Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-16

lnge. Now. heah's the way Gene fig
gers. There sure was some devIltry
down along the railroad, an Pat Have
trailed bandits up to the ranch. lie
| hunts hard an then all to onct he quits.
| Stewart says Pat Have wasn't scared.
but he discovered signs of somethin'. or
got wind in some strange way that
there was In the gang of bandits some
felers he didn't want 10 ketch. Sabef
Then Gene qulcker'n flash. springs
his plan on me. He'd go down to
Padre Marcos an hev him help to find
out all possible from your Mexican
servants. | was TO hurry up hyar an
veil you-give you orders. Miss Majes-
! ty. Amt that amaZin' strange? Wal,
you're to assemble all your guests III
1 the kitchen. Make grand blur an
pretend, as your help has left that it'll
he great fun fer your guests to cook
dinner. The kitchen is the safest room
in the house. While you're joshln your
| party along, maxim n kind of picnic
out Of 1t, I'll place cowboys in the long
corridor. an also outside In the corner
where the kitchen Joins on TO the maiu
house It's pretty sure the bandits
think no ones wise to where they're
hid. Stewart says they're in that end
room where the alfalfa is. an they'll
| slope in the night. OF course, with me
an the boys watchin', you-all will be
safe to go to bed. An we're To rouse
! your guests early before daylight. to
hit the trail up into the mountains.
| Tell them to pack outfits before goin'
to bed. Say as your servants hey
Sloped, you might as well go campin'
with the cowboys That's all If we
hev any luck your friends'll never
know they've been sittin' on n powder
mine. Now, Miss Majesty. I've used up
lot of time eNplainin. You'll sure
keep your nerve?'
Yes" Madeline replied, and was
surprised at herself.
Better tell Florence. She'll be a
power of comfort 10 you. I'm goin'
now to fetch up the boys"
| Instead of returning to her room
Madeline went through the office into
| the long corridor 1t was almost as
dark rs night. She fancied she saw a
| Slow-gllding figure darker than the sur
rounding gloom and she entered upon
the fultillment of her part of the plan
in something like trepidation. Her
| footsteps were noiseess Finding the
door to the kitchen. and going in, she
struck lights. Upon passing out again
! she made certain she dlscerned Il dark
shape. now motionless, crouching along
the wall But she mistrusted her vivid
| Imagination Ii took all her boldness
to enable her unconcernedly and natur-
ally to strike the corridor light. Then
she went on through her own rooms
and thence into the patio
Her guests laughingly and gladly en-
tered into the spirit OF the occasion.
They trooped merrily into the kitchen
Madeline, delaying at the door, took a
sharp but unobtrusive glance down the
great barnlike hall. She saw nothing
| but blank dark space. Suddenly from
one side, not rod distant. protruded
pale, cleaning face breaking the
even blackness. Instantly 1t flashed
back out of sight. Yet that time was
long enough for Madeline to see pair
of glittering eyes. and to recognize
them as Don Carlos.
Without betraying either hurry or
alarm. she closed the door. 1t had a
heavy bolt which she slowly. noiseless-
ly shot. Then the cold amaze that had
all but stunned her into inaction
throbbed into wrath. How dared that
Mexican steal into her home. What
did he meau? Was he one of the ban
| dts supposed to be hidden in her
house? She was linking herself into
greater anger and excitement, and
probably would have betrayed herself
had not Florence, who had evidently
seen her bolt the door and now read
her thoughts. come toward her with a
bright, intent, questioning look. Made
line caught herself In time.
Thereupon she gave each of her
guests duty to perform. Leading
Florence into the pantry, she unbur-
dened herself of the secret in one brief
whisper. Florence's reply was to point
out Of the little open window passing
which was file OF stealthily moving
cowboys. Then Madeline lost both
anger and fear, retaining only the glow
of excitement.
The miscellaneous collection of
dishes so .confusIngly contrived made
up q dinner which they all heartily en-
joyed. Madeline enjoyed 1t herself,
even with the feeling Of sword hang
ing sllSppnded over her
The hour was late when she rose
from the table and told her guests to
go to their rooms, don their riding
clothes, pack what they needed for the
long and adventurous camping trip
that she hoped would be the climax of
their western experience, and to snatch
a little sleep before the cowb lys reused
them for the early start.
Madeline went Immediately to her
room, and was getting out her camping
apparel when knock interrupted her
who's there?" she questioned.
Stewart" came the reply
She opened the door. He stood on
the threshold.
MAY speak to you?" he asked
"Certainly." She hesitated mo
ment, then asked him in and closed the
door. "Is-is everything all right?'
NO. These bandits stick to cover
pretty close They must. have found
ont ,va'ra IN the watch Rnt I'm Surf