The Winslow mail., 1923-08-31
CHAPTER XVIII-Continued.

room or the station at the moment the
assault was made outside. The door
was open. L heard the voices of quar-
reling men. The language was
Spanish. L heard q woman's voice
Spanish, and 1 could not understand.
But the tone was beseeching. Then l
heard footsteps on the gravel. Just
outside the door then there were
hoarse, furious voices, a scuff1e, a muf-
fed shot, womans cry, the thud Of a
man running away. Next, the girl
Bonita staggered into the door She
was white. trembling, terror-stricken.
She recognized Stewart, appealed to
him. Stewart supported her and en-
deavored to calm her. He asked her
II Danny Mains had been shot, or if
he had done the shooting. The girl
said no. She told Stewart that she had
danced q little, firted a little with
vaqueros, and they had quarreled over
her. Then Stewart took her outside
and put her upon his horse. l saw the
=
disappear in the darkness"
While Madeline spoke another change
appeared to be working in the man
Have His sharp features fixed in an
expression Of craft.
'"Thet's mighty interestin', Miss Ham
mond, most as interestin' as story
book" he said. CHOW, since you're so
obligin' witness, I'd sure like to put
a question or two. What time did you
arrive at Ell Cajon thet night?"
'Tt was after eleven O'clock" replied
Madeline.
Nobody there to meet your"
''No."
"The station agent an operator both
goneY'
Eyes"
"How soon did this feller Stewart
show up?" Have continued, with a
wry smile.
"Very soon after my arrival. 1 think
perhaps fifteen minutes, possibly a
little MORE"
AN what time was the Greaser
shot?' queried Have, with his little
eyes cleaning like Goals.
Probably close to half past one. 1t
was two o'clock when 1 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 a few
minutes conversation with her, l can
pretty definitely say the shooting took
place at about half past one"
Stillwell heaved his big frame 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
Il thank you, Miss Hammond" he
said, huskily. "But you needn't answer
any more Of Hawe's questions Hes
he's It's not necessary I'll go 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 1t 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 vulture about to strike with
his beake and cunningly eyed Madeline.
Considered as testimony. what
you've said is sure important an con-
elusive. But Pm calculatin' thet the
court will want to hev explained why
you stayed from eleven-thirty till one
thirty in thet 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 hotly forward, to be
stopped by the cold and silent Nels;
from Monty Price, who uttered a vio-
lent cav" 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 Hawe's speech she felt chill
creep over her.
Stewart detained me in the wait
Ing room," she said, clear-voiced as a
bell. 'But we were not alone-all the
time"
For moment the only sound follow
Ing her words was gasp from Stew
art. Hawe's face became transformed
with hideous amaze and JOY
Detained" he whispered, craning
his lean and corded neck. "How's
thet?"
Stewart was drunk. He
With sudden passionate gesture of