The Raymer enterprise., 1917-07-26
CHAPTER xiv.
superstitions and certainties.

The sensation caused by Ricardo
Guzman's disappearance was as moth
Ing to that which followed the recover.
Of his body. Whatever the facts OF
the rescue, IL was generall, recognized
that the result had been 10 bring or
a crisis In the affairs Of the two ma
tons. Strong influences. however
were at work to prevent that very out.
come for which the people Of Texas
prayed. During the delay there arose
report that Ricardo Guzman had
borne an evil reputation, and that he
had been so actively associated with
the rebel cause as to warrant punish.
ment by the federal government. More
over, legal question as to his Ameri.
can citizenship was raised--a question
which seemed to have important bear.
ing upon the case.
Public interest Is short-llved; few
living men can hold 1t more than a day
or two, and 1t reckons no dead man
worthy of more than an obituary no.
tlce. Thus In the course of time the
Guznan incident was In fair way
Of being officially forgotten and for
given.
But there were several persons who
felt intense relief at the course events
had taken, and among these was Alaire
Austin. In the days following that
midnight expedition she had had ample
time In which to mediate upon her
husbands actions. 1t seemed probable
that he had fed to San Antonio, there
to remain until interest In the Guzman
matter had abated.
Alaire telephoned Dave Law, argu.
Ing to herself that she must learn
more about her husbands connection
with the Lewis gang. Dave arrived
even sooner than she had expected
She made him dine with her. and they
spent the evening on the dim-lit gal.
lery. In the course of their conyer.
sation Alaire discovered that Dave. too
had hidden side of his nature; that
he possessed an imagination, and with
1t quaint, whimsical, exploratory turn
OF mind which enabled him to talk
interestedly of many things and many
places. On this particular evening he
was anything but the man of iron she
had known-until she ventured to
speak of Ed. Then he closed up like
trap. He was almost gruff in his
refusal to say word about her hus-
band.
Beeause of Eds app opriation Of the
ranch cash, Alaire found it necessary
a few days later to go to the bank,
and, feeling the need of exercise. she
rode her horse Montrose. When her
errands had been attended to, she sud.
denly decided to call on Paloma Jones'
1t was years since she had voluntarily
Gone such a thing; the very impulse
surprised her.
Paloma, 1t happened, was undergoing
that peculiar form Of feminine torture
known as "ftting;" but insecurely
basted, pinned and tucked as she was,
she came flying down 70 the gate to
meet her visitor.
Alaire was introduced to Mrs,
Strange, the dressmaker, u large, acid.
ulous brunette, with a mouthful of
pins; and then, when Paloma had Civ.
en- herself once more Into the seam.
stress hands. the two friends gossiped.
Il don't know what dad will say
when he gets the bill for these
dresses Paloma confessed.
"four father Is mighty queer
man. Mrs. Strange observed. 81
haven't SO much as laid eyes on him."
Paloma nodded. "Yes. And he's get.
ting more peculiar all the time I can't
make out what ails him."
where is he now?' asked Alaire.