.ot return. Fiith-'f
O’Sfalley could give scnnt comfort;
Dolores was a positive trial.
Half distracted, ATaire ronmed
through the house, awaiting her cap
tor’s coming, steeling herself for their
final battle. But the delay was trying;
she longed for the crisis to come, that
this terrible suspense might be ended.
At such an hour her thoughts natu
rally 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 I.as Palmas, but now it was n
j torture ; she called his name wildly, pas
sionately. He knew her whereabouts
and her peril—why did he not come?
Then, more calmly, she asked herself
what he, or what anyone, could do
for her. How could she look for suc
cor when two nations were at war?
Night had come before she tiuully
gave up and acknowledged the hope
lessness of her situation. She hud
1 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 stnmping of horses'
hoofs. The sounds were mutiled by
(lie heavy wooden shutters she had
taken pains to close and bar, but they
told her Longorio had returned. Since
It was futile to deny him entrai®e. she
waited where she was. Old Paneho’«
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 Gen
eral Longorio on important business.
He says you will do.”
“j..
“Yes. He says he is one of us—”
Pancho was pushed aside, the door
was flung back, and a man strode
swiftly into tlie lamplight. He paused,
blinking as if momentarily blinded, and
Alaire clutched at the nearest chair
for support. A roaring began in tier
ears; she felt herself sway forward as
,f (lie strength had lefl iter knees. She
heard Dave’s voice faintly; he was say
ng:
“Take care of my horse. Feed and
(vntor 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 be
She Heard Dave's Voice Faintly.
hind 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 cling
ing to her lover, laughing, weeping, |
feeling him over with shukiug hands
that would not be convinced of his
reality. She was aware of his kisses
uf»on her lips, her eyes, her hair; he
was saying something which she could
not understand because of thut roaring
in her ears.
“You heard me calling," she told him
at last. “Oh, I was—so frightened I”
She clung closer to him. After a time
she discovered thut she was mechanic
ally nodding and shaking her heud at
the questions he was putting to her,
but had only the vaguest idea what
they were. Ily and by she began to
tell him about Lougorio, speaking in a
sort of hypnotic murmur, as if her
words issued at his mental suggestion.
And till 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 1 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 gold him I was from
Monterey with important news. 1 don’t
remember all I did tell him. I tried to
get here lust night, but I had trouble.
They caught me, und I had to buy my
way through. I’ve bribed and bullied
nnd lied clear from Romero. I reckon
they couldn't imagine I’d risk being
here if I wasn’t a friend.”
It wus more Dave’s tone than his
words thut roused Alaire to an appre
ciation 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 pluus ended
here."
“Dave! You rode In just to find me!
Just to be with me?”
(Continued Next Week.)
MOTHERS VOTE UNDER 22 FLAGS i
Flags That Flcat
\ For Woman Suffrage
War Brings Woman’s Freedom
Nearer.
Flags of 22 nations waved before
the Senate of the United States on
April 20th, as a visible reminder that
all these nations have given full or
partial suffrage to the women of their
countries by parliamentary procedure.
The countries are: Great Britain, in
cluding Englr«id, Ireland, Scotland,
Wales, Canada, Australia, New Zeal
and, India, Honduras, South Africa;
Scandinavia, including Norway, Swe
den, Denmark, Finland, Iceland;
France; Russia; Netherlands, Mexico; 1
Porto Rico; Hawaii; Burmah.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt appeared
at the Senate hearing, in behalf of
the Federal Suffrage Amendment,
flanked by these 22 flags, as a con
crete illustration of the fact that in
no country except the United States
are women forced to seek political ;
freedom by referendum to a general i
I electorate.
| Since January 1, 1917. the franchise
has been conferred upon the women
of Ontario, CaQaUa, by act oi tne ,iu
vincial legislature.
Municipal Suffrage for French and
Italian Women.
After eleven years of waiting
French women have this year seen
their municipal sulfrage bill favorably
voted on by the Universal Suffrage
Committee of the Chamber of Depu
ties. This bill when passed, will give
French women municipal franchise ■
and municipal eligibility. Its reporter,
Pierre Etienne Plundin, deputy from 1
the Yonne, believes that its chances i
of passage are good and that, once
passed, the vote for national repre
sentatives will soon be added.
On May 5th, Premier Boselli of
Italy had this to say about the bill
for woman suffrage presented by
Deputy Muratelli to the Italian Parlia
ment: “As far as the vote for mu
nicipal elections is concerned I do
not think there can be either doubt
or delay in giving it on the same
conditions as it is given to men "
*"-’■■*++*** » + + ~ * +**+**++***S)
0 A few weeks ago. the president ][
1 of tiie Committee of Civil Assis-||
! tance. Signor Adolfo Appolloni,!!
’ made this appeal to the Italian !|
'! Minister, Signor Boselii: !|
11 “The women deserve the admir- o
1; aticn not simply of Home bui of ]■
I; all Italy. I>et us pay to women o
l; the same honors paid to men who |>
are lighting. Considering that our o
!| ancestors placed women in the ];
highest positions, surrounding ];
\ tiiem with the greatest reaped
o and privilege in the institution of ;
o the Vestal Virgins, we sliould aleo \\
s giie them a higher status, that ]|
o they tnay with enlliusiasni anil de- !|
;i votion, minister to tiie dearest o
; > and noblest of institutions—our l
;' country.” 1
W ^»###»»»»#*##*#**#»**#*»»*****»*
Russian Women's Enfranchisement
Will Be Demanded by the People.
In Russia, women will be included
in the revolutionary turnover. Assur
ance has come from Prince hvoff.
Premier of the Provisional Govern
ment,, that women are to help elect
delegates to the Constituent Assem
bly. “With such a radical change,"
says one dispatch, “full e^ension of
the franchise to them will follow
soon.” In the meanwhile at the Con
gress of Workers, Soldiers and Dele
gates held in Petrograd on April 17,
a report was adopted containing the
recommendation that “women shall
have the same voting right as men."
Minister Kerensky is ,a suffragist
and it is the opinion of Mr. J. G.
Ohsol. a member of the second Duma
now in this country, that the work
ingmen’s councils will insist that
since women have borne a leading
part in every revolutionary and edu
cations 1 movement in modern Russia
they shall be enfranchised at once.
“To deny thwe women even tem
porarily the right to vote on the future
of Russia.” says Mr. Ohsol, “will not
he tolerated by the masses,” It is
the opinion of Russian women of
prominence in this country that be
hind the Russian revolution i« the
shining promise of woman’s freedom.
On April 29th, Gustavos Losle, a
member of the German ReiclistaR
.ipenly advocated full woman suffrage
n Germany, “on the ground that it
was through the efforts of millions
of German women that the existence
of flip nation had been preserved.’’
A MERE SCRAP OF PAPER’
WOMAN’S WAR SERVICE
IN AGRICULTURE
Among the 2,000,000 suffragists now
mobilizing for war service, in response
to the call to the colors by Mrs. Carrie
Chapman Catt, president of the Na
tional American Woman Suffrage As
sociation, work on the soil seems to
be popular. The women are putting
their accustomed suffrage Initiative
and energy into the organization of
hoe and spade brigades—by no means
neglecting their suffrage work as they
dig and plant.
With the co-operation of State and
Federal authorities, already eight
states are in the vanguard for agri
cultural work.
Connecticut suffragists are setting
apart “patriotic lots” for every rural
and small town league. Upon a farm,
eight miles from Greenwich, belonging
to Miss Ryan and Miss Runtz-Rees.
will be established the Fairfield
County Camp Farming School. Here
an eight weeks’ course in practical
farming and care of stock is to be
given.
t
__
Costume for Suffrage Farmers. De
signed by Mrs. Ruth Litt, N. Y. .
State Chairman for Suf
frage Agriculture.
Under the direction of Mrs. Roth
Litt, state chairman of suffrage agri
culture, an extensive warfare in
trenches turned up by the peaceful
plow will be on the program for New
York State. Mrs. Litt i« a practical
farmer, managing for herself her
large estate, Jackwill Farm. East
i’atchogue, Long Island. She has de
signed one of the most practical of
the experimental service costumes for
women who are to do farm service.
New Jersey has the distinction of
containing the large farm, owned and
run by Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers, Na
tional Chairman for suffrage agricul
ture. New Jersey women suffragists;
are all for the mh^uty potato. They
are doing their bit '«*n lots set apart
for culture of the homely tubgr. and!
the pursuit of the potaty bug is t»
take the place of mnsquit^ warfare?
in New Jersey this year. Y-„ '
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
A CONSERVING RORC#v
Falling in line with the offer of war
service made by the National Ameri
can Woman Suffrage Association t<»
the President of the United States,
various sta^e suffrage associations
have called their members into real
and practical service.
The first act of the president of
the Nebraska State Suffrage Associa
tion. Mrs. W. E. Rarkley, was to line
up her members in suffrage thrift
clubs Many Nebraska home-makers
have been in the habit of ordering
in the summer, the winter’s supply
of vegetables and fruits from their
local grocers. This year the states
suffrage organization is awakening Sts;
members to the fact that Nebraska!
women can raise and put up their
own foodstuffs, and so free the pro»
dnre of the canning factories for ex
portation or for the arniv, wherever.
In fact, U will be moat needed.
i