Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-07-12

early as the others. who were up ant
had breakfast ready when she wen
into the dining room. Stlllwefl wa,
not in an amiable frame of mind. Ths
burrows Of worry lined bis broad brow
and he continually glanced at his
watch. and growled because the COW.
boys were SO late In riding over with
the news. He guIped his breakfast
and while Madeline and the others ate
theirs he tramped up and down the
porch. Madeline noted that Alfred
grew nervous and restless. Presently
ne left the table to join StillwelI out
side.
They'll slope of to Don Carlos
rancho and leave us to ride home
alone" observed Florence.
"Do you mind?" questioned Made
line.
mo, ! don't exactly mind: we've got
the fastest horses In this country but
I've no hankering for a situation Gene
Stewart thinks"
Florence began dis~connectediy, and
she ended evasively. Madeline did no
press the point. although she had some
sense Of mlsgiving. StillwelI tramped
In. shaking the floor with his huge
boots; Alfred followed him, carrying a
ield-glass.
Not a boss in sight" complained
Stlllwell. "SomethIn' wrong over Don
Carlos way. Miss Majesty. It'll he jest
as well fer you an Flo to hit the home
trail. We can telephone over an see
that the boys know you're COMM"
Alfred, standing in the door. swept
the gray valley with his ield-glass.
"Bill. / see running stock-horses or
cattle; / can't make out which. /
guess we'd better rustic wei there"
Both men hurried out, ana while the
horses were being brought up and sad
died Madeline and Florence put away
the breakfast dishes. then speedily
donned spurs. sombreros and gaunt-
lets.
Here are the horses ready" called
Alfred. "Flo, that black Mexican horse
Is a prince"
The girls went out in time to hear
oAitNfii > kDou-DJ 40 iG hhotthtth anu
spurred AWAY. Alfred went through
the motions Of assisting Madeline and
Florence to mount, which assistance
they always houted. and then he. too,
swung up astride.
~ guess It's all right" he said,
rather obviously. you really must
not go over toward Don Carlos. It's
only a few miles home"
"Sure It's all right. We can ride,
WEI" retorted Florence. ~ de-
he and AL were sure ratified"
Florence dismounted and went into
the house. She left the door open.
Madeline had some difficulty In hold
ing Majesty IL struck Madeline that +
Florence stayed rather long indoors.
Presently she came out with sober face
and rather tight lips.
II couldn't get anybody on the
phone. No answer l tried b dozen
"why, Florence" Madeline was
concerned by the girls looks than
by the information she impaired.
1.-The wires been cut" said Flor
ence. Her gray glance swept swiftly
after Alfred, who was now far out of
II don't like this a little bit.
where I've got to '1gger,' as
BIZ says"
She pondered a moment, then hur-
Red into the house. to return presently
the ield-glass that Alfred had
used. With this she TOOK a survey of
he valley. particularly In the direc-
ion of MadelIne's ranch-house. This
vas hidden by low, rolling ridges
which were quite close by.
Anyway. nobody In that direction
AN see us leave heah." she unused.
There's mesquite on the ridges. We've
rot cover long enough 10 save US TIL
can see what's ahead"
Florence, what-what do you ex-
asked Madeline. nervously.
III don't know. There's never ans
eiling about Greasers. I wish Bin
AL hadn't left us. Still, come to
hink of that, they couldn't help US
In case of q chase. We'd run
light away from them. Besides. they'd
/ guess I'm as well satisfied I
hat we've got the job of getting home
N our W hands. We don't dare I
ollow AL toward Don Carlos ranch. |
We know there's trouble over there. ,
10 NIL that's left Is to hit the trail for |
'ome. Come. let's ride. You stick s
Ike a Spanish needle to me-" .
A heavy growth of mesquite Gov (
red the top of the first ridge. and .
he trail went through 1t. Florence I
ppeared cautious. deliberate. yet she 7
ost no time. She was ominously ST. q
ant. Madeline's misgIvings took den- |
lite shape In the fear of vaqueros In ]
mbush. &
Upon the ascent Of the third ridge, I
ghich Madeline remembered was the {
asst Uneven ground between the point
he had reached and home. Florence
xercised even more guarded care In l
dvahciny. Before she reached the
90 OF this ridge she dlsmounted. h
ooped her bride round a dead snag o
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