Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-30

when bloxe Jones ana bnNe Inv ~"
countered the Lewis gang; the presence ot
Lcngorlo's soldiers merely made more GER
tan the outcome OF that meeting. Tho
general was furious. u was plain that ne
would not tolerate this expedition. the
avowed purpose OF which was TO prove him
n liar
II would make but little difference there
fore whether the quest for Ricardo ous-
mans body had been successful or not
even the fact that this was American soil
would not deter Longorio from violent ec-
ton, for the Rio Orande was no real bound
ary. and this part OF Texas was as truly
Mexican as that other river bank which lay
400 yards distant
A confusion OF such thoughts was racing
TIN ough Alalre's mind as she felt her way
out OF the boiler room and into that part
OF the building where the pumping machln-
cry stood. Dusty. cobwebbed windows let
In faint ghost-glow OF moonlight, but pre-
vented clear observation OF anything out
side Alalrc's fumbling fingers found the
letch Of the front door and began TO Int H.
when some one spoke Just outside the build
ing.
what did you discover" inquired n
voice which neither woman recognized. "a
Iona clutched blindly for her COMPANION
the two eavesdroppers stood rooted In their
tracks The pounding OF their hearts
sounded loudly. Since the building was 1T
tie more than wooden she'll they could
hear the answer;
"The house is full Of Greasers can't
tell who they are"
third man spoke, this time in Spanish.
THAT was Tad Lewis who just came
sonor."
Paloma placed her lips close to Alaire's
ear who are those peopler' she breathed.
II don't know They must be the ones
who came In that strange automobile,
Paloma chartered vlciously: Everybody
In Texas is here. l wish we'd thought to
scatter tacl<s behind us"
Cautiously they swung the door back and
looked out. The open space along the river
bank was leveed by the moonlight From
AIorales's house. to their right. came the
sound OF voices The women waited.
A few moments. then number OF men
appeared Paloma judged there were AZ
least n dozen, but she was too excited TO
count them. AS they came straggling to-
ward the pump house one OF them called
back:
Morales! Put out your damned lights"
Both women recognized Tad Lewis as the
speaker
Alaire had stubbornly refused TO charge
her husband with any active share in this
evil business, but her faith In Ed suddenly
venlshed when she heard him say;
Hush You're making too much noise.
You'd better scatter out, too, for there's no
telling where they'll land" Alaire leaned
weakly against the door I'm going 10
leave and let you all attend TO the rest,
| he was saying. But Tad Lewis halted him
| as he turned from the group.
where are you going, Ear You LETT
your car back yonder by the road al
| most ran into IT,"
''Eh? What are you talking about2 MY
| car Is over by Morales's house.
''Senor Austin In in n great hurry
sneered some one in Spanish once more
he leaves all Of the fighting to his friends
| That's Adolto Urbina." painted Paloma
| u know HIM" Stung by this open charge
OF cowardice. Austin began voluele de-
| fense, but in the midst of II General Longo'
rio addressed him sharply
you will stay here, senior NOBODY leaves
| this place"
Il told you l wouldn't be a party to tn,
business" Ed declared hotly. You forced
| me 20 come In the flrst place
'Ycs! And now l force you TO stay"
Longorio's stand appeared TO please
| Lewis who chimed in with the words
That's right, Ed You've got to stick, fol
| once In your life"
what do you mean you nearly ran int
my car back yonder7' Austin asked afte
a moment.
thicket?p inouiredw Lewis "If II amt
whose is ,it7' As one answered h
| started in the direction he had Indicated
| but ut that moment a man came runnin
from the river bank. crying softly;
Look out They come"
'Im going to shoot" Paloma Jone
gasped, but Alaire who once again hear
the sound of whispering in the shadow
lust outside their hiding place, manage,
| to restrain her companion. IL was wei
that she succeeded. for even as Palom
raised her weapon man passed swiftly b.
the crack of the half-open door and scarcel
ten feet beyond the muzzle OF the rtne. III
was followed by three others.
The FIRST of the new comers. acting a
spokesman for his party, stepped out int
the moonlight and cried loudly: "Hellc
men What's goin' on hereT 1t was a
American voice; II had broad, SLOW
Texas drawl
The group OF plotters turned. there wa
a startled murmur, then Tad Lewis an
swered:
'Hellol who are your What do yo
want7"
Il reckon we must have got or tn
road" announced the stranger. Then h
peered out across the river: Say Ain
that n skin coming yonder?' he inquired
''Well II don't look like a steamboat.
Lewis laughed, disRgreeably. ''We'r
havin' a little party OF our own. / recko
you fellows had better beat 1t. Under
stand7"
The outposts that had been sent TO cove
the bank In both directions were now com
ing In. Through the stiffness OF the nigh