Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-06-08

AuStin'S death, the more certain he be
came that it was in some way con
nected with Alaire's disappearance;
and the loose end by which the tangle
might be unraveled, it seemed to him
lay in the hands of Rosa Morales
Jose'S sweetheart. That Sanchez wal
the murderer Dave now had little
doubt; but since the chance Of appre
hending him was small, he turned his
attention to the girl. He would make
Rosa speak, he told himself, If he had
to use force-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 way to wiring the truth
from her. Dawes face, trifie too som.
Der at all times, took on a grimmef
aspect now; he felt slow fury kind.
ling in his breast.
Years of experience had taught him
to be always alert, even during his mo.
ments of deepest preoccupation, and
so, from force of habit, when he came
to the pumphouse road he carefully
scanned it. In the dust were fresh
footprints leading toward the river.
Now be knew this road to be seldom
Used, and therefore he wondered who
could be riding it at gallop in this
blistering midday heat. A few rods
farther on and his quick eye detected
something else-some tiny object that
brought him from his saddle. Out Of
the rut he picked cigarette butt, the
fire Of which was cold but the paper Of
which was still wet from the smokers
lips. He examined 1T carefully; then
he remounted and rode on, bordering
Its significance.
Dave loped out of the thicket and
straight across the clearing to the
Morales house. Leaving Montrosa's
reins hanging, he opened the door and
entered without knocking. Rosa ap-
peared in the opening to another room,
her eyes wide with fright at this APP
partition, and Dave saw that she was
dressed in her finest, as If for holiday
Or for journey.
"Where's your father?" he demanded.
"He's gone to Sangre de- Cristo.
What do you want?"
"When did he go?"
"This morning, early. He"
"Who's been here since he left2"
Rosa was recovering from her first
surprise, and now her black brOws
drew together in anger. mo one has
come. You are the first. And have
you no manners to stride into a re-
spectacle house,
Dave broke in harshly: Rosa, you're
lying. Jose Sanchez has been here
within an hour. Where is hep When
the girl only grew whittier and raised
hand to her breast, he stepped toward
her, crying, ANSWER mel"
Rosa recoiled, and the breath caught
In her throat like sob. "I'll tell you
nothing" she said in thin voice. Then
she began to tremble. "Why do YOU
want JOSEF,
"You know why. He killed Don
Eduardo, and then he rode here. Comet
know everything"
sIies! Lies!" Rosa's voice grew
shrill. "Out of this house! I know
you. 1t was you who betrayed Panfllo.
and his blood is on your hands, as.
sassin" With the last word she made
as If to retreat, but Dave was too
quick; he seized her, and for an In
slant they struggled breathlessly.
Dave had reasoned beforehand that
his only chance of discovering any
hing from this girl lay In utterly ter.
'orizing her and in profiting by her
irst panic; therefore he pressed his
advantage. He succeeded better than
he had dared to hope.
"You know who killed Senior Ed" he
,ried, fiercely. "The fortune-teller read
your plans, and there is no use to deny
t."
Rosa screamed again; she writhed;
The tried to sink her teeth into her cap
tors flesh. In her body was the
strength of full-grown man, and Dave
could hardly hold her. But suddenly,
Is the two scuffled, from the back room
If the house came sound which
.aused Dave to release the girl as alb
uptly as he had seized her-it was the
link and tinkle Of Mexican spurs upon
! wooden floor. A.