The Winslow mail., 1923-07-13

can bet would never have gotten here
II had known about that ride from
the railroad. You never wrote that
you had a car. 1 thought this was out
West-stage-cOac and all that sort of
thing. Such a tremendous car! And
the road! What kind of a chauffeur
is he?"
Hes a cowboy. He was crippled
by falling under his horse, so had
him instructed to run the car. He can
drive, don't you think?"
"Drive? Good gracious! He scared
us to death, except Castleton Nothing
could scare that cOld-bloOded little
Englishman. 1 am dizzy yet. Do you
know, Majesty, l was delighted when
l saw the car. Then your cowboy
driver met us at the platform. What
queer-lOolzing individual! He had q
big pistol strapped to those leather
trousers. That made me nervous.
When he piled US all in with our grips,
he put me in the seat beside him,
whether liked it or not. 1 was fool
enough to tell him l loved to travel
fast. What do you think he said3
Well, he eyed me in a rather cool and
speculative way and said, with a smile,
Miss, reckon anything you love an
want bad will be coming to you out
here!' 1 didn't know whether it was
delightful candor or impudence Then
he said to all Of us: Shore you had
better wrap up in the wells an busters.
It's long, slow, hot, dusty ride to the
ranch, an Miss Hammond's order was
to drive safe He got our baggage
checks and gave them to man with
huge wagon and a four-horse team.
Then he cranked the car, jumped In,
wrapped his arms round the wheel,
and sank down low in his seat. There
was a crack, jerk, a kind Of flash
around us, and that dirty little town
was somewhere on the map behind
For about five minutes had a lovely
time. Then the wind began to tear
me to pieces. l couldn't hear any
thing but the rush Of wind and roar of
the car. 1 could see only straight
ahead. What a road l never saw
road in my life till today. Miles and
miles and miles ahead, with not even
post or tree. That big car seemed
to leap at the miles. 1t hummed and
sang. was fascinated, then terrified.
We went so fast I couldn't catch my
breath. The wind went through me,
any minute. l was afraid I couldn't
hold any clothes on. Presently all l
could see was a flashing gray wall
with a white line in the middle. Then
my eyes blurred. My face burned. My
ears grew full of a hundred thousand
bowling devils. I was about ready to
die when the car stopped. 1 looked
and looked, and when 1 could see,
there you stood!"
"Helen, I thought you were fond of
speeding" said Madeline, with laugh.
81 was. But I assure you I never
before was in a fast car; never met
a driver"
perhaps I may have few sur
prises for you out here in the wild and
woolly West"
Helens dark eyes showed sisters
memory Of possibilities.
you've started WE'LL" she said. "I
am simply stunned. I expected to find
you old and dowdy. Majesty you're
the handsomest thing l ever laid eyes
on. You're so splendid and strong,
and your skin Is like white gold.
What's happened to you? What's
changed you? This beautiful room,
those glorious roses out there, the cool,
dark sweetness of this wonderful
house! 1 know you, Majesty, and,
though you never wrote it, 1 believe
you have made home out here.
That's the most stunning surprise OF
all. Come, confess. I know I've al.
ways been selfish and not much of a
sister; but if you are happy out here
1 am glad. You were not happy at
home. Tell me about yourself and
about Alfred. Then 1 shall give you
all the messages and news from the
East"
1t afforded Madeline exceeding pleas.
ure to have from one and all Of her
guests varied encomiums of her beau
tiful home, and real and warm inter
est in what promised to be delight
full and memorable visit.
OF them all Castleton was the only
one who failed to show surprise. He
greeted her precisely as he had when
he had last seen her in London Made
line, rather to her astonishment, found
meeting him again pleasurable. She
discovered she liked this imperturbable
Englishman. Manifestly her capacity
for liking any one had immeasurably
enlarged. Quite unexpectedly her old
girlish love for her younger sister
sprang into life, and with 1t interest
in these half-forgotten friends, and q
warm regard for Edith Wayne, a chum
Of college days.
II "There's a gang of bandits
II riding on the ranch!"