The Winslow mail., 1923-07-27


grudge on Stewart, accusin him over
again Of that Greaser murder last fall.
Stewart made him look like a fool
showed him up as T>%in' scared of the
bandits or hevin some reason fer
slopin' off the trail. Anyway. the row
started all right, an it might hev
amounted to fight In the thick of
it, when Stewart was drivin' Pat an
his crowd off the place, one of them
de-pooties lost his head an went fer
his gun. Nels throwed his gun an Grip
pied the feller's arm. Monty jumped
then an thrOwed two forty-fves, an
fer a second or so it looked ticklish.
But the bandit-hunters crawled, an
then lit out"
Stillwell paused in the rapid deliv-
cry Of his narrative; he still retained
Madeline's hand, as if by that he might
| comfort her.
"After Pat left we put our haids to-
gether," began the old cattleman, with
long respiration. eve rounded up
lad who had seen a dozen or so fellers
he wouldn't say they was Greasers-
breakin' through the shrubbery to the
back of the house. That was while
Stewart was ridin' out to the mesa.
Then this lad seen your servants all
runOin' down the hill toward the viii
lage. Now, heah's the way Gene fig
gers. There sure was some deviltry
down along the railroad, an Pat Have
trailed bandits up to the ranch. He
hunts hard an then all to onct he quits.
Stewart says Pat Have wasn't scared,
but he discovered signs of somethin', or
got wind in some strange way that
there was in the gang Of bandits some
fellers he didn't want to ketch. Sabe?
Then Gene, quicker'n flash, springs
his plan on me. He'd go down to
Padre Marcos an hev him help to find
out all possible from your Mexican
servants. I was to hurry up hyar an
tell you-give you orders, Miss Majes-
ty. Amt that amazin' strange? Wal,
you're to assemble all your guests in
the kitchen. Make a grand bluff an
pretend, as your help has left, that it'll
be great fun fer your guests to cook
dinner The kitchen is the safest room
in the house. While you're joshin' your
party along, maxim a kind Of picnic
out of it, I'll place cowboys in the long
corridor, an also outside in the corner
where the kitchen joins on to the main
house. It's pretty sure the bandits
think no ones wise to where they're
| hid. Stewart says they're in that end
room where the alfalfa is, an they'll
slope in the night. Of course, with me
an the boys watchin', you-all will be
safe to go to bed. An we're to rouse
your guests early before daylight, to
hit the trail up into the mountains.
Tell them to pack outfits before goin'
to bed. Say as your servants hev
sloped, you might as well go campin'
with the cowboys. That's all. If we
hev any luck your friends1l never
know they've been sittin' on powder
mine Now, Miss Majesty, I've used up
lot Of time explainin'. You'll sure
keep your nerve?
eyes," Madeline replied, and was
surprised at herself.
Better tell Florence. She'll be a
power Of comfort to you. I'm goin
now to fetch up the boys"
Instead of returning to her room
Madeline went through the office into
the long corridor. 1t was almost as
dark as night. She fancied she saw
Storytelling figure darker than the sur
rounding gloom; and she entered upon
the fulf1llment Of her part of the plan
in something like trepidation. Her
footsteps were noiseless. Finding the
door to the kitchen, and going in, she
struck lights. Upon passing out again
she made certain she discerned a dark
shape, now motiOnless, crouching along
the wall. But she mistrusted her vivid
Imagination. It took all her boldness
to enable her uncOncernedly and natur-
ally to strike the corridor light Then
she went on through her own rooms
and thence into the patio.
Her guests laughingly and gladly en-
tered into the spirit of the occasion.
They trooped merriIy into the kitchen.
Madeline, delaying at the door, took a
sharp but unobtrusive glance down the
| great, DdTullh0 udIl. Ou0 saw nOC01Dg
but blank dark space. Suddenly from
one side, not a rod distant, protruded
pale, cleaning face breaking the
even blackness. Instantly it flashed
back out of sight. Yet that time was
long enough for Madeline to see a pair
of glittering eyes, and to recognize
them as Don Carlos.
Without betraying either hurry or
alarm, she closed the door. 1t had
heavy bolt which she slowly, noiseless-
ly shot. Then the cold amaze that had
all but stunned her into inaction
throbbed into wrath. How dared that
Mexican steal into her home! What
did he mean? Was he one Of the ban
dts supposed to be hidden in her
house? She was thinking herself into
greater anger and excitement, and
probably would have betrayed herself
had not Florence, who had evidently
| 6O,- hN1N Hh4 IA0