The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-30

She caught the inference. The gun
was not an ornament. His keen,
steady. dark gaze caused her vague
alarm. What had once seemed cool
and a%udacious about this cowboy was
now cold and powerful and mystical.
Both her instinct and her intelligence
realized the steel fiber of the mans
nature. As she was his employer, she
had the right to demand that he should
not do what was so chilllngly manifest
that he might do. But Madeline could
not demand. She felt curiously young
and weak, and the five months of
western life were as if they had never
been. She now had to do with a ques
ton involving human life. And the
value she placed upon human life and
Its spiritual significance was a matter
far from her cowboys thoughts. A
strange idea flashed up. Did she place
too much value upon all human life?
She checked that, wondering, almost
Mortified at herself. And then her
intuition told her that she possessed
a far stronger power to move these
primitive men than any woman's stern
rule or order.
Stewart. l do not fully understand
what you hint that Nels and his CON-
rades might do. Please be frank with
me. Do you mean Nels would shoot
upon little pro~vocation?"
Miss Hammond, as far as Nels Is
concerned. shooting is now just a mat
ter of his meeting Don Carlos
vaqueros. AS for Nick Steele and
Monty. they're just bad men, and look
ing for trouble.''
"How about yourself, Stewart? Still
wells remark was not lost upon me-"
said Madeline, prompted by curiosity.
stewart, I have come to love my
ranch, and I care a great deal for my
my cowboys. 1t would be dreadful IL
they were to kill anybody, or especial
ly If n of them should be killed."
Miss Hammond, you've changed
things considerable out here, but you
can't change these men. All that's
needed to start them is q little trou-
BILE. And this Mexican revolution is
bound to make rough times along some
of the wilder passes across the border.
We're in line, that's all. And the boys
are getting stirred up"
"Very well, then, l must accept the
inevitable. 1 am facing a rough time.
And some of my cowboys cannot be
checked much longer. But human life
Is not for any man to sacrifice unless
in self-defense or in protecting those
dependent upon him. What Stillwell
and you limited makes me afraid of
Nels and Nick Steele and Monty. Cam
moi they be controlled? I want to feel
that they will not go cunning for D9
Carlos men. l want to avoid all Eio-
lence. And yet when my guests come
l want to feel that they will be safe
from danger or fright or ever annoy
ance. May l not rely wholly upon lou,
Stewart"
81 hope so, Miss Hammond" replied
| Stewart. 1t was an instant response,
but M the less fraught with con-
seriousness of responsibility. He wait
ed a moment, and then, as neither
Stillwell nor Madeline offered further
sDecCi, Hc DONCu anu luIAtu uOWn llt
path, his long spurs clinking In the
gravel.
oval, wal" exclaimed Stillwell,
"thet's no little job you give him, Miss
Majesty"
ut was a woman's cunning, Still
WE'LL" said Alfred. Majesty, what
ever actuated you, it was a stroke of
diplomacy. Stewart has got good stuff
in him. He was down and out. Well,
he's made a game fight, and it looks as
If he'd win. Trusting him, giving him
responsibility, relying upon him. was
the surest way to strengthen his hold
upon himself. But, Majesty, remem-
Der, he's a composite of tiger breed
and forked@ lightning, and don't imag-
inc he has failed you if he gets into a
fight"