The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-07

OdQ! On. dad - PalOma ScurrleQ
to him and flung herself into his arms.
What you dom here, kid?' the father
exclaimed. 'EWhy, you'd ought 10 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 d 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 quelI Texan disturbance;
now that there were three of them,
he felt equal to an invasion of Mexi-
can soil, if necessary. In consequence,
he relaxed his watchfuI vigilance, and
to Dave he drawled:
We've got most of the leading citi-
zens of the county, and reckon some
body in the outfit Will be able TO iden-
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 were wait
ing with Ricardo's remains.
Despite the Ranger captains easy
assumption of command, the strain
of the situation had not subsidized. and
LOhgoriO drew swift attention to him
self when he said:
ct is fortunate that l CHANGED to
learn of this matter. You have done
me a great service, Senior Law, for 1
came to Romero purposely TO examine
into the death of this unfortunate man.
Buta could learn nothing; nobody
knew anything whatever about the
matter, and so became convinced that
it amounted to little Now-behold
1 discover that was deceived. Or
perhaps there still may be a mistake"
Blaze Jones thrust his daughter
aside and advanced toward the speak
er. There's no mistake" he declared
belligerently. Il don't make mistakes
when 1 go grave-robbin' 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 BIanco covered the
body, but he'll have a HI of q job
cOverin' the facts It's time we came
to a showdown with your murderin
outfit, and aim to see if you've got a
government in your country"
Heaven guided my hand,'' devoutIy
| breathed the general. 1T is regret
table that you used this means when
word to me would have served the
purpose, fort is no trivial matter to
desecrate a Mexican graveyard My
country, it has q government An
| officer of the state of Texas, under
arms, has crossed the Rio Grande.
What does that mean?'
Captain Evans had q sense of hu-
NOR; LOngorio's ominOus words amused
him. Say, general, it amt the first
time" he chOrtled. 'And you're an off
Ger, too, amt you? You're in Texas
at this minute, and I'll bet if 1 frisked
you I'd find that you was under arms"
The Mexican understood English suffi-
GENTLY well TO grasp the significance
of these words. After a moments con-
sideratiOn, therefore, he modified his
threatening tone.
But my mission was friendly. I had
no criminal purpose" he said mildly.
"However-perhapS one offense con-
dones the other. At any rate, we must
have no international complications.
There is a more practical side to the
matter: If Don Ricardo Guzman met
his death in Mexico, there will be
rigid investigation, I assure you
Evans agreed. That's fairi And
I'll make a bargain with you: you
keep still and SOIL we. We never
aimed for this affair to get out, any
how. I reckon these men'-he indi-
Gated Lewis and his followers "ain't
liable to talk much.'
The two Guzman boys, greatly
moved, returned to announce that
they had identified their fathers body.
and LOngOrfo could not well refuse to
accept their evidence.
every well,'' said he. 81 am indebted
to you. Since there is nothing more
to be said, apparently, I will return
to Romero With a bow to Mrs. Aus
tin, who had silently watched the play
of these opposing motives, he turned
away, and Tad Lewis followed him.
But Dave Law had recognized AdoIfo
Urbina in the crowd, and, stepping for
ward, disarmed him, saying:
"AdOlfO, there's warrant for you.
so I'll just take you in
For a moment Adolfo was inclined
to resist, but, thinking better of it, he
yielded with bad grace, bitterly re-
GREETING the curiosity which had
prompted him to remain to the end of
this interesting affair
Tad Lewis gave him some comfort.
''Never mind, AdoIfo,' he said. ''They
can't prove anything on you, and I'll
go your bail. Ed Austin knows where
you was the day that stock was stole"
He and his two remaining men moved
toward their automobile, and a moment
later the vehicle went Gathering away
up the thicket road.
So ended the attempt to foil the re-
turn of Ricardo Guzman's body to
Texas soil.
When Aiaire came to look for her
husband, he was gone
CHAPTER XIV.
Superstitions and Certainties-