Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-08-09
CHAPTER xIII.-contInued.

NoWs othiNciis oAt WIN IT. nhr
said, briefly.
.wal, Miss Majesty, there's goin' to
be a fight somewhere, an Stewart
wanted to get you-all In before 1t come
of. He says the valleys everrun by
vaqueros an guerrlllas an robbers, an
Lord knows what else"
He stamped Off the porch, his huge
spurs rattlIng. and started down the
path toward the waiting men.
Stewart stood In his familiar atten-
tive position, erect, silent. with a
hand on pommel and bride.
Stewart. you are exceedingly
thoughtful Of my interests" she said,
wanting to thank him, and not readily
finding words. 81 would not know
what to do without you. Ii there ian
ger7'
"Tm not sure. But I want to be on
the safe side.F
She hesitsted. Tt was no longer easy
for her to talk TO him, and she did not
know why.
May I know the special orders you
gave Nels and Nick and Monty?' she
asked.
"Of course TIL tell you II You insist.
Ny orders were that at least n OF
them must be on guard near you day
and r~ight-never to be out of hearing
If your voice"
II thought as much. Stewart, you
still think Don Carlos tried to make
off with me--may try 1t again3'
II don't think. I know"
"And besides all your other duties
you have shared the watch with these
three cowboys7"
yes
at has been going On without my
knowledge7 How long is 1t to con-
timer"
That's hard TO say. TIL the revo-
tuition is over, anyhow"
She unused a moment, looking away
10 the west. where the great void was
filling with red haze. She believed Inn
plicitly In him. and the menace hover
Ing near her fell like a shadow upon
her present happiness.
"What must / do?" she asked.
II think you ought TO send your
friends back East-and go with them.
until this guerrilla war Is over"
why. Stewart. they would be
broken-hearted, and so would l."
He had no reply for that.
III I do not take your advice II viii
be the first time since I have come 10
look to you for so much" she went on.
"Cannot you suggest something elsef
My friends are having such a splendid
visit. Helen is getting well. oh. I
should be sorry to see them go before
they want to-"
"We might take them up into the
mountains and camp out for a while"
he said. presently. Il know a wild
place up among the crags. It's n hard
climb, but worth the work. | never
saw a more beautiful spot. Fine wa
ter. and 1t will be cool. Pretty soon
It'll be too hot here for your party to
go out-of-doors."
"You mean to hide me away among
the crags and cloudsr" replied Made
line. with a laugh.
"Well, It'd amount to that. Your
friends need not know. Perhaps in a
few weeks this spell Of trouble on the
border will be over till fall"
you say it's a hard climb up to this
pIace1"
ut surely is. Your friends will get
the real thing If they make that trip"
THAT suits me. Helen especially
wants something to happen. Very
III AAf44 0x~- --..--- |
you will take charged 1 don't believe
T. Stewart, isn't there something
more you could tell newly you
think, why you know my own personal
liberty is In peril7"
Eyes. But do not ask me what 1t is.
Ii I hadn't been a rebel soldier I would
never have known"
"If you had not been a rebel soldier,
where would Madeline Hammond be
now7' she asked, earnestly.
He made no reply.
Stewart" she continued, with warm
impulse. you once mentioned a debt
you ow ed me-" And seeing his dark
face pale, she ~wavered, then went on.
lit Is paid"
Nos Bos ludt never can De pHiu. /
Madeline held out her hand. H
ut Is paid. 1 tell you" she repeated.
Suddenly he drew back from me
0utstretched white hand that seemed
70 fasclnafe him.
I'D kill a man to touch your hand.
But / won't touch II on the terms you
offer"
His unexpected passion disconnected
her.
Stewart. no man ever before no
fused to shake hands with me, for any
reason Tit IL scarcely hattering."
she said. with = little laugh. why
Whit your Because you think I offer
II ~ mistress to ssrvant-rancher to
cowboyf"
mo-
~xhen vhyf- The debt you owed me
n raid. I cancel IT, So why not shake
Apnte nYsn n. ~ men dot"
y srnsF. That's az