The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-02

Aenueu, HuFIs ne declared the ring to
be of no value; 1t was no more than
trif1ing evidence of his esteem. But
Alaire was firm
1t was an odd, unreal ride, through
the blazing heat of the long afternoon.
LongoriO cast off all pretense and open
~ laid siege to the red-haired woman's
heart-aH without offering her the
smallest chance to rebuff him, the
slightest ground for open resentment,
| so respectful and guarded were his
| advances When the train arrived at
It's destination, his victim was we'll
nigh exhausted from the struggle.
After good nights rest, however, she
was able to smile at yesterdays adven-
| ture- LOngOrio did not bulk so large
now; even these few hours had greatly
diminished his Importance, so that he
appeared merely as an impulsive for
elSner who had allowed a woman to
| turn his head
once back across the river she dis
covered that there were obstacles to
prompt adjustment of her claim. The
red tape of her own government was
/ as nothing to that of Mexico. There
were thousand fOrmaIities, a myriad
| of maddening details TO be observed.
and they called for the services of an
| advocate, notary, jefe pOliticO a
| Jefe de armaS-Officials without end
All OF these worthless were patient and
polite, but they displayed a malarial
! indifference to delay, and RESPONSE
| bility seemed to rest nowhere. During
the day Alaire became bewildered, al
most lost in the mazes of official pro-
| cedure, and was half minded to tele-
graph to Judge Ellsworth.
| LOngOriO by no means shared her
| disappointment On the contrary. he
assured her they were making SPLEEN
did progress, and he was delighted
with her grasp of detail and her knowI-
edge of business essentials. At his
word all NuevO Pueblo bowed and
| scraped to her; he arranged for her
an elaborate luncheon in his quarters.
You can never know what these two
days have been for me-" the general
! said as he and AIaire fingered over
their meal. ''They will afford mes some
thing to think about all my life. 1t is
delicious comfort to know that you
trust me, that you do not dislike me.
And you do not dislike me, eh?''
why, of course not. 1 have a great
deal for which to thank you"
General LOngoriO fingered his wine
glass and stared into it. 81 am not
like other men. I am a man of iron
yes, an invincible sOldier-yet I have
a heart, and a woman could rule me-"
'YOu say you have a heart" Alaire
studied her vis-a-vis curiously as he
met her eyes with his mournful gaze.
''HOw is it that I hear such strange
stories about you, general?"
Lies, all of themI'' Longorio as
serted.
''FOr instance, they tell me that you
shoot your prisOners?''
"Of course % Then, at her shocked
exclamation. he explained: 1T is a
necessity of war. Listen, senoral We
have twelve million Indians in Mexieol
and few selfish men who incite them
to revolt. To permit the lower classes
to rise would result in chaos, black an
archy, indescribable outrages against
life and property. There is but one
way to pacify such people-extermi-
nate themi Mexico is a civilized ma
ton; there is no greater in the world /;
but she must be ruled with an iron
hand. We shall drive all the traitors
into the sea, and Mexico shall have
peace. But I am not a blOodthirsty
man. No, I am a poet and a lover at
heart. As great a patriot as I am.
1 could be faithless to my country for
one smile from the woman adore"
Alaire did not color under the ardent
glance that went with this declaration.
She deliberately changed the subject.
This morning while we were in the
office of the jefe de armas," she said,
81 saw a poor woman with a baby
she was scarcely more than a child
herself-whOse husband is in prison.
Every day she comes to plead with the
jefe de armas for her husbands life.
But he will not see her, and the sol
diers only laugh at her tears
"a common stOryI These women
and their babies are very annoying, /"
observed the general
"She says that her husband is to
be shot,
Very likelyl Our prisons are full.
Doubtless he is a bad man"
Cant you do something's"
"Eh?" Longorio lifted his brows in
the frankest inquiry.
THAT poor girl with her little, bare.
brOwn-eyed baby was pitiful.'' Alaire
leaned forward with an earnest appeal
in her face, and her host smiled.
$50? That is how it is, Ell? What is
her name?"
'Tnez Garcia. The husbands name
is Juan"
"Of course. These peladors are all
Juans. You would like to appear as
an angel of mercy, Ell? Your heart is
touched?''
Deeply"
"BastanteI There is no more to be
said" Longorio rose and went into
the next room, where were certain
members OF his stan. After a time he
returned with a paper In his hand. and
this he laid before AIaire. It was an
order for the release OF Juan Garcia.
''The saIvo conducto which viii permit
Juan and his Inez and their Juanito To
return to their farm is being made
out" he explained "Are you salts