Part 55 (1/2)

”No!” Law declared, firmly. ”You wouldn't ask it if you were in your senses. Get me a gun and I'll shoot my way out. We'll go until they stop us. But don't ask me to leave you.”

She searched his face eagerly, piteously, then with a quivering sigh relaxed her tension. ”Then we've only made matters worse. You've spoiled our only chance.”

Father O'Malley, who had been lost in thought, spoke up again: ”Perhaps you will let me try my wits. But first, do I understand that it was he who effected the death of--Mr. Austin?”

Dave recounted as coherently as he could the circ.u.mstances of Ed's death, and told how he had learned, through Jose, of Longorio's intentions. As the priest listened a spot of color grew in his cheeks, his eyes glowed with indignation. He was about to make known what was in his mind when Alaire raised her hand and in a strained whisper exclaimed:

”'Sh-h! Listen!”

The heavy door of the hacienda creaked, a quick tread sounded on the tiles, the door to the living-room was flung open, and Longorio entered. He was hot and dusty from his ride, but with a lover's impetuosity he had made straight for this lighted room.

For the briefest instant he balanced himself just inside the portal, and the smile remained fixed upon his lips. Then his eyes became ringed with white and he made a swift, catlike movement of retreat. Plainly this was the supremest surprise of his lifetime, and he seemed to doubt his senses. But he recovered quickly. Thrusting his head forward, he demanded:

”What is this? You--and you?” He stared from Dave to the priest, then back again.

They all spoke at once, but he heard only Alaire's words:

”He came to find me.”

Pancho appeared in the doorway behind Longorio, saying, ”I heard you ride up, sir, so I ran to tell you about this fellow.”

But the general cut him short. ”Call your men, quick,” he cried in a voice that sent the soldier leaping back into the night.

Alaire was clinging to Dave, merely clutching him the tighter when he tried to unclasp her hold. Her movement into the shelter of his rival's arms infuriated Longorio, who uttered an exclamation and fumbled uncertainly with his holster. But his fingers were clumsy. He could not take his eyes from the pair, and he seemed upon the point of rus.h.i.+ng forward to tear them apart.

”Don't touch her! Don't--” he began, cursing in a high-pitched voice.

”G.o.d! What a reckoning!” Then he stamped his feet, he wrung his hands, he called shrilly at the top of his voice: ”Lieutenant! Ho, Pancho! You fellows! Quickly!” Under the stress of his excitement the feminine side of his character betrayed itself.

Alaire felt her newly made husband gather himself for a spring; he was muttering to her to release him; he was trying to push her aside, but she held fast with the strength of desperation.

”You can't harm us,” she declared, flinging her words defiantly at the Mexican. ”You dare not. You are too late. Father O'Malley has just married us.”

Longorio uttered a peculiar, wordless cry of dismay; his mouth fell open; his arms dropped; he went limp all over, paralyzed momentarily by surprise and horror; his eyes protruded; he swayed as if his sight had blurred.

”I said I'd never marry you,” she rushed on, vibrantly. ”This is the man I love--the only man. Yes, and I've learned the truth about you. I know who killed Mr. Austin.”

Longorio did a very unexpected thing then; slowly, unconsciously, as if the movement were the result of a half-forgotten training, he crossed himself.

But now from the hall at his back came the pounding of boot-heels, and a half dozen panting troopers tumbled through the door. He waved them back and out into the hall again.

Father O'Malley, who had been trying to make himself heard, stepped in front of the general and said, solemnly: ”Take care what you do, Longorio. I have married these people, and you can't undo what I have done. We are American citizens. The laws of civilization protect us.”

The Mexican fought for his voice, then stammered: ”You are my priest; I brought you here. I offered to marry her. Now--you force me to d.a.m.n my soul.” Turning his eyes wildly upon Alaire, he shouted: ”Too late, eh?

You say I am too late! It seems that I am barely in time.”

Dave added his words to the others: ”You are ten to one, but you can't have her,” he cried, defiantly. ”Jose Sanchez confessed to the murder of Mr. Austin, and told how you had got Mrs. Austin to come here. The whole thing is known in Was.h.i.+ngton and Mexico City by this time. The newspapers have it; everybody knows you are keeping her as your prisoner, and that I have come for her. If she is harmed, all Mexico, all the world, will know that you are worse than a murderer.”

Longorio reached behind his back and slammed the door in the faces of his listening men.

”What is this? What did Jose confess?” he inquired, sharply.