Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-09-27

available space he had strapped extr
tires A huge cask occupied. n bac
seat. and another seat was full of tool
and ropes There was just room Ii
this rear part OF the car for Nels {,
squeeze In Link put Madeline In iron
beside him, then bent over the wheel
Madeline waved her hand at the 81
lent cowboys on the porch. Not al
audible good-by vas spoken
The car glided out OF the yard
ieaped from level TO slope. and started
swiftly down the road. out Into the
open valley. Each stronger rush OF
dry wind In Madelne's face marked
the increase OF speed. The buzz, the
roar Of wheels, of heavy body In flight,
increased to a continuous droning
hum The wind became an lnsupport-
able body moving toward her. crush
Ing her breast. making the task Of
breathing most difficult. To Madeline
the time seemed TO fly with the speed
OF miles. #
Cactus barred the way, rocks barred
the way. gullies barred the way. and
these Nels addressed In the grim
hunor with which he was Won't TO
view tragic things. Again and again
Link used the planks to cross washes
In sand. Presently he came TO a
ditch where water had worn deep into
the road. Without hesitation he placed
them, measuring distance carefully,
and then started across. The danger
was In dltching the machine. One OF
the planks split. sagged a little. but
Link made the crossing without slip.
At length a mile Of clean. brown
slope. ridged and grooved like a wash
board. led gently down TO meet the
floor Of the valley. where the scant
grama-grass struggled to give a tInge
OF gray. The road appeared TO be-
more clearly defined, and could
be seen striking straight across the
To Madellne's dismay, that road
led down 10 q deep, narrow wash. The
crossing would have been laborsome
a horse; for an automobile II was
impossible. Link drove back to the
'oad, crossed II. and kept on down the
Inc Of the wash. II was a deep cut in
ed earth, worn straight down By
wifi water In the rainy season. II
narrowed. When Link reached the
larrowest points he got out OF the car
md walked from pace to place. Once
With q little jump he cleared the wash.
then Madeline noted that the farther
I'm was somewhat lower. In a fash
he OWNED Links intention. He was
a place to jump the car over
he crack In the ground.
Soon he found one that seemed to
uit him, for he tied his red scarf upon
greasewood-bush. Then. returning
o the car, he clambered In, backed up
he gentle slope and halted just short
( sleeper ground. launching low over
wheel. he started, slowly at first,
hen faster, and then faster. The great
ar gave a spring like a huge tiger.
he impact Of suddenly formed wind
lmost tore Madeline out OF her seat.
he felt Nels' powerful hands on her
houlders. She closed her eyes. The
biting Roadway of the car gave place
, a gliding rush. This was broken
y a slight Jar, and then above the
um n roar rose a cowboy yell.
Iadeline waited with strained nerves
n the expected crash. II did MOI {
ome. Opening her eyes, she saw the /
vel valley floor without a break. She I
nd not even noticed the instant when /
he car had shot over the wash. I
A strange breathlessness attacked I
er, and she attributed II to the celer- :
y with which she was being carried
ong. Pulling the hood down wei her
ice. she sank low in the seat. The
hir OF, the car now seemed TO be n
orld-fllIng sound. There was a long, q
ank period from which she awakened
feel an arm supporting her. Then y
10 rallied. The velocity OF the car
I'd been cut to the speed to which she o
as accustomed. Throwing back tile c
'od, she breathed freely again. recov- $
ed fully. a
The car was bowling along a Wide 9
ad upon the outskirts OF q city. n
asked what place II could be. K
Douglas" replied Link. IAN Jest Il
Is Aqua Prietal" h
That last name seemed to stun Il
She heard no more, and b
W little until the car stopped. Nels "
oke to some one. Then sight Of
Iaki-clad soldiers q~uIckened Made o
faculties. She was on the boun- q
between the United States Il
d Mexico. and Aqua Prfeta. with Its a
lite and blue-walled houses, It's Il
own-tiled roofs. lay before her. A d
valry officer approached the car. h
sred. and removed his sombrero. t.
you tell me anything about
ewart. the American cowboy who a
Is captured by rebels q few days II
asked Madeline. G
replied the olAcer. stewart q
reported to have done reckless fght- Of
! and wal captured. Hs got = Med. v
. sentence. He II known here aiong r
} border. and the news Of his CO 8
srfrrvd up excftesnes1x ~ I'D
vie eoeid 70 ret bis release The ! ~