The state herald., 1917-11-30
HEART OF THE SUNSET
By Rex Beach
Cpw2hv
~ Rex Beach
Copyright By Ha,psr q Brothers

/ III that bandit really means to spare
us, why did he send us away In the
night, like thIs2" she asked. II shall
be surprised II we are not assassinated
before morning."
"He must have meant It" Alaire
spoke with conviction she did not
entirely feel. "Father O'Malley aroused
the finer side of his nature"
"Perhaps." agreed the priest. "Some-
where In him there is fear Of God"
But Dave was skeptical. 'More like
ly fear of the gringo government"
said he. 'Longorio is fourflusher.
When he realized he was licked he
tried to save his face by grandstand
play. He didn't want to let US CO."
"Then what is to prevent him from
well, from having us followed?"
Alaire inquired.
Nothing" Dave told her.
As they climbed the bank and rode
onward into the night she said: "No
matter what happens, dear, shall be
happy, for at last one Of my dreams
has come true" He reached out and
patted her. you've no Idea what a
coward l was until you came. But the
moment I saw you all my fears van
ished. I was like lost child who sud-
denly sees its father; in your arms I
felt perfectly safe. for the first time in
all my life, l think. IL couldn't bear
to 60 on without you. after this"
Dave found nothing to say; they
rode along side by side for time in
great contentment that required no
speech. Then Alalre asked:
"Dear, have you considered how we
are going to explain our marriagef"
"Won't the circumstances explain
Iit2"
perhaps. And yet 1t seems ages
since I learned-what happened to Ed.
but In reality it's only q few hours.
Won't people talkf"
Dave caught at the suggestion. II
see. Then let's keep 1t secret for the
present"
With little reckless laugh she con-
fessed, "I-T'm afraid I'll find 1t diff
cult to be conventional"
"My wife!" he cried In sharp agony.
Leaning far out, he enclrcled her with
his arm; then, half lifting her from
her saddle, he crushed his lips to hers.
II was his first display Of emotion since
Father O'Malley had united them.
There were few villages along the
road they followed. and because Of the
lateness Of the hour all were dark,
hence the party passed through with
out exciting attention except from IN
occasional wakeful dog. But as morn
Ing came and the east began to glow
Dave told the priest:
"We've got to hide out during the
day or well get into trouble. Besides.
these women must be getting hungry"
II fear there il something feminine
about me-" confessed the little man.
"rm famished. too"
At the next rancho they came to they
applied for shelter. but were denied !:
In fact, the owner cursed them 30
roundly for being Americans that they
were glad to ride onward. A milo or
two farther along they met cart the
driver Of which refused to answer
their greetings. As they passed out Of
his sight they saw that he had halted
his lean oxen and was staring after
them curiously. Later. when the sun
was well up and the world had fully
awakened. they deserted a mounted
man. evidently cowboy. riding
through the chaparral. He saw them.
too. and came toward the road. but
after q brief scrutiny he whirled his
horse and gallophd OF through the cac-
tus. shouting something over his shas,l.
der.
This won't DO O'Aialiey decinr-d,
uneasily. II don't like the actions OF
these people. Let me appeal to the
next person we meet. I can't believe
they all hate u.s."
Soon they came to a rise In the road
and from the crest Of this elevation be.
held ahead Of them small village oi
white houses shining from the shelter
Of n grove. The rancheria was perhaps
two miles away. and gnlloping toward
II was the vaqucro who had challenged
them.
That's the Rio Negro crossing.
Dave announced. Then spying little
house squatting n short distance baci
from the road. he snid: "we'd bcttel
try yonder. II they turn US down vel
have to take to the brush"
O'Aialiey agreed. Eyes. and We hav,
no time TO lose. That horscmnn IL 20
Ing to rouse the town. I'm sfrait
we're-in for It."
Davc nodded silently.
Leaving tho beaten path. the rcfu
} gees threaded their way through enc
tus and snge to gntc. entering whici
they approached the straw.thatche,
jncnl they hnd seen. A mixed boy bnb!
watched them drnw ncnr, then scuttle,
for shelter, piping nm nlnrm. A mnI
appeared from somewhere. nj sight O
whom the priest rode forward with I
pleasant greeting. But the fellow wn