Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-19

Tie rebel cause us to Warrant punish
mcnt by the federal government, More
over. Il legal question rs to his Ameri~
can citizenship was raisCd-a question
which seemed TO have important bear
Ing upon the case.
Public interest is short-lived; few
living men can hold II more than Il day
or two, and it reckols no dead man
worthy OF more than IN obituary no
tee. Thus in the course of time the
Guzman incident was in Il far way
Of being officially forgotten and for
given.
But there were several persons who
felt intense relief at the course events
had taken, and among these was Aiaire
Austin. In the days following that
midnight expedition she had had ample
time in which to mediate upon her
husbands actions. 1t seemed probable
that he had fled to San Antonio, there
to remain until interest in the Guzman
matter had abated.
Alaire tclephoned Dave Law, argu-
! ing to herself that she must learn
more about her husbands connection
with the Lewis gang. Dave arrived
even sooner than she had expected.
She made him dine with her. and they
I spent the evening on the dm-it gall
lery. In the course of their CONVEX
saton Alaire discovered that Dave, too,
| had hidden side of his nature: that
| he possessed an imagination, and with
it quaint, whimsical. exploratory turn
of mind which enabled him to talk
interestedly of many things and many
/ places. On this particular evening he
was anything but the man of iron she
had known-untl she ventured to
speak of Ed Then he closed up like
trap. He was almost gruff in his
refusal to say a word about her hus-
] band.
Because Of Eds appropriation Of the
ranch cash, Alaire found it necessary
/ few DAYS later to 20 to the bank
/ and, feeling the need of exercise, she
rode her horse Montrose. When her
errands had been attended to, she sud
denly decided to call on Paloma Jones.
1t was years since size had voluntarily
done such n thing; the very impulse
surprised her
Paloma. it happened, was undergoing
Int
4 known as "iitting::" but insecurity
basted pinned and tucked as she was.
she came flying down to the gate to
meet her visitor.
Alaire was introduced to Mrs.
Strange, the dressnnkcr Il large, acid
ulous brunette, with mouthful of
pins and then, when Pnloma had Civ
en- herself once mere into the seam
stress hands, the two friends goSsiped.
IT don't know what dad will say
when he gets the bill for these
dresses Paloma confessed.
"Your father is mighty queer
man." Mrs. Strange observed. 81
haven't so much as laid eyes on him"
Paloma nodded. Eyes. And he's get
ting more peculiar all the time; can't
make out what ais him."
"Where is he now?" asked Alaire.
"Heavcn knows! Out in the barn
or under the house." Taking advan-
tage of the dressmaker's momentary
absence from the room, Ialoma con
tinued in whisper: 81 wish you'd tall;
to dad and see what you make of him.
He's Acknowledgements. Mrs. Strange
seems to have peculiar effect on him.
Why, it's almost as if"
"What?"
swell, | suppose Tn foolish, but
I'm beginning to believe in spells. You
know, Mrs. Stranges husband is sort
of--necromancer."
"IIow silly"'
There was no further Opportunity
for words, as the woman reappeared at
that instant; but little later Alaire
went In search Of Blaze still consid-
erably mystlfled. As she neared the
farm buildings, she gimpsed mans
figure hastily disappearing into the
barn. The figure bore suspicious re-
semblance to Blaze Jones, yet when
! she followed, he was nowhere to be
seen.
"Mr. Jones !" Alare called. She re-
, pentcd Dlazc's name several times
| then something stirred. The door Of 4