Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-03
SYNOPSIS.

Chapter Set afoot and alone by
an accident in the desert near the Rio
Grande Mrs. Alaire Austin, mistress
OF Las Palmas and La Feria ranches,
meets Dave Law, Texas ranger at a
water hole and is compelled to spend
the night there with him, as he is in
ambush for murderer and cannot
leave his post
Chapter IT-Next day at evening
the murderer appears with a compan-
ion.
Chapter lII-Law captures the muir
derer but Is compelled to kill his COM
panion, Panfilo Sanchez, who happens
to be cousin of Mrs. Austin's horse
breaker, Jose Sanchez.
Chapter IV--At Las Palmas Alaire
tells her husband Ed, that his carous-
ais and inebriety must stop. Her cat
tie at La Feria, the Mexican ranch, are
'confiscated by Longorio. Mexican fed
"eral general, and SHE finds that it is
because Ed has been helping the rebel
junta
Chapter V-On her way to La Feria
in Mexico Alaire meets Longorio, who
falls In love with her and agrees to
settle for the confscated stock.
NY
When. after supper, Blaze had
hitched pair Of driving mules to his
blackboard, preparatory to showing his
guest the glories OF Joncsville, Dave
said:
"Paloma's getting mighty pretty"
"She's as pretty as blvc-bonnet
flower" he father agreed. "And she
runs me Ground something scandalous.
I amt got the freedom of peon."
Blaze sighed and shook his shaggy
head. "You know me, Dave; never
used to be scared of nobody. Well, its
different now She rides me with a
Spanish bit. and my soul amt my
own" With a sudden tightening of his
gloom. he added "Say, you're going to
stay right here with us as long rs
you're in town; Iwant you to see how
I crlnge."
In spite Of Blaze's plaintive tone II
was patent that he was inordinatcy
proud Of Paloma and well content with
his .serfdoin.
Jonesvillc proved to be a typical
Texas town Of the modern variety, and
altogether different to the pictured
frontier village. All in ALL the effect
was much like that Of d prosperous
orderly northern farming town. To its
happy founder 1t seemed well-nigh per-
feet and it's destiny reused his mad.
dest enthusiasm. He pointed out the
Odd Fellows hail. the Palace Picture
theater, with Is glaring orange lights
and dscordant electric piano; he con.
Quoted Law to the First National
bnnk, of which Blaze was a proud but
somewhat ornamental director; then
to the sugar mill, the Ice plant and
other points of equally novel interest
Everywhere he went Jones was
hailed by friends, for everybody
seemed to know him and to want tc
shake his hand.
"Some town and, some body of men
eh?" he inquired, finally, AID Dave
agreed:
Eyes. She's got grand framework
Blaze. She'll be most as big as Fort
Worth when you fatten her up"
Jones waved his buggy whip in 8
wide circle that took ~ the miles OF
level prairie on all sides. "We've got
the whole blamed state to grow in
And, Dave, | haven't got aa enemy In
the place! It wasn't many years age
that certain people allowed I'd never
live to raise this town. Why, 1t USED
to be that nobody dared ride witt
iile--cxcept Paloma, and she used tC
sleep with a shotgun at her bedside
4"You sure have been q responsible
ity to her."
"But I'm as safe now as II I vas ii
church."
Law ventured to remark th.t none
Of Blnzes enemies had grown fat IL
Prosecuting their feuLs, but this wa'
subject which the elder man inya
riably found embarrassing, and nov
he said:
"PShaw! ever was the blood
lettttlnepbta iAtnh. En- as gentle al
q sheen Then to cscnpc further ca