Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-09-21

me, but | shore nin't ridin' out of my
way. reckon hev enough ridin to
do. Now. Bill, if you've sich dog-gone
good eyes mebbe you seen somethin'
on the way out?"
"Nels, I hevn't seen nothin'," he re-
piled. bluntly
jest take a squnt at these hoss
tracks," said Nels, and he drew Still
well a few PAGES aside and pointed to
large footprints in the dust. "I reckon
you know the hoss thet made themf"
Gene Stewards roun. or I'm Il son
of-a-gun, :" exclaimed Stillwell and he
to scrutinize the tracks. Nels. who
ever was straddlin' Stewards hoss met
somebody. An they hauled up Il bit,
but didn't Git down"
"Tolerable good for you. Bill, thet
reasonin'," replied the cowboy. 81
reckon you know what hoss made the
other tracks?'
'1'm thinkin' hard, but | amt sure"
ut was Danny Mains bronze"
"How do YOU know thett' demanded
Stillwel, sharply.
bill, the left front foot of thet little
boss always wears shoe tibet sets
crooked. Any of the boys can tell you
I'd know thet track if was blind"
"Nes. you don't think the boys
sloped with thet little hussy, BoRIta?''
"Bill, he shore was sweet on Bonita
same as Gene was. an Ed Linton be
fore he got engaged. an all the boys.
She's shore chain-lightnin', that little
black-eyed devil. Danny might hev
sloped with her all right Danny was
held up on the way TO town an then
he'll show up soon"
''Wal, mcbbe You an the boys are
right. believe You are Nes, there
ain't no doubt on earth about who was
rdin' Stewards hosst"
"Thet's as plain as the hoss' tracks"
"Wal, its all amazin' strange. II
beats me ! wish the boys would ease
up on drinkin'. was pretty fond of
Danny an Gene. I'm afraid Genes
done fer. sure. If he crosses the bor-
der where he can fight it won't take
long fer him to get plugged. | guess
I'm gettin' old. don't stand things
like | used to-"
"Bill, rec m I'd better hit the Pei
oncllo trail Mebbe can find Danny
II reckon you had, Nels," replied
Sti,lwell but don't take more'n a
couple of days. We can't do much on
the roundup without you. I'm short
of boys
That ended the conversation Still
well Immediately began TO hitch up
his team, and the cowboys went out
to fetch their strayed horses Made
line had been curiously Interested. and
she saw that Florence knew it.
"Thinss happen. Miss Hammond"
she said, soberly, almost sadly.
Madeline thought. And then straight
way Florence began brightly to hum a
what was left of the lunch. Madeline
suddenly conceived strong liking and
respect for this Western girl.
Soon they were once more bowling
along the road down gradual In
cline, and then they began to climb a
long ridge that had for hours hidden
what lay beyond. That climb was
rather tiresome, owing to the sun and
the dust and the restricted view.
Presently. at the top of the steep
ascent. Stillwell got out and walked
leading the team. During this long
climb fatigue claimed Madeline. and
she drows silly closed her eyes, to find
when she opened them again that the
glaring white sky had changed to a
steel-bue. The sun had sunk behind
the foothills and the air was growing
chilly. Stillwell had returned to the
drivingseat and was chuckling to the
horses. Shadows crept up out of the
hollows.
"Wal. Flo" said Stillwell, 81 reck on
we'd better hev the rest of thet there
lunch before dark"
you didn't leave much Of it,
laughed Florence, us she produced the
basket from under the scat.
While they ate, the short twilight
shaded and gloom filled the hollows.
Madeline was glad 20 have the robes
close around her and to lean against
Florence. There were brewster spells
in which she lost feeling of where
she was, and these were disturbed by
the jolt of wheels over a rough place.
'Thnn u h1onl. int Shnrt ,,r
long, which ended in more violent
lurch of the blackboard. Madeline
awoke to find her head on Florence's
shoulder. She sat up laughing and
afologizing for her Iaziness. Florence
assured her they would soon reach the
ranch.
CHAPTER v