The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-07-28

and let down lassoes. Then, with lit
tie waste of words, he urged the women
toward this rough ladder of stones.
ave want to hide you," he said,
when they demurred. IF the guer-
rillas come We'll tell them you've all
gone down to the ranch. If we have
to fight you'll be safe up there"
Helen stepped boldly forward and
let Stewart put the loop of a lasso
round her and tighten it. He waved
his hand to the cowboys above.
"Just walk up, now" he directed
Helen.
It proved to the watchers to be an
easy, safe and rapid means of scaling
the steep passage. The men climbed
up without assistance. Edith Wayne
and Madeline climbed last, and, once
up, Madeline saw a narrow bench,
thick with shrubs and overshadOwed
by huge leaning crags. There were
holes in the rock, and dark assures
leading back. 1t was rough, wild
place. Tarpaulins and bedding were
then hauled up, and food and water.
The cowboys spread comfortable beds
in several of the caves, and told Made
line and her friends to be as quiet as
possible, not to make light, and to
sleep dressed, ready for travel at a
moments notice.
Madeline deplored the discomfort
and distress. but felt no real alurm.
;ro 81; <N 81 III
ness here than to sincerity, for she
had a decided uneasiness. The swift
change in the manner and looks Of
her cowboys had been a. shock to her.
The last glance she had of Stewards
face, then stern, almost sad, and hag.
gard with worry, remained to aug.
ment her foreboding.
Darkness appeared to drop swiftly
down; the coyotes began their haunt.
ing, mournful howls the stars showed
and grew brighter; the wind moaned
through the tips Of the pines. The
cowboys below had built a fire, and
the light from it rose in huge, fan.
shaped glow. Madeline peered down
from the cliff. The distance was short,
and occasionally she could distinguish
a word spoken by the cowboys. They
were unconcernedly cooking and eating.
Presently Nick Steele silenced the
campfire circle by raising a warning
hand. The cowboys bent their heads,
listening. Madeline listened with all
her might. She heard one Of the
hounds whine, then the faint beat of
horses hoofs. The beat of hoofs grew
louder, entered the grove, then the
circle of light. The rider was Nels.
He dismounted, and the sound Of his
low voice just reached Madeline.
Scene, it's Nels. Something doin'."
Madeline heard one of the cowboys
call, softly.
"Send him over" replied Stewart.
Nels stalked away from the fire. d.
"See here, Nels, the boys are all
right, but 1 don't want them to know
everything about this mix-up," said
Stewart, as Nels came up. did you
find the girl?'
Madeline guessed that Stewart xe
ferred to the Mexican girl Bonita.
mo. But I met"-Madeline did not
catch the name-"an' he was wild. He
was with a forest-ranger. An they
said Pat Have had trailed her an was
takin' her down under arrest"
Stewart muttered deep under his
breath, evidently cursing.
"Wonder why he didn't come on up
hereT' he queried, presently. he can
see a trail"
oval, Gene, Pat knowed you was
here all right, fer tibet ranger said Pat
he'd wind Of the guerrillas, an Pat
said If Don Carlos didn't kill you
which he hoped he'd do-then it'd be
time enough to put you in jail when
you come down."
Hes dead set to arrest me, Nels.
can he'll do it, like the old lady
who kept tavern out West. Gene. the