The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-21
CHAPTER II-continued.

OreaSefS WOuIO steal the Jugs anu co
'em." He added, meditatively, Dog
amt such bad eatin', either"
'Have you tried it?'
Mr.. Law nodded.
''Did you join the Maderistas for e1-
rcitement?"
MOSTLY. Then, too, I believed Pan
ichito Madero was honest and would
give the poems land. An honest Mexi-
ican is worth fightin' for, anywhere.
tThe pelados are still struggling for
their land-fOr that and a chance 20
live and work and be happy"
Mrs. Austin stirred impatiently.
i"They are fighting because they are
told to fight. There is no patriotism
in Them" said she.
81 think he said with grave delib-
ierateness, "the majority feel something
big and vague and powerful stirring
inside them. They don't know exactly
what it is, perhaps, but it is there.
Mexico has Outgrown her dictatOrs.
They have been overthrOwn by the
same causes that brought on the
french Revolution"
1.-The French RevolutiOn!'' Alaire
leaned forward, eying the speaker with
startled intensity. ''What do you know
about the French RevolutiOn?"
Reaching for coal, the Ranger
spoke without facing her. I've read a
good bit, ma'am, and I'm a noble
listener. l remember good, too. Why,
had q picture Of the Bastille once"
He pronounced it "Bastilly," and his
nearer settled back. ''That was some
hater he inquired, ingenuOusly, Il don't
suppose you ever saw that Bastille,
did you?"
mo. Only the place where it stood"
''Sho'I You must have Travelled right
lsmart for such a young lady" He
beamed amiably upon her.
There was something winning about
this young mans modesty, and some
thing fIattering in his respectful admit
ration. lie seemed. also, to know his
place. fact which was even more in
his favor. Undoubtedly he had force
and ability probably his love of adj
venture and u happy lack of settled
purpose had led him to neglect his
more commonplace opportunities and
sent him into the Ranger service. This
man had been denied what she termed
education; therefore she decided to
put one in his way.
do you like to read?" she asked
him.
"Sayi It's my favorite form Of ex
ercise." Laws bIue-gray eyes were ex-
pressionIess, his face was bland.
s'Why?"
ST have great many books at Las
iPalmas. You might enjoy some of
them"
snow that's nice of you, ma'am.
;Afebbe I'll look into this cattle-stealin'
In your neighborhood, and if I do I'll
sure come bOrrowin'''
ooh, I'll send you a boxful when I
get back" said Alaire, and Dave
thanked her humbly.
Later, when he went to move his
mare into shady spot, the Ranger
ichuckled and slapped his thigh with
his hat. Bessie Belle, we're going 20
Improve our minds" he said aloud.
'We're going to be literary and read
Pilgrims Progress and Alice in
Wonderland l bet we'll enjoy 'em,
eh? But-doggone! She's nice lady.
and your coat is just the same color
,as her hairs
Where the shade was densest and
the breeze played most freely, there
Dave fixed a comfortable couch for his
gueSt, and during the heat of the fore
noon she dozed. But one cannot sleep
well with n tropic sun in the heavens,
and since there was really nothing for
her to do until the heat abated. Alaire,
when she awoke, obliged the Ranger
to amuse her.
AS the morning progressed Law
ipreved himself an interesting cOmpan-
ion, and in spite of the discomforts of
the situation the hours slipped rap
idly. Luncheon was a disagreeable
imeal, eaten while the arroyo baked
and the heat devils danced on the
hills; but the unpleasantness was of
brief duration. and Law always man
aged to Danish boredom. Nor did he
tseem to waste q thought upon the ma
iture of that grim business which
drought him to this place. Quite the
contrary, in the afternoon he put his
mare through her tricks for Alaire's
edifieation, and goSsiped idly of what.
ever interested his guest
Then as the sun edged to the west
and Mrs. AustiE2 became restless, he
saddled Bessie Belle and led her down
the gulch into safer covert Return
ing he carefully Obliterated all traces
of the camp. He watered the ashes OF
the fire. gathered up the teIltale scrap:
of paper and fragments of food, anC
then when the place suited him fell t.
examining his rifle.
Alaire watched him with interest
Is'Where shall I co. she asked, ~ans
what shall I do?''
You just pick out good cover be
iyond the water hole and stay there
ma'am. 1t may be q long wait, fol
something may have happened. If SO
IsEe'u have to lie close. And don't wor
ny yourself none, ma'am: he wen
kHaza 10 trouble"