The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-11-07
CHAPTER xv.-(continued.)

6enOr weston, the story Is VIGIL
told. but it will not serve with Vavara,
s1or It Ia lie. This woman is the
Sonora Glynn. I know. How could 1t
b otherwise? Surely this is true. l
have never understood-my men nave
nev0r Understandable manner IN
which we were surprised at the ford,
. surprise which cost us the life OF the
brave Cara. We supposed you slain
1ocause you were not with us. MOI
enc Of US saw you after the river was
reached and then you were In the rear,
whereas you should have been in front.
You say you have been for days at the
ranch BALCONIES. That can believe,
but that you were shot by our Amer
team friends do not believe. You may
Nell me that you have wound, but
.Self-inflicted wounds are common
among traitors. I accuse you here and
1ow OF giving secret information to
the gringo soldiers, of betraying us, OF
causing the death of comrade, of
seeking to rescue the Sonora without
Eansome. You have been false to the
cause of the band. Men, what is to do
oext?"
From twenty Threats came the an
ever: 1.-THE trial."
"And after the trial, what?"
upon conviction. death"
II. Vavara your chieftain, an the
Accuser. Arrest him"
The men closed in upon Weston who
stood passive, knowing that resistance
was vain. Lois had not understood
1.-THE of the talk, but when she saw
him grasped rudely and his arms
bound behind him, she comprehended.
She turned swiftly to Vavara with a
passionate protest, but he motioned to
the men, who Immediately drew Wes-
ton outside. Wheeling in the doorway
the clieftain faced her sternly, his
small figure drawn to its full height
q savage smile on his face:
Call honor shall be paid you Sc
,nora," he said, 'for you are precious
to US all. but you will do well to re-
main quiet. Even the prospect of ram
som may not be sufficient to restrain
some of my brave ones, who are much
angered by the traitor"
Indeed glance at the figures crowd
ting about her lover as they urged him
onward and a moments listening to
their stormy voices convinced her that
she would serve him and herself by
stiffness. She turned instinctively to
Jocosa. The Mexican girl was stand
ing In the rear room, her face sickly
white, her eyes Glazing. Two drops
Of blood from her bitten lip had fallen
upon the bosom of her gown. Her
form was tense, her fingers tightly
locked. She was breathing heavily
and half-crouched, as if a young
Ggress for spring.
'Vavara is a devil!" she said in a
hissing whisper. They will try my
dear friend your lover, senorita, and
they will shoot him. That is the
smuggiers' law for traitors He is not
q traitor-oh! no, no, never! But Va
vara can make them do as he wishes.
They will listen only to him and they
will say the things he wishes them to
. say. I know him and them. He is
lvil! But it must net be-"
All of the fine courage of Lois rose
TO meet this emergency. She did not
permit herself for a moment to reflect
upon the murderous outcome of it.
Weston must be saved. That was her
one thought. But how?
Go outside" she said to the girl.
'tMingle with the men and women.
Ascertain all that you can. Then
come here and tell me. Meanwhile
must think"
Jocosa was gone in an instant. Lois
closed and barred the door, sat down
and clasped her head in her hands.
Not half-hour before his kisses were
warm on her lips and now he was in
deadly peril. What was to be done ?
For five minutes thoughts whirled
through her brain with lightning
~swiftness. Then her New England
blood and training asserted themselves
and she set herself to find a way out
of the maze. There came to her first
the figure of Allyn. Then, like an in
spiration, followed memory of her
visit to the Seminole camp with Hard
ing and his kindly, earnest promise to
help a countrywoman. There was the
solution of the problem. In some way,
somehow, she must reach Harding. Jo-
ecosa raped lightly on the door. She
closed it and fastened it behind her
when admitted and said at once
He will be tried in the afternoon
and. II found guilty, will be sentenced
TO be shot tomorrow morning at sun
prfse. He will be found guilty. He is
guarded in a jacal at the far end OF
tthe camp" .
Y Jocosa, asked Lsds. "are you
ArAye!'s. s
mo said the GIRL. intent on e
instant .but \ .loYe him
DO ;you know athe. road we came
,tAls smorningsfso ON the ford?"
tAllrel e 81 Il Il
5s So hd Tho distance q i
~ To feagues. barely. = II
81 from there to the rancho
Aou6 n another league. nine miles
aaA from the rancho to Fort Clark
1uoGty miles; twenty -nins miles; fifty.
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