The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-05-19


has changed terribly. fancy his once
magnificent strength Is breaking. IT,
It actually hurt me to look at him. !
couldn't have fetched him back here
not as he Is now. Bill did all any man
could do for another. We've all done
our best for Stewart. II you'd been
given chance perhaps you could have
saved him. But it's too late. Put 1t
out Of mind now, dear"
Madeline. however, did not forget
nor give It up. Days passed. and
each one brought additional gossip OF
Stewards headlong career toward the
Yuma penitentiary. For he had crossed
the line into .Cochise county, Arizona.
where sheriffs kept a stricter observ-
ance Of law. Finally a letter came
from friend Of Nels' In Chiricahua
saying that Stewart had been hurt in
brawl there. This epistle inclosed q
letter to Stewart from his sister. Evil
IDENTIFY, 1t had been found upon him.
It told story Of illness and made an
appeal for aid. Nels' friend forwarded
this letter without Stewards knowl-
edge, thinking Stillwell might care to
help Stewards family. Stewart had
no money, he said.
The sisters letter found It's way to
Madeline. She read It, tears In her
eyes. It told Madeline much more
than It's brief story of illness and pow.
erty and wonder why Gene had not
written home for so long It told Of
motherly love, sisterly love, brotherly
love-dear family ties that had not
been broken. It spoke Of pride in this
Ell Captain brother who had become
famous. It was signed "your loving
sister Lefty" .-..~
Not improbably, Madeline revolved
In her mind, this letter was one reason
for Stewards headstrong, long-contin-
ued abatement. It had been received
too late-after he had squandered the
money that would have meant SO much
to mother and sister. Be that as 1t
might, Madeline Immediately sent
bank draft to Stewards sister with a
letter explaining that the money was
drawn in advance on Stewards salary.
This done, she impulsively determined
to go to Chiricahua herself.
Nels, when Madeline asked him to
accompany her to Chiricahua, replied,
reluctantly, that he would rather fol-
low on his horse. However, she pre-
vailed over his hesitancy, and with
Florence also in the car they set out.
For miles and miles the valley road
was smooth, hard-packed, and slightly
downhill. And when speeding was
perfectly safe, Madeline was not
averse to it. And when the car
stopped In the wide, dusty street Of
Chiricahua Nels gladly tumbled out.
"Nels, we shall wait here in the car
while you find Stewart" said Made
line. ..,.....
Nels crossed the railroad track and
disappeared behind the low. fiat
houses. After little time he reap
peared. and hurried up to the car.
miss Hammond, found him." said
Nels. "He was sleepin'. I woke him.
He's sober an not bad hurt; but I
don't believe you ought to see him.
Mebbe Florence"
"Nels, want to see him myself.
Why not? What did he say when you
told him was hereT -.
"Shore didn't tell him that. jest
says, 'Hullo, Genep an he says, MY
Gawdl Nels mebbe amt glad to see
human bein'.. He asked me who was
with me, an I told him Link an some
friends. I said I'd fetch them in. He
hollered at thet But went, anyway.
Now, If you really will see him, Miss
Hammond, it's good chance. But
shore it's touchy matter, an you'll
be some sick at sight Of him. He's
layin' in Greaser hole over here.
Likely the Greasers hev been kind to
him. But they're shore poor lot"
Madeline did not hesitate moment.
'Thank you, Nels. Take me at once.
Come, Florence"
They left the car. now surrounded
by gapingeyed Mexican children, and
crossed the dusty space to narrow
lane between red adobe walls. Pass
ing by several houses, Nels stopped at
the door Of what appeared to be an
alleyway leading back. It was filthy.
"He's in there, round tibet first cor
ner. It's patio, open an sunny. An,
Miss Hammond, If you don't mind, I'll
wait here for you. I reckon Gene
wouldn't like any fellers around when
he sees you girls"
Florence, you wait ALSO" said
Madeline, at the doorway, and turned
in alone.
And she had stepped into broken.
down patio Uttered with alfalfa straw
and debris, all clear In the sunlight.
Upon a bench, back toward her, sat q
man looking out through the rents in
the broken wall. He had not heard
her. Madeline did not recognize Stew.
art. The side of his face exposed to
her was black, bruised, bearded. His
clothes were ragged and soiled. There
were bits Of alfalfa in his hair. His
shoulders sagged. He made wretched
and hopeless figure sitting there.
Madeline OWNED something Of why
Nels shrank from being present.
"Mr. Stewart. Il isl, Miss Ham.
mond, come to see you" she said.
He grew suddenly perfectly motion
less, as II he had been changed to
stone. She repeated her greeting.
His body jerked. He moved violent
~ as If instinctively to turn and face
this intruder; but a more violent
- r,