MVJBflJLNG OTiEJIM? SATOlm&X OCTOBER T 1918
mm
H EARJeSU N SET
JC
By Rex Beack
(CorrrUht 11.
Harper A Bros )
CHAPTER I
The Water Hole
m, breeze piayea "' ""'"
isshes. Tb n"1 eMth.' wher
I " ..... .tinniu of crrass.
."!!? v1.;,. It burned Ilk
.?Yxeept for a panting lizard
S SL or a dust-gray Jack rabbit.
fjwn Ua covert, notmng animate
rMiJU lC- HIW nnu mgiiuiiiH.
"jin iky a buxzaru poiaeu ; iuhb
lln -Z. .mnni! tha thorny
t and whistled, choked and
Hi WW . ,,i.,i. n dova
?!.,"m. and out of tho air
rlKhTK crles-the direction
Z cam as unascertalnable as
Zmrr was hidden.
a6 J " .. hatf.wav down
. MAlnd imtAmnrd.
fe,'.!-..fi.in .hade of tha spars
"""'.. HaI than a com-
llhelone woman who, refusing Ita
, UN '.""" .jj, atanrlllv nvnr
. '"XeT she dared not
7. v.. fittrat. resrardless of the
"... .mi limbs unused to walk-
RL OTtt BhB constantly assured
I ." i ,.ntn trrnilh failed.
;uPnaely..j?. kept her head
r . lalHkll llllllllCllL ICBUVH - vv
ISl apprehension, which clamored
afios. . knew -ha would
IZLltir worse and now, If ever.
r-U4 all her faculties. Somewhere
MaM-thward. perhaps a mile, perhaps
m distant lay " ; .
?tW country was a deadly and a
J? ... devoid of landmarks
Pae well-defined watercourses. The
..- ..ill. II. first snrlnr foil-
Banff meoMW,iw - j ,
Ambled a limitless peach orchard
i W some t'" -....-. -
(" . ... .(.aba fal.A Brrni
. vnAtu and low stony hills lifted
M so that one came, now and then,
... tmints where tho eye leaped for
tthuace across Imperceptible valleys
i so tar away t"t " o.i.i
, Jmbm were oienaea into u uuuion.
imn unutterably depressing, merely
r to reveal me Ynsmosa ui mo r
riwi mutt of such a rise she paused
FM!i the country carofully, but with-
imlL, sne Kit omiiy iur mo uwki
IflWt Ironi ner biivui, , ...j -- -
tnd,cry; me laivaniicu ihuuhujic
LMrnneers. iyhu ii "" D"
i.,1 lhAt she had done this very
HTtral tunes before, and her repeated
if friKhttnea ner, since n wtmcu
that her mind had been Bllghtly
.! br the heat That perhaps ox-
I why the distant horizon swam and
.4 .A
i in BMbablllty a man situated as sho
iVwli'have apokon aloud, tn an en
mt to 'steady himself i but this woman
littler of the sort. Seating herself
4mJt snaae sno couia irau it m
, , shad at all she closed her eyes
itiutd no easy thing to do tn such
the temperature and when her throat
iMUnff with drought.
BWtli she opened her eyes again, only1
, that she couia maxe oui noinins
r. undoubtedly she was lost; tno
WriB,Ightho anywhere. Bhe listened
, tsd'the Very air seemed to listen,
'rlh 1i,AvM Hushed their faint
i a nearby cactus held Its forty
r tm atert, while others more distant
I la the same harkenlng atutuae. it
i tfl tha woman that a- thousand cars
ltr!alng. with hers, yet no sound
lmt4 ouly the monotonous crescendo
Letnlnnendo of those locust cries com-
f A of nowhere and retreating Into the
, At, last, as If aatlsfled, the leaves
t to whisper softly again.
y to hr left lay tho yellow flood of
(JUo Grande, but the woman, though
Km to swing In that direction, knew
r Una to yield. At least twenty miles
rrtu lay between, and she told her-
tUt she could never cover such a dla-
fc No, the water hole was nearer; It
; In close at hand. If she could only
E a little mnr rlearlv. nho nnuld locata
iptxx more she tried, as she had tried
r times before, to recall the exact point
i ue naa shot her horse, ana to map
r mind's eve the foot-weary course sho
Ilnreled from that point onward.
wn travel was nothing now to her,
I a&d fatlffUA WArA nlri arjiiLilntanrfin.
! M oould not help wondering If, In
ot nr training, In spito of that ln-
,hhi or airectlon which she had
i herself upon sharing with the wild
JM. Snft WrA TAtAfl 1f hAmA n victim
Im'.ehaparraL The possibility was re-
, umo at tnis moment seemed as far
ejmrwif anything It was too far oft,
L SM Would find the water hola some.
I or the Unexnected would hannan. aa
TI did when one vu In dlra atralta.
r,to6 young and too strong to die
L not so easily won aa this.
-s. ne reaajusted the strap of the
f Wr bae over har HhnilMAr nnd Ihn
rtfW belt at her hip. then se( her
jii " eiope.
. uigcringiy. The sun gradually
I-. "i www i puma, roiirx irom
F merely emphasized the traveler's
i- muscular distress. Onward she
Bg ner eyes as carefully as she
OV. Bha watphiul tha Av.nin aii.
1 4o, thlnklnir to eiiMa hr.if hV
?!!' but Bh8 was not shrewd
m to read tha ir,. ,.,i.. n.u.
fck s- "" " W.,WI. Alio
Jj .i foun.a were old, for the most
' "va tney led In nn mrHmiiD. i..n
?? unlVng Into anything like a.
r Ia iiiiLV IJ " wuiu uwuft nor"
iitwiih0 bIood ot a Jack ntitoU
sat ?tLIp!1Unt nnd besides, she
." KOOd ahnt with . .. i ,
caetua off, . ..n. .
laat ,mr.. , . ' " aiiico it who
JJwnng Into bloom, and as yet.
m!L ?wn rd and huge when
f7i.hT "l?aK92. a'rt Bh ."-
leiic th. Ti. V"",S-..vi?J8a L8.""190 V
iu i-v ,r;,- " eno was iravei
, followed them gladly, enoour
.T" Wey wera Mnn . .v...
ey meand'.raT. .7' ,""'," .t'l''
rUT hade.mi.t i?.i .tta
I iSLjfi 51rot,on' . hurried on.
taaaivT a rii Von where the soil
Hk ar... .r"'y. eryea to cover
Ll aM":. .,0!r.."u"'
. " ,-" IW ML
fara
on
scattered
were raggedly silhouetted
"KU'well-deflned path now: h
I araat A.i "'". were heavy abe
"Sf;Lde1' """ hr breath made
""WDioinr ILntin. .- Ji i -
Maaa .. pTiT-ii ' . "" " ,BU worn
PtiSabrhri'i11 "boulder
U taSrTJlav,u,,?a own deollvlty
N iVi0",6".3.0 tr6M
yl i3. ? Me stony arrovo. tu
aTlt?fbIc'trt' were Boftened
RtWltal- ii.T."'." l R'f bad mdr
i 5iinaJ,.i ."7 Irwn b,u to
si t ""iftrrai had nuabaAj -
ic u9QnMTarszr ""
Jnw' tU brink a llttla
; UZ iw With a Vlaek.
- -wr UTAaLaaAtvtfuul J
ud thi-",.-7.-w"
. , "" -ia .H WOpaUaJl.
, IAMM
5T?t
4 tha
u-
ilKiSLs
WnaV
would have flung herself full length upon
the edge, but tho man stepped forward
and stayed her, then placed a tlncup tn
her hand. Bhe mumbled something In
answer to his greeting and the hoarse,
raven-llke croak In her voloe startled her:
then she drank, with trembling eagerness,
drenching the front of her dress. Tho
water was warm, but It was clean and
delicious.
"Easy now. Take your time," said the
man, as he refilled the cup. 'It won't gtve
Hhe knelt and wet her faoa and necki
tho sensation was so grateful that she was
tempted to fling herself bodily Into the pool.
The man was still talking, but she took no
heed of what he aald. Then at last she
Bank back, her feet curled under her, her
body sagging, her head drooping. She felt
tho stranger's hands beneath her arms, felt
herself lifted to a more comfortable post
Hon. Without asking permission, the
stranger unlaced first one, then the other
of her dusty boots, seeming hot to notice
her weak attempt at resistance. Once he
had placed her baro feet in the water, she
forgot her resentment In the intense re
lief. The man left her seated In a collapsed,
semiconscious state, and went back to his
flro. For some time she was too tired to
do more than refill the drinking cup occa
sionally, or to wet her fno nr.,1 nr. h
ns her pores drank greedily her exhaustion
icssoneu una ner vitality returned.
It was dark when for tha flrot tim ,.
turned her' head toward the camp Are and
stared curiously at the figure there. The
appetizing odor of broljjng bacon had
drawn her attention, and as If no move went
unnoticed the man said, without lifting his
"Let 'em soak! Suppertl be ready
directly. Ilow'd you like your eggs If we
had anyT"
Evidently he expected no reply, for after
a chuckle he began to whistle softly. In n
peculiarly clear and liquid tone, almost
like some bird call. Ho had spoken with
an unmlstakablo Texas drawl; the woman
put him down at once for a cowboy. Sho
settled her back against a boulder and
rested.
The pool had become black and mysteri
ous, the sky was studded with stars when
ho called her, and sho laboriously drew on'
her stockings and boots. Well back from
the flro he had arranred a nonf rnr ho
using a saddle blanket for a covering, and'
upon this she lowered herself stiffly. As
she did bo she took fuller notice of the
man, and found his appearance reassur
lng.
"I suppose you wonder how I happen
to be hero," she said.
"Now don't talk 'til you're rested, miss.
This coffeo is Btrong enough to walk on
Its hands, and Kreckon about two cups
of It'll rastle you Into shape." As she
raised tho tin mug to her lips he waved a
hand and smiled. "Drink hearty 1" He
set a plate of bread and bacon in her
lap, then opened a glass Jar of Jam. "Hero's
the'dulces I've got a sort of sweet tooth
In my head. I reckon you'll have to make
out with this, 'cause I rode in too late to
rustlo any fresh meat, and the delivery
wagon won't be 'round before mornlnir" So
aylhg, he withdrew to the fire.
' wwHiiiii ma ana aranK slowly. She
was too tired to ba hungry, and meanwhlld
the ypung man squatted upon his heels
,aijd watched her thrdugh the smoke from
a husk- cigarette. It was perhaps fortunate
for her peace of mind that she could not
correotly Interpret his expression, for had
Bhe been able to do so Bho would have
realized something of the turmoil Into which
her presence had thrown him. He was
accustomed to meeting men in unexpected
places even in tho desert's isolation but
to have a night camp In tha chaparral in
vaded by a young and unescorted woman,
to have a foot-soro goddess stumble out
of the dark and collapse into his arms,
was a unique experience and. one calculated
to aisiuro a person of his solitary hablta.
"Have you had your supper T" she finally
inquired.
"Who. meT Oh, I'll eat with the help."
He smiled, and when his flashing teeth
showed white against his leathery tan tho
woman decided he was not at all bad
looking. Ho was very tall and quite lean,
with the long legs of a horseman this lat
ter feature accentuated by his high-heeled
boots and by the short canvas cowboy
coat that reached only to his cartridge
belt His features she could not well make
out, for tho Are was little more than a
bed of coals, and ho fed It, Indian-like, with
a twig or two at a time.
"I beg your pardon. I'm selfish." She
extended her cup and plate as an Invitation
for him to share their contents. "Please
eat with me."
But he refused. "I ain't hungry," he
affirmed. "Honest I"
Accustomed as she was to the diffidence
of ranch hands, she refrained from urging
htm, and proceeded with her repast. When
she had finished sho lay back and watched
him as ho ate sparingly.
"My horse fell crossing the Arroyo
Grande," she announced, abruptly, 'lie
broke a leg, and I had to shoot, him."
-Is thero any water In the Orandsr
asked the man.
"No. They told me thero waa plenty.
I knew of this charco, so I made for It."
"Who told you thero waa water tn the
arroyoT"
'Those Mexicans at the little goat ranoh."
"Balll. So you walked in from Arroyo
Grando. Lord I It's a good ten miles
straightaway, and I reckon you came
crooked. Eh?"
"Yes. And it was very hot I waa never
hero but once, and the country looks dif
ferent when you'ro afoot."
"It certainly does," the man nodded. Than
he continued, musingly; "No water there,
ehT I figured thero might bo a little."
The fact appeared to please htm, for he
nodded again as ho went on with his meal.
"Not much rain down here, I reckon."
"Very little. Where are you froraf
"MoT Hebbronvllle. My name Is Law,"
Evidently, thought tho woman, this fellow
belonged to the East outfit, or some of the
other big cattle ranches In the Hebbronvllle
district. Probably ha was a range boss
or a foreman. After a time she said, "I
suppose tho nearest ranch Is that Ball!
placer
"Yes'm."
"I'd liko to borrow your horse."
Mr. Law stared Into his plate. "Well,
miss, I'm afraid '
She added, hastily, "I'll send you a fresh
one by Balll'a bey In the morning."
Ha lookedup at her from under the brim
of hla hat "DVou reckon you could And
that goat ranoh by starlight, mlsar
The woman was silent
" Ain't you Just about caught up on
traveling, for one day?" he asked, "I
reckon you need a good rest about as
muoh as anybody I ever saw. Tou ean
have my blanket, you know."
The prospect was unwelcome, yet she re
luctantly agreed. "Perhaps Then In tho
morning'' . .
Law shook his head. "I oan't loan yeu
my horse, ml Tve got to stay right here."
"But Balll's boy aould bring hliA baok,t
"I got to rot a awn."
"Hrr
"Yes'm."
"Wfesa )ttl ssr
"He ought U bs hers at sariy dark to
morrow .yeaiRg.' Hassles of hyr 4lsiar,
ha oojUtousd. "Yas's. about ?';"
"Put I et "r s' tTmwmm.jm
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Without a word he raised his right hand and cuffed tho Mexican to his knees,
"My man might come earlier than I ex
pect," Mr. Law persisted.
"Iteally, I can't see what difference It
would make. It wouldn't Intorfero with
your appointment to let me "
Law smiled slowly, and, betting his plate
aside, selected a fresh cigarette. Then as
he reached for a coal he explained:
" "I haven't got what you'd exactly call an
appointment This feller I'm expectln' Is a
Mexican, and day before yesterday ho killed
a roan over tn Jim Wells County. They got
me by phone at Hebbronvllle and told me
he'd left He's headln' for the border, and
he's due here about sundown, now Oiat Ar
royo Grande's dry. I was almtn to let you
ride his horse."
"Then you're an ofllcer?"
"Yes'm. Hanger. So you see I can't help
you to get homo till my man comes. Do
you live around here?" The speaker looked
up Inquiringly, and after an Instant's hesi
tation the woman said, quietly:
"I am Mrs. Austin." She was grateful
for the gloom that hid her. face. "I rode
out this way to examine, a tract of grazing
land."
It seemed fully a minute before the Rang
er answered. Then ho said in a casual
tone. "I reckon Las Palmas Is quite a
ranch, ma'am."
"Yes. But wo need more pasture."
"I know your La Verla ranch, too. I wis
with General Castro when wo had that
fight near thero."
"You were a Moderlsta?"
"Yes'm. Machine-gun man. That's a fine
country over there. Rooms like God Al
mighty got mixed up and put the Mexicans
on tho wrong side of the Rio Grande. But
I reckon you haven't seen much of La Ferla
since the last revolution broke out"
"No. We have tried to rematn neutral,
btft " Again she hesitated. "Mr. Austin
lias enemies. Fortunately, both sides have
spared La Ferla."
Law shrugged his broad shoulders. "Oh,
well, tho revolution Isn't over! A ranch In
Mexico is my Idea of a bad Investment"
He rose, and, taking his blanket sought a
favorable spot uppn which to spread It
Then ho helped Mrs. Austin to Jer feet
her muscles has stiffened until she could
barely stand after which he fetched hla
saddle for a pillow. He made no apologies
for his meager hospitality, nor did his guest
expect any.
When ho had staked out his horeo for the
night he returned to find the woman rolled
snugly In her covering, as In a cocoon. The
dying embers flickered Into flame and lit
her hair redly. Bho had laid off her felt
Stetson, and ono loosened braid lay over
her hard pillow. Thinking her asleep, Law
stood motionless, making no attempt to hide
his expression of wonderment until, unex
pectedly, she spoke. '
"What will you do with mo when your
Mexican comes?" she said.
"Well, ma'am. I reckon I'll bldo you out
In the brush till I tamo him. I hopo you
sleep weH."
Thank you. I'm used to tho open."
He nodded as .If he well knew that she
was; then, shaking out his sjlcker, turned
As'ho tar staring up through tho thorny
mosquito branches that roofed htm in
adequately from tho dew he marveled
mightily. A bright steady-burning star
peeped through the leaves at him, and aa
ho watohed It W remembered that this
red-baired woman with the still, whits faoe
was known ter and wide through the tower
vaiUy as "The Lone sKar," Wll, be
mused, tho nam fltud har; sho was, if
resorts war true, quits as myatarlous,
auka as 'sold and axed and uaspuroach-
as uu wa iioyiiw . awiwn o(
UtS.
a graceful bowl'
"You taught her
Mrs.
that
Austin
I pro-
knew something of her history, and to find
hor suing for hla protection was quite
thrilling. Tales of her palo beauty were
common and not tame, but Bhe waa all
and more than she hLd been described.
And yet why had no ono told him sho
waa so young? This woman's youth and
attractiveness amazed him; ho felt that ho
had mads a startling discovery. Was sho
so cold, nfter all, or was sho merely re
served? Red hair above a pure whlto
face; a woman's form wrapped In his
blanket; ripe red lips caressing the rim of
his mean drinking cupl Thoso were things
to think about Thoso wero pictures for
a lonely man.
Following his first amazement at be
holding her had como a fantastic ex
planation of her presenco for a moment
or two It had Beemed as If the fates had
taken heed of hla yearnings and had sent
her to him out of tho dusk wild fancies,
like these, bother men who are much alone.
Of course he had not dreamed that Bho
was tho mistress of Las Palmas. That
altered matters, and yet thoy were to
spend a long Idle day together. If tho
Mexican did not come, another night llKe
this would follow, and she was virtually
his prisoner. Perhaps, after all
Dave Law stirred nervously and sighed.
"Don't this beat hell?" ho murmured.
CHAPTER II
The Ambmh
ALATRH AUSTIN slept badly. Tha day's
jTi. hardships had left their traces. The
toxins of fatlguo not only poisoned her
muscles with aches and pains, but drugged
her brain and rendered the night a long
succession of tortures, during which Bhe
experienced for a second time the agonies
of thirst and fatigue and despair. Extreme
physical ordeals, like profound emotional
upheavals, leavo Imprints upon tho brain,
and while the body may recover quickly,
It often requires considerable time to rest
exhausted nerves. Tho finer tho nervous
organism, the slower is the process of re
cuperation. Like most normal women,
Alalre had a surprising amount of endur
ance, both nervous and muscular, but, hav
ing drwn heavily against Jier reserve
force, alio paid the penalty. During the
early hours of the night she slept hardly
at all, and as soon as her bodily discomfort
began to decrease her mind became unruly.
Twice she rose and limped to tha water
holo for a drink, and it was not until
nearly dawn that she dropped off Into com
plete unconsciousness. She was awakened
by a sunbeam which pierced her leafy shel
ter and with hot touch explored her up
turned face.
It was still early; the sun had Just
cleared the valley's rim and the ground was
damp with dew. Somewhere near by an
unfamiliar bird was sweetly trilling. Alalre
listened dreamily until the bird carol
Changed to the air of a familiar cowboy
song, then she sat up, queerly startled.
rjavld Law was watering his horse,
grooming the animal meanwhile with a bur
lap cloth. Such attention waa unusual In
a stock country where horiea run wild, but
this horse, Mrs, .Austin saw. Justified un
usual ears. It was a beautiful blood-biy
mare, and as the woman looked it llftsd Its
head, then with wet trembling muwle
caressed Its owner's cheek. Undoubtedly
Oils attention was meant for a kiss, and
was as daintily conferred as My .woman's
favor, It brought a reward la a Jump of
suear. There followed aa xhlbitlon of
eaulns (Uliarbti tha mare's llss twitohsd.
sr no wrlakUd ludicrously, sjss stretohad
f. n
ness tickled her palate. Even tha nervous
snitching of her tall was eloquent of pleas
ure. Mcanwhllo tho owner showed his white
teeth In a smile.
"Good-morning," said Mrs. Austin.
Law lifted his hat tn a graceful salute aa
ho approached around tho edgo of the pool,
his npurs Jingling musically, Thj maro
followed.
"You have a fine horse there."
"Yes'm. Her nnd mo get along nil right
I hopo wo didn't wnko you, ma'am."
"No. I was too tired to sleep well."
"Of course. I heard you stirring about
during the night" Law paused, and the
mare, with Bhnrp cars cocked forward,
looked over his shoulder Inquisitively.
"Tell the lady good-morning, Bosslo Belle,"
ho directed. Tho animal flung Its head high,
then stepped forward and, stretching Its
neck, sniffed doubtfully at the visitor.
' "What
laughed.
sumo,"
"Yes'm ! She'd never been to school when
I got her; sho was plumb Ignorant But
sho's got all tho airs of a fine lady now.
Sometimes I go without sugar, but Bcsslo
Bello never docs."
"And you with a sweet tootht"
Tho Ranger smiled pleasantly. "She's
as easy as a rockln'-chalr. We're kind of
sweethearts. Ain't we kid?" Again Bessie
Bello tossed her head high. "That's 'yes,'
with tho reverse English," the speaker ex
plained. "Now you Just rest yourself,
ma'am, and order your breakfast What'll
It bo quail, dove, or cottontail?"
"Why whatever you can get"
"That ain't tho kind of restaurant we run.
Bessie Bells would sure bo offended If
she understood you. Ever sco anybody call
a quail?"
"Can It really be done?"
Law's faco brightened. "You wait"
He led his mare down the nrroyo, then re
turned, and, taking his Winchester from
its scabbard, explained: "There's a pair of
'top-noto' on that Bldo hill waltln' for a
drink. Wotch 'em run Into my lap when
I give the distress signal ot our secret
order." lid skirted tho water hole, and
seated himself with his heels together and
his elbows propped upon his spread knees
In the military position for close shooting.
From where he sat he commanded an un
obstructed view of the thicket's odge. Next
he moistened his lips and uttered an In
describable low whistle. At Intervals he
repeated tho call, while tho woman looked
on with Interest Suddenly out of the grass
burst a blue quail, running with wings out
stretched and every feather ruflled angrily.
It paused, the man's cheeks snuggled
against the stock of his gun, and the bark
of the thirty-thirty sounded loudly, Mrs.
Austin saw that he had shot the little bird's
head off. Sho spoke, but he nulled her with
a gesture, threw in a second shell, and re
peated his magia call. Thero was a longer
wait this time, but Anally the performance
was repeated. The marksman rose, picked
up tho two birds, and came back to the
camping place.
"Kind of a low-down trick when they've
Just started housekeeping, al,n't It?" he
smiled.
Mrs. Austin saw that both crested heads
had been cleanly severed. "That Is quite
wonderful," she said. "You must be an
unusually good shot"
"Yes'm. You can fool turkeys the same
way Turkeys are easy."
"What do you say to them? What brings
them out all ruffled up?" che asked, curi
ously. Law had ono of the birds picked by this
time. "I tell 'em a snake has got me. I
reckon tach one thinks the other is in
trouble and comes to tho rescue. Anyhow,
it's a mighty mean trick,"
Ho would not permit her to help with the
breakfast to she lay back enjoying the
luxury of her hard bed and watching her
host whoso personality, now that she saw
him by daylight, had begun to challenco
her Interest. Of late years she had pur
posely avoided mon, and circumstances had
not permitted her to study thoso few she
had been forced to meet; but now that fate
had thrown her Into tho company of this
stranger, she permitted somo play to her
curiosity.
Physically Law was an admirable make
considerably over six feet in height with
wide shoulders and Joan, strong limbs.
Although his face was schooled to mask
all but the keenest emotions, the deftness
ot his movements was eloquent, betraying
that complete' muscular and nervous con
trol which comes from life In the open. A
pair1 of blue-gray, meditatlvo ryes, with a
whimsical fashion of wrinkling half-shut
when be talked, relieved a countenance that
otherwise would have been a trine grim
and somber, The nose was prominent snd
boldly arched, the ears large and pro
nounoed and standing wall away from the
head ; the mouth was thta-Msped and mobile,
Alalre tried to read tat bronzed visage,
wMh little sueosss until sha closed hr eyas
and rsgardea the mental image. Then she
found the answers Law had the face and
tas headof ,a hunter, The alert ears, tits
-watosXitlfsysa, the predatory noes vrcrs Ilka
bah aa assskS fiTHBtlnr f Miranl "Yea. that
SSSSB aSS, PSBBBS BBPBHSJT -; 4
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was decidedly ths strongest impression he
gave. And yet tn his face thero was noth
ing nnlmnl In a bad sense. Certainly tt
showed no groesness. The man was wild,
untamed, rather than sensual, and despite
his careless use ot tho plains vernacular
ho feemoil to be rather above the average
In education and Intelligence At any rate,
without being stupidly tongue-tied, he knew
enough to remain silent whon there was
nothing to say, and that was a blessing, for
Mrs. Austin herself was not talkative, and
Idle chatter distressed her.
On tho whole, when Alalre had finished
her nnalysls she rather resented the good
Impression Law had made upon her, for on
general principles she chose to dlsllko and
distrust men. Rising, sho walked pain
fully to the pond and made a leisurely
toilet
Breakfast was ready when sho returned,
and onoo mora ths man sat upon his heels
and smoked while she ate. Alalre could not
catch his eyes upon her, except when he
spoke, nt which time his gaze was direct
nnd open; yet never did she feel free from
his Intensest observation.
After' a while she remarked; Tm glad
to see a Ranger In this county. There
has been a lot of stealing down our way,
nnd the association men can't seem to stop
It Tcrhaps you can."
'Tho Rangers havo a reputation In that
line," he admitted. "But thero Is stealing
nil up nnd down tha border since tho war.
You lost any stuff?"
"Yea. Mostly horses."
"Sure t They need horses tn Mexico."
"Tho ranchers havo organized. They
havo formed a sort of vtgtlance committee
In each town, and talk of using blood
hounds."
"Bloodhounds atn't any good, outside of
novels. If beef got scarce, them greasers
would steal tho dogs and cat 'em." Ho
added, meditatively, "Dog ain't bad eatln',
either."
"Iinv you tried it?"
Mr. Law nodded. "It was better than
some of the army beef we got in the Philip
pines." Then, In answer to her unspoken
Inquiry, "Yes'm, I served an enlistment
there."
"You wero a private soldier ?"
"Yes'm."
Mrs. Austin was Incredulous, and yet she
could not well express her surnrlso without
too personal an implication. "I can't Im
nglno anybody that Is, a man liko you, as '
a common soldier."
"Well, I wasn't exactly that" ho grinned.
"No, I was about tho most uncommon sol
dier out there. I had a spcaktn' acquaint
ance, with most of the guardhouses in tho
islands before I got through."
"But why did you enlist a man like
you?"
"Why?" He pondered tho question. "I
was young. I guess I needed the excite
ment I havo to got about so' much or I
don't enjoy my food."
"Did you Join tho Maderlstas for excite
ment?" "Mostly. Then, too, I believed Panchlto
Madero was honent nnd would give the
peons land. An honest Mexican Is worth
flghtln' for anywhere. Tho pelados nro still
struggling for their land for that and a
chanco to llvej and work and be happy."
Mrs. Austin stirred impatiently. "They
nre fighting because thoy aro told to light
Thero is no patriotism In them, said she.
"I think," ho Baid, with grave dellberate
nesi, "tho majority feel something big nnd
vague nnd powerful stirring lnsldo them.
They don't know exactly what It Is, per
haps, but it Is there. Mexico has outgrown
hor dictators. They have been overthrown
by the name causes that brought on ths
French Revolution."
'The French Revolution I" Alalre leaned
forward, eying tha speaker with startled
Intensity. "You don't talk like a, liko an
enlisted man. What do you know about tho
French Revolution?"
Reaching for a coal, the Ranger epoke
without facing her. "I've read a good bit
ma'am, nnd I'm a noble listener. I re
member good, too. Why I had a picture of
tho Bastille once." He pronounced It "Bas
tllly," nnd his hearer settled back. "That
was soma calnbooBe, now, wasn't It?" A
moment later ho Inquired, Ingenuously, "I
don't supposo you ever saw that Bastille,
did you?"
"No. Only the place where It stood."
"Sho' I You must havo traveled right
smart for such a young lady." He beamed
amiably upon her.
"I was educated abroad, and I only came
home to bo married."
Law noted the lifeless way In which she
spoke, and he understood. "I'll bet you
hablar those French and German lingoes
like a native," ho ventured. "Beats me
how a porson can do It."
'Tou speak Spnnlsh, don't you?"
"Oh, yes. But I was born In Mexico,
as near as I can make out."
"And you probably speak some of tho
Filipino dialects?"
"Yes'm, a few."
Thero was something winning about this
young man's modesty, and something flat
tcrlng in his respectful admiration. He
seemed, also, to know his place, a fact
which was even moro In his favor. Un
doubtedly he had force and ability; prob
ably his love of adventure and a happy lack
ot settled purpose had led him to neglect
his mora commonplace opportunities and
sent him first Into the army and thence
Into tho Ranger eervlce. The world Is full
of such, and ths frontier is their gathering
place.
"Do you like to read?" she asked htm.
"Say I It's my favorite form of exer
cise," Law's blue-gray eyes were expres
sionless, his faco was bland. "Why?"
"I havo a groat many books at Las Pal
mas. You might enjoy somo of them."
"Now that's nlca of you, ma'am. Mebbe
I'll look Into this cattle-stealln' In your
neighborhood, and If I do I'll sure come
borrowln'."
"Oh, I'll send you a boxful when I get
back," said Alalre. and Davo thanked her
humbly.
Later, when ha went to move his maro
lntd a shady spot the Ranger chuckled and
slapped his thigh with his hat.
"Bessie Bello, we're going to improve
our minds," he said, aloud, "We're going
to be literary and read 'Pilgrim's Progress'
and 'Alice In Wonderland, I bot we'll enjoy
'em. eh? But doggone! Sho's a nice lady,
and your coat Is Just ths same color as her
Where tho ehado was densest and tho
breeze played moat freely, there Dave fixed
a comfortable couch for his guest and
during the heat of the forenoon sho dozed.
Asleep Bhe exercised upon him an even
more disturbing ePect than when awake,
for now ho could study her beauty deliber
ately, from the loose pile of warm, red hair
to tlfe narrow tight-laced boota Her slight
ly parted lips offered an Irresistible attrac
tion almost an Invitation; the heat had
lent a- feverish flush to her cheeks; Dave
could count the slow pulsations of her
white throat He closed his eyes and tried
to quell his unruly longings. He was a
strong man; adventurous days and nights
ppent in tho open had coarsened ths mas
culine sldo of his character, perhaps at ex
pense to his finer nature, for It is a human
.tendency to revert He was masterful asd
ruthless; lacking obligations or rsspoflsi-
mimes oc any sort, lie naa been
tomed to 'take what he wanted! therefor
the rae Its fixed upon ths slaaptng woman
betrayed an araur eaiouiatsa u aeapwi the
color l her shsslts had she beheld It
And yet, strangely enough, Dave rallsd
that ttls smetlons wore unaccountably
mixed. This woman's distress had. ot
coures, brought a prompt and asjtuwJ as-II
js-assej Mt swsr W tatssVstt sstsytsssf 1ft J L
his honor and htr utter dependence upon
him awoke his deepest chivalry. Then, too,
tho knowledgo that her life was unhappy.
Indeed tragto, filled htm with a sort ot won
dering pity. As ho continued to look at
her these feelings grew until finally ha
turned away his face. With his chin in hla
hands ho stared out somberly Into ths blind,
tng heat He had met fow women, ot late
years, and never one quite like this never
one, for instance, who made htm feel so dis
satisfied with hla own shortcomings.
After a while ho rose and withdrew to ths
shelter of nnother treo, there to content
himself with mental Imagos of his guest
But one cannot sleep well with a tropto
sun tn the heavens, and since there was
really nothing for her to do until tho heat
abated, Alalre, when she awoke, obliged,
tho Ranger to amuse her.
Although nho waa In fact younger than
he, married ltto had matured her, andisho
treated htm therefore Ilka a boy. Law did
not object Mrs. Austin's position In Ufa
was such that most men were humble tn
her presence, and now her superior wisdom
seemed to excite the Ranger's liveliest ad
miration. Only now and then, as If tn an
unguarded moment, did he appear to forgot
himself and speak with an authority equal
ing her own. What ho said at such times
indicated either a remarkably retentive
memory or else an ability to think along
original lines too rare among men ot his
kind to be easily credited.
For Instance, during a discussion ot ths
Mexican situation and of courso their talk
drifted thither, for at tho moment It was
the one vitally Interesting topio along the
border he excused the barbarous practices
of ths Mexican soldiers by saying:
"Of course, they're cruel, vindictive,
treacherous, but nfter all there aro only a
hundred nnd forty generations, between us
nnd Adam; only a hundred and forty life
times since the Garden of Eden. Wo civ
ilized peoples are only a lap or two ahead
nf tho uncivilized ones. When you thtnk
that It taken ten thousand generations to
ilovolop a plant and root out some of Its
early horodltles, you can see that human
beings havo a long way yet to go before
they becomo perfect Wo're creatures of
environment Just liko plants. Environment
1ms made tho Mexican what ho is."
Certainly this was an amazing speech
to Issue from a sun-browned cowboy sit
ting crossleggcd under a mesqulte tree.
From under her hat brim Alalre Austin
oye'd the speaker with a curiosity Into
which there had come a vague hostility.
For the moment she was suspicious and
piqued, but Law did not appear to notice,
nnd ns he talked on her doubts gradually
subsided.
"You Bald, last night that you were
born on tho other side?" She inclined her
ruddy head to tho wost
"Yes'm. My father was a mining man.
and he dono well over there until he locked
horns with tho Guadalupes. Old Bon En
rique and him had a run-In, "at the finish,
over somo land or something. It was when
the don was gobbling all tho property In
tho Stato nnd laying the foundation for
his big fortune. You know; ho 'had per
mission from the President to steal all tho
land ho cared to, Just like Jbo rest of those
local governors hat "Well, Guadalupe trlod
tu run my iJaujJio.uuw 4,
"Did ho succeed?"
"No'm. He killed 'cm. but they stayed."
"Not really?" The listener was shocked.
"American citizens, too?"
"Times wasn't much different then than
now. There's plenty of good Americans
been killed in Mexico and nothing dons
about It even In our day. I don't know
all the details never could get 'cm, either
for I was away at school; but after I
camo back from tho Philippines the Ma
dero fuss was Just brewing, so I went over
and Joined tt But tt didn't last long, and
thero wasn't enough fighting to suit me.
I'vo been back, oft nnd on, since, and I've
burned a good deal of Guadalupe property
and swum a good many head of Guada
lupo stock."
As tho morning progressed Law proved
himself an Interesting conapanlon, and In
spite of tho discomforts of tho situation
tho hours Bllppcd past rapidly. Luncheon
was a disagreeable meal, eaten while tho
arroyo baked and the heat devils danced on
tho hills; but the unpleasantness was of
brief duration, and Law always managed to
banish boredom. Nor did he seem to waste
n thought upon the nature of that grim
business which brought htm to this place
Quito tha contrary; tn tho afternoon he put
his mare through her tricks for Alalre'a
edification, and gossiped Idly of whatever
Interested his guest
Then aa tho sun edged to tho west and
Mrs. Austin became restless, ho saddled
Bessie Bello and led her down tho gulch
Into a safer covert
Returning, he carefully obliterated all
traces of the camp. Ho watered tho ashes
of tho flro, gathered up the tell-tale scraps
of paper and fragments ot food, and then
when tho place suited him fell to examin
ing his rifle.
Alalro watched him with Interest "Where
shall I go," sho asked, "and what shall I
do?"
"You Just pick out a good cover beyond
tho water holo and stay tljere, ma'am. It
may be a long wait for something may
havo happened. If so we'll havo to Ho
close. And don't worry yourself nonej..
ma'am ; ho won't make no trouble."
Tha afternoon drew to a closo. Gradu
ally the blinding white glare of the sun
lessened and yellowed, the shadow of ths
bluffs began to stretch out The shallow
pool lay silent deserted save 'for furtlva
little shapes that darted nervously out of
tho leaves, or for winged visitors that
dropped out of the atr.
With tho sunset there came tho sound
of hoofs upon loose stones, branches rustled
against breasting bodies, and Mrs. Austin
cowered low in her hiding place. But It ,
was only .the advanoo guard of a bunch of
brush cattlo coming to water. They paused
at alstance, and nothing except their
thirst finally overcamo their suspicions. Ono
by one they drifted Jnto sight drank warily
at the remotest edge of ths tanque, tnB, '
alarmed at somo Imaginary sight or sound,
went clattering up tha ravine.
Once again the water hole lay Bleeping,
Alalre'a retreat was far from comfort
able; thero was an ants' nest somewhere
near her and she thought of moving: but
suddenly her breath caurht and her heart
Jumped uncontrollably. She crouched low
er, for 'directly opposite her position, and
outlined against ths sky whero the shar
rldga cut it was the figure of a mounted
man. Rider and horse were silhouetted
against tho pearl-gray heaven 'like aa
equestrian statue. How long they had been "
there Alalro had no faintest noUoa. Var-'
haps It was their coming which had alarmed
the cattle. She was conscious that a ks
and hostile pair, of eyes was searohlng Us
coverts surrounding the obaroo.
Then, as silently as It had appaarei, Uts
apparition vanished beyond ths rldga, asjj
Alalre wondered If ths rider had 'talus '
alarm. Mm sariMstly hoped so; tfeuYtasaflk
less vigil "was getting on her nsryas, was)
ths sight ot that thraatanleg figure. bad sjsg
Iter pulses to throbW&g. The rider was 04
his guard, that was stain; be was armed,
too, and probably daapsrsU. t Ttn.8s.ilns, est
possibilities sjf this ambush struck Jk
forcibly, , 1
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! MONHAYS
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