Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-08-30

had breakfast ready when she went
into the dining room. Stillwell was
not In an amiable frame of mind. The
burrows of worry lined his broad brow
and he continually glanced at his
watch, and growled because the cow
boys were so late in riding over with
the news. He gulped his breakfast,
and while Madeline and the others ate
theirs he tramped up and down the
grew nervous and restless. Presently
he left the table to join Stillwell out
side.
They'll slope off to Don Carlos
rancho and leave us to ride home
alone" observed Florence.
"Do you mindY questioned Made
line.
mo, don't exactly mind; we've got
the fastest horses in this country; but
I've no hankering for situation Gene
Stewart thinks"
Florence began disconnectedly, and
she ended evasively. Madeline did not
press the point, although she had some
sense Of misgiving. Stillwell tramped
in, shaking the floor with his huge
boots; Alfred followed him, carrying
field-glass.
"Not boss in sight," complained
Stillwell. "Somethin' wrong over Don
Carlos way. Miss Majesty, it'll be jest
as well fer you an Flo to hit the home
trail. We can telephone over an see
that the boys know you're COMM"
Alfred, standing In the door, swept
the gray valley with his field-glass.
bill, see running stock-horses or
cattle; can't make out which. I
guess we'd better rustic over there"
Both men hurried out, and while the
horses were being brought up and sad
died Madeline and Florence put away
the breakfast dishes, then speedily
donned spurs, sombreros and gaunt-
lets.
Here are the horses ready" called
Alfred. Flo, that black Mexican horse
is prince"
The girls went out In time to hear
Stillwell's good-by as he mounted and
Spullcu away. AlllCu Well IOuSn
the motions Of assisting Madeline and
Florence to mount, which assistance
they always flouted, and then he, too,
swung up astride.
II guess it's all right" he said,
rather obviously. "You really must
not go over toward Don Carlos. It's
only few miles home"
"Sure it's all right. We can ride,
can't WEI" retorted Florence. II de-
clare he and AL were sure ratified"
Florence dismounted and went into
the house. She left the door open.
Madeline had some difficulty in hold
ing Majesty. 1t struck Madeline that
Florence stayed rather long indoors.
Presently she came out with sober face
and rather tight lips.
II couldn't get anybody on the
phone. No answer. I tried a dozen
times.v
"Why, Florence!" Madeline was
more concerned by the girls looks than
by the information she impaired.
"The wires been cut" said Flor
ence. Her gray glance swept swiftly
after Alfred, who was now far out Of
earshot. II don't like this little bit.
Heah's where I've got to .figger,' as
Bill says"
She pondered a moment, then hur-
ried into the house, to return presently
with the field-glass that Alfred had
11cod With t1ic che fpnly a c,,ruaxy of
the valley, particularly in the direc-
ton of Madeline's ranch-house. This
was hidden by low, rolling ridges
which were quite close by.
Anyway, nobody in that direction
can see US leave heah," she unused.
There's mesquite on the ridges. We've
got cover long enough to save us till
we can see what's ahead"
FLORENCE, what-what do you ex-
pect?" asked Madeline, nervously.
II don't know. There's never any
telling about Greasers. / wish Bill
and Al hadn't left us. Still, come to
think Of that, they couldn't help us
much in case of a chase. We'd run
right away from them. Besides, they'd
shoot. I guess I'm as well satisfied
that we've got the job Of getting home
on our own hands. We don't dare
follow AL toward Don Carlos ranch.
We know there's trouble over there.
So all that's left Is to hit the trail for
home. Come, let's ride. You stick
like Spanish needle to me-"
A heavy growth of mesquite COW
cred the top Of the first ridge, and
the trail went through it. Florence
appeared cautious, deliberate, yet she
lost no time. She was ominously ST.
lent. Madeline's misgivings took def
mite shape in the fear Of vaqueros in
ambush.
Upon the ascent Of the third ridge,
which Madeline remembered was the
last uneven ground between the point
she had reached and home, Florence
exercised even more guarded care in
advancing. Before she reached the
top Of this ridge she dismounted,
looped her bride round a dead snag.