Evening star., 1935-02-24
/ Riasa M
RAPID.FIRE ROMANCE az EVAN EVANS s~'~""

flattened out to a shallow width that
a rider could ford easily. There they
dismounted as Montana said: IT turn
north here, Mateo. 1 can travel in
peace, now, thanks to Brother Pas
cual."
"Adios, amigo" answered Rubriz.
Now look on you for the last time;
and while I live I shall remember
you"
THE last time?" asked Montana.
Il go now on trail from which
can never return" said Rubriz, cheer
fully.
What trail is that?" asked Nom
tana.
He noted that Brother Pascual, with
troubled face, was retreating from
them.
Our Lady calls to me" said Rubriz,
waving toward the horizon. THE task
she asks is more than one man can
do; but must 60"
Montana sat down on a rock and
lighted cigarette.
I'm ready to listen. There's no
hurry" he said, looking around him
at the broken steps of the canyon, at
the yellow workings Of the current.
Rubriz made great sound, clear
| ing his throat and scowling, to cover
his satisfaction. And he told, strid-
ing up and down, how in the town Of
Duraya the governors fort on the hill
stares across at the big church of Our
Lady of Guadalupe.
He told OF the little Bishop Emiliano,
i l.. II
stone, fringed around with silver.
He told Of Gen. Estrada, the gov
ernor-of his huge brush of a mus
tache and his rapacious eyes. which
could only find devastation and pov-
erty in his new province until he
heard OF the restoration of the en-
erald crown Of Our Lady to the church
from which it had been stolen
He told of the fight in the church,
the telling of the bishop, the savage
stand of the great friar. and that
despairing call for help which Brother
/ Pascual had brought into the noun
tains.
so knew that I must make the
try" he finished. "One man to enter
the fort? l could never come back.
Before I died. I wanted to see you
once more. friend. I could not tell
what would do when l saw YOU.
might want to draw knife and try
Tor your throat. or I might see a
brother in you. Well. saw you-and
did not want TO draw knife"
He stood over the Montana Kid
and smiled down at him with an un-
affected admiration and fondness.
He held out his hand, saying: Then,
goodby, Montana"
The kid failed to see the hand. He
made a gesture with his cigarette.
Wait a minute" he said. II get
things mixed up. down there in Mex
leo. Duraya-lets see-it's in the
loop of river, eh?"
The river runs almost all the way
around it," agreed Rubriz
The tort has big stone walls, like
those of castle in the old days?"
Just SOL"
And down the hill from the fort
there's cafe run by Miguel Santos
a man who looks like caballero. But
he has a wooden leg that's pulled him
/ down in the world"
| AAAON I-4C IlIdIIb dSI6tQ 31uDrlZ,
What about him?"
Nothing about him. But there's a
flash OF girl in that cafe. She keeps
a red rose in the black of her hair.
The men look at her and forget how
their tequila tastes. They drink Il
like water while she's around. Her
name-her name is Rosita."
There is such a girl" agreed Ru-
briz.
Montana stood up, threw away his
cigarette. THANK God for an eve
which can remember! Mateo, I am
riding to Duraya with you"
NO, my friend!" protested the
Mexican. There is danger for you,
south of the river. The Rurales re.
member you. They would smell out
your trail as if they were bloodhounds.
They would be at your throat in
day"
"Mateo, I must go to Duraya. ]
must see that girl Rosita again. There
was something about her that seemed
TO say, Come once more. shall re.
member Besides. want to see the
mEstache of Gen. Estrada"
The trio, tomorrow, rides south into
danger.