XIII
DAVE LAW BECOMES JEALOUS
"You can never know what these two days have been for me," the generalsaid as he and Alaire lingered over their meal. "They will afford mesomething to think about all my life! It is a delicious comfort to knowthat you trust me, that you do not dislike me. And you do not dislikeme, eh?"
"Why, of course not. I have a great deal for which to thank you."
General Longorio fingered his wineglass and stared into it. "I am notlike other men. Would to God I were, for then I could close my eyesand--forget. You have your great tragedy--it is old to you; but mine,dear lady, is just beginning. I can look forward to nothing exceptunhappiness." He sighed deeply.
"I'm sorry you are unhappy," Alaire parried. "Surely you have everypleasant prospect."
"It would seem so. I am young, rich, a hero, I serve my country inglorious fashion, but what is all that if there is no pretty one tocare? Even the meanest peon has his woman, his heart's treasure. Iwould give all I have, I would forego my hope of heaven and doom myselfto eternal tortures, for one smile from a pair of sweet lips, one lookof love. I am a man of iron--yes, an invincible soldier--and yet I havea heart, and a woman could rule me."
"You say you have a heart." Alaire studied her vis-avis curiously as hemet her eyes with his mournful gaze. "How is it that I hear suchstrange stories about you, general?"
"What stories?"
"Stories--too terrible to mention. I wonder if they can be true."
"Lies, all of them!" Longorio asserted.
"For instance, they tell me that you shoot your prisoners?"
"Of course!" Then, at her shocked exclamation, he explained: "It is anecessity of war. Listen, senora! We have twelve million Indians inMexico and a few selfish men who incite them to revolt. Everywherethere is intrigue, and nowhere is there honor. To war against thegovernment is treason, and treason is punishable by death. To permitthe lower classes to rise would result in chaos, black anarchy,indescribable outrages against life and property. There is but one wayto pacify such people--exterminate them! Mexico is a civilized nation;there is no greater in the world; but she must be ruled with an ironhand. Soldiers make rulers. I am still a young man, and--at presentthere is but one other capable of this gigantic task. For the timebeing, therefore, I permit myself to serve under him, and--I salutehim. Viva Potosi!" The speaker lifted his glass and drank. "Madero wasa wicked believer in spells and charms; he talked with the dead. He,and those who came after him, fired the peons to revolt and despoiledour country, leaving her prone and bleeding. We of the Cientificos haveset ourselves to stop her wounds and to nourish her to life again. Weshall drive all traitors into the sea and feed them to the sharks. Weshall destroy them all, and Mexico shall have peace. But I am not abloodthirsty man. No, I am a poet and a lover at heart. As great apatriot as I am, I could be faithless to my country for one smile fromthe woman I adore."
Alaire did not color under the ardent glance that went with thisdeclaration. She deliberately changed the subject.
"This morning while we were in the office of the jeje de armas," shesaid, "I saw a poor woman with a baby--she was scarcely more than achild herself--whose husband is in prison. She told me how she had comeall the way from the country and is living with friends, just to benear him. Every day she goes to the carcel, but is denied admission,and every day she comes to plead with the jefe de armas for herhusband's life. But he will not see her, and the soldiers only laugh ather tears."
"A common story! These women and their babies are very annoying,"observed the general.
"She says that her husband is to be shot."
"Very likely! Our prisons are full. Doubtless he is a bad man."
"Can't you do something?"
"Eh?" Longorio lifted his brows in the frankest inquiry.
"That poor girl with her little, bare, brown-eyed baby was pitiful."Alaire leaned forward with an earnest appeal in her face, and her hostsmiled.
"So? That is how it is, eh? What is her name?"
"Inez Garcia. The husband's name is Juan."
"Of course. These peladors are all Juans. You would like to appear asan angel of mercy, eh? Your heart is touched?"
"Deeply."
"Bastante! There is no more to be said." Longorio rose and went intothe next room where were certain members of his staff. After a time hereturned with a paper in his hand, and this he laid before Alaire. Itwas an order for the release of Juan Garcia. "The salvo conducto whichwill permit Juan and his Inez and their Juanito to return to their farmis being made out," he explained. "Are you satisfied?"
Alaire looked up wonderingly, "I am deeply grateful. You overwhelm me.You are--a strange man."
"Dear lady, I live to serve you. Your wish is my law. How can I proveit further?" As he stood beside her chair the fervor of his gaze causedher eyes to droop and a faint color to come into her cheeks. She felt asudden sense of insecurity, for the man was trembling; the evidentdesire to touch her, to seize her in his arms, was actually shaking himlike an ague. What next would he do? Of what wild extravagance was henot capable? He was a queer mixture of fire and ice, of sensuality andself-restraint. She knew him to be utterly lawless in most things, andyet toward her he had shown scrupulous restraint. What possibilitieswere in a man of his electric temperament, who had the strength tothrottle his fiercest longings?
The strained, throbbing silence that followed Longorio's last words didmore to frighten the woman than had his most ardent advances.
After a time he lifted Alaire's hand; she felt his lips hot and dampupon her flesh; then he turned and went away with the document.
When he reappeared he was smiling. "These Garcias shall know whointerceded for them. You shall have their thanks," said he.
"No, no! It is enough that the man is free."
"How now?" The general was puzzled. "What satisfaction can there be ina good deed unless one receives public credit and thanks for it? I amnot like that."
He would have lingered indefinitely over the table, but Alaire soonrose to go, explaining:
"I must finish my disagreeable task now, so that I can go hometo-morrow."
"To-morrow!" her host cried in dismay. "No, no! You must wait--"
"My husband is expecting me."
This statement was a blow; it seemed to crush Longorio, who could onlylook his keen distress.
As they stepped out into the street Alaire was afforded that treatwhich Longorio had so thoughtfully arranged for her. There in thegutter stood Inez Garcia with her baby in her arms, and beside her theragged figure of a young man, evidently her Juan. The fellow wasemaciated, his face was gaunt and worn and frightened, his feet werebare even of sandals, the huge peaked straw hat which he clutched overhis breast was tattered, and yet in his eye there was a light.
They had waited patiently, these Garcias, heedful of Longorio's orders,and now they burst into a torrent of thanks. They flung themselves totheir knees and kissed the edge of Alaire's dress. Their instructionshad been plain, and they followed them to the letter, yet theirgratitude was none the less genuine for being studied. The littlemother's hysteria, for instance, could not have been entirely assumed,and certainly no amount of rehearsals could have taught the child tojoin his cries so effectively to his parents'. Between them all theymade such a racket as to summon a crowd, and Dolores, who had alsoawaited her mistress, was so deeply stirred that she wept with them.
General Longorio enjoyed this scene tremendously, and his beaming eyesexpressed the hope that Alaire was fully satisfied with the moment. Butthe Garcias, having been thoroughly coached, insisted upon renderingfull measure of thanks, and there seemed to be no way of shutting themoff until the general ordered them to their feet.
"That is enough!" he declared. "Hombre, you are free, so go about yourbusiness and fight no more with those accursed rebels."
Juan, of course, was ready at this moment to fight for any one he wastold to fight for, particularly Longorio himself, and he so declared.His life was at the
service of the benefactor who had spared him; hiswife and baby lived only to bless the illustrious general.
"They look very poor," said Alaire, and opened her purse; but Longoriowould not permit her to give. Extracting a large roll of paper moneyfrom his own pocket, he tossed it, without counting, to Juan, and thenwhen the onlookers applauded he loudly called to one of his officers,saying:
"Oiga! Give these good friends of mine two horses, and see that theyare well cared for. Now, Juan," he addressed the dazed countryman, "Ihave one order for you. Every night of your life you and your prettywife must say a prayer for the safety and happiness of this beautifullady who has induced me to spare you. Do you promise?"
"We promise!" eagerly cried the pair.
"Good! See that you keep your word. On the day that you forget for thefirst time Luis Longorio will come to see you. And then what?" Hescowled at them fiercely.
"We will not forget," the Garcias chorused.
There was a murmur from the onlookers; some one cried: "VIVA LONGORIO!"
The general bowed smilingly; then, taking Alaire's arm, he waved theidlers out of his path with a magnificent gesture.
When, later in the day, Mrs. Austin came to say good-by and thank theMexican for his courtesies, he humbly begged permission to pay hisrespects that evening at her hotel, and she could not refuse.
As the coach went bouncing across the international bridge, Doloressaid, spitefully: "It will take more than the pardon of poor JuanGarcia to unlock Heaven for that bandit. He is the wickedest man I evermet--yes, probably the wickedest man in the world."
"He has been kind to us."
"Bah! He has a motive. Do you notice the way he looks at you? It isenough to damn him for all eternity."
Upon her arrival at the hotel Alaire received an agreeable surprise,for as her vehicle paused, at the curb David Law stepped forward, hatin hand.
"What bloodthirsty business brings you to Pueblo?" she queried, whenthey had exchanged greetings.
Law smiled at her. "I came to offer free board and lodging to a poorGreaser. But he ain't here. And you, ma'am?"
Alaire briefly outlined the reasons that had taken her to La Feria andthe duties that had kept her busy since her return, while Dave noddedhis understanding. When, however, he learned that she was counting uponGeneral Luis Longorio's aid in securing justice, his expressionaltered. He regarded her with some curiosity as he inquired:
"Isn't Longorio the very man who robbed you?"
"Yes."
"And now he offers to square himself?"
"Precisely. You don't seem to put much faith in him."
"Mexicans are peculiar people," Law said, slowly. "At least we considerthem peculiar--probably because they are different to us. Anyhow, wedon't understand their business methods or their habits of mind; eventheir laughter and their tears are different to ours, but--from myexperience with them I wouldn't put much confidence in this Longorio'sword. I say this, and I'm supposed to have a little Mexican blood inme."
During this brief conversation they had entered the hotel, and now thelobby idlers took quick cognizance of Mrs. Austin's presence. Thelanky, booted Ranger excited no comment, for men of his type werecommon here; but Alaire was the heroine of many stories and the objectof a wide-spread curiosity; therefore she received open stares andheard low whisperings. Naturally resenting this attention, she gave herhand to Law more quickly than she would have done otherwise.
"I hope we shall see each other again," she murmured.
"That's more'n likely; I'm located in your neighborhood now," heinformed her. "I'm leaving for Jonesville in the morning."
"By train?"
"No'm. I'm goin' to follow the river road if I can get an automobile."
Mindful of the Ranger's courtesy to her on their previous meeting,Alaire said: "Won't you go with us? We intend to start early."
"I'd love to, ma'am--but I'll have to make a few inquiries along theline."
"Good! It is a large car and"--she smiled at him--"if we have tiretrouble I may need your help. Jose, my man, is a splendidhorse-breaker, but he seems to think a tire tool is some sort of afancy branding-iron. His mechanical knowledge is limited to abridle-bit and a cinch, and I'm almost certain he believes there issomething ungodly about horseless wagons."
Dave was nearly speechless with delight, and when the mistress of LasPalmas had gone up-stairs he felt inclined to pinch himself to see ifhe were dreaming. He had pursued a fruitless quest during the past fewdays, and his resentment had grown as he became certain that Tad Lewishad sent him on a wild-goose chase; but the sight of Alairemiraculously restored his good spirits, and the prospect of a long,intimate ride in her company changed the whole trend of his thoughts.His disappointment at not seeing her upon his visit to Las Palmas hadonly served to enhance his memories of their first meeting, and time,now, had deepened his interest tenfold. Yes, she was "The Lone Star,"the estrella brillante of his empty sky.
When the supper-hour came he managed by carefully watching thedining-room to time his meal with Mrs. Austin's. He even ventured tohope that they might share the same table, but in this he wasdisappointed. However, from where he sat he could see her profile andworship her to his heart's content, and when she favored him with asmile and a nod he was happy.
All without his knowledge, Dave realized, this woman had secured anamazing hold over him. He had thought a great deal about her, ofcourse, but his thoughts had been idle, and it had required this secondencounter to make him know the truth. Now, however, there could be nodoubt about his feelings; he was more than romantically interested, themere sight of her had electrified him. The discovery distressed him,and he very properly decided that the affair should end here, since itcould lead to nothing except disappointment.
But who can govern a wayward fancy? One moment Law promised himself tosee no more of this married woman; the next he wondered how she wouldoccupy the evening, and ventured to hope that he might have a chance totalk with her.
After supper, however, she was nowhere to be found. When his firstchagrin had passed he decided that this was exactly as it should be. Hedidn't like to see women make themselves conspicuous in hotels.
At the time of this story relations between the United States and theestablished government of Mexico were at such high tension that ahostility had sprung up between the troops fronting each other alongthe Rio Grande, and in consequence their officers no longer crossed theboundary, even when off duty. It created a flurry of suppressedexcitement, therefore, when Luis Longorio, the autocrat of thePotosista forces, boldly crossed the bridge, traversed the streets ofPueblo, and entered the Hamilton Hotel.
From his seat in the lobby Law heard the general inquire for Mrs.Austin, and then saw him ascend in the direction of the parlor. Whatthe devil could Longorio want with "The Lone Star" at such an hour? theRanger asked himself. Why should he presume to call upon her unless--hewas interested? Mexican officers, in these parlous times, were notgiven to social courtesies, and Longorio's reputation was sufficientlynotorious to render his attentions a cause for gossip under anycircumstances.
Dave rose and strolled restlessly about the hotel. A half-hour passedand Longorio did not reappear; an hour dragged by, and then Dave tookoccasion to go to his room. A glance through the open parlor doorshowed the foreigner in closest conversation with Mrs. Austin. Theywere laughing; they were alone; even Dolores was nowhere to be seen.
When Dave returned to his big rocking-chair he found it uncomfortable;he watched the clock anxiously; he chewed several cigars viciouslybefore realizing that he was jealous--yes, madly, unreasonably jealous.
So! His divinity was not as unapproachable as he had imagined.Doubtless Longorio was mad over her, which explained the fellow'swillingness to help her exact reparation from his government. Finedoings for a respectable married woman! It was wrong, scandalous,detestable!
After a time Dave rose impatiently. What had come over him, anyhow? Hemust be crazy to torture himself in this fashion. What went on
up-stairs certainly was none of his business, and he had better faramuse himself. In accordance with this excellent reasoning, he went toa picture-show. But he could not become interested. The flat images onthe screen failed to divert him, and the only faces he saw were thoseof Luis Longorio and the lone mistress of Las Palmas.
Had Dave only known the truth, he would have gained a grim comfort fromit, for Alaire Austin was not enjoying herself this evening. Her callerstayed on interminably and she became restive under the flow of hisconversation. For some reason or other Longorio was not the romanticfigure he had been; in his citizen's clothes he was only a dandifiedMexican gallant like any number of others. The color was gone from thepicture; this quixotic guerrilla hero, this elegant Ruy Blas, wasnothing more than a tall, olive-skinned foreigner whose ardor wasdistasteful. Longorio was tiresome.