Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-30

! meet them.
Jose frowned. mo one at La Feria
has seen him, and in Pueblo there was
not a word. 1t Is strange"
"Panfilo was In bad company when
l saw him" Law finished rolling his
cigarette and lit 1t. still conscious Of
Alaire's questioning gaze. He may
have had trouble"
He was n good man." the horse
breaker asserted. IF he is dead"
The Mexican's frown deepened to a
scOwl.
What then?"
Jose significantly patted the gift re-
| volver at his hip. This little fellow
will have something TO say"
Dave looked him over idly. from
head to heel. then murmured: "You
| would do well to go slow, compadre.
Panfilo made his own quarrelS."
"We were like brothers, and I do
not know of any quarrels. But | shall
find out. | am not given to Boosting,
senior. but l am a deviish bad man in
my way"
Nothing more was said during the
luncheon. but when Alaire- had finished
eating and her two employees had be-
gun their meal. she climbed the bank
of the arroyo Ostensibly to find cool
spot. Having succeeded she called to
Dave:
There is a nice breeze up here"
The Rangers face set: rising slow
ly. he climbed the bank after her.
When they stood face to face in the
shade of gnarly oak tree, Alaire
asked him pOint-blank
"Where is Panfilo Sanchez?"
Dave met her eyes squarely; his
own were cold and hard. He's where
he dropped at my second shot," said
he.
inhalation. He did not finch at the
look she turned upon him~
"He was practically unarmed What
do you call-such an act?"
Dawes lips slowly whtened, his faos
became stony. He felt himself pla'
lessly condemned.
"Why didn't you tell me at the
report it?"
"rll report it when you give mo per
mission"
"-? WHAT" She wheeled to
face him.
"Think moment. l can't tell half
1t will lead tO-gossip.'
"Ah! I think l understand. Mr.
Law, you can be insulting"
For the first time the man lost mus.
cular control of his features; they
twitched, and under their tan his
cheeks became sickly yellow.
"YOu've no right to say that" he told
her harshly. you've plumb over
stepped yourself ma ram. and-I reok-
on you've formed quite wrong Opin-
ion. Panfio had his six-shooter and
he used it; he intended to ambush me
and release his companion, but
forced his hand; so 1t amt what I'd |
call murder; haven't lost any sleep
over it. I"
You are utterly ruthless"
"Yes'm! I'm not what you would
consider nice person; the death Of |
PanfilO Sanchez means nothing what
ever to me. If you can grasp that fact,
you'll see that your own reputation
weighed heavier in my mind that the
lives of dozen Mexicans-or whites,
for that matter"
II go anywhere, everywhere. No one
has ever had the effrontery to ques-
ton my actions" Alaire told him,
stiffiy.
"And 1 don't aim to give 'em a
chance" Dave was stubborn.
There was another interval Of ST.
lence
"You heard what Jose said What
are you going to do?"
Dave made a gesture of indiffer-
ence. ut doesn't greatly matter. I'll
tell him the truth, perhaps. You might
warn him against any foolishness.
Jose has some sense"
The woman looked up curIously.
Don't you know how to be afraid?
Haven't you any fear?" she asked.
Dawes gray eyes were steady as he
"Yes'm! I'm afraid this
hing is going to spoil our friendship.
we been desperately afraid. all along,
hat l might have hurt your reputa-
ion. Even now I'm afraid, on your
lccOunt to make public Panfilo San.
'hez's death. Yes'm, I know what 1t
8 to be afraid"
It became evident to Dave, as the
fternoon progressed, that they would
re very late in arriving at Las Palmas,
nd he began to fear that his hostess
would feel in duty bound to insist upon
is Snpndinp the night of her homo