The Raymer enterprise., 1917-08-30

have been across the Rio Grande-
with Rosa and all her fine clJthes, eli? i?
Now you will be hanged Well, that Is
how fortune goes"
The horse-breaker tossed his head
and shrugged with a brave assumption
Of indifference; he laughed shortly.
You can prove nothing"
"Yes." continued Dave, "and Rosa
will 60 to prison, too. Now-suppose
l should let you go? Would you help
met In ten minutes you could be safe"
He inclined his head toward the
muddy, silent river outside. "Would
you be willing to help meT
Jose's brows lifted. "What's this
you are saying?" he inquired. eagerly.
II would only ask you few ques-
tions."
"What questionsT
"Where Is Sonora Austin?"
Jose's face became blank. " don't
know"
"0h yes, you do. She started for La
Feria. But-did she get there7 Or did
Longorio have other plans for her ?
You'd better tell me the truth, for
your general can't help you now" Dave
did his best to read the Mexlcan's ex-
preston, but failed. "Senor EDS death
means nothing TO me-" he went on.
but must know where his wife il.
and I'm willing to pay, with your lib
erty." In spite OF himself his anxiety
was plain.
Jose exclaimed: "Ho! under
stand. He was In your way and you're
glad to be rid of him. Well. we have
no business fighting with eash other"
"Will you tell me-"
T'll tell you nothing. for l know
nothing"
"Come! I must know"
Jose laughed insolently.
Laws face became black with sud-
den fury. His teeth barred themselves.
He took step forward. crying:
"By heaven You win tell mel ~
Selling his prisoner by the throat, be
pinned him to the wall, then with his
free hand he cooked Longorio's re-
yolger and thrust Its muzzle against
Joce's body. 'Tell mel" he repeated.
HIS countenance was so distorted, his
expression so maniacal. that Jose felt
his hour had come. The latter, being
In all ways Mexican, did not struggle !;
instead. he squared his shoulders and
staring fearlessly into the face above
him, cried:
| shoot"
For moment the two men remained
so; then Dave seemed to regain control
OF himself and the murder light flick
cred out OF his eyes. He flung his pris-
oner aside and east the revolver into
a corner of the room.
Jose picked himself up, cursing his
captor eloquently. "You gringos don't
know how to die" he said. Death?
Pah! We must die some time. And
supposing do know something about
the sonora, do you think you can force
me to speak? Torture wouldn't open
my lips"
Law did not trust himself to reply !;
and the horse-breaker went on with
| growing defiance.
II am innocent Of any crime; there
fore am brave. But you-the blood
OF Innocent men means nothing to you
-Panfilo's murder proves that-sc
complete your work. Make an end OF
me-"
"Be still" Dave commanded, thickly.
But the fellows hatred was out OF
bounds now. and by the bitterness Of
his yituperation he seemed to invite
death. Dave interrupted his vitriollc
curses to ask harshly:
"Will you tell me, or will you force
me to wiring the truth out of you?"
Jose answered by splitting ut his cap
tor; then he gritted an unspeakable
epithet from between his teeth.
Dave addressed him with an air OF
tinallty. "You killed that man and
your life Is forfeit. so It doesn't make
much difference whether | take It or
whether the state takes IL. You are
brave enough to die-most of you Mexi-
cans are-but the state can't force you