Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-05-12


Alaire inquired quickly.
THAT is what l came to tell you.
1t is believed that he is for he takes
his army with him wherever he goes
He is a great fighter; he has nose
for 1t, that man, and he strikes like the
llghtni-- g - here. there anywhere"
Jose, it seemed. was rabid Potosista
when the train arrives" she told
her hOrSe-breaker 81 want you to find
General Longorio and ask him to come
here"
But, sonora I" Jose was dunn
founded, shocked. "He is great gen
eral-"
Give him this note" Quickly writ
ing few lines on page from her
notebook, she gave him the scrap of
paper, which he carefully placed in his
hat; then, shaking his head doubtfully,
he left the car.
Flushed with triumph. Dolores took
the first occasion to enlarge upon her
theme.
You will see what a monster this
LOngorio is" she declared ut was
like him to steal your beautiful cattle
he would steal a crucif1x."
1--WE heard that" Alaire said graveIy.
In the course of time the military
train came creaking along on the main
track and stopped. to the great interest
of the sOuth-bound travellers. Ii was
made up of many stock cars crowded
with cavalry horses, and penned in
with them were the women and the
| children. The soldiers themselves
were clustered thicllly upon the car
roofs. Far down at the rear OF the
train was a rickety passenger coach.
and toward this Jose Sanchez made his
way.
There began a noisy interchange of
greetings between the occupants of the
two trains, and meanwhile the hot sun
glared balefully upon the huddled fig
| ures on the car tops. A half-hour
passed, then occurred a cOmmotion at
the forward end of Alaire's coach.
A group of officers climbed aboard.
and among them was one who could
be none other than Luis Longorio. AS
he came down the passageway Alaire
identified him without the aid of his
insignia, for he stood head and Shout
ders above his companions and bore
himself with an air of authority. He
was unusually tall, at least six feet
three, and very slim, very 1.-the q
young man: his cheeks were girlishly
smooth and of clear, pale olive tint;
his eyes were large, bold, brilliant; his
nOstrils thin and sensitive, like those
of bloOded horse. Disdain, hauteur.
Impotence, were stamped upon the
generals countenance as he pushed
briskly through the crowd, turning his
head from side to side IN search of
the woman who had summoned him.
Not until she rose did he discover
Alaire; then he halted; his eyes fixed
themselves upon her with d start of
startled Amusement.
Alalre felt herself color faintly, for
the man seemed to be scanning her
from head to foot. taking in every de-
tail of her face and form. and as ne
did so his expression remained unal-
tered. For what seemed Il full minute
LongorlO stood rooted; then the stiff
vizored cap was swept from his head
he bowed with the grace of a courtier
until Alalre saw the part Ia his oily
black hair.
"Senora A thousand apologies for
my delay" he said. "Caramba / did
not dream-I did rot understand your
message" He continued to regard her
with that same queer intensity.
''You are General Longorio?" Alalre
was surprised to note that her voice
quavered uncertainty, and annoyed to
feel her face still flushing"
"Your obedient servant"
LongoriO, with a brusque command.
routed out the occupants Of the seat
ahead. and, reversing the back, took
position facing Alaire, Another order
and the men who had accompanied
him withdrew up the aisle. There was
no mistaking his admiration. lie
seemed enchanted by her pale beauty,
her rich, red hair held him fascinated,
and with Latin holiness he made his
feelings Grassy manifest.
"You probably know why I wished
to see you" Alaire began.
Longorlo shook his head in vague
denial
1T is regarding my ranch. La Feria."
Seeing that the name conveyed moth
ing, she explained, Il am told that
your army confscated my cattle
"Ah, yes Now I understand" The
Mexican nodded mechanically, but il
was plain that he was rot needing her
words in the least. AS If to shut ont u
vision or to escape some dazzling sight.
! he closed his eyes. Alalre wondered
if the fellow had been drinking. She
turned to Dolores to find that good
woman wearing an expression Of stu
pefaction. II was very queer; Il made
Alaire extremely I'll at ease.
LOngorio opened his eyes and passed
brown hand across his brow as II
to brush away perverse fancies that in