Macon beacon., 1917-09-14

.1a. vas ~.T- u,, zro-l -ae people d
The llgt ranch. But l expected to rae
Tim here too.
"IIow I'D you manage to get hereE
81 hardly know. l just wouldn't lei
'cu stop mr. This lieutenant wouldn't
/ let mc In until told him I was from
Monterey with important news. | don't
remember all did tell him | tried 10
get here last night bu | had trouble.
They caught lie, and / aad to buy my
way through. I've bribnd and bullied
and lied clear from Romero. reckon
they couldn't imagine I'd risk being
here if | wasn't friend"
II was more Dawes tone than his
words that reused Alaire to an appre-
citation Of what he said.
"Are yod alone?" she asked, in vague
dismay. Then what are we going
to doT
Il don't know yet Ny plans ended
here"
Dave! You rode In just to find me |
Just to be with me?"
"Yes. And to get him." Alaire saw
his face twitch, 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 we're drunk and wouldn't be-
lieve | was an amigo. So l finally had
to ride for It,"
Cant you take me away?" she
asked, family. 'What will you do
when--he comes?"
IL reckon I'll manage him somehow"
His grip upon her tightened painfully,
and she could feel him tremble. II
was afraid | wouldn't find you. L
0 God, Aaire!" He buried his face
in her hair.
Il had at terrible scene with him last
night. He insists upon marrying me.
II was hoping you'd come"
"How could |, when nobody knew
where you were?"
Didn'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 it was? He-Lon-
gorio-told me something quite differ
ent."
NATURALLY. 1t was he who hired Jose
to do the shooting"
"Oh-h" Alare hid her face in her
hands. She looked up again quickly,
however, and her cheeks We're white.
"Then he won't spare you, Dave She
choked for an instant. "We must get
away before he comes. There must be
some way of escape. Think ~
"Im 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"
Yes. What is it?"
"Wait! Let me think" She closed
her eyes her brows drew together as
if in the labor of concentration. When
she lifted her lids her eyes were alight,
her voice was eager. Il know how.
see it. He won't dare But you must
do what tell YOU"
"Of course"
mo questions. UnderstandW
When he nodded inpatiently she ran
to the door and, tiinging 1t open called
down the hall:
"Father! Father OMalley! Quick"
Then she summoned Dolores.
The priest answered; he hurried
from his room and, with a 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 a quick push. Turning upon
the others, Al0ire explained:
"Tve sent for some of the women,
and they'll be here in a minute Fa-
ther, this man has come for me. He
loves me. viii you marry us before
Longorio arrivcs?"
"Alalre :" Dave exclaimed.
She stilled him with gesture
Quick! viii your"
Father O'Malley was bewildered. :"
don't understand" he expostulated.