Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-09-28

Indeed not" replied Alfred. "How
about 1t, Flo:"
Florence replied that the cowboys
would upon the slightest provocntion
treat Don Carlos with less ceremony
and gentloness than roped steer. Old
Bill Stillwell came up to be importuned
by Alfred regarding the conduct of
cowboys on occasion, and he not only
corroborated the assertion, but added
emphasis and evidence of his own.
An, Miss Majesty" he concluded.
Il reckon If Gene Stewart was ridin'
fer me, thet GRIMM Greaser would
hev he'd "A bump in the lust before
now"
Madeline had been wavering between
sobriety and laughter until Stillwel's
mention of his ideal of cowboy chiv-
airy decided in favor of the laughter.
Il nm not convinced, but surren-
der" she said "You have only some
occult motive for driving me away.
am sure that handsome Don Carlos is
being unjustly suspected. But as
have seen little of cowboys singular
imagination and gallantry. am rather
inclined to fear their possibilities. So
good-by"
Then she rode with Florence up the
long, gray slope to the ranch-house
That night she suffered from excessive
WEAKNESS, which she attributed more
to the strange working of her mind
than to riding and sitting her horse
Morning. howev found her In no dis
position to rest 1t was not activity
that she craved, or excitement, or
pleasure. An unerring instinct. rising
clear from the thronging sensations of
the Inst few days, told her that she
had missed something In life. What
ever this something was, she had baf-
/ fling intimations of 1t, hopes that faded
on the verge of realizations, haunting
promises that were unfulfilled. What
ever 1t was, 1t had remained hidden
and unknown at home. and here In the
West it began to allure and drive her
to discovery. Therefore she could not
rest; she wanted to go and see; she
was no longer chasing phantoms: 1t
was Il hunt for treasure that held
aloof. as intangible as the substance Of
dreams
Upon the morning after the end of
ihe roundup, When she went out on
the porch. her brother and Stilwel
appeared to be arguing about the iden-
| ttv OF morse
wal, l reckon It's my old roam"
said Stillwell, shading his eyes with
MS hand.
Bill II that isn't Stewarts hPrse
my eyes are gong pack on me- replied
Al. It's not the color or shape-the
instance is 100 FAR to judge by that.
its the motion-the swing.
Al, mebbe you're right. But they
amt no rider up on tibet hoss Flo,
ietch my giass.
Florence went into the house, while
Madeline tried to discover the object
OF attention. Presently far up the gray
hollow along foothill she saw dust
anu then the dark, moving figure of a
horse. She was watching when Flor
ence returned with the glass. BIZ
took long look, adjusted the glasses
carefully, and tried again.
wal. l hate to admit my eyes nre
gettin' pore. But l guess I'll hev to.
Ihets Gene Stewart's hoss, sadd!ed.
an comm at fast clip without a
rider. It's amazln' strange, an some
in keepln' with other things concernin'
Gene.
Give me the glass said Al. "fes,
l was right. Bill. the horse Is not
frightened. He's coming steadily; he's
got something on his mind"
The wide hollow sloping up into the
foothills lay open TO unobstructed
view, and less than half mile distant
Madeline saw the riderless horse COM
Ing along the White trail at rapid
canter. A shrill, piercing whistle pealed
in.
"Wal, he's seen us, thet's sure said
Bill.
The horse neared the corrals. disap-
peared into lane, and then, breaking
his gait again, numbered into the in
closure and pounded to a halt some
twenty yards. from where Stillwell
waited for him.
One look at him at close range in
the clear light of day was enough for
Madeline TO award him blue ribbon
over all horses, even the priZe-winner,
White Stockings. The cowboys great
steed was no 1.-THE, slender-bodied mus
stang. He was a charger, almost tre-
mendous of build, with black coat
family mottled In gray, ana 1t shone
like polished glass in the sun. Evi-