Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-08-18

"That is what | 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 a nose
for it, that man, and he strikes like the
lightning - here, there, anywhere"
Jose, it seemed, was rabid Potosista.
"When the train arrives" she told
her horse-breaker. II want you to find
General Longorio and ask him to come
here"
"But, senora" Jose was dunn
founded, shocked. 'TIe Is a 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 crucifix.'
"Tve heard that" Alaire said grayely.
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. 1t 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 thickly upon the car
roofs. Far down at the rear of the
train was rickety passenger coach,
and toward this Jose Sanchez made his
way.
There began 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 Alaires coach.
A group of officers climbed aboard,
and among them was one who could
be none other than Luis Longori6. 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; a
young man; his cheeks were girlishly
smooth and Of a clear, pale, olive tint;
his eyes were large, bold, brilliant; his
nostrils thin and sensitive, like those
of bloOded horse. Disdain, hauteur
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 a start of
startled amazement.
Alaire felt herself color family, for
the man seemed to be scanning her
from head to foot, taking in every de-
tail of her face and form, and as he
did so his expression remained unal-
tered. For what seemed full minute
Longorio stood rooted; then the stiff
viZored cap was. swept from his head
he bowed with the grace of a courtler
until Alaire saw the part in his oily
black hair.
"Senora! A thousand apologies for
my delay" he said. "Caramba I did
not dream-I did not understand your
He continued to regard her
with that same queer intensity.
"You are General Longorio?" Alaire
was surprised to note that her voice
luavered 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
md the men who had accompanied
lim withdrew up the aisle. There was
40 mistaking his admiration. He
seemed enchanted by her pale beauty,
Ter rich, red hair held him fascinated,
md with Latin boldness he made his
ceilings crassly manifest.
"You probably know why I wished
% see you," Alaire began.
Longorio shook his head in vague
lenial.
st is regarding my ranch, La Feria."
Seeing that the name conveyed moth |
ng, she explained, Il am told that
your army confiscated my cattle"
"Ah, yes! Now l understand" The
Mexican nodded mechanically, but 1t |
vas plain that he was not needing her
words in the least. As if to shut out a |
'ision or to escape some dazzling sight, |
lie closed his eyes. Alaire wondered |
f the fellow had been drinking. She
urned to Dolores to find that good |
woman wearing an expression of stu
,efaction. 1t was very queer; 1t made
laire extremely Ill at ease