Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-21

Sanchez has been 10 see you ana you
want TO warn me- Is that IT,
Il don't know any such party"
Strange protested He eyed his caller
for tt moment; then with an abrupt
change Of manner he complained
"Say, Bo. WHAT'S the matter with
you? Eva got II reputation To protect
and | do things my own way. I'm get
ting set to slip yod something. and you
try to make me look like Il sucker
Is that any way to act?"
Il prefer 20 talk to YOU when your
eyes are open. know all about"
You don't know nothing about any
thing" snapped the other. "Jose's got
1t in for Mrs. Austin
"l0u said you didn't know him."
'Wel, don't. He's never been 10
see me in his life, but--hs sweetheart
has. Rosa Morales comes regular
Rosa. .JoSe'S sweetheart, ~
Eyes. Her and JOSE have joined out
together. since YOU shot PaniIo, and
they're aiming something.
'What, for instaneeY
The fortunc-tellor hcsitatcd. Il only
wish | knew" he said slowly. 1T
looks to be like Il killing"
Dave nodded. Probably is, Jose
would like to get me, and OF course the
girl
"Oh. they cont aim to get you. You
amt the on" they're after"
NO. Who, them
Il don't know nothing definite. In
this business, you understand, {, fell
low has to put two and two together.
All the same I'm sure lose amt cary
ing no epitaph for you. From What
I've dug out of Rosa he's acting for II
third party--somebody with pull and II
lot of coin---but who it is ! don't know
Anyhow, he's cooking trouble for the
AuStns. and | want to stand from
under
/ Now that the speaker had dropped
all prctenSe he answered Dawes ques-
lions without evasion and told what
he knew. 1t was not much, to Dawes
way of thinking but IT was enough to
give cause for thought and when the
men finally parted it was with the UNI
Outstanding that Strange would
promptly communicate amy further in
telliuence on this subject that cnme
his way.
On the following day Dawes duties
called him to Brownsville. where court
was in session. He had planned to
leave by the morning train; but as he
continued 10 mediate over Strange
words, he decided that, before going
ne ought to advise Alaire of the fel-
lows suspicious in order that she
might discharge Jose SANCHEZ and in
other WAYS protect herself against his
possible spite. Since the matter was
one that could not well be talked over
4 by telephone, Dave determined TO z,
in person to Las palmuS t|lat evening
Truth to say, he was hungry to see
Alare. BY this time he had almost
} ceased to combat the feeling she
aroused in him, and ii was in obedience
to an impulse far stronger than friend
: ly anxiety that he hired "A machine and
shortly after dark, took the river road
The Fates are malicious jades. They
delight in playing ill-uaiurel prahk'
upon us. Not content with spinnin!
and measuring and cutting the threads
Of our lives TO suit themselves, the,
must also tangle the slcin, causing II
to cut capers to satisfy their whims
At no time since meeting Alaire ha,
Dave Law been more certain Of hi
moral strength than on this evening
ut no time had his grip upon himsel
seemed firmer. Nor had Alalre tn
least reason to doubt her self-c0ntrO
Dave, tn be sure, had appealed to La
E fancy and her interest; In fact, he =
!. dominated her thoughts that the In
aglnary creature whom she called he
dreum-husband had gradually taken %
I" his physical likeness. But the ide
that she was In any way enalnore
i, of him had never entered his mind. |
. such wise do the Futes amuse then
+ selves.
Alnirc had gone to her fayolite nftc
, dinner refuge, II nook on one Of I'll
, side galleries, where there was Il wild
. swinging wlcker couch and there.