Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-08-23

you drive those vaqueros off, won't
they hang around In the foothills7
declare they are bad lot"
Hell have to be forced off" replied
Stewart, quietly. "The Don's pretty
slick, but his vaqueros are bad actors.
It's just this way: Don Carlos has
vaqueros coming and going all the
time. They're guerrilla bands, that's
all. And they're getting uglier. There
lately. It's only matter Of time till
something stirs up the boys here. Still
well, you know Nels and Monty and
Nick"
"Sure I know 'em, an you're not
mentionin' one more particular cowboy
in my outfit" said Stillwell, with dry
chuckle and glance at Stewart.
Madeline OWNED the covert mean
ing. Stewart, see you carry gun"
she said, pointing to black handle
protruding from sheath swinging low
along his leather chaps.
eyes, ma'am."
''Why do you carry it?" she asked.
"Well," he said, "it's not a pretty
gun-and it's heavy"
She caught the inference. The gun
was not an ornament. His keen,
steady, dark gaze caused her vague
alarm. What had once seemed cool
and audacious about this cowboy was
now cold and powerful and mystical.
Both her instinct and her intelligence
realized the steel fiber Of the mans
nature. AS she was his employer, she
had the right to demand that he should
not do what was so chillingly manifest
that he might do. But Madeline could
not demand. She felt curiously young
and weak, and the five months of
western life were as If they had never
been. She now had to do with a ques-
ton involving human life. And the
value she placed upon human life and
its spiritual significance was matter
far from her cowboys thoughts. A
strange idea flashed up. Did she place
too much value upon all human life?
She checked that, wondering, almost
Mortified at herself. And then her
iHtultlVH tOlu LEI llidL Suc pOSScSocu
far stronger power to move these
primitive men than any w0man's stern
rule or order.
Stewart, I do not fully understand
what you hint that Nels and his COM
rades might do. Please be frank with
me. Do you mean Nels would shoot
upon little provocation"
Miss Hammond, as far as Nels is
concerned, shooting is now just mat
ter Of his meeting Don Carlos
vaqueros. AS for Nick Steele and
Monty, they're just bad men, and look
ing for trouble"
"How about yourself, Stewart? Still
wells remark was not lost upon me-"
said Madeline, prompted by curiosity.
Stewart, / have come to love my
ranch, and care great deal for my
my cowboys. 1t would be dreadful If
they were to kill anybody, or especial
ly if one Of them should be killed"
Miss Hammond. you've changed
things considerable out here, but you
can't change these men. All that's
needed to start them Is little trou-
BILE. And this Mexican revolution is
bound to make rough times along some
Of the wilder passes across the border.
We're in line, that's all. And the boys
are getting stirred up"
Every well, then, must accept the
inevitable. am facing rough time.
And some Of my cowboys cannot be
checked much longer. But human life
is not for any man to sacrifice unless
in self-defense or in protecting those
dependent upon him. What Stillwell
and you limited makes me afraid Of
Nels and Nick Steele and Monty. Can
not they be controlled? I want to feel
that they will not go cunning for Don
Carlos men. / want to avoid all vio-
lence. And yet when my guests come
want to feel that they will be safe
from danger or fright or even annoy
ance. May not rely wholly upon you,
Stewart?"
Il hope so, Miss Hammond" replied
Stewart. 1t was an instant response,
but none the less fraught with con-
seriousness Of responsibility. He wait
ed moment, and then, as neither
Stillwell nor Madeline offered further
speech, he bowed and turned down the
path, his long spurs climbing in the
gravel
"Wal, wal" exclaimed Stillwell.
"thet's no little job you give him, Miss
| Majesty"
1T was woman's cunning, Still
WELL" said Alfred. Majesty, what
ever actuated you, it was stroke of
| diplomacy. Stewart has got good stuff
III him. He was down and out. Well,
he's made game fight, and 1t looks as
if he'd win. Trusting him, giving him
responsibility, relying upon him, was
the surest way to strengthen his hold
upon himself. But, Majesty, remem-
Der, he's composite of tiger breed
and forked lightning, and don't mag
inc he has failed you If he gets into a
} fight"
CHAPTER X