The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-08-10


Ounce had told her In the softening
urge Of love he furiously suspected.
EVIL himself, lost to all standards Of
loyalty, a double-crosser of double
crossers, he trusted no one, believed in
no one
And now he had the whole thing In
his hands, thanks to Quatro: the man
who knew his ways and works as none
other living knew them; the woman
of another world who might wreak his
ruin If she chose.
That great structure of blood and
raid and contraband which he had
built for himself from Mazatlan to
New York city stood topping in the
hands of these two-and Ell Diablo
would not have it.
He looked at the slim girl before
him, his thick nostrils dilating.
So he said, 1--WE meet again,
senorita"
$50 it would SEEM" said Sonya
Savarin.
"A great concourse Of people was
gathering swiftly in the grove, all
standing back at respectful distance.
It was Ell Diablo's habit to have his
judgments witnessed-for. their moral
effect.
But nowhere was there tall man
with bronze hair and wild blue eyes
that shone. The girl looked earnestly
around, and Ell Diablo smiled.
mot just yet, .senorita," he said,
presently. In all good time"
Manuel rose and coming around the
table, brought a chair and placed it
for her. Sonya nodded but did not
sit down. 1t seemed to her that she
was on trial here, as indeed she was,
though with the issue foregone con-
clusion, and she must take it standing.
The injustice, the insult Of it all was
making fire In her soul, and she was
not afraid.
Il think, SIR she said sharply, sud-
denly, shat you will answer to my
people and my country for this abduc-
ton Of myself. You cannot hide it
long"
$50? You think not? Well, well,
has Ell Diablo lost his cunningY
He had changed his speech to Span
ish, and for moment Sonya hest
tated as to whether or not she should
show she understood. Then she de-
cided that he probably knew she did
and accepted the issue.
"There comes an end to all things,
senor,' she said.
Eyes, to life even," the bandit said
smoothly, looking at her.
'To life, even," said Sonya calmly.
A little whisper of admiration MUIR
INJURED through the silent crowd. She
had courage, the young white woman
from beyond the Border. No one had
ever met the master so, word for word
and eye for eye. The grim shadow Of
his judgments had always broken
down his victims early. This girl
stood tall and straight, her hands on
the chair back.
"You remember, senorita," Ell Diablo
said, that once took my lieutenant
from your arms on a dance floor. That
should have been warning. A suf-
ficiente warning. Yet you did not
heed H."
"Why should have needed it?" said
Sonya steadily. "Who were you that
should fear you to such an extent?
In my country men are free-to dance
with whom they choose"
"You saw that Ounce feared me-"
eyes. And knew there must be a
reason. He is no mans coward"
"Then you should have known the
reason to be good"
II did"
sand tried to find that reason out,
l have no doubt"
"Assuredly"
"And did,"
"No, senior, though l tried hard"
"You shield the man."
"No."
"YOu lie to me, senorita !"
The man Strengthened in his chair,
banged the heavy table with an iron
fist.
"And so do you'll" flashed Sonya.
"Carramba!" swore Diablo. "You
tell me that?"
"You told me that. In my country
a man does not speak so to women"
The man who ruled his little world
with blood and steel half rose, his
dark face purple with mounting
rage. In that wavering second Sonya
Savarin was nearer death than she
had even been.
Then he sat down again and smiled.
That smile was deadly as an adder's
grin.
49," he said, 1--WE shall proceed.
And Ounce did not tell you that I
meet the ships from China at Mazat-
lanY
mo, senor."
,"Nor that bring into Mexico and
along the Border merchandise of great
valuer
"No, senor."
"Nor that that merchandise crosses
r.