Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-04-06
pet client is safe from your mercenary
schemes for some years."
CHAPTER TX.
Lonuorio Makes Bold.

At La Fera Alaire discovered that
the federal depredations had been even
greater than she had feared. Not only
had the soldiers taken a great many
head of cattle, but they had rractically
cleared the ranch of horses. leaving
scarcely enough with which to carry
on the work.
house was pleasant enough. Alalre
welcomed the change in her daily life.
Everything about La Feria was rest
fully un-American, from the house 1t.
self, with it's bare walls and floors, its
brilliantly Towering patio, and its
primitive kitchen arrangements, to the
black-shawled, barefooted Indian won.
en- and their naked children rolling in
the dust Even the timberlesS noun
tains that rose sheer from the west
ward plain into a tumbling purple
Swallowed rampant were Mexican. La
Feria was several miles from the rail-
road; therefore it could not have been
more foreign had it lain in the very
heart of Mexico rather than near the
northern boundary.
In such surroundings, and in spite of
faint misgivings, it was not strange
that, after few days, Alaire'S unhap-
piness assumed vaguely impersonal
quality and that her life, for the mo-
ment, seemed not to be her own. Even
the thought of her husband, Ed Austin,
became indistinct and unreal. Then
all too soon she realized that the pur-
pose of her visit was accomplished,
and that she had no excuse for re-
naming longer. She was now armed
with sufficient facts to make a definite
demand upon the federal government.
The homeward journey was rep.
etition of the journey out. Jose, as
before, was newsgatherer. Hour after
hour they crept toward the border, I'M
til at last they were again laid out on
O siding for an indefinite wait.
The occasion for this was made plain
when an engine drawing q single ca
boose appeared. Even before it had
come to pause, tall figure in spot
less uniform leaped to the ground and
strobe to the waiting coaches. 1t was
Luis LOngorio. He waved signal to
the conductor, then swung aboard the
nOrth-bOund train.
The general was all smiles as he
came down the aisle, and bowed low
over Alaire's hand.
Dolores gasped and stiffened in her
seat like woman of stone.
Heaven be praised! You are safe
and we'll !" said the newcomer. II
have blamed myself for allowing you
to take this abominable journey!
have been in torment lest something
befall you. Every night have prayed
that you might be spared all harm.
When L received word that you were
coming, made all speed to meet you"
Dolores and I are greatly in your
debt" Alaire told him.
''But you stayed so longw
"There was more work than ]
thought. General, you have ruined me"
Longorio was panied; his face be-
came ineffably sad. "Please! | beg
Of you," he entreated. II have ar
ranged for reparation of that miser-
able mistake. I shall see that you re-
ceive justice. If the government will
not pay, I will. All I possess would
be- too little to buy your happiness"
"You embarrass me. Tn afraid you
don't realize what you say" Alaire re-
NAMED cool under the mans protesta-
tons. IT have lost more than a thou
sand head of cattle.''
eve shall say two, three thousand,
and the government will pay,'' Longo-
rio asserted brazenly. 81 will vouch
for your figures, and no one will ques-
ton them, for am man of honor"
"No! All I want"
sit is done. Let us say no more
about the affair. Sonora, I have thought
Of you every hour; the duties that held
me in Nuevo Pueblo were like irksome
have flown to La Feria, butt could
not"
"My husband will thank you for your
great courtesy to me-" Alaire managed
to say.
But the mention of husbands was
not agreeable to one of Longorio's sem
sitiveness, and his face betrayed a
hint of Impotence.
eyes, yes" he agreed carelessly.
"SenOr Austin and I must know each
other better and become friends"
"That is hardly possible at present.
When the war Is over
BAH This war is nothing. I go
where / please. You would be sur
prised to greet me at Las Palmas some
day soon, Ell? When you tell your
husband what friend I am, he would
be glad to see me, would he not?"
"Why-of course. But surely you
wouldn't dare
''And why not? I have made inqui.
ries, and they tell me Las Palmas is
beautiful, heavenly, and that you are
fhn ~ t,,o,, c,fo