The Snowflake herald., 1917-10-26

midst of his frenzy frightened Alaire
more than did his widest avowals; it
was in something of a panic that she
said
"One moment you tell me / am safe,
the next you threaten me. You say l
am free, and yet you cOerce me. Prove
your love. Let me go"
'No! No! I shall call the priest"
Longorio turned toward the door,
but halfway across the floor he was
halted by a woman's shrek which is
sued from somewhere inside the house.
1t was repeated. There was an out
burst in a masculine voice, then the
patter of footsteps approaching down
the tiled hallway. Dolores burst into
her mistress presence, her face
blanched her hair disOrdered. She
flung herself into Alaire's arms, cry
ing:
"Senora! Save me! Gods curse
on the rutian. Oh"
DOLORES! !" Alaire exclaimed. "What
has happened"
Longorio demanded irritably: eyes.
Why are you yelling like this?"
ga man See! One of those dirty
peladors. Look where he tore my
dress! I warned him, but he was like
a tiger. Benito will kill him when he
learns"
"Calm yourself. Speak sensibIy.
Tell me what happened"
"One of those miserable soldiers
who came today-pigw Dolores was
shaking, her voice was shrill. ''He fol-
lowed me about like a cat, purring and
grinning and saying the most horrible
things. Just now, when I went to your
room, he was waiting in the darkness
and he seized me. My money!"
ga soldier? One of my men" Lon
gorio was incredulous.
Alaire turned upon him with blaz-
ing anger in her face. SIS this more
of your projections" she stormed. 81
give you and your men the freedom Of
my ranch, and you insult me while
they rob my women"
He ignored her accusation, inquiring
of the elder woman, "Who was the fel-
low?'
''How do / know" Dolores sobbed.
"He is "a thick, black fellow with
scar on his lip, like a snarl."
'Felipe!"
eyes, Felipe! I believe they called
him that"
Longorio strobe to the end of the
living room, flung open the wooden
shutters of a window, and, leaning far
out, whistled sharply on his fingers.
"Oiga Teniente Ho, you fell
lows p he shouted.
From the darkness a voice an
swered; a man, evidently on guard,
came running.
Cali old Pancho," the general di-
rected. "Tell him to bring me black
Felipe, the fellow with the torn lip.
Quick w
eyes, general" came the voice; then
the metallic rattle of spurs and ac-
coutrements as the sentry trotted
away.
Dolores had completely broken down
now, and Alaire was trying to comfort
her. Their guest remained by the win
dow, frOwning. After a time there
sounded a murmur of voices. thensa
shuAling of feet in the hall; Alaire's
friend, the old lieutenant, appeared in
the doorway, saluting. Behind him
were several others.
"Here is Felipe" he announced.
"Bring him in"
A Sullen, frOWning man in sOiled uni
form was pushed forward, and Dolores
hid her face against her mistress
shoulder.
"Is this the fellowY' Longorio in
quired.
Dolores nodded.
"Well, what have you to say for
yourself?" The general transixed his
trooper with a stare; then, as the lat
ter seemed bereft Of his voice, "Why
did you enter this house?"
Felipe mOistened his SCARED lips
"That woman has rings of gold. She's
not so old. either, when you come to
look at her. He grinned at his COM
rades, who had crowded in behind old
PanChO.
$50! Let us 60 outside and learn
more about this" LongOrio waved his
men before him, and followed them out
of the room and down the hall and
into the night.
When a moment or two had dragged
past, Dolores qUavered. "What are
they going to do with him?"
81 don't know. Anyhow, you need
not fear"
There sounded the report of a gun
shot, deadened indeed by the thick
adobe walls of the house, yet sudden
and loud enough to startle the women.
When LOngorio reappeared, he found
Alaire standing stiff and white against
the wall, with Dolores kneeling, her
face still buried in her mistress gown.
'Give yourself no concern" he told
them, quickly 81 beg a thousand par