The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-07-28
CHAPTER XVII
Don Carlos.

Oon OdfiOS.
Stewart took Nels, Monty and Nick
Steele aside, out of earshot, and they
evidently entered upon an earnest col.
loquy. Presently the other cowboys
were called. They all talked more or
less, but the deep voice of Stewart
predominated over the others. Then
the consultation broke up, and the
cowboys scattered.
Hustle, you Indians!" ordered
Stewart.
The ensuing scene of action was not
reassuring to Madeline and her friends.
They were quiet, awaiting some one
to tell them what to do. At the offset
the cowboys appeared to have for
gotten Madeline. Some Of them ran
off into the woods, others into the open,
grassy places, where they rounded up
the horses and burros. Several cow
boys spread tarpaulins upon the
ground and began to select and roll
small packs, evidently for hurried
travel. Nels mounted his horse to ride
down the trail Monty and Nick Steele
went off into the grove, leading their
horses. Stewart climbed up a steep
tumble of stone between two sections
of low, cracked cliff back of the camp.
Madeline's friends all importuned
her: Was there real danger? We're
the guerrillas coming? Would start
be made at once for the ranch? Why
had the cowboys suddenly become so
different? Madeline answered as best
she could; but her replies were only
conjecture, and modified to allay the
fears of her guests. Helen was in a
white glow Of excitement.
Soon the cowboys appeared riding
barebacked horses, driving in others
and the burros. Some of these horses
were taken away and evidently hidden
in deep recesses between the crags.
The string of burrOs were packed and
sent off down the trail in charge Of
cowboy. Nick Steele and Monty re-
turned. Then Stewart appeared,
clambering down the break between
the cliffs.
His next move was to order all the
baggage belonging to Madeline and
her. guests taken up the cliff. This
was strenuous toll, requiring the need
of lassoes to haul up the effects.
"Get ready to climb" said Stewart,
turning to Madeline's party.
"Where?" asked Helen.
He waved his hand at the ascent to
lowed his gesture.
"Mr. Stewart, is there danger?"
asked Dorothy; and her voice trem-
bled.
This was the question Madeline had
upon her lips to ask Stewart, but she
could not speak 1T.
"No, there's no danger" replied
Stewart, ''but we're taking precautions
we all agreed on as best"
Dorothy whispered that she believed
Stewart lied. Castleton asked another
question, and then Harvey followed
suit. Mrs. Beck made a timid query.
"Please keep quiet and do as you're
told" said Stewart, bluntly.
At this juncture, when the last of
the baggage was being hauled up the
cliff, Monty approached Madeline and
removed his sombrero. His black face
seemed the same, yet this was vastly
changed Monty.
'Miss Hammond, I'm givin' notice I
resign my job" he said.
Monty! What do you mean? What
does Nels mean now, when danger
threatens?"
1--WE jest quit. That's ALL" replied
Monty, tersely. He was stern and
somber; he could not stand still; his
eyes roved everywhere.
Castleton jumped up from the log
where he had been sitting, and his
face was very red.
"Mr Price, does all this blooming
fuss mean we are to be robbed or at
tackled or abducted by lot of raga.
muffin .guerrillas?'
you've called the bet"
Dorothy turned a very pale face
toward Monty.
"Mr Price, you wouldn't-you
couldn't desert us now? You and Mr..
Nels-'
desert your" asked Monty, blankly
eyes, desert us. Leave US when we
may need you so much, with some
thing dreadful coming"
Monty uttered short, hard laugh
as he bent a strange look upon the
girl.
me an Nels is purity much scared
an we're goin' to slope. Miss Dor
othy, bein' as we've rustled round SO
much, it sorta hurts US to see nice
young girls dragged off by the hair"
Dorothy uttered little cry and ther
became hysterical. Castleton for once
was fully aroused.
by Cad! You and your partner
ARE a couple of blooming towards
Where now Is that courage you boosted
Oft" ~ =. ~. rs.
Monty's dark face expressed extreme
sarcasm. -.-. -u.
"Dook. in my time I've seen some
bright fellers, but you take the cake
It's most marvellous how bright yor
are. Figger'n' me an Nels 50 correct