Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-12-28

| was " me.
Stillwell's kind and heavy hand fell
upon the cowboys shoulder.
Danny, what's all this queer gab?'
he asked. AN you're takin' some lib
erty with Miss Hammond. Who never
seen you before. l see you're not
sense"
The cowboys fine, frank face broke
into a smile. He dashed the tears
from his eyes. Then he laughed His
laugh had a pleasant boyish ring-a
happy ring.
"Bill, old pal, stand bride down
minute. will you?" Then he bowed to
| Madeline. 81 beg your pardon, Miss
Hammond, for seemin' rudeness I'm
Danny Mains. An Bonita Is my wife.
I'm so crazy glad she's safe an un-
harned-so grateful to you that-why,
sure its a wonder I didn't kiss you
outright"
"Bonitas your Wife" calculated
/ Stillwell.
Sure. We've been married for
months" replied Danny, happily.
Gene Stewart did it. Good old Gene.
! guess maybe haven't come to pay
him up for all he's done for me- You
see, I've been in love with Bonita for
two years. An Gene-you know. Bill.
what Il way Gene has with girls-he
was-wel, he was tryin' to get Bonita
to have me-
Madelne's quick, varying emotions
We're swallowed up in a boundless
gladness. Something dark deep. heavy,
and somber was flooded from her
heart. She had sudden rich sense of
gratitude toward this smiling, clean
faced cowboy whose blue eyes flashed
through tears
Danny Mains," she said, tremulous-
ly and smilingly, "If you IRE us glad
as your news has made me-lf you
really think merit sue. I reward
you may kiss me outright"
With n bashful wonder but with
right hearty will, Danny Mains avalled
himself of this gracious privilege.
Stillwell snorted. The signs of his
phenomenal smile were manifest, 9TH
]
that snort an indication of furious dis
approval.
"Bill, straddle E hair" ~aid Danny.
you've gone back heap these last
few months frettin over your bad
boys, Danny an Gene. You'll need
support under you while I'm THROWN
my yarn. Story of my life. Bill" He
placed chair for Madeline. Miss
Hammond, beggin' your pardon again.
| want you to listen, also. You've the
face an eyes of woman who loves
to hear Of other peoples happiness
Besides somehow. its easy for me to
talk lookin' at YOU"
Walking off the porch. he stood be
fore the weary horse and burro. With
the sW lift violence characteristic of
men of his class he skipped the pack
from the burro and threw saddle and
bride from the horse.
He united the pack and taking a
small, heavy sack from it, he came
back upon the porch Deliberately he
dumped the contents of the sack at
Stlllwell's feet. Piece after piece of
rock thumped upon the floor. The
pieces We're sharp, ragged, evidently
broken from a ledge; the body of
them was white in color, with yellow
veins and bars and streaks. Stillwell
grasped uD one rock after another.
stared and suffered, put the rocks to
his lips, dug into them with his shak-
ing fingers; then he lay back in his
chair. head against the wall, and as he
gaped at Danny the old smile began to
transform his face.
Danny regarded Stillwell with lofty
condescension. Nov, Bill, what've we
got here, say, offhand?"
"Oh, Lord. Danny! I'm afraid to
say. LOOK. Miss Majesty, jest look at
the gold. I've lived among prospec
tors an gold mines fer thirty years.
an never seen the beat of this"
"The Lost Mine of the Padres |"
cried Danny, in stentorian voice. AN
1t belongs TO me-"
Stillwell made some incoherent sound
as he sat up fascinated. quite beside
himself.
"Bill, 1t was some long time ago
since you saw me-" said Danny. Fact
is, I know how you felt, because Gene
kept me posted. l happened to run
across Bonita, an | wasn't goin' to
let her ride awav alone, when she told
me she was in trouble. We hit the
trail for the Peloncllos. Bonita had
Genes horse. an she was to meet him
up on the trail. We got to the noun
| tains all right an nearly starved for
few days till Gene found us He had
got in trouble himself an couldn't
fetch much with him.
1--WE made for the crags an built a
| cabin. ! come down that day Gene
sent his horse Majesty TO you. Never
saw Gene so broken hearted. Well
after he soped for the border Bonita
an were hard put to il to keep alive.
But we got along, an | think it was
then she began to care little for me.
Once ! went to FL CAjon an run plumb
into Gene. He was back from the rev.
away from him after doin' all could
to drag him out of town. A long time
after that Gene trailed up to the crags
an found US. Gene had stopped drink
in, he'd changed wonderful was fine
an dandy. 1t was then he began to
poster the life out of me to make me
marry Bonita. was happy, so was
she, an was some scared Of spoilin'
II Genes dOg-pOne hard To huck