Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-06-15
earn what became Of Mrs. Austin"
ssMiz Austin? What's happened to

/
learn what became Of Mrs. Austin"
s'Miz Austin? What's happened to
her?'
Dawes voice changed; there was a
| sudden quickening of his words.
| They've got her, Blaze. They waited
until they had her safe before they
killed Ed
"They? Who are you talkin'
| aboutY'
II mean Longorio and his outfit. He's
got her over yonder." Dave flung out
a trembling hand toward the river.
Seeing that his hearer failed to CON-
prehend, he explained, swiftly: "He's
crazy about her-gOt one of those
Mexican infatuations-and you know
| what that means. He couldn't steal
her from Las Palmas-she wouldn't
have anything to- do with him-so he
used that old cattle deal as an excuse
to get her across the border. Then he
/ put Ed out of the way. She went of
| her own accord, and she didn't tell
Austin, because they were having
trouble. She's gone to La Feria, Blaze"
La Feria! Then she's in for it."
Dave nodded his agreement; for the
| first time Blaze noted how white and
| set was his friends face.
"Longorio must have foreseen what
was coming" Dave went on. "That
country's aflame; Americans aren't
safe over there. If war is declared, a
| good many of them will never be heard
from. He knows that. He's got her
safe. She can't get OUT
Blaze was very grave when next he
spoke. "Dave, this is bad-bad. !
can't understand what made her go.
Why, she must have been out of her
head. But we've got to do something.
We've got to burn the wires to Wash
ington-yes, and to Mexico City. We
must get the government to send SOL
diers after her. What have we got 'em
for, anyhow
washington won't do anything.
What can be done when there are thou
sands of American women in the same
danger? What steps can the govern
ment take with diplomatic relations
suspended? Those greasers are filling
their jails with our people-rounding
'em up for the day of the big break.
No, Longorio saw it all coming-he's
no fool. He's got her; she's in there
trapped"
Blaze took the speaker by the shout
der and faced him about. "Look here"
said he, "I'm beginnin' to get wise to
you. believe you're-the man in the
case" When Dave nodded, he vented
his amazement in long whistle. After
moment he asked, "Well, why did you
want me to come here alone, ahead of
the others?"
Because I want you to know the
whole inside Of this thing SO that you
can get busy when I'm gone; because ]
want to borrow what money you
have"
"What you amin to pull off?' Blaze
inquired, suspiciously.
"Tm going to find her and bring her
out"
"You? Why, Dave, you can't get
through. This is job for the sol.
diers."
But Dave hardly seemed to hear him.
"You must start things moving at
once" he said, urgently. Spread the
news, get the story into the papers,
notify the authorities. Get every in.
fiuence at work, from here to head.
quarters; get your senator and the
governor of the state at work. ELS.
worth will help you. And now give
ne your last dollar"
Blaze emptied his pockets, shaking
his shaggy head the while. 'La Ferfa
Is q hundred and fifty miles in," he re.
mOnstrated.
'By rail from Pueblo, yes. But it's
barely hundred, straight from here"
"You amt got chance, single-hand-
ed. You're crazy to try it,
Dave turned sick, colorless face to
his friend. they'll carve stone for
Longorio if do get through" He
called to Montrosa, and the mare came
to him, holding her head to one side
so as not to tread upon her dragging
reinS.
SIN most tempted to go with you,
Blaze stammered uncertainty.
'No. Somebody has to stay here and
stir things up. If we had twenty men
like you we might cut our way in and
out, but there's no time to organize,
and, anyhow, the government would
probably stop us. I've got bunch
that I'll make it. If don't-why, it's
all right"
The two men shook hands lingering
ly, awkwardly; then Blaze managed to
wish his friend luck. IF you don't
come back" he said, with peculiar
catch in his voice, 81 reckon there's
enough good Texans left to follow your
trail. I'll sure look forward to it"
Dave took the river bank to Sangre
de Cristo, where, by means Of the di-
lapidated ferry, he gained the Mexican
side. Once across, he rode straight up
toward the village of Romero. When
challenged by an understood soldier
he merely spurred MOntrosa forward,
eying the sentry so grimly that the