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

hunting trouble. The old cattleman
saddled a horse and started post-haste
for town. In two days he returned,
depressed In spirit. Madeline hap
pened to be present when Stillwell
talked to Alfred.
wal, it's sure amazln' strange about
Gene. It's got me locoed. He arrived
in Ell Cajon week or so ago. He was
trained down like as If he'd been ridin'
the range all winter. He had plenty
of money-Mex., they said. An all
the Greasers vas crazy about him.
Called him Eel Captain. He got drunk
an went roarln' round fer Pat Have.
You remember that Greaser who was
plugged last October-the night Miss
Majesty arrived? Wal, he's daid, an
people say tibet Pat Is a-goln' to lay
tibet KILN onto Gene. l reckon thet's
jest talk, though Pat Is mean enough
to do 1t, If he he'd the nerve. Any
way, II he was In Ell Cajon he kept
mighty much to hisself. Gene walked
up an down, up an down. all day
an night, lookin' fer Pat. Then Gene
met Danny an tried to get Danny
drunk. An he Couldn't What do
you think of that? Danny hedn't been
drlnkin'-wouldn't touch q drop. I'm
sure glad of tibet, but it's so amazln'
strange. Why, Danny was a fish fer
red liquor. l guess he an Gene had
some pretty hard words, though I'm
not sure about tibet. Anyway, Gene
went down to the railroad an he got
on an engine, an he was in the engine
when 1t pulled out. / jest he'd an idee,
Miss Majesty. If 1 can get him, Gene
Stewart Is the cowboy l want for my
foreman. He can manage this bunch
of cow-punchers that are drivin' me
dotty. What's more, since he's fought
fer the rebels an got that name Ell
Captain, all the Greasers In the coun-
try will kneel to him. Now, Miss
Majesty, we hewitt got rid of Don
Carlos an his vaqueros yet. l don't
like the looks of things a little bit.
I'll tell you now tibet Don Carlos
knows somethin' about the cattle |
lost. an tibet you've been losin' right
along. Thet Greaser is hand an glove
with the rebels. I'm willin' to gamble
tibet when he does get out he an his
vaqueros will make another n of
the bands of guerrillas thet are har-
ASSN the border. This revolution
amt over yet. It's jest commenced.
An these gangs of outlaws are goin'
to take advantage of it.. Well see
some old times, mebbe. Wal, l need
Gene Stewart. l need him bad. VIII
you let me hire him, Miss Majesty, If
l can get him Strengthened up?"
The old cattleman ended huskily.
"Stillwell, by all find Stew
art, and dc not wait to straighten him
up Bring him to the ranch" replied
Madeline.
Thanking her, Stillwell1 led his horse
away.
Madeline had discovered that a good
deal of her sympathy for Stillwell in
his hunt for the reckless Stewart had
insensibly grown to be sympathy for
the cowboy. 1t was rather a paradox,
she thought, that opposed to the con-
lliludl icpOit VI ottNdIlS WllulcSS
as he caroused from town to town
were the continual expressions of good
will and faith and hope universally
given out by those near her at the
ranch. Stillwell loved the cowboy {;
Florence was fond Of him; Alfred
liked and admired him, pltied him
the cowboys swore their regard for
him the more he disgraced himself.
The Mexicans called him Ell Gran
Captain. Madeline's personal opinion
of Stewart had not changed In the
least since the night it had been
formed. But certain attributes of his,
not clearly defined in her mind, and
the gift of his beautiful horse, his
valor with the fighting rebels, and all
this strange regard for him, especially
that of her brother, made her exceed
ingly regret the cowboys present be-
havior.
Meanwhile Stillwell was SO earnest
and jealous that one not familiar with
the situation would have believed he
was trying to find and reclaim his own
son. He made several trips to little