The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-08-25

Every soon after my arrival think
perhaps fifteen minutes. possibly
little more"
"An' what time was the Greaser
shot?" queried Have, with his little
eyes cleaning like Goals.
Probably close to half past one. It
was two o'clock when I looked at my
watch at Florence Kingsley's house.
Directly after Stewart sent Bonita
away he took me to Miss Kingsley's.
So, allowing for the walk and q few
minutes conversation with her, can
pretty definitely say the shooting took
place at about half past one" a..
Stillwell heaved his big frame a step
closer to the sheriff.
"What re you drivin' at?" he roared,
his face black again.
"Evidence," snapped Have.
Madeline marveled at this Interrupt
ton; and as Stewart irresistibly drew
her glance she saw him gray-faced as
ashes, shaking, utterly unnerved.
II thank you, Miss Hammond" he
said, huskily. But you needn't answer
any more Of HAYES questions Hes
he's It's not necessary. I'll 60 with
him now. under arrest. Bonita will
corroborate your testimony in court,
and that will save me from this-this
mans Spite"
Madeline, looking at Stewart, seeing
humility she at first took for cow
ardice, suddenly OWNED that it was not
fear for himself which made him dread
further disclosures of that night, but
fear for her-fear of shame she might
suffer through him.
Pat HAVE cooked his head to one
side, like a vulture about to strike with
his beak, and cunningly eyed Madeline.
considered as testimony, what
you've said is sure important an con-
elusive. But I'm calculatin' tibet the
court will want to hev explained why
you stayed from eleven-thirty till one
thirty in tibet waitin' room alone with
Stewart"
His deliberate speech met with what
Madeline imagined a remarkable re-
ception from Stewart, who gave tiger
ish start; from Stillwell, whose big
hands tore at the neck Of his shirt, as
If he was choking; from Alfred, who
now strobe holly forward, to be
stopped by the cold and silent Nels;
from Monty Price, who uttered VIC
lent "Aw!" which was both hiss and
roar.
In the rush of her thought Madeline
could not interpret the meaning Of
these things which seemed so strange
at that moment. But they were por-
tentous. Even as she was forming a
reply to HAYES speech she felt a chill
creep over her.
Stewart detained me In the wait
bell. "But we were not alone-all the
time"
For a moment the only sound follow
ing her words was a gasp from Stew
art. Hawe's face became transformed
with hideOus amaze and Joy.
"Detained?" he whispered, craning
his lean and corded neck. Flows
thet?"
"Stewart was drunk. He"
With sudden passionate gesture of
despair Stewart appealed to her:
ooh, Miss Hammond. don't! don't!
don't! >"
Then he seemed to sink down, head
lowered upon his breast. in utter
shame. Stillwell's great hand swept to
the bowed shoulder and he turned to
Madeline.
Miss Majesty, I reckon you'd be
wise to tell ALL" said the old cattle
man, gravely. There amt one Of us
who could misunderstood any motive
or act Of yours. Mebbe a stroke of
lightnin' might clear this murky air.
Whatever Gene Stewart did that on
lucky night-you tell it."
Madeline's dignity and self-posses-
sion had been disturbed by Stewards
importantly. She broke into swift, dis
connected speech:
"He came into the station-a few
minutes after I got there. I asked-to
be shown to a hotel. He said there
wasn't any that would accommodate
married women. He grasped my hand
looked for wedding-ring. Then I
saw he was-he was intoxicated. he
told me he would go for a hotel porter.
But he came back with padre-Padre
Marcos. The poor priest was-terribly
frightened. So was l.. Stewart had
turned into a devil. He fired his gun
at the PADRES feet. He pushed me
onto a bench. Again he shot-right
before my face. II nearly tainted.
But heard him curslng the padre
heard the padre praying or chanting
I didn't know what. Stewart tried to
make me say things in Spanish. All
at once he asked my name. I told
him. He jerked at my veil. took it
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 then-must have heard
them. After that Stewart grew quick
ly sober He told me he had been
drinking at wedding-I remember, it
was Ed Linton's wedding. Then he ex-
plained-the boys we're always gam
bling-he wagered he would marry the
first girl who arrived at El Cajon. I
happened to be the first one. He tried
to force me to marry him. The rest
relating to the assault on the vaquero
Il have already told you"
Madeline ended, out CT breath and