Longorio's
lieutenant hovered near, and Jose, as before, was news-gatherer.
Hour after hour they crept toward the border, until at last they
were again laid out on a siding for an indefinite wait.
The occasion for this was made plain when an engine drawing a
single caboose appeared. Even before it had come to a pause a tall
figure in spotless uniform leaped to the ground and strode to the
waiting coaches. It was Luis Longorio. He waved a signal to the
conductor, then swung aboard the north-bound train.
The general was all smiles as he came down the and bowed low over
Alaire's hand.
Dolores gasped and stiffened in her seat like a woman of stone.
"God be praised! You are safe and well!" said the new-comer. "I
have blamed myself for allowing you to take this abominable
journey! I have been in torment lest something befall you. Every
night I have prayed that you might be spared all harm. When I
received word that you were coming I made all speed to meet you."
"Dolores and I are greatly in your debt," Alaire told him.
"But you stayed so long!"
"There was more work than I thought. General, you have ruined me."
Longorio was pained; his face became ineffably sad.
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