Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-09-21

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 wlne-glass. AS it broke, shivering
the silence, his huge smile vanished
His face set into the old cragginess
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 had been
rudely disrupted. Madeline glanced
down the lines Of brown faces to see
the pleasure fade into the old familiar
hardness.
"What's wrong" asked Alfred, rath-
er stupidity. The change Of mood had
been too rapid for him. Suddenly
he awakened, thoroughly aroused at
the interruption. 'I'm going to see
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.
'It's the sheriff Of Ell CajonW he
exclaimed, contemptuously. "Pat
Have with some Of his touch dep
uties come to arrest Gene Stewart.
They've got that poor little Mexican
girl out there tied on a horse. Con-
found that sheriff."
Madeline calmly rose from the table,
eluding Florence's retreating hand,
and started for the door. The cow
boys jumped up. Alfred barred her
progress.
alfred, I am going out" she said.
mo, guess not" he replied.
'That's no place for you. Maybe
there'll be fight. You can do moth
ing. You must not CO."
perhaps I can prevent trouble"
she replied.
AS she left the patio she was aware
that Alfred, with Florence at his sde
and the cowboys behind, were start
ing to follow her. When she got out
of her room upon the porch she heard
several men in loud, angry discussion.
Then, at sight Of Bonita helplessly
and cruelty bound upon a horse, pale
and disheveled and suffering, Made
line experienced the thrill that sight
or mention Of this girl always gave
her. 1t yielded to hot pang in her
breast-that live pain which so
shamed her. But almost instantly, as
a second glance showed an agony in
Bonita's face, her bruised arms where
the rope bit deep into the flesh, her
little brown hands stained with blood
Madeline was overcome by pity for
the unfortunate girl and woman's
righteous passion at such barbarous
treatment Of one of her own sex.
The man holding the bride Of the
horse on which Bonita had been bound
was at once recognized by Madeline
as the big-bodied, bullet-headed guer-
rilla who had found the basket Of wine
in the spring at camp. Redder Of
face, blacker Of beard, coarser Of as
pect, evidently under the influence Of
liquor, he was as ierce-looking as q
gorilla and as repulsive. Besides him
there were three other men present
all mounted on weary horses. The
one In the foreground, gaunt, sharp
featured, red-eyed, with a pointed
beard, she recognized as the sheriff of
Ell Cajon.
Stillwell saw Madeline, and, throw
ing up his hands. roared to be heard
mis- quieted the gesticulating, quar-
reling men.
"Wal now, Pat Howe, what's drivin'
you like locoed steer on the ram
pager demanded Stilwell.
Keep in the traces, Bill" replied
HAVE. 'You savvy what come fer.
I've been bidin' my time. But I'm
ready now. I'm hyar to arrest GRIM
inal."
The huge frame of the old cattle
man jerked as If he had been stabbed.
His face turned purple.
what criminalY" he shouted,
hoarsely.
The sheriff ficked his Quirt against
his dirty boot and he twisted his thin
lips into leer.
"Why, Bill, I knowed you he'd a no
good outfit ridin' this range; but
wasn't wise thet you he'd more'n one
criminal"
"Out that talki Which cowboy are
you wantin' to arrestY'
Hawe's manner altered.
Scene Stewart" he replied, curtly.
"On what charger"
"Fer KILN Greaser one night last
fall"
$50 you're still harpin' on thatf
Pat you're on the wrong trail. You
can't lay that KILN onto Stewart.
The things ancient by now. But II
you insist on br1ngin' him to court, let
the arrest 60 today-we're havin'
some fiesta hyar-an' I'll fetch Gene
In to Ell Caton."
"Nope. I reckon TIL take him when
I got the chance, before he slopes"
'Tm givin' you my word" thun-
dered Stillwell.