The Lamar register., 1923-05-16

ne was too late for its execution
Stewart lunged otrf, struck the va
quero, and knocked him off the porch.
As he fell a dagger glittered In the
sunlight and rolled clinking over the
stones. The man went down hard and
did not move. With the same abrupt
violence, and a manner of contempt,
Stewart threw HAVE off the porch
then Don Carlos, who, being less sup
pie. fell heavily. Then the mob backed
before Stewards rush until all were
down In the courtyard.
The shufiing of feet ceased the
clanking of spurs. and the shouting
Neis and Monty. now REINFORCED by
NICK Steele, were as shadows of Stew
art, so closely did they follow him.
Stewart waved them back and stepped
down into the yard. He was absolute
ly fearless; but what struck Madeline
so keenly was his magnificent disdain.
hanifestly, he knew the nature of the
men with whom he was dealing From
the look OF him 1t was natural for
Madeline to expect them to give way
before him. which they did. even Have
and his attendants sullenly retreating.
Don Carlos got up to confront Stew
art. The PROSTATE vaquero stirred
and moaned. but did not rise.
You needn't jibber Spanish to me-"
said Stewart. you can talk Ameri-
can, and you can understand Ameri-
can. If you start Il rough-h house here
you and your Greasers will be cleaned
up. You've got TO leave this ranch
You can have the stock. the packs and
traps in the second corral There's
grub. too. Saddle up and hit the trail.
Don Carlos. I'm dealing more than
square with you. You're lying about
these boxes of guns and cartridges.
You're breaking the laws OF my coun-
try, and you're doing IT on property In
my charge. II let smuggling ge IN
here I'd be implicated myself. Now
you get of the range. II you don't
I'll have the United States cavalry
here In six hours. and you can gamble
they'll get what my cowboys leave of
you"
Don Carlos was either Q capital ac.
tor and gratefully relieved at Stew
arts leniency or else he was thorough
ly cowed by references to the troops.
''Si. Senori Gracias, Senor" he ex-
claimed; and then, turning away. he
called to his men. They hurried after
him, while the fallen vaauero got to
his feet with Stewards help and stag
gered across the courtyard. In a mo-
ment they were gone, leaving Have
and his several comrades behind.
Have was spitefully ejecting a wad
of fnI.
ing In an undertone about "white-llv-
cred Greasers." He cooked his red
eye speculatively at Stewart.
"Wal. l reckon as you're so hell-bent
on doin II up brown thet you'll try TO
fire me ofrn the range. tooT'
IF ever do. Pat, you'll need to be
carried on" replied Stewart. "Just
now I'm politely inviting you and your
deputy sherifrs to leave"
"well go: but we're comm back
one Of these days, an when we do
we'll put you In irons"
Have. II you've got II in that bad
for me, come over here in the corral
and let's fight It out. You've got II In
for me. man To man. Speak up now
and prove you're not the cowardly
skunk I've always thought you. I've
called your hand"
Muttering, cursing, pallld of face,
Have climbed astride his horse. His
comrades followed suit. Certain It APP
peared that the sheriff was contend
ing with more than fear and wrath.
Savagely he spurred his horse. and as
1t snorted and leaped he turned In his !
saddle. shaking his fist. His comrades
led the way. with their horses clatter-
Ing into a canter. They disappeared
through the gate.
When, later in the day. Madeline and
Florence accompanied by Alfred and
Stillwell. left Don Carlos ranch II was
not any too soon for Madeline. The
inside OF the Mexican's home was
more unprepossessing and uncomfort-
able than the outside. The halls were
dark, the rooms huge. empty, and
musty and there was un air of silence
and secrecy and mystery about them
most fitting to the character Florence
had bestowed upon the place.