Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-17

l reckon you-all are friends of Ricardo
Guzmnn, and you just couldn't walt
to find out about him, eh?"
Alaire, who had followed PalOma,
was close enough now to recognize the
two Guzman boys as members of the
Ranger party. Lewis and his men had
drawn together AT the first alarm Lon
gorio's Mexicans had gathered about
their leader. The entire situation had
changed in moment, and the Ranger
captain was in control of it.
Soon Dave Law and Blaze Jones
came up over the river bank; they
paused, stricken with surprise Mt find
ing a score of people where they had
expected no more than four.
Blaze was the first to speak. "What's
all this?' he cried. He peered near
sightedly from one 10 the other; then
his huge bulk shook with laughter:
"Say, do my glasses magnify, or Is
this an open lodge meetin'?'
dad, Oh. dadw Paloma scurried
to him and flung herself into his arms.
"What you dom here, kid?" the father
exclaimed. "Why, you'd ought to be
home and abed, long ago. You'll catch
your death of cold. Is that gun loaded?'
Dave Law was even more amazed
than his companion. Recovering from
! his first surprise, he took a position
beside his superior officer. Captain
Evans did not seem at all troubled by
| the disparity In numbers. One Ranger,
or two Mt the most. had always been
| sufficient to quell Texan disturbance !;
now that there were three Of them,
he felt equal to an invasion Of Next
cen soil, If necessary. In consequence,
he relaxed his watclful vigilance, and
to Dave he drawled:
"Wc've got most of the leading citi-
zens of the county, and l reckon some
body in the outfit will be able to iden-
tify Guzman."
4 "rherc's no trouble about that, sir.
We found him. Pedro and Raoul can
make sure" The sons of Ricardo Guz-
man stepped forward promptly, and
Law waved them toward the boat land
Ing, where the two helpers were wait
Ing with Ricardo's remains.
Despite the Ranger captains easy
assumption of command. the strain
Of the situation had not subsidized. and
Longorio drew swift attention to him
self when he said:
at Is fortunate that I CHANGED TO
learn Of this matter. You have done
me q grent service, Senior Law, for
came to Romero purposcly to examine
into the death of this unfortunate man.
But l could learn nothing; nobody
knew anything whatever about the
matter, and SO l became convinced that
it amounted to little. NOw-bchold
l discover that was deceived. Or
perhaps there still may be mistake"
Blaze Jones thrust his daughter
aside and advanced toward the speak
err. "There's no mistake" he declared
belligerently. 81 don't make mistakes
when l 90 grave-robbin. Don Ricardo
was shot by your men, He had five
thousand dollars on him, or he should
have had, and he was an American citi.
zen. Your Colonel Blanco covered the
body, but he'll have hi of job
covern' the facts. It's time we came
to a showdown with your murderin
outfit, and aim to see If you've got Q
government in your country"
"IIeaven guided my hand" devoutly
breathed the general at Is regret
table that you used this means when q
word to me would have served the
purpose, fort is no trivial matter tC
desecrate a Mexican graveyard. My
country, 1t has government. Ar
officer Of the state of Texas, under
! arms, has crossed the Rio Grande
What does that mean?"
Captain Evans had sense of hui
: NOR; Longorlo's ominous words amused
= him. "Say, general, it amt the first
4 time" he chortled. "And you're an Off
. Ger, too, amt you? You're in Texas
at this minute, and I'll bet II I friskei
you I'd find that you was under arms
The Mexican understood English sufli
clently well to, grasp the Significance
: OF these words. After moments con
sidcration, therefore, he modified hi
, threatening tone.
: but my mission was friendly. ! lMt
: no criminal purpose" he said mildly
MISUNDERSTANDING one offense con
: dones the other. At my rate, we mus
: haYc. no international complications
There is a more practical side to tn
. matter: n Don Ricardo Guznlnn me
his death In Mexico, there will be
rigid investigation I assure YOU"
Evans agreed. That's fair! An,
I'll make bargain with YOU: yo
keep still and so'll we. We ncvc
aimed for this affair to get out, unJ
I how. I reckon these mcn"---hc ind
Gated Lewis and his followers--"aln
: liable to talk much"
:, The. two Gr.man boys, great
moved, returned to announce tina
: they Ind identified their fathers bod,
and Longorio could not we'll refuse I
accept their evidence. M
: "Vcry well.' said he. "I nm indcbte
:. to you. Since there IL nothing NOV
= to be sud- apparently. / will rctur
to Romero With a bow to Mrs, An