The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-06-30


attire, and with spirits to match their
costumes. Castleton, especially, APP
peared resplendent in golf coat that
beggared description. Madeline had
faint misgivings when she reflected on
what Monty and Nels and Nick might
do under the influence Of that blazing
garment. --..- .... -~~*.4.z
"Oh, Majesty" cried Helen, as Mad
cline went up to her horse, don't
make him kneell Try that flying
mount. We all want to see it. It's so
stunning"
"But that way. too, I must have him
kneel" said Madeline, cor can't
reach the stirrup. He's SO tremen-
dously high"
Madeline had to yield to the laugh
ing insistence Of her friends, and after
all of them except Florence were up
she made Majesty go down on one
knee. Then she stood on his left side,
facing back, and took good firm grip
on the bride and pommel and his
name. After she had slipped the toe
Of her boot firmly into the stirrup she
called to Majesty. He jumped and
swung her up into the saddle.
"Now just to see how it ought to be
done watch Florence" said Madeline.
The Western girl was at her best In
riding-habit and with her horse. 1t
was beautiful to see the ease and
grace with which she accomplished
the cowboys flying mount. Then she
Id hn no clnno ond
| across the fiat to climb the mesa.
Madeline never saw a group Of cow
boys without looking them over, almost
unconsciously, for her foreman, Gene
| Stewart. This afternoon, as usual, he
was not present. However, she now
had sense-of which she was wholly
| conscious-that she was both disap-
| pointed and irritated. He had really
not been attentive to her guests, and
he, of all her cowboys, was the one Of
whom they wanted most to see some
thing.
| Stewart, however, Immediately
slipped out of her mind as she sur
veyed the group of cowboys on the
links. BY actual count there were six
teen, not including Stillwell. The cow
boys were on dress-parade, looking
very different in Madeline's eyes, at
least, from the way cowboys usually
| appeared. Sombreros with silver
evidence; and bright silk scarfs, en-
broidered vests, fringed and ornament
ed chaps, huge swinging guns, and
clinking silver spurs lent festive ap-
pearance.
oval, you-all raced over, I seen,"
said Stillwell, taking Madeline's bride.
"Get down-get down. We're sure
amazin' glad an proud. An, Miss
Majesty, I'm offerin' to beg pawdin
for the way the boys are packin' guns.
Mebbe it amt polite. But it's Stew
| arts orders"
"Stewart's orders!" echoed Made
| line. Her friends were suddenly silent.
Il reckon he won't take no chances
on the boys bein' surprised sudden by
raiders. An there's raiders operatin'
in from the Guadalupes. That's all.
Nothin' to worry over. I was just ex-
plainin'."
Madeline, with several Of her party,
expressed relief, but Helen showed ex-
element and then disappointment.
"Oh, want something to happen I"
she cried.
Sixteen pairs Of keen cowboy eyes
fastened intently upon her pretty, petu-
liant face; and Madeline OWNED, If
Helen did not, that the desired con-
summation was not far off.
$50 do l." said Dot Coombs. 1T
would be perfectly lovely to have a
real adventure"
The gaze of the sixteen COW boys
shifted and sought the demure face Of
this other discontinued girl. Made
line laughed, and Stillwell wore his
strange, moving smile.
Monty and Link, like two emperors,
came stalking across the links.
Madeline's friends were hugely
amused over the prospective match
but, except for Dorothy and Castleton,
they disclaimed any ambition for &C.
tive participation. Accordingly, Made
line appointed Castleton to judge the
play, Dorothy to act as caddie for Ed
Linton, and she herself to be caddie
for Ambrose. While Stillwell beaming-
ly announced this nomentous news to
his team and supporters Monty and
Link were striding up.
Both were diminutive in size, bow
legged, lame In one foot, and altogeth-
er unprepossessing. Link was young,
and Monty's years, more than twice
Links, had left their mark. But it
would have been impossible to tell
MOnty's age. He was burned to the
color and hardness Of a cinder. He
was dark-faced, staggering, for all the
world like barbarian chief.
THAT Monty makes my flesh creep"
said Helen, low-voiced. Really, Mr..
Stillwell, is he so neutrality-suspicious.
I've heard? Did he ever kill any
bodyT"
"Sure. Most as many as Nels," re-
piled Stillwell, cheerfully.
"Oh! And is that nice Mr.. Nels
desperado, too2 I wouldn't have
thought so. He's so kind and old-fash-
toned and soft-voiced."
"Nels Is sure an example Of the
dooplicity Of men, Miss Helen. Don't
you listen to his soft voice. He's real
ly as bad as a side-winder rattlesnake."
One of the cowboys came for Castle
|