Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-26


erly love and universal peace. Bah We're
bound to have war, Dave, some day or
other Why not start II nowT"
Dave nodded his agreement Yes We'll
have TO step In and take the country over.
sooner or later. But--everybody has the
wrong idea OF this GuIman killing The
Federal officers in Romero didnt frame Il
up"
"NoG who didG"
Tad Lewis"
Jones started. what makes you think
tknt3"
Listen Tad was afraid to let Urbina
come to trial--you remember one OF his
men boasted that the case would never be
heard3 Well. II won't. Ricardo's dead and
the other witness is gone Now draw your
own conclusions"
Gomez You mean the fellow who saw
Urblna and Cara together"
Yes. He has disappeared, too--evidently
frightened away"
Jones was amazed Say, Dave" he
cried, that means your case has blown up.
eh7"
Absolutely. Lewis has been selling wet
stock 20 Federals, and he probably arranged
with some of them to murder Ricardo, At
any rate, that's my theory"
Blaze cursed eloauently ia like 10
hang II on TO Tad I'd sure clean house
down his way II was positive"
II sent a man over TO Romero" Dave
explained further He tells me Ricardo
Is dead. all right; but nobody knows how
n died or why There's new grave In
the little cemetery above the town, but no.
body knows who's buried in II. There
hasn't been a death in Romero lately" The
speaker watched his friend closely Ri
cardo's family would like 10 have his body.
and I'd like to see II myself. wouldn't your
We could tell just what happened 10 him.
IL he really faced firing squad, for in
stance reckon Washington would have
something to say, eh5'
What are you amin att" Blaze in
quired.
"If we had Rlcardo's body on this side
II would put an end to all the lies. and
perhaps force Colonel Blanco to make
known the real facts. II might even mean
a case against Tad Lewis What do you
think OF my reasoning?"
ITS eighteen karat. What d'you say
go over there and get Ricardo?'
Dave smiled. That's what I've been
leading up to. VIII you take chance1"
Hell, yes!'
81 knew you would All we need is
pair OF Mexicans to--do the work. liked
Ricardo l owe him something"
Suppose we're caughtr'
"In that case Wen have TO run for H. and
Il presume I'll be discharged from the
Ranger service"
Mexcans." BlaZe's eyes were bright and
hard at the thought. ITS moro'n possible
that II they discover u.s. we can start
nice little war of our own"
That evening Dave managed 10 get his
Ranger captain by long-distance telephone,
and for some time the two talked guarded
ly. When Dave rang on they had come to
a thorough understanding.
II had been an easy matter for Jose
Sarchez to secure leave OF absence from
Las Palmas especially since Bentto was
| not a little interested In the unexplained
| disappearance of Panfilo and work was
| light at this time.
Benlto dii net think Il necessary to men
tion the horse breakers Journey to his en-
| ployer so that Alaire knew nothing what
| ever about the matter until Jose himself
asked permission to see he- on a matter Of
| Importance.
The man had ridden hard most OF the
| previous night, and his excitement was
| patent. Evon before he spoke Alaire real
| lied that Panfilo's fate was known to him,
and she decided swiftly that there must be
no further Concealment.
Sonora! a terrible thlng!" Jose burst
| forth. God Knows, | am nearly mad with
| grief II is about my saintod cousin. IL In
strange, uni elievable My head whirls--"
Alaire qu'eted him, saying in Spanish,
| Calm yourself. Jose. ana tell me every
thing from the beginning"
But how can l be calm? oh. what a
| Panfilo is completely dead. rode to that
| tanque where you saw him last. and what
do you think? But-you known
Alaire nodded. 'I-suspected."
Joses dark face blazed he bent forward
eagerly. What did you suspect. and why7
Tell me all. There Is something black and
hellish here. and | must know about II
quickly
Suppose you tell me your story FIRST"
Alaire answered, 'and remember that you
are excited
The Mexican lowered his voice "Bueno |
Forgive me II I seem half crazed. Well.
| rode TO that water hole and found-nothing.
IL Is lonely place: only the brush cattle
use II but l said TO myself, Panhlo drank
here. He was alive. Beyond there is moth
| Ing. So l will begin God was my helper.
sonora, | found him-his bones as naked
and clean as pebbles Caramba You
should have heard me then ] was like a
demon! | couldn't think. I couldn't reason.
! rode from that accursed spot II Pan
| flo's ghost pursued me anG-I am here
shall rouse the country; the people shall
demand the tlood OF my cousins assassin.
IL Is the crime Of a century"
| walt When you spoke TO me last
| didn't dream that Panfilo was dead, but
since then | have learned the truth. and
| why ne was killed. You must let me tell
you everything, Jose. just as II happened /;
| then-you may do whatever you think best
And you shall have the whole truth"
IL was trying situation in spite OF her
brave beginning, Alaire was tempted to
send the Mexican on 10 Jonesvlle. there
| TO receive an explanation directly from
David Law himself but such a course she
| dared not fihk Jose Was indeed half
| crRzed. and at this moment quite irrespon-
slble II he met Dave. terrible consequences
| would surely follow. Accordingly, II was
with peculiar, apprehensive nutter in her
breast that A'aire realized tho crisis had
| come. Heretofore she had blamed Law bu.
now. oddly enough, she found herself In
terested In defending him. As calmly as
| she could sha related all that had led up 10
the tragedy, while Jose listened with eyes
wide and mouth open.
you see, i had no suspicion OF the
| truth" she concluded "It was a terrible
thing. and Lar. Law regrets II deeply. He
would have made a report 10 the authori-
ties, only-he feared II might smbarrass
me. He viii repeat 10 you all that have
said. and he is ready to meet the conse-
quences."
Jose was torn with rage. yet plainly a
prey 10 indeoiRlon; no rolled his eyes and
cursed under his breath, These Rangers 70
Ihe muttered. That is the kind OF men they
are They murder honest people"