Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-24
sYsNoPsis.


an accident in the desert near the Rio
Grande Mrs. Alaire Austin, mistress
of Las Palmas and La Feria ranches,
meets Dave Law, Texas ranger, at a
water hole and is compelled to spend
the night there with him, as he is in
ambush for a murderer and cannot
leave his post
Chapter II-Next day at evening
the murderer appears with compan-
ion.
'Say! It's my fnvorlte form Of OK.
erclse." Laws bue-grey eyes were ex-
pressionless, his face was bland
"Why"
i have n great many books ut Las
'~'paasnas. You might enjoy some OF
them"
snow that's nice of you, ma'nm.
Nebbe I'll look into this cattle-stealin'
Id Your helg hborhood, and if l do III
sure c6me borrowih'.""
"Oh, I'll send you boxful when ]
get back" said Alare, and Dave
I0ankeO ner mummy.
Later, when he went to move his
mare into shady spot, the Ranger
chuckled and slapped his thigh with
his hat. "Bessc Belle we're going to
improve our minds" ne said aloud.
"We're going to be literary and read
Pilgrims Progress and Alice in
Wonderland bet wc'll enjoy EN-
Ell? But--logsonc She's nice lady,
and yonr coat is Just the same color
as her hair"
Where the shade was densest and
the breeze played most freely, there
Dave fixed a comfortable couch for his
guest, and during the heat of the fore
noon she dozed. But one cannot sleep
we'll with tropic sun in the heavens.
and since there was really nothing for
her to do until the heat abated, Alaire,
when she awOke, obliged the Ranger
to amuse her.
AS the morning progressed Law
proved himself an interesting compan-
ion, and In spite of the discomforts Of
the situation the hours slipped rap
Idly. Luncheon was lisagreeabld
meal, eaten while the arroyo baked
and the heat devils danced on the
hills; but the unpleasantness was of
brief duration, and Law always man
aged to Danish boredom. Nor did he
seem to waste thought upon the ma
ture of that grim business which
brought him to this place. Quite the
~ contrary, in the afternoon he put his
mare through her tricks for Alaire's
ediflcntion, and gossiped idly of what
ever Interested his guest.
Then as the sun edged to the west
and Mrs. Austin became restless he
saddled Bessie Belle and led her dOw1
the gulch into safer covert. Return
Ing, he carefully obliterated all traces
Of the camp. He watered the ashes OF
the FIRE, gathered up the telltale scrap.
Of paper and fragments of food, ant
then when the place suited him fell tt
examining his rifle.
Aaire watched him with interest
''Where shall ! co. she asked, "ant
what shall | do?"
"You just pick out good cover be
yond the water hole and stay there
! ma'am. 1t may be a long wait, FOL
something may hive happened. If so
we'll have to lie close. And don't wor
~ yourself none, ma'am; he won
make no trouble
With the sunset the water hole lay
sleeping. .eas
Alaire's retreat was far from com
Portable; there was an ants nest some
where near her ana she thought o.
moving; but suddenly her breatl
caught and her heart jumped uncon
= trollably. She crouchcd lower, for di
rectly opposite her position, and out
lined akninst the sky where the sharl
ridge cut 1t, Was the figure Of ,
mounted man. She was conscious thu
keen and hostile pair OF eyes wa.
searching the coverts surrounding thu
charc0.
Then, as silently us It had appeared
the apparition vanished beyond TIN
ridge. Alnire lny close, MS she ha,
heen directed, praying that the horse
( man had been warned but shortly sh,
heard again the rustic Of stiff