The Raymer enterprise., 1923-09-13
CHAPTER XXI
The aide.

The Ride.
"Stillwell!"
The old cattleman stood mute BE-
fore her, staring at her white face, at
her eyes Of fame.
"Stillwell. l am Stewards wife!"
MY Gawd. Miss Majesty" he burst
out. II knowed somethin' turrible was
wrong. Aw. sure It's pity"
"Do you think I'll let him be shot
when know him now, when I'm no
longer blind. when l love himT she
asked, with passionate swiftness. Il
will save him. This Is Wednesday
morning. / have thirty-six hours to
save his life. StillwelL send for Link
and the carr"
She went into her office. Her mind
worked with extraordinary rapidity
and clearness. Her plan. born In one
lightninglike flash Of thought, necessi.
tated the careful wording Of kilograms
TO Washington. TO New York, to San
Antonio. These were to senators. rep
resentatives, men high In public and
private life. men who would remember
her and who would serve her to their
utmost. Never before had her posi-
ton meant anything to her comparable
with what 1t meant now. Never In all
her life had money seemed the power
that II was then. II she had bee.
poor! A shuddering chill froze the
thought at its inception. She dlspelIed
heartbreaking thoughts. She had
power. She had wealth. She would
set into operation all the unlimited
means these gave her-the wires and
pulleys and strings underneath the sur.
face Of political and International life.
the open. free. purchasing value Of
money or the deep, underground. mys-
terious, intellectually powerful infiu.
ence moved by gold. She could save
Stewart.
When she went outside the car was
there with Link, helmet In hand, a
cool, bright CLEAN In his eyes, and with
stillwell, losing his haggard misery,
beginning to respond to Madeline's
spirit.
"Link, drive StIllwell to Fl Cajon in
time for him to catch the FL Paso
train,' she said. "Wait there for his
return and If any message comes
from him. telephone 1t at once to me-"
Then she gave Stillwell the kilograms
TO send from FL Cnjon and drafts to
cash In FL Paso. She instructed him
to go before the rebel junta, then sta.
toned ut Juarez, to explain the sltua-
tion, to bid them expect communlca-
tions from Washington officials re-
questlng and advising Stewards ex.
change as a prisoner Of war. to offer
to buy his release from the rebel au-
thorltles.
There was a crack, a muffled sound
bursting into roar. and the big car
jerked forward to bound over the edge
Of the slope, to leap down the long in
cline, to shoot out upon the level val.
ley floor and disappear in moving dust.
Madeline endured patiently, endured
for long interminable hours while hold.
Ing to hope with indomltable will.
No message came. At sunset she
went outdoors. suffering a torment of
accumulating suspense. Night fell.
She prayed for the sun not to rise, not
to begin Its short twelve-hour journey
toward what might be fatal setting
for Stewart. But the dawn did tighten,
swiftly she thought, renorselessly.
Daylight had broken, and this was
Thursday.
Sharp ringing at the telephone hell
startled her, reused her into action.
She ran to answer the call.
Observation-Disclosures Majesty" came
the hurried reply. "This 8 Link talk,
in. Messages for you. Favorable, the
operator said. I'm to ride out with
them. I'll come a.hummin'."
That was all. Madeline heard the
bang Of the receiver as Stevens threw
1t down. Favorable! Then Stillwell
had been successful. Her heart leapad