Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-08-17

HIS gun. NeIs throwed his gun an Grip
pied the feller's arm. Monty jumped
then an throwed two forty-fves, an
fer a second or so it looked ticklish.
But the bandit-hunters crawled, an
then lit out"
Stillwell paused in the rapid deliv-
cry Of his narrative; he still retained
Madellhe's hand, as If by that he might
comfort her.
after Pat left We put our haids to-
gether," began the old cattleman, with
long respiration. "We rounded up a
lad who had seen a dozen or so fellers
he wouldn't say they was Greasers-
| breakin' through the shrubbery to the
back of the house. That was while
| Stewart was ridin' out to the mesa.
Then this lad seen your servants all
runnin' down the hill toward the viii
lage. Now, heah's the way Gene fig
gers. There sure was some deviltry
down along the railroad, an Pat Have
trailed bandits up to the ranch. He
hunts hard an then all to onct he quits.
Stewart says Pat Have wasn't scared,
but he discovered signs Of somethin', or
got wind In some strange way that
there was in the gang Of bandits some
fellers he didn't want to ketch Sabe?
Then Gene, quicker'n a flash, springs
his plan on me. He'd go down to
Padre Marcos an hev him help to find
out all possible from your Mexican
servants. I was to hurry up hyar an
tell you-give you orders, Miss Majes-
ty. Amt that amazin strange? Wal,
you're to assemble all your guests in
the kitchen. Make a grand bluff an
pretend, as your help has left, that it'll
be great fun fer your guests to cook
dinner. The kitchen is the safest room
in the house. While you're joshin' your
party along, maxim kind Of picnic
out Of it, I'll place cowboys in the long
corridor, an also outside in the corner
where the kitchen joins on to the main
house. It's pretty sure the bandits
think no ones wise to where they're
hid. Stewart says they're in that end
room where the alfalfa is, an they'll
slope In the night. OF course with me
an the boys watchin', you-all will be
safe to go to bed. An we're to rouse
your guests early before daylight, to
hit the trail up into the mountains.
Tell them to pack outfits before goin'
to bed. Say as your servants hev
sloped, you might as we'll go campin'
with the cowboys. That's all. If we
hev any luck your friendsIl never
know they've been sittin' on a powder
mine. Now, Miss Majesty, I've used up
a lot of time explainin'. You'll sure
keep your nerve?"
"Yes," Madeline replied, and was
surprised at herself
Better tell Florence. She'll be q
power of comfort to you I'm goin'
now to fetch up the boys"
Instead Of returning to her room
Madeline went through the office into
the long corridor. 1t was almost as
dark as night. She fancied she saw a
Storytelling figure darker than the sur
rounding gloom; and she entered upon
the fulfillment Of her part of the plan
in something like trepidation. Her
footsteps were noiseless. Finding the
door to the kitchen, and going in, she
struck lights. Upon passing out again
she made certain she discerned a dark
shape, now motionless, crouching along
the wall. But she mistrusted her vivid
imagination. 1t took all her boldness
to enable her unconcernedly and natur-
ally to strike the corridor light. Then
she went on through her own rooms
and thence into the patio.
Fer guests laughingly and gladly en-
teccd into the spirit Of the occasion.
They trOoped merrily into the kitchen.
Madeline, delaying at the door, took a
sharp but unobtrusive glance down the
great barnlike hall She saw nothing
but blank dark space. Suddenly from
one side, not rod distant, protruded
a pale, cleaning face breaking the
even blackness. Instantly it flashed
back out of sight. Yet that time was
long enough for Madeline to see a pair
of glittering eyes, and to recognize
them as Don Carlos.
Without betraying either hurry or
alarm she closed the door. 1t had a
heavy bolt which she slowly, noiseless-
ly shot. Then the cold amaze that had
all but stunned her into inaction
throbbed into wrath. How dared that
Mexican steal into her home! What
did he mean? Was he one of the BAN
dts supposed to be hidden in her
house? She was thinking herself into
greater anger and excitement, and
probably would have betrayed herself
had not Florence, who had evidently
seen her bolt the door and now read
her thoughts, come toward her with a
bright, intent, questioning look. Made
line caught herself in time.
Thereupon she gave each Of her
guests a duty to perform. Leading
Florence into the pantry, she unbur-
dened herself of the secret in one brief
whisper. Florence's reply was to point
out Of the little open window, passing
which was file of stealthily moving
cowboys. Then Madeline lost both
anger and fear, retaining only the glow
of excitement