Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-07-19

lglade. Stewart guided the roar of TO
the right and walked beside Madeline,
steadying her In the saddle. At first
Madeline was so weak and dizzy that
she could scarcely retain her seat.
The dizziness left her presently, and
then she made an effort to ride with
out help. Her weakness. however, and
a pain In her wrenched arm made the
task laborsOme.
Stewart had struck OF the trail. If
there were one, and was keeping 10
denser parts of the forest. MaJesty's
hoofs made no sound on the soft
ground, and Stewart strobe on without
speaking. Neither his hurry nor vigil
ance relaxed until ar least two miles
had been covered. The soft ground
horse snorted and tossed his head. A
sound OF splashing water broke the ST.
ience. The hollow opened into a wider
one through which a little brook muir
INJURED It's way over the stones. Maj
esty snorted again and stopped and
bent his head.
HE wants a drink" said Madeline.
I'm thirsty, too. and very tired"
Stewart lifted her out OF the sad
die. and as their hands parted she
felt something moist and warm. Blood
WAS running down her arm and into
the palm OF her hand.
"Tm-bleedIng," she said. a little
unsteadIly. "Oh, l remember. My arm
was hurt"
She held 1t out, the blood making
her conscious OF her weakness. Stew
arts fingers felt so firm and sure.
Swiftly he ripped the wet sleeve. Her
forearm had been cut or scratched.
He washed off the blood.
"Why. Stewart. It's nothing. / was
only a little nervous. / guess that's
the first time | ever saw my own
blood"
lie made no reply as he tore her
handkerchief Into strips and bound her
arm. His swift motions and his silence
gave her a hint of how he might meet
a more serious emergency. She felt
safe. And because of that impression,
when he lifted his head and she saw
that he was pale and shaking, she wal
surprised. He stood before her folding
his scarf, which was still wet, and
from which he made no effort to re-
the red stains.
Miss Hammond" he said, hoarsely,
sit was a mans hands-a Greaser's fin
gernails-that cut your arm. l know
who he was. l could have killed him
But | mightn't have got your freedom.
You understand? | didn't dare"
Madeline gazed at Stewart, as
founded more by his speech than his
excessive emotion.
MY dear boy :" she exclaimed. And
she paused. She could not find
He was making an apology to her
FOR not killing a man who had laid n
rough hand upon her person. He was
ashamed and seemed to be In a tor
that she would not understand
Why he had not killed the nan. There
to be something Of passionate
In him that he had not been able
avenge her as we'll as free her.
Stewart, / understand. You were
being my kind of cowboy. / thank
But she did not understand so much
rs she implied. She had heard many
stories OF this mans cool Indifference
% peril and death. He had always
as hard as granite. why
lhould the sight of a little blood upon
Ter arm pale his cheek and shake his
and thicken his voice? What
vas there In his nature to make him
her to see the only reason he
not kill an outlaw? The answer
o the first question was that he loved
Ter. II was beyond her TOY answer the
racond. But the secret OK 1t lay in
same strength from which his love
prang-an intensity of feeling which
eemed Characteristic of these western
men OF simple, lonely, elemental lives.
III at once over Madeline flushed a
Idle OF realization Of how greatly 1t
o love her. The thought came to her In
n its singular power. All her easternI
who had the graces that made
hem her equals In the sight OF the world
we're without the only great essential
hat a lonely, hard life had given to
Nature here struck a Just
Something deep and dim In
future, an unknown voice. called
o Madeline and disturbed her. And
,ecause II was not a voice to her In
diligence she deadened> the ears of
Ier warm and ~throbbing life and de-
ided never to listen. 1
as Ii safe To rest a iittleg" she
sked. II am so tired. Perhaps I'll
e stronger II ! rest"
.We're all right now" he said. II
an get you home by midnight. They'll
some worried down there"
What ~hnppenedf" :
Nothing much TO any me but you.
HAIRS fhe-the hard luck OF Il. Flor