Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-07

he seemed 20 he rather above the average
in education and intelligence. At any rate,
without being stupidity tongue-tied. he knew
enough TO remain silent when there was
nothing TO say, and that was blessing. for
Mrs Austin herself was not talkative, and
idle chatter distressed her.
on the whole, when Alaire had finished
her analysis she rather resented the good
impression Law had made upon her, for on
general principles she chose to dislike and
distrust men. Rising, she walked pain
fully to the pond and made leisurely
toilet
Breakfast was ready when she returned.
and once more the man sat upon his heels
and smoked while she ate Alaire could not
catch his eyes upon her, except when he
spoke, at which time his gaze was direct
and open; yet never did she feel free from
his intensest observation.
After n while she remarked: Tn glad
TO see Ranger In this county There
has been n lot of stealing down our way.
and the association men can't seem 70 stop
II. Perhaps you can"
Tho Rangers have n reputation in that
line" he admitted. But there is stealing
all up and down the border since the war.
You lost any stun ?"
Yes. Mostly horses"
sure They need horses In Mexico
Tho ranchers have organized. They
have formed n sort of vigilance committee
in each town. and talk Of using blood
| hounds"
'Bloodhounds amt any good outside of
novels. IL beef got scarce, them greasers
would steal the dogs and eat 'em." He
added, meditatively. Dog amt bad eatin',
either"
Have you tried itf"
Mr. Law nodded. "It was better than
some Of the army beef we got in the Philip
| pines" Then, in answer to her unspolSen
inquiry, 'Yesm. served an enlistment
| there"
'You-were private soldier7"
| "Yes'm."
Mrs Austin was incrsdulous. and yet she
| could not well express her surprise without
| too personal an implication. II can't I'M
| agine anybody-that is n man like you, as
| n common soldier"
well. I wasn't exactly that" he grinned.
| mo, was about the most uncommon SOL
dier out there. had n speakin' acduaint-
ance with most of the guardhouses In the
islands before got through"
but why did you enlist-a man like
your"
'why7" He pondered the question. II
was young. guess I needed the excite
ment, 1 have TO get about so much or I
don't enjoy my food"
ibid you join the Maderistas for excite
ment?"
Mostly. Then, too, I believed Panchito
| Madero was honest and would give the
poems land. An honest Mexican is worth
fightn for anywhere. The pelados are still
struggling for their land--for that and a
chance to live and work and be happy"
Mrs. Austin stirred impatiently They
are lighting because they are told to fight
There is no patriotism in them" said she
| 81 think" he said, with grave deliberate
ness. "the majority feel something big and
vague and powerful stirring inside them
They don't know exactly what II is, per.
haps, but II Is there. Mexico has outgrowr
her dctators They have been overthrow
by the same causes that brought on the
French Revolution"
"The French Revolution 20 Alaire leaned
forward. eying the speaker with startled
intensity. You don't talk like Alike ar
enlisted man. What do you know about the
French Revolutiop?"
Reaching for coal, the Ranger spoke
without facing her. I've read a good bit
ma'am, and I'm noble listener. I re.
member good, too. Why had picture OF
the Bastille once" He pronounced II ''Bas.
tilly," and his hearer settled back THAT
was some calaboose, now, wasn't III" A
moment later he inquired. ingenuously. 81
don't suppose you ever saw that Bastille
did your"
''No. Only the place where II stood"
"Sho'i You must have Travelled right
smart for such young lady" He beamed
amiably upon her.
Il was educated abroad. and only came
home-to be married"
Law noted the llfeless way in which she
spoke and he understood. "T'll bet you
hablar those French and German LIMOGES
like a native" he ventured Beats me
how a person can do IT,"
you speak Spanish. don't your"
"oh, yes. But I was born in Mexico
as near as can make out"
And you probably speak some Of the
| Filipino dialects?"
'Yes'm, a few"
There was something winning about this
young mans modesty, and something fat.
tering in his respectful admiration. He
seemed, also, to know his place, q fact
which was even more In his favor I'm.
doubtedly he had force and ability; prob.
ably his love OF adventure and a happy lacl
of settled purpose had led him TO neglect
his more commonplace opportunities and
sent him first into the army and thence
into tho Ranger service. The world is full
OF such. and the frontier is their gathering
place.
DO you like to readT she asked him.
SAY It's my favorite form Of exsr.
else" Laws blue-gray eyes were expires
sionless. his face was bland. "why?"
Il have great many books at Las Pal
mas. You might enjoy some OF them"
Now that's nice OF you. maam. Mebb,
III look into this cattle-stealin' In you
neighborhood and II / do I'll sure com,
} boTowin'."
"oh. I'll send you a boxfll when ee
back" said Alaire. and Dave thanked he
humbly.
Later. when he went to move his mar,
into shady spot, tho Ranger chuckled ans
slapped his thigh with his hat.
} Bessie Belle, we're going 70 improv
. our minds" he said, aloud. We're goin,
TO be literary and read Pilgrims Progress
and Alice in Wonderland 1 bet wen enjo,
; 'em. ehf But-doggonel She's a nice lady
and your coat is Just the same color as he
hair"
, Where the shade was densest and In,
breeze played most freely, there Dave fixes
| comfortable couch for his guest an,
) during the heat OF the forenoon she dozed
, Asleep she exercised upon him an evel
; more disturbing effect than when awake
: for now he could study her beauty deliber
Rtely. from the loose pile Of warm. red hal
: 70 the narrow tight-laced boots Her slight
! | ly parted lips offered an irresistible attrac
| tion-almost an invitation; the heat ha,
{ lent a feverish flush TO her cheels; Day
) could count the slow pulsations OF he
! | white throat He closed his eyes and trie
: | to quell his unruly longings. He WAS
! strong man; adventurous days and night
4 spent In the open had coarsened the MAJ
I cullne side OF his character. perhaps at e.
pense 10 his finer nature. for II Is a husnai
4 tendency 10 revert He was masterful an
! ruthless; lacking obligations or respons
r bities of any sort, he had been accus
, toned TO take what he wanted; therefor
|. the gaze he fixed upon the sleeping womal
. betrayed an ardor calculated to deepen tn
| calor ln hor oheeIra had aha bahal9 "a