Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-09-13


that assault" went On Madeline. swift
u. 'for he was with me In the waiting
room of the station at the moment the
assault was made outside. The door
was open. / heard The voices OF quar-
Feling men.-Th language was
Spanish. / heard a woman's voice
mIngling with the others. 1t, too, was
Spanish, and l could no understand
But the tone was b~eseeching. Then /
heard footsteps on the gravel. Just
outside the IGOR then there were
hoarse, furious voices. a scufie. a muf-
lied shot. a woman's cry. the thud of a
falling body, and rapid footsteps of a
man running away. Next. the girl
Bonita staggered into the door. She
was white, trembling. terror-stricken.
She recognized Stewart, appealed TO
him. Stewart supported her and en-
deavored to calm her. He asked her
II Danny Mains had been shot, or IL
he had done the shooting. The girl
said no. She told Stewart that she had
danced a little, fflrted a little with
yaqueros, and they had quarreied over
nfE. 1ftu OtfNdfi lOOh nci VulbiUt
and put her upon his horse. l saw the
girl ride that horse down the street to
disappear In the darkness"
While Madeline spoke another change
appeared TO be working In the man
Have. His sharp features fixed In an
expression of craft.
'aThet's mighty interestin'. Miss Ham
- --* 4-o~ef-f -.
book" he said. snow. since you're so
obllgin' a witness, I'd sure like to put
a question or two. What time did you
arrive at El Cajon tibet night7"
1T was after eleven o'clock" replied
Madeline.
Nobody there to meet your"
@No."
'The station agent an operator both
gomez"
"Yes."
"How o did his Teller Stewart
show up7" Have continued, with a
wry smile.
VERY soon after my arrival. think
perhaps fifteen minutes, possibly a
little more"
AN, what time was the Greaser
shot7' queried Have. with his little
eyes cleaning like Goals.
Probably close TO half past one. II
was two o'clock when / looked at my
watch at Florence Klngsley's house.
Directly after Stewart sent Bonita
away he took me to Miss Kingsley's.
SO, allowing for the walk and a few
minutes conversation with her, / can
pretty definitely say the shooting took
place at about half past one
Stillwell heaved his big frame a step
closer to the sheriff.
what re you drIyin' att" he roared,
his face black again.
Evidence" snapped Have.
Madeline marveled at this Interrupt
ton and as Stewart irresistibly drew
her glance she saw him gray-faced as
ashes, shaking, utterly unnerved-
Il thank you, Miss Hammond" he
said. huskiIy. but you needn't answer
any more of Hawe's questions. Hes
he's It's not necessary. I'll go with
him now, under arrest. Bonita viii
c~orroborate your testimony In court,
and that will save me from thls-thIs
mans spite"
Madeline, looking at Stewart. seeing
a humility she at first took for cow
srdice. suddenly OWNED that II was not
fear for himself which made him dread
further disclosures Of that night, but
fear for her-fear of shame she might
suffer through him.
Pat Have cooked his head 10 one
side, like a vulture about to strike with
his beak. and cunningly eyed Madeline.
considered as testimony, what
you've said is sure important an con-
But I'm calculatin' tibet the
court will want TO hev explained why
you stayed from eleven-thirty till one
thirty In tibet waitin' room alone with
Stewart
His deliberate speech met with what
Madeline imagined a remarkable re-
from Stewart. who gave a tiger
ish start from Stlllwell, whose big
hands tore at the neck of his shirt, as
II he was choking: from Alfred, who
nov strobe holly forward, to be
by the cold and silent Nels;
from Monty Price. who uttered a VIC
lent saw ~ which was both a hiss and
I roar.
In the rush Of her thought Madeline
could not interpret the meaning of
things which seemed so strange
at that moment. But they were por-
Even as she was forming a
reply to Hawe's speech she felt a chill
creep owe her.
Stewart detained me in the wait
ing room" she said. ~clear-voiced as a
bell. nut we were not alone-all the
For a moment the only sound follow
ing her words was a gasp from Stew /.
Rrt. Hawe's face became transformed
a hideous amnze and JOY.
-Detainedf" he whispered. craning
lean and corded neck. Flows !
j
'8tewart was drunk. He" {
with sudden passionate gesture of {
Tmn41f Stewart appealed TO her: l