The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-23

What d'you say we go over there
and get Ricardo?"
Dave smiled. That's what I've been
leading up to. VIII you take a
chance?"
Eyes"
81 knew you would. All we need is
a pair of Mexicans to-do the work
liked Ricardo; 1 owe him something"
Suppose we're caught?"
in that case We'll have to run for
it, and-I presume I'll be discharged
from the Ranger service
Il amt very good at runnin'-not
from bIexicans." Blaze's eyes were
bright and hard at the thought. Its
mOre'n possible that, if they discover
US. we can start d nice little war
of our own
That evening Dave managed TO get
his Ranger captain by long-distance
telephone, and for some time the two
talked guardedly. When Dave rang
| off they had come to a thorough IN
Outstanding.
It had been an easy matter for Jose
| Sanchez to secure a leave of absence
| from BenitO, but Alaire knew nothing
whatever about the matter until Jose
himself asked permission to see her
on a matter OF Importance.
The man had ridden hard most of
the previous night, and his excitement
was patent. Even before he spoke,
Alaire realized that Panfilo's fate was
known to him, and she decided swiftly
that there must be no further conceal
ment.
Sonora! a terrible thing" Jose
burst forth. ct is strange, unbeliev-
able! My head whirls-"
AIaire quoted him, saying in Span
| ish, Calm yourself, Jose, and tell me
everything from the beginning"
''But how can I be calm? Panfilo
is completely dead. But-yOu known
AIaire nodded. "I-suspected.'
Jose's dark eyes blazed; he bent for
ward eagerly. ''What did you suspect,
and why? Tell me ALL
It was with a peculiar, apprehensive
futter in her breast that Alaire real
lied the crisis had come. Heretofore
she had blamed Law, but now. oddly
enough, she found herself interested in
defending him. AS calmly as she
could, she related all that had led
up to the tragedy, while Jose listened
with eyes wide and mouth open.
you see, had no suspicion of the
truth" she concluded. ct was a ter
ribIe thing, and Mr.. Law regrets it
deeply. He would have made report
to the authorities, OnIy-he feared it
might embarrass me-"
| Jose was torn with rage, yet plainly
prey to indecisiOn he rolled his eyes
and cursed under his breath. These
Rangers :" he muttered. THAT is the
kind of men they are. They murder
honest people"
'-This was not a murder" Alaire
cried sharply. "Panfilo was aiding a
feIon to escape. The courts will not
punish Mr.. Law"
'BahI Who cares for the courts
This man is a gringo, and these are
gringo laws. But 1 am a Mexican
and Panfilo was my cousin. We shall
see."
Don't be rash, JOSE" she exclaimed
warningly.
Jose continued to glover Then
turning away, he said, without meet
ing his employers eyes, 81 would like
to draw my money"
every well. 1 am sorry to have yoJ
leave Las Palmas, for I have regarded
you as one of my gente." Jose's face
remained stony. what do you Intend
to do? Where are you going?"
The fellow shrugged. "Quien sabe
Perhaps l shall go to my General Lon
gorio."
Alaire smiled family. "You will b.
shot," she told him. "Those soldier!
have little to eat and no money d
all"
. But Jose's bright eyes remained hos
tile and his expression battling I
was plain to Alaire that her explana
ton of his cousins death had carries
not the slightest conviction, and sh
even began to fear that her part il
the affair had caused him to look upol
her as an accessory. Nevertheless
/ when she paid him his wages she CAV
5 him a good horse, which Jose accepts
with thanks but without gratitude. A
t Alaire watched him ride away wit
r never a backward glance, she decide
i that she must lose no time in appris
e ing the Ranger Of this new conditio
f of affairs.
!. She drove her automobile to Jone:
!, Vile that afternoon, more worried tina
she cared to admit. Law was nowher
!. in town, and so, in spite Of her relut
f lance. Alaire was forced to look fo
+ him at the Jones home. AS she ha
- never called upon Paloma, and Ia
made it almost impossible for the gil
to visit Las Palmas, the meeting {
II the two women was somewhat forma
But no one could long remain stiff {
: constrained with Paloma Jones; III
d girl had a directness of manner an
y an honest, friendly smile that simpl
would not be denied. Her delight thu
e Aiaire had come to see her pleased an
n shamed the elder woman, who hes
tatingIy confessed the object Of hC