Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-12-29
Copyright BY Hdrper e. Brothers
81 Rex Beach


be surprised if we are not assassinatet
before morning"
HE must have meant it." Alaire
spoke with a conviction she did not
entirely feel. "Father O'Malley aroused
the finer side of his nature"
Perhaps" agreed the priest. "Some-
where in him there is fear Of God"
But Dave was skeptical. "More like.
ly a fear of the gringo government
said he. 'Longorio is a fourfusher.
When he realized he was licked he
tried to save his face by grandstand
play He didn't want to let us CO."
"Then what Is to prevent him from
well, from having us followed?"
Alaire inquired.
Nothing" Dave told her.
AS they climbed the bank and rode
onward into the night she said: mo
matter what happens, dear, | shall be
happy for at last one of my dreams
has come true" He reached out and
patted her. you've no idea what a
coward was until you came. But the
moment / saw you all my fears van
ished. was like lost child who sud
denly sees its father; in your arms
felt perfectly safe, for the first time in
all my life, think. II couldn't bear
to 60 on without you, after this"
Dave found nothing to say; they
rode along side by side for a time In
great contentment that required no
speech. Then Alaire asked:
"Dear, have you considered how we
are going to explain our marriageY
won't the circumstances explain
it?"
Perhaps. And yet It seems ages
since l learned-what happened to Ed.
but in reality it's only few hours.
Won't people talk?"
Dave caught at the suggestion. 81
see. Then let's keep it secret for the
present"
With little reckless laugh she con-
fessed, Tim afraid I'll find it diff
cult to be conventional"
my wife!" he cried In sharp agony.
Leaning far out, he encircled her with
his arm; then, half lifting her from
her saddle, he crushed his lips to hers.
1t was his first display of emotion since
Father O'Malley had united them.
There were few villages along the
road they followed, and because Of the
lateness of the hour all were dark.
hence the party passed through with
out exciting attention except from an
occasional wakeful dog. But as morn
Ing came and the east began to glow
Dave told the priest:
"We've got to hide out during the
lay or Wen get into trouble. Besides,
these women must be getting hungry"
81 fear there is something feminine
about me-" confessed the little man.
I'm famished, too"
At the next rancho they came to they
applied for shelter, but were denied;
n fact, the owner cursed them so
'oundly for being Americans that they !
we're glad to ride onward. A mile or
.wo farther along they met cart the
driver of which refused to answer
heir greetings. AS they passed out of
his sight they saw that he had halted
lis lean oxen and was staring after
hem curiously. Later, when the sun
vas well up and the world had fully
awakened, they. deserted a mounted
nan, evidently cowboy, riding
through the chaparral. He saw them,
90, and came toward the road but
after brief scrutiny he whirled his
horse and galloped off through the cac-
us, shouting something over his shoul-
Ter.
''Thls won't do" O'Malley declared,
II don't like the actions of
hese people. Let me appeal to the
next person we meet. l can't believe
hey all hate u.s."
Soon they came to rise in the road,
md from the crest of this elevation be-
held ahead of them a small village of
white houses shining from the shelter
IF grove. The rancheria was perhaps
.wo miles away, and galloplng toward
t was the vaquero who had challenged
hem.
'That's the Rio Negro crossing"
Dave announced. Then spying a little
house squatting a short distance back
rom the road, he said: WED better
.ry yonder. If they turn us down Wen
nave to take to the BRUSH"
O'Malley agreed. eyes, and we have
10 time to lose. That horseman is 60
ng to rouse the town. I'm afraid
ve're-in for it."
Dave nodded silently.
Leaving the beaten path, the refu-
,ees threaded their way through cac-
us and sage to gate, entering which
hey approached the straw-thatched
acal they had seen. A naked boy baby
watched them draw near, then scuttled
or shelter, piping an alarm. A man
from somewhere, at sight of
whom the priest rode forward with
pleasant greeting. But the fellow was
His wife, too, emerged from
he dwelling and joined her husband In
warming Father O'Malley away.
LET me try" Alaire begged, and
purred her horse up to the group. She
miled down at the country people,
aging: ave have Travelled a long
Vay, and we're tired and hungry.