DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD; DAKOTA CITY, NEBRASKA. fMantwptifmM JHPTTW" if- -Jigmi '.mm jt- j bi ii u j im ju tjfw; '- " ujpjrat.t iff jmwraaLPnMBUKi t.wt fXTiCTTZTMcyriTAjJUJUJixraf rrtf , HEART OF THE By Rex Beach Copyright by Harper O Brothers IMIMIIMIII II.II.HIIIIIIHI M.i.iiTn.iTL-irMil,ttMiaMCTJMaaaalll I , . V-aWi' HlsStory' SUNSET In this serial wo are given an Intimate view of conditions that have prevailed on the border for a long time. Newspaper reports apparently have not gone to tho bottom of the situation. Trouble-making circumstances be tween the Mexican and Ameri can peoples are deeper than one or two or half a dozen raids on border towns by outlaw gangs, and these circumstances won't work themselves out satisfactor ily In n week or a month or a year. Yes, Mr. Beach has given us a picture of conditions. But In "Heart of the Sunset" he has giv en us also a charming love story, ono of the best this paper has printed; and wo feel confident that all of you will enjoy it thor oughly. THE EDITOR. CHAPTER I. Tho Water-Hole. A fltfol breczo .played among tho nesqulto bushes. Tho naked earth, fwhero It showed between tho clumps M grnss, was buked plnstcr hard. Al though the sun was half-way down tho .west, its glnro remained untempcred, Had tho tantalizing ahado of tho sparse mesqulto was mora of a trial than a comfort to tho lono woman who, refus ing Its deceitful invitation, plodded steadily over tho waste. Stop, Indeed, she dared not. In splto of her fatigue, lregardlcss of tho torturo from feet nnd ilmbs unused to walking, sho must, os she constantly assured herself, keep going until strength failed. Somewhere to tho northward, perhaps a mile, per haps n league distant, lay tho water hole. Desert travel was nothing new to jhor; thirst and fatigue wero old ac quaintances. Sho readjusted tho strap of tho empty wntcr hag over her shout dor and tho looso cartrldgo belt nt her hip, then set her dusty feet down- tho slope Tho sun had grown red and huge when nt last In tho hard-linked earth bIio discovered fresh hoofprlnts. Sho followed them glndly, encour aged when they wore Joined by Olhcrs. A low bluff rose on her left, pnd nlong Its crest scattered Spanish Inggcrs wero raggedly silhouetted against the Bky. 8ho tried to run, but her legs wero heavy; she stumbled n groat deal, and her brcuth made strange, distressing sounds as it Issued from her open lips. Hounding tho Bteop shoulder of tho ridge, sho has tended down n declivity Into it knot of scrub oaks and ebony trees, then link ed, stnrlng nhend of her. Nestling In a shnllow, flinty bowl was n pool of wnter, nnd on Its brink a llttlo flro was burning. ' It was a tiny fire, overhung with n blackened pot; tho odor of greasowood nnd mesqulto smoko was sharp. A man, rising swiftly to his feet nt the first sound, was staring nt tho now icomor; ho wns as alert as any wild tiling. But tho woman staggered di rectly toward the pond, seeing nothing jnftcr tho first glnnco except tho water. (Bho would hnvo Hung herself full cugui upon mo cage, uut mo man tepped forward and stayed her, then laced a tin cup In her hnnd. Sho umblcd souietiiljc in answer to his Igreotlng nnd tho hoarse, ravenllko croak In her voice startled her; then 'eho drank, with trembling eagerness, 'drenching the front of her dress. Tho water wus warm, but It was clean and 'delicious. "Easy now. Take your time," said tho innn, ns ho refilled tho cup. "It 'won't give out." Sho Knelt and wet her fuco nnd neck. (Felt tho stranger's lmnds beneath her 'arms, felt herself lifted to n moro com jfortable position. Without nsking pcr (mlsslon, the stranger unlaced first one, then the other of her dusty boots, 'seeming not to notice her weak nt 'tempt nt resistance. Onco he had ipluced her bare feet In tho water, sho (forgot her resentment In the Intense Tullcf. Tho mnu left her seated In n col lapsed, somlcousclous Btnte, and went tmck to his fire. It was dark when for 'tho first tlmo sho turned her head to 'ward tho camp flro and stared curlotis ly at the flguro there. Tho appetizing odor of broiling bacon had drawn her (attention, nnd ns tf no move went un noticed the niau said, without lifting his eyes : "Supper wilt bo ready directly. Uow'd you llko four eggs If wo hud any 7" ' lie spoko with an unmlstnknblo Tex as drnwl; tho woman put htm down ut toace for u cowboy. Well buck from lb flro ho had rrnngcd a seat for her, iiblug a saddle blanket for n cover ing, and upor this sh lowered icrsclf wtlffly. "I suppose you wonder how I hap pen to bo here," sho said. "Now don't talk 'til you're rested, miss. Tills coffee Is strong enough to walk on Its bunds, and I reckon about two cups of It 'II rnstlo you Into shape" As sho ruined the tin mug to her lips Vtt waved a "laud nail smiled. "Drink hearty I" Tin set n plate of bread and bncon In her lap, then opened a glass Jur of Jam. Tho woman ntc and drauk slowly. Sho wns too tired to bo hungry, and mcnnwhllo tho young man squatted upon his heels and watched her through tho smoko from a husk ciga rette. "Ilnve you had your supper?" sho flnnlly Inquired. "Who, me? Oh, I'll eat with tho help." He smiled, nnd when his flash ing teeth showed white ngnlnst his leathery tan tho woman decided ho wns not nt all bad-looking. Ho was very tall and quite lean, with tho long legs of n horseman this latter feature accentuated by his high-heeled boots and by the short canvas cowboy coat that reached only to his cartridge belt. Ills features sho could not well make out, for tho flro was llttlo moro than a bed of coals, and he fed it, Indian- like, with a twig or two at n time. "I beg your pardon. I'm selfish." Sho extended her cup und pinto ns an invltntlon for him to share their con tents. "Please ont with me." But ho refused. "I ain't hungry," ho nfilnned. "Honest 1" Accustomed ns sho wns to tho dif fidence of ranch hands, sho refrained from urging him, nnd proceeded with her repast. When sho hnd finished sho lay buck nnd watched hlra as ho nto sparingly. "My horso fell crossing tho Arroyo Grande," she announced, nbruptly. "He broke n leg, nnd I hnd to shoot him." "Is there nny water In tho Grande?" nsked the mnn. "No. They told mo there vns plenty. I knew of this chnrco, so I niudo for It." "Who told you there wns water In tho nrroyo?" "Those Mexicans nt the little goat ranch." "Bnlll. So you walked In from Ar royo Grnnde. It's n good ten miles straightaway, and I reckon you camo crooked. Eh?" "Yes. And It wns very hot. I was never hero but once, and tho country looks different when you're nfoot." "It certnlnly docs," tho mnn nodded. Then ho continued, musingly: "No wa ter there, eh? I figured there might bo n little." Tho fact appeared to plcnso him, for ho nodded ngnln as ho went on with his meal. "Not much rain down here, I reckon." "Very little. Whcro nro you from?" "Me? Hebbronvllle. My nnmo Is Law." Evidently, thought tho woman, this fellow belonged to tho East outfit, or somo of tho other big cattlo ranches In tho nebbronvlllo district. Probably ho wns,n range boss or n foreman. After n tlmo bIio said, "I supposo tho nenrest ranch Is thnt Bnlll place?" "Yes'm." "I'd llko to borrow your horse." Mr. Law stnrcd Into his plnte'WeH, miss, I'm nfruld " Sho added, hastily, "I'll send you n fresh ono by BalU's boy In tho morn ing." Lnw shook his lirnd. "I can't loan D4i.T0rl VAVCKTmC "How'd You Like Your Eggs If We Had Any?" you my horse, miss. I got to meet n mnn here." "When will ho come?" "He'd ought to bo hero nt curly dnrk tomorrow evening." Heedless of her dismay, ho contluued, "Yes'm, about sundown." "But I enn't stny here. I'll rldo to BalU's nnd havo your horso back by afternoon." "My man might como earlier thun I expect," Mr. Lnw persisted. "Really, I enn't see what difference It would make. It wouldn't lnterfero with your appointment to let me " Lnw smiled slowly, and, setting his pinto aside, selected u fresh cigarette; then, as he reached for u conl, ho ex plained : "I haven't got what you'd cnll ex actly nn nppolnttncnt. This feller I'm '. Mhi .Mr expectin' is a Mexican, und day before yesterday ho killed n man over In Jim Wells county. They got me by 'phone at Hebbronvllle nnd told mo he'd left. He's hcudln' for tho border, nnd he's duo hero nbout sundown, now thnt Ar royo Grande's dry. I wns nlmln' to let you ride his horse." "Then you're nn ofllccr?" "Yes'm. Itnngcr. So you seo I can't help you to get homo till my man comes. Do you llvo around here?" The speaker looked up Inquiringly, nnd after un Instant's hesitation the wom an suld quietly: "I nin Mrs. Austin." Sho wns grate ful for tho gloom that hid her face. "I rode out this wuy to examine u tract of grazing Innd." It seemed fully n minute before tho Ranger answered; then he said, in n cnsuul tone, "I reckon Las Palmas Is quite a ranch, ma'am." "Yes. But wc need more pasture." "I know your La Fcrln ranch, too. I was with General Castro when wo hnd that fight near there." "You were a Mnderlstn?" "Yes'm. Machine-gun man. That's a fine country over there. Seems llko the Almighty got mixed and put the Mexicans on the wrong side of the Itlo Grande. But I reckon you haven't seen much of La Ferld slnco the Inst revolution broko out." "No. Wo have tried to remain neu tral, but" Again sho hcsltntcd. "Mr. Austin has enemies. Fortunately both sides havo spnred La Ferla." Law shrugged his broad shoulders. "Oh, well, the revolution Isn't over I A ranch In Mexico Is my Idea of a bnd Investment." Ho rose nnd, taking his blanket, sought n favorablo spot upon which to sprend It. Then ho helped Mrs. Austin to her feet her muscles had stiffened until sho could bnrcly stand nfter which ho fetched his snd dlo for n pillow. IIo mado no apolo gies for his meager hospitality, nor did his guest expect nny. When ho hnd stnked out his horso for tho night ho returned to find the woman rolled snugly In her covering, ns In n cocoon. The dying embers flick ered Into flame and lit her hair redly. She had laid off her felt hat, nnd one loosened braid lay over her hnrd pil low. Thinking her asleep, Law stood motionless, making no nttempt to hide his expression of wonderment until, unexpectedly, sho spoke. "What will you do with mo when your Mexican comes?" sho sold. "Well, inn'am, I reckon I'll hide you out In the brush till I tnmo him." "Thnnk you. I'm used to tho open." IIo nodded ns if ho well knew that sho was ; then, shaking out his slicker, turned away. As ho lay staring up through tho thorny mesqulto branches that roofed him Inadequately from tho dew, ho marveled mightily. A bright, steady burning stur peeped through the leaves ut him, and ns ho wntched It ho remem bered that this rcd-hulrcd woman with tho still, white faco wns known far und wldo through tho lower valley ns "Tho Lono Star." Well, ho mused, the name fitted her; sho was, If reports were true, quite as mysterious, quite as cold nnd fixed and unapproachable, ns the tltlo Implied. Knowledge of her Iden tity had como ns a shock, for Law knew something of her history, nnd to find her suing for his protection wns quite thrilling. Tnles of her pale beauty wero common and not tame, but she was nil nnd more than she had been described. She had not been too proud and cold to let him help her. In her fatigue sho hnd allowed him to lift her and to make her moro comfortable. Hot ngulnst his palms palms unuccus- 1 tomed to the touch of n woman's flesh ! ho felt the contact of her nuked feet. ns nt tho moment when ho hud placed them In tho cooling water. Her fecblo resistance hnd only called attention to her sex to tho slim whiteness of her 'ankles benenth her short riding skirt. Following his first nnmzcuicnt ut be holding her had como u fantastic ex- plnnntlon of her presence for n mo ment or two It had seemed ns If the fates had taken heed of his yeanlings nml hnd sent her to him out of the dusk wild fancies, llko these, bother men who uro much alone. CHAPTER II. The Ambush. Alnlre Austin, liko most normal women, had n surprising amount of endurance, both nervous nnd muscu lar, but, having drawu henvlly against her reserve force, she paid tho penalty. During tho enrly hours of tho night she slept hardly nt nil ; ns soon ns her bodily discomfort began to decrenso her mind became unruly, and It was not until nearly dawn thnt sho dropped off Into complete unconsciousness. Sho wns nwnkened by n sunbeam which pierced her leafy shelter. It wns still early; tho sun had Just cleared tho valley's rim nnd the ground was damp with dew. Somewhere neur by un unfumtlltir bird was sweetly trilling. Alalro listened dreamily un til tho bird-carol changed to tho ulr of a familiar cowboy song, then she sat I up, queerly startled. David Law was watering his horse, grooming the animal meanwhile with a burlap cloth. It was n beautiful blood-bay mare, nnd ns tho woman looked It lifted Its head, then with wet, trembling muzzle caressed its owner's cheek. Undoubtedly this at tention wns meant for a kiss, and was ns dulntlly conferred ns any woman's favor. It brought n reward In a lump of sugar. "Good morning," said Mrs. Austin. Law lifted his hat hi n graceful sa lute ns ho npproached around the edge of the pool, his spurs Jingling musical ly. The mnro followed. "You have n fine horso there." "Yes'm. Her nnd mo get nlong all right. I hope we didn't wake you, mn'um." "No. I was too tired to sleep well." "Of course. I heard you stirring nbout during the night." Law paused, D6ALT0rf N VAL6TNG- "Sometlmeo I Go Without Sugar, but Bessie Belle Never Docs." nnd tho mnre, with sharp cars cocked forward, looked over his shoulder In quisitively. "Tell the lady good morn ing. Bessie Belle," ho directed. The animal flung Its hend high, then stepped forward nnd, stretching It neck, sniffed doubtfully nt the visitor. "Whnt n graceful bow!" Mrs. Aus tin laughed. "You taught her that, I presume." "Yes'm I She'd never been to school when I got her; she was plumb Igno rant. But she's got nil the airs of a fine lady now. Sometimes I go with out sugar, but Bessie Belle never does." "And you with n sweet tooth!" The Ranger smiled pleusuntly. "She's ns easy as n rockln' chair. We're kind of sweethearts. Ain't we, kid?" Again Bessie Bello tossed her head high. "That's 'yes, with tho re verse English," the speaker explained. He would not permit her to help with tho brenkfast, so she lay back wu tell ing her host, whose personality, now that she saw him by duyllght, hnd be gun to challenge her Interest. Phys- lcully Lnw was of an admirable make considerably over six feet in height, with wide shoulders nnd lean, strong limbs. Although his face wus schooled to mask all but the keenest emotions, n pair of blue-gray, meditative eyes, with a whimsical fashion of wrinkling half-shut when he talked, relieved u countenance thnt otherwise would have been n trifle grim and somber. The nose wns prominent nnd boldly arched, the mouth wus thln-llpped and mobile. In his fuce there wus nothing animal in a bud sense. Certainly it showed no grossness. The man, de spite his careless use of the plains ver iinculur, seemed to bo rather above the average In education and Intelli gence. On the whole, she rather re sented the good Impression Law nnd made upon her, for on general prin ciples she chose to dislike nnd distrust men. Rising, .she walked painfully to the pond and made n leisurely toilet, Brenkfast was ready when she re turned, and once moro the mnn sat upon his heels und smoked while sho nte. After u while sho remarked : "I'm glad to see a Ranger in this country. There litis been u lot of .stealing down our wuy, nnd the ussoclutlon men can't seem to stop It. Perhaps you cau." "The Hungers hnvo u reputation In thnt line," ho admitted. 'But there Is stealing all up and down tho border, slnco tho wur." "The ranchers havo organized. They hnvo formed a sort of vlgllauce com mittee In each town, und talk of using bloodhounds." The ranger has a serious en counter with enemies, and a curi ous relationship springs up be tween him and the lady do sure to read the next installment. Sett what your friends think of tho story. ITO BB CONTINUED.) New Jersey factories employ 12.009 1 operative w I -IP Is Your Lame and Do Weak Kidneys Keep Yois Sick, Tired and All Worn Out? IF YOU have a constant, dull ache, or sharp pains whenever you bend or twist your back, and the kidney secretions seem disordered, too, don't waste time plastering or rubbing the bad back. It's likely that the cause is kidney weakness, and delay in treating the kidneys may invite uric acid poisoning, gravel, dropsy or fatal Bright's disease. Get Doan'a Kidney Pills, a special remedy for weak kidneys, used around the world and publicly recommended by 50,000 people in the U. S. A. Personal Reports of Real Cases A LASTING CURE. Mrs. J, Scvcrlnc, practical nurse, 1619 Seventh Ave., Council Ulufts, Iowa, says: "I have used Doan's Kidney IMlIa for u lame and weak back and other (symptoms of dis ordered kidneys and they have giv en me the most excellent relief. I advise anyone BUfterlns from kid ney disorders to use Doan's Kidney Pills." The above statement was given In February, 1912, and OVER THREE YEARS LATER, Mrs. Soverlno said: 'The benefit I got from Doan's Kidney Pills has last ed. I have told many people about tho curative powers of this medi cine and have always heard of good results following Its use," 50c a Box at All Stores. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y., Mfg. Chemists Skeptical. "Who's thnt old guy goln' around with u lantern in broad daylight?" asked the visitor from Spurtu. "Whnt kind of n nut Is lie, nnyhowV" "Oh, that's Diogenes," replied the Athenian. "lie enys he's looking for an honest man." "And you poor hicks fall for that press-agent stuff?" biieered the Spar tan. "Bet you ten to one he'll be tltrfn' n turn In vaudeville nt the Otleon next week." Important to Mothers Examine- carefully every bottle of CASTOKIA, thut famous old remedy for Infauts nnd children, und see thnt It Bears tho Signature In Use for Over 30 Years, Children Cry for Fletcher's Castoria Takes a Back Seat Then. "They say he Is an authority on the Mibject." "He Is until he talks to hN wife." Diplomacy. "I overheard Miss Oldun usk you to guess her nge. Did you?" "Yes but I didn't tell her what I guessed." Puck. are oasily killed by using Stearns' Electric Past Full direction! In IS language's Sold everywhere 25c and $1.00 U.S. Government Buys it Small PUI-Small Dose-Small Price COCKROACHES JHHCARTER'Sl JDr Iiver jjpHPT JIpills. 4f ffi t Carter's Little Liver Pills For Constipation Genuine bears signature &zc&frzrgg Pallid, Pale, Putty-Faced Back Stiff, Achy? NO TROUBLE SINCE. W. R. Smart, prop, tailor shop, Belle Fourche, S. D., says. 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