The Lamar register., 1923-05-16
CONTINUED from Page Two)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright by Harper and Brothers

sue enueu eNaSlNely. Madeline did not
press the point. although she had some
sense of misgiving. Stillwell tramped
in, shaking the floor with his huge
boots; Alfred followed him, carrying II
tield-glass.
mot hoss in sight" complained
Stillwell. 'Somethin' wrong over Don
Carlos way. Miss Majesty, it'll be 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 field glass.
bill. l see running stock horses or
cattle; / can't make out which.
guess we'd better rustic over there"
Both men hurried out, ana while the
horses were being brought up and sad
dleI 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 prince
The girls went out in time to hear
Stillwells good-by as he mounted and
spurred away. Alfred went through
the motions Of assisting Madeline and
Florence to mount, which assistance
they always fiouted. and then he. too.
swung up astride.
IL 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"
oil rfrh "
can't wef' retorted Florence 81 de
clare 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. II 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. I tried a dozen
tines"
"why, Florence 70 Madeline was
more concerned by the girls looks than
by the information she impaired.
The wires been cut" said Flor
ence Her gray glance swept swiftly
after Alfred, who was now far out of
earshot. II don't like this II little bit.
Heah's where I've got TO 'figger,' as
Bill says"
She pondered Il moment, then hur-
ried into the house. 10 return presently
with the field-glass that Alfred had
used. With this she took a survey of
the valley, particularly In the direc-
tIon of Madellne's ranch-house. This
was hidden by low. rolling ridges
which were quite close by.
Anyway. nobody In that direction
can see US leave heah.' she mused.
There's mesquite on the ridges. We've
got cover long enough TO save US till
we can see what's ahead"
FLORENCE, what-what do you eS-
pect?" asked Madeline. nervously.
Il don't know There's never any
telling about Greasers. l wish Bill
and Al hadn't left US. Still. come to
think Of that, they couldn't help US
much In case Of chase. We'd run
right away from them. Besides, they'd
shoot. / guess I'm as well satisfied
that we've got the job Of getting home
on our own hands. We don't dare
follow Al toward Don Carlos ranch.
We know there's trouble over there.
So all that's left is to hit the trail for
home. Come, let's ride. You stick
like Il Spanish needle to me-"
A heavy growth of mesquite COW
cred the top of the first ridge. and
the trail went through 1t. Florence
appeared cautious, deliberate, yet she
lost no time She WAS Ominously 81
lent. Madeline's mlsgivings took deh-
mite shape In the fear of yaqueros In
ambush
Upon the ascent OF the third ridge.
which Madeline remembered was the
last uneven ground between the point
she had reached and home, Florence
exercised even more guarded care In
advancing. Before she reached the
top of this ridge she dismounted'
looped her bride round dead snag'
and, motlonlng Madeline to walt she
slipped ahead through the mesquite out
Of sight. Madeline waited, anuously
listening and watching. All OF SUD
den she saw Matesty's ears we're heio
up. Then Florences face now strange
ly white. showed round the turn OF
the trail.
"s-sssh !" whispered Florence