The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-06-30

naQ never before encountered In the
look Of any man. Probably its strange
ness had made her notice it and &C
counted for her blushing. The longer
she lived among these outdoor men
the more they surprised her. Particu-
larry. how incomprehensible was this
cowboy Stewart! Why should he have
pride or Joy at sight Of her? ~
The approaching automobile was on
the slope now, some miles down the
long gradual slant. Its velocity was
astounding. Long, gray wells, like pen
nants. streamed in the wind. A low
rushing sound became perceptible, and
1t grew louder, became q roar. The
car shot like an arrow past the alfalfa
field, by the lighthouses. where the
cowboys waved and cheered. The
horses and burros in the corrals began
to snort and tramp and race In fright.
At the base of the long slope of the
foothin Link cut the speed more than
half. Yet the car roared up, rolling
the dust, flying capes and wells and ul-
sters, and crashed and cracked to q
halt in the yard before the porch.
Madeline deserted a gray, disheveled
mass Of humanity packed inside the
car. Besides the driver there were
seven occupants, and for q moment
they appeared to be coming to life,
moving and exclaiming under the wells
and wraps and dust-shields.
Link Stevens. stepped out and, re-
moving helmet and goggles, coolly
looked at his watch.
"An hour. an q quarter, Miss Ham
mond," he said. '"It's sixty-three miles
by the valley road, an you know
there's couple Of bad hills. I reckon
we made fair time, considerin' you
wanted me to drive slow an SAFE"
From the mass Of dusty-veiled hu-
manity In the car came low exclama-
lions and plaintive feminine walls.
Madeline stepped to the front of the
porch. Then the deep voices Of men
and softer voices of women united in
one glad outburst, as much a thanks
giving as a greeting, "Majesty!"
=
Helen Hammond was three years
younger than Madeline, and slender,
pretty girl. Having recovered her
breath soon after Madeline took her to
her room, she began to talk.
Majesty, old girl, I'm here; but you
can bet I would never have gotten here
If had known about that ride from
the railroad. You never wrote that
you had car. I thought this was out
West-stage-coach and all that sort Of
thing Such a tremendous car! And
the road! What kind Of a chauffeur
is he?"
Hes a cowboy. He was crippled
by falling under his horse, so had
him instructed to run the car. He can
drive, don't you think?"
"Drive? Good gracious! He scared
us to death, except Castleton. Nothing
could scare that cold-blooded little
Englishman. I am dizzy yet. Do you
know, Majesty, was delighted when
I saw the car. Then your cowboy
driver met us at the platform. What
a queer-looking Individual! He had
big pistol strapped to those leather
trousers. That made me nervous.
When he piled us all in with our grips,
he put me in the seat beside him,
whether I liked it or not. I was fool
enough to tell him I loved to travel
fast. What do you think he said?
Well, he eyed me in a rather cool and
speculative way and said, with smile,
Miss, reckon anything you love an
want bad will be coming to you out
herer I didn't know whether it was
delightful candor or impudence. Then
he said to all Of us: Shore you had
better wrap up in the wells an busters.
It's long, slow, hot, dusty ride to the
ranch, an Miss Hammond's order was
to drive safe He got our baggage
checks and gave them to a man with
a huge wagon and a four-horse team.
Then he cranked the car, jumped in,
wrapped his arms round the wheel,
and sank down low in his seat. There
was a crack, a jerk, kind Of fash
around us, and that dirty little town
was somewhere on the map behind.
For about five minutes had a lovely
time. Then the wind began to tear
me to pieces. I couldn't hear any
thing but the rush of wind and roar Of
the car. could see only straight
ahead. What a road! I never saw
road in my life till today. Miles and
miles and miles ahead, with not even
a post or tree. That big car seemed
to leap at the miles. It hummed and
sang. I was fascinated, then terrified.
We went so fast I couldn't catch my
breath. The wind went through me,
and I expected, to be disrobed by 1t
any minute. was afraid couldn't
hold any clothes on. Presently all I
could see was flashing gray wall
with a white line in the middle. Then
my eyes blurred. My face burned. My
ears grew full of hundred thousand
bowling devils. I was about ready to
die when the car stopped. looked
and looked, and when I. could see,
there you stOod!"
"Helen, I thought you were fond Of
speeding" said Madeline, with laugh.
II was. But T assure you I never
before was In a'fast car; never met
a driver"
perhaps may have a few sur
prises for you out here in the wild and
woolly West"
Helen's dark eyes showed a sisters
memory Of possibilities.
you've started WELL" she said. II
81 nvr0Nf0d