The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-08-09


pumped that Morales girl dry, and I
can't figure anything else out Of what
she tells me. Her and Jose expect to
make Il lump of quick money, jump to
Mexico. get married, and live happy
ever after. Take it from me, it's Mrs.
Austin they aim to cash in on"
"Why-the IDEAS rldiculOus!'
Maybe it is and maybe it amt" the
fortunc-tclcr persisted. more than
one rich Mexican has been grabbed
and held for ransom along this river;
yes, and Americans, too, If you can
believe the stories. Anything goes In
that country over there"
"You think Jose is planning to kid
nap hcr2 Nonsense! One man couldn't
do such thing"
II didn't say he could" Phil de-
Tended himself, sullkily. Remember,
told you there was somebody back
Of him."
Eyes, I remember, but you didn't
know exactly who"
"Wcll, don't exactly know yet.
thought maybe you might tell me-"
! There was Il brief silence, during
which Dave stood frownlng. Then he
appeared to shake himself free from
l'hils suggestions
ITS too utterly prcpoStcrous. Mrs
Austin has no enemies she's n person
OF Importance. If by any chance she
Disappeared"
"Shc's done that very little thing"
Strange declared.
"What?"
shes diSnppcarcd-anyho she's
gone. Yesterday when l saw you was
laid up and couldn't help me, l phoncd
her ranch; somebody answered in
Spanish, and from what could make
out they don't know where she is"
Dave wondered if he nud understood
Strange Alright, or if this could be n
trick of his own tired brain. Choosing
his words carefully, he said: do you
| mean to tell me that she's missing and
they haven't given m nlarm2 I reckon
you didn't understand the message, did
your"
Strange shrugged. Maybe I didn't
Suppose you try. You sabe the lingo
Dave went to the telephone, leaving
Phil to wait. When he emerged from
the house few moments later, 1t was
with queer, set look upon his face.
II got 'em," he said. "Shes gone
left three days ago"
"Where did she go?"
"They wouldn't tell me-"
"They wouldnt?" Strange looked
up sharply.
wouldn't or couldn't" The men
eyed each other silently; then Phil In.
quircd:
"Well. what do you make Of it?"
II don't know. She wasn't kidnapped,
that's cinch, for Dolores went with
her. think we're exciting ourselves
unduly."
The little fortune-teller broke out
excitedly: "Yes we are! Why do you
suppose I've been playing that Morales
girl? / tell you there's something
crooked going on. Don't l know 2
Didn't wise you three weeks ago that
something like this was coming off 2"
1t was plain that Phil put complete
faith in his powers Of divlnation, and
ut this moment his earnestness carried
a certain degree Of conviction. Dave
made an effort to clear his tired brain.
Every wcll," he said. "If you're so
sure, Ill go to Las Pnlmas. III find
out nll about 1t, and where she went.
IL anybody has dared to-" He drew
a deep breath and his llstlessness van
iShcd his eyes cleaned with n hint OF
. their customary fire. II reckon I've
got one punch left in me-" lie turned
and strobe to his room.
| G chn
clothes he was surprised to feel q new
vigor In his limbs and new strength
OF purpose In his mind When he stood
In his old boots and felt the familiar
drag OF his cnrtridge-bclt when he
. tested his free muscles, he realized
that he was another man. Even vet
he could not put much faith in Phil
Strange's wOrds-nevertheless. there
might be danger threatening Alaire
and II SO, 1t was time to act.
Phil watched his friend saddle the
bay mare, then as Dave tied his rlN,
scabbard to its thong ne laughed nerv
ously.
"You're loaded for bear"
The hOrseman answered, grlmlv
"I'm loaded for Jose Sanchez. IfIla,
hands on him I'll learn what h,
knows"
"You can't get nothing out Of n Mexi
can"
mo? I've made Filipinos talk Pc
lieve me, can be some persuasive
when try" With that he swung n LEI
over Montrosa's back and rode away.
rnanren N<f,,s
A Surprise.
Law found 1t good to feel hOrs