The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-07-12
during her stay in Brownsville, and her

pointment as she knew that he was in
town attending court. Yet she told
herself that it was brave Of him to
obey her injunctions so literally and to
leave her unembarrassed by his pres
ence at this particular time. It in
spired her to be equally brave and to
wait patiently for the day when she
could welcome him with clean hands
and a soul unashamed.
In the midst of Alaire's uncertainty
Of mind it gratifed her to realize that
Dave alone would know of her where
abouts. She wondered if he would
come to see her. He was q reckless,
headstrong lover, and his desires were
all too likely to overcome his DELHI
crate resolves. She rather hoped that
in spite of his promise he would ven
ture to cross the border so that she
could see and be near him, if only for
q day OF for an hour. The possibility
frightened and yet pleased her. The
conventional woman within her
frowned, but her outlaw heart beat
fast at the thought.
Alaire did not explain her plans even
to Dolores, but when her preparations
were complete she took the Mexican
woman with her, and during Eds alb
sence slipped away from the ranch.
Boarding the train at %Jonesville, she
was in Pueblo that night.
It seemed at last that war with
| Mexico was imminent. After months
of uncertainty the question had come
to issue, and that lowering cloud which
had hung above the horizon took omi-
nous shape and size. Ellsworth awoke
one morning to learn that an ultima
tum had gone forth to President Po-
tosi; that the Atlantic feet had been
ordered south; and that marines were
being rushed aboard transports pend
ing a general army mobilization. 1t
looked as if. the United States had
finally risen in wrath. and as if moth
ing less than a miracle could now avert
the long-expected conflict.
Blaze Jones took the San Antonio
paper out upon the porch and COM
posed himself in the hammock to read
| L1IC 1uICSL wa ucNSs 4AfdSlOus AIOOpSs
The Stars and Stripes! Those were
words that stirred Jones deeply and
caused him to neglect his work. Now
that his country had fully awakened
to the necessity of a war with Mexico
"a necessity he had long felt-he was
fired with the loftiest patriotism and a
youthful eagerness to enlist. Blaze
realized that he was old and fat and
near-sighted; but what Of that? He
could fight. Fighting, in fact, had
been one Of his earliest accomplish
ments, and he prided himself upon
knowing as much about it as any
man could learn. He believed in fight
ing both as a principle and as an e
ercise; in fact, he attributed his good
health to his various neighborly 'un-
pleasantnesses," and he had more than
once argued that no great fighter ever
died Of a sluggish liver or Of any one
of the other ills that beset sedentary,
peace-loving people. Nations were
like men-too much ease made them
flabby. And Blaze had his own ideas
Of strategy, too. So during the perusal
of his paper he bemoaned the mis-
takes his government "a making,
Why waste time with ultimatums? he
argued to himself. He had neve done
so. Experience had taught him that
the way to win a battle was to beat
the other fellow to the draw; hence
this diplomatic representation filled
him with impotence. It seemed al
most reasonable to one Of Blaze's in.
tense patriotism.
He was engaged In laying out a plan
Of campaign for the United States
when he became conscious of voices
behind him, and realized that for some
time Paloma had been entertaining 8
caller in the front room. Their con
versation had not disturbed him al
first, but now an occasional word OF
sentence forced its meaning through
his preoccupation, and he found him.
self listening.
Paloma's visitor was a woman, and
as Blaze hardened to her voice, he fell
his heart sink. It was Mrs. Strange
She was here again. With difficulty
Blaze conquered an impulse to flee
for she was recounting a story all toe
familiar to him.
"Why, it seemed as if the whole city
Of Galveston was there, and yet no
body offered to help u.s." the dress
maker was saying. "Phil was a per
feet hero, for the rufian was twice
his size. Oh, it was an awful fight
I hate to think of it."
"What made him pinch your
Paloma inquired.
"Heaven only knows. Some men are
dreadful that way. Why, he left 6
black-and-blue mark!"
Blaze broke into a cold sweat anG
cursed feebly under his breath.
+ "He wasn't drunk, either. He was
, just naturally depraved. You coulc
. see it in his face"
"How did you escape?"
swell, I'll tell you. We chased hin
, I'D across the boulevard and in amonl