The Huttig news., 1917-04-21
was the least excited.


 vered: You told us Ricardo was not dead, so-it is all right. There is no harm done
 A brief silence ensued, then LongO- rio shrugged. "Who knows2 Let u3 1 hope that he suffered no harm on Mex l jean soil That would be serious, in- deed; yes, very serious, for 1 have given my word to your government. This-David Law"-he pronounced the name carefully, but with a strange for | eign accent-"he is q reckless person | to defy the border regulations. It is grave matter to invade foreign ter l ritory on such mission" Iongorio again bent his brilliant eyes upon Alaire. T see that you are concerned for his safety. You would not desire him to come to trouble, eh? He has done you fayors he is your friend, as am. Well'-a mirthless smile ex- posed his splendid white teeth-"we must think of that. Now I will bid you good night"
 Where are you going?" demanded Miss Jones.
 ..fo the river. and then to Romero. l may be needed, for those men of mine are stupid fellows, and there is danger of misunderstanding. In the dark anything may happen. I should like to meet this David Law; he is man of my own kind" Turning to "Young Ed" he said: "There is req son for haste, and a horse moves slow ly. Would you do me the favor, if you have an automobile-"
 "Noi I won'tt" Ed declared. "I don't want to see the Rio Grande to- night. I won't be involved-'
 .'But you are already involved. Come! There is no time to waste, and l have something to say to you. You will drive me to the river, and my horse will remain here until I return for him."
 There was no mistaking the con- mand in Longorio's tone; the master of Las Palmas rose as if under com pulsfon. He took his hat, and the two men left the room.
 "0h, Mrs. Austin" Paloma gasped. "They.ll be ill time, and so will the Lewis gang"
 Quick Ed will take his runabout- we'll follow in my car" Alaire fled to make herself ready. A few moments later she looked out from her window and saw the headlights of Eds run about flash down the driveway to the raid then she and Palema rushed to the garage where the touring car stood.
 ."fhe moon is rising" Paloma half sobhed They'll be sure to see us. Do you think we're ahead of Tad l Lewis?"
 "oh. yes. He hasn't had time to get here yet, but-hell come fast when he starts. This is the only plan I can think of"
 Alaire drove as swiftly as she dared, following the blurred streak of gray that was the road, and taking the bumps with utter recklessness. Ahead 1 loomed the dark ridge of the river thickets, dense rampant of mesquite. But even before they were sheltered | from the moonlight Paloma saw the lights of another automobile approach ing along the main-traveled highway behind then-the lights. evidently, of Tad Lewis machine 4 moment later Alaire's car drove into the black shad- ows. It had been q short, swift, excit- ing ride. Young Eds" runabout could not be many minutes ahead of them.
 The women got out, then breasted the high grass and brambles between their hiding place and the pumphouse road. A hundred yards away they could now see the ghostly Rio Grande. it's saffron surface faintly silvered by the low moon; lights gleamed from the windows of Morales house. In the distance the vague outlines of the Mex ican shore were resolving themselves, and far beyond twinkled the evidence that some belated citizens of Romero were still awake.
 Paloma had brought with her the long -barreled rife, and this she clutched nervously as she and Alaire stood whispering. Conditions were fa- vorable for an approach to the pump house itself. They had nearly reached their goal when out into the clearing behind them, with metallic rattle and clang burst another automobile, and Paloma whispered exeitedly. There's the Lewis outfit at last"
 In the Lewis car were several men. They descended hurriedly. and when one of them ran around the front of the car to turn off it's lights, both wom- en saw that he carried a rifle. Evi- dently Tad Lewis had come prepared for desperate measures.
 A small door gave entrance to the pumphouse. and into the lock of this Mrs. Austin fitted key; the next mo- ment she and Paloma were safely in- side. Dusty, cobwebbed windows let i'll faint ghost-glow of moonlight, but prevented clear observation of any thing outside; Alaires fumbling fin gers found the latch and began to lift a window. when soheone spoke, I