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. Senor Ed was drinking again, you understand? The senora 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 senora 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 Jose 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 Jose Sanchez anywhere about?" The range boss shrugged. "I sent him to the east pasture this morning." "Did he go?" "Eh? So! You suspect Jose of this. God in heaven! Jose is a wild boy--But wait! I'll ask Juan if he saw him; yes, and Victoria, too. That is Victoria you hear squalling in the kitchen. Wait here." Benito hurried away, leaving Dave a prey to perplexity; but he was back again in a few moments. His face was grave. "Jose did not go to the east pasture," he said. "Where is he now?" "No one seems to know." Law walked to his horse, mounted, and galloped away. Benito, who watched him, saw that he turned toward the river road which led to the Las Palmas pumping-plant.