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

"DUT you are already involved. Comel
ID There is no time TO waste. and ! have
something to say TO you. You will drive
me TO the river. and my horse Will remain
here until l return for him"
There was no mlstsklng the command
In Longorio's tone the master OF Las
Palmas rose as II under compulslon. He
took his hat and the two men left the
room.
"oh, my God I" Paloma gasped They'll
be in time, and so will the Lewis gang.
Quick, Ed will take hrs runabout--
we'll follow in my car" Alaire ned 10
make herself ready. A few moments later
she looked out from her window ana saw saw
the headlights of Eds runabout flash down
the driveway to the road then she and
Paloma rushed 10 the garage where the
touring car stood.
They'll never expect us 70 follow them
-Alaire tried to speak hopefuliy-and
we'll drive without lights Maybe wen
get there in time after all" As the
machine rolled out through the gate she
elaborated the half-formed plan that had
come 10 her: THE brush r. thick along
the river; we can leave the car hiddeh
and steal up TO the pump house. When we
hear the boat coming maybe we can cail
out in time TO warn your father.
The moon is rising" Paloma half sohbed
They'll be sure to see us. DO you think
we're ahead Of Tad LewisY'
"Oh yes He hasn't had time to get here
yet but--he'll come fast when he starts
This NJ the only plan / can think of.
Alaire drove as swiftly as she dared
following the blurred streak Of gray that
was the road and taking the bumps with
utter recklessness. Already the yellow rim
OF the moon was peering over the horizon
TO her right. and by Its light she found the
road that turned abruptly toward the Rio
Grande, a mile or more distant The blaok
mud from the last heavy rain had hard
ened /: the ruts In this side road were
deep and the car leaped and plunged nlng
ing it's occupants from side to side. Ahead
loomed the dark ridge of the river thickets.
a dense rampant Of mesquite, ebony and
coma, with here and there a taller alamo
or blackberry thrusting itself skyward. But
even before they were sheltered from the
moonlight Paloma saw the lights OF an
other automobile approaching along the
main highway behind them-the hghrs.
evidently, OF Tad Lewis's machine. A
moment later Alaire's car drove into the
black shadows. but, fearing TO switch on
her headlights. she felt her way cautiously
between the walls OF foliage until at her
right another opening showed. ike mar
row arroyo, divsrglng from the one they
followed. Into this she swerved, regardless
of the fact that IL was half grown up with
brush. Thorny branches swept the sides
Of the machine rank. dew-soaked grass
rose 10 the height OF the tonneau. The
ceased its purrng and the two women sat
motIonIess, listening for the rattle OF the
oncoming machine. IL had been short
swift. exciting ride. Young Eds run
about could not be many minutes ahead
OF them.
stvla cheap affair, which advertised It's
mechanical imperfections by loud clashing
on gears and noisy complaint OF loose
Darts; therefore when the leafy canyon
walls behind her hiding place were brill
liantly illuminated and car stole silently
past at low speed, she seized faloma by
the arm and whispered;
That's not Lewis"
ssWho is itp II can't be Ed
"No ne and Longorio are ahead OF US.
us another motor entirely
The women got out, then breasted the
high grass and brambles between the hid.
lns place and the pump-house road As
aoon as they were back In the trail they
r,ade All possible speed specializing mean
while upon the mystery OF the unknown
car Emerging into the clearing which
surrounded the power plant, they discov-
cred the machine In question standing dark
ana deserted In the shadows Evidently the
driver. whoever he was. well knew what he
was about and had not blundered upon
this place by accident. hundred yards
away they could now see the ghostly Rio
Crande, It's saffron surface family sIlvered
by the low moon; lights cleaned from the
windows OF Morsies's house. In the dis.
tance the vague outlines OF the Mexican
shors were resolving themselves. and Ear
beyond winked the evidence that some
bsiated citizens Of Romero were still awake.
Paloma had brought with her the long
barrsled Winchester rife, and this she
clutched nervously as she and Alaire stood
whispering, Conditions were favorable for
an approach 70 the pump house itself. for
two ridges Of earth. perhaps sisht feet high
thrown up Ike parallel furroWs from q
giant plo~. mafksd The beginning u the v