Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-11-02

4
the next ranch. BUT expected to lind
him here, too"
! SLOW did you manage to get here?"
81 hardly know. just wouldn't let
'em stop me. This lieutenant wouldn't
let me in until I told him was from
Monterey with important news. I don't
remember all did tell him. I tried to
] get here last night, but I had trouble.
They caught me, and had to buy my
way through. I've bribed and bullied
and lied clear from Romero. reckon
they couldn't imagine I'd risk being
here if wasn't friend"
It was more Dawes tone than his
words that reused Alaire to an appre>
citation of what he said.
"Are you alone?" she asked, in vague
dismay. ''Then what are we going
/ to do?"
81 don't know yet. My plans ended
here"
''Dave! You rode in just to find me!
Just to be with me?"
eyes. And to get him." Alaire saw
his face witch, and realized that it
was very haggard, very old and tired.
''They lifted my guns-a bunch Of fell
lows at the Rio Negro crossing. Some
of them were drunk and wouldn't be-
lieve I was an amigo. SO finally had
/ to ride for it."
"Can't you take me away?" she
asked, family. "What will you do
when-he comes?"
81 reckon I'll manage him somehow"
His grip upon her frightened painfully,
and she could feel him tremble. II
was afraid I wouldn't find you. F.
! o God, Alaire!" He buried his face
in her hair.
IT had at terrible scene with him last
night. He insists upon marrying me.
II was hoping you'd come"
Elbow could I, when nobody knew
where you were?"
ssDidn't you know? wrote you" He
shook his head. 'Then how did you
/ learn?"
''From Jose. caught him within an
hour Of the murder, and made him tell
me everything"
Alaire's eyes dilated; she held her.
self away, saying, breathlessly: Muir
| der! Is that what 1t was? He-Lon-
gorio-told me something quite differ
ent."
NATURALLY. It was he who hired Jose
to do the shooting"
"Oh-h!' .Alaire hid her face In her
hands. She looked up again quickly
however, and her cheeks were white.
''Then he won't spare you, Dave" She
choked for an instant. 1--WE must get
away before he comes. There must be
some way of escape. Think y
''Tm pretty tired to think. I'm pretty
near played out" he confessed.
They're watching me. but they'd
let you 60"
''Now that I'm here I'm going to stay
until"
She interrupted, crying his name
loudly, "Dave!''
EYES, What is it?''
swat! Let me think" She closed
her eyes; her brows drew together as
if in the labor of concentration. WhTH
she lifted her lids her eyes 2ere allght,
her voice was eager. II know how. /
see it. He won't dare But you muss
do what tell you"
"Of course"
"No questions. Understand"
! When he nodded impatiently she ran
to the door and, fiinging it open, called
down the hall:
"Father! Father O'Malley! Quick !"
Then she summoned Dolores.
The priest answered; he hurried
from his room and, with dazed lack
of comprehension, acknowledged his
swift introduction to Dave. Alaire was
keenly alive and vibrant with purpose
now. Dolores, too, came running, and
while the men were exchanging greet
ings her mistress murmured something
in her ear, then FASTENED her depar-
ture with quick push. Turning upon
the others, Alaire explained:
"Tve sent for some Of the women,
and they'll be here in minute. Fa-
Their, this man has come for me. he
loves me. Will you marry us before
Longorio arrives?"
"Alaire I" Dave exclaimed.
She stilled him with a gesture.
Quick! Will your
Father O'Malley was bewildered. Il
don't understand" he expostulated.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Clever Rurro