The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-07-05

very bright as she said: Il wonder how
I have managed to live with you as
long as I i have. knew you were weak,
nasty-so l was prepared for m
thing like this. But I never thought
you We're u downright criminal until"
Criminal? Rot"
"How about that GuZman affair?
You can't go much lower, Ed, and you
can't keep me here with you"
II can't keep you, eh?" he growled.
swell, perhaps not. 1 suppose you've
got enough on me to secure a divorce.
but can air some of your dirty linen.
Oh, don't look like that! I mean it!
Didn't you spend a night with David
Lava" He leered at her unpleasantly,
then followed Il step as she drew back.
Don't you touch me J" she cried.
A flush was deepening Eds purple
cheeks; his voice was peculiarly bru-
tai and throaty as he said: "The de-
cree isn't entered yet, and so long as
you are Mrs. Austin I have rights. Yes,
and I intend to exercise them. You've
made me Jealous, and" He made to
encircle her with his arms, and was
half successful, but when Alaire felt
the heat of his breath in her face. a
sick loathing sprang up within her.
and, setting her back against the wall,
she sent him Keeling. Whether she
struck him OF merely pushed him away,
she never knew, for during the instant
of their struggle she was blind with in
dignation and fury. Profiting by her
advantage. she lodged past him, fled to
her room. and locked herself in.
She heard him muttering p%rofanely;
heard him approach her chamber more
than nee, then retire uncertainty, but
she knew him too we'll to be afraid.
Later that night she wrote two let
ters-one to Judge Ellsworth, the other
to Dave Law.
Jose Sanchez rode to the Morales
house feeling some concern over the
summons that took him thither. He
wondered what could have induced
General Longorio to forsake his many
important duties in order to make the
long trip from Nuevo Pueblo; surely
it could be due to no lack of zeal on
his (Jose's) part. No! The horse
breaker flattercd himself that he had
made a very good spy indeed; that he
had been Longorio's eyes and ears so
far as circumstances permitted. Nor
did he feel that he had been lax in
: making his reports, for through Rosa
he had written the general several
lengthy letters, and just for good meas
ure these two had conjured up sundry
imaginary happenings to prove beyond
doubt that Sonora Austin was miser-
l ably unhappy with her husband, and
ready to welcome such a dashing lover
as Longorio. Therefore Jose could not
for the life of him imagine wherein
he had been remiss. Nevertheless, he
was uneasy, and he hoped that nothing
had occurred to anger his general.
But Longorio, when he arrived at the
m~eeting-place, was not in a bad humor.
Having sent Rosa away on some err
rand, he turned to Jose with a flashing
smile, and said:
swell, my good friend, the time has
come"
Now Jose had no faintest idea what
the general was talking about, but to
be called the good friend of 10 illustri-
GUS a person was flattering. He nod
ded decisively.
"Yes, beyond doubt" he agreed.
The general laid an affectionate hand
upon Jose's shoulder. 1.-THE first time
I saw you I said: There's a boy after
my own heart. I shall learn to love
that Jose, and I shall put him in the
way Of his fortune Well, I have not
changed my mind, and the time is
come. You are going to help me and 1
} am going to help YOU"
Jose Sanchez thrilled with elation
from head to foot. This promised to
be the greatest day of his life, and he
felt that he must be dreaming.
"You haven't tired of Rosa, eh? You
still wish to marry her?" Longorio was
inquiring.
Eyes. But Of course I am a poor
man."
"Just so. I shall attend to that.
Now we come to the object of my visit.
Jose, I proposed to make you rich
enough in n day so that you. can
marry"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)