"
"I haven't been out that way since I was a boy. Think you'll lease
it?"
"I don't know. I must find some place for those La Feria cattle."
Austin shook his head. "Better leave 'em where they are, until the
rebels take that country. I stand mighty well with them."
"That's the trouble," Alaire told him. "You stand too well--so
well that I want to get my stock out of Federal territory as soon
as possible."
Ed shrugged carelessly. "Suit yourself; they're your cows."
The meal went on with a desultory flow of small talk, during which
the husband indulged his thirst freely. Alaire told him about the
accident to her horse and the unpleasant ordeal she had suffered
in the mesquite.
"Lucky you found somebody at the water-hole," Ed commented. "Who
was this Ranger? Never heard of the fellow," he commented on the
name. "The Rangers are nothing like they used to be."
"This fellow would do credit to any organization." As Alaire
described how expeditiously Law had made his arrest and handled
his man, her husband showed interest.
"Nicolas Anto, eh?" said he, "Who was his companero?"
"Panfilo Sanchez."
Ed started. "That's strange! They must have met accidentally.
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