Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-08-10

Stewart and thanked him. He bowed,
then led the black down the path to-
ward the corrals.
Madeline watched the weary horse
and rider limp down the path. What
had made her thoughtful? Mostly 1t was
something new or sudden or inexplic-
able that stirred her mind to quick
analysis. In this instance the thing
that had struck Madeline was Stew
arts glance. He had looked at her,
and the old burning, inscrutable fire.
the darkness, had left his eyes. Sud
denly they had been beautiful. The
look had not been one Of surprise or
admiration; nor had 1t been one Of
love. She was familiar, too familiar
with all three. 1t had not been gaze
Of passion, for there was nothing
beautiful in that. Madeline pOndered
And presently she realized that Stew
arts eyes had expressed strange Joy
Of pride. That expression Madeline
had never before encountered in the
look Of any man. Probably it's strange
ness had made her notice 1t and ac-
counted for her blushing. The longer
she lived among these outdoor men
the more they surprised her. Particu-
larly, how incomprehensible was this
cowboy Stewart Why should he have
pride or joy at sight of her?
The approaching automobile was on
the slope now, some miles down the
long gradual slant. It's velocity was
astounding. Long. gray wells, like pen
nants, streamed in the wind. A low
rushing sound became perceptible, and
1t grew louder, became a roar. The
car shot like an arrow past the alfalfa
field, by the bunk-houses. where the
cowboys waved and cheered. The
to snort and tramp and race in fright.
At the base Of the long slope of the
foothill Link cut the speed more than
half. Yet the car rOared up, rolling
the dust, flying capes and wells and ul-
sters, and crashed and cracked to a
halt in the yard before the porch.
Madeline deserted gray, disheveled
mass of humanity packed inside the
car. Besides the driver there were
seven occupants, and for a moment
they appeared to be coming to life
moving and exclaiming under the wells
and wraps and dust-shields.
Link Stevens stepped out and, re-
moving helmet and goggles, cOOlly
looked at his watch.
"An hour an a quarter, Miss Ham
mond," he said. "It's slxty-three miles
by the valley road, an you know
there's a couple of bad hills. I reckon
we made fair time, considerin' you
wanted me to drive slow an safe"
From the mass of dusty~veiled hui
manity in the car came low eXcluna
tions and plaintive feminine walls.
Madeline stepped to the front Of the
porch. Then the deep voices Of men
and softer voices Of women united in
one glad outburst, as much thanks
giving as a greeting, Majesty"
Helen Hammond was three years
younger than Madeline, and slender
pretty girl. Having recovered her
breath soon after Madeline took her to
her room, she began to talk.
Majesty, old girl, I'm here; but you
can bet l would never have gotten here
If I had known about that ride from
the railroad. You never wrote that
you had car. thought this was OUT
est-stage-coach. and all that sort Of
thing Such a tremendous car And
the road! What kind Of a chauffeur
Is he?"
"He's a cowboy. He was crippled
by falling under his horse, so had
him instructed to run the car. He can
drive, don't you think?"
"Drive? Good gracious! He scared
US to death, except CastletOn. Nothing
could scare that cold-blooded little
Englishman. I am dizzy yet. Do you
know, Majesty, was delighted when
I saw the car. Then your cowboy
driver met us at the platform. What
a queer-looking individual He had
big pistol strapped to those leather
trousers. That made me nervous.
When he piled US all in with our grips,
he put me In the seat beside him,
whether l liked it or not. was fool
enough to tell him I loved to travel
fast. What do you think he said?
Well, he eyed me in a rather cool and
speculative way and said, with smile,
Miss, reckon anything you love an
want bad will be coming to you out
herep I didn't know whether it was
delightful candor or impudence. Then
he said to all of us: Shore you had
better wrap up in the wells an busters.
It's long, slow, hot dusty ride to the
ranch, an Miss Hammond's order was
to drive safe He got our baggage
checks and gave them to a man with
a huge wagon and four-horse team.
Then he cranked the car, jumped In,
wrapped his arms round the wheel,
and sank down low In his seat. There
was a crack, jerk, kind of flash
around us, and that dirty little town
was somewhere on the map behind
For about FIVE minutes had a lovely
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