The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-08-09
then--Benito hard,S Kew what he had
done since then, he vas so badly
shaken by the tragedy.


"Whut time did it happen?"
ut was noon when I came in"
Dave consulted his watch. and was
surprised to discover that 1t was now
only Il few minutes past one. 1t was
evident, therefore, that Benito had in
deed lost no time, and that his alarm
had met with insta at response.
"Now tell me, who did it?"
Bcnto flung his bands high. "God
knows! Some enemy Of course; but
Don Eduardo had many"
"Not that sort Of enemies. There
was nobody who could wish to kill
him."
"That IS as it is."
'IIavcn't you any suspicions?"
mo. senior"
''You say Mrs. Austin is gomez"
Eyes"
| "Whcre?"
81 don't know"
Dave spoke brusquely: "Come, Ben.
to you must know, for your wife went
with her. Are you trying to keep
something back?"
"No. no! AS God Is my judge"
Benito declared. 81 didn't know they
were going until the very last, and
even then Dolores would tell me moth
ing. We were having bad times here
at Las Palmas; there were stormy
scenes yonder in the house. Senor Etl
WAS drinking again, you understand?
The sonora had reason to CO."
"You think she ran away to escape
him?"
Exactly"
Dave breathed more easily, for this
seemed to settle Strange's theory. The
next instant, however, his apprehen.
slons were doubled, for Benito addedi
"No doubt she went to La Feria."
Law uttered an incredulous exclama.
ton. "Not there! Surely she wouldn't
go to La Ferla at such time. Why,
that country Is ablaze. Americans are
fleeing from Mexico"
II hadn't thought Of that" Benito
confessed. "But If she didn't go there.
where did she go? Saints above! It
is a fine condition Of affairs when
wife keeps secrets from her husband,
ch? I suppose Dolores feared I would
tell Don Eduardo, God rest his soul
This much I do know, however: not
long ago there came letter from
General Longorlo, Offering settlement
for those cattle he stole In his govern
ment's name. Dolores told me the
sonora was highly pleased and was go-
Ing to Mexico for her money. 1t was q
mark Of Longorio's favor you UNDER
stand me? He's great-friend, an
ardent admircr." Benito wlnked. "Do~
lorcs told me all about TINT, too. No,
think they went to La Feria."
Dave remembered his first COnversa-
tion with Phil Strange and the fortune
teier's insistence thnt some powerful
person was behind Jose Sanchez. More
than three weeks ago Strange had fore
cast something very like this murder
of Ed Austin. Dave felt as If he were
the victim Of m hysterical imagina
to ask, quietly:
us Jose Sanchez anywhere about7"
The range boss shrugged. II sem
him to the east pasture this morning."
did he go?"
"Eh? So! You suspect Jose Of this
God In heaven! Jose Is q Wild boy
But wait I'll ask Juan IL he saw him
yes, and Victoria, too. That Is Victoria
you hear sQualling in the kitchen. Wall
here"
Benito hurried away, leaving Dave Z
prey to perplexity; but he was bacl
again In few moments. His face wa,
grave.
"Jose did not 60 to the east pas
ture," he said.
where Is he now?''
mo one seems to know"
Law walked to his horse, mounted
and galloped away. Benlto, who
watched him, saw that he turned to
ward the river road which led to tn,
Las Palmas pumping plant.
| The more Dave thought about R,t
Austin's death, the more certain he ba
came that it was in some way con
nected with Alaire's disappearance
and the loose end by which the tangl,
might be unraveled, 1t seemed to him
lny In the hands Of Rosa Morales
Jose's sweetheart. That Sanchez wa
the murderer Dave now had little
doubt; but since the chance Of appre
hcnding him was small, he turned hi!
attention to the girl. He would max,
Rosa speak, he told himself, If he hat
to use force-this was no time for gen
tie methods. If she knew aught O
Alaire's whereabouts or the mystery O
her departure from Las Palmas, h,
would find way to wiring the trutl
from her. Dawes face, trife too som
ber at all times, took on grimme
aspect now; he felt slow fury kind
ling in his breast.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
In Dapdae