"Yes. One of my riders just brought the news. I was afraid of this very
thing, and so I was preparing to bring the stock over. Still--I never
thought they'd actually confiscate it."
"Why shouldn't they?"
Alaire interrogated the speaker silently.
"Hasn't Ed done enough to provoke confiscation?" asked the Judge.
"Ed?"
"Exactly! Ed has made a fool of himself, and brought this on."
"You think so?"
"Well, I have it pretty straight that he's giving money to the Rebel
junta and lending every assistance he can to their cause."
"I didn't know he'd actually done anything. How mad!"
"Yes--for a man with interests in Federal territory. But Ed always does
the wrong thing, you know."
"Then I presume this confiscation is in the nature of a reprisal. But
the stock is mine, not Ed's. I'm an American citizen, and--"
"My dear, you're the first one I've heard boast of the fact," cynically
affirmed the Judge. "If you were in Mexico you'd profit more by
claiming allegiance to the German or the English or some other foreign
flag. The American eagle isn't screaming very loudly on the other side
of the Rio Grande just now, and our dusky neighbors have learned that
it's perfectly safe to pull his tail feathers."
"I'm surprised at you," Alaire smiled. "Just the same, I want your help
in taking up the matter with Washington."
Ellsworth was pessimistic. "It won't do any good, my dear," he said.
"You'll get your name in the papers, and perhaps cause another
diplomatically worded protest, but there the matter will end. You won't
be paid for your cattle."
"Then I shall go to La Feria."
"No!" The Judge shook his head decidedly.
"I've been there a hundred times. The Federals have always been more
than courteous."
"Longorio has a bad reputation. I strongly advise against your going."
"Why, Judge, people are going and coming all the time! Mexico is
perfectly safe, and I know the country as well as I know Las Palmas."
"You'd better send some man."
"Whom can I send?" asked Alaire. "You know my situation."
The Judge considered a moment before replying. "I can't go, for I'm
busy in court. You could probably accomplish more than anybody else, if
Longorio will listen to reason, and, after all, you are a person of
such importance that I dare say you'd be safe. But it will be a hard
trip, and you won't know whether you are in Rebel or in Federal
territory."
"Well, people here are asking whether Texas is in the United States or
Mexico," Alaire said, lightly, "Sometimes I hardly know." After a
moment she continued: "Since you know everything and everybody, I
wonder if you ever met a David Law?"