The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-04-28

nd

said Madeline. with uplifted head.
Alfred laughed. Eve won't quar-
rel, Majesty. remember you. and In
spite Of your pride you've got heart.
II you stay here month you'll love
Florence Kingsley. want you to
know she's had a great deal to do with
STRENGTHENING me up. Well, to
go on with my story. There's Don
Carlos. Mexican rancher, and he's
my worst enemy. Don Carlos is
willy Greaser, he knows the ranges,
he has the water, and he Is dishonest.
So he outdgured me. And now am
practically ruined. He has not gotten
possession Of my ranch, but that's only
matter Of time, pending lawsuits
at Santa Fee. At present I have q
few hundred cattle running on Still
wells range, and Lam his foreman"
Foreman" queried Madeline.
Il am simply boss Of Stillwell's cow
boys, and right glad Of my job"
Madeline was Aconscfous Of an in
ward burning. It required an effort
for her to retain her outward tranquil
ity. i. : Z. =
Cannot your property be re-
claimed?" she asked. "How much do
you over" II > .ss-
"Ten thousand dollars would clear
me and give, me another start. But.
Majesty, In this country that's q good
deal Of money, and I haven't been able
to raise it. -Stillwell's In worse shape
than I am" .. .e~- -. -s-.-
Madeline went over to Alfred and
put her hands On his shoulders.
1--WE must not be in debt"
He stared at her as If her words had
recalled something long forgotten.
Then he smiled.
slow imperious you are! I'd for
gotten just who my beautiful sister
really is. Majesty, you're not going
to ask me to take money from you"
II am"
"Well, I'll not do it. I never did,
even when I was in college, and then
there wasn't much beyond me-"
Listen, Alfred" she went on, ear
nestly, this is entirely different I
had only an allowance then. You had
no way to know that since I last
wrote you had come into my inheri-
lance from Aunt Grace. 1t was
well, that doesn't matter. Only, I
haven't been able to spend half the
income. It's mine. It's not fathers
money. You will make me very happy
If you'll consent. What is ten thou
sand dollars to me-? Sometimes I
spend that in a month. throw money
away. II you let me help you it will
be doing me good as well as you.
Please. Alfred"
"You always were the best Of fell
lows, Majesty. And If you really care
If you really want to help me I'll
be only too glad to accept. 1t will be
fine. Florence will 60 wild. And that
Greaser won't harass me any more.
Majesty, pretty soon some titled fellow
will be spending your money; may
as we'll take a little before he gets 1t
ALL" he finished, jokingly.
what do you know about me-" she
asked, lightly.
more than you think. Even If we
are lost out here in the woolly West
we get news. Everybody knows about
Anglesbury. And that Dago duke who
chased you all over Europe, that Lord
Castleton has the running now and
seems about to win. How about it,
Majesty"
Madeline detected q hint that sug-
gested scorn In his gay speech. And
deep In his searching glance she saw
a flame. She became thoughtful. She
had forgotten Castleton, New York.
society.
Alfred" she began, seriously, II
don't believe any titled gentleman will
ever spend my money, as you elegantly
express it."
II don't care for that. It's your
he cried, passionately. and he grasped
her with violence that startled her.
He was white; his eyes were now like
fire. 'You are so splendid-so won
derful. People called you the Ameri-
can Beauty, but you're more than that
You're the American Grill Majesty.
marry no man unless you love him, and
love an American. Stay away from
Europe long enough to learn to know
the men-the real men Of your own
country"
alfred, I'm afraid there are not al
ways real men and real love for Amer.
lean girls in International marriages.
Alfred, tell me how you came to know
about me, way out here? You may
be assured I was astonished to find
that Miss Kingsley knew me as Maj
esty Hammond" 49,.
II imagine it was q surprise" Me
replied, with laugh. II told Flor
ence about you-gave her picture Of
you. And, Of course, being woman,
she showed the picture and talked.
She's in love with you. Then, my
dear sister, we do get New York pa
pers out here occasionally, and we can
see and read. You may not be aware
that you and your society friends are
objects Of intense interest In the u.
s. in general, and the West In partic-
ular. The papers are full Of you. and
perhaps lot Of things you never did.
Majesty, I must run down to the sid
ing" consulting his watch. "We're
loading a shipment Of cattle. TIL be
back by supper time and bring Still.
well with me. You'll like him."
Madeline went to her room, intend
ing to rest awhile, and she fell asleep.
She was aroused by Florence's knock