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

MY man might come earlier than ex-
pect," Mr. Law persisted.
Really, 1 can't see what difference IL
would mako. 1t wouldn't interfere with
your appointment TO let me"
Law smiled slowly, and, setting his plate
aside, selected a fresh cigarette. Then as
he reached for a coal he explained:
'T haven't got what you'd exactly call an
appointment. This feller I'm expectin' is
Mexican and day before yesterday he killed
a man over in Jim Wells County. They got
me by phone at Hebbronvile and told me
he'd left. He's headn' for the border. and
he's due here about sundown, now that Ar
royo Grande's' dry. / was amin TO let you
ride his horse"
'Then-youre an oficer7"
"Yes'm. Ranger. So you see I can't help
you to get home till my man comes Do
you live around here?" The speaker looked
up inquiringly, and after an instant's hesi-
tation the woman said, quietly:
II am Mrs. Austin" She was grateful
for the gloom that hid her face. II rode
out this way to examine a tract of grazing
land"
II seemed fully a minute before the Rang
er answered. Then he said In casual
tone, II reckon Las Palmas Is quite
ranch. ma'am."
Eyes. But we need more pasture"
'T know your La Feria ranch, too. was
with General Castro when We had that
fight near there"
"You were a MaderistaT'
''Yes'm. Machine-gun man. That's hne
country over there. Seems like God AL
mighty got mixed up and put the Mexlcans
on the wrong side Of the Rio Grande. But
reckon you haven't seen much OF La Feria
since the last revolution broke out"
mo. We have tried to remain neutral,
but" Again she hestated Mr.. Austin
has enemies. Fortunately, poth slues nave
law shrugged his broad shoulders. "oh.
we'll, the revolution isn't over ranch In
Mexico is my idea OF a bad investment"
He rose, and, taking his blanket. sought a
favorable spot upon which 10 spread II.
Then he helped Mrs. Austin TO her feet
her muscles has stiffened until she could
barely stand-after which he fetched his
saddle for a pillow. He made no apologies
for his meager hospitality nor did his guest
expect any.
night he returned to find the woman rolled
snuRly In her covering. as In cocoon. The
diving embers fiickered into fame and liz
her hair redly. She had laid on her felt
stetson, and one loosened braid lay over
her hard pillow. Thinking her asleep, Law
stood rnotionless. making no attempt TO hide
| his expression OF wonderment until. unsx-
pectedly, she spoke.
..What viii you do with me when your
Mexican comes7" she said.
ssWell, ma'am, reckon I'll hide you out
| IN the brush till tame him. hope you
sleep we'll"
.-rhank you. I'm used to the open.
He nodded as II he well knew that she
was then, shaking out his slicker. turned
away
AS he lay staring up through the thorny
mesauite branches that rooted him IN
| adeauately from the dew he maryeled
nightly. A bright. steady-burning star
neeped through the leaves at him, and as
he watched It he remembered that this
red.haired woman with the stiil white face
was known far and wide through the lower
valley as ''The Lone Star" Well. he
unused. the name ntted her; she was II
reports were true. quite a. mysterious.
able as the title implied. Knowledge Of
her identity had come - . shock. fof Law