Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-12-22

her." he cried, defantly. "Jose San
chez confessed to the murder Of Mr.
Austin, and told how you had got Mrs
Austin to come here. The whole thinI
is known In Washington and Mexic,
City by this time. The newspaper
have 1t; everybody knows you arr
keeping her as your prisoner, and tina
/ have ceme for her. II she Is harmed
all Mexico all the world, will know
that you are worse than a murderer"
Longorio reached behind his bacl
and slammed the door In the faces OF
his listening men.
"What Is this? What did Jose con
fess?" he inquired, sharply.
'He swears you hired him."
bah! The word of pelador."
In spite of the mans contemptuous
tone Dave saw the expression In his
face and made quick decision
There's limit to what you dare to do
Longorio. I'm unarmed; make no re.
sistance, so there Is no excuse for VIC
lence. surrender to you, and claim
protection for myself and my Wife"
But Longorio was not to be tricked.
"Good" he cried, triumphantly. II
have been looking forward to some
thing like this, and shall give myself
a great pleasure" He laid hand up
on the door-knob, but before he could
turn 1t the Catholic priest had him by
the arm, and with strength surprising
in one of his stature wrenched him
away. Father O'Malleys face was
white and terrible; his voice was deep,
menacing; the hand he raised above
Longorio seemed to brandish weapon
"Stop!" he Numbered. "Are you a
mailman? Destruction hangs over you;
destruction of body and soul. You dare
not separate those whom God hath
joined"
Sod God!" the other shrilled. "
don't believe in him. I am a god; l
know Of no other"
"Blasphemer" roared the little man.
Listen, then. So surely as you harm
these people, so surely do you kill your
earthly prospects. You, the first man
in Mexico the dictator indeed! Think
what you are doing before it is too late
Is your dream of greatness only a
dream? VIII you sacrifice yourself
and all your aspirations in the heat of
this unholy and impossible passion?
Tonight, now, you must choose whether
you will be famous or infamous, giori-
Gus or shameful, honored or dishon-
ored! Restrain your hatred and con-
quer your lust, or forego forever your
dreams of empire and pass into OBJ
livion."
"You are meddler," Longorio
stormed. "You make loud noise, but
| shall rid Mexico of your kind. We
shall have no more of you priests"
Father O'Malley shook the speaker
as parent shakes an unruly child.
"See! You have completely lost your
head. But want you to listen to what
| am saying. Whether you are more
good than evil, God must judge, but
the people of Mexico are good people,
and they will not be ruled by a man
who is wholly bad. You have the power
to remove this man and this woman, |
yes, and this priest who dares to point |
out the pit at your feet; but If you do
you will never command another Mexi- |
can army. There is no war. We are
not your enemies. The world knows |
we are here, and it holds you account
able for our safety. Tomorrow you
will have to face the reckoning"
Longorio listened. 1t was plain that
ne recognized the truth of O'Malley's
words, but he was convulsed with rage.
Good !" he cried. II see my dreams
dissolve, but 1 am not the first great
nan to trade an empire for a woman.
Antony, the Roman general, laid his
honor in a woman's arms. I had a
shining destiny, but Mexico will be the
sufferer by my betrayal. Instead of
4ongorio the Deliverer, I shall be
Known as Longorio the Lover, the man
Who gave all"
O'Malley interrupted forcefully.
Enough Of thisl Come with me. l
lave something more to say to you"
He flung open the door into the hall
md, taking the general by the arm,
airly dragged him from the room and
nto the one opposite. The lieutenant
ind his men looked on in amazement,
their feet and shifting their
itie-butts nolsily upon the floor.
Alaire turned an anxious face to
Dave, saying: HE is wonderful. Lon
,orio is almost-afraid of him."
Eyes; he may bring him to his
senses. If he doesn't" Dave cast
lis eyes desperately over the room,
conscious all the time that he was be-
ng watched with suspicion by the men
outside. He stirred restlessly and
noistened his lips. "Longorio would
re crazy to injure you"
Ten minutes passed; fifteen. Alaire
eaned, motionless, against the table;
Dave paced about, followed by the eyes
# the soldiers. One of the latter
truck match, and In the silence it
ounded like gunshot. Dave started,
It which the soldiers laughed. They
'egan to talk In murmurs. The odor
# cigarette smoke drifted in to the
nan and the woman.
Finally the door through which Fa-
her O'Malley and Longorio had passed