Williston graphic., 1917-05-24
CHAPTER XIII.
Rangers.


Rangers.
LOngorio stared first at the huddled
perspiring man beside the telephone
and then at the frightened woman. us
that the truth?" he demanded harshly
'Yes," Austin answered. ''They are
bringing the body to this side. You
know what that means"
did you know this?" The general
turned upon Alaire OF the four he
was the least excited.
From the background Paloma qua
vered: "You told US Ricardo was not
dead, so-it is all right There 70 no
harm done.'
4 beief silsoee easued. then Loauo'
rio shrugged. ''Who knowsf Let y
hone that he suffered no harm on Mex
lean soil. That would be serious, In
deed; yes, very serious, for l have
given my word to your government
This-David Law"-zhe pronounced thu
name carefully, but with a strange for
eign accent-''he IL reckless person
to defy the border regulations. 1t !:
q grave matter to invade foreign ter
ritOry on such mission" Longorit
again bent his brilliant eyes upor
Alaire. II see that you are concerned
for his safety. You would not destrs
him to come to trouble. eh? He ha:
done you favOrs; he IS your friend
as am. Well"-a mirthless smile ex
posed his splendid white teeth-"wt
must think of that. Now ! will bic
you good night"
"Where are you going?" demanded
Miss Jones.
ITO the river. and then to Romero
may be needed, for those men Of
mine are stupid fellows, and there II
danger of a misunderstanding. In the
dark anything may happen. shoult
like to meet this David Law; he IL
a man of my own kind" Turning tt
"Young Ed" he said: 'There is rea
son for haste, and horse moves slow
ly. Would you do me the favor, If yot
have an automobile"
mo! l WON'T" Ed declared. -!
don't want to see the Rio Grande to
night. 1 won't be involved"
"But you are already involved
Come! There is no time to waste, ani
l have something to say to you. YOt
will drive me to the river, and my
horse will remain here until returr
for him."
There was no mistaking the com
mand In LOngorio's tone; the master
of Las Palmas rose as If under com
pulsion. He took his hat, and the two
men left the room.
"Oh, Mrs. Austinl" Paloma gasped
''They'll he in time, and SO will thu
Lewis gang"
"Quick! Ed will take his runabout-
we'll follow in my car" Alaire fec
to make herself ready. A few moments
later she looked out from her window
and saw the headlights OF Eds run
about flash down the driveway to the
raid; then she and Paloma rushed tt
the garage where the touring car stood
''The moon is rising" Paloma hall
sobbed. "They'll be sure to see us
Do you think we're ahead Of Tao
Lewis?'
"Oh, yes He hasn't had time to ge
here yet, but-he'll come fast when he
starts. This is the only plan car
think Of"
Alaire drove as swiftly rs she dared
following the blurred streak of gray
that was the road; and taking the
bumps with utter recklessness. Aheat
loomed the dark ridge Of the river
thickets, dense rampant of mesquite
But even before they were sheltered
from the moonlight PalOma saw tht
lights Of another automobile approach
ing along the main-traveled highway
behind them-the lights, evidently, OF
Tad Lewis machine. A moment late,
Alaire's car drove into the black shad
ows. 1t had been short, swift exeit
ing ride. young Eds" runabout coult
not be many minutes ahead of them
The women got out, then breasted
the high grass and brambles between
their hiding place and the pumphouse
road. A hundred yards away. they
could now see the gkostly Rio Grande
its saffron surface family silvered by
the low moon; lights cleaned from the
windows of Morales house. In the
distance the vague outlines Of the Mex
ican shore We're resolving themselves
and far beyond. twinkled the evidence
that some belated citizens of Romero
were still awake.