The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09
*. q Romance
X By Zane Grey
Copyright by Harper and Brothers

n rider threw his reins, leaped
from the saddle, and came bounding
up the porch steps. Florence met him
at the door.
Hello, Flo. Where is she?" he
called, eagerly. With that he looked
over her shoulder to espy Madeline.
He actually jumped at her. She
hardly knew the tall form and the
bronzed face, but the warm flash of
blue eyes was familiar. AS for him,
he had no doubt of his sister, 1t ap-
peared, for with broken welcome he
threw his arms around her, then held
her off and looked searchingly at her.
"Well, sister," he began, when
Florence turned hurriedly from the
door and interrupted him.
"Al, I think you'd better stop the
w%rangling out there"
He stared at her, appeared suddenly
to hear the loud voices from the
street, and then, releasing Madeline,
he said:
by George! I forgot, Flo. There
Is a little business to see to. Keep my
sister in here, please. and don't be
fused up. now"
He ven out on the porch and called
to his men:
"Shut off your wind, Jacki And
you, TOO, Blazel l didn't want you
fellows to come here. But as you
would come, you've got to shut up.
This Is my business"
Whereupon he turned to Stewart,
who was sitting on the fence.
Hello. Stewart !" he said.
1t was a greeting; but there vas
that In the voice which alarmed
Madeline.
Stewart lelsurely got up and lei
surely advanced to the porch.
Hello, Hammond !" he drawled.
Drunk again last night?"
swell, If you a to know, and If
it's any of your mix, yes, I was
pretty drunk" replied Stewart.
1t was a kind of cool speech that
showed the cowboy in control of him
self and master of the s~ituation-not
an easy speech to follow up with un-
uuC "a uiolIiNCiCSS 4iitlC do Il
short silence.
ID it, Stewart" said the speaker,
presently, "here's the situation: It's
all oyer town that you met my sister
last night at the station and-and
insulted her. Gene, you've been on the
wrong trail for some time, drinking
and all that. You're going to the bad.
But Bill thinks, and l think, you're
still a man. We never knew you to
lie. Now what have you to say for
yourself?"
Nobody is i%nsinuating that I am a
liar?' drawled Stewart.
"No."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that. You
see, AL, I was pretty drunk last night
but not drunk enough to forget the
least thing I did. | found Miss Ham.
mond waiting alone at the station
She wore a veil, but I knew she was
a lady, of course. I imagine, now that
l think of it, that Miss Hammond
found my gallantry rather startling
and"
At this point Madeline. answering tc
unconsidered impulse. eluded Florence
and walked out upon the porch.
Gentlemen" said Madeline, rather
b~reathlessly and it did not add tc
her calmness to feel a hot flush In her
cheeks, 81 am very new to western
ways, but I think you are laborine
under a mistake, which, in justice tc
Mr.. Stewart. 1 want to correct. In.
deed, he was rather-rather abrupt
and strange when he came up TO me
last night; but IS l understand him
now, l can attribute that to his gal.
lantry. He was somewhat wild and
sudden and-sentimental In his de
mand to protect me-and 1t was not
clear whether he meant his protection
for last night or forever; but l an
happy to say he offered me no word
that was not honorable. And he saw
me safely here to Miss Kingsley's
home"