Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-06-01

gave him keener glance. but steppe
into a position where better light
shOne on his face. 1t 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
atfronted her; nevertheless, whatever
was in his mind, he meant no insult.
II shall be greatly obliged to you
If you will show me to the hotel" she
said
Lady, you wait here" he replied.
slowly as If 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 roar, shadows sped by-lean
horses, flying names and tails, SOM
breroed riders, all strange and wild
m 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, the other slight. The COW
boy entered, pulling disheveled
fgure-that Of priest, padre whose
mantle had manifestly been dis
arranged by the rude grasp of his
captor. Plain 1t was that the padre
was extremely terrified.
Madeline Hammond gazed in bewil-
derment at the little man, so pale
and shaken, and a protest trembled
upon her lips; but it was never
uttered, for this half-drunken cowboy
now appeared to be cool grim
smiling devil; and stretching out a
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 a tone
1t was the woman in her that obeved
NOT the personality of proud Made
line Hammond.
The padre lifted his clasped hands
as If supplicatlng for his life, and
began to speak hurredly in Spanish.
Madeline did not understand the Ian |
guage. The cowboy pulled out a huge
gun and brandished 1t In the priests |
face. Then he lowered it, apparently
to point it at the priests feet. There
was red flash, and then q thunder
ing report that stunned Madeline. The
room filled with smoke and the smell
OF powder. When she could see dis
t1nctly through the smoke she expe.
rlenced sensation of immeasurable
relief that the cowboy had not shot
the padre. But he was still waving
the gun, and now appeared to be drag
gtng his victim toward her. What
possibly could be the drunken fools
intention? This must be, this surely
was a cowboy trick. Madeline no
sooner thought Of 1t than she made
certain her brother was Introducing
her to Wild West amusement. She
could scarcely believe it, yet it must
be true Probably he stood lust out
side the door or window laughing at
her embarrassment.
Anger checked her panic. She
up with what composure
this surprise had left her and started
for the door. But the cowboy barred
her passage-grasped her arms. Then
Madeline OWNED that her brother
could not have any knowledge Of this
lndignity 1t was no trick. Poise.
dignity, culture - all the acquired
habits Of characterized before the
instinct to fight. She was athletic ,
She fought. She struggled desperately
But he forced her back with hands
If iron. She had never known a man
,ould be so strong.
'What-do you-mean?" she painted !.
'Dearie, ease up a little on the
,ridle," he replied gaily /,
Madeline thought she must be ,
She could not think clearly, ,
'he not only saw this man, but also ,
elt his powerful presence And the
making priest, the haze of blue smoke, ,
he smell Of powder-these were not :
lnreal :
Then close before her eyes burst q
mother binding red flash, and close t
t her ears beloved another report. /
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