Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-09-07

VW
"By Cad! You and Your Partner Are
a Couple of Blooming Cowards."
and let down lassoes. Then, with lit.
tie waste Of words, he urged the women
toward this rough ladder Of stones.
"We want to hide you," he said,
when they demurred. "If the guer-
rillas come We'll tell them you've all
gone down to the ranch. If we have
to fight you'll be safe up there"
Helen stepped boldly forward and
let Stewart put the loop of lasso
round her and tighten it. He waved
his hand to the cowboys above.
"Just walk up, now," he directed
Helen.
1t proved to the watchers to be an
easy, safe and rapid means Of scaling
the steep passage. The men climbed
| up without assistance. Edith Wayne
and Madeline climbed last, and, once
up, Madeline saw narrow bench,
thick with shrubs and overshadowed
by huge, leaning crags. There were
holes in the rock, and dark assures
| leading back. 1t was a rough, wild
place. Tarpaulins and bedding were
then hauled up, and food and water.
The cowboys spread comfortable beds
In several of the caves, and told Made
line and her friends to be as quiet as
possible, not to make a light, and to
sleep dressed, ready for travel at a
moments notice.
Madeline deplored the discomfort
and distress. but felt no real alarm.
She was more inclined to evasive kind
ness here than to sincerity, for she
| had decided uneaSineSs. The swift
change in the manner and looks of
her cowboys had been shock to her.
The last glance she had of Stewart's s
face, then stern, almost sad, and hag-
gard with worry, remained to aug.
ment her foreboding.
Darkness appeared to drop swiftly
down; the coyotes began their haunt
ing, mournful howls; the stars showed
and grew brighter; the wind moaned
through the tips of the pines. The
cowboys below had built a fire, and
the light from it rose in a huge, fan.
shaped glow. Madeline peered down
from the cliff. The distance was short,
and occasionally she could distinguish
a word spoken by the cowboys. They
were unconcernedly cooking and eating
Presently Nick Steele silenced the
campfire circle by raising a warning
hand. The cowboys bent their heads
listening. Madeline listened with all
her might She heard one Of the
hounds whine, then the faint beat of
horses hoofs. The beat of hOofs grew
louder entered the grove, then the
circle Of light. The rider was Nels
He dismounted, and the sound Of his
low voice just reached Madeline.
"Gene, it's Nels. Something dOin'.'
Madeline heard one Of the cowboys
call, softly.
"Send him over" replied Stewart.
Nels stalked away from the fire.
"See here, Nels, the boys are al
right, but 1 don't want them to know
everything about this mix-up," sale
Stewart, as Nels came up. Did you
find the girl?"
Madeline guessed that Stewart re
ferred to the Mexican girl Bonita.
mo. But I met"-Madeline did no
catch the name-"an' he was wild He
was with a forest-ranger. An they
said Pat Have had trailed her an was
takin' her down under arrest"
Stewart muttered deep under his
breath, evidently cursing.
wonder why he didn't come on uI
here?" he queried. presently. "He car
see a trail"
"Wal, Gene, Pat knowed you wal
here all right, fer thet ranger said Pa
he'd wind Of the guerrillas, an PA
said If Don Carlos didn't kill you
which he hoped he'd do--then it'd bt
time enough to put you in jail wher
you come down."
He's dead set to arrest me, Nels.'
"An' he'll do it, like the old lady
who kept tavern out West. Gene. tn.
reason thet redfaced coyote dfdn't
trail you up here Is because he's
scared. He allus was scared Of you
But reckon he's shore scared to deatf
Of me an Monty"
swell, We'll take Pat In his turn
The thing now is. when will thai
Greaser stalk us, and whatIl we d.
when he comes?"
my boy, there's only one way K
handle a Greaser. I shore told yol
thet He means rough toward us. Hell
come smilin' up, all soci'ble like, In
sinuatin' an sweeter n woman. Blu
he's treacherous; he's wuss than al
Indian. An, Gene, we know for ,
positive fact how his gang hev beer
operatin' between these hills an Agu,
Prieta. We know jest about wha
thet rebel war down there amounts ia
xAe- A..