Macon beacon., 1917-07-13
CHAPTER xIII-continued.

-13-
Alaire drove as swiftly as she dared,
following the blurred streak of gray
that was the road, and taking the
bumps with utter recklessness. Ahead
loomed the dark ridge of the river
thickets, dense rampant Of mesquite.
But even before they were sheltered
from the moonlight Paloma saw the
lights of another automobile approach
ing along the main-traveled highway
behind them-the lights, evidently, OF
Tad Lewis machine. A moment later
Alaire's car drove into the black shad-
ows. 1t had been short, swift, excit-
ing ride. "Young Eds" runabout could
not be many minutes ahead Of them.
The women got out, then breasted
the high grass and brambles between
their hiding place and the pumphouse
road. A hundred yards away they
could now see the ghostly Rio Grande
its saffron surface family silvered by
the low moon; iigAts cleaned from the
windows Of Morales house. In the
distance the vague outlines Of the Mex
lean shore were resolving themselves
and far beyond twinkled the evidence
that some belated citizens Of Romero
were still awake.
Paloma had brought with her the
long-barreled rifle, and this sh'
clutched nervously as she and Alairt
stood whispering. Conditions were ia
yorable for an approach to the pump
house itself. They had nearly reached
their goal when out into the clearing
behind them, with metallic rattle ant
clang, burst another automobile, an(
Paloma whispered excitedly.
There's the Lewis outfit at last"
In the Lewis car were several men
They descended hurriedly, and whel
one Of them ran around the front o
the car to turn off its lights, both won
en- saw that he carried rifle. Eyi
IDENTIFY Tad Lewis had come prepared
for desperate measures.
A small door gave entrance to tn
pumphouse, and into the lock of thi
Mrs. Austin fitted key; the next mo
ment she and Paloma were safely In
side. Dusty, cobwebbed windows lie
in faint ghost-glow of moonlight, bu
prevented clear observation of any
thing outside; Alaire's fumbling tn
gers found the latch and began t
lift q window, when someone spoke
Just outside the building.
"What did you discover?" inquire
a voice which neither woman recoe
nized. Paloma clutched bllndly for he
companion; the two eavesdropper
stood rooted In their tracks. TIL
pounding of their hearts sounded louC
ly. Since the building was little NOR
than a wooden she'll, they could plainl
hear the answer:
"The house is full Of greasers.
can't tell who they are"
A third man spoke, this time
Spanish. 'That was Tad Lewis VIII
Just came, senor."
There followed some whispere
words indlstinguishable to the lister
ers, then q rustic Of bodies mo1ip
through the tall grass and weeds.
Paloma placed her lips close
Alaire's ear. "Who are those people'
she 5reathed.
~ don't know. They must be Il
ones who came In that strange aut
mobile"
Paloma chattered viciously: "Ever,
body in Texas Is here. wish We
thought to scatter tacks behind rs
Cautiously they swung the door bac
and looked out. The open space alor
the river bank was leveled by Il
moonlight; from Morales house,
their right, came the sound of voice
The women waited.
A few moments, then a number I
men appeared. Paloma Judged thel
were ut least q dozen, but she W;
too excited to count them. AS the
came struggling toward the pumphou!
one Of them called back: