Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-26

for her horse, a Mexican woman greet
ed her as she entered the wide, cool
hall and went to her room. Dolores
fixed bath and laid out clean clothes
with Il running accompaniment of chat.
ter concerned with household affairs.
She was a great gossip, and possessed
such talent for gaining information
that through her husband, Bcnito, the
rnnge boss, she was able to keep her
mistress in fairly intimate touch with
ranch matters.
Alaire, as she leisurely dressed her.
self, acknowledged that 1t was good to
feel the physical comforts VT her own
house, even though her homecoming
gave her no especial JOY. She made it
religious practice to dress for dinner,
regardless Of Eds presence, though
often for weeks nj time she sat in
solitary state, presiding over an empty
table. Tonight, Ed WITS Mt home. 1t
w0s With n grave preoccnpation that
she made herself ready to meet him.
In the dining room, Ed acknowl.
edged his wifcs entrance with a caro-
less nod, but did not trouble to re-
move his hands from his pockets. As
he seated himself heavily at the table
and with unsteady fingers shook The
folds from his napkin. he said:
you stayed longer than you intend
ed. Um-m--you were gone three days,
weren't you?"
-Four days." Alaire told him, real
izing With Il little inward start how
very far apart she and Ed had drlftcd.
She looked at him curiously for an in
slant, wondering il he really could be
her husband, or--if he were not some
peculiarly disagreeable stranger.
Ed had been handsome boy but he
was growing fat from drink and soft
from dlencss; his face was too full,
his eyes too sluggish; there was an
unhealthy rcdncss in his cheeks. In
contrast to his wife's senii-formal
dress, he was unkempt-unshaven and
solled. His preparations for dinner
this evening had been characterstically
simple; he had drunk three dry cock
tails and flung his sombrer0 into COR
ner.
i've been busy while you were
gone" he announced. "Bcen down to
the pump house every day laying that
new intake. It was a nasty Job. too.
had Morales barbecue cabrito for
my lunch, and it was good. but I'm
hungry again." Austin attacked his
meal with an enthusiasm strange in
him. He was heavy and a constant
drnkcr at all times. What little OK.
ercise he took was upon the back of n
horse. and, rs no enc knew better than
his wife, the physical powers he once
had were rapidly deteriorating.
BY and by he inquired vaguely
Lets see. Where did you 60
this timer"
Il went up to look over the Ygnaciu
tract"
"Oh, yes. Think you'll lease it,"
II don't know. | must find some
place for those La Fcrn cattle"
Austin shook his head. Better leave
'em where they are, until the rebels
take TINT country. | stand mighty well
with them
THAT'S the trouble" Alaire told
him. "You stand too wel---so we'll
that ] want to get my stock out of
federal territory as soon as possible
Ed shrugged carelessly. "Sult your
self; they're your cows
The meal went on with desultory
flow of small talk. during which the
husband INDUCED his thirst freely
Alaire told him about the ncciden,
to her horse and the unpleasant ordeal
she had suffered in the mesquite.
lucky you found somebody at the
water hole" Ed commented. "Wht
was this ranger? Never heard Of Tho
follow" he commented on the name
The rangers arc nothing like they
used to be-"
"Thls fellow would do credit to any
organization" AS Alaire described
how expeditlously Law had made his
arrest and handled his man, her hus.
band showed interest.
Nicolas Anto. ehv' said he. "Who
was his compnncro?"
"punfllo Sanchez
Ed started. "Thats strange! They