The Winslow mail., 1923-08-17
CHAPTER XVII-Contlnued.

An I'll bet you million pesos thet if
you got goin' onct, an she seen you as
I've seen you-waI, know what she'd
changed much. Some women may be
white-skinned an softeyed an sweet
voiced an high-souled, but they all like
TO see man! Gene. here's your game.
Let Don Carlos come along. Be civil.
If he an his gang are hungry, feed
em. Take even little Overbearin'
Greaser talk Be blind if he wants
his gang to steal somethin' Let him
think the women hev mosied down to
the ranch. But if he says you're lyln'
If he as much as looks round to see
the women-jest jump him same as
you jumped Pat Have. Me an Montyll
hang back fer thet, an If your strong
bluff don't go through, if the Don's
gang even thinks Of flashin' guns, then
Wen open up. An all l got to say is
IL them Greasers stand for real gun
play they'll be sure fust ever seen."
"Nels, there are white men In that
gang" said Stewart.
"Shore. But me an Monty1l be
thinkin' of thet. If they start any
thin it'll hev to be shore quick"
"All right, NeIs, old friend, and
thanks" replied Stewart.
Nels returned to the campfire, and
Stewart resumed his silent guard.
Madeline's guests sat talking In low
voices until a late hour. The incident
now began to take on the nature Of
Helen's long-yearned-for adventure.
Some Of the party even grew merry in
a subdued way. Then, gradually. one
by one they tired and went to bed.
To keep from thinking of Stewart
and the burning anger he had caused
her to feel for herself, Madeline tried
to keep her mind on other things. But
thought of him recurred, and each time
there was hot commOtiOn in her
breast hard to stifle. Intelligent rea-
soning seemed out Of her power. In
the daylight it had been possible for
her to be obliviOus to Stewards deceit
after the moment Of it's realization. At
night, however, in the strange silence
and lowering shadows Of gloom, with
the speaking stars seeming to call to
her, with the moan of the wind in the
pines, and she melancholy mourn of
coyotes IN the distance, she was not
able 10 govern her thought and emo
ton. She had inadvertently heard
Nels' conversation with Stewart; she
had listened, hoping to hear some good
news or to hear the worst; she had
learned both, and, moreover, enllghten-
ment on one point of Stewards COM
plex motives. He wished to spare her
ang sight that might offend, frighten,
or disgust her. Yet this Stewart, who
showed fineness Of feeling that might
nave been wanting even In Boyd Har
vey, maintNfn&d q secret rendezvous
with that pretty, abandoned Bonita.
Here always the hot shame, like
i've, stinging, internal fire, abruptly
ends1 Madeline's thought. The hours
wore On, and at length, as the stars
began To pale and there was no sound
whatever, she fell asleep.
She was called out Of her slumber.
Ody Hdu DIohSH UAiSHt anu CoOie Lie
sun was still below the eastern crags.
Ambrose, with several other cowboys,
had brought up buckets of spring wa
ter, and hot coffee and cakes. Made
lines party appeared to be none the
worse for the nights experience. In
deed. the meager breakfast might have
been as merrily partaken Of as 1t was
hungrily had not Ambrose enjoined
silence.
They're expecting company down
below" he said
This Information and the summary
manner In which the cowboys soon led