The Raymer enterprise., 1923-09-13

uONe Tor heF. SheS told me now She
was dragged down here, how Gene
tried to save her. how you spoke up
for Gene an her. too. how Monty at
the last throwed his guns. Poor
Monty! We were good friends, Monty
an !. There's Nels an Nick an Gene.
he's been some friend to me; but
Monty Price was-he was grand. He
never knew. any more than you or
BIZ, here, or the boys, what Bonita
was to me-"
Stlllwell's kind and heavy hand fell
upon the cowboys shoulder.
Danny, what's all this queer ssbT
he asked. "An' you're takln' some lib
erty with Miss Hammond. who never
seen you before. ! see you're not
drlnkin'. Come. ease up now an talk
sense"
The cowboys fine. frank face broke
into smile. He dashed the tears
from his eyes. Then he laughed. His
laugh had a pleasant. boyish ring-a
happy ring.
'Blll. old pal. stand bride down a
minute, will your Then he bowed to
Madeline. 81 beg your pardon, Miss
Hammond, for seemln' rudeness. I'm
Danny Mains. An Bonita Is my wife.
I'm so crazy glad she's safe an un-
harmed-so grateful to you that-why.
sure It's wonder l didn't kiss you
outright"
'Bonlta's your wife!" calculated
Stillwell.
"Sure. We've been married for
months" replied Danny. happily.
Gene Stewart did IL. Good old Gene.
guess maybe | haven't come to pay
him up for all he's done for me, You
see, I've been In love with Bonita for
two years. An Gene-you know, Bill,
what way Gene has with grls-he
was-wel'. he was tryln' TO get Bonita
to have me-"
Madeline's quick, varying emotions
were swallowed up In boundless
sladness. Something dark, deep, heavy.
and sOmber was flooded from her
heart She had a sudden rich sense Of
gratitude toward this smiling, clean
faced cowboy whose blue eyes flashed
through tears.
Danny Malns." she said. tremulous-
ly and smillngly. "If you are as glad
as your news has made me--if you
really think | merit such O reward
you may kiss me outright"
With a bashful wonder, but with
right hearty will, Danny Mains availed
himself Of this gracious privilege.
! Stillwell snorted. The signs OF his
| phenomenal smile were manifest, 9TH
| erwise Madeline would have thought
that snort an indication of furious dis.
approval
"Bill, straddle 4 chair" raid Danny.
"You've gone back a heap these last
few months, frettin' over your bad
boys, Danny an Gene. You1l need
support under you while I'm throwln'
my yarn. Story of my life. Bill" lie
placed chair for Madeline. Miss
Hammond beggin' your pardon again,
] want you to listen, also. You've the
face AM eyes OF a woman who loves
TO hear Of other peoples happiness.
Besides. somehow. It's easy for me to
talk lOokIn at YOU"
Walking or the porch. he stood be
fore the weary horse and burro. With
the swift violence characteristic OF
men OF his class he slipped the pack
from the burro and threw saddle and
bride from the horse.
He united the pack and, taking a
small, heavy sack from 1t. he came
back upon the porch Deliberately he
dumped the contents Of the sack at
Stlllwell's feet. Piece after piece Of
rock thumped upon the floor. The
pieces were sharp, ragged, evidently
broken from ledge; the body OF
them was white In color. with yellow
| ''ihs bula anu oiVdhS
grasped up one rock after another,
stared and suffered. put the rocks to
his lips, dug into them with his shak-
ing fingers; then he lay back In his
chair, head against the wall. and as he
gaped at Danny the old smile began to
transform his face.
Danny regarded Stlllwell with lofty
condeecenslon. Now. Bill. what've we
got here. say, offhandl"
"Oh, Lord. Danny! I'm afraid to
say. Look. Miss Majesty. Jest look at
the gold. I've lived among prospec-
tors an gold mines fer thirty years,
an never seen the beat Of this"
''The Lost Mine Of the Padres 7"
cried Danny. in stentorian voice. "An'
1t belongs TO me-"
Stlllwell made some lncoherent sound
as he sat up fascinated, quite beside
himself.
"Blll, It Vas some long time ago
since you saw me-" said Danny. Fact
Is, ! know how you felt, because Gene
kept me posted. ! happened to run
across Bonita, an wasn't goin' to
let her ride away alone, when she told
me she was In trouble. We hit the
trail for tho Pelonclllos. Bonita had
Genes horse. an she was to meet him
up on the trail. We got to the noun
tains all right. an nearly starved for
a few days till Gene found us. He had
got In trouble himself an couldn't