Part 42 (1/2)
”I can't keep you, eh?” he growled. ”Well, perhaps not. I suppose you've got enough on me to secure a divorce, but I can air some of your dirty linen. Oh, don't look like that! I mean it! Didn't you spend a night with David Law?” He leered at her unpleasantly, then followed a step as she drew back.
”Don't you touch me!” she cried.
A flush was deepening Ed's purple cheeks; his voice was peculiarly brutal and throaty as he said: ”The decree isn't entered yet, and so long as you are Mrs. Austin I have rights. Yes, and I intend to exercise them. You've made me jealous, and, by G.o.d--” He made to encircle her with his arms and was half successful, but when Alaire felt the heat of his breath in her face a sick loathing sprang up within her, and, setting her back against the wall, she sent him reeling. Whether she struck him or merely pushed him away she never knew, for during the instant of their struggle she was blind with indignation and fury. Profiting by her advantage, she dodged past him, fled to her room, and locked herself in.
She heard him muttering profanely; heard him approach her chamber more than once, then retire uncertainly, but she knew him too well to be afraid.
Later that night she wrote two letters--one to Judge Ellsworth, the other to Dave Law.
Jose Sanchez rode to the Morales house feeling some concern over the summons that took him thither. He wondered what could have induced General Longorio to forsake his many important duties in order to make the long trip from Nuevo Pueblo; surely it could be due to no lack of zeal on his, Jose's, part. No! The horse-breaker flattered himself that he had made a very good spy indeed; that he had been Longorio's eyes and ears so far as circ.u.mstances permitted. Nor did he feel that he had been lax in making his reports, for through Rosa he had written the general several lengthy letters, and just for good measure these two had conjured up sundry imaginary happenings to prove beyond doubt that Senora Austin was miserably unhappy with her husband and ready to welcome such a das.h.i.+ng lover as Longorio. Therefore Jose could not for the life of him imagine wherein he had been remiss. Nevertheless, he was uneasy, and he hoped that nothing had occurred to anger his general.
But Longorio, when he arrived at the meeting-place, was not in a bad humor. Having sent Rosa away on some errand, he turned to Jose with a flas.h.i.+ng smile, and said:
”Well, my good friend, the time has come.”
Now Jose had no faintest idea what the general was talking about, but to be called the good friend of so ill.u.s.trious a person was flattering.
He nodded decisively.
”Yes, beyond doubt,” he agreed.
”Mexico is in a bad way. These rebels are growing by the thousands; they overrun the country like ants. You read the papers, eh?”
”Sometimes; when there are enough pictures,” said Jose.
”Ha! Then I doubt if you know what is happening. Well, I'll have to tell you. Our enemies have taken all northern Mexico except that part which is under my control; but they are pus.h.i.+ng toward me from two sides, and I prepare to retreat. That is not the worst, however; the Gringos are hoping to profit by Mexico's distress; they are making ready to invade our Fatherland, and every Mexican must fight or become a slave.”
This was indeed news! Jose began patriotically cursing the whole American people.
”Understand, I make you my confidant because I think a great deal of you, Jose.” The general laid an affectionate hand upon Jose's shoulder.
”The first time I saw you I said: 'There's a boy after my own heart. I shall learn to love that Jose, and I shall put him in the way of his fortune.' Well, I have not changed my mind, and the time is come. You are going to help me and I am going to help you.”
Jose Sanchez thrilled with elation from head to foot. This promised to be the greatest day of his life, and he felt that he must be dreaming.
”You haven't tired of Rosa, eh? You still wish to marry her?” Longorio was inquiring.
”Yes. But, of course, I'm a poor man.”
”Just so. I shall attend to that. Now we come to the object of my visit. Jose, I propose to make you rich enough in one day so that you can marry.”
”But first, wait!” exclaimed the horse-breaker. ”I bring you something of value, too.” Desiring to render favor for favor, and to show that he was fully deserving of the general's generosity, Jose removed from inside the sweatband of his hat a sealed, stamped letter, which he handed to his employer. ”Yesterday I carried the mail to town, but as I rode away from Las Palmas the senora handed me this, with a silver dollar for myself. Look! It is written to the man we both hate.”
Longorio took the letter, read the inscription, and then opened the envelope. Jose looked on with pleasure while he spelled out the contents.
When the general had finished reading, he exclaimed: ”Ho! A miracle!
Now I know all that I wish to know.”