The Lamar register., 1917-10-10


Dave turned sick, colorless face to
his friend. They'll carve a stone for
Longorio If l do get through" He
called to Montrosa, and the mare came
to him, holding her head to one side
so as not to tread upon her dragging
reins.
I'm most tempted TO go with you"
Blaze stammered uncertainty.
"No. Somebody has to stay here and
stir things up. If we had twenty men
like you we might cut our way in and
out but there's no time To organize,
and, anyhow, the government would
probably stop us. I've got hunch
that I'll make II. II l don't-why, its
all right"
The two men shook hands lingering
ly, awkwardly; then Blaze managed to
wish his friend luck. IF you don't
come back" he said, with II peculiar
catch In his voice, Il 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 di-
lnpidated ferry he gained the Mexican
side. once across. he rode straight up
toward the village Of Romero. When
challenged by an undersized soldier
he merely spurred Montrosa forward.
cying the sentry so grimly that the
man did no more than finger his rifle
uncertainty. cursing under his breath
the overbearing airs Of all gringos. Nor
did the rider trouble to make the slight
est detour, but cnntered the full length
Of Romcro's dusty street, the target of
more than one 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 an air more
potent than a bodyguard, and Dave
Law was one of these. Before the vii
lage had thoroughly awakened to his
coming he WIS gone without a glance
to the right or left, without a word to
anyone.
When Romero wus at his back he
rode for Il mile or two through "A region
Of tiny scattered farms and neglected
garden patches, after which he came
out into the mesquite. For all the
signs he saw, he might then hnve been
in the heart of foreign country. Mex
leo had swallowed him.
As the afternoon heat suhsided, Mont
rosa let herself out into a frecr gait
and began to cover the distance rapid
Is. heading due west through n land
Of cactus and dagger, Of thorn and
barb and bramble.
The roads were unfenced, the mea-
dows desolate; the huts were frequent
Is untenanted. Ahead the sky burned
splendldly, and the sunset grew more
brilliant, more dazzling, until 1t glori-
fed the whole mean, thirsty, cruel
countryside.
Dawes eyes were set upon that riot
Of blazing colors. but for the time It
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, vlo-
lence; and It was fitting badge Of
color for this land OF revolutions and
alarms. At first he saw little else
except the hint Of black despair to fol-
low. But there was gold In the sunset,
too-the yellow gold Of ransom! That
was Mexico-red and yellow, blood and
gold, lust and license. Once the riders
fancy began to work In this fashion, 1t
would not rest, and as the sunset grew
in splendor he found in 1t richer mean
ings Red was the color Of n woman's
llps-yes, and n womans hair. The
deepening blue Of the high sky over
head was the hue of certain woman's
eyes. A warm, soft breeze out Of the
west beat into his face, and he remem-
bered how warm and soft Alalre's
breath had been upon his cheek.
The woman Of his desires was yOn-
der. where those cOlors warred, and
she was muntled In red and gold and
purple for his coming. The thought
aroused him; he felt only throbblng
eagerness TO see her and to take her
in his arms once more before the end.
With his head high and his face
agleam. he rode into the west, Into the
heart of the sunset.
HLApTEP NN