The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-06-23

the rest Other changed life.
There was never q day that some
thing interesting was not brought to
her notice. Sillwell, who had cease
lessly reproached himself for riding
away the morning Madeline was cap
tured, grew more like an anxious par
emit than faithful superintendent. He
was never at ease regarding her unless
he was near the ranch or had left
Stewart there, or else Nels and Nick
Steele. Naturally. he trusted more to
Stewart than to any one else.
Miss Majesty, it's sure amazin'
strange about Gene" said the old cat
tleman. as he tramped into Madeline's
Office.
whats the matter nowT' she in
quired.
oval, Gene has rustled off into the
mountains again. He's sneaked off,
an Nels, who was down to the lower
trail, saw him meet somebody that
looked like Padre Marcos. Wal, went
down to the church, and, sure enough,
Padre Marcos is gone. What do you
think of that, Miss Majesty"
Maybe Stewart is getting religious,"
laughed Madeline. LET him take his
mysterious trips into the mountains.
Here, Stillwell, have news for you
that may give you reason for worry.
have letters from home. And my sis
ter, with a party of friends, is coming
out to visit me. They are society folk,
and one of them is an English lord.
Let me read you few extracts from
my mail"
Madeline took up her sisters letter
with strange sensation Of how cas-
lily sight of a crested monogram and
scent Of delicately perfumed paper
could recall the brilliant life she had
given up. She scanned the pages of
beautiful handwriting. Helen seldom
wrote letters, and she never read any
thing, not even popular novels of the
day. She was as absolutely ignorant
of the West as the Englishman, who,
she said, expected to hunt buffalo and
fight Indians. Moreover, there was u
satiric note in the letter that Made
line did not like, and which reused
her spirit.
When she finished reading aloud
few paragraphs the old cattleman
snorted and his face grew redder.
did your sister write that?" he
asked. "Does she think we're lot Of
wild men from Borneo?"
"Evidently she does. I rather think
she is in for a surprise. Now, Still
well, you are clever and you can see
the situation. want my guests to en-
joy their stay here, but do not want
that to be at the expense of the feel
ings of all Of us, or even any one.
Helen will bring li~ely crowd.
They'll crave excitement-the unusual.
Let us see that they are not disap-
pointed. You take the boys into your
confidence. Tell them what to expect,
and tell them how to meet 1t. shall
help you in that. I want the boys to
be on dress-parade when they are off
duty. I want them to be on their
most elegant behavior. do not care
what they do, what measures they
take to protect themselves, what tricks
they contrive, so long as they do not
overstep the limit of kindness and
courtesy. I want them to play their
parts seriously, naturally, as if they
had lived no other way. My guests
expect to have fun. Let us meet them
with fun. Now what do you say?"
StillweIl rose, his great bulk tower
ing. his huge face beaming.
oval, I say it's the most amazin'
fine idee 1 ever heerd in my life"
Indeed, am glad you like it," went
on Madeline. "Come to me again,
Stillwell, after you have spoken to
the boys. But, now that have sug-
gested it, I am a little afraid. You
know what cowboy fun is. Perhaps"
"Don't you go back on that idee,"
interrupted Stillwell. He was assur-
ing and bland, but his hurry to con-
vince Madeline betrayed him. Leave
the boys to me. Why, don't they all
swear by you, same as the Mexicans
do to the Virgin? They won't disgrace
you, Miss Majesty. They'll be simply
immense. It'll beat any show you ever
| seen."
II believe it WILL" replied Madeline.
Every we'll, we will consider it settled.
MY guests will arrive on May ninth.
Meanwhile let us get Her Majesty's
Rancho in shape for this invasion"
On the afternoon of the ninth of
May, perhaps half an hour after Made
line had received a telephone message
from Link Stevens announcing the ar
rival of her guests at Ell Cajon, Flor
ence called her out upon the porch.
Stillweu was there with his face wrin-
killed. by his wonderful smile and his
eagle eyes riveted upon the distant
valley. Far away, perhaps twenty
miles, a thin streak of white dust rose
from the valley floor and slanted sky
ward.
"Look" said Florence, excitedly.
what Is that?" asked Madeline.
Link Stevens and the automobile !"
"Oh no! Why, it's only few min
utes since he telephoned saying the
party had just arrived"
"Take look with the glasses" said
Florence.
One glance through the powerful
binoculars convinced Madeline that
Florence was right. And another
glance at Stillwell told her that he was
speeches. with delight. oval, as Nels
says, wouldn't be in that there Of