The Huttig news., 1917-04-21
CHAPTER XIV.
superstitIons and certs,ntIes.

iiIS to tildt WHICH IOlIOWpu the recovery i of his body. Whatever the facts of the rescue. 1t was generally recognized that the result had been to bring on crisis in the affairs of the two na- tions. Strong influences, however, were at work to prevent that very out come for which the people of Texas prayed. During the delay there arose report that Ricardo Guzman had borne an evil reputation, and that he had been so actively associated with the rebel cause as tp warrant punish ment by the federal government. More over, legal question as to his Aneri- can citizenship was raised-a question which seemed to have important bear ing upon the case.
 Public interest is short-lived; few living men can hold 1t more than asday or two, and It reckons no dead man worthy of more than an obituary mo- tice. Thus in the course of time the Guzman incident was in fair way of being officially forgotten and for given.
 But there were several persons who felt intense relief at the course events had taken, and among these was Alaire Austin. In the days following that midnight expedition she had had ample time Tn which to mediate upon her husbands actions. It seemed probable that he had fled to San Antonio, there to remain until interest In the Gusman matter had abated.
 Alaire telephoned Dave Law, argrl- ing to herself that she must learn more about her husbands connection with the Lewis gang Dave arrived even sooner than she had expected. She made him dine with her, and they spent the evening on the dim-lit ga1- lery. In the course of their eonser- sation Alafre discovered that Dave, too, had hidden side of his natniN; That he possessed m imagination, and with It quaint, whimsical, exploratory turn of mind which enabled him to talk interestedly of many things and many places. On this particular evening he was anything but. the man of iron she had known--fntil she ventured to speak of Ed. Then he closed up like a trap. He was almost gruff in his refusal to say word about her hus- band.
 Because of Eds appropriation of the ranch cash, Alaire found it necessary a few days later to go to the bank. and. feeling the need of exercise. she rode her horse Montrose. When her errands had been attended to, she sud- denly decided to call on Paloma Jones' It was years since she had voluntarily l done such a thing; the very impulse surprised her.
 Paloma, it happened. was undergoing that peculiar form of feminine torture known as fitting" but inseeurely pasted, pinned and tucked as she was, she came flying down to the gate to meet her visitor.
 Alaire was introduced to Mrs. Strange, the dressmaker. large. acid ulous brunette, with a mouthful of pins; and then. when Paloma had giv- en herself once more into the seam stress hands, the two friends gossiped-
 II don't know what dad will say when he gets the bili for these dresses" Paloma confessed.
 "Your father is mighty queer man." Mrs. Strange observed. q haven't so much as laid eyes on him.
 Paloma nodded. "Yes. And he's get ting more peculiar all the time can't make out what ails him.
 "Where is he now?" asked Alaire. :
 Heaven knows! Out fin the barn or under the house." Taking advan- tage of tho dressmakers momentary absence from the room, Paloma con- tinued in whisper: "I wish you'd talk to dad and see what you make of him. He's absolutely-qneer. Mrs. Strange seems to have peculiar effect on him. Why, ifs almost as if-" i
 "What?"
 "Well, I suppose I'm foolish, but I'm beginning to believe in spells. You know, Mrs. Strange's husband is sort of-necromaneer.'
 How sillv.n
 There was no further opportunity for words as the woman reappeared at that instant; but little later Alaire went in search of Blaze. still consitl- erably mystified. As she neared the farm buildings, she glimpsed mans figure hastily disappearing into the barn. The figure bore a suspicious re-. semblance to Blaze Jones. yet when she followed, he was nowhere to be, seen.
 "MIr. Jonesi" Alaire called. She re- peated Blaze's name several times; then something stirred. The door of a harness closet opened cautiously, and out of the blackness peered Palomas father. He looked more owiish than ever behind his big. gold-rimmed spec. tacles. "What in the world are you doing in there?" she cried
 Blaze emerged, blinking. He was dusty and perspiring. Is
 Hello. Mig Austin" he saluted her. with poor assumption ef ibreeziness.. "I was fixin' some harness. but I'm. right glad to see yeu.''
 Alaire regarded him guizzically.. etNhaf ypoaa vo,, biJo Sb, osi-ol