The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-07-19
f1EAI(T
@Izo
SUNSET
MVREX EEACFA
Auhor@"7e Spoilers, ""7He Iron TRAIL"
"7Me Sfuer Horde" En-.

$50 nav =
can't figure anything else out of what
she tells me. Her and Jose expect to
make II lump OF quick money, jump to
Mexico, get married, and live happy
ever after. Take il from me, it's Mrs.
Austin they aim to cash In on"
"Why-the ideas ridiculous !"
Maybe 1t is and maybe 1t amt" the
fortune-teller persisted. more than
one rich Mexican has been grabbed
and held for ransom along this river I;
yes. and Americans, too, IL you can
believe the stories. Anything goes In
that country over there"
"You think Jose Is planning to kid
nap her? Nonsense! One nan couldn't
do such IA thing"
II didn't say he could" Phil de-
Tended himself, sulkily. Remember,
| told you there was somebody back
Of him."
"fes. I remember, but you didn't
know exactly who"
well, l don't exactly know yet. I
thought maybe you might tell me-"
There was a brief silence, during
which Dave stood frowning. Then he
appeared to shake himself free from
Pills suggestions.
ITS too utterly preposterous. Mrs.
Austin has no enemies; she's IA person
of Importance. IL by any chance she
Disappeared"
shes done that very little thing"
Strange declared.
"What?"
"She's disappeared-anyhow, she's
gone. Yesterday when l saw you was
laid up and couldn't help me, | phoned
her ranch; somebody answered In
Spanish, and from what | could make
out they don't know where she is
Dave wondered II he mad understood
Strange Alright, or II this could be n
trick Of his W tired brain. Choosing
his words carefully, he said: "DO you
mean to tell me that she's missing and
they haven't given an alarm? / reckon
you didn't understand the message, did
you?"
Strange shrugged. maybe I didn't.
Suppose you try. You sabe the lingo"
Dave went to the telephone, leaving
Phil to wait. When he emerged from
the house IA few moments later, IL was
with II queer, set look upon his face.
II got EN-" he said. "She's gone
left three days ago"
where did she goP"
"They wouldn't tell me-"
"They w%ou!dn't?" Strange looked
up sharply.
wouldn't or couldn't" The men
eyed each other silently then Phil In.
CURED:
well, what do you make Of it?"
II don't know. She wasn't kidnapped,
that's n cinch, for Dolores went with
her. think we're exciting ourselves
unduly."
The little fortune-teller broke out
excitedly: Yes we are! Why do you
suppose I've been playing that Morales
girl? | tell you there's something
crooked going on. Don't l know?
Didn't | wise you three weeks ngo that
something like this was coming off?'
1t was plain that Phil put complete
faith in his powers of dlvlnatiOn, and
ut this moment his earnestness carried
II certain degree Of conviction. Dave
made an effort to clear his tired brain.
VERY WELL" he said. III you're so
sure, I'll 20 to Las Palmas. III find
all about 1t, and where she went.
IL anybody has dared to" He drew
II deep breath and his listlessness van
ished his eyes CLEANED with IA hint Of
their customary fire. ~ reckon I've
got II punch left In me-" He turned
and strobe to his room.
As Dave changed into his service
clothes he was surprised to feel n new
vigor in his limbs and n new strength
Of purpose In his mind. When he stood
in his old boots and felt the familiar
drag Of his cartridgebelt, when he
his r muscles, he realized
that he was another man. Even yet
could no put much faith In Phil
Strange's words-nevertheless, there
might be n danger threatening Alaire:
and II so, It was time to act.
Phil watched his friend saddle the
bay mare, then as Dave tied his rifle
scnbbard to Its thong he laughed nerv-
ouSly.
"You're loaded for bear"
The horseman answered. grlmly:
TN loaded for Jose Sanchez. II | lay
hands on him I'll learn what he
knows
You can't get nothing out Of n Mexi-
can"
mo? I've made FilIplnos talk. Re
Iieve me. ! can be some persuasive
try" With that he swung n leg
M~ontrosa's back and rode away.
CHAPTER XVIII.