Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-09
HEART OF THE SUNSET
BY REX BEACH
Copyright. 1915, bV Berpsr Brothers.

lungs. Law was kneeling over his victim
now his weight and strength so applied
that Jose had no liberty Of action and could
only drink, coughing and hghting Tor air.
somehow he managed 10 revive HIM
SER briefly and again shut his teeth; but
moment more and he was again retched
with the furious battle for air more des-
perate now than before. After a while
| Law freed his victims nostrils and allowed
him partial breath, then once more
crushed the mouthpiece against his lips,
| BY and by. 20 relieve his torture, Jose
began to drink In great noisy gulps. strive
Ing TO empty the vessel
But the stomach's capacity is limited.
| In time Jose felt himself bursting: the
| liquid began 20 regurgitate. This was not
mere pain that he suffered. but the ultimate
| nightmare horror OF death more awful
than anything he had ever imagined, Jose
| would have met bullet. a knife, a lash,
! without hinching but this slow drowning
was Infinitely worse than the worst he had
| thought possible; he was suffocating by
long black, agonizing minutes. Every
| nerve and muscle of his body, every cell in
his bursting lungs. fought against the out
sse IN, " purely physical frenzy over which
| MS VIII power had no control. Nor would
insensibility come to his relief-Law
watched him too carefully for that. lie
could not even voice his sufferings by
shrieks; he could only wrlthe and reich
and gurgle while the ropes bit into his
monstrous stone weight.
But Jose had made better fight than
ne knew. The canteen ran dry at last,
ana Law was forced to release his hold.
"Will YOU speakq" he demanded.
Thinking that he had come safely through
the ordeal Jose shook his head; he rolled
his bulging. hloodshot eyes and vomited,
then managed 10 call God to witness his
innocence.
| Dave went into the next room and re-
| hlled the canteen. When he reappeared
with the dripping vessel in his hand Jose
tried TO scream. But his throat was torn
and strained the sound of his own voice
frightened him.
once more the torment began. The
tortured man was weaker now and in con-
sequence he resisted more feebly, but not
until he was less than half conscious did
Law spare him time TO recover.
Jose lay sick, frightened. inert Dave
watched him without pity. The fellows
wrists were black and swollen, his lips were
bleeding; he was stretched like dumb
animal upon the vivisectionists table, and
no surgeon with lance and scalpel could
have shown less emotion than did his in
, quistor Having no intention Of defeat
ing his own ends, Dave allowed his victim
ample time In which 10 regain his ability
to suffer.
AlaiTe Austin had been right when sh,
! said that Dave might be ruthless; and
I yet the man was by no means incapabl,
OF compassion. At the present moment
| however, he considered himself simply a.
| the instrument by which Alaire was TO b,
a | saved His own feelings had nothing 4
a do with the matter neither had the suffer
, ings OF this Mexican. Therefore he steeleC
= himself to prolong the agony until tn
murderer's stubborn spirit was worn down
Once again he put his question, and, agail
= y receiving defiance, jammed the canteen be
: tween Jose's teeth.
. But human nature is weak For the frs
: time in his life Jose Sanchez felt terror
. a terror too awful 10 be endured-and h
made the sign.
He was no longer the insolent defer
the challenger, but an imploring wretch
. whose last powers of resistance had bee
completely shattered. His frightened eve
;. were glued 10 that devilish vessel In whicl
. his manhood had dissolved, the fear of
a made a woman OF him.
Slowly, in sighs and whimpers, &
: | agonies of reluctance, his story came. Hi
n words were rendered almost Incompetent
sihle by his abysmal fright When he ha
-, purged himself Of his secret Dave prompt
? unbound him; then leaving him more tina
n half dead, he went 10 the telephone whic
p connected the pumping station with La
h Palmas and called up the ranch.
e He was surprised when Blaze' Jones an
" swsred. Blaze, 1t seemed, had Just arrived
summoned by news of the tragedy. TIL
Il countryside had been alarmed and scare
l for Ed Austns slayer was being organized
1 "Cal it off," Dave told him. I've &c
u your man" Blaze suffered his surprs
and incredulity. II mean 1t. It's JOS
a Sanchez, and he has confessed. I want yo
Q to come here, quick; and come alone, II 20
don't mind, / need your help"
Inside Of ten minutes Jones ploted hi
automobile into the clearing beside the rive
e and, leaving his motor running. leaped froI
II the car.
5, Dave met him at the door of the Morale
Is house and briefly told him the story c
Jose's capture.
l. Say! That's quick work" the rancho
% cried, admiringy. why Ed amt col
yet! You gave him the 'water-cuTe,' oh
Now reckoned it would take more tina
10 water 20 make Mexican talk"
"Jose was hired for the work; he lai
- for I'd Austin In the pecan grove and she
him as he passed"
Hired! Why this hombre needs qulc
II hangin', don't he7 l told 'em at Las Pa
e mas that you'd rounded UP the guilty part.
so / reckon they'll be here In a few minutes
z Wen just stretch this horse-wrangler, an
m save the county some expense" La
,e shrugged. do what you like with him, bu
T. lit isn't necessary. He'll confess in regl
y lation form, I'm sure. had to work fa'
X 70 learn what became of Mrs, Austin"
e "MIz Austin? What's happened to her
y Dawes voice changed; there was a sue
1t den quiekening of his words. They've 70
'e her Blaze. They waited until they ha
r her safe before they killed Ed"
, "Theyr Who the hell are you talkil
a. about?"
10 Il mean LongorIo and his outfit He
-, got her over yonder." Dave flung out
= trembling hand toward the river. Seein
- that his hearer failed to understand, d
~ explained swiftly: Hes crazy about her
- got one of those Mexican infatuatlons--an
10 YOU know what that means, He couldn
20 steal her from Las Palmas--she wouldn
- have anything 10 do with him--so he use