Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-16
HEART OF THE SUNSET
BY REX BEACH
CopyriOht. 1915. bv Harper & Brothers

but growing sense Of guilt and dsmny at
what he had brought upon himself. In
moment of weakness he had done the very
thing against which he had fought so Bit
terly and now he faced the consequences.
How. when, where could he find strength TO
undo his action? he asked himself. The
weight OF this question bent his shoulders,
paralyzed his wits.
Some two hours out from La Feria the
riders halted at point where the road
dipped Into rocky stream bed then, Rs
the horses drank. Dolores voiced a thought
that had troubled all OF them.
"If that bandit really means to spare us,
why did he send us away In the night, like
this?' she asked, 81 shall be surprised II
we are not assassinated before morning"
"He must have meant IT," Alalre spoke
with conviction she did not entirely feel
Father oMalley aroused the finer side
OF his nature"
Perhaps" agreed the priest Some
where In him there Is fear OF God"
But Dave was skeptcal More likely n
fear Of the Gringo Government" said he
'Longorlo ls four-nusher. When he
realized he was licked he tried to save
his face by a Erand-stand play. He didn't
want to let us co.
well, from having us followed?" Alaire
inquired.
Nothing" Dave told her.
As they climbed the bank and rode on
ward into. the night she said. mo mat
ter what happens, dear | shall be happy
for at last one OF my dreams has come
true" lie reached out and patted her.
you've no idea what Il coward l was
until you came, But the moment l saw
you all my fears vanished. / was like
lost child who suddenly sees her father ;
In your arms l felt perfectly safe for the
iDnA In nil nAU 4 tnlF
couldn't bear to go on without you, after
this"
Dave found nothing to say: they rode
along side by side for time in a great
contentment that required no speech. Then
Alaire asked
Dear, have you considered how we--ars
going to explain our marriage?'
Won't the circumstances explain it?"
Perhaps. And yet 1t seems ages since
l learned-what happened TO Ed, but in
reality IT'S only few hours. Won't peo-
pie talk?"
Dave caught at the suggestion. 'I see.
Then let's keep II secret for the present.
l promise not to-act like a husband"
with Il little reckless laugn she con-
fessed, lin afraid I'll find 1t difficult to
be conventional"
MY wife 80 he cried In sharp agony.
Leaning far out. lie encIrcled her with his
arm then. half lifting her from her sad
die, he crushed his lips TO hers. II was
his frst display Of emotion since Father
OMRlley had united them.
There were few villages along the road
they followed. and because OF the lateness
of the hour all were dark, hence the party
passed through without exciting attention
except from an occasional wakeful dog.
But as morning came and the east began
TO glow Dave told the priest:
We've got TO hide out during the day
or wen get into trouble. Besides these
women must be getting hungry"
81 fear there is something feminine about
me-" confessed the little man. I'm fam
ished too"
At the next rancho they came to they
applied for shelter but were denied. in
fact the owner cursed them so roundly for
being Americans that they were glad to
ride onward. mile or two farther along
they met a cart the driver OF which re-
fused 10 answer their greetings AS they
passed out OF his sight they saw that he
had halted his lean oxen and was staring
after them curiously. Later, when the sun
was well up and the world had fully awak-
ened they deserted mounted man, evil
IDENTIFY a cowboy. riding through the chapar-
raj lie saw them, too, and came toward
the road, but after a brief scrutiny he
whirled his horse and galloped or through
the cactus. shouting something over his
shoulder.
"Thls won't do" o'Malley declared. un-
easily II don't like the actions OF these
people Let me appeal 10 the next person
we meet l can't believe they all hate
US"
Soon they came to a rise IN the road, and
from the crest of this elevation beheld
ahead of them small village Of white
houses shining from the shelter OF a grove.
The rancherIa was perhaps two miles away,
and galloping toward Il was the vaquero
who had challenged them.
CONTINUED TOMORROW