The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-07-19

f.f
done since then, he was 50 bac'y
shaken by the trHgctg.
What time did IL huppenf'
ut was noon when | came in
Dave consulted his watch, and wa,
surprised to discover that Il was now
only n few minutes past one. II was
evident, therefore, that Henito had In
deed lost no time, and that his alarm
had met with instant response.
Nov tell ne, who did IT,"
Benito flung his hands high. God
knows! Some enemy. of course; but
Don Eduardo had many
mot that sort OF enemies. There
was nobody who could wish to kill
him.
THAT Is as II is."
Haven't you ny suspicions9"
mo, senior"
"You say Mrs. Austin Is gonef'
"Yes."
"Where?"
II don't know"
Dave spoke %brusquely "Come, Bent.
to; you must know. for your wife went
with her. Are you trying to keep
something back"
mo, no! As God Is my Judge I"
BenltO declared. ~ 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. Senior Ed
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.
sions were doubled. for Benlto added
M doubt she went to In Feria."
Law uttered an i%ncredulous 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"
II hadn't thought Of that Benito
confessed. But II 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,
ehf l suppose Dolores feared | would
tell Don Eduardo, God rest his soul
This much | do know, however,: not
long ago there came n 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 20
Ing to Mexico for her money. 1t was a
mark of Loneorio's favor. you under.
stand me-? He's n grcat-friend. ar
ardent admirrr." Benito winked. "Do.
loros told me all about that, too. No,
| think they went to La Foria."
Dave remembered his first converse.
tion with Phil Strange and the fortune.
%tellcr's lnsistcnce 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 m hySterical imngina.
ton. Nevertheless, he forced himself
10 ask. quietly:
as 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 Il wild boy
But wait! I'll ask Juan II he saw him
yes, and Victoria, tOo That Is Victoria
you hear squalllng In the kitchen. Wait
here"
Benlto hurried away, leaving Dave n
prey to p~erplexity; but he was back
again In II few moments. His face was
grave.
Jose did not go to the east pas.
turc," he said.
where Is he now?"
mo n seems to know
Law walked to his horse, mounted.
and galloped away. Benito. who
watched him. saw that he turned to.
ward he river road which led to the
Las Palmas pumping plant.
The more Dave thought about Ed
Austin's death, the more certain he be.
came that 1t was In some way con.
nected with Alalre's disappearance
and the loose end by which the tangle
might be %unraveled, IL seemed TO him,
lay in he hands of Rosa Morales,
Jose's sweetheart. That Sanchez was
the murderer Dave now had little
doubt but since the chance of appre-
hending him was small. he turned his
attention 10 the girl. He would make
Rosa speak, he told himself, II he had
TO use forcc-this was no time for gen.
tie methods. If she knew aught of
Alaire's whereabouts or the mystery of
her departure from Las Palmas. he
would find n way TO wiring the truth
from her, Dawes face, a trlfe too som.
her at all times, tOok on II grimmer
aspect now he felt n slow fury kind.
ling In his breast.
CTO BE C~ONTINUED)
In Danger.
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