The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-11

you are saying?' he inquired. eagerly.
4 would only ask you a few ques-
TONS"
''What questions?'
where is Sonora Austin?"
Jose's face became blank. ST don't
know"
"Oh yes, you do. She started for La
Feria- But-did she get there? Or did
LOngoriO have other plans for her?
You'd better tell me the truth, for
your general can't help you now" Dave
did his best to read the Mexican's ex-
preston, but failed. "Senor Eds death
means nothing to me-" he went on,
but 1 must know where his wife is,
and I'm willing to pay, with your lib
erty." In spite of himself his anxiety
was plain.
Jose exclaimed: 'Ho! 1 under
stand He was in your way and you're
glad to be rid of him. Well, we have
no business fighting with each other"
viii you tell me-"
TN tell you nothing, for ! know
nothing"
Gomez I must know
Jose laughed insolentIy.
Laws face became black with sud
den fury. His teeth barred themselves.
He took step forward, crying:
by heaven You will tell me %
Selling his prisoner by the throat, he
pinned him to the wall; then with his
free hand he cooked LongoriO's re-
Volver and thrust its muzzle against
Jose's body. Tell me!'' he repeated.
His countenance was so distorted, his
expression so maniacal, that Jose felt
his hour had come. The latter, being
in all ways Mexican, did not struggle /;
instead, he squared his shoulders and,
staring fearlessly into the face above
him, cried:
"ShOOtI'
For moment the two men remained
so; then Dave seemed to regain control
of himself and the murder light flick
cred out of his eyes. He flung his pris-
oner aside and cast the revolver into
corner of the room.
Jose picked himself up, cursing mis-
captOr eloquently. You gringos don't
know how to die" he said. death?
-
supposing 1 do know something about
the sonora, do you think you can force
me to speak? Torture wouldn't open
my lips"
Law did not trust himself to reply !;
and the hOrse-breaker went on with
growing defiance:
Il am innocent of any crime; there
fore am brave. But you-the blood
of innocent men means nothing to you
-PanfilO's murder proves that-so
complete your work. Make an end Of
me-"
"Be still !" Dave commanded, thickIy
But the fellows hatred was out of
bounds now, and by the bitterness of
his vituperatiOn he seemed to invite
death. Dave interrupted his vftriolic
curses to ask harshly:
''Will you tell me, or will you force
me to wiring the truth out of you?''
Jose answered by splitting at his cap
tor; then he gritted an unspeakable
epithetsfrom between his teeth.
Dave addressed him with an air of
fnality. You killed that man and
your life is forfeit, so it doesn't make
whether the state takes it. You are
brave enough to die-most of you Mexi-
cans are-but the state can't force you
to speak, and I cam Jose sneered.
ooh yes, 1 can! I intend to know all
that you know, and it will be better
for you to tell me voluntarily 1 must
learn where Sonora Austin is, and I
must learn quickly, if 1 have to kill you
by inches to get the TRUTH
$50! Torture, Ell? Good 1 can be-
ieve it of you. Well, slow fire will
not make me speak,
mo. A fire would be too easy, Jose"
"Eh?"
Without answer Dave strobe out of
prisoner could do more than wrench
at his bonds, and with him he brought
his lariat and his canteen.
''What are you going to do?'' Jose in
Quired, backing away until he was once
more at bay.
'fTm going to give you drink
"Whisky? You think you can make
me drunk?" The horse-breaker laughed
loudly but uneasily.
NOI WHISKY WdleT. LII going 10
give you a drink of water"
what capers !''
when you've drunk enough you'll
tell me why you killed your employer
and where General Longorio has taken
his wife. Yes, and everything else 1
want to know" Selling the amazed
"a