Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-12-21


frightened So was l. Stewart hat
turned into devil. He fired his CUR
ut the PADRES feet. He pushed me
onto bench. Again ne shot-righi
before my face. IL nearly tainted
But l heard him cursing the padre
heard the padre praying or chanting
l didn't know what. Stewart tried tC
make me say things In Spanish. All
at once he asked my name. told
him. He jerked at my veil. l took II
Off. Then he threw his gun down
pushed the padre out of the door. That
was just before the vaqueros ap.
preached with Bonita. Padre Marcos
must have seen them--must have heard
them. After that Stewart grew quick
ly sober. He told me he had been
drinking at wedding-I remember, ii
was Ed Linton's wedding. Then he ex-
plained-the boys were always gam
bling-he wagered he would marry the
first girl who arrived at Ell Cnjon.
happened to be the first one. He tried
to force me to marry him. The rest
i have already told you"
Madeline ended, out of breath and
painting. with her hands pressed upon
her heaving bosom.
Have rolled his red eyes and threw
back his he9d.
'Ho, no, no! Ho, no, no! Say,
Sneed, you didn't miss any of 1t, did
ye? Haw, haw Best ever heerd In
all my born days. Ho, hot"
Then he ceased laughing. and witt,
glinting gaze upon Madeline, insolent
and vicious and savage, he began to
drawl:
"Wal now, my lady, l reckon your
story, If 1t tallies with BOnita's an
Padre Marcos, will clear Gene Stew
art in the eyes of the court" Here he
grew slower. more biting, sharper and
harder of face. But you needn't ex-
pect Pat Have or the court to swaller
thet part of your story-about bein'
detained unwillin'"
Madeline had not time to grasp the
sense of his last words. Stewart had
convulsively sprung upward, white as
chalk. AS he leaped at Have Stillwell
interposed his huge bulk and wrapped
his arms around Stewart. There was
brief. whirling. wrestling struggle
Stewart appeared to be besting the old
cattleman.
Help. boys, help!" yelled Stillwell
II can't hold him. Hurry, or there's
goin' to be blood Spilled"
Nick Steele and several cowboys
leaped to Stillwell's assistance.
"Gene Why. Gene" painted the old
cattleman. Sure you're locoed-to act
this way. Cool down. Cool down
Why. boy, it's all right. Jest stand
still-give us chance to talk to you
It's only ole Bill, you know-your ole
pal who's tried to be daddy to you
He's only wantin' you to hev sense-to
be cool-to wait"
LET me go! Let me go!" cried
Stewart and the poignancy of that cry
pierced Madeline's heart. "Let me go,
BIZ. If you're my friend. l saved your
iilc olCS-oNeI III tiie dtSeli AOu
swore you'd never forget. Boys, make
him let me go! Oh, don't care what
Hawe's said or done to me! 1t was
that about her! Are you all lot of
Greasers? How can you stand lit
D-n you for lot of towards There's
limit, tell you.' Then his voice
broke, fell to whisper. "Bill, dear
old Bill, let me go. I'll kill him! You
know I'll kill him."
"Gene, know you'd kill him II you
he'd an even break" replied Stillwell
soothlngly. But. Gene. why, you amt
even packin' gun! An there's Pat
lookin' nasty, with his hand nervous
like. He seen you he'd no gun. He'd
jump at the chance to plug you now,
an then holler about opposition to the
law. Cool down. son; it'll all come
right"
Suddenly Madeline was transflxed by
a terrible sound. Her startled glance
shifted from the anxious group round
Stewart to see that Monty Price had
leaped Off the porch. He crouched
down with his hands below his hips,
where the big guns swung. From his