The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-23

shore us II IOuclls mdlIef, an yO0'u
be some sick at sight of hin. He's
layin' In a Greaser hole over here.
Likely the Greasers hev been kind to
him. But they're shore a poor lot"
Madeline did not hesitate Il moment.
THANK you, Nels. Take me at once.
Come, Florence"
! They left the car. now surrounded
by gaplngeyed Mexican children. and
crossed the dusty space to a narrow
lane between red adobe walls. Pass
Ing by several houses, Nels stopped at
the door of what appeared to be an
alleyway leading back. 1t was filthy.
Hes in there, round thet first cor
ner. It's a patio. open an sunny. An,
Miss Hammond, If you don't mind. I'll
wait here for you. l reckon Gene
wouldn't like any fellers around when
he sees you girls"
Florence, you wait also" said
Madeline, at the doorway, and turned
In alone.
And she had stepped into a broken
down patio Uttered with alfalfa straw
and debris, all clear In the sunlight.
Upon a bench, back toward her, sat a
man looking out through the rents in
the broken wall. He had not heard
her. Madeline did not recognize Stew
art. The side of his face exposed to
her was black, bruised, bearded. His
clothes were ragged and solled. There
were bits of alfalfa in his hair. His
shoulders sagged. He made a wretched
and hopeless figure sitting there.
Madeline OWNED something of why
Nels shrank from being present.
"Mr. Stewart. 1t is /, Miss Ham.
mond, come to see YOU" she said.
He grew suddenly perfectly motion
less, as If he had been changed TO
stone. She repeated her greeting.
His body jerked. He moved violent
ly us if ~instinctively to turn and face
this intruder; but a more violent
movement checked him.
Madeline waited. How singular
that this ruined cowboy had pride
which kept him from showing his face.
And was it not shame more than
pride?
u away, ne multefel.
'Mr. Stewart :" she began. 81 have
come to help you. VIII you let me-"
"For Gods sake! You-you-" he
choked over the words. Go away -
Stewart, perhaps it was for Gods
sake that l came" said Madeline,
gently. surely it was for yours
and your sisters Madeline bit her
tongue, for she had not meant to be-
tray her knowledge of Lefty.
He groaned, and, staggering up to
the broken wall, he leaned there with
his face hidden. Madeline reflected
that perhaps the slip of speech had
been well.
Stewart. please let me say what I
have to say?"
He was silent. And she gathered
courage and inspiration.
"Stillwell is deeply hurt, deeply
grieved that he could not turn you back
from this-this fatal course. Ny
brother is, also. They wanted to help
you. And so do L. l have come, think
ing somehow I might succeed where
they have failed. Nels brought your
sisters letter. II read it. l was
only the more determined to try to
help you, and indirectly help your
mother and Lefty. Stewart, we want
you to come to the ranch. My cow
boys are without a capable leader.
VIII you come?'
No" he answered.
But Stillwell wants you so badly"
mo-"
Stewart, l want you to come"
"No."
His replies had been hoarse, loud,
furious. All his motions, like his
speech, had been violent.
"WiIl you please go away?" he
asked.
stewart, certainly 1 cannot remain
here longer If you insist upon my go
ing. But why not listen to me when I
want so much to help you? Why2'
I'm a id blackguard," he burst
out. But 1 was a gentleman once,
and I'm not so low that l can stand
for you seeing me here"
"When l made up my mind to help
you L maze II up 10 see yOu Wherever
you We're. Stewart. come away. come
back with us to the ranch. When you
are among friends again you will get
well. You will be your old self. The
very fact that you were nee a gentle
man, that you come Of good family.
makes you WI so much more to your
self. Why, Stewart. think how young
you arel 1t is a shame to waste your
life. Come back with me-"
Miss Hammond, this was my last
plunge" he replied, despondently.
Its too late"
"At least make an effort, Stewart.
Try"
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