Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1917-11-30
CHAPTER xlx.-contInued.


said he, "Im beginnln' 10 get wise to
you. l believe you're-tho man in the
rnse." When Dave nodded, he vented
his amazement In n long whistle. After
a moment he asked, "Well, why did you
want me TO come here alone, ahead Of
the others2"
"Because / want you 10 know the
whole inside OF this thing 80 that you
cnn get busy when I'm gone; because I
wnnt TO borrow what money you
have
"what You nlmln' to pull offT' Blaze
Inquired, suspiciously.
I'm going TO find her and bring her
out"
"You1 Why, Dave, you can't get
through. This Is u Job for the sol
diers."
But Dave hardly seemed to hear him.
"You must start things moving Mt
once" he said, urgently. "sprend the
news, get the story into tho papers,
notify tho authorities. Get every in
tluenco ut work, from here TO head
quartersi get your senator and the
governor Of the state at work. Ellis
worth will help you. And now give
me your last dollar"
Blaze emptled his pockets, shaking
his shaggy head the while. LA Feria
Is n hundred and fifty miles In" he re-
monstrnted.
by rail from Pueblo, yes. But it's
barely n hundred, straight from here"
"You amt got n chance, slngle-hand-
ed. You're crazy to try It."
Dave turned n sick. colorless face to
his friend. "They'n carve n stone for
Longorlo II l do get through" He
called to Montrosa, and the mare came
10 him, holding her head to one side
30 as not TO tread upon her dragging
relns.
I'm most tempted to go with you"
Blaze stammered uncertainty.
mo. Somebody has to stay here and
stir things up. II VIC had twenty men
like you we might cut our way la and
out, but there's no time to organize.
and, anyhow, the government would
probably stop us. I've got n bunch
that I'll make II. If / don't-why, it's
all right"
The two men shook hands lingering
ly, awkwardly then Blaze managed to
wish his friend luck. III you don't
come bnck," he snid, with n peculiar
catch In his voice, ~ 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 Crlsto, where, by means Of the d.
lapldated ferry, he gained the Mexican
side. Once across, he rode strnight up
toward the village Of Romero. When
challenged by an understood soldier
he merely spurred Montrosa forward.
eylng the sentry so grlmly TINT the
man did no more than finger his rifle
uncertainty, curslng under his breath
the Overbearlng airs of all gringos. Nor
did the rider trouble TO make the slight
est detour, but cantered the full length
Of Romero's dusty street, the tnrget OF
more than n pair of hostile eyes. To
those who saw him, soldiers and civil
ians alike, II was evident that this
stranger had business, and no one felt
called upon to question Its nature,
There are men who carry M air more
potent thnn n bodyguard. and Dave
Law was n OF these. Before the vii
lage had thoroughly awakened 20 his
coming he was gone, without n glance
10 the right or left, without n word to
anyone.
When Romero was nc his back he
rode for n mile or two through n region
OF tiny scattered farms ana neglected
garden patches, after which he came
out into the mesquite. For an the
signs he saw he might then hive been
in the heart of n foreign country. Mex.
leo had swallowed him.
As the afternoon heat subsidized, Mont
rosa let herself out into "A freer gait
and began 10 cover the distance rapid.
ly, heading due west through n land
OF cnctus ana dagger, OF thorn and
barb and hramhle.
The roads were unfenced, the men.
dows desolate the huts were frequent.
~ untennnted. Ahead the sky burned
splendidly, and the sunset grew more
brilliant, more dazzling, until It glorl.
hed the whole mean, thirsty, cruel
countryside.
Dawes eyes were set upon that riot
OF blazing %colors, but for the time II
failed 10 thrill him. In that welter OF
changing hues and tints he saw only
red Red That was the color OF
blood It stood for passion, lust, VIC.
lence; and II was u fitting badge OF
color for this land of revolutions and
alurms, Az first he saw little else
except the hint OF black despair TO fol
e~. But there was gold In the sunset