The Raymer enterprise., 1923-09-20

gueerillas feared 10 execute him here,
and believed hs might b. aided to e.
cape 30 q 6stachmsnt departed with
him for Mezquital."
He WAS sentenced to be shot Thurs-
day at sunset-tonightT
Yea. ! regret that ! can't give you
definite Information. II you are friends
Of Stewards = relatives might
find"
II am his wife," interrupted Made
line. "Will you please read these"
She handed him the kilograms. "Ad-
wise me-help me, II you cant"
With q wondering glance at her the
officer received the kilograms. He
read several. and whistled low In
amaze. His manner became quick,
alert. serious.
II can't read these written In Span.
ish. but ! know the names signed"
Swiftly he ran through the others.
"Why. these mean Stewards release
has been authorized. They explain
mysterious rum0rs we have heard
here. Greaser treachery! For some
strange reason messages from the
rebel jnnta have failed to reach their
destination. I'll go with You to Cen
eral Salazar. the rebel chief In com.
mand. I know him. Perhaps we can
find out something"
Nels made room for the officer. Link
sent the car whirring across the line
into Mexican territory. The road
ended In an immense plaza. in the cen.
ter Of which was circular structure
that 10 some measure resembled q
corral. II was a bull-rIng, where the
national sport Of bull-nghting was car.
ried on.
Madeline caught 4 glimpse of tents
inside. then her view was obstructed
by curious pressing throng. The
cavalry officer leaped from the car
and pushed his way into the entrance.
How sitting was this crowded, III.
smelling plaza! The sun. red and low.
ering, had sloped far down In the west,
but still burned with furnace heat. A
swarm Of flies whirled over the car.
The shadows Of lov-saillng buzxards
crossed Madellne's sight. Then she
saw a row Of the huge, uncanny black
birds sitting upon the tiled roof Of a
house. They had neither an air Of
sleeping nor resting. They were walt.
ing. She fought of horrible CHASTITY
Idea before Its full realization.
Suddenly the crowd parted to let the
cavalry officer and a rebel Of striking
presence get to the car.
MADAM. II Is as I suspected" said
the officer. quickly. "The messages
directing Stewards release never
reached Salazar. They were inter
cepted. But even without them we
might have secured Stewards ex.
change II 1t had not been for the fact
that one Of his captors wanted him
shot. This guerrilla intercepted the
orders, and then was instrumental In
taking Stewart to Mezquital. II Is ex-
ceedlngly sad. Why. he should bs q
free man this instant. regret"
"Who did this-this thingy cried
Madeline, cold and sick. "Who II the
guerrilla"
"Senor Don Carlos Martinez. He has
been a bandit, a man of influence In
Sonora. He Is more Of a secret agent
In the affairs Of the revolution than an
active particlpator. But he has seen
guerrilla service"
Don Carlos! Stewart In his power
oh, God" Madeline sank down al.
most overcome. Then two great hands,
powerful, thrilling. clasped her Shout
deSs. and Nels bent over her.
Miss Majesty. shore we're wastln'
time here" he said His voice, like his
hands, was uplifting. She wheeled to
him In trembling importantly. How
cold, bright. blue the fash Of his eyes !!
They told Madeline she must not
weaken. BIT she could not speak her
thought to Nels-could only look at
Link.
1T fggers impossible, but I'll do II 7"
said Link Stevens, In answer to her
volceless query.
Can I get permit to 20 Into the In
terior-to Mezquital?" asked Madeline
Of the officer.
"fou are going on? Madam. It's a
forlorn hope. MezQuital Is a hundred
miles away. But there's a chance
the harest chance II your man can
drive this car. The Mexlcans are
either murderous or ceremonlous In
their executions. The arrangements
for Stewards will be elaborate. But
barring unusual circumstances, II will
take place precisely at the hour desig-
mated. You need no permit. Your mes.
sages are official papers. But to save
time. perhaps delay, suggest you take
this Mexican, Senor Monies, with you.
He outranks Don Carlos and knows
the captain Of the Mezqultal detach.
ment."
81 thank you, sir. I shall not forget
your kindness" concluded Madeline.
The white. narrow road flashed out
Of the foreground. slipped with lncon.
celvable rapidity under the car. When
she marked clump Of cactus far
ahead It seemed to shoot at her, to
speed behind her even the instant she
noticed It. Nevertheless, Madeline
knew Link was not putting the car to