The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-07-04
n Romance
By Zane Greq
Copyright by Harper and Brothers
Copyright by Harper aud Brothers

ton. She saw as veil as felt the leap
ing passion hat changed him.
Call your frlends-get them In
here !" he ordered, tersely, and wheeled
toward the door.
Stewart, wait !" .he said.
He turned. His w.tite face. his burn
ing eyes, his presence now charged
with definite. fearful meaning. influ-
enced her strangely, weakened her.
"What will you do" she asked.
"That needn't concern you. Get your
party in here. Bar the windows and
lock the doors. You'll be safe"
Stewart Tell me Whit you intend
to do"
~ won't tell you" he replied, and
turned away again.
But / will know" she said. With a
hand on his arm she detained him. She
saw how he halted-felt the shock in
him as she touched him. "Oh, / do
know. You mean to fight !"
well, Miss Hammond. isn't it about
timer he asked. There was weari-
ness, dignity, even reproof in his ques-
ton. 1.-THE fact of that Mexican's pres
ence here in your house ought to prove
to you the nature of the case. These
vaqueros, these guerrillas, have found
out you won't stand for any fighting
on the part of your men. Dor Carlos
is a sneak, a coward, yet he's not
afraid TO hide in your W house. He
has learned you won't let your cow
boys hurt anybody. He's taking adj
vantage of it. He'll rob, burn. and
make off with you. He'll murder, too,
if 1t falls his way. These Greasers
use knives in the dark. So I ask-isn't
it about time we stop him?"
Stewart, ! forbid you to fight I'M
less in self-defense. I forbid you"
what / mean to do is seif-defense.
Haven't I tried to explain 10 you that
lust now we've wild times along this
stretch of border? Must l tell you
| again that Don Carlos is hand and
glove with the revolution? The rebels
are crazy to stir up the United States.
You are a oma of prominence. Don
Carlos would make off with you. If
he got you, what little matte, to cross
the border with you! Well, where
would the hue and cry go2 Through
the troops along the border! To New
York! To Washington Why. it
would mean what the rebels are work
ing for-United States Intervention. In
other words, war"
"Oh, surely you exaggerate!" she
cried.
aGAJovhn en- Pint I'm hnninnfnn n Cna
| the Don's game. And, Miss Hammond.
it's awful for me to think what you'd
suffer if Don Carlos got you over the
line. / know these low-caste Mexicans.
I've been among the 2eons-the
slaves"
Stewart, don't let Don Carlos get
me-" replied Madeline, in sweet direct
ness
She saw him shake, saw his throat
swell as he swallowed hard, saw the
hard fierceness return to his face.
81 won't. That's why I'm going after
him."
But 1 forbade you to start a fight
deliberately"
"Then I'll go ahead and start one
without your permission He shook
off her hand and strobe forward.
please, don't goi" she called. be
seechingly. But he kept on. Stew
art /"
She ran ahead of him, intercepted
him, faced him with her back against
the ooor. He swept out a long arm as
if to brush her aside. But 1t wavered
and fell. Haggard, troubled. with
working face, he stood before her.
Its for your sake" he expostulated.
Let me out. Miss Hammond. I'm
going to take the boys and go after
these guerrillas."
mol"
Good Heavens" exclaimed Stew
art. "Why not let me go? It's the
thing to do. I'm sorry to distress you
and your guests. Why not put an end
to Don Carlos badgering? Is it be-
cause you're afraid a rumpus will spoil
your friends visit?"
ut isn't-not this time"
"Then it's the idea of a little shoot
ing at these Greasers?"
No"