Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-06-07
n
A Secret Kept.

line found faith to go farther will
the cowboy. but at the moment she
really did not think about what HI
had said. ANY answer to her would
have served If 1t had been kind. a
AS she walked on into the wind,
darkness, much relieved hat he had
answered as he had. rejecting that he
had yet to prove his words true, she
began to grasp the deeper significance
of them. There was a revival OF pride
that made her feel that she ought to
scorn TO think at all about such q
man.
Presently Madeline's guide turned
OF the walk and raped at 8 door OF
q low-roofed house.
"Hullo-who's thereT" y deep voice
answered.
1Gene Stewart" said the cowboy.
~Call Florence-uuick !"
Trump OF footsteps followed. a tap
OF. q door, and voices. Madeline heard
a woman exclaim: "Genel here when
there's a dance In town. Something
wrong out on the range" A light
fiared up and shone bright through a
window. In another momen there
came a patter Of soft steps. and the
door opened to disclose a woman hold
Ing a lamp.
"Genel AIS not"
al is all right" interrupted the
cowboy.
Madeline had two sensations then
one Of wonder at the note Of alarm
and love In the woman's voice, and
the other OF unutterable relief to be
safe with a friend of her brothers.
'Tt's AIS sister-came on tonight's
frain," the cowboy was saying. II
happened to be at the station, and
I've fetched her up to you"
Madeline came forward out OF the
shadow.
"Not-not really Majesty Ham
mond !" exclaimed Florence Kingsley.
She nearly dropped the lamp. and she
looked. astounded beyond belief.
Eyes. I am really She" replied
Madeline. my train was late and
for some reason Alfred did not meet
me. Mr.-Mr. Stewart saw At to bring
ue TO you instead of taking me to a
aotel."
"Oh. Tn so glad 10 meet YOU" re-
piled Florence. warmly. "Do come In.
I'm so surprised. I forget my manners
Why. you are white as a sheet. You
must be tired. What a long walt you
had of the statlonl II had known
you were comingl Indeed. you are
very pale. Are you lll7"
mo. Only / am very tired. Travel
ing so far by rail Is harder than I
imagined. / did have rather a long
wait after arriving at the station. but
i can, say that II was lonely"
Florence Kingsley searched Made
lines face with Keen eyes, and Their
toox a long. significant look at the
silent Stewart. With that she de-
liberately and quietly closed a door
beading into another ROOM.
"Miss Hammond. what has hap
pened?" She had lowered her voice.
II do not wish to recall all that has
happened" replied Madeline. 81 shall
tell Alfred. however. that / would
rather have met d hostile Apache than
q cowboy"
@Please don't tell AL thatl" cried
Florence. Then she grasped Stewart
and pulled him close to the light.
Scene. you're drunk"
NOW. see here. Flo, l only"
Il don't want to know. I'd tell 1t.
Gene. aren't you eve going to learn
decency7 Aren't you ever going to
stop drinkingi You'll lose all your
friends. Molly and l have pleaded
with you, and now you've gone and
done-God knows whatl'
what do women want to wear wells
forT' he growled. "rd have known
her but for that WE'LL"
And you wouldn't have insulted
her. But you would the next girl who
came along. Gene. you are hopeless.
Now. you get out of here and don't
ever come back
Flo" he entreated.
81 mean It,"
81 reckon then I'll come back to-
morrow and take my medicine" he
replied.
Don't you darel' she cried.
Stewart went out and closed the
door.
Miss Hammond. you-you don't
know how this hurts me-" said
Florence. what you must think of
usl It's so unlucky that you should
have had this happen right at first.
Now. maybe you won't have the heart
to stay. Oh. I've known more than
n eastern girl to go home without
ever learning what we really are out
here. Miss Hammond. Gene Stewart
II a fend when he's drunk. All the
sans | know. whatever he did. he
meant no shame to you Come now,
dnu't think about II again tonight"
she took ~ III iazsp and led MaAs
kans late : skt1s Foon~ ~Woar ~