Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-07-13

drawn in advance on Stewards salara
This done, she impulsively determining
to go to Chiricahua herself.
! Nels, when Madeline asked him {
accompany her to Chiricahua, replieA
reluctantly, that he would rather foW
low on his horse. However, she prs
vailed over his hesitancy, and wit
Florence also in the car they set ou,
For miles and miles the valley roal
was smooth, hard-packed, and slightly
downhill. And when speeding we
perfectly safe, Madeline was ne
averse to it, And when the cal
stopped in the wide, dusty street G
Chircahua. Nels gladly tumbled out. :
"Nels, we shall wait here in the ca
while you find Stewart" said Made
line.
Nels crossed the railroad track AMI
| disappeared behind the low, faI
houses. After a little time he reaIl
peared and hurried up to the car
"Miss Hammond, found him." sal
Nels. "He was sleepin'. woke hinI
He's sober an not bad hurt; but
don't believe you ought to see him
| Mebbe Florence"
"Nels, l want to see him myself
Why not? What did he say when yo
told him I was here?
."Shore I didn't tell him that. jes
says, 'HullO, Gene! an he says, MI
Gawd Nels mebbe amt glad to sci
a human bein'.' He asked me who wa
with me, an l told him Link an somI
hollered at thet. But l went, anywa.
Now, If you really will see him, Mis-
Hammond, it's a good chance. BuI
shore it's q tOuchy matter, an You
be some sick at sight of him. He
layin' in a Greaser hole over here
Likely the Greasers hev been kind
him. But they're shore poor lot"
Madeline did not hesitate momen
''Thank you, Nels. Take me at once
Come, Florence"
They left the car. now suprOunde
by gaping-eyed Mexican children, an
crossed the dusty space to narro1
lane between red adobe walls. Pass
ing by several houses. Nels stopped g
the door of what appeared 10 be "A
alleyway leading back. 1t was filthy.
"He's in there, round thet first COZ
ner It's patio, open an sunny. An
Miss Hammond, If you don't mind, T.
wait here for you. I reckon Gen
wouldn't like any fellers around whe
he sees you girls"
Florence, you wait Also" sal
Madeline, at the doorway. and turne
in alone.
And she had stepped into a broker
down patio littered with alfalfa stra,
and debris, all clear in the sunlight
Upon a bench, back toward her, sat
man looking out through the rents i
the broken wall. He had not heart
her. Madeline did not recognize Stew
art. The side Of his face exposed tc
her was black, bruised, bearded. His
clothes were ragged and soiled. Thel
were bits of alfalfa In his hair HIS
shoulders sagged. He made wretched
and hopeless figure sitting there.
Madeline OWNED something of why
Nels shrank from being present.
"Mr. Stewart. 1t is l, Miss Ham,
mond, come to see you," she said.
He grew suddenly perfectly motion
less, as If he had been changed to
stone. She repeated her greeting.
His body jerked. He moved violent
ly as II instinctively to turn and face
this intruder; but more violent
movement checked him.
Madeline waited How singular
that this ruined cowboy had pride
which kept him from showing his face!
And was It not shame more than
pride1
go away" he muttered.
"Mr. Stewart! !" she began. II have
come to help you. VIII you let me?"
"For Gods sake! You-you-" he
choked over the words. "Go awayw
Stewart, perhaps it was for Gods
sake that I came," said Madeline,
gently. "Surely 1t was for yours
and your sisters" Madeline bit her
tongue, for she had not meant to be-
tray her knowledge OF Lefty.
He groaned, and, staggering up to
the broken wall, he leaned there with
his face hidden. Madeline reflected
that perhaps the slip of speech had
been well.
Stewart. please let me say what |
have to say?"
He was silent. And she gathered
courage and inspiration.
"Stlllwell is deeply hurt, deeply
grieved that he could not turn you back
from this-this fatal course. My
brother Is, also. They wanted to help
you. And so do l. have come, think.
ing somehow l might succeed where
they have failed. Nels brought your
sisters letter. IL read 1t. | was
only the more determined to try to
help you, and indirectly help your
mother and Lefty. Stewart, we want
you to come to the ranch. My cow
boys are without capable lea0er.
VIII you Gomez"
"NO," he answered.
"But Stillwell wants you so badly"