Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-04-18

She was great gossip, and possessed
such talent for gaining information
that through her husband, BenitO, the
range boss, she was able to keep her
mistress in fairly intimate touch with
ranch matters.
Aaire, as she leisurely dressed her
self, acknowledged that ii was good to
feel the physical comforts of her own
house. even though her homecoming
gave her no especial JOY. She made 1t
Il religious practice to dress for dinner,
regardless of Eds presence, though
often for weeks at time she sat in
solitary state, presiding over an empty
table. Tonight, Ed was at home. 1t
was with grave preoccupatiOn that
she made herself ready to meet him.
In the dining room. Ed acknOwl-
edged his wife's entrance with care
less nod, but did not trouble to re-
move his hands from his pockets. AS
he seated himself heavily at the. table
and with unsteady fingers shook the
folds from his napkin, he said:
"You stayed longer than you intend
ed. Um-m-you were gone three days,
weren't you?"
-Four days" Alaire told him, real
izing with q little inward start how
very far apart she and Ed had drifted.
She looked at him curiously for an in
slant, wondering If he really could be
her husband. Or-if he were not some
peculiarly disagreeabe stranger.
Ed had been n handsome boy, but he
was growing fat from drink and soft
| from idleness; his face was too full,
his eyes too sluggish: there was an
unhealthy redness in his cheeks. In
| contrast to his wife'S semifOrmal
dress, he was unkempt-unshaven and
sOiled. His preparations for dinner
this evening had been enthusiastically
simple; he had drunk three dry cock
tails and flung his sombrero into cor
ner.
1--WE been busy while you were
gone" he announced. Been down to
the pump house every day laying that
new intake. 1t was nasty job, too.
had Morales barbecue a cabrito for
my lunch, and 1t was good, but I'm
hungry again" Austin attacked his
meal with an enthusiasm strange IN
him. He was a heavy and constant
drinker at all times. What little ex-
ercise he took was upon the back of
horse, and, as no one knew better than
his wife, the physical powers he once
had were rapidly deteriorating.
By and by he inquired, vaguely:
'Let's see. Where did you so
this timer"
Il went up to look over the Ygnacio
tract"
"Oh, yes. Think you'll lease it?"
Il don't know. l must find some
place for those La Feria cattle"
Austin shook his head Better leave
'em where they are, until the rebels
take that )untry. l stand mighty well
with them"
THAT'S the trouble" Alaire told
him. "You stand too well-so well
that l want to get my stock out of
federal territory as soon as possible"
Ed shrugged carelessly. "Sult your
self they're your cows"
The meal went on with desultory
flow Of small talk, during which the
husband INDUCED his thirst freely.
Alaire told him about the accident
to her horse and the unpleasant ordeal
she had suffered IN the mesquite.
Lucky you found somebody at the
h0
was this ranger? Never heard Of the
fellow" he commented on the name.
1.-THE rangers are nothing like they
Used to be-"
"This fellow would do credit to any
organization" AS Alaire described
how expeditiously Law had made his
arrest and handled his man, her hus-
band showed interest
"Nicolas Anto. eh?" said he. "Who
was his companero"
"Panfilo Sanchez"
Ed started. "That's strange! They
must have met accidentally"
$50 they both declared. Why did
you let Panfilo go?'
1--WE didn't need him here, and he
was too good man to lose, So" Ed
found his wife's eyes fixed upon him,
and dropped his own. II knew you
were short-handed at La Feria." There
was an interval of silence, then Ed
exclaimed, testify, What are you look
ing att"
81 wondered what you'd say"
explanation? Just because
I've let you run things to suit your
self"
wait. We had our understanding"