The Lamar register., 1917-09-12
Olive Won got him 2"

SWereu TINS time. ~ Ou bet u
Paloma Jones was trembling now.
She clung to Alaire, crying, thankfully:
IT'S the Rangers The Rangers r'
Then she broke away and ran out into
the moonlight, trailing her absurd fire.
arm after her.
Nov, boys" the Ranger captain was
saying, 81 know most every one of you,
and we amt going to have the least
bit of trouble over this thing, are we?
reckon you-all are friends Of Ricardo
Guzman, and you just couldn't wait
to find out about him, eh?"
Alalre, who had followed Paloma,
was close enough now to recognize the
two Guzman boys as members Of the
Ranger party. Lewis and his men had
drawn together at the first alarm; Lon
goriO's MeXicans had gathered about
their leader. The entire situation had
changed in moment, and the Ranger
captain was in control of it.
Soon Dave Law and Blaze Jones
came up over the river bank; they
paused, stricken with surprise at find
ing a score of people where they had
expected no more than four.
bluLe WIS lllt lllSl " Sptihs W mt ,
all this?" he cried. de peered near
sightedly from one to the other; then
his huge bulk shook with laughter:
Say, do my glasses magnify, or is
this an open lodge meetin'?"
"Dadl Oh, dad!" Paloma scurried
to him and flung herself into his arms.
"What you doin' here, kidT" the father
exclaimed. "Why, you'd ought to be
home and abed, long ago. You'll catch
your death of cold. Is that gun loaded?"
Dave Law was even more amazed
than his companion. Recovering from
his first surprise. he took a position
beside his superior officer. Captain
Evans did not seem at all troubled by
the disparity in numbers. one Ranger,
or two at the most, had always been
sufficient to quell Texan disturbance;
now that there were three Of them
he felt equal to an invasion Of MoXi-
can soil, II necessary. In consequence
he relaxed his watchful vigilance, and
to Dave he drawled:
"Wc've got most Of the leading citi-
zens Of the county. and l reckon some
body in the outfit will be able TO idcu-
tify Guzman."
There's no trouble about that, sir.
We found him. Pedro and Raoul can
make sure" The sons Of Ricardo Guz-
man stepped forward promptly, and
Law waved them toward the boat land
ing where the two helpers We're wait
ing with Rlcardo's remains.
Despite the Ranger captains easy
~ the situation had not subsidci, and
yon@orlo drew swift attention to him
self when he said:
1T is fortunate that l chanced 10
learn OF this matter. You have done
me great service Senor Law, for ]
came to Romero purposely TO examine
into tho death Of this unfortunate man.
But l could learn nothing; nobody
knew anything whatever about the
matter and So became convinced that
Il amounted 10 little. Now-behold!
discover that was deceived. Or
perhaps there stll may be a mistake"
Blaze Jones thrust his daughter
aside md advanced toward the speak
or. There's 10 mistake" he declared
relllgcrently. Il don't make mistakes
when ] 90 grave-rUbbin'. Don Ricardo
was shot by your men. He had five
Thousand dollars on him. or he should
have had, and he was an American citi-
zen. Your Colonel Blancn covered the
body, but he'll have n HI OF job
coyerin' the facts. It's time we came
to showdown with your murderln'
outfit. and aim to see If you've got a
government in your country"
Heaven guided my hand" devoutly
breathed the general. 1T Is regret
table that you used this means when n
word to me would have served the
purpose, fort IS no trivial matter to
desecrate a Mexican graveyard. Ny
country, it has n government. An
officer of the state of Texas, under
arms, has crossed the Rio Grande
What does that meanf"
Captain Evans had n sense Of hu-
NOR; L0ngnrio's ominous words amused
him. "Say. general. II amt the first
time" he chortled. "And you're an OIL
Ger, too, amt you? You're in Texas
at this minute, and I'll bet If frisked
you I'd find that You was under arms"
The Mexican understood English sufn-
ciently well to grasp the significance
of these words. After a moments con-
eidarotfon therefore ba modified bfg