The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-07-18

lCdDtd " hio Cf 11S WIN wv
strides-loomed over her.
In not thinking about myself" he
Numbered. "Will you listen?"
NO" she replied; and there was
freezing hauteur in her voice. With a
slight gesture of dismissal, unmistak-
able in its finality, she turned her back
upon him. Then she Joined her guests.
Stewart stood perfectly m~otionless.
Then slowly he began to lift his right
hand in which he held his sombrero.
He swept 1t up and up, high over his
head. His tall form lowered. With
fierce %suddenness he flung his sombrero
down. He leaped at his black horse
and dragged him to where his saddle
lay. With one pitch he tossed the
saddle upon the horses back. His
strong hand flashed at girths and
straps. Every action was swift, de
cisive, fierce. Bounding for his bride,
which hung over a bush, he ran against
a cowboy who a~wkwardly tried to
avoid the onslaught.
"Get out of my way!" he yelled.
Then with the same savage haste
he adjusted the bride on his horse.
"Mebbe you better hold on a min
nit, Gene. ole %feller," said Monty
Price.
"Monty. do you van me to brain
you?" said Stewart, with the short,
hard ring in his voice.
"Now, considerin' the high class of
my brains, l oughter be real careful
to keep EN-" replied Monty. "You
can betcher life. Gene, I amt goin'
to git in front of you. But l jest says
Listen 7"
Stewart raised his dark face. Ev-
erybody listened. And everybody
heard the rapid beat of a horses
hoofs. The sun had set, but the park
was light. Nels appeared down the
trail, and his horse was running. In
another moment he was in the circle,
pulling his bay back to a sliding halt
He leaped off abreast of Stewart.
Madeline saw and felt a difference
in Nels' presence.
"What's up, Gene?" he queried,
sharply.
Nels' long arm shot out, and his
hand fell upon Stewart. holding him
down.
"Shore I'm sorry" said Nels, slow
ly. "Then you was goin' to hit the
trail?"t
q am going to. Let go, Nels."
ashore you amt goin', Gene?'
LET go, d-n you I" cried Stewart,
as he wrestled free.
"What's wrong?" asked Nels, lifting
his hand again.
MAN Don't touch mel"
Nels stepped back instantly. He
seemed to become aware of Stewards
white. wild passion. Again Stewart
moved to mount.
"Nels, don't make me forget we've
been friends" he said.
ashore | amt fergettin'," replied
Nels. AN I resign my job right here
an now! ~
His strange speech checked the
mounting cowboy. Stewart stepped
down from the stirrup. Then their
hard faces were still and cold while
their eyes locked glances.
Madeline was as much startled by
Nels' speech as Stewart. Quick to
note a change in these men, she now
sensed one that was unfathomable.
"R~esign?" questioned Stewart.
ashore. What'd you think I'd do un-
der circumstances sich as has come
up?"
But see here, Nels, I won't stand
for it."
you're not my boss no more, an l
amt beholdin' to Miss Hammond,
neither. I'm my w boss, an I'll do
as | please. Sabe, senor?'
Nels' words were at variance with
the meaning in his face.
Gene, you sent me on a little scout
down in the mountains, didn't you?"
Yes, l did" replied Stewart, with
a new sharpness in his voice.
oval, shore you was so good IN
right in your fggerin', as opposed to