Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-07-26

r0@ %%A y a. ~ t8h ~
can bet would never have gotten here
II l had known about that ride fron
the railroad. You never wrote tha
you had a car. I thought this was out
West-stage-coach. and all that sort OF
thing. Such a tremendous car! And
the road. What kind of a chauffeur
is he?"
Hes a cowboy. He was crippled
by falling under his horse, SO / had
him instructed to run the car. He can
drive. don't you think7"
Driver Good graciousl He scared
us to death, except CastIeton. Nothing
could scare that cold-blooded little
Englishman. / am dizzy yet. Do you
know. Majesty, l was delighted when
| saw the car. Then your cowboy
driver met US at the platform. What
a queer-looklng individual He had a
big pistol strapped TO those leather
trousers. That made me nervous
When he piled us all In with our grips.
he put me In the seat beside him.
whether ! liked 1t or not. / was fool
enough to tell him / loved to travel
fast. What do you think he said'
Well, he eyed me In q rather cool and
speculative way and said, with a smile.
Miss. / reckon anything you love an
want bad VIII be coming 10 you out
herei' I didn't know whether II was
delightful candor or impudence. Then
he said to all Of US: Shore you had
better wrap up IN the wells al busters.
It's a long. slow, hot. dusty ride to the
ranch. an Miss Hammond's order was
to drive safe lie got our baggage
checks and gave them TO a man with
a huge wagon and a four-horse team.
Then he cranked the car. jumped ia,
wrapped his arms round the wheel,
and sank down low In his seat. There
was a crack d jerk. a kind of flash
around us, and that dirty little town
was somewhere on the map behind.
For about five minutes | had d lovely
time. Then the wind began 10 tear
me TO pieces. / couldn't hear any
thing but the rush of wind and roar OF
the car. / could see only straight
ahead. What a roadl never saw a
road in my life till today. Miles and
miles and miles ahead, with not even
a post or tree. That big car seemed
to leap at the miles. II hummed and
sang. / was fascinated. then terrified
We went so fast | couldn't catch my
breath. The wind went through me.
and | expected to be disrobed by 1t
any minute. / was afraid l couldn't
hold any clothes on. Presently all
could see was a flashing gray wall
with a white line IN the middle. Then
my eyes blurred. My face burned. My
ears grew full of a hundred thousand
bowling devils. was about ready to
die when the ear stopped. l looked
and looked. and when / could see,
there YOU stood!"
Helen, | thought you were fond of
speeding" said Madeline, with a laugh.
81 was. But l assure you | never
before was In a fast car; never met
a driver"
perhaps I may have a few II
prlses for you out here in the wild and
woolly West"
Helen's dark eyes showed a sisters
memory Of possibilities.
you've started WELL" she said. II
am simply stunned. l expected to find
YOU old and dowdy. Majesty, you're
the ~handsomest thing | ever laid eyes
OF. You're so splendid and strong,
and your skin is like white gold.
What's happened to you? What's
changed you? This beautiful room.
those glorious roses out there, the cool.
dark sweetness OF this wonderful
housed know you, Majesty, and,
though you never wrote IL, / believe
you have made a home out here.
That's the most stunning surprise OF
all. Come, confess. / know I've al
ways been selfish and not much OF a
sister: but If you are happy out here
| am glad. You we're not happy at
home. Tell me about yourself and
about Alfred. Then | shall give you
all the messages and news from the
East"
II afforded Madeline exceeding pleas
ure TO have from n and all OF her
guests varied enccmiums of her beau
tiful home. and a real and warm inter
est in what promised to be a delight
full and memorable visit.
OF them all Castleton was the only
one who failed 10 show surprise. He
greeted her precisely as he had when
he had last seen her In London. Made
line. rather to her establishment. found
meeting him again pleasurable. She
discovered she liked this imperturbable
Englishman. Manifestly her capacity
for liking any one had immeasurably
enlarged. Quite Unexpectedly her old
girlish love for her younger sister
sprang into life, and with 1t interest
in these half-forgctten friends, n q
warm regard for Edith Wayne, a chum
OF college days.