The Lamar register., 1923-04-18
Continued from Page Two)
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Copyright by Harper and Brothers

up bitterness was flooding away. 1t
hurt her to see hlm-hurt her more TO
hear him. And in the succeeding few
moments she grew closer to him than
she had ever been In the past. Had
her father and mother done right by
him7 Her pulse stirred with UNIV onted
.Quickness. She did not speak, but she
kissed him, which, for her, was an
indication of unusual feeling. And
when he recovered command over his
emotions he made no reference TO his
breakdown, nor did she. But that
scene struck deep into Madeline Ham
mond's heart. Through 1t she saw
what he had lost and gained.
Alfred, why did you not answer
my last letters?" asked Madeline. 81
had not heard from you for two years"
$50 long? How time fiies Well,
things went bad with me about the
last time l heard from you. | always
Intended to write some day. but l
never did. You remember all about
my little ranch, and that for while
/ did well raising stOck2 l wrote you
all that. Majesty. a man makes enc
mics anywhere. Perhaps an eastern
man In the West can make. II not so
many, certainly more bitter ones. At
any rate. / made several. There was
a cattleman. Ward by name-hes gone
now-snd he and l had trouble over
cattle. That gave me back-set. Pat
Have, the sheriff here, has been In
strumentsl In hurting my business.
He's not 50 much of a rsncher. but he
has influence at Santa Fe and Ell Paso
and Douglas. I made an enemy of
him. never did anything to him.
The real reason for his animosit,
toward me is that he loves Florence,
and Florence is going to marry me"
Alfred"
whats the matter, Majesty Didn't
Florence Impress you fayorablyY" he
asked. with q keen glance.
"Why-yss, indeed. l like her. But
1 did not think OF her in relation TO
you-that way. l am greatly surprised
Alfred, 10 she well bornf What con-
nectionsf
FLORENCE is Just a girl Of ordinary
people. She was born In Kentucky.
was brought up In Texas. Ny aristo-
cratic and wealthy family would
scorn@r
"Alfred you are still Hammond"
said Madeline, with uplifted head.
Alfred laughed I'VE won't quar-
rel, Majesty. | remember you, and In
spite OF your pride you've got heart.
Ii you stay here a month you'll love
Florence Kingsley. l want you 10
know she's had Il great deal TO do with
Strengthening me up. Well, TO
60 on with my story. There's Don
Carlos, a Mexican rancher, and he's
my worst enemy. Don Carlos is
willy Grasser, he knows the ranges,
he has the water, and he is dishonest.
So he outfigured me. And now / am
practically ruined. He has not gotten
possession OF my ranch, but that's only
a matter of time, pending lawsuits
at Santa Fe. At present l have
few hundred cattle running on Still
wells range. and l am his foreman"
Foreman" queried Madeline.
Il am simply boss Of Stillwell's COW
boys, and right glad of my job"
Madeline was conscious Of an In
ward burning. 1t required an effort
for her to retain her outward tranquil
ity.
Cannot your property be re-
claimedf" she asked. How much do
you owef"
Ten thousand dollars would clear
me and give me another start. But,
Majesty, In this country that's good
deal of money, and haven't been able
to raise 1t. Stillwelrs In worse shape
than / am"
Madeline went over to Alfred and
put her hands on his shoulders.
I'VE must not be In debt"
He stared at her as If her words had
recalled something long forgotten.
Then he smiled.
How imperious you arel I'd for
sotten Just who my beautiful sister
really is. Majesty, you're not going
to ask me to take money from your
II am
"welI, I'll not do 1t. l never did,
even when | was In college, and then
there wasn't much beyond me-"
(Conanued next week