Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-09
a cHAPrER xxIv-toons,pued)

THERE was n somewhat prolonged
Il silence. during which Dave continued 20
stare at his prisoner with that same dis
quietlng expression why did you XIII
Don Eduardo7" he asked
~ Bah who says 7 killed him7'
Jose glared defiance. why are you look
ing at me7 Come Take me 10 jail " you
think that will do any good
IT'S lucky rode 20 Las Palmas this
morning. In another hour you would have
been across the Rio Grande-with Rosa and
all her fine clothes, eh7 Now you will be
hanged. Well, that Is how fortune goes"
The horse-breaker tossed his head and
shrugged with a brave assumption OF IN
difference; he laughed shortly You can
prove nothing
YES" continued Dave, "and Rosa will go
TO prison, too. Now-suppose I should let
you so? Would you help me? In ten min
utes you could be safe" lie inclined his
head toward the muddy. silent river out
side. Would you be willing to help me2'
Jose's brows lifted. whats this you are
saying?" he inquired eagerly.
Il would only ask you few questions"
What uuestions7"
Where is Sonora Austin2'
Joses face became blank II don't
know"
"Oh. yes, YOU do. She started for Ia
| Feria. But--dld she get there? or did
ANlkoTln nave otntI nldUs ltl Htl hNub
| better tell me the truth, for your general
can't help you now" Dave did his best to
| read the MeXcan's expression, but failed
| "Senor Eds death means nothing to me-
| he went on. hut I must know where his
| wife is. and I'm willing TO pay, with your
| liberty" In spite OF himself his anxiety
was plain.
| Jose exclaimed: 'Ho! understand
| He was in your way and you're glad to be
| rid Of him. Well, we have no business hght'
| ing with each other
viii you tell me--7"
ing"
Come I must know"
Jose laughed insolently.
Laws face became black with sudden
fury. His teeth barred themselves, He took
a step forward, crying;
by God You will tell me" set1ing
| his prisoner by the throat, he pinned him TO
the wall then with his free hand he cooked
Longorlo's revolver and thrust It's muzzle
| against Jose's body. Tell mel ne re-
peated. His countenance was so distorted,
his expression so manlaoal. that Jose telt
his hour had come. The latter, being IN
| all ways Mexican did not struggle; In
stead he squared 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 control OF him
SELF ana the muTdeT llent nlCheIcu Ou' VI h'e
eyes. He flung his prisoner aside ana cast
the revolver into a corner of the room.
Jose picked himself up. cursing his cap
tor eloquently. You Gringoes don't know
how TO die" he said. "Death2 Pahl We
must die some time. And supposing 1 &c
know something about the sonora, do yor
think you can force me TO speakT Iortur'
| wouldn't open my lips,
Law did not trust himself TO reply; anc
the horse breaker went on with growini
defiance:
II am innocent Of any crime therefor'
am brave. But you The blood OF IN
nocent men means nothing to you-Pannlo
| murder proves that--so complete your "oIh
| Make an end Of me-"
"Re stillm Dave commanded, thickly.
But the fellows hatred was out OF oound
| now, and by the bitterness OF his Vltupera
tion he seemed to invite death. Dave inter
rupted his vitrlolic curses 20 ask harshly
''will you tell me, or Will you force M
| to wiring the truth out of your
Jose answered by splitting at his captor
then he grtted an unspeakable epithet from
between his teeth.
Dave addressed him with an air o.
fnality. you killed that man and you
life is forfeit, so it doesn't make muci
| difference whether / take 1t or whether
the state takes II. You are brave enough
TO die-most of you MeXicans are-but tn
state can't force you TO gpeak. and l can
| lose sueered. "Oh yes, ] can! intend
| TO know all that you know, and II VII
be better for you to tell me voluntarily.
must learn where Sonora Austin Is, and
must learn quickly. IL | have to kill yoi
by inches to get the truth"
"sol Torture, eh? Good. I can believe
It OF you. Well, slow fire will not maxi
mo. A fire would be too easy, Jose"
"Eh?"
without answer Dave strode out of th
room. He was back before his prlsone
could do more than wrench at his bonds
and with him he brought his lariat and hi
canteen.
'What are you going to do7" Jose in
auired, backing away until he was ono
more at bay
"Pm going to give you a drink"
whisky? You think you can make m
drunk?" The horse-breaker laughed loudl!
but uneasily.
mot whisky; water. I'm going to Civ
| you a drink Of water"
what capers"
"When you've drunk enough you'll tel
! me why YOU killed your employer and wher
General Longorio has taken his wife. Yes
and anything else want to know" SeizinI
the amazed Mexican, Dave flung him upo
| Morales hard board bed, and in spite of tn
fellows struggles deftly made him fast
When he had hnished-and IL was no cas-
job-Jose lay "spread-eagled" upon his back
his wrists and ankles firmly bound to tn
head and foot posts, his body secured b.
a tight loop over his waist The rope Gu
painfully and brought a curse from tn
prisoner when he strained at II. Law sur
yeyed him with face of stone.
81 don't want 10 do this" he declared
= 'Thut 1 know your kind. I give you on
more chance. VIII you tell me?"
lose drew his lips back in a gnarl o
4 | rage and pain. and Dave realized that fur
. | ther words were useless. He felt a certai
: | pity for his victim and no little admiratio
= | for his courage, but such feelings were G
small consequence as against his agonizin
> fears for Alaire's safety. Had he In tn
least doubted Joses guilty knowledge 4
TonRorio's Intentions, Dave would have hes
y itated before employing the barbarous mea;
ures he had in mind but-there was nothln
J. else for Il. He pulled the canteen cork an
iammed the mouthpiece firmly TO Jose's lip
Closing the fellows nostrils with his FIRE
hand he forced him 20 drink