Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-08

after he SlOped for the border Bonita
an were hard put to 1t to keep alive.
But we got along, an / think 1t was
then she began to care little for me.
Once went to Ell Cajon an run plumb
into Gene. He was back from the rev
olution an cuttin' up some. But / got
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'
1t. Genes dog-gone hard to buck
against had to give in, an asked
Bonita to marry me. Well she wouldn't
at first-said she wasn't good enough
for me. But I saw the marriage idea
was workin' deep, an just kept on be-
in as decent as I knew how. So 1t
was my wantin' to marry Bonita-my
bein' glad to marry her-that made
her grow soft an sw eet an pretty as
as mountain quail. Gene fetched up
Padre Marcos, an he married u.s."
Danny paused in his narrative,
breathing hard, as If the memory Of
the incident described had stirred
strong and thrilling feeling in him.
Stillwell's smile was rapturous. Made
line leaned toward Danny with her eyes
shining.
Miss Hammond, an you, Bill Still
well, now listen, for this Is strange
I've got to tell you. The afternoon
Bonita an were married, when Gene
an the padre had gone, she left me
for little, an when she came back
she wore some pretty yellow flowers
In her hair. She said some queer
things about spirits rollin' rocks down
the canyon. Then she said she wanted
to show me where she always sat an
waited an watched for me when was
away. She led me around under the
crags to long slope. 1t was some
pretty there-clear an open, with
long sweep, an the desert yawnin
deep an red. There were yellow flow
ers on that slope, the same kind she
had in her hair.
"When heard the strange crack OF
rollin' rocks-heard them rattle down
an roll an grow faint-I was some
out Of my head. But not for long. Them
rocks were rollin' all right, only it was
the weatherin' Of the cliffs.
"An' there under the crags was a
gold pocket.
''Tnen I was worse than locoed.
went gold-crazy. l worked like seven
teen burros. Bill, dug lot Of gold
bearin' quartz. Bonita watched the
trails for me, brought me water. That
was how she come to get caught by
Pat Have an his guerrillas. Sure !!
Pat Have was so set on DOM Gene
dirt that he mixed up with Don Carlos.
Bonita will tell you some staggerin'
news about that outfit. Just now my
story Is all gold"
Danny Mains got up and kicked back
his chair. Blue lightning cleaned
from his eyes as he thrust a hand
| toward Stillwell
"Bill, old pal put her there give me
your hand,' he said. you were always
my friend. You had faith in me- Well,
Danny Mains owes you, an he owes
/ Gene Stewart good deal, an Danny
Mains pays. want two pardners to
help me work my gold mine. You an
Gene. Go fetch him; an right here in
this house. with my wife an Miss
Hammond as witnesses, we'll draw uI
partnership. Go find him, Bill.
want to show him this gold, show hin
how Danny Mains pays! An the only
bitter drop In my cup today is that
can't ever pay Monty Price,"
Madeline watched the huge Stillwel
and the little cowboy, both talking
wildly, as they walked off arm in arm
to find Stewart. She imagined some
thing Of what Danny's disappointment
would be. of the elder mans conster
nation and grief, when he Learned
Stewart had left for the border, A
this juncture she looked up to see ,
strange, yet familiar figure approach
ing. Padre Marcos
Mention Of Padre Marcos, sight o
him, had always Occasioned Madelin
little indefinable shock; and now. a
he stepped to the porch, shrunken
stopped, and sad-faced man, she wa
startled.
The padre bowed low to her.
Sonora, will you grant me aud
ence? 1t is a matter of great moment
which you might not ,are to have an
one hear"
Wonderingly Madeline inclined he
head. The padre gently closed on
door and then the others.
"Senora, have come to disclose
) secret-my own sinfulness in keepin
it-and to implore your pardon. D
, you remember that night Senior Stew
/ art dragged me before you In tn
, waiting-room at Ell Cajon?"
, "Yes,' replied Madeline.
, "Senora, since that night you hav
I been Senior Stewards wife!"
. Madeline became as motionless 9