FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152  
153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   >>   >|  
othing but her. I came to this abominable village more to see her than to annoy myself over the death of Ricardo Guzman. I must see my divinity; I must hear her blessed voice, or I shall go mad. Why do I tell you this? Because I have decided that you shall lead me to her to-night." The general fell silent for a moment, then, "I intend to have her some day, Jose, and--perhaps you will be my right hand. See, I make you my confidant because you will not dare to anger me or--Well, my little friend, you must understand what fate would befall you in that case. I can reach across the Rio Grande." Amazement and then fear were depicted in Jose's face as he listened; he asserted his loyalty vehemently. "Yes, yes, I know you love me," the general agreed, carelessly. "But what is far more to the point, I intend to pay well for your services. Perhaps I shall also arrange so that you may have a reckoning with the murderer of your cousin. What is his name?" It was Jose's opportunity to make an impression, and he used it to the full, telling all that he knew of the killing of Panfilo, and describing Law with the eloquence of hatred. Longorio listened for a time, and then held up his hand. "Enough. For my sake, too, you shall kill him, for you have made me jealous." "Impossible!" Jose raised protesting palms. He was sure the general was wrong. Senora Austin was above suspicion of any kind. "And yet this man met her in Pueblo and rode with her to Las Palmas? He comes to see her frequently, you say?" The general bent his bright, keen eyes upon the visitor. "Yes. She gave him the finest horse at Las Palmas, too, and--" A new thought presented itself to Jose. "Ho! By the way, they were alone at the water-hole when my cousin Panfilo was shot. Now that I think of it, they were alone together for a day and a night. I begin to wonder--" Longorio breathed an oath and swung his long legs over the edge of the bed. "You have poisoned my mind. A whole day and night, eh? That is bad. What happened? What kind of a fool is her husband? I cannot bear to think of this! See, I am beside myself. Caramba! I live in paradise; I come flying on the wings of the wind, only to learn that my blessed divinity has a lover. If only my excellent Blanco had shot this fellow Law instead of that Guzman! If only I could lay hands upon him here in Mexico! Ha! There would be something to print in the American papers." He began to dress himself feverishly, m
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152  
153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
general
 

cousin

 

listened

 

Panfilo

 

intend

 
Palmas
 
divinity
 

blessed

 
Guzman
 

Longorio


Pueblo

 

finest

 
bright
 

presented

 
visitor
 

thought

 
frequently
 
husband
 

fellow

 

Blanco


excellent

 

feverishly

 

papers

 

American

 

Mexico

 

flying

 

poisoned

 

breathed

 

Caramba

 

paradise


happened

 
suspicion
 

telling

 

friend

 

understand

 
befall
 

confidant

 
depicted
 

asserted

 
Amazement

Grande
 

Ricardo

 
village
 
othing
 

abominable

 

silent

 
moment
 

decided

 
Because
 

loyalty