The state herald., 1917-09-21
CHAPTER XIV.
superstltlons and certaIntles.

SsfN' aUo SCt kdtUktGos
The sensation caused by Ricardo
Guzmnn's disappearance was us moth
Ing to that which followed the recover,
of his body. Whatever the tacts OF
the rescue, 1t was generally recognized
that the result had been 10 bring or
n crisis In the affairs OF the two M
tions. Strong influences, however
We're ut work to prevent that very out
come for which the people of Texas
prayed. During the delay there arose
a report that Ricardo Guzmnn had
borne nn evil reputation. and that he
had been so actively associated with
the rebel cause as to warrant punish
mcnt by the federal government. More
over, legal question ms to his Amcrl
can citizenship was raised-a question
which seemed TO have important bear
Ing upon the case.
Public interest Is short-lIved; few
living men can hold 1t more than day
or two, and II rcckons no dead man
worthy of more than an obituary no
ticc. Thus In the course of time the
Guzman incident was In n fair way
OF being officially forgotten and for
given.
But there were several persons who
felt intense relief ut the course events
had taken. and among these was Alnlre
Austin. In the days following that
midnight expedition she had Ind ample
time In which to mediate upon her
husbands actions. It seemed probable
that he had fed to San Antonio, there
to remain until interest In the Guzman
matter had abnted.
Alalre telephoned Dave Law, argu.
Ing to herself that she must learn
more about her husbands connection
with the Lewis gang. Dave arrived
even sooner than she had expected.
She mnde him dine with her. and they
spent the evening on the dim-lit gal
lery. In the course OF their conyer.
satIon Alaire discovered that Dave, too,
had n hidden side Of his nature: that
he possessed mn Imagination. and with
II quaint. whimsical. exploratory turn
Of mind which enabled him to talk
interestedly Of many things and many
places. On this particular evening he
was anything but the man Of Iron she
had known-until she ventured to
speak OF Ed. Then he closed up like
a trap. He was almost grufr In his
refusal to shy = word about her hus.
band.
Becnuse Of Eds appropriation Of the
ranch cash. AlaIrc found It necessary
Il few days Inter TO 70 to the bank,
md. feeling the need Of exercise, she
rode her horse Montrosc. When her
crrnnds Ind been attended to, she sud.
denly decided TO call on pnioma Jones.
II was years since she had voluntarily
done such n thing; the very impulse
surprised her.
Pnlomn. II happened. was undergoing
thnt peculiar form OF feminine torture
known MS "ftting;" but insccurcly
bnstcd. pinned md tucked ms she was,
she came flying down to tho gntc 10
meet her visitor.
Alnirc wns introduced to Mrs,
Strange. tho drcssmnkcr. II lnrgc, ncId.
ulous brunette. with n mouthful OF
pins; nnd then. when Paloma hnd glv.
en- herself once more Into the soan.
stress hands. the two friends gossIpcd.
u don't know what dad win sny
when he gets the bill for these
dresses Pnlomn confessed.
your fnthcr II n mighty queer
man." Mrs. Strange observed. II
Invent va much ms inId eyes on him."
Pnlona nodded. ayes. And he's get.
Ting more peculiar NIL the time; can't
make ont what nlls him"
"Nhera IL Ia. ,...,.. -. ..,..s Att.