The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-07-28
"rm not thinking about myself" he

Numbered. will you listeRv
"No." she replied; and there was
freezing hauteur in her voice: With
slight gesture of dismissal, unmistak-
able in its finality, she turned her back
upon him. Then she joined her guests.
Stewart stood perfectly motionless.
Then slowly he began to lift his right
hand in which he held his sombrero.
He swept it up and up, high over his
head. His tall form lowered. With
fierce suddenness he flung his sombrero
down. He leaped at his black horse
and dragged him to where his saddle
lay. With one pitch he tossed the
saddle upon the horses back. His
strong hand flashed at girths and
straps. Every action was swift, de-
cisive, fierce. Bounding for his bride,
which hung over a bush, he ran against
a cowboy who awkwardly tried to
avoid the onslaught.
"Get out of my way!" he yelled.
Then with the same savage haste
he adjusted the bride on his horse.
'Mebbe you better hold on min
nit, Gene. ole feller," said Monty
Monty, do you want me to brain
you?" said Stewart, with the short,
hard ring in his voice.
Nov, considerin' the high class Of
my brains. I oughter be real careful
to keep 'em," replied Monty. "You
can betcher life. Gene, amt goin'
to git in front of you. But jest says
-Listen!"
Stewart raised his dark face. Ev-
erybody listened. And everybody
heard the rapid beat of a horses
hoofs. The sun had set. but the park
was light. Nels appeared down the
trail, and his horse was running. In
another moment he was in the circle,
pulling his bay back to sliding halt.
He leaped off abreast of Stewart.
Madeline saw and felt difference
in Nels' presence.
"What's up, Gene?" he queried,
sharply.
Nels' long arm shot out; and his
hand fell upon Stewart, holding him
down.
ashore I'm sorry" said Nels, slow
~. "Then you was goin' to hit the
trail?"
II am going to. Let 60, Nels."
ashore you amt goin', Gene"
LET 20, d-n your cried Stewart,
as he wrestled free.
"What's wrong?" asked Nels, lifting
his hand again.
Man! Don't touch me-"
Nels stepped back instantly. He
seemed to become aware of Stewards
white, wild passion. Again Stewart
moved to mount.
"Nels, don't make me forget we've
been friends" he said.
ashore I amt fergettin'," replied
Nels. "An' resign my job right here
an now"
His strange speech checked the
mounting cowboy. Stewart stepped
down from the stirrup. Then their
hard faces were still and cold while
their eyes locked glances.
Madeline was as much startled by
Nels' speech as Stewart. Quick to
note change in these men, she now
sensed one that was unfathOmable.
"Resign?" questioned Stewart.
ashore. What'd you think I'd do un-
der circumstances SIGH as has come
up?"
..But see here, Nels, won't stand
for it."
you're not my boss no more, an
amt behOldin' to Miss Hammond,
neither. I'm my own boss, an I'll do
as l please. Sabe, senor?'
Nels' words were at variance with
the meaning in his face.
Scene, you sent me on little scout
down in the mountains, didn't your"
Eyes, I did," replied Stewart, with
a new sharpness in-his voice.
oval, shore you was so good an
right in your figgerin', as opposed to
mine, that I'm sick with admirin' of
you. If you hedn't sent me-wal, I'm
reckOnin' somethin' might hev hap
pened. AS it is we're shore up against
hell Of a proposition!"
How significant was the effect Of his
words upon all the cowboys! Stewart
made a fierce and violent motion, ter
!, rible where his other motions had been
but passionate. Monty leaped straight
up into the air in a singular action as
suggestive of surprise as it was of
wild acceptance Of menace. Like a
stalking giant Nick Steele strobe over
to Nels and Stewart. The other COW.
boys rose silently, without word.
Madeline and her guests, in little
group, watched and listened, unable tc
divine what all this strange talk and
action meant.
Hold on, Nels, they don't need tc
hear it," said Stewart, hoarsely, as he
waved a hand toward Madeline's silent
group.
oval, I'm sorry, but reckon they't
as well know fust as last. Mebbt
tibet yearnin' wish of Miss Helen's fel
somethin' to happen will come true
Shore l."
"Cut out the joshin'," rang ou
Monty's strident voice.
It had as decided an effect as an!
preceding words or action. Perhaps
it was the last thing needed to trans
form these men, doing unaccustomet
duty as escorts Of beautiful women
to their natural state as men Of thu
wild.
'Tell us what's what" said Stewart
cool and grim.