The Raymer enterprise., 1923-08-02
CHAPTER xlli.-continued.

CHAPVEH NIIl!-Continueo.
III
Nov. Stillwell, out with It," sh,
said. briefly.
-Wai. Miss Majesty, there's goin' tc
be q fight somewhere. an Stewar,
wanted to get you-all In before It come
~. He says the valleys overrun b,
vaqueros an guerrillas an robbers. an
Lord knows what else.'
Hs stamped of the porch, his huge
spufs rattllng. and started down the
psfh toward the waiting men.
Stewart stood In his familiar atten
dve position. erect. silent, with 9
hand On pommel and bride.
Stewart, you are exceedingly
thouShtfui Of my interests" she said
wanting to thank him. and not readily
finding words. II would not know
what to do without you. Is there dan
cerT
TIN not sure. But l want to be or
the safe side"
She besitated. II was no longer easy
Tor her to talk to him, and she did moi
know why.
May I know the special orders you
gave Neis and Nick and Monty?" she
asked.
-of course I'll tell you II you Insist
My orders were that at least one OF
them must be on guard near you day
and Bight-never to be out Of hearing
OF your voice"
II thought as much. Stewart. you
still think Don Carlos tried to make
OF with me-may try II agaInT
Il don't think. know"
"And besides all your other duties
you have shared the watch with these
three cowboysr
"Yes."
at has been going on without my
knowledge? How long Is 1t to con-
tinuef"
THAT'S hard to say. Till the revo-
luton Is over. anyhow"
She mused moment, looking away
10 the west, where the great void was
hliIng with red haze. She believed i'm
piIcitly In him, and the menace hover
ing near her fell like a shadow upon
her present happiness.
what must do?" she asked.
II think you ought to send your
friends back East-and 90 with them,
until this guerrilla war Is over"
why, Stewart, they would be
broken-hearted. md so would l."
He had no reply for that
"If do not take your advice It will
be the FIRST time since I have come to
look to you for SO much" she went on,
Cannot you suggest something else
Ny friends are having such a splendid
visit Helen is getting well. Oh, l
should be sorry to see them 90 before
they want to-"
"We might take them up into the
mountains and camp out for a while
he said. presently. az know wild
place up among the crags It's a hard
climb. tut worth the work. I never
saw more beautiful spot. Fine wa.
ter, and II will be cool. Pretty soon
It'll be too hot here for your party to
go out-of-doors"
you mean to hide me away among
the crags and cloudsf" replied Made.
line. with laugh.
"Well, It'd amount to that. Your
friends need not know. Perhaps In n
few weeks this spell Of trouble on the
border will he over til fall"
You say It's n hard climb up to this
placer
1T surely Is. Your friends will get
the real thing II they make that trip"
THAT suits me. Helen especially
wants something to happen. Very
well. I am decided. Stewart, Of course
you wifi take charger | don't believe
T. Stewart, Isn't there something
more you could tell newly you
think, why you know my own personal
liberty Is In perilf"
yes. But do not ask me what II Is
If hadn't been rebel soldier would
never have known"
TT you had not been n rebel soldier
where would Madeline Hammond be
nowr' she asked, earnestly.
He made no reply.
Stewart" she continued, with warm
impulse, 1you once mentioned a debt
you owed me" And seeing his dark
face pale, she wnvered. then went on.
1T ls paid"
mo. no. That never can be paid"
Madeline held out her hand.
TT is paid. tell you" she repeated.
Suddenly he drew back from the
ootstretched white hand that seemed
to fascinate him.
I'D Kill a man to touch your hand.
But ! won't touch It on the terms you
e6er."
His unexpected passion disconnected
her.
Stewart, no man ever before re
fn1ed to shake hands with me. for any
reason. TIT Is scarcely natterine." I"
~ aaid, with little laugh. "why
won't you7 Because you think I offer
4 - mIstress to servant-rancher to
eoWo0ys"
no.
AThsn whyf The debt you owed me