DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD: DAKOTA CITY, NEBRASKA.
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rgf REX BEACH:
Author of" The Spoilers," "The Iron Trail,"
"The Silver Horde," Etc.
CHAPTER XVII Continued.
17
A ilttlfc later Paioma, pule and heavy
oyod, stole Into tin- room, ami Dnvc'H
cheerful greeting uwoko Mrs. Strange
with n Jork.
"Sol You're feeling better, aren't
3T0U?" tlie hitter woman cried, heartily.
"Yob. How did I get here?" Dnvo
siMtod. "I must have been right sick
and troublesome to you."
, Pnlomu smiled and nodded. "Sick I
"Why, Dave, you frightened us nearly to
death 1 You wore eleui out of your
jhcnd."
Mm. Strnngo broke Into his frown
ing meditation to ask. "It.iw long hIuco
:y'ou Im'il n nit, it's sleep?"
"I Oh, the prolocutor at P.row'ns
ville nln't let mo alone a minute for a
tweck."
"Umphl I thought so. You puzzled
that pill-roller, hut doctors don't l.-iow
anything, nnyhow. Why. he wnnted to
tvukc you up to find nut what ailed
jou I I threatened to scald him If lie
.did."
"I scorn to remember talking a good
dcil," Dave ventured. "I reckon I
said n lot of foolish thlngH." He caught
Hie look that passed between his
nurses and Its significance distressed
Win.
.Mrs. Strange continued: "That's
"how wc guessed what your trouble
wis, and thnt'n why I wouldn't let that
f.v)l doctor disturb you. Now that
.you've had a itloep and nre all right
:ngajn. I'm going home and ilmnge my
IouVh. I haven't had them off for
iwo nights."
Two rilghtnl" Dnve Btared in be
wilderment. Then he lnmely npolo
.glzed for the trouble he had caused,
nnd tried to thank the women for their
.kindness.
lie wns shaky when, nn hour' Iftter.
Ihe came downstairs for breakfast; but
otherwise lie felt better thnn for many
rday.s; and Blaze's open delight at see
ling him did him as much good as the
Oifood be ate.
Dave spent part of the morning nun-
olng himself on the porch, rending the
.Tapers with their exciting news. Dur-
'.Ing his absence Paloniu had done her
'best to spoil Montrosu, and among otli-
,t marks of'fuvor had allowed her free
rrnn of I be yard, where the shade was
cool mid the grass fine, and where de
. Ilclous tidbits were to be had from tho-
kitchen for the mere asking. In con-
nscquenee, Dave did not remain thero
tong until he was discovered. Mont-
r rosa signaled, then trotted toward him
' with ears and tull llftod. Her delight
was open und extravagant; her wel-
-Come mis as enthusiastic ns a horse
'could make It. Gone were her coquetry
nd airs; sho nosed and nibbled Dave;
jh rubbed and rooted him with the
istolcnee of a battering-rnm, nnd per-
'mltted him to hug her and murmur
words of love Into her velvet ears. Sho
-.swapped confidence for conlldenco,
i too; and then, when he finally walked
Iback toward the house, sho followed
tlloscly, us If fearful that ho might
again desert her.
H'Jill Struugc met tho lovers as they
turned the corner of tho porch, and
. warmly shook Dave's hand. "Teeny
any wife told mo .you was better," he
lhcgnn.,,8o I beat it out here. I bung
y nroumr'aininy yesterday, waiting to
cc you, but you was batty."
"J was pretty sick," Davo ncknowl-
1getl. "Mrs. Strange was mighty Ulud
rto me."
"Sick peoplo get her goat. She's got
m way with 'em and with animals, too.
TVVliy, Rajah, tho big pythou with our
chow, took sick ono year, and he d have
died sure only for her. Same with n
lot of the other, animals. She knows
yinoro'n any vet I over saw."
"Perhaps I needed 'n veterinary In
stead of a doctor," Davo smiled. "I
ucs3 I'vo got some horso blood In me.
Seel" Montrosa had thrust her head
uder tils;nrm nnd'wtus NsttlUtig for J
m' to bcrutch hdr cars.
'Well, I brought you some mall,"
ago fumbled In his pocket for u
1 bundle of letters, explaining:
e gave mo these for jou ns 1
1 tho post ofllco."
t ' took the letters with a word of
..V and thrust thorn carelessly lu
- - ckot. "What booms to be tho
he Inqulu'd.
niemur our last talk? Well,
, cans have got me rattled.
ying everywhere to locate
'itidn't come homo I'd have
prosecuting attorney, or
e
)
learned something
j and his sallow face
r rf.VPrehunlon. "Rosa
' o bee mo regular."
ncertaln hand over
. not-In vury good
r pioposltloti, but
-g. Austin away
UJier."
uuiimmt was
JJLf JL
"
"Sometimes I think I nm, but I'vo
pumped that Morales girl dry, nnd I
can't flguro anything else out of what
she tells me. Her and Jose expect to
make n lump of quick money, Jump to
Mexico, get murrled, nnd live happy
ever after. Take It from me, It's Mrs.
Austin they aim to cash In on."
"Why tho Idea's ridiculous 1"
"Maybe It Is und mnybo It ain't," tho
fortune-teller persisted. "More thnn
ono rich Mexican has been grabbed
and held for ransom along this river;
yes, and Americans, too, If you can
believe tho stories. Anything goes In
that country over there." .
"You think Jose Is plnnnlng to kid
nap her? Nonsense 1 One man couldn't
Jo such n thing."
"I didn't say ho could," Phil de
fended himself, sulkily. "Remember,
I told you thero was somebody buck
of him."
"Yes, I remember, but you didn't
know exactly who,"
"Well, I don't exactly know yet. I
thought maybe you might tell me."
Thero was a brief silence, during
which Davo stood frowning. Then he
appeared to shako himself frco from
Phil's suggestions.
"It's too utterly preposterous. Mrs.
Austin has no enemies; she's a person
ot Importance. If by uny chauco she
disappeared "
"She's dono that very little thing,"
Strange declared.
"What?"
"She's disappeared anyhow, she's
gone. Yesterday when I saw you was
laid up and couldn't help me, I phoned
her ranch; somebody answered In
Spanish, and from what I could make
out they don't know whero sho Is."
Davo wondered if ho nad understood
Strange aright, or if this could be a
Hick of his own tired brain. Choosing
his words' carefully, ho said: "Do you
mean to tell mo that she's missing und
they haven't given nn alarm? I reckon
you didn't understand tho message, did
you?"
Strnngo shrugged. "Maybe I didn't
Suppose you try. Yon sabo tho lingo."
Davo went to tho telephone, leaving
Phil to watt. When ho emerged from
the house a few moments Inter, It was
with n queer, set look upon his face.
"I got 'em," ho said. "She's gone
left threo days ago."
"Where did she go?"
"They wouldn't tell me."
"They wouldn't?" Strange, looked
up sharply. (
"Wouldn't or couldn't." The men
eyed each other silently; then Phil In
quired :
"Well, what do you make of it?"
"I don't know. Sho wasn't kldnnped,
that's a cinch, for Dolores went with
her. I think wo'ro .exciting ourselves
unduly."
The little fortune-teller broko out
excitedly: "Yeswonro! Why do you
suppose I'vo been 'playing that Morales
girl? I tell you there's something
crooked going on. Don't I know?
Didn't I wise you three weeks ago that
something like this was coming off?"
It was plain that Phil put complete
faith lu his powers of divination, and
at this moment his earnestness carried
a certain .degreo of convlctlou. Davo
made an effort to clear his tired brain.
"Very well," ho said. "If you're so
suro, I'll go to Las Palmas. I'll find
out nil about it, and whero sho wctit,
If anybody has dared to " Do drew
a deep breath and his llstlcssnoss van
ished; his eyes gleamed with a htnk of
their customary Arc. "I reckon I'vo
got onq punch left In me." IIo turned
uud strodu to Ji8 room.
As Dave changed Into his scrvlco
clothes ho was surprised to feel n now
vigor In his limbs nnd a now strength
of purposo in his mind. When ho stood
In his old boots and felt tho familiar
drag of his curtrldgo-belt, when ho
tested his frco muscles, ho realized
that ho was another man. Even yet
ho could not put much faith In Phil
Strnngo's words nevertheless, thero
might bo n danger threatening Alalro;
and If so, It was tlnio to act.
Phil watched his friend saddle tho
bay mare, then as Davo tied his rlflo
scabbard to Its thong he laughed nerv
ously. "You'ro loaded for bear."
Tho horseman nnswored. grimly:
"I'm loaded for Joc Sanchez. If 1 lay
hands on him I'll loam what ho
knows."
"You can't get nothing out of n Mexi
can.1' "No? Tve made Filipinos talk. Re
Hove mo, I can be some -persunslvo
when I try." With that ho swung n leg
over Montrosa'8 hack and rode away.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Surprise.
Law found It good to feel a horso
hotween his knees. He hnd uot rcnllzod
unti now how long Montrosa's saddle
had been empty. The sun was hot and
friendly, tho breezu was sweet In his
nostrils ns ho swept past tho smiling
nobis nnd out into tho mosquito coun
try. Ucat waves danced above the
patches of bare ground, insect flang
noisily froir every bide ; far ahead tho
road ran n wavering coursa through n
deceitful mirage of rippling ponds. It
was nil familiar, pleasant; it wns
home. With every mile ho covered his
Btrength nnd courage Increased.
Such changes had como Into his life
since his last visit to Las Palmas that
it gavo him a feeling of unreality to
discover no alteration In the rnnch.
He had somehow felt that tho build
ings would look older, that tho ticcs
would have grown taller, and so when
ho finally came In flight of his desti
nation ho reined In to look.
Behind him he heard tho hum of nn
approaching motor, and ho turned to
behold n car racing along the road ho
had Just traveled. Tho machine wus
running fast, as a long Btrenmer of
choking dust gave evidence, nnd Dave
boon recognized it ns belonging to
Jonesvllle's prosecuting nttorney. As
It tore past him its owner shouted
something, but the words were lost. In
tho nutomobllo with the driver were
fioverul passengers, and ono of theso
likewise called to Dave and seemed to
motion him to follow. When tho ma
clilno slowed down a half-milo uhcad
and veered abruptly Into tho Las Pal
mas gateway, Dave lifted Montrosa to
n run, wondering what pressing neces
sity could huve Induced tho prosecut
ing nttorney to risk such n reckless
bvst of speed.
Dnvo told himself that ho was un
duly apprehensive; that Strange's
warnings hnd worked upon his nerves.
Nevertheless, ho continued to ride so
hard that almost before the dust hnd
settled he, too, turned into tho shade
of the palms.
Yes, there wns excitement here;
something wns evidently very much
nmlss, Judging from the groups of
ranch-hands assembled upon the porch.
They were clustered about the doors
mid windows, peering in. Briefly they
turned their fnces toward Law; then
they crowded closer, nnd ho perceived
that they wcro not talking. Some of
them had removed their hats nnd held
them in their hands.
Dnve's knees shook under him ns ho
dismounted ; for one sick, giddy Instant
tho scene swnm before his eyes; then
ho rnn toward tho house nnd up the
steps. Ho tried to frame a question,
hut his lips were stiff with fright
Heedless of those in his path, ho forced
his way Into the house, then down tho
hall toward an open door, through
which ho saw a room full of people.
From somewhere came the shrill wall
ing of n woman; the house was .full of
hushed voices and whisperings. Dave
hnd but one thought. From the depths
of his being n voice called Alnlre's
name until his brain rang with it
A bed was In the room, and around
it was gathered a group of white-faced
peoplo. With rough hands Law clenred
a way for himself, and then stopped,
frozen in his tracks. Ills arms relaxed,
Dave Stood Staring at tho Master of
Las Palmas.
his fingers unclenched, n great sigh
whistled from his lungs. Bcforo him,
booted, spurred, nnd fully dressed, lay
tho dead body of Ed Austin.
Davo was still staring at the master
of Las Palmas when the prosecuting
attorney spoko to him.
"God! This Is terrible, isn't it?" ho
said. "He milst havo died instantly."
"Who did It?"
"Wo don't know yet. Benito found
him nnd brought him lu. Uo hasn't
been dend an hour."
Law rnn his eyes over the room, und
then asked, sharply, "Whero Is Mrs.
Austin?"
IIo was answered by Benito Gon
zales, who had edged closer. "Sho's
not hero, scnor."
"Havo you notified her?"
Benito shrugged. "There has been
no time, It all happened bo quickly "
Someono Interrupted, and Davo saw
that It was tho local sheriff evidently
it was ho who had waved from tho
speeding mnchlno a few moments be
fore. "I'm glad you're here, Dave, for you
can glvo mo n hand. I'm going to round
up theso Mexicans right away and find
out what they know. Whoever did it
hnsn't gone far; so you act as my
deputy and bee what jou can lenrn."
When Dave had gained better con
trol of himself ho took Benito outdoors
and demanded full details of the trag
edy. With many lamentations and In
coherencies tho range boss told what
ho knew.
Ed had met his death within u half
mllo of Las Palmas as ho rodo homo
for dlnuer. Benito, himself on his way
to tho house, had found the body, still
wnrm, near the edge of the pecan
grove. Ho had retained enough sense
to telephone nt ouco to Joucsvllle, and
wJPllllillllP
J slier. BnIto hanb xi."W wnnt he
done since then, he was so bad
shaken by tho tragedy.
"What time did It happen?"
"It was noon when I enme In."
Dnvo consulted his watch, nnd wn
surprised to discover that It wns no
only n few minutes pnst one. It wa
evident, therefore, that Benito had In
deed lost no time, nnd that his alarm
had met with Instant response.
"Now tell rac, who did It?"
Benito Hung his hands high. "God
knows! Some enemy, of course; but
Don Edunrdo hnd many."
"Not that sort of enemies. There
was nobody who could wish to kill
him."
"That Is as It is."
"Haven't you nny suspicions?"
"No, scnor."
"You say Mrs. Austin is gono?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Dnvo spoke brusquely: "Come, Beni
to ; you must know, for your wife went
with her. Are you trying to keep
something hack?"
"No, no! As God Is my Judge!"
Benito declared. "I didn't know they
wore going until the very last, nnd
even then Dolores would tell mo noth
ing. Wo were having bad tlmeb hero
nt Las Palmns; there were stormy
scenes yonder In the house. Senor Ed
was drinking ngaln, you understand?
The senorn had reason to go."
"You think sho rnn nwny to escapo
him?"
"Exactly."
Dave breathed more easily, for this
seemed to settle Strange's theory. Tho
next instant, however, his apprehen
sions were doubled, for Benito added I
"No doubt she went to La Ferla."
Law uttered nn incredulous exclama
tion. "Not there ! Surely she wouldn't
go to La Ferla nt such a time. Why,
that country Is nblnze. Americana nre
fleeing from Mexico."
"I hadn't thought of that," Benito
confessed. "But if she didn't go there,
where did she go? Saints above! It
Is n fine condition of affairs when a
wife keeps secrets from her husband,
eh? I suppose Dolores feared I would
tell Don Edunrdo, God rest his soul I
This much I do know, however: not
long ago there came n letter from
Genernl Longorlo, offering settlement
for those cattle he stole in his govern
ment's name. Dolores told me tho
senorn wns highly pleased and was go
ing to Mexico for her money. It wns a
mark of Longorlo's favor, you under
stand me? He's a great friend, nn
ardent admirer." Benito winked. "Do
lores told me all about that, too. Nr,
I think they went to La Feria."
Dave remembered his first conversi,
tlon with Phil Strange nnd the fortun
tellcr's insistence that some powerful
person was behind Jose Sanchez. Moro
than three weeks ngo Strange had fore
cast something very like this murder
of Ed Austin. Dave felt ns If he were
the victim of an hysterical Imagina
tion. Nevertheless, ho forced himself
to ask, quietly :
"Is Jose Snnchez nnywhere about?"
Tho range boss shrugged. "I sent
him to the enst pasture this morning."
"Did ho go?"
"Eh? So ! You suspect Jose of this.
God In heaven! Jose is a wild boy
But wait I I'll ask Juan If he saw him ;
yes, and Victorin, too. That is Victoria
you hear squalling in tho kitchen. Walt
here."
Benito hurried nwny, leaving Dnve a
prey to perplexity; but he was back
ngaln in n few moment.". His face wus
grave.
"Jose did not go to tho east pas
ture," he said.
"Where Is he now?"
"No one seems to know."
Law walked to his horse, mounted,
nnd galloped nwny. Benito, who
wntched him, saw that he turned to
ward the river road which led to tho
Las Palmas pumping plant.
Tho more Dnvo thought nhout Ed
Austin's death, the more certain he be
camo thnt It was in some way con
nected with Alnlre's disappearance;
and tho loose end by which the tanglo
might bo unraveled, It seemed to him,
lay In the hands of Rosa Morales,
Joso's sweetheart. That Sanchez was
the murderer Davo now had llttlo
doubt; but since the chance of appre
hending him wns small, he turned his
attention to the girl, no would mnko
Rosa speak, he told himself, If he hnd
to use force this was no time for gen
tle methods. If sho knew aught of
Alnlre's whereabouts or the mystery of
her depnrturo from Lns Palmas. ho
would find a way to wring the truth
from her. Dnve's face, n trifle too som
ber nt all times, took on,n grimmer
iibpcct now; ho felt a slow fury kind
ling in his breast.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
In Danger.
Friend (to professor, whoso lecture
"now to Stop the War," has just been
concluded) Congratulate you, old
man went splendidly. At one tlmu,
during the afternoon I was rather nnx
ions for you.
Professor Thanks. But I don't
know why you should huvo been so
concerned on my behalf.
Friend Well, a rumor did go round
the room that tho war would be over
before your lecture. London Punch.
House Plants Must Breathe.
Turn house plants half way about
nt least once each wock, to keep nil
sides alike and exposed to tho light.
Keep dust from them by frequent
spraying or sponging, so pores will not
become clogged. 'Thoy must breathe
or they perish.
Expert.
"I don't see how you do It,"
"Why not?" responded tho fortune
teller. "Wo can figure what goods the
peoplo como after Juat as well aa auj
niry goods clerk."
kOhbX' Well
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Capes and Buttons Again.
If you like capes and buttons you
may havo them along with your new
fnll suit; thnt Is, If yon will prnctlce
some self-restraint. Buttons appear
In small companies not in regiments,
ns they did on suits for spring nnd
abont tie widest of capes is that on
the suit pictured here. Few models
go to this length In enpes nnd few
exceed this In the number of buttons
nsed.
Suits have been presented in n
great rnrlety of designs from those
on the severest lines, without trim
ming, to more formnl models enriched
with embroidery. Manufacturers ap
pear to be of one mind ns to coats:
they nre longer than they have been,
nnd such decorations as they have ap
pear at the sides of the skirt portion.
Nearly nil of them havo patch pockets
Something New
Into tho smart company of chic
Mouses for fnll something entirely new
has made Its entry. It was announced
under an unassuming hut misleading
title as the "peasant" blouse, but It
should ho rcchrlstened for it looks tho
part of n princess garb.
Whatever tho source of its inspira
tion the new garment Is vdalnty nnd
elegant and has much distinction. As
shown In the picture It Is made of
ivory-white georgette crepo and em
broidered with light rose color nnd
blue silk. It has many points of de
parture from current styles In blouses,
but Its bpnrlng use of decorative fea
tures is just In keeping with tho trmid
of things.
Its decoration of independence be
gins with Its manner of fastening, for
it buttons up tho back with close-.sct,
round crochet buttons. The back is
extended Into a long peplum terminat
ing In pockets nt each side and con
spicuous by Its absence nt the front.
A very narrow belt, made of the crepe,
buttons at one side and Is ornament
ed with buttons set across the front.
The sleeves are full with n narrow
band of crepo bended with embroid
ery confirming them at the waist.
Thero Is n little embroidery on each
pocket and at tho bottom of the front
of tho blouse.
The neck Is round with a long tlo
made of deep blue satin tncked nhout
Dress
Weac
of some sort, but there are exceptions
to this rule.
Skirts nre narrower than they wero
nnd the approved length Is six to
eight inches off the floor. They nm
rarely trimmed. Attention Is centered
on coats and they nre embellished with
braid, chain stitching, embroidery, fun
or fur rubrics that are good Imitation
of skins.
The suit pictured Is of heavy gaber
dine nnd Its parallel rows of .buttons
nre Joined by chain stitching. It has
i vide belt which fails to make nn
effort to lessen the size of the waist
but adds much to the set and style of
the cont.
The new colors nre quiet and pluln
cloths predominate. But mixtures ap
pear In which n second Inconspicuous
color Is hardly discovered In the govA
until the suit Is examined closely.
v
in Blouses.
It to the shoulders. The ends nro
crossed In the back and hang almost to
tho bottom of the blouse. They j"
weighted with u bit of bead fringe, llko
the satin In color.
Gingham Petticoat.
The glnghniu petticoat has suddenly
risen to a position of promiuenco.
Thero have always been gingham
petticoats, of course, but they havo
been woin usually us n matter of eco
nomy. Now, however, the gingham
petticoat lb quite tho thing to wear,
and It Is made In the most attractive.
stjles. Sometimes It Is scalloped
around the bottom, and perhaps
trimmed with bandings or pipings of
this Is Its prettiest fashion. It Is usu
ally made In stripes, checks or plaids,
although thero are some of plnln bluo.
or pink gingham that are trimmed with
bandings or pipings ot plnld or stripes
cut on the bias. ,
Gingham Folwers on Hats.
Ono of tho new tricks of the mllllm
eib who make sport hats Is to trim
them with brightly-colored gingham
1 tlowcrs.
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