The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-08-23

you are ten TO one. but you can't have
her" he cried, deinntly. "Jose San
chez confessed to tho murder Of Mr..
Austin, and told how you had got Mrs.
Austin to come here. The whole thing
Is known in Washington and Mexico
City by this time. The newspapers
have It; everybody knows you are
keeping her us your prisoner, and that
| have come for her. II she Is harmed.
that YOU ARE worse than n murderer"
L%ongorio reached behind his back
and slammed the door in the faces Of
his listening men.
"What Is this? What did Jose con-
fcss?" he inquired. sharply.
"Hc swears you hired him."
bah! The word of u pelador."
In spite of the mans contemptuous
tone Dave saw the expression In his
face and made n quick decision.
There's n limit to what you dare to do,
Longorio. I'm unarmed l make no re-
%slstance, so there is no excuse for vio-
lencc. | surrender to you, and claim
~ 'A''AA'i " ~ tlli lhs WIZ
But Longorio was not to be trickcd.
Good" he cried. triumphantly. Il
have been looking forward to some
thing like this, and | shall give myself
Il great pleasure" lie laid Il hand up
on the door-knOb, but before he could
turn II the Catholic priest had him by
the arm, and with n strength surprising
In one of his stature wrenched him
away. Father O'Mlalley's face was
white and terrible his voice was deep,
menacing; the hand he raised above
Longorio seemed To brandish n weapon.
stop" he Numbered. Are you n
madman? Destruction hangs over you
destruction of body and soul. You dare
not separate those whom God hath
joined"
GOD! God! !" the other shrillcd. Il
don't believe in him. / am II god |
know of no other"
"Blasphcmer :" roared the little man.
Listen, then. SO surely as you harm
these people, so surely do you kill your
earthly prospects. You, the first man
In Mexico. the dictator indeed Think
what you are doing before II is too late.
Is your dream Of greatness only n
dream? Will you sacrifice yourself
and all your aspirations in the heat of
this unholy and impossible passion?
Tonight, now, you must choose whether
YOU will be famous or infamous. glori-
Gus or shameful, honored or dishon-
ored! Restrain your hatred and con-
quer your lust, or forego forever your
dreams of empire and pass into OBJ
liyion."
stOrmed. you make n loud noise, but
| shall rid Mexico of your kind. We
shall nave no more of you priests"
Father O'Malley SHOOT; the speaker
as Il parent shakes an unruly child.
See! You have completely lost your
head. But | want you to listen TO what
| am saying. Whether you are more
good than evil, God must judge, but
the people of Mexico are good people,
and they will not be ruled by Il man
who is wholly bad. You have the power
to remove this man and this woman,
yes, and this priest who dares to point
out the pit at your feet but If you do
you will never command another Mexi-
can army. There is no war. We are
not your enemies. The world knows
we are here, and 1t holds you account
able for our safety. Tomorrow you
will have TO face the reckoning
Longorio listened. 1t was plain that
he recognized the truth Of O'Malley's
words, but he was convulsed with rage.
Good !" he cried, II see my dreams
dissolve, but / am not the first great
man To trade an empire for Il woman.
Antony, the Roman general, laid his
hOi.or in n wOman'S arms. ! had q
shining destiny, but Mexico will be the
sufferer by my betrayal. Instead of
Longorio the Deliverer, l shall be
known as Longorlo the Lover, the man
who gave all"
OMallcy interrupted forcefully.
Enough Of this! Come with me. |
have something more To say TO YOU
He flung open the door into the hall
and, taking the general by the arm,
fairly dragged him from the room and
into the Ont opposite. The lieutenant
and his men looked on in amazcmcnt,
Shuilling their feet and shifting their
rlile-butts nolslly upon the floor.
Alalre turned an anxious face 10
Dave, saying: "Ile Is wonderful. Lon.
goriO Is almOst-afraid of him."
"Yes; he may bring him to his
Senses. If he doesn't" Dave cast
his eyes desperately over the room
conscious all the time that he was be.
Ing watched with suspicion by the mor
outside. lie stirred restlcssly ant
moistcned his lips. "I.ongorlo would
be crazy 70 injure YOU
Ten minutes passed fifteen. Alair,
, leaned, motionlcSs. against the table
Dave paced about, followed by the eye,
+, Of the soldiers. one of the latte
! struck a match, ana In the silence 1
sounded like n gunShot. Dave started
at which the soldiers laughed. The,
began to talk in murmurs. The odoI
| az cigarette smoke drifted Ia TO tn,
man and the woman.
: Finally the door through which Fa