The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-30

'Crazy?" Eds lip curled. HE isn't
crazy. suppose he couldn't stay away
any longer. By heaven, AIaire-"
Alaire checked this Outburst with
a sharp exclamation: "Don't make a
scene! Don't you understand he holds
over fifty thousand dollars worth of
La Ferfa cattle? Don't you understand
we can't antagonize him?'
us that what he came to see YOU
| about?"
Yes" She bit her lip. "Tn explain
everything, but-you must help me
send him back, right away" CHANGING
at the clock, Alafre saw that it was
drawing on toward midnight; with
quick decision she seized her husband
by the arm, explaining feverishly:
There is something big going on to-
night, Ed! LOngorio brought a guard
OF soldiers with him, and left them at
our pumphOuse. Well, it so happens
that Blaze Jones and Mr.. Law have
gone to the Romero cemetery to get
Ricardo Guzman's body"
'What?" Austin's red face paIed.
his eyes bulged.
Eyes. That's why PaIoma is here.
They crossed at our pumping station,
and they'll be back at any time, now.
Ii they encounter LOngorio's men
You understand"
Ricardo Guzman's body J" Austin
wet his lips and swallowed with diff
Guilty. "Why-dO they want his body7'
ITO prove that he is really dead
| and-tO prove who killed him. Not
ing the effect of these words, AIaire
cried sharply, whats the matter,
EdP'
But Austin momentariIy was beyond
| speech. The decanter from which he
was trying to pour himself a drink
played a musical tattoo upon his glass
his face had become ashen and pasty.
Glow many men has he got7" Aus
tin nodded in the direction of the front
room.
81 don't know. Probably four or five.
What ails your"
! Something in her husbands inexpli-
cable agitation, something in the hunt
ed, desperate way in which his eyes
were running over the room, alarmed
Alaire.
Ed utterly disregarded her question.
Catching sight of the telephone, which
stood upon stand in the far corner
of the room, he ran to it, and, snatch
ing the receiver, violently osciuated
the hook
Don't do thatl" AIaire cried, fol-
lowing him. ''WaitI It mustn't get
OUT
Hello! Give me the Lewis ranch
quick-Pve forgotten the number"
With his free hand Ed held his wife
at distance, muttering harshly: Get
away now! 1 know what I'm doing.
Get away-d-n youI" He flung
A1aire from him as she tried to snatch
the instrument out OF his hands.
Ed" she cried. Are you out of
your mind? You mustn't"
Their voices were raised now, heed
less of the two people in the adjoining
room.
Keep your hands of, I tell you.
Hello! Is that you, Tad?" Again Aus
tin thrust his wife violently aside.
Listen! I've just learned that Dave
Law and old man Jones have crossed
over to dig up Ricardo's body. Yes.
tonight! They're over there now-be
back inside Of an hour"
|
table, her frightened eyes fixed upon
the speaker,
"Yesi They aim to discover how he
was killed and all about it. They
crossed at my pumping plant. and
they'll be back tonight, If they haven't
already" The speakers voice broke.
his hand was shaking so that he could
scarcely retain his hold upsn the tele-
phone. How do I known ne chat
tered. Its up to you. You've got a
machine"
Ed" cried the wife. She went
toward him on weak, unsteady feet,
but she halted as the voice of Longo-
rio cut in sharply:
What's this 1 hear? Ricardo Guz-
mans body?' Husband and wife
turned. The open double door to the
living room framed the tall figure of
the Mexican general.