Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-06-08


people. With rough hands Law cleared
way for himself, and then stopped
frozen in his tracks. His arms relaxed
his fingers unclenched, great sigh
whistled from his lungs. Before him,
booted, spurred, and fully dressed, lay
the dead body Of Ed Austin.
Dave was still staring at the master
of Las Palmas when the prosecuting
attorney spoke to him.
God! This is terrible, isn't it?" he
said. He must have died instantly"
"Who-did it?'
eve don't know yet. Benito found
him and brought him in. He hasn't
been dead an hour
Law ran his eyes over the room, and
then asked, sharply, where is Mrs.
Austin?'
He was answered by Benito Con-
zales, who had edged closer. "She's
not here, senor."
"Have you notified her?'
Benito shrugged. 'There has been
40 time, it all happened so quickly"
Someone interrupted, and Dave saw
that it was the local sheriff-evidentl
It was he who had waved from the
speeding machine a few moments be-
fore.
I'm glad you're here, Dave, for you
can give me hand. I'm going to round
up these Mexicans right away and find
out what they know. Whoever did it
hasn't gone far; so you act as my
deputy and see what you can learn"
When Dave had gained better con-
troll of himself he took Benito outdoors
and demanded full details Of the trag-
edy. With many lamentations and In
cOherencies the range boss told what
he knew.
Ed had met his death within half
mile of Las Palmas as he rode home
for dinner. Benito, himself on his way
to the house, had found the body, still
warm, near the edge of the pecan
grove. He had retained enough sense
to telephone at once to Jonesville, and
then-Benito hardly knew what he had
done since then, he was so badly
shaken by the tragedy.
what time did it happen?"
ut was noon when /. came in.'
Dave consulted his watch, and was
surprised to discover that it was now
only a few minutes past one. 1t was
evident, therefore, that Benito had in
deed lost no time, sand that his alarm
had met with instant response.
"Now tell me, who did it?"
Benito flung his hands high. God
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 1T is"
Haven't you any suspicions?"
mo, senor."
'You say Mrs. Austin is goneY'
eyes"
"Where?"
II don't know"
Dave spoke brusquely: "Come, Benz
to; you must know, for your wife went
with her. Are you trying to keep
backY'
mo, no! AS God is my judge!"
Benito declared. II didn't know they
were going Until the very last, and
even then Dolores would tell me 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 sonora had reason to CO."
"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 an incredulous exclama.
ton. "Not there Surely she wouldn't
go to La Feria at such time. Why,
that country is ablaze. Americans are
fleeing from Mexico"
II hadn't thought Of that" Benito
confessed. "But If she didn't go there
where did she go? Saints above! II
Is a fine condition of affairs when q
wife keeps secrets from her husband
ell? suppose Dolores feared would
tell Don Eduardo, God rest his soul
This much do know, however: moi
long ago there came letter from
General Longorio, offering settlement
FOR those cattle he stole in his govern
ment's name. Dolores told me the
sonora was highly pleased and was go
ing to Mexico for her money. It was
mark of Longorio's favor, you under
stand me? He's a great-friend, an
ardent admirer." Benito winked. do
ores told me all about that, too. No
think they went to La Feria."
Dave remembered his first converse
lion with Phil Strange and the fortune
teller's insistence that some powerful |
person was behind Jose Sanchez. More
han three weeks ago Strange had fore
cast something very like this murder |
)f Ed Austin. Dave felt as If he were |