The Raymer enterprise., 1923-08-30

began to have q better understanding
Of the nature Of 1t when they cast OF
restraint and pressed forward to kiss
the bride. In all her life Madeline
had never seen q bride kissed SO much
and 30 heartily, nor one - flushed
and disheveled and happy. This In
deed was joyful occasion.
The dinner began quietly enough
with the cowboys divided between en-
barrassment and voracious appetites
that they evidently feared to indulge.
Wine, however, loosened their tongues,
and when Stlllwell got up to make the
speech everybody seemed TO expect Of
him they greeted him with roar.
Stillwell was now one huge. noun
famous smile. He was so happy that
be appeared on the verge Of tears. He
rambled on ecstatlcally till he came
to raise his glass.
"An' now. girls an boys. let's all
drink TO the bride an groom: to their
sincere nm lastin' love; to their hap
piness an prosperity; to their good
health an long life. Let's drink to
the unitin' Of the East with the West.
No man full Of red blood an the real
breath Of lie could resist Western
girl an good hoss an Gods free
hand-that open country out there.
SO we claim al Hammond, an may
We be true to him. An. friends, !
think II Httin' that we drink to his
sister an to our hopes. Heah's to the
lady we hope to make our Majesty !!
Heahs TO the man who'll come ridin'
out Of the West. fine. blg-hearted
man with q fast hoss an strong
rope, an may he win an hold her !
come. friends, drink"
A heavy pound Of horses hoofs and
yell outside arrested StIllwells
voice and halted his hand In mldair.
The patio became as silent as an
unoccupled room.
Through the open doors and win
dows of Madeline's chamber burst the
sounds Of horses stamping to halt.
then harsh speech Of men, and low
cry Of a woman In pain.
Rapid steps crossed the porch, en-
tered Madellne's room. Nels appeared
In the doorway. Madeline was sur
prised to See that he had not been
ut the dlnner.table. She was dis
turbed at sight Of. his face.
Stewart, you're wanted outdoors" !"
called Nels, bluntly. monty, you
slope out here with me. You, Nick.
m Stlllwell-I reckon the rest Of you
he'd better shut the dors an stay In
side"
Nels disappeared. Quick as a cat
Monty gllded out. Madeline heard
his soft. swift steps pass from her
room into her office. He had left his
guns there. Madeline trembled. She
saw Stewart get up quietly and with
out any change Of expression on his
dark. sad face leave the patio. Nick
Steele followed him. StlllweIl dropped
his wineglass. As 1t broke, shivering
the silence. his huge smile vanished.
His face set into the old cragginess
and the red slowly thickened into
black. Stlllwell went out and closed
the door behind him.
Then there was blank silence. The
enjoyment Of fhe moment had been
rudely disrupted. Madeline glanced
down the lines Of brown faces to see
the pleasure fade into the old familiar
hardness.
whats wrongT asked Alfred, rath.
er stupldly. The change of mood had
been too rapid for him. Suddenly
he awakened. thoroughly aroused at
toe interruption. I'm going to see
who's butted In here to spoil our din
ner," he said, and strobe out.
He returned before any one at the
table had spoken or moved. and now
The dull red Of anger mottled his fore
head.
IT'S the sheriff Of FL Cajon!" he
exclaimed, contemptuously. "Pat
Have with some Of his touch dep