The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-08-15

never KNEW, any iHofe lndn you of
BIZ, here, or the boys, what Bonita
was to me-"
Stillwell's kind and heavy hand fell
upon the cowboys shoulder.
Danny, what's all this queer gab?"
he asked. An you're takin' some lib
erty with Miss Hammond, Who never
e you before. l see you're not
drinkin'. Come, ease up now an talk
sense"
The cowboys fine, frank face broke
into n smile. He dashed the tears
from his eyes. Then he laughed. His
laugh had a pleasant, boyish ring-a
happy ring.
"Bill, old pal, stand bride down a
minute, will you?" Then he bowed to
Madeline. II beg your pardon, Miss
Hammond, for seemin' rudeness. I'm
Danny Mains. An Bonita is my wife.
I'm so crazy glad she's safe an un-
harmed-so grateful to you that-why.
sure it's a wonder | didn't kiss you
outright"
"Bonita's your wife," calculated
Stillwell.
Sure. We've been married for
MONTHS" replied Danny, happily.
Gene Stewart did it. Good old Gene.
| guess maybe l haven't come to pay
him up for all he's lone for mel You
see, I've been In love with Bonita for
two years. An Gene-you know, Bill,
what a way Gene has with girls-he
was-well. he was tryin' to get Bonita
to have me-"
Madeline's quick, varying emotions
were swallowed up in a boundless
gladness. Something dark, deep, heavy,
and somber was flooded from her
heart. She had a sudden rich sense of
gratitude toward this smiling, clean
faced cowboy whose blue eyes flashed
through tears.
Danny Mains ~ she said, tremulous-
ly and smilingly. IF you ere as glad
as your news has made me-if you
really think l merit suci. c reward
you may kiss me outright"
With a bashful wonder, but with
right hearty will, Danny Mains availed
himself of this gracious privilege.
Stillwell snorted. The signs of his
phenomenal smile were manifest, 9TH
erwise Madeline would have thought
that snort an indication of furious dis
approval.
"Bill, straddle O. chair" raid Danny.
you've gone back a heap these last
few months, frettin' over your bad
boys, Danny an Gene. You'll need
support under you while I'm THROWN
my yarn. Story of my life, Bill" He
placed a chair for Madeline. Miss
Hammond, begin your pardon again,
| want you to listen, also. You've the
face an eyes of a Who loves
to hear of other peoples happiness.
Besides, somehow, It's easy for me to
talk lookin' at you"
Walking off the porch, he stood be
fore the weary horse and burro. With
the swift violence characteristic of
men of his class he slipped the pack
from the burro and threw saddle and
bride from the horse.
He united the pack and, taking a
small, heavy sack from it, he came
back upon the porch. Deliberately he
dumped the contents of the sack at
Stillwell's feet. Piece after piece of
rock thumped upon the floor. The
pieces were sharp, ragged, evidently
broken from a ledge; the body of
them was white in color, with yellow
veins and bars and streaks. Stillwell
grasped up one rock after another,
stared and suffered, put the rocks to
his lips, dug into them with his shak-
ing fingers; then he lay back in his
chair, head against the wall, and as he
gaped at Danny the old smile began to
transform his face.
Danny regarded Stillwell with lofty
c-ondescension. "Now, Bill, what've we
got here, say, offhand?'
"Oh, Lord. Danny I'm afraid to
say. LOOK, Miss Majesty, jest look at
the gold. I've lived among prospec-
tors an gold mines fer thirty years
an I never seen the beat of this"
1.-THE Lost Mine of the Padres y
cried Danny, in stentorian voice. AN
it belongs to me
StiIlwell made some i%ncOherent sound
as he sat up fascinated, quite beside
himself.
"Bill, it was some long time age
since you saw me-" said Danny. Fact
is, l know how you felt, because Gene
kept me posted. | happened to run
across Bonita, an | wasn't goin' &c
let her ride away alone. when she told
me she was in trouble. We hit the
trail for the Peloncillos. Bonita had
Genes horse, an she was to meet hin
up on the trail. We got to the noun.
tains all right. an nearly starved fol-
a few days till Gene found us. He had
got in trouble himself an couldn't
fetch much with him.
I'VE made for the crags an built q
cabin. l come down that day Gene
sent his horse Majesty to you. Never
saw Gene 20 broken-hearted. Well
after he sloped for the border Bonita
an | were hard put TO it to keep alive
But we got along, an l think it was
then she began to care a little for me
Once | went to Ell Cajon an run plumb
into Gene. He was back from the rev
olution an cuttin' up some. But | got
away from him after doin' all I could
to drag him out of town. A long time
after that Gene trailed up to the crags
an found us. Gene had stopped drink
in, he'd changed wonderful, was fine
an dandy. 1t vas then he began to
poster the life out of me to make mt
marry Bonita. I was happy, so was
she an, WAS some scn rod of snnilin