Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-08-17

tnen-BeniJo ngTuiJ new rnut ne nat
done since then, he was 50 badl,
shaken by the tragedy.
"What time did it happen?'
1T was noon when | came in"
Dave consulted his watch. and wal
surprised TO discover that il wss nov
only a few minutes past one II wal
evident, therefore, that Benito 3sf in
deed lost no time, and that his darn
had met with instant respOns.
Now tell me, who did il?
Benito flung his hands high. "Goc
knows! Some enemy, of course; but
Don Eduardo had many"
Not that sort of enemies. There
was nobody who could wish to kill
him"
THAT Is as it is"
Haven't you any su~spiclons?"
"No, senior"
"Y0u say Mrs. Austin is gomez"
ayes"
"Where?"
81 don't know"
Dave spoke b~rusquely: "Come, Benz.
to; you must know, for your wife went
with her. Are you trying to keep
something back?"
mo, no! AS God Is my Judge :"
Benito declared. 81 didn't know they
were going until the very last, and
aynn thnn nnIoras wou1d toll mo moth
ing. We were having bad times here
at Las Palmas; there were stormy
scenes yonder in the house. Senior Ed
was drinking again, you understand?
The enora had reason to 60"
"You think she ran away to escape
him."
Exactly"
Dave breathed more easily, for this
seemed to settle Strange's theory. The
next instant, however, his apprehen-
sions were doubled, for Benito added:
mo doubt she went to La Feria."
Law uttered ar i~ncredulous exclama-
ton. "Not there! Surely she wouldn't
go to La Feria at such a time. Why,
that country is ablaze. Americans are
from Mexico"
II hadn't thought of that" Benito
confessed. "But if she didn't 90 there,
did she 60? Saints above! 1t
is a fine condition of affairs when a
wife keeps secrets from her husband,
ehE | suppose Dolores feared | would
Don Eduardo, God rest his soul
This much | do know, however: not
ago there came a letter from
General Longorio, Offering settlement
those cattle he stole in his govern
ment's name. Dolores told me the
was highly pleased and was 60
.ng to Mexico for her money. 1t was a
mark of Longorio's favor, you under.
stand me? He's a great-friend, an
admirer." Benito winked. do
ores told me all about that, too. No,
think they went to La Feria."
Dave remembered his first conversa-
ion with Phil Strange and the fortune
eller's insistence that some powerful
person was behind Jose Sanchez. More
han three weeks ago Strange had fore
asst something very like this murder
Ed Austin. Dave felt as If he were
he victim of an hysterical imagina-
lon. Nevertheless, he forced himself
0 ask, quietly:
rs Jose Sanchez anywhere abOut?"
The range boss shrugged. II sent
i'm to the east pasture this morning"
did he go?"
"Eh? So! You suspect Jose of this.
Tod in heaven! Jose is a wild boy
tut wait! I'll ask Juan If he saw him:
es, n Victoria, too. That Is Victoria
hear squalling in the kitchen. Wait
Benito hurried away, leaving Dave a
rey to p~erplexity; but he was back
in a few moments. His face was
rave.
"Jose did not go to the east pas. ]
ire" he said.
"Where is he now?"
mo one seems to know"
Law walked to his horse, mounted, ,
nd galloped away. Benito, who
atched him, saw that he turned to-
ard the river road which led to the ]
PalmaS pumping plant.
The more Dave thought about Ed ]
uStin'S death, the more certain no no. ]
that it was in some way con- {
ected with Alaire's disappearance;
nd the loose end by which the tangle
light be unraveled, it seemed to him,
y in the hands of Rosa Morales, 1
ose's sweetheart. That Sanchez WIS '
murderer Dave now had little .
Dubt; but since the chance of appr7~ !
hin was small, he turned MS !
to the girl. He would make =
osa speak, he told himself, if he had 9
use force-this was no time for rem. u
e methods. If she knew aught of
Iaire's whereabouts or the mystery Of r
n departure from Las Palmas, he =
ould find a way to wiring the truth q,
ON her. Dawes face, a trife too som. !.
r at all times, took on a grimmer .
pect now; he felt a slow fury kind :.
lg In his breast. =
CTo BE CONTINUED) :,
In Danger. a