The Snowflake herald., 1917-10-05

speeding machine a few moments be-
FORE
''Pm glad you're here, Dave for you
can give me hand. I'm going to round
mp these MeXicans right away and ind
out what they know. Whoever did it
hasn't gone far; so you act as my
deputy and see what you can learn"
When Dave had gained better con-
troll of himself he took Benito outdoors
edy. With many lamentations and in
coherencieS the range boss told what
he knew.
Ed had met his death within half
mile of Las Palmas as he rode home
iOr dinner. BenitO, himself on his way
% the house, had found the body, still
warm, near the edge of the pecan
grove. He had retained enough sense
to telephone at once to Jonesville, and
then-Benito hardly knew what he had
done since then, he was so badly
shaken by the tragedy.
'What time did it happen?"
''It was noon when l came in."
Dave consulted his watch, and was
surprised to discover that it was now
only few minutes past one. 1t was
evident, therefore, that BenitO had in
deed lost no time and that his alarm
had met with instant response.
j. snow tell me, who did it?"
Benito flung his hands high. God
Iynnvcf CODoo opopox of oourco. h11+
Don Eduardo had many"
"NOt that sort of enemies. There
was nobody who could wish to kill
him."
THAT is as it is"
Haven't you any suspicions?"
''NO senor."
'You say Mrs. Austin is goneY'
eyes"
"Where?"
Il don't know"
Dave spoke brusquely: "Come, Benz
to; you must know, for your wife went
with her. Are you trying to keep
something back?"
mo, 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 Ed
was drinking again, you understand!
The sonora had reason to 60"
"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-
sions were doubled, for Benito added:
"No doubt she went to La Feria."
Law uttered an incredulOus exclama-
ton. "Not there! Surely she wouldn't
go to La Feria at such a time. Why
that country is ablaze. Americans are
fleeing from Mexico"
81 hadn't thought of that" Benito
confessed. "But if she didn't go there.
where did she go? Saints above! II
is a fine condition of affairs when a
wife keeps secrets from her husband,
Ell? / suppose Dolores feared / would
tell Don Eduardo, God rest his soul!
This much l DO know, however: not
long ago there came a letter from
General Longorio, 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. It was q
mark Of LOngorio's favor, you under.
stand me? He's a great-friend. an
ardent admirer." BenitO winked. "Do-
lores told me all about that, too. No,
/ think they went to La Feria."
Dave remembered his first conversa.
tiOn with Phil Strange and the fortune
teller's insistence that 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 an hysterical imagina-
ton. Nevertheless, he forced himself
to ask, quietly:
us Jose Sanchez anywhere about?"
The range boss shrugged. II sent
him to the east pasture this morning"
did he go?'
"Eh? So! You suspect Jose of this,
God in heaven! Jose is wild boy
But wait I'll ask Juan if he saw him:
yes, and Victoria, too. That is Victoria
you hear squalling in the kitchen. Wait
here"
Benito hurried away, leaving Dave
prey to perplexity; but he was back