The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-07-26

hang IL onto Tad; I'd sure clean house
down his way II I was positive"
81 sent a man over to Romero" Dave
explained further. "He tells me Ricar-
do is dead, all right. There's a new
grave In the little cemetery above the
town, but there hasn't been a death In
Romero lately" The speaker watched
his friend closely. "If we had Ricar-
dos body on this side 1t would put
an end to all the lies, and perhaps
force Colonel Blanco to make known
the real facts. 1t might even mean a
cas- against Tad Lewis"
what d'you say we 60 over there
and get RicardoT
Dave smiled. That's what I've been
leading up to. VIII you take a
chance7"
EYES,"
II knew you would. All we need Is
a pair Of Mexicans to-do the work.
1 liked Ricardo; I owe him something"
Suppose we're caught?"
"In that case Wen have to run for
1t, and-I presume I'll be discharged
from the Ranger service"
II amt very good at runnin'-not
from Mexicans." Blaze's eyes were
bright and hard at the thought. 'It's
more'n possible that, IL they discover
US, we can start q nice little war
Of Dur own"
That evening Dave managed to get
his Ranger captain by long-distance
telephone, and for some time the two
talked guardedly. When Dave rang
off they had come to a thorough un.
Outstanding.
.
It had been an easy matter for Jose
Sanchez to secure a leave Of absence
from Benito, but Alaire knew nothing
whatever about the matter until Jose
himself asked permission to see her
on a matter Of Importance.
The man had ridden hard most OF
the previous night. and his excitement
was patent. Even before he spoke
Alalre realized that Panflo's fate was
known to him, and she decided swiftly
that there must be no further conceal
ment.
"Senoral A terrible thingl" Jose
burst forth. "It Is strange, unbeliev'
ablel My head whirls-"
Alaire Quieted him. saying in Span
lsh, "Calm yourself, Jose, and tell me
everything from the beginning"
"But how al I be calm2 Panflc
Ia completely dead. But-you known
Alaire nodded. T-suspected."
Jose's dark eyes blazed he bent for
ward eagerly. "What did you suspect
and why? Tell me ALL"
1t was with a peculiar, apprehensivs
flutter In her breast that Alaire real
lied the crisis had come. Heretofore
she had blamed Law, but now, oddly
enough, she found herself interested IL
defending him. As calmly as she
could, she related all that had lee
up to the tragedy. while Jose listened
with eyes wide and mouth open.
"You see, / had no suspicion of the
truth" she concluded. "It was q ter
rible thing. and Ar. Law regrets II
deeply. He would have made a report
to the authorities, only--he feared II
might embarrass me-"
Jose was torn with rage, yet plainly
a prey to indecision; he rolled his eyes
and cursed under his breath. "These
Rangersf" he muttered. '.That Is the
kind Of men they are. They murder
honest people,"
'This was not a murder" Alairs
cried sharply "Panflo was aiding q
felon, to escape. The courts win no,
punish Mr.. Law"
"Bahi Who ares for the courts
This man Is a. gringo, and these are
gringo laws. But / am a Mexican,
and Panflo was my cousin. We shall
see"
"Don't be rash, Jcse," she exclaimed,
warningiy.
Jose continued to glover. Then,
turning away. he said, without meet
ing his employers eyes, II would like
to draw my money!
VERY well. / am sorry to have you
leave Las Palmas. for 1 have regarded
you as one of my gente.n Jose's face
remained stony. 'What do yoa intend
to dol Where are you going?"
The fellow shrugged "Quien sabel
Perhaps ] shall go to my General Lon
gor;o."
Alaire smiled family. sYou win be
shot," she told him. .aThose soldiers
have little to eat and no money at
ALL"
But Jcse'A bright eyes remained hos
tile and his expression banning. II
was plain to Alaire that her explana-
tion OF his cousins death had carried
not the slightest conviction. and she
even began Il fear that her part in