Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-04-25
Copyright By Harper q Brothers
CHAPTER Iv-Continued.

pagin' after new gods. | amt got the
imagination to raise anything more
complicated than a mortgage; but II
] was younger, I'd organize myself VI
0nd do away with that Ed Austin. Ia
sure help him to an untimely end, and
then I'd marry them pecan groves, and
blOOded herds, and drugstore orchards
She certainly is a heart-breakin' de-
vice. with her red hair, and red lips
an
"Fatherl" Paloma was deeply
shocked.
-
Complete isolation, of course, Alaire
had found to be impossible, even
though her ranch lay far from the trav-
eled roads and her Mexican guards
were not encouraging to visitors. Bust
ness inevitably brought her into con-
tact with a considerable number of
people, and of these the one she saw
most frequently was Judge Ellsworth
Of Brownsville, her attorney.
1t was perhaps week after Ed had
left for San Antonio that Alaire felt
the need Of Ellsworth's counsel, and
sent for him. Ellsworth was a kindly
man Of fifty-five, with a forceful chin
and dropping, heavy-lidded eye that
could either blaze or twinkle. Judge
Ellsworth knew more than any four
men in that part Of Texas information
had way of seeking him out. He was
a good lawyer. too, and yet his knOwl-
edge of human nature he considered
far more important than law. His
mind was like full granary, and every
grain lay where he could put his hand
upon it.
He motored out from Brownsville,
and after Kidding himself Of dust, in
sisted upon spending the interval be-
fore dinner In an inspection of Alaire's
latest ranch improvements. Not until
dinner was over did he inquire the rea-
son for his summons.
ITS about La Feria. General Lon
gorio has confiscated my stock" Alaire
told him. II was afraid of this very
thing, and so / was preparing to bring
the stock over. Still never thought
they'd actually confiscate It,"
Hasn't Ed done enough to provoke
confiscation?" asked the judge. II
have 1t pretty straight that he's CIV
ing money to the rebel junta and lend
ing every assistance he can to their
cause"
81 didn't know he'd actually done
anything How mad"
"Yes-fOr man with interests in
federal territory. But Ed always does
the wrong thing, you know"
"Then l presume this confiscation is
In the nature of reprisal. But the
stock Is mine, not Eds. l want your
help in taking up the matter with
Washington"
Ellsworth was pessimlstic. 1T
won't do any good, my dear he said.
"You won't be paid for your cattle"
"Then l shall go to La Ferla."
"No!" The judge shook his head
decidedly.
"Tve been there a hundred times.
The federals have been more than
courteous"
"Longorio has bad reputation. l
strongly advise against your going.
You'd better send some man."
"Whom can l send?" asked Alaire.
"You know my situation"
The judge considered moment be-
fore replying. Il can't go, for I'm
busy in court. You could probably
accomplish more than anybody else, If
Longorio will listen to reason, and.
after all, YOU are person Of such i'm
But it will be hard trip, and you
won't know whether you are in rebel
or in federal territory"
"Weli. people here are asking wheth-
err Texas is in the United States or
Mexico" Alaire said, lightly. Some
tiraes l hardly know" After mo-
ment she continued: "Since you know
everything and everybody, l wonder If
you ever met David LawT
ELS worth nodded.
Tell me something about him."
HE asked me the same thing about |
YOU. Well, l haven't seen much of
DaYe Since he grew up, he's such a
r0amer"
"He said his parents were murdered
by the Guadalupes."
Eyes. 1t happened a good many |
years ago, and certainly they both met |
a violent end. l was instrumental In |
saving what property Frank Law left, |
hut it didn't last Dave very long. He's |
right careless in money matters. Dawes