The Arvada enterprise., 1923-06-07

I women. Bad business for hotels to
have married women. Keeps the boys
away. You see. this Isn't Reno"
Then he laughed rather boyishly.
and from that. and the way he
slouched on his sombrero. Madeline
realized he was half drunk. As she
inst;nctively recoiled she not only
gave him keener glance. but stepped
into q position where q better light
shone on his face. II was like red
bronze. bold. raw. sharp. Like that
Of all women whose beauty and
charm had brought them much before
the world. Miss Hammond's intuition
had been developed until she had a
delicate and exquisitely sensitive per
ception Of the nature OF men and Of
her effect upon them. This crude COW
boy. under the influence Of drink, had
affronted her: nevertheless, whatever
was In his mind. he meant no insult.
II shall be greatly obliged to you
II you will show me to the hotel" she
said.
Lady. you walt here" he replied,
| slowly. as II his thought did not come
swiftly. "Ill go fetch the porter"
She thanked him. and as he went
out. closing the door, she sat down in
considerable relief. 1t occurred, to
her that she should have mentioned
her brothers name. Then she fell to
wondering what living with such un-
cOuth cowboys had done to Alfred.
She alone Of her family had ever be-
lieved In any latent good In Alfred
Hammond. and her faith had scarcely
survived the two years Of silence
Waiting there, she again found her.
self listening to the moan Of the wind
through the wires. Then Madeline
heard a rapid pattering. low at first
and growing louder. which presently
she recognized as the galloping Of
horses. She went to the window.
thinking. hoping her brother had ar
rived. But as the clatter increased
to q roar. shadows sped by-lean
horses. flying names and tails, SOM
breroed riders. all strange and wild
In her sight. Recalling what the con-
ductor had said. she was at some
pains to quell her uneasiness. Then
out Of the gloom two figures appeared.
one tall, tho other slight. The COW
boy entered. pulling a disheveled
ngure-that Of priest. a padre. whose
mantle had manifestly been dis.
arranged BY the rude grasp Of his
cnptor. Plain It was that the padre
was extremely terrified.
Madeline Hammond gaIed In Devil.
derment at the little man, 20 pale
and shaken. and a protest trembled
upon her lips; but II was never
uttered. for this halfdrunken cowboy
now appeared to be q cool. grim.
smiling devil: and stretching out
long arm. he grasped her and swung
her back to the bench.
"You stay there!" he ordered.
His voice. though neither brutal nor
harsh nor cruel. had the unaccount.
able effect Of making her feel power.
less to move. No man had ever
before addressed her In such q tone.
II was the woman In her that obeyed
not the personality Of proud Made
line Hammond.
The padre lifted his clasped hands
ms II supplicntinE for bis life, and
began to speak hurriedly in Spanish.
Madeline did not understand the Ian.
guaGe. The cowboy pulled out a huge
gun and brandished II In the priests
face. Then he lowered II. apparently
to point II at the priests feet. There
was n red fash, and then q thunder.
Ing report that stunned Madeline. The
room filled with smoke and the smell
OF powder. When she could see dis
tfnctly through the smoke she expe-
riencvd sensation Of Unreasonable
relief that the cowboy had not sho,
the padre. But he was still waving
the KUN. and now appeared to be drag.
ging his victim toward her. What
possibly could he the drunken FOOLS
intentionl This must be, this surely
WIS a cowboy trick. Madeline no
sooner thought Of II than she made
certain her brother was introducing
her to Wild West amusement. She
could scarcely believe II. yet II must
be true. Probably he stood just out.
side the door or window laughing at
her embarrassment.
Anger checked her panic. She
Strengthened up with what composure
this surprise had left her and started
for the door. But the cowboy barred
her passnge-grasped her arms. Then
Madeline OWNED that her brother
could not have any knowledge Of this
indignlty. II was no trick. Poise,
dignity. culture - nil the acquired
habits OF characterized before the
Instinct to fight. She was athletic,
She fought. She struggled desperately.
hut he forced her back with hands
OF iron. She had never known a man
could be so strong.
'Whnt-do you-menn?" she painted.
"Dcnrie. ense up little on the