Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-09

, seeming answer. II suppose you mean
that you would make any sacrlflce?''
'Yes; that's IT,"
"Would you give up the woman her
self. # you considered ii your dutyy'
"No. There couldn't be any duty
higher than love-to my way Of think
ing. But you shouldn't take me Ms
a specimen. I'm not Il good represen-
| tative of my SEX"
Il think you are very good one,
Alaire said quietly, and Dave realized
that no tlattcry was intended.
Despite the rough roads, they made
fair time, and the miles OF cactus and
scrawny brush rolled swiftly past. The
morning sun swung higher, and by
midday the metal of the automobile
had become as hot as Il frying pan.
They stopped at various goat ranches
to inquire about Adolfo Urbina and at
noon halted beside watercourse for
! lunch.
| Dave was refilling the radiator when
he overheard Jose in conversation with
Mrs. Austin.
Nowhere trace!" the horse
breaker was saying. mo one has seen
him. puar Rosa Morales viii die o.
| "rntan heart."
Alaire explained to her guest: "Jose
Is worried about his cousin PanfilO. II
seems he has disappeared"
80! You are Panfilo's cousin?''
Dave eyed the Mexican with new in.
terest.
ISL"
"You remember the man." Alaire
went on. "He was with that fellow
you arrested at the water-hole."
"Oh, yes. remember him." With
steady fingers Dave shook some to-
bacco into cigarette paper. He felt
Alaire's eyes upon him, and they wer,
eloquent of inquiry, but he did mo-
meet them.
Jose frowned. "No one at La Feii;
has seen him, and in Pueblo there was
not word. 1t is strange"
"Panfilo was In bad company wher
| saw him." Law finished rolling hi
cigarette and lit 1t, still conscious OF
Alaire's questioning gaze. "He may
have had trouble"
''IIe was q good man." the horse
breaker asserted. IF he is dead
The Mexican's frown deepened to &
scowl.
what them
Jose significantly patted the gift re.
volver at his hip. "rhis little fellow
will have something to say"
Dave looked him over idly. from
head to heel, then murmured: "YOu
would do well to go slow, compadre
Panfilo made his own quarrels."
1--WE We're like brothers, and / dc
aot know of any quarrels. But shall
find out. am not given to Boosting
senior, but | am a devilish bad man ir
my way"
Nothing more was said during the
luncheon, but when Alairc had finished
eating and her two employees had be
gun their meal. she climbed the hanl
Of the arroyo ostensibly To find q coo
spot. Having succeeded, she called tt
Dave:
"There is a nice breeze up here"
The Rangers face set; rising slow
ly. he climbed the bank after her
When they stood face to face in thu
shade of gnarly oak tree, Alair'
asked him point-blank:
"Whcre IS Pnnflo Sanchez"
Dave met her eyes squarely: hi
own were cold and hard. "IIes whcr,
he dropped at my second shot," salt
he.
He could hear HIS companions sharl
inhalation. He did not finch at tn,
look she turned upon him.
"He was practically unarmed! VIVA
do you call--such an act?"
Dawes lips slowly whitcned, his fac
became stony. He felt himself pitt
lessly condemned.
"Why didn't you tell me at tn
time?" she asked. "Why~ didn't 70,
report it?"
eth report 1t when you give me PEI
mission"
, q? Whnt--T' She wheeled I
face him.
"Think q moment. can't tell hal
the truth. And If I tell everything
! It will lead to--gosslp"
"Ah! think I understand. M
Law, you can be insulting"
(TO BE CONTINuED.)