The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-16

NTVILLE PRESS, PLEAsAl
me. but | shore ain't ridia out of my
way. I reckon I hey enoHah rIlIns 10
do. Now. Bill. If you've sIea doe-gone
good eyes mebbe you seen somethin'
on the way outf'
"Nels, | hewitt seen notHiu'e lie re-
piled, bluntly.
Jest take a squint at these boss
tracks," said Nels, and he drew Still
we'll a few PAGES aside and pointed to
large footprints In the dust. Il reckon
YOU know the boss tibet made themYo
"Gene Stewards roam, or I'm a 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 boss met
somebody. An they hauled up a bit,
but didn't git down
"TolerabIe good for you. BIZ. thet
reasonin'," replied the cowboy. 4
reckon you know what boss made the
other tracks,"
I'm thinkin' hard, but I amt sure"
at was Danny Mains bronze
"How do you know thetfa demanded
Stillwell, sharply.
"Bill, the left front foot Of thet little
boss always years a shoe thet SETS
crooked. Any of the boys can tell you.
I'll L., +bot t,.oof- IL I ,r.a5 Lff.J >
"Nels, you don't think the boys
sloped with thet little hussy. Bonita? 2"
"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 1t he got drunk. But
he'll show up soon"
oval, 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 boss tracks"
oval, It's all amaZin' strange. II
beats me. I wish the boys would ease
up on drinkin'. I vas 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. | guess
I'm gettin' old. I don't stand things
like | used to-"
"Bill, l reckon I'd better hit the Pei
encillo trail. Mebbe | can find Danny"
81 reckon you had. Nels.' replied
StiIlw ell. But don't fake more'n n
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 II.
Things happen. Miss Hammond
she said, soberly. almost sadly.
Madeline thought. And then straight
way Florence began brightly to hum a
tune and to busy herself repacking
what was left of the lunch. Madeline
suddenly conceived a strong liking and
respect for this Western girl.
Soon they were once more bowling
along the road down a gradual in
cline, and then they began to climb a
long ridge that had for hours hidden
what lay beyond. That climb was
rather tiresome, owing to the sun and
the dust and the restricted view.
Presently, at the top of the steer
ascent. Stillwell got out and walked
leading the team. During this lone
climb fatigue claimed Madeline. ant
she drow silly closed her eyes, TO fine
when she opened them again that tht
glaring white sky had changed to
steel-blue. The sun had sunk behinC
the foothills and the air was growing
chilly. Stillwell had returned to tht
driying-seat and was chuck1ing to thu
horses. Shadows crept up out of tht
hollows.
"Wal, Flo" said Stillwell, 81 reckon
we'd better hev the rest of tibet there
lunch before dark"
"You didn't leave much of It,
laughed Florence, as she produced tht
basket from under the seat.
While they ate, the short twilight
shaded and gloom filed the hollows
Madeline was glad to have the robe:
close around her and to lean against
Florence. There were brewster spell.
In which she lost a feeling of where
she was, and these were disturbed By
the jolt of wheels over a rough place
Then came a blank interval, short OF
long, which ended in a more violent
lurch of the blackboard. Madeline
awoke to find her head on Florence's
shoulder. She sat up laughing and
a%pologizing for her laziness. Florence
assured her they would soon reach the
ranch.
CHAPTER v
The Roundup.
1t was a cracking and roaring OF