The Huttig news., 1917-05-05
CHAPTER XVII.
A Warninu.


 .ided to divorce Ed, she acted witt characteristic decision. Since Ells worth had more than once advised this very course, she went to Brownsville anlisting his willing support. She hat written Dave Law, telling him tha she intended to go to La Feria, there Q remain pending the hearing of heI suit To be sure, she would have pre- ferred some place of refuge other thar La Feria, but she reasoned that thert she would at least be undisturbed ant that Ed, even If he wished to effect { reconciliation, would not dare to follow her, since he was persona non gratf in federal Mexico.
 She had counted upon seeing Dav, turing her stay in Brownsville, and hel failure to do so was grave disap pOintment as she knew that he was il town attending court. Yet she tolt herself that 1t was brave of him tt obey her injunctions so literally and tt leave her unembarrassed by his pres ence at this particular time. It in spired her to be equally brave and t6 wait patiently for the day when sht could welcome him with clean hand, and a soul unashamed.
 In the midst of Alaire's uneertaint, of mind it gratified her to realize tha Dave alone would know of her where abeuts. She wondered if he would come to see her. Re was reckless headstrong lover, and his desires were all too likely to overcome his delib crate resolves. She rather hoped thai in spite of his promise he would ven ture to cross the border so that sht could see and be near him. if only fol a day or for an hour. The possibility frightened and yet pleased her. Int conventional woman within hel drowned, but her outlaw heart beat fast at the thought.
 Alaire did not explain her plans ever | to Dolores, but when her preparations were complete she took the Mexican woman with her, and during Eds ab sence slipped away from the ranch 1 Boarding the train at Jonesville, shs was in Pueblo that night.
 It seemed at last that war with Mexico was imminent. After months of uncertainty the question had come to issue, and that lowering cloud which had hung above the horizon took omi. nous shape and size. Ellsworth awoke one morning to learn that an ultima. tum had gone forth to President Pc. tOSi; that the Atlantic fleet had been ordered south and that marines were being rushed aboard transports pend ing general army mobilization. II looked as if the United States had finally risen in wrath, and as if noth- Ing less than miracle could now avert the long-expected conflict.
 Blaze Jones took the San Antonio paper out upon the porch and com posed himself In the hammock to reat the latest war news. Invasion Troops The Stars and Stripes! Those were words that stirred Jones deeply ant caused him to neglect his work. Now that his country had fully awakened to the necessity of war with Mexico "a necessity he had long felt-he was fired with the loftiest patriotism and a youthful eagerness to enlist. Blaze realized that he was old and fat anG near-sighted: but what of that? He could fight. Fighting. In fact, had been one of his earliest accomplish ments, and he prided himself upon knowing as much about it as any man could learn. He believed in fight ing both as principle and as an ex. ercise in fact, he attributed his good health to his various neighborly "un- pleaSantnesses," and he had more than once argued that no great fighter ever died of sluggish liver or of any one of the other ills that beset sedentary, peaee-lovlng people. Nations were like men-toO much ease made them fiabby. And Blaze had his own ideas of strategy, too. So during the perusal of his paper he bemoaned the mis- takes his government was making. Why waste time with ultimatums? he argued to himself. He had never done so. Experience had taught him that the way to win battle was to beat the other fellow to the draw; hence this diplomatic procrastination filled him with impatienee. It seemed al- most reasonable to one of Blazes in tense patriotism.
 He was engaged in laying out plan of campaign for the United States when he became conscious of voices behind him, and realized that for some time Paloma had beeG entertaining a caller in the front room. Their con- versation had not disturbed him at first, but now an occasional word or sentence forced its meaning through his preoccupation. and he found him. self listening.
 Paloma's visitor was woman, and as Blaze hardened to her voice. he felt his heart sink. It was Mrs. Strange She was here again. With difficulty Blaze conquered an impulse to fee, for she was recounting story all too laMilif to him. -----.---