Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-04-25

to brush swsy perverse hncfeI hat IN
terfeSs: Nth his thsE&hSS. Alaice no
ticed tim: one Of he GxAg.ts was deco
rated with magnificent diamOnd-and-
ruby rig, and this iEeereSted her
queeEiy. No ordinary men could fit
tlngiy have worn such en- ornament,
yet On tie hand of THE splendid bar
barfan e seemed not at eli out of
keeping.
"bos! LOngOriO continued. "YOur
ranch has been destroyed; your cattle,
stolen, Ell? We viii shoot the perpe-
traitors of this outrage at oIce
BuenOl"
mo, no! don't want to see anyone
punished. I merely want your cavern
ment to pay me for my cattle" Alaire
laughed nervously.
"Ahl But lady of refinement
should never discuss such miserable
business. 1t is a matter for men,"
She endeavored to speak in a brisk,
businesslike tone. Ia Feria belongs
to me. ! am wOma1 Of affairs, Gen
eral LongoriO, and VOC must talk to
me as you would talk 70 y raca. When
l heard about this raid came to look
into Ito see you. or whoever Is in
cher9e 81 this district. and to make a
claim for damages"
"Valgame DiOs! This is amazing"
There is notafng extraordinary
about 1t, that can see."
|
yourself ordinary? The men of my
country enshrne beeGty el,3 worship
it. They do not dis1aas Zach things
with their women. E<sv tbs sOrdid
affair Is something fsr ytar hus-
band"
"Mr. Austin's business occupies his
time; this Is my own concern. l am
not the only practical woman in Tex
as"
Longorio appeared to be iabOriOusly
digesting this statement. 80" he
said at last. "When you heard of
this-you came, Ell? Yoa came alone
into Mexico, where we are fighting and
killing each other? Well That Is
spirit. You are wonderful, superb!'
He smiled. showing the whitest AND
evenest teeth.
Such extravagant homage was EN-
barrassing, yet no woman could be
wholly displeased by admiration SO
spontaneous and intense as that which
LongOrio manifested In every look and
word. Alaire knew the susceptibility
Of Mexican men, and was immune to
ordinary fiattery; yet there was soWe-
thing exciting about this marital hero's
complete captivation. To AAt-a Charmed
him to the point Of bewilGGrIent was
Unique triumph, and under his hun
CRY eyes she felt an adventurous tarill.
While he and Alaire were talking the
passengers had returned to their seats;
they were shouting goOd-bys to the
soldiers opposite; the conductor ap-
preached and informed the general OF
his train orders.
LOng0cio favored hinc with slow
stare. "7uu may go when l leave"
said he
"Si, senior. But"
The general uttered sharp excla-
VI uIlStT, Ut WhCAs Tic SOhcuS-
tor backed away, expfessNtsg> by voice
and gesture his moat keagH approval
of the cEenge Of plan.
I'VE niLStn't hold the trxts," Alaire
said quickly. II will arrange to see
you in Nuevo Pueblo when return"
Longorio smiled brilliantly and lift
ed brown hand. mo, moi l am a
selfish man; refuse to deprive myself
of this pleasure. Now about these
cattle" He thought for moment and
his tone altered as he ssh: Sonora,
there seems to be an rAiinppy compli-
cation in our way, and this we must
remove First may 1 ar4, are you a
friend to our causeT'
II am an American, lat what has
that to do with my ranch and my |
cattle? This Is something that con-
Germs no one except you and me-"
Longorio was plainly fiattered by her
words, and took no trouble to hide his
pleasure. "Ah! If that were only |
true! We would arrange everything
to your satisfaction w!Nfi:t another
word" His admiring se>=- ,eemed to
envelOp her, and its wexaE. was IN
mistakabie.
"Why did you take my e4ca]e?" she
demanded. stubbornly.