The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-09-14

Marcos. The poor priest was-terribly
frightened. So was |. Stewart had
turned into a devil. He fired his gun
at the padres feet. He pushed me
onto bench. Again ne shot-right
before my face. IL nearly tainted.
But l heard him cursing the padre
heard the padre praying or chanting
make me say things in Spanish. All
at once he asked my name. | told
him. He jerked at my veil. / took 1t
Off Then he threw his gun down
pushed the padre out of the door. That
was just before the vaqueros ap-
preached with Bonita. Padre Marcos
must have seen them-must have heard
them. After that Stewart grew quick
ly sober. He told me he had been
drinking at wedding remember. 1t
was Ed Linton's wedding. Then he ex-
plained-the boys were always gam
bling-he wagered he would marry the
first girl who arrived at Ell CajOn. l
happened to be the first one. He tried
to force me to marry him. The rest
relating to the assault on the vaquero
Il have already told YOU"
Madeline ended, out of breath and
painting. with her hands pressed upon
her heaving bosom.
Have rolled his red eyes and threw
back his head.
'Ho, no, no! Ho, no, no! Say,
Sneed, you didn't miss any of 1t, did
We? Haw. haw! Best l ever heerd in
all my born days. Ho, ho!"
Then he ceased laughing, and with
glinting gaze upon Madeline, insolent
and vicious and savage, he began to
drawl:
oval now, my lady, 1 reckon your
story, if it TALES with Bonita's an
Padre Marcos, will clear Gene Stew
art in the eyes of the court" Here he
| grew slower, more biting, sharper and
harder of face But you needn't ex-
pect Pat Have or the court to swaller
| tibet part of your stOry-abOut bein'
detained unwillin' I"
Madeline had not time to grasp the
|
convulsively sprung upward, white as
chalk. AS he leaped at Have Stillwell
interpOsed his huge bulk and wrapped
his arms around Stewart. There was
a brief, whirling, wrestling struggle
Stewart appeared to be besting the old
cattleman.
Help, boys, help" yelled Stillwell
81 can't hold him. Hurry, or there's
goin' to be blood spilled"
Nick Steele and several cowboys
leaped to Stillwell's assistance.
"Genel Why, Genet" painted the OLD
cattleman. "Sure you're lOcoed-to act
this way. Cool down! Cool down
Why, boy, it's all right. Jest stand
still-give us a chance to talk to you
It's only ole Bill, you know-your ole
pal who's tried to be daddy TO you
He's only wantin' you to hev sense-te
be cool-to wait"
"Let me go! Let me go!" cried
Stewart; and the poignancy of that cry
pierced Madeline's heart. LET me go
Bill, If you're my friend. l saved your
life once-over in the desert. You
swore you'd never forget. Boys, make
him let me goi Oh, don't care wha
Hawe's said or done to me! 1t wa!
that about herl Are you all lot o.
Greasers? How can you stand 1t
On you for lot of towards There
limit, / tell you" Then his voice
broke, fell to a whisper. "Bill, dea
old Bill, let me go. I'll kill him! Yol
know I'll kill hint
Gene, I know you'd kill him If yo'
he'd an even break" replied Stillwell
soothingly. But, Gene, why, you aim
even packin' a gun! An there's Pa
lOokin' nasty, with his hand nervous
like. He seen you he'd no gun. He'
jump at the chance to plug you now
an then holler about opposition to tn
law. Cool down. son; it'll all com
right"
Suddenly Madeline was transfixed b
: terrible sound. Her startled glanc
shifted from the anxious group rOun
Stewart to see that Monty Price ha
leaped off the porch. He crouche
down with his hands below his hip:
: where the big guns swung. From hi