ttEART
gftho A
SUNSET
r&? REX BEACn
Author of" The Spoilers, ” ** The Iron Trail/
**The Silver Horde” Etc.
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CHAPTER I—Set afoot and alone by an
Resident In the desen near the Rio Grande
Mrs. Alaire Austin, mistress of has Pal
■las and I -a Ferla randies, meets Da\ e
haw, Texas Ranger, at a water hole ;im
Is compelled to spend the night there witl
him, as he is in ambush for a murdeiei
and cannot leave hie post.
CHAPTER II—Next day at evening tin
murderer appears with a companion.
CHAPTER III—I.aw captures the mur
deter but is compelled to kill his com pan
ion, Panfllo Sanchez, who happens to b»
a cousin of Mrs. Austin's horsebreaker.
Jose Sanchez.
CHAPTER IV—At Las Palmas Alair*
tells her husband, Ed, that his carousal
and Inebriety must stop. Her catth
ut La Eeria, the Mexican ranch, are con
fiscated by IamgoriO, Mexican federal
general, and she finds that it is becaust
Ed has been helping the rebel Junta.
CHAPTER VI—Entertained at their
home by Blaze Jones and his daughter
Paloma, Have hears something about ttie
Tad Lewis outfit, which is suspected of
cattle stealing. With Ricardo Guzman and i
his boys Dave and Blaze go on a scout ;
after cattle thieves.
CHAPTER VII—Taw catches two of the I
Lewie outfit branding a stolen calf and in
a tight kills one atld has his horse shot j
under him. He trails the other thief to I
Las Palmas, where he is Insulted by Ed i
Austin, whom he knows to be very friend- |
ly with the Lewis outfit.
CHAPTER VIII—Lav follows tip 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 Longorio, 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 IawIs outfit. Ricardo Guzman
goes to Mexico to sell horses to the fed
erate.
“You do" speak their lnnKURRe,"
Alaire snld, after she hint wntched
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—Guzman does not re
lioa Mexico and his reported killing
arouses Americans. Dave and Blaze ar
range to go to Romero across the river
and recover the body. Jose hears that
Dave killed Panfllo and goes to Join I>on
gorto. Paloma and Alaire arrange to go
to the river to await the return of Blaze
and Dave. Longorio appears at Las Pal
mas with an escort and overhears Ed
telephoning newe of the trip after Guz
man to Tad Lewis.
CHAPTER XIII—Longorio compels Ed
to go to the river with hint. The girls
follow and hide In the pumphouse. The
Lewis outfit appears. When Blaze and
Dave cross the river a general ntlx-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 Is cooking op
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 Ourman Incident, comes
hack and Alalre decides to divorce him.
She writes to her lawyer and to Dave.
Jose curries Dave’s letter to Longorlo,
who orders him to kill Ed.
CHAPTER XVII—Alalre moves to di
vorce Ed. War with Mexico seems Immi
nent. Dave comes to the Jones home
sick. Strange warns him that Alalre Is
gone to I-a Ferla and Is In great danger.
CHAPTER XVIII—Dave goes to Las
Palmas and arrives Just after the murder
of Ed Austin.
CHAPTER XIX—He rounds up Jose,
gives him the water cure and gets from
him confession that he killed Ed, then
starts for La Ferla to protect Alalre,
whom he knows Longorto will capture. Ho
Instructs Blaze to give the whole matter
the widest publicity and to send Ellsworth
to Washington to sing battle hymns.
Alalre withdrew a step, and her
cheeks colored with anger. “General! '
she exclaimed, with some difficulty, “I
am amazed. This is no time—” Iter
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 par- !
don :iiy Impetuosity, but I urn a man of
tremendous force, and my life moves
swiftly. I urn not shackled by conven
tions—they are less than nothing to
me. If it seems to you that my eager
ness carries me away, remember that
war is upon us and that affairs of mo
ment press me so that I am compelled
to move like the lightning. With me,
senora, a day is a year. The past is
goner the present is here, the future
rushes forward to meet us.”
“Indeed, you forgot 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. “Walt! It is
impossible for you to leave here."
Alalre stared at him incredulously.
“It is true. Mexico is u seething cal
dron of hate; the country Is convulsed.
It would be unsafe for you.”
“Do you mean to say thut war hus
been declared?”
“Practlcully.”
“What—? You are telling me the
tjrthJ" A moment, tlien ^lulro con
tinned, more calmly, “If that is so,
there is all tlie more reason why I
should lose no time.”
“Listen!” The general was deeply
in earnest. “You have no conception
of the chaos out there.” lie waved a
comprehensive gesture. “If the explo
sion has not come, it will come within
a few hours. That is why 1 flew to
your side. Battleships are hurrying to
ward our coast, troops are massing
ngain'd our border, atnl Mexico h;r
risen like one man. The people are in
i frenzy ; they are out of hounds; there
is sack and pillage in the cities. Ameri
cans are objects of violence every
where and the peons are frantic.” lb
naused impressively. “We face the
greatest upheaval of history.”
“Then why are you here?” Alaire de
manded. “This is no place for you at
such a moment.”
Longorlo came closer to nor, ami ms
oice trembled as he said: “Angel of
ny soul, my place is at your side.”
Again she recoiled, but with a fervor
| ie had never dared display he rushed
I >n heedlessly. “I have told you 1
I darken only to my heart; that for one
! mile from you 1 would behead myself;
hat for your favor I would betray my
fatherland; that for your kiss I would
face damnation. Well, I ain here at
your side. The deluge comes, but you
dnill be unharmed.” lie would not per
mit her to check him, crying: “Walt!
You must hear me through, senora, so
that you may comprehend fully why I
am forced to speak at this time. Out
of this coining struggle I shall emerge
a heroic figure. Now that Mexico
unites, she will triumph, and of nil her
victorious sons the name of Luis Lon
goria will he sung the loudest, for upon
him more thun upon any other depends
the republic’s salvation. I do not boast.
I merely state facts, for I have made
all my plans, nnd tomorrow I put them
into effect. That Is why I cannot wait
to speak. The struggle will be long,
but you shall he my guiding star in the
hours of darkness.”
Uiui«*r other circumstances the man s
magnificent egotism might have pro
voked a smile. And yet, for all Its
grandiloquence, there was something
in his speech thut rang hard and true.
Unquestionably Longorio was danger
ous—a real personality, and no mere
swaggering pretender. Alaire felt a
certain reluctnnt respect for him, and
at the same time a touch of chilling
fear such as she had hardly experi
enced before. She faced him silently
for a moment; then site 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!"
“?fo, no!” He made a gesture of de
nial. “How ridiculous 1 I merely keep
you from certain destruction. You can
not go by train, because the railroad
lias suspended public service, nor can
you ride or drive. I tell you, senora.
the people are aroused. For the mo
ment you must accept my protection,
whether you wish to or not. Tomor
row”-—Longorio smiled warmly, mean
ingly—“perhaps you will not be in such
haste to refuse it, or to leave La Ferla.
Wait until you understand me better.
Then— Hut enough of this. You are
unstrung, you wish to be alone with
your thoughts, and what I have to saj
can wait for a few hours. In the mean
time, may I beg tin* hospitality of your
ranch for myself and my men?”
Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Lon
gorio saluted her lingers in his cus
tomary manner, and then, with a look
eloquent of things unsaid, he went out
to see to the comfort of his command.
Aluire sank into the nearest chair,
tier nerves quivering, her mind in a tur
moil. This Mexican was detestable,
and he was fur from being the mere
maker of audaciously gallant speeches,
the poetically fervent wooer of every
pretty woman, she had blindly sup
posed him. His was no sham ardor;
the man was hotly, horribly in earnest.
There had been a glint of madness in
Ids eyes. And he actually seemed t<>
think that she shared his infatuation.
It was Intolerable. Yet Longorio, she
was sure, had an abundance of discre
tion; he would not dare to offer her
violence. He bad pride, too; and in
ids way he was something of n gen
tleraan. So far, she had avoided giv
ing him offense. Hut If once she t jade
plain to him how utterly loathsome to
her was his pursuit, she was sure that
lie 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 wdnjj
1 hood. Even yet she could not wholly
credit the fact that Ed's wasted life
had come to an end and that sh" was
I free to make the most of her own.
Alaire remembered her husband now
with more tenderness, more charity,
1 than she would have believed possible,
and it seemed to her pitiful that on • so
blessed with opportunity should have
worked such lmvoc with himself and
with those near to him.
Doubtless It vyus alj a jmrl of §>
providential scheme, too blind for her
to solve. Perhaps, indeed, his own
trials had been designed to the end
that her greater, truer love, when it
did come, would find her ripe, respon
sive, ready. As for this Mexican gen
eral, she would put ldiu in his place.
Alaire was still walking the ttoor
of her chninber when Dolores entered,
at dusk, to say that supper was ready
and that General Longorio was wait
ing.
“Ask him to excuse me,” she told
her servant.
Rut Longorio himself spoke from the
next room, saying: “Senoru, I beg of
you to honor me. I have much of im
portance to say, and time presses. Con
trol your grief and give me the pleas
ure of your company.”
After an instant’s consideration
Alaire yielded. It was best to have
the matter over with, once foe all.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Doors of Paradise.
Alaire began the mockery of playing
hostess with extreme distaste, and as
(lie meal progressed site experienced
a growing uneasiness. Longorio’s bear
ing laid changed since his arrival. He
was still extravagantly courteous,
beautifully attentive; he maintained
a flow of conversation that relieved her
<if any effort, and yet he displayed a
repressed excitement that was disturb
ing. In his eyes there was a gloating
look of possession hard to endure. De
spite her Icy formality, he appeared
to be holding himself within the
hounds of propriety only by an effort
of the will, and she was not surprised
when, at the conclusion of the meal,
he east restraint aside.
She mu not let huu go tar with tua
wooing netore warning min: "t 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 lu
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 sen
timent! You did not love your hus
band. You were for years his pris
oner. 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 luive dreamed of nothing else
ever since. Well, Providence opened
the doors and set you free; God gave
heed to my pruyers and delivered you
to me. Now you pretend to grieve at
your deliverance; you ask me to re
spect the memory of your jailer! De
cency? Delicacy? What are they ex
cept artificialities, which vanish in
times of stress? Alexander the Great,
Caesar, Napoleon, Portirlo Diaz—they
were strong, purposeful men; they
lived as I live. Senora, you dally with
love.”
Alnire’s face was white with anger
ns she replied: “Y'ou cause me to for
get that you are piy 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
lo take advantage of my bereave
ment?”
After n moment’s consideration, Lon
gorlo began haltingly: “I don’t know
what kind of a man I am, for you have
changed me so. There was a time—
7 'I
IVAltov
VAI>'/VT/Wl?*—'
"What Kind of Man Are You to Take
Advantage of My Bereavement?"
I—I have done tilings— I luive scorned
till restraint, nil laws except those of
my desires, and so, perhaps, I am a
vandal. Make sure of this, however—
I shall not injure you. Mexico 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 be
ing dissolves, my veins are afire with
longing for you; I am mad with the
knowledge that you are mine. Mad?
Oarambu! I am insane; my mind tot
ters; I grope my way like a man
blinded by a dazzling light; I suffer
agonies. Hut see! I refuse to touch
you. I am a giant in my restraint.
The strength of heroes is mine, and
[ strangle my Impulses ns they are
born, although the effort kills me. Se
noru, I await the moment of your vol
untary 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 l % hawfe 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. I must have you all,
and so I waft, trembling. I say this
so badly that I doubt if you under
stand. Listen, then: to possess you
by force would be—well, as if I sacked
n cathedral of its golden images and
expected to gain heaven by clutching
the cross in my arms. Senora, in
you I see the priceless jewel of my
love, which I shall wear to dazzle the
world, and without which I shall de
stroy myself. Now let me tell you
what I can offer you, what setting I
can build for this treasure. Marriage
with Luis Longorlo—”
Alaire could not control a start.
As If (inlckened by his intensity, the
man read her thought. “You did not
imagine that I offered you anything
less?”
"What was I to think? Your repu
tation—”
"Blood of my heart !” breathed the
general. “So! That is what you meant
a moment agr. That is why you re
fuse my embraces. No, no! Other
women have feared me, and I have
laughed in their hair as they tore at
my arms, hut you—you will he my
wife, and all Mexico shall how at your
feet.” lie checked Iter denial with a
gesture. "Wait until I tell you the
vision T have seen during tltese da vs
of despair. I see Mexico made whole
by my hands; a land of peace an!
plenty; a people with one name upon
their lips—the name of Longorlo th»
Deliverer; and you as the first lady
of them all. You know me for a man
of tremendous ability in every line.
Well, 1 know myself, too. I have meas
ured myself carefully, find I luive no
weakness. There is no other like me. |
Rancho Gomez? Bah ! Me is a red- |
handed bandit of no culture. Can-1
delerin, his chief? The idol of the it;- :
norant and a dreamer of no force.
I'otosi? He is president today, but
what of tomorrow? Those who sur
round hint 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 mili
tary genius who checks the Yankee
hordes and saves the fatherland? 1
am he. Fate points the i>ath of glory
and I am her man of destiny. You
see, then, what I bring you—power,
position, riches. Riches? Carambu!
Walt until my hands are in the treas
ury. I will load you with gold and
jewels, and I will make you the rich
est woman in the world. Senora, I
offer you dominion. 1 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 ex
pected an Immediate surrender.
Alalre’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 ex
pression plainly showed that he could
not imagine any woman in her senses
falling 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
Y’our modesty forbids you to acknowl
edge your love—is that it? Well, I know
that you admire me, for I can see it.
All women admire me, and they nil
end by loving me.” Ills chest arched
Imperceptibly; with a slender finger
he delicately smoothed his black eye
brows. Alaire felt a wild impulse to
laugh, but was glad she had subdued
it when he continued. "I am impetuous,
but impetuosity hns made me what I
am. I act, and then mold fate to suit
my own ends. Opportunity hns de
livered 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 J
will marry us tonight.”
Ainfre m&nagod to jrnsp, “Surely yon
are not In earnest." •
“Indeed I am! That Is why I Insist
ed that you dine with me this evening.
I cannot waste more time here, for
necessity calls me away. You shall go
ns my wife.”
“Do you think I would remarry on
the very dny I find myself a widow?”
“The world will never know.”
“You dare to say that!" Her tone
was one of disgust, of finality. “I won
der 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 con
tent 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,
hut you force me to tell you that I hate
you.”
Longorlo 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
nil 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 te refused. You wish me to tame
yoUj.eh? Xou have found jmur
master. Make your choice, then.
Which shall it be, surrender or—com
pulsion?”
“So! You have heen lying, ns I
thought. Compulsion! Now the real
Longorio speaks.”
He flung up his hands ns 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 ns
a perfect woman; site must lend pres
tige to his name. When I speak of
compulsion, then, I mean the right of
a husband—’’
Alalre uttered an exclamation of dis
gust and turned away, but lie inter
cepted her, saying: “You cannot hold
me at bay. It is destiny. You shall tie
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 yoti 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 protec
tion of my name.”
"Then I shall never leave it," she
told him.
For the first time Longorio spoke
roughly: “I lose patience. In Ood’s
name have I not waited long enough?
My strength is gone.” Impulsively he
half encircled her with his thin arms,
hut she seemed armored with ice, and
he dropped them. She could hear him
grind his teeth. “I dare not lay hands
upon you,” lie chattered. “Angel of
my dreams, I am fuiQt with longing.
To love you and yet to be denied; to
feel myself aflame and yet to see you
eold; to he halted at the very doors
of Paradise! What torture!”
The fellow’s self-control in the
midst of his frenzy frightened Alaire
rnore-than did his wildest avowals; it
was in something of a panic that she
said:
“One moment you tell me I nm safe,
the next yon threaten me. You say 1
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,
hut half-way across the floor he was
halted by a woman's shriek which Is
sued from somewhere Inside the house.
It was repeated. There was an out
burst In a masculine voice, then the
patter of footsteps approaching down
the tiled hallway. Dolores hurst Into
her mistress’ presence, her face
blanched, her hair disordered. She
flung herself Into Alalre’s arms, cry
ing:
“Senora! Save me I God’s curse
on the ruffian. Oh—"
“Dolores!” Alaire exclaimed. “What
has happened?”
Longorlo demanded. Irritably: "Yes.
Why are you yelling like this?”
“A man— See! One of those dirty
peladors. Look where he tore my
dress! I warned him, hut he was like
a tiger. Benito will kill him 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 fol
lowed 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. My money!”
“A soldier? One of my men?” Lon
goria was incredulous.
Alaire turned upon him with a blaz
ing anger in her face. “Is this more
of your protection ?” she stormed. “1
give you ami your men the freedom of
my ranch, and you insult me while
they rob my women.”
He ignored her accusation, inquiring
of the elder woman, “Who was the fel
low?” *■
“How do I know,” Dolores sobbed.
“He is a—a thick, black fellow with a
scar on his Up, like h snarl.”
“Felipe!”
j es. renpet x Deneve they caned
Jiini that.”
I.ongorio strode to (he end of tin*
living room, tiling open the wooden
shutters of n window, and, leaning far
out, whistled sharply on his fingers.
“Olga! Tentente! Ho, you fel
lows !” he shouted.
From the darkness a volee an
swered; a man, evidently on guard,
came running.
“Call old I’aneho,” the general di
rected. “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 ac
coutrements as the sentry trotted
away. , -
Dolores had completely broken down
now, and Alaire was trying to comfort
her. Their guest remained by the win
dow, frowning. After a time there !
sounded a murmur of voices, then a
shuttling of feet in the hall; Alai re’s I
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 uni
form was pushed forward; and Dolores
hid her face against her mistress’
shoulder.
“Is this the fellow'?” Longorio in- j
qnlred.
Dolores nodded.
“Well, what have you to say for
yourself?” The general transfixed his
trooper with n stare; then, as the lat
ter seemed bereft of his voice, “Why
did you enter this house?”
_£'elljje moistened, his gearred lips.
"That woman has rings of gold. She's
not so old, either, when you come to
“Well, What Have You to Say for
Your«elf7"
look at her.” He grinned at his com
rades, who hud crowded in behind old
Poncho.
“So! Let us go outside and learn
more about this.” Longorio waved his
men before him, nnd followed them out
of the room and down the hall nnd
Into the night.
When a moment or two had drugged
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 gun
shot. deadened indeed by the thick
adobe walls of the house, yet sudden
und loud enough to startle the women.
When Longorio reappeared, he found
Alaire standing stiff and white aguinst
the wall, with Dolores kneeling, her
face still buried in her mistress' gown.
“(Jive yourself no concern," he told
them, quickly. “1 beg a thousand par
dons for Felipe. Henceforth no on«
will molest yon.”
“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 he Arm.
Now your woman Is badly frightened.
Send her away so. that we may reach
on 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 T see you, too,
are unstrung. Very well 1 My -offalra
will have to wait. 'Take a few- hour*
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 t«-sleep?”
“Please,” he begged. “Beaitty Is like
a delicate flower, and sleep is the dew
that freshens it. Believe me. you can
rest In all spcnrity, for no one con
come or go without my consent. You
are cruel to postpone mv delight; nev
ertheless. I yield to your feelings. But,
star of my life, I shall dream of yon.
and of that little priest who watts with
the key to Paradise in his hands.”
lie bowed over Alnire’s cold Angers,
then stood erect until she and ttolorea
had gone.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Prleet From Monelo'vft.
Tlmt was a night of terror for the
women. Although Longoria's disci
pline wss In some ways strict. In oth
ers It was extremely lax. From some
qunrter his men had secured a supply
of mescal, and, forgetful of Felipe’s
unhappy fate, they rendered the hours
hideous. There were singing and quar
reling, and a shot or two sounded from
the direction of the outbuildings. Morn
ing found both Alnlre and Polores
sadly overwrought. But they felt
some relief upon learning that the gen
eral had been unexpectedly summoned
from his bed at daylight, and had rid
den to the telegraph office.
Profiting by Ids absence. Alaire ven
tured 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 build
ings, recovering from the night’s de
bauch; and an armed sentinel who
paced the hacienda road gave evidence
tlmt, despite their apparent careless
ness, they had by no means relaxed
their vigilance. A round of the prem
ise's convinced Alaire that the place
was actually guarded, and showed her
the futility of trying to sllp*>BVfty. She
realized, too, that even If she ipannged
to do so, her plight would he little
better. Fop how could she hope to
cover the hundred miles between L»
Ferla 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 lleutennnt, bade her
good morning and paused to smoke si
cigarette. $*
“Well, It was a great night, hasn’t
It?" he began. "Aqd wP have great
news this morning. , W« are gping to
light you gringos.”
"I hope not.” I
"Yes; It will probably go hard with
you. Tell ine, this city of Washington
is n fine city, and very rldli, is it not?’*
"Oh, yes.” *
(Continued Next Weck-J