The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-08-10

Stewart was ridin' out TO the mesa
Then this lad seen your servants all
runnin' down the hill toward the vii
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. l was to hurry up hyar an
tell you-give you orders, Miss Males
ty. Amt that amazin strange? Wal,
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 q 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 well go campin'
with the cowboys. That's ALL If we
hev any luck your friends'll never
know they've been sittin' on a powder
mine. Now, Miss Majesty, I've used up
lot of time explainin'. You'll sure
keep your nerve?"
yes" Madeline replied, and was
surprised at herself.
Better tell Florence. She'll be a
power of comfort to you. I'm goin'
now 10 1etcn 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 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.
Her guests laughingly and gladly en-
tered 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 pair
of glittering eyes. and to recognize
them as Don Carlos.
Without betraying either hurry or
alarm, she closed the door. 1t had
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 homel 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
bright, intent, questioning look. Made
line caught herself in time.
Thereupon she gave each of her
guests 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.
The miscellaneous collection of
dishes so confusingly contrived made
up dinner which they all heartily en-
joyed. Madeline enjoyed it herself,
even with the feeling of sword hang
ing suspended over her.
The hour was late when she rose
from the table and told her guests to
go to their rooms, don their riding
clothes, pack what they needed for the
long and adventurous camping trip
that she hoped would be the climax of
their western experience, and to snatch
little sleep before the cowboys reused
them for the early start
Madeline went Immediately to her
ROOM and was getting out her camping
apparel when knock interrupted her.
who's there?" she questioned.
Stewart" came the reply.
She opened the door. He stood on
the threshold.
MAY 1 speak to your" he asked.
Certainly" She hesitated a mo-
ment, then asked him in and closed the
door. 'Is-is everything all right?"
"No. These bandits stick to cover
pretty close. They must have found
out we're on the watch. But I'm sure
we'll get you and your friends away
before anything starts"
"Do you have any idea who is hid
ing in the hOuse?"