Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-06-21

Hes not a young man by any means
He's fifty, Bill says; but you can sci
dom ten a Mexican's age from hi
looks. Don Carlos Is well educate,
and a man we know very little about
Mexcans of his stamp don't regar,
women as we white men do.#Now
my dear. beautiful sister from New
York, l haven't much use for Don Car
los but don't want Nels or Ambrose
to make a wild throw with a rope ant
pull the Don of his horse. SO you. haC
better ride up to the house and stay
there"
"Alfred. you are joking. teasing me.
said Madeline.
Indeed not" replied Alfred. 'Hov
about II, Flor"
Florence replied that the cowboys
would upon the slightest provocation
treat Don Carlos with less ceremony
and gentleness than a roped steer. Old
Bill Stillwell came up to be im%portuned
by Alfred regarding the conduct OF
cowboys on occasion, and he not only
corroborated the assertion. but added
emphasis and evidence of his own.
"An', Miss Majesty" he concluded,
II reckon IL Gene Stewart was rldin'
fer me. thet GRIMM Greaser would
hev he'd a bump In the dust before
now"
Madeline had been wavering between
sobriety and laughter until stillwell's
mention OF his ideal OF cowboy chiv-
airy decided In favor of the laughter.
II am nOt convinced, but | surren-
der" she said. "You have only some
occult motive for driving me away. /
am sure that handsome Don Carlos is
being unjustIy suspected. But rs l
have seen n little Of cowboys singular
imagination and galIantry. | I'm rather
Inclined to fear their possibilities. So
good-by."
Then she rode with Florence up the
long, gray slope TO the ranch-house.
That night she suffered from excessive
WEAKNESS. which she attributed more
to the strange working of her mind
than TO riding and sitting her horse.
Morning, however. found her In no dis
position TO rest. 1t was not activity
that she craved. or excitement, or
pleasure. An unerring instinct. rising
clear from the thronglng sensations OF
the last few days. told her that she
had missed something In life. What
ever this something was. she had baf-
fling limitations of 1t. hopes that faded
on the verge OF reallzatlons, haunting
promises that were unful1lled. What
ever 1t was, 1t had remained hidden
and unknown at home, and here In the
West II began TO allure and drive her
to discovery. Therefore she could not
rest she wanted to go and see; she
was M longer chasing phantoms; II
was n hunt for treasure that held
aloof, as intangible as the substance of
dreams.
Upon the morning after the end of
the roundup, when she went out on
the porch, her brother and Stlllweli
appeared to be arguing about the iden-
tity Of q horse.
"Wal, / reckon It's my old roan.r
said Stillwell. shading his eyes with
his hand.
"Blll. IL that isn't Stewards horse
my eyes are going back. on me-" replied
AL. IT'S not the color or shape-the
distance is too far to Judge by that.
It's the motion-the swing"
"Al. mebbe you're right But they
aln't no rider up on tibet hoss. Flo.
fetch my glass"
Florence went into the house, while
Madeline tried to discover the object
OF attention. Presently far up the gray
hollow along n foothlll she saw dust,
and then the dark, moving figure of a
horse. She was watching when Flor
ence returned with the glass. Bill
took a long look, adjusted the glasses
carefully, and tried again.
"Wal, l hate to admit my eyes are
pore. But / guess I'll hev to.
Gene Stewards boss, saddled,
an comm at a fast clip without a
rider. It's amazin' strange. an some
I'm keepin' with other things concernin'
Give me the glass" said AL. "Yes,
| was right. Bill, the horse Is not
frightened. He's coming steadily he's
got something on his mind"
The wide hollow sloping up into the
lay open to unobstructed
view. and less than half a mile distant
Madeline saw the riderless horse com
Ing along the white trail at a rapid
A shrill. piercing whistle peaied
In.
"wal. he's seer as. thet's sure" said
Bill.
The horse nenred the c~orrals. disap-
into a lane. and then, breaking
his gait again. Numbered into the In
and pounded to a halt some
twenty yards from where Stillweil
for him.
One look at him at close range In
The clear light of day was enough for
Madeline 10 award him q blue ribbon
,yer all horses, even the ~priye-wInner.
White Stockings. The cowboys great
was no 1.-THE. slender-bodled mus
He was 9 charger. almost tire
nendous OF build, with a black coat
notified 10 gray. and II shone
IKE polished glass Ia the sun Evi. !