The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-24

"What then?"
Jose significantly patted the gift re-
volver at his hip. "This little fellow
will have something to say"
Dave looked him over idly, from
head to heel, then murmu~ed: "You
would do we'll to go slow, compadre.
Pantlo made his W %quarrels."
"We were like brothers, and I do
not know of any quarrels. But I shall
find out. I am got given to Boosting,
senior, but I am a devilish bad man in
my way"
Nothing more was said during the
luncheon, but when Alaire had finished
eating and her two employees had be-
gun their meal, she climbed the bank
Of the arroyo ostensibly to find a cool
spot. Having succeeded, she called to
Dave:
"There is a nice breeze up here"
The Rangers face set; rising slow
ly, he climbed the bank after her.
When they stood face to face in the
shade Of a gnarly oak tree, Alaire
asked him point-blank:
"Where is Panfilo Sanchez?"
Dave met her eyes squarely; his
own were cold and hard. "He's where
he dropped at my second shot," said
he.
He could hear his companions sharp
inhalation. He did not finch at the
look she turned upOn him.
"He was practically unarmed! What
do YOU call-such an act?"
Dawes lips slowly whitened, his face
became stony. He felt himself pitt
lessly condemned.
"Why didn't you tell me at the
timer" she asked. "IVhy didn't you
report it?"
"Ill report it when you give me per-
mission"
"I-? WHAT? She wheeled to
face him.
"Think a moment. I can't tell half
the truth. And if I tell everything,
it will lead to-gossip."
"Ah! 1 think 1 understand. Mr..
Law, you can be insulting"
For the first time the man lost MES
cular control Of his features; they
twitched, and under their tan his
cheeks became sickly yellow.
"You've no right to say that" he told
her harshly. you've plumb over
stepped yourself, ma'am, and-I reck-
on you've formed quite a wrong optn-
ion. Panf1lo had his six-shooter and
he used it; he intended to ambush me
and release his companion, but I
forced his hand; so it amt what I'd
call murder; I haven't lost any sleep
over 1t. +"
"You are utterly ruthless"
"Yes'm! I'm not what you would
consider a nice person; the death of
Panfilo Sanchez means nothing whit
ever to me. If you can grasp that fast,
you'll see that your own reputation
weighed heavier in my mind that the
lives Of a dozen Mexicans-or whites,
for that matter"
Il go anywhere, everywhere. No one
has ever had the %effrontery to ques-
ton my actions" Alaire told him,
stifay.
"And I don't aim to give 'em a
chance" Dave was stubborn.
There was another interval of 81
lence.
"You heard what Jose said. What
are you going to dol"
Dave made a gesture Of indiffsr-
ence. 1T doesn't greatly matter. I'll
tell him the truth, perhaps. You might
warn him against any f%oolishness.
Jose has some sense"
The woman looked up c%uriously.
Don't you know how to be afraid?
Haven't you any fear?" she asked.
Dawes gray eyes were steady as he
answered: "Yes'm! I'm afraid this
thing is going to spoil our friendship.
I've been desperately afraid, all along,
that I might have hurt your repu,a-
ton. Even now I'm afraid, on your
account, to make public Panflo San
chefs death. Yes'm, I know what it
is to be afraid"
1t became evident to lave, as the
afternoon progressed, that they would
be very late in arriving at Las Palmas,
and he began to fear that his hostess
would feel in duty bound to insist upon
his spending the night at her home.