The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-08-23
Dave added his words to the others:

O~NS \ "O1uS " lAC Ok1lSISs
'You are ten to one, but you can't have
he cried, defantly. "Jose San
chez confessed to the murder Of Mr..
Austin, and told how you had got Mrs.
Austin to come here. The whole thing
is known in Washington and Mexico
City by this time. The newspapers
have 1t; everybody knows you are
keeping her as your prisoner, and that
I have come for her. If she is harmed,
all Mexico, all the world, will know
that you are worse than a murderer"
Longorio reached behind his back
and slammed the door in the faces of
his listening men.
"What is this? What did Jose con-
fess?" he inquired, sharply.
"He swears you hired him."
"Bah! The word of a pelador."
In spite of the mans contemptuous
tone Dave saw the expression in his
face and made a quick decision.
'There's a limit to what you dare to do,
Longorio. I'm unarmed; I make no re-
sistance, so there is no excuse for vio-
lence. I surrender to you, and claim
protection for myself and my wife,"
But Longorio was not to be tricked.
"Good" he cried, triumphantly. II
have been looking forward to some
thing like this, and I shall give myself
a great pleasure" He laid a hand up
on the door-knob, but before he could
turn it the Catholic priest had him by
the arm, and with a strength surprising
In n of his stature wrenched him
away. Father O'Malley's face was
white and terrible; his voice was deep,
menacing; the hand he raised above
Longorio seemed to brandish a weapon.
"Stop" he Numbered. "Are you a
mailman? Destruction hangs over you;
destruction of body and soul. You dare
not separate those whom God hath
joined"
"God! God!" the other shrilled. II
don't believe in him. I am a god; I
know Of no other"
"Blasphemer! !" roared the little man.
Listen, then. So surely as you harm
these people, so surely do you kill your
earthly prospects. You, the first man
in Mexico, che dictator indeed! Think
what you are doing before it is too late.
Is your dream Of greatness only a
dream? Will you sacrifice yourself
and all your aspirations in the heat of
this unholy and impossible passion?
Tonight, now, you must choose whether
you will be famous or infamous, glori-
Gus or shameful, honored or dishon-
ored! Restrain your hatred and con-
quer your lust, or forego forever your
dreams Of empire and pass into OBJ
livion."
"You are a meddler," Longorio
stormed. "You make a loud noise, but
I shall rid Mexico Of your kind. We
shall have no more Of you priests"
Father O'Malley shook the speaker
as a parent shakes an unruly child.
"See! You have completely lost your
head. But I want you to listen to what
I am saying. Whether you are more
good than evil, God must Judge, but
the people of Mexico are good people,
and they will not be ruled by a man
who is wholly bad. You have the power
to remove this man and this woman,
yes, and this priest who dares to point
out the pit at your feet; but if you do
you will command another Mexi-
can army. There is no war. We are
not your enemies. The world knows
we are here, and it holds you account
able for our safety. Tomorrow you
will have to face the reckoning"
Longorio listened. It was plain that
he recognized the truth Of O'Malley's
words, but he was convulsed with rage.
"Good" he cried. II see my dreams
dissolve, but I am not the first great
man to trade an empire for a woman.
Antony, the Roman general, laid his
honor in a woman's arms. I had q
shining destiny, but Mexico will be the
sufferer by my betrayal. Instead of
Longorio the Deliverer, I shall be
known as Longorio the Lover, the man
who gave ali"
O'Malley interrupted forcefully.
Enough Of this! Come with me.
have something more to say to YOU"
He flung open the door into the hall
and, taking the general by the arm,
fairly dragged him from the room and
into the n opposite. The lieutenant
and his men looked on in amazement,
shutting their feet and shifting their
rifle-butts noisily upon the floor.
Alaire turned an anxious face to
Dave, saying: "He is wonderful. Lon
gorio is almost-afraid Of him."
eyes; he may bring him to his
senses. If he doesn't" Dave cast
his eyes desperately over the room,
conscious all the time that he was be-
ing watched with suspicion by the men
outside. He stirred restlessly and
moistened. his lips. "Longorio would
be crazy to injure you"
Ten minutes passed; fifteen. Alaire
leaned, motionless, against the table ;
Dave paced about, followed by the eyes
of the soldiers. One of the latter
struck a match, and in the silence it
sounded like a gunshot. Dave started,
of uyhioh tho co1Iiouo lo,,rbod TLo,