Macon beacon., 1917-09-21

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her" he cried, defantly. Jose San
chez confessed to the murder Of Mr..
Austin. and {. j how you had got Mrs.
Austin to come here. The whole thing
is known in Washington and Mexico
City by this time. The newspapers
have it; everybody knows you are
keeping her as your prisoner. and that
l have come for her If she Is harmed,
all Mexico. all the world, will know
that you are worse than murderer
Longorio reached behind his back
and slammed the door in the faces Of
his listening men.
"What is this? What did Jose con-
fess?" he inquired, sharply.
He SwearS you hired him"
bah! The word of a pelador."
In spite of the mans contemptuous
tone Dave saw the expression in his
face and made quick decision.
There's limit TO what you dare to do,
Longorio. I'm unarmed; make no re-
sistance, so there is no excuse for vio-
lence. l surrender to you, and claim
protection for myself and my wife"
But Longorio was not to be tricked.
Good" he cried, triumphantly. u
have been looking forward to some
thing like this. and shall give myself
great pleasure" He laid hand up
on the door-knob, but before he could
turn it the Catholic priest had him by
the arm, and with strength surprising
in one of his stature wrenched him
away. Father OMalley's face was
white and terrible his voice was deep,
menacing; the hand he raised above
Longorio seemed to brandish weapon.
stop" he Numbered. Are you a
mailman? Destruction hangs over you !;
destruction Of body and soul. You dare
not separate those whom God hath
joined
God. God." the other shrilled. II
don't believe in him. am a god; l
know of no other"
"Blasphemer roared the little man.
Listen, then. So surely as you harm
these people, so surely do you kill your
earthly prospects. You, the first man
in Mexico, the dictator indeed Think
what you are doing before it is too late.
Is your dream of greatness only a
dream? viii you sacrifice yourself
and all your aspirations in the heat of
this unholy and impossible passion?
Tonight, now you must choose whether
you will be famous or infamous, gl0ri-
Gus or shameful, honored or dishon-
ored! Restrain your hatred and con-
quer your lust, or forego forever your
dreams of empire and pass into OBJ
liviOn."
You are a meddler," Longoric
stormed. You make a loud noise, but
shall rid Mexico of your kind. We
shall have no more Of you priests"
Father O'Malley shook the speaker
as a parent shakes an unruly child
See! You have completely lost your
head. But l want you to listen to what
| all SdyihS. NlNlhtl SOu ulC liOl {
good than evil, God must judge, but
the people of Mexico are good people
and they will not be ruled by man
who is wholly bad. You have the power
to remove this man and this woman
yes, and this priest who dares to point
out the pit at your feet; but If you dc
you will never command another MeXi
can army. There is no war. We are
not your enemies. The world knows
we are here, and it holds you account
able for our safety. Tomorrow you
will have to face the reckoning"
Longorio listened. 1t was plain that
he recognized the truth of O'Malley's
words, but he was convulsed with rage
Good !" he cried. II see my dreams
dissolve, but l am not the first great
man to trade an empire for woman
Antony, the Roman general, laid his
honor in woman's arms. / had O
shining destiny, but Mexico will be the
sufferer by my betrayal. Instead OF
Longorio the Deliverer, shall be
known as Longorio the Lover, the mar
who gave all"
OMalley interrupted forcefully
Enough of this, Come with me.
have something more to say to you.
He flung open the door into the hal
and, taking the general by the arm
fairly dragged him from the room anC
into the one opposite. The lieutenant
and his men looked on in amazement
shutting their feet and shifting theil
rifle-butts nOisily upon the floor.
Alaire turned an anxious face t
Dave, saying: "He Is wonderful. Lon
gorio is almost-afraid of him."
"Yes; he may bring him to his
senses, If he doesn't" Dave cas-
his eyes desperately over the room
conscious all the time that he was be
ing watched with suspicion by the mer
outside. He stirred restlessly anC
moistened his lips. "Longorio would
be crazy to injure you"
Ten minutes passed; fifteen. Alairt
leaned, motionless, against the table
Dave paced about, followed by the eye,
of the soldiers. One of the ll.ttel
struck match, and in the silence il
sounded like gunshot. Dave started
at which the soldiers laughed. They
began to talk In murmurs. The odol
Of cigarette smoke drifted In to the
man and the woman.