Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-09-19

nsn'lin nIsnt clear this murky air.
Whatever Gene Stewart did that on.
lucky night-you tell it,
Madeline's dignity and self-nosses-
sion had been disturbed by Stewards
Importantly. She broke into swift d,s-
connected speech:
HE came into the station faw
minutes after got there, I asked-+o
be shown to q hotel. He said tharo
wasn't any that would accommodate
married women. He grasped nv hand
Looked for a wedding-ring. Then 7
saw he was-he was intoxicated. He
told me ne would go for hotel porter
But he came back with padre-Psdr a
Marcos. The poor priest was-terr,hlv
frightened. SO was I. Stewart had
turned into devil. He fired his gun
at the padres feet. He pushed me
onto a bench. Again ne shot-ripht
before my face. II nearly tainted
But l heard him cursing the padre
heard the padre praying or CHANTING
didn't know what. Stewart tried to
make me say things in Spanish. All
at once he asked my name. I told
him. lie Jerked at my veil. took II
off. Then he threw his gun down
pushed the padre out of the door That
was Just before the vaoueros an
preached with Bonita. Padre Marcos
must have seen them-must have heard
them. After that Stewart grew quick
ly sober. He told me he had been
drinking at wedding-I remember. II
was Ed Unions wedding. Then he ex-
plained-the boys were always gam
bling-he wagered he would marry the
first girl who arrived at Ell Caion. I
happened to be the first one. He tried
to force me to marry him. The rest
relating to the assault on the vaquero
Il have already told you"
Madeline ended, out of breath and
painting, with her hands pressed upon
her heaving bosom.
Have rolled his red eyes and threw
back his head.
"Ho, no, hol Ho, no, hoi Say.
Sneed, you didn't miss any Of 1t, did
We? HHaw, hawl Best 1 ever heerd In
dll lA4y OOlA QdyS. 11O. no J.
Then he ceased laughing, and with
glinting gaze upon Madeline, insolent
and vicious and savage, he began to
drawl:
"Wal now, my lady, 1 reckon your
story, II 1t TALES with Bonita's an
Padre Marcos, will clear Gene Stew
art in the eyes Of the court" Here he
grew slower, more biting, sharper and
harder Of face. 'But you needn't ex-
pect Pat Have or the court to swcller
tibet part Of your story-about bein'
detained unwillin' /"
Madeline had not time to grasp the
sense Of his last words. Stewart had
convulsively sprung upward, white as
chalk. AS he leaped at Have Stillwell
1nterposed his huge bulk and wrapped
his arms around Stewart There was
brief, whirling, wrestling struggle.
Stewart appeared to be besting the old
cattleman
Help, boys, help" yelled Stillwell.
II can't hold him. Hurry, or there's
goin' to be blood spilled!"
Nick Steele and several cowboys
leaped to Stillwell's assistance.
Gene! Why, Gene" painted the old
cattleman. "Sure you're locoed-to act
this way. Cool down. Cool down
Why, boy, it's all right. Jest stand
still-give us a chance to talk to you.
It's only ole Bill, you know-your ole
pal who's tried to be daddy to you.
He's only wantin' you to hev sense-to
be cool-to wait"
'Let me go! Let me goi" cried
Stewart; and the poignancy Of that cry
pierced Madeline's heart. Let me go,
Bill, If you're my friend. 1 saved your
life once-over In the desert. You