The Raymer enterprise., 1917-05-24
Copyright By Harper 4 Brothers
CHAPTER iv-Continued.

NhN oiSt VI ilo Hul lie
his head. "No. I'm too old to 90 ram
pagin' after new gods. amt got the
imagination TO raise anything more
complicated than a mortgage; but II
was younger, I'd organize myself up
and do away with that Ed Austin. I'd
sure help him 10 an untimely end, and
then I'd marry them pecan groves and
blooded herds. and drug store orchards
She certainly Is heart-breakin' de.
vice, with her red hair. and red lips
an
"Father!" Paloma was deeply
shocked.
Complete isolation, Of course, Alaire
had found to be impossible, even
though her ranch lay far from the tray.
eied roads and her Mexictun guards
were not encouraging to visitors. Bust
ness inevitably brought her into con.
tact with considerable number OF
people, and Of these the one she saw
most frequently was Judge Ellsworth
OF Brownsville, her attorney.
II was perhaps a week after Ed had
left for San Antonio that Alalre felt
the need of Ellsworth's counsel, and
sent for him Ellsworth was a kindly
man Of tftyhye, with forceful chin
aud a dropping, hcayyIldied eye that
could either blaze or twinkle. Judge
Ellsworth knew more than any four
men in that part Of Texas; information
had way Of seeking him out. He was
good lawyer. too, aud yet his knowl-
edge of human nature he considered
far more important than law. His
mind was like full granary, and every
grain lay where he could put his hand
upon 1t.
He motored out from Brownsville,
and after Kidding himself OF dust, in
sisted upon spending the interval .e-
fore dinner In an inspection of AlaIre's
latest ranch improvements. Not until
dinner vas over did he inquire the rea.
son for his summons
''It's about La Feria. General Lon
gorio has conhscated my stock" AlaIre
told him. Il was afraid of this very
thing, and 5" WIS preparing to hiring
the stock over. STILL never thought
they'd actually confscate It,"
Hasn't Ed done enough to provoke
eontscationT" asked the Judge. Il
have 1t pretty straight that he's Civ.
Ing money to the rebel junta aud lend.
ing every assistance he can to their
cause"
IL didn't know he'd actually done
anything How mad"
'Yes-for man with interests In
federal territory. But Ed always does
the wrong thing, you know"
''Then presume this confiscatlon Is
in the nature OF a reprisal But the
stock Is mine. not Eds. | want your
help In taklng up the matter with
Washington
Ellsworth was pessimlstic. ut
won't do any good, my dear" he said
"You won't be paId for your cattle"
Then ! shall 90 to La Feria."
mol" The Judge shook his head
decidedly.
I've been there hundred times
The federals have been more than
courteous"
"Longorin has bad reputation.
strongly advise against your going
You'd better send some man"
whom can | sendg" asked Alaire.
"You know my situation"
The Judge considered moment he.
fore replying u can't go, for I'm
busy in court You could probably
accomplish more than anybody else. II
Longorio will listen To reason. and,
after all, you are person of such i'm.
portance that | dare say you'd be snfe.
But ii viii be hard trip. and you
won't know whether you are In rebel
or In federal territory"
"Well, people here are asking wheth,
ef Texas is In the United States or
Mexico" Alaire said. lightly. some
times | hardly know" After n mo-
ment She continued. "SInce you know
everything and everybody. | wonder IL
you ever met a David Luw2"
Ellsworth nodded.
"Tell me something about him."
He asked me the same thing about
you. Well. haven't seen much of
Dave since he grew up, he's such
rpamer."
"He said his parents were murdered
by the Guadalupes."
"Yes. 1t happened good many
years ago, and certainly they both met
violent end. was instrumental In
saving what property Frank Law left
but It didn't last Dave very long. Hes
right careless In money matters. Dave.
fine fellow In some ways-mnst ways.
[ believe, but" The Judge lost him.
self in frowning meditation.
Il have never known you to damn a
friend or a client with such faint
praise" said Alalre.
.Oh. don't mean II that way. I'm
almost like one of Dawes kin. aud I've
been keenly interested In watching his |
traits develop. I'm Interested In he
redlty. I've watched 1t in Eds case,