The Arvada enterprise., 1923-09-13

oesah 10 nave a better under standing
OF the nature of II when they cast of
restraint and pressed forward 70 kia.
.he bride. In all her life Madeline
had never seen Il bride kissed so much
ana so heartily. nor one - flushed
ana disheveleG and happy. This In
ueed was joyful occasion.
The dinner began quietly enough
win the cowboys divided between EN-.
oarrassment and voraclous appetites
that they evidently feared to indulge.
WINE, however, loosened their tongues.
ana when Stillwell got up to make the
speech everybody seemed to expect of
him they greeted him with a roar.
Stillwell was now one huge, noun.
ta'nous smile. He was so happy that
ne appeared on the verge Of tears. He
rambled on ecstatically till he came
to raise his glass.
AN now. girls an boys, let's all
drink to the bride an groom: to their
sincere an lastIn' love; to their hap
p'ness an prosperity; to their good
health an loag life. Let's drink to
the unitin' Of the East with tho West,
No man full Of red blood an the real
breath Of i:fe could resist a Western
girl an good hoss an Gods free
hand-that open country out there.
so we claim AL Hammond an may
we be true to him. An, friends, l
think 1t fittln' that we drink to his
sister an to our hopes. Heah's to the
lady We hope to make our Majesty
Heah's to the man who'll come ridin'
oat OF the West. a fine. big-hearted
man with Q fast hoss an strong
rope, an may he win an hold her
come, friends, drink"
heavy pound of horses hoofs and
yell outside arrested Sullwell's
voice and halted his hand In midalr.
The patio became as silent as an
unoccupied room.
Through the open doors and win
dows OF Madeline's chamber burst the
sounds Of horses stamping to halt.
then harsh speech Of men. and low
cry Of woman In pain.
Rapid steps crossed the porch, en-
tered Madeline's room. Nels appeared
In the doorway. Madeline was sur.
prised to See that he had not been
at the dinner-table. She was dis.
turbed at sight Of his face.
Stewart. you're wanted outdoors"
called Nels. bluntly. monty, you
slope out here with me. You, Nick,
an Stillwell-I reckon the rest Of you
he'd better shut the dors an stay In.
side"
Nels disappeared. Quick as a cnt
Monty gllded out. Madeline heard
his soft. swift steps pass from her
room into her Office. He had left his
guns there. Madeline trembled. She
saw Stewart get up quietly and with
out any change Of expression on his
dark. sad face leave the patio. Nick
Steele followed him. Stillwell dropped
his wine-glass. As 1t broke, shivering
the silence. his huge smile vanished.
His face set into the old crngglness
and the red slowly thickened into
black. Stillwell went out and closed
the door behind him.
Then there was blank silence. The
enjoyment Of the moment hnd been
rudely disrupted. Madeline glanced
down the lines Of brown faces to eco
the pleasure fade into the old familiar
hardness.
"What's wronRf asked Alfred. rath-
er stupidity. Tho change Of mood had
been too rapid for him. Suddenly
he awakened. thoroughly aroused At
~ Interruption. I'm going to Sc
who's butted In here to spoil our din
ner," he said. and strobe out.
He returned before any one at the
table had spoken or moved. and now
the dull red Of anger mottled his fore
head.
ITS the sheriff Of Fl Cajoni" he
exclaimed, contemptuously. "Pat
Have with some Of his touch dep