Some one interrupted, and Dave saw that it was the local
sheriff--evidently it was he who had waved from the speeding machine a
few moments before.
"I'm glad you're here, Dave, for you can give me a hand. I'm going to
round up these Mexicans right away and find out what they know. Whoever
did it hasn't gone far; so you act as my deputy and see what you can
learn."
When Dave had regained better control of himself he took Benito
outdoors and demanded full details of the tragedy. With many
lamentations and incoherencies, the range boss told what he knew.
Ed had met his death within a half-mile of Las Palmas as he rode home
for dinner. Benito, himself on his way to the house, had found the
body, still warm, near the edge of the pecan-grove. He had retained
enough sense to telephone at once to Jonesville, and then--Benito
hardly knew what he had done since then, he was so badly shaken by the
tragedy.
"What time did it happen?"
"It was noon when I came in."
Dave consulted his watch, and was surprised to discover that it was now
only a few minutes past one. It was evident, therefore, that Benito had
indeed lost no time, and that his alarm had met with instant response.
"Now tell me, who did it?"
Benito flung his hands high. "God knows! Some enemy, of course; but Don
Eduardo had many."
"Not that sort of enemies. There was nobody who could wish to kill him."
"That is as it is."
"Haven't you any suspicions?"
"No, señor."
"You say Mrs. Austin is gone?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Dave spoke brusquely: "Come, Benito; you must know, for your wife went
with her. Are you trying to keep something back?"
"No, no! As God is my judge!" Benito declared, "I didn't know they were
going until the very last, and even then Dolores would tell me nothing.
We were having bad times here at Las Palmas; there were stormy scenes
yonder in the house. Señor Ed was drinking again, you understand? The
señora had reason to go."
"You think she ran away to escape him?"
"Exactly."
Dave breathed more easily, for this seemed to settle Strange's theory.
The next instant, however, his apprehensions were doubled, for Benito
added:
"No doubt she went to La Feria."
Law uttered an incredulous exclamation. "Not THERE! Surely she wouldn't
go to La Feria at such a time. Why, that country is ablaze. Americans
are fleeing from Mexico."
"I hadn't thought of that," Benito confessed. "But if she didn't go
there, where did she go? Saints above! It is a fine condition of
affairs when a wife keeps secrets from her husband, eh? I suppose
Dolores feared I would tell Don Eduardo, God rest his soul! This much I
do know, however: not long ago there came a letter from General
Longorio, offering settlement for those cattle he stole in his
government's name. Dolores told me the señora was highly pleased and
was going to Mexico for her money. It was a mark of Longorio's favor,
you understand me? He's a great--friend, an ardent admirer." Benito
winked. "Dolores told me all about that, too. No, I think they went to
La Feria."
Dave remembered his first conversation with Phil Strange and the
fortune-teller's insistence that some powerful person was behind José
Sanchez. More than three weeks ago Strange had forecast something very
like murder of Ed Austin. Dave felt as if he were the victim of an
hysterical imagination. Nevertheless, he forced himself to ask, quietly:
"Is José Sanchez anywhere about?"