Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-07-05

dons," he said. how strange ~ wal
for Madeline to hear English spoksz
IN a soft. whiningly sweet accent
1.-THE gracious hospitality Of Don Car
hos has passed with his house."
Stewart stepped forward and. thrust
ing Don Carlos aside, he called, MAKE
way. therei"
The crowd fell back TO the tramp OF
heavy boots. Cowboys appeared stag.
gering out Of the corridor with lonx
boxes. These they placed side by side
upon the floor of the porch.
Now. Have. wen proceed with our
business" said Stewart. You see
these boxes, don't your"
Il reckon | see a good many things
round hyar," replied Have. meanIngly.
well, do you intend to open these
boxes upon my say-so?"
"Noi" retorted Have. 'It's not my
place to NEEDLE with property as come
by express an all accounted fer regu.
/ lar"
"I1l open them. Here, one of you
boys, knock the tops Off these boxes"
ordered Stewart. "No. not you, Monty.
You use your eyes. Let Body handle
| the ak. Rustic, now p
Monty Price had jumped out of the
crowd into the middle Of the porch.
The manner In which he gave way to
Body and faced the vaqueros was
not significant Of %frlendIiness or trust.
Stewart. you're dead wrong to bust
open them boxes. That's ag'in' the
law" protested Have, trying to inter-
fere.
Stewart pushed him back. Then Don
Carlos. who had been stunned by the
appearance Of the boxes, suddenly be-
anne active in speech and person.
Stewart thrust him back also. The
Mexlcan's excitement increased. He
wildly gesticulated; he exclaimed
shrilly In Spanish. When, however, the
lids were wrenched open and an inside
packing torn away he grew rigid and
silent. Madeline raised herself behind
Stlllwell to see that the boxes were
full of rifles and ammunition.
There. Have What did | tell your"
demanded Stewart. Il came over here
TO take charge Of this ranch. / found
these boxes hidden In an unused room.
/ suspected what they we're. Contra
band goodsi"
"Wal. supposin' they are7 I don't
see any call fer sech alfred fuss as
maxim. Stewart, 1 calkilate
some stuck on your new Job an
want to make a big show before"
"Hawe, stop singing that kind of
interrupted Stewart. "You got
free with your mouth once before
Now here. I'm supposed to be consult
bg an officer of the law. VIII yau
take charge of these c~ontraband
goodsT"
"Say, you're holdln' on high an
mighty" replied Have. In astonish
that vas plainly pretended.
"What're you drivin' at?'
Stewart muttered an i~mprecation.
he took several swift strides across
he porch; he held out his hands TO
StilIweil as II to indicate the hopeless
Of intelligent and reasonable arbi-
he looked at Madeline with a
eloquent Of his regret that he
not handle the situation to please
Ter. Then as he wheeled he came face
o face with Nels. who had slipped for
ward out of the crowd.
Madeline gathered serious import
rom the steel-blue meaning fash Of
yes whereby Nels communicated
omethlng to Stewart. Whatever that
omethlng was. 1t dispelled Stewards
mpatience. A slight movement Of his
and brought Monty Price forward
nth a jump. In these sudden jumps
t Monty's there was a suggestion of
estrained ferocity. Then Nels and
Ionty lined up behind Stewart. II
yas a deliberate action, even to Made
ne, Enthusiastically formidable. Pat
face took on an ugly look his
yes had a reddish CLEAN. Don Carlos
dded q pale face and extreme nerv-
usness to his former expressions OF
citation. The cowboys edged ava
-om the vaqueros and the bronzed,
horsemen who were evidently
assistants.
I'm driving at this" spoke up Stew
ri. presently and now he was slow
nd caustic. Here's c~ontraband Of
arr Have, do you get that7 Arms
nd ammunition for the rebels across
he borderi l charge you as an officer
confiscate these goods and to arrest
lie smuggler-Don Carlos" /,
These words of Stewards precipitat.
l a riot among Don Carlos and his
and they surged wildly
round the sheriff. The crowd around ,
Carlos grew louder and denser :
18th the addition OF armed vaqueros .
nd bare-footed stable-boys and dusty :
,oted herdsmen and blanketed Next :
ms. the last of whom suddenly :
tipped from doors and windows and !
'und rners Shrlll cries, evidently :
Don Carlos. somewhat quieted :
e commotion. Then Don Carlos :
'uld be heard addressing Sheriff :
awe In an exhortation of mingled =
nglish and Spanish. He denied. he I.
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