Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-05-12
CHAPTER IV-continued.
Copyrigbt by Harper s Brothers


che size Of his holdings. but he shook
his head mo. I'm too old to go ram
,aoln' after new gods. / amt got the
IMAGINATION 10 raise anything more
COMPLICATED than a mortgage; but If
was younger, I'd organize myself up
and do away with that Ed Austin. I'd
sure help him to an untimely end, and
chen I'd marry them pecan groves. and
flooded herds. and drug store orchards.
She certainly is a heart-breakin de-
vice. with her red hair, and red lips
an
"Father." Paloma was deeply
shocked.
Complete isolation, of course, Alaire
Aad found to be impossible, even
though her ranch lay far from the tray-
eIed roads and her Mexican guards
were not encouraging to visitors. Bust
uess inevitably brought her into con-
sacr with a considerable number of
people and of these the one she saw
most frequently was Judge Ellsworth
0l 1ION uSNItiCy utI dkLOlntN.
It was perhaps week after Ed had
left for San Antonio that Alaire felt
che need of Ellsworth's counsel. and
sent for him. Ellsworth was a kindly
man of fifty-five. with a forceful chin
and q dropping heavy-lidded eye that
could either blaze or twinkle. Judge
Ellsworth knew more than any four
men in that part of Texas; information
had q way of seeking him out. He was
Fl good lawyer, too, and yet his knowl-
edge of human nature be considered
far more important than law. His
mind was like full granary, and every
grain lay where he could put his hand
upon it.
He motored out from Brownsville,
aud after Kidding himself of dust, In
sisted upon spending the interval be-
fore dinner In an inspection of Alaire's
latest ranch improvements. Not until
dinner was over did he inquire the rea-
son for his summons.
ITS about La Feria. General Lon
Eorio has confiscated my stock" Alaire
told him. II was afraid of this very
ching, and so was preparing to bring
she stock over. Still never thought
they'd actually confiscate it."
Hasn't Ed done enough to provoke
confscatlon?" asked the Judge. II
have It pretty straight that he's Civ
ing money to the rebel iunta and lend
ing every assistance he can to their
cause"
Il didn't know he'd actually done
anything. How madi"
"Yes-for a man with interests IN
federal territory. But Ed always does
She wrong thing, you know"
Then l presume this confiscation is
In the nature of a reprisal. But the
stock is mine, not Eds. I want your
help in taking up the matter with
Washington"
Ellsworth was pesslmistic. at
won't do any good. my DEAR" he said.
You won't be paid for your cattle"
Then l shall go to La Feria.''
No" The judge shook his head
decidedly.
I've been there a hundred times.
The federals have been more than
courteous"
"LongoriO has q bad reputation. I
strongly advise against your going.
you'd better send some man"
w hom can / sendT asked Alaire.
1ou know my situation"
The judge considered a moment be-
Tore replying. II can't go, for I'm
Cusy In court. You could probably
accomplish more than anybody else, If
Longorio will listen to reason. and.
AFTER all, you are a person of such i'm
portance that dare say you'd be safe.
BUT 1t win be a hard trip, and you
won't know whether you are In rebel
o. in federal territory"
We'll, people here are asking wheth-
pr Texas is IN the United States or
AieXico," Alaire said, lightly. Some
umes 1 hardly know" After a mo-
inent she continued: "Since you know
everything and everybody, l wonder If
you ever met David Law?"
Ellsworth nodded.
Tell me something about him"
HE asked me the same thing about
you Well. l haven't seen much Of
lave since he grew up, he's such Il
roamer."
he said his parents were murdered
by the Guadalupes."
Yes. It happened a good many
FEARS ago. and certainly they both met
violent end. / was instrumental in
saving what property Frank Law left,
out 1t didn't last Dave very long. He's
right careless in money matters. Dawes
! me fellow in soue Says-most ways.
DeneYe, but" The Judge lost hin
ser IN frowning meditation.
have never known you to damn :
Trend or a client with such faint
praise" said Alaife.
"Qh, don't mean IL that way. I'm
almost like one of Dawes kin. and I've
oeen keeniy interested in watching his
traits develop. I'm interested In he
leuiiy I've watched it in Eds case.