Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-08
CHAPTER XXI
The Ride.

"Stillwell !"
The old cattleman stood mute be-
fore her, staring at her white face, at
her eyes of fame.
"Stillwell! l am Stewards wife"
my Gawd, Miss Majesty" he burst
out. II knowed somethin' turrible was
wrong. Aw, sure it's pity"
do you think I'll let him be shot
when / know him now, when I'm no
longer blind, when I love him?" she
asked with passionate swiftness. Il
will save him. This is Wednesday
morning. / have thirty-six hours to
save his life. Stillwell, send for Link
and the carl"
She went into her office. Her mind
worked with extraordinary rapidity
and cIearness. Her plan, born in one
lightninglike flash Of thought, necessi-
tated the careful wording of kilograms
to Washington, to New York, to San
Antonio. These were to senator's, rep
resentatives. men high in public and
private life, men who would remember
her and who would serve her to their
utmost. Never before had her posi-
tion meant anything to her comparable
with what 1t meant now. Never In all
her life had money seemed the power
that 1t was then. If she had been
poor! A shuddering chill froze the
thought at it's inception. She dispelled
heartbreaking thoughts. She had
power She had wealth. She would
set into operation all the unlimited
means these gave her-the wires and
pulieys and strings underneath the sur
face Of political and International life,
the open,. free, purchasing value Of
money or the deep, underground, mys-
FERROUS, intellectually powerful influ-
ence moved by gold. She could save
Stewart.
When she went outside the car was
there with Link, helmet In hand,
cool, bright CLEAN In his eyes, and with
Stillwell, losing his haggard misery,
beginning to respond to Madeline's
spirit.
Link, drive Stillwell to Ell Cajon In
time for him to catch the Ell Paso
train," she said. "Wait there for his
return land if any message comes
from him, telephone 1t at once to me-"
Then she gave Stillwell the kilograms
to send from El Cajon and drafts to
cash in Ell Paso. She instructed him
to go before the rebel junta, then sta
toned at Juarez, to explain the situa-
ton, to bid them expect communica-
Chi ,rfnx nfHn falo re-
questing and advising Stewards ex-
change as prisoner Of war, to offer
to buy his release from the rebel au-
thorities
There was a crack, q muff1ed sound
bursting into roar. and the big car
jerked forward to bound over the edge
Of the slope, to leap down the long in
cline, to shoot out upon the level val
ley floor and disappear in moving dust.
Madeline endured patiently, endured
for long interminable hours while hold
ing to hope with indomitable will.
No message came. At sunset she
went outdoors, suffering torment Of
accommodating suspense. Night fell.
She prayed for the sun not to rise, not
to begin Its short twelve-hOuf journey
toward what might be fatal setting
for Stewart. But the dawn did tighten,
swiftly she thought, remorselessly.
Daylight had broken, and this was
Thursday!
Sharp ringing at the telephone bell
startled her, reused her into action.
| She ran to answer the call.
Observation-Disclosures Majesty" came
the hurried reply. "This s Link talk
in. Messages for you. Favorable, the
| operator said. I'm to ride out with
1 them. I'll come a-hummin'."
That was all. Madeline heard the
bang Of the receiver as Stevens threw
it down. Favorable! Then Stillwell
had been successful Her heart leaped