The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-08-09
XIV.
superstItions and certainties.

~6PVtDAtAtSB~ @hNA SSB III
The sensation caused by Ricardo
Guzman's disappearance was as moth
ing to that which followed the recovery
Of his body. Whatever the facts Of
the rescue, 1t was generally recognized
that the result had been to bring on
a crisis In the affairs Of the two ma
tons. Strong influences, however,
were at work to prevent that very out
come for which the people Of Texas
prayed. During the delay tn ere arose
a report that Ricardo Guzman had
borne an evil reputation, and that he
had been so actively associated with
the rebel cause as to warrant punish.
ment by the federal government. More
over, a legal question as to his Ameri.
can citizenship was raised-a question
which seemed to have important bear
ing upon the case.
Public interest Is short-llyed; few
living men can hold IL more than a day
or two, and it reckons no decd man
worthy OF more than an obituary M
tice. Thus in the course Of time the
Guzman incident was in a fair way
OF being officially forgotten and for
given.
But there were several persons VIVA
felt intense relief at the course events
had taken, and among these was Alaira
Austin. In the days following that
midnight expedition she had had ample
time In which to mediate upon hel
husbands actions. 1t seemed probable
that he had fled to San Antonio, there
to remain until interest in the Guzman
matter had abated.
Alaire telephoned Dave Law, argu.
ing to herself that she must learn
more about her husbands connection
with the Lewis gang. Dave arrived
even s00ner than she had expected.
She made him dine with her, and they
spent the evening on the dim-lit gal.
lery. In the course of their CONVEX
sation Alaire discovered that Dave, too,
had a hidden side of his nature; that
he possessed an imagination, and with
II a quaint, whimsical, exploratory turn
OF mind which enabled him to talk
interestedly of many things and many
places. On this particular evening he
was anything but the man Of iron she
had known-until she ventured to
speak of Ed. Then he closed up like
a trap He was almost gruff In his
refusal to say a. word about her hus-
band.
Because OF Eds appropriation OF the
ranch cash, Alaire found 1t necessary
a few days later to go to the bank,
and, feeling the need Of exercise, she
rode her horse Montrose. When her
errands had been attended to, she sud
denly decided to call on Paloma Jones.
1t was years since she had voluntarily
done such a thing; the very impulse
surprised her.
PaIoma, 1t happened. was undergoing
that peculiar form OF feminine torture
known as @itting;" but ~insecureIy
basts1. pinned and tucked as she was.
she came flying down to the gate Ia
meet her visitor.
Alaire was introduced 10 Mrs
Strange. the dressmaker, a large, acid.
ulous brunette. with a moufhfui Of
pins; and then, when Paloma had Civ.
en- herself nee more into the seam.
stress hands, the two friends gossiped.
III don't know what dad WIN say
when he gets the bill for these
dresses" Paloma confessed.
AYour father Is a mighty queer
man." Mrs. Strange observed. Il
haven't so much as laid eyes on him"
Paloma nodded Yes. And he's get.
ting more peculiar al: the time l cam
make out what ails him.
where IL he nowY" asked AlaIre.