Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-05-11
Copyright by Harper D Brothers
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

blaZe, IN truth, was embarrassed by
the size of his holdings, but he shook
MS head. mo, I'm too old to go ram
pagin' after new gods. / amt got the
imagination to raise anything more
complicated than a mortgage; but If
l was younger, I'd organize myself up
and do away with that Ed Austin. I'd
sure help him to an untimely end, and
Their I'd marry them pecan groves, and
FLOODED herds, and drugstore orchards.
She certainly Is a heart-breakin' de-
vice, with her red hair, and red lips
an
"Father!" Paloma was deeply
shocked.
.
Complete isolation, Of course, Alaire
had found to be impossible, even
though her ranch lay far from the trav-
eled roads and her Mexican guards
were not encouraging to visitors. Bust
ness inevitably brought her into con
tact with a considerable number of
people, and of these the one she saw
most frequently was Judge Ellsworth
of Brownsville, her attorney.
1t was perhaps a week after Ed had
left for San Antonio that Alaire felt
the need of Ellsworth's counsel, and
sent for him. Ellsworth was a kindly
a of fifty-tive, with a forceful chin
and a dropping, heavy-lidded eye that
could either blaze or twinkle. Judge
Ellsworth knew more than any four
men in that part of Texas information
had a way of seeking him out. He was
a good lawyer. too, and yet his knowl-
edge of human nature he considered
Tar more important than law. His
mine was like a full granary, and every
grain lay where he could put his hand
upon 1t.
He motored out from Brownsville,
and after Kidding himself of dust, in
sisted upon spending the interval be-
fore dinner in an inspection of Alaire's
latest ranch improvements. Not until
dinner was over did he inquire the rea-
son for his summons.
"It's about La Feria. General Lon
gorio has contiscated my stock" Alaire
told him. II was afraid Of this very
thing, and so I was preparing to bring
the stock over. Still never thought
they'd actually confiscate it."
Hasn't Ed done enough to provoke
cOnfiscation?" asked the judge. II
have it pretty straight that he's CIV
ing money to the rebel junta and lend
ing every assistance he a to their
cause"
II didn't know he'd actually done
anything. How mad!"
"Yes-for a man with interests in
federal territory. But Ed always does
the wrong thing, you know"
"Then I presume this confiscation is
In the nature of a reprisal. But the
stock is mine, not Eds. I want your
help in taking up the matter with
Washington"
Ellsworth was p%essimistic. "It
won't do any good, my DEAR" he said.
"You won't be paid for your cattle"
"Then l shall go to La Feria."
"No" The judge shook his head
decidedly.
"Tve been there a hundred times.
The federals have been more than
courteous"
"Longorio has a bad reputation. I
strongly advise against your going.
You'd better send some man."
"Whom can l send?" asked Alaire.
~You know my situation"
The judge considered a moment be-
fore replying. II can't go, for I'm
busy in court. You could probably
accomplish more than anybody else, if
LOngorio will listen to reason, and,
after all, you are a person of such i'm
p%ortance that I dare say you'd be safe.
But 1t will be a hard trip, and you
won't know whether you are in rebel
or in federal territory"
"Well, people here are asking wheth-
er Texas is in the United States or
Mexico" Alaire said, lightly. Some
times l hardly know" After a mo-
ment she continued: "Since you know
everything and everybody, l wonder If
you eve met q David Law?"
Ellsworth nodded.
"Tell me something about him."
"He asked me the same thing about
you. Well, l haven't seen much of
Dave since he grew up, he's such q
roamer."
HE said his parents were murdered
by the Guadalupes."
"Yes. 1t happened a good many
years ago, and certainly they both met
a violent end. l was instrumental in
saving what property Frank Law left,
but it didn't last Dave very long. He's
right careless in money matters. Dawes
fle fellow in some ways-most ways,
] believe, but" The Judge lost him
self in. frowning meditation.
Il have never known you to damn a
friend or a client with such faint
praise" said Alaire.
"Oh, l don't mean it that way. I'm
almost like one of Dawes kin, and I've
49, @a~lw t.