Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-28

! res, but 10 Jose .s.iit.Ie Il reu-lctter
experience. He covered the train from
end to cad, making himself acQuaint-
ed with everyone and bringing to
Alairc the gossip that he picked up.
1t was Tot until midday that the first
( interruption occurred; then the train
pulled in upon Il siding, and after in
/ lnternin;blc delay 1t TRANSFERRED that II
nolthbOund troop-train was expected.
/ Jose brought this intelligence: "Soon
! you win behold the noHer of the Mex
/ lean army he told Alaire. "You will
I see thousands of Longorios veterans,
every man of them a very devil for
blood. They are returning to Nuevo
4 Pueblo after destroying Il band of
! those rebels. They had great vic.
/ tory ut San pedro--thlrty kilomcters
from LaNFcria. Not prisoner was
/ spared, sonora"
rs General Lonsorio with them?'
.Alairc inquired quickly.
! "That Is what came TO tell YOU
/ 1t is believed that he Is, for he takes
+ his army with him wherever he goes.
He is 4 great fighter; he has Il nose
/ for it, that man, md he strikes like the
lightning - here, there, anywhere"
/ Jose, 1t seemed, was a rabid Potosista
{ "When the train arrives" she told
/ her horsc-breakcr. 81 want you to lind
I
/ here"
BUT. sonora !" Jose was dun.
founded, shocksi. "1c is a great gen.
cral-r"
Give him this note" Quickly writ
Inc few lines on 4 page from her
notebook, she gave him the scrap of
paper, which he carefully placed in his
hat; then. shaking his head doubtiully,
he left the car.
Flushed with triumph. Dolores took
the first occasion to enlarge upon her
theme.
you will see whist q monster this
L0ngorio is" she declared. 1T was
like him to steal your beautiful cattle;
he would steal cruclfix."
''lvc heard that" Alaire said gravely.
In the course of time the military
train came creaking along on the main
truck and stopped, to the great interest
Of the south-bound travellers. 1t was
made up of many stock cars crowded
with cavalry horses, and penned In
with them were the women and the
children. The soldiers themselves
were clustered thlckly upon the car
, roofs. Far down at the rear Of the
train was a rckcty passenger coach,
and toward this Jose Sanchez made his
way.
There began noisy interchange Of
greetings between the occupants of the
two trains, and meanwhile the hot sun
glurcd balcfully upon the huddled fig
trcs on the Cur tops. A halfhour
passed, then occurred n comlnoticn at
the forward end Of Alare's coach
A group Of officers climbed aboard,
be none other than Luis Longorio. As
he came down the passngcway Alaire
identified him without the aid of his
insignia, for he stood head and Shout
dcrs above his companions and bore
himself with an mir Of authority. He
was unusually tall at least six feet
three, and very slim, very 1.-THE;
young man; his cheeks We're glrlshly
smooth and Of Il clear, pale, olive TINT
his eyes were large, bold, brilliant: his
nostris thin and sensitive, like those
of Il blooded horse. Disdain, hauteur,
Impotence, were stamped upon the
generals cOuntcnnncc as he pushed
brisily through the crowd, turning his
head from side to side in search of
the woman who had summoned him.
Not until she rose did he discover
Alaire; then he halted; his eyes fixed
themselves upon her with start Of
startled amazement.
Alairc felt herself color fnintly, for
the man seemed to be scanning her
from head to foot, taking In every de-
tall of her fnce and form, and MS he
lid so his expression remained unal-
tered. For what seemed full minute
Longorlo stood rooted; then the stiff
vizorcd cap was swept from his head
he bowed with the grace Of courtIcr
until Attire eaw~the part In his oily
black hair.