Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-06-22
SYNOPSIS.

6YNOPSI8
CHAPTER I.-Arriving at the lonely
little railroad station of Ell Cajon. New
Mexico, Madeline Hammond, New York
girl. finds no one to meet her. While IN
the waiting room drunken cowboy en-
ters, asks If she is married, and departs.
leaving her terrified. He returns with z
ceremony. and the cowboy forces her to
say "Si." Asking her name and learning
her Identity the cowboy seems dazed: y
giri, "Bonita." take his horse and escape,
aSn conducts sna y Madeline del to ForehoS
CHAPTER II.-Florepce welcomes her.
boy. Gene Stewart. Next day Alfred
sta%ar Hrothsr tstss
him OF any wrong intent.
CHAPTER III.-Alfred. scion Of ,
SEsany Ss hSyme family nsa been e % o
Sssdaa5 Msas,pe bm sses sbs that hs sst hrs
employer, typical western ranchwan.
the border.
cowboy, Nels, fused aimlessly over
the campfire, and then Strengthened up
with very red face
"Bill, you're dog gone liar" he
said. II reckon I won't stand to be
classed with Body an Ned. There
amt no cowboy on this range thet's
more appreciatin' OF the ladies than
me, but shore amt ridin' out Of my
way. I reckon I hev enough ridin' to
do. Now, Bill, If you've sich dog-gone
good eyes mebbe you seen somethin'
on the way out?"
"Nes, I hevn't seen nothin'," he re-
piled, bluntly.
"Jest take squint at these hoss
tracks," said Nels, and he drew Still
we'll few PAGES aside and pointed to
large footprints in the dust. II reckon
you know the hoss thet made themT
Scene Stewards roam, or I'm SON.
of-a-gun!" exclaimed Stillwell, and he
dropped heavily to his knees and began
to scrutiniZe the tracks. Nels, who
ever was straddlin' Stewards hoss met
somebody. An they hauled up a bit,
but didn't git down"
'Tolerable good for you, Bill, thet
reasOnin'," replied the cowboy. II
reckon you know what hoss made the
other tracks?"
"I'm thinkin' hard, but I amt sure"
"It was Danny Mains bronze"
"How do you know thet?" demanded
Stillwell, sharply.
"Bill, the left front foot Of thet little
hoss always wears a shoe thet sets
crooked. Any Of the boys can tell you.
I'd know thet track If I was blind"
"Nels, you don't think the boys
sloped with thet little hussy, Bonital'
"Bill. he shore was sweet on Bonita.
same as Gene was, an Ed Linton be-
fore he got engaged, an all the boys.
She's shore chain-lightnin', that little
black-eyed devil. Danny might hev
sloped with her all right. Danny was
held up on the way to town, an then
in the shame Of it he got drunk. But
he'll show up soon."
"Wal, mebbe you an the boys are
right. believe you are. Nels, there
amt no doubt on earth about who was
ridin' Stewards hOss"
"Thet's as plain as the hoss' tracks"
"Wal, It's all amaZin' strange. It
beats me. I wish the boys would ease
up on drinkin'. I was pretty fond Of
Danny an Gene. I'm afraid Genes
done fer, sure. If he crosses the bor-
der where he can fight 1t won't take
long fer him to get plugged. I guess
I'm gettin' old. don't stand things
like used to-"
"Bill, 1 reckon I'd better hit the Pei
oncillo trail. Mebbe can find Danny"
II reckon you had, Nels," replied
Stillwell. "But don't take more'n a
couple of days.> We can't do much on
the roundup without you. I'm short
Of boys"
That ended the conversation. Still.
we'll Immediately began to hitch up
his team, and the cowboys went out
to fetch their strayed horses. Made
line had been curiously interested. and
she saw that Florence knew 1t.
"Things happen, Miss Hammond"
she said, soberly, almost sadly.
Madeline thought. And then straight.
way Florence began brightly to hum q
tune and to busy herself repacking
what was left Of the lunch. Madeline
suddenly conceived strong liking and
respect for this Western girl.
Soon they were once more bowling
along the road down gradual IN
cline, and then they began to climb
long ridge that had for hours hidden
what lay beyond That climb was
rather uresOme, owing to the sun and
the dust and the restricted view.
Presently. at the top Of the steep
ascent, Stillwell got out and walked,
leading the team. During this long
climb fatigue claimed Madeline, and
she drow silly closed her eyes, to find
when she opened them again that the
glaring white sky had changed to a
steel-blue. The sun had sunk behind
the foothills and the air was growing
chilly. Stillwell had returned to the
and was chuckling to the
horses. Shadows crept up out Of the
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