The Huttig news., 1917-03-17

notebook, she gave him the scrap of paper which he carefully placed in his hat; then, shaking his head doubtfully, he left the ear.
 Flushed with triumph, Dolores took the first occasion to enlarge upon her theme.
 You will see what monster this Longorio is," she declared. .It was like him to steal your beautiful cattle :; he would steal crucifix."
 i've heard that, Alaire said gravely.
 In the course of time the military train came ereaking along on the main track and stopped, to the great interest of the south-bound travellers. It was made up of many stock cars crowded with cavalry horses, and penned in with them were the women and the children. The soldiers themselves were clustered thickly upon the ear roofs. Ear down at the rear of the train was a rickety passenger coach, and toward this Jose Sanchez made his way.
 There began noisy interchange of greetings between the occupants of the two trains. and meanwhile the hot sun glared balefully upon the huddied fig ures on the car tops. A half-hour passed, then occurred commotion at tue forward end of Alaire's coach.
 A group of officers climbed aboard and among them was one who could be none other than Luis Longorio. As he came down the passageway Alaire identified him without the aid of his insignia, for he stood head and shoul- ders above his companions and bore himself with an air of authority He was unusually tall, at least six feet three, and very slim, very 1.-the; young man; his cheeks were girlishly smooth and of clear, pale, olive tint ; his eyes were large, bold, brilliant; his nostriis thin and sensitive, like those of blooded horse. Dsdain, hauteur, impatience, were stamped upon the generals countenanee as he pushed briskly through the crowd, turning his head from side to side in search of the woman who had summoned him.
 Not until she rose did he discover Alaire; then he halted his eyes fixed themselves upon her with start of startled amazement.
 Alaire felkzherself color faintly, for the man seemed to be scanning her from head to foot, taking in every de tail of her face and form, and as he did so his expression remained unal- tered. For what seemed full minute Longorio stood rooted: then the stiff Wzored cap was swept from his head ; 2 he bowed with the grace of a courier until Alaire saw the part in his oily black hair.
 'Senora A thousand apologies for my delay" he said. "Caramba I did not dream-I did not understand your message" He continued to regard hei with that same queer intensity.
 You are General Longorio?" Alaire was surprised to note that her voice quavered uncertainty, and annoyed to feel her face still flushing"
 "Your obedient servant"
 Longorio, with a brusque command routed out the occupants Of the seat ahead, and, reversing the back, took Il position facing Alaire. Another order and the men who had accompanied him withdrew up the aisle. There was no mistaking his admiration. He seemed enchanted by her pale beauty her rich. red hair held him fascinated and with Latin boldness he made his feelings crassly manifest.
 "You probably know why I wished to see you" Alaire began.
 Longorio shook his head in vague denial.
 Tt Is regarding my ranch. La Feria.' Seeing that the names conveyed noth. ing, she explained 'I am told that your army confiscated my cattle"
 "Ah, yes! Now I understand The Mexican nodded mechanically, but if was plain that he was not needing her words in the least. AS if to shut out vision or to escape some dazzling sight, he closed his eyes. Alaire wondered if the fellow had been drinking. She turned to Dolores to find that good woman wearing an expression of stu
 
 Alare extremely i'll at ease.
 Longorio opened his eyes and passed brown hand across his brow as if to brush away perverse fancies that in- terfered with his thoughts. Alaire mo- ticed that one of his fingers was deco rated with a magnificent diamond-and- ruby ring, and this interested her queerly. No ordinary man could fit tingly have worn such an ornament, yet on the hand of this splendid bar barian it seemed not at all out of keeping.
 "Dios!" Longorio continued. "Your ranch has been destroyed; your cattle stolen, eh? We will shoot the perpc- trators of this outrage at once. Bueno!"
 No, no! don't want to see anyone punished. I merely want your govern