Macon beacon., 1917-07-13

Both women recognized Tad Lewis as
the speaker.
Alaire had stubbornly refused to
charge her husband with any active
share In this evil business, but her
faith in Ed suddenly vanished when
she heard him say:
"Hush! You're making too much
noise. You'd better scatter out, too,
for there's no telling where they'll
land" Alalre leaned weakly against
the door. "Im going to leave, and let
you-all attend to the rest he was
saying. But Tad Lewis halted him as
he turned from the group.
"Where are you going, Ed? You left
your car back yonder by the road. ]
almost ran into It,"
"Eh? What are you talking about2
My car is over by Morales house"
"Senor Austin Is in a great hurry"
sneered someone in Spanish. "Once
more he leaves all of the fighting to
his friends"
"That's Adolfo Urblna," painted Pa
Iona. II know him." Stung by this
open charge of cowardice, Austin be-
gan q voluble defense, but in the midst
of it General Longorio addressed him
sharply.
"You will stay here, senior. Nobody
leaves this place"
II told you wouldn't be party to
the business" Ed declared hOtly. "You
forced me to come in the first place
"Yes! And now force you to stay"
Longorios stand appeared to please
Lewis, who chimed in with the words !:
That's right, Ed. You've got to stick,
for once in your life."
"What do you mean, you nearly ran
into my car back yonder?" Austin
asked after a moment.
"Ain't that your machine yonder by
the thicket?" inquired Lewis. "f II
amt, whose is it?" AS no one on
swered, he started in the direction he
had indicated; but at that moment a
man came running from the river bank,
crying softly:
"Look out! They come"
A man passed swiftly by the cracl;
Of the half-open door and scarcely ten
feet beyond. He was followed by three
others.
The first of the newcomers, acting
as spokesman for his party, stepped
out into the moonlight and cried loud
ly: "Hello, men! What's goin' on
here" 1t was an American voice; II
had broad, slow Texas drawl.
The group Of plotters turned; there
was a startled murmur, then Tao
Lewis answered:
"Hello! Who are you'll What dc
you wantT
IT reckon we must have got off the
road" announced the stranger. Their
he peered out across the river. "Say
Amt that skiff yonder?" he inquired
"Well, 1t don't look like a steam
boat" Lewis laughed dlsagreeably
"We're havin' little party Of our own
I reckon you fellows had better bea'
1t. Understand"
The outposts that had been sent Il
cover the bank In both directions wer'
,, now coming in. Through the stiffness
Of the night there sounded the thunI
Of oarlocks. Seeing that the strangel
did not seem to take his hint, Levi!
raised his voice menacingly:
That's your road back yonder. tt
: right good road, and I'd advise 20,
to travel fast"
But this suggestion was also ignored
in fact, it appeared to amuse the mai
, addressed. for he, too, laughed. HI
turned, and the women noticed that h
} carried a short saddle gun. They saw
. also, that at least one Of the men a
his back was similarly armed.
"Now, what's the hurry?" tn
2 stranger was chuckling. Suddenly h
) raised his voice and called loudly
= "Hello, Dave! Is that you-all?"
3 The answer floated promptly back
"Hello, Cap! Sure it's u.s."