The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
CHAPTER II
A Secret Kept.

the cowboy. But at the ONE sne
really did not think about what he
had said. Any answer to her would
have served if 1t had been kind.
AS she walked or into the windy
darkness, much relieved that he had
answered as he had, rejecting that he
had yet to prove his words true, she
began to grasp the deeper significance
of them. There was a revival of pride
that made her feel that she ought to
scorn to think at all about such a
man.
Presently Madeline's guide turned
off the walk and raped at a door of
a low-roofed house.
"Hullo-who's there?" a deep voice
answered.
Gene Stewart said the cowboy.
-"Call Florence-quick !"
Thump of footsteps followed. a tap
on a door, and voices. Madeline heard
a woman exclaim: Gene here when
there's a dance in town! Something
wrong out on the range" A light
f1ared up and shone bright through a
window. In another moment there
came a patter of soft steps, and the
door opened to disclose q woman hold
ing a lamp.
Gene! Al's rot
"Al is all right" interrupted the
cowboy.
Madeline had two sensations then
and love in the woman's voice, and
the other of unutterable relief to be
safe with a friend of her brothers..
"It's AIS sister-came on t~onight's
train" the cowboy was saying. 81
happened to be at the station, and
I M fetched her up to you."
Madeline came forward out of the
shadow.
"Not-not really Majesty Ham,
mond p exclaimed Florence Kingsley.
She nearly dropped the lamp, and she
looked, a~stornded beyond belief.
"Yes, l am really she," replied
Madeline. MY train was late and
for some reason Alfred did not meet
me. Mr.-Mr. Stewart saw fit to bring
me to you instead of taking me to a
hotel"
"Oh, I'm so glad to meet you" re-
piled Florence, warmly. do come in.
I'm so surprised, / forget my manners.
Why, you are white al a sheet. You
must be tired. What a long wait you
had at the station If I had known
you were comingi Indeed, you are
very pale. Are you ill?'
mo. Only l am very tired. Travel
ing so far by rail is harder than l
imagined. did have rather a long
wait after arriving at the station. but
I can't say that it was lonely"
Florence Kingsley searched Made
lines face with keen eyes, and then
took a long, significant look at the
silent Stewart. With that she de-
1iberately and quietly closed a door
leading into another room.
Miss Hammond, what has hap
penedg" She had lowered her voice.
Il do not wish to recall all that has
happened" replied Madeline. 81 shall
tell Alfred, however, that l would
rather have net 4 hostile Apache than
a cowboy"
"Please don't tell AL that! !" cried
Florence. Then she grasped Stewart
and pulled him close to the light.
Gene, you're drunk!"
Nov, see here, Flo. I only"
" don't want to know. I'd tell it.
Gene, aren't you ever going TO learn
d%ecency? Aren't YOU ever going to
stop drinking: You'll lose all your
friends. Molly and l have pleaded
with you, and now you've gone and
done-God knows what"
"What do women want to wear wells
for?" he growled. I'D have known
her but for that veil.'
And you wouldn't have insulted
her. But you would the mex girl who
came along. Gene, you are hopeless.
Now, you get out of here and don't
ever come back"
"Flo! :" he %entreated.
81 mean it."
81 reckon then I'll come back to-
morrow and take my medicine" he
replied.
Don't you dare ~ she cried.
Stewart went out and closed the
door.
Miss Hammond, you-you don't
know how this hurts me-" said
Florence. "What you must think of
usl It's so unlucky that you should
have had this happen right at first.
Now, maybe you won't have the heart
to stay. Oh, I've known more than
one eastern girl to go home without
ever learning what we really are out
here. Miss Hammond, Gene Stewart
is a fiend when he's drunk. All the
same l know, whatever he did. he
meant no shame to you. Come now,
don't think about it again tonight"
She took up the lamp and led Made
line into a little room. won't you
let me help you undress-can't do
anything for your
"You are very kind, thank you, but
l can manage" replied Madeline.
"Well. then. good night. The M
/ go the sooner you'll rest. Just for
get what happened and think how fine
a surprise you're to give your brother
tomorrow"
With that she slipped out and softly
shut the door.
As Madeline laid her watch on the
bureau she noticed that the time was
past two o'clock. 1t seemed long since
she had gottta az The train. When