Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-01
I The Light


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:
3 "He came into the station-a few
minutes after got there. l asked-to
be shown to a hotel. He said there
wasn't any that would accommodate
married women. He grasped my hand
looked for weddingring. Then
saw he was--he was intoxicated. He
told me he would go for hotel porter.
But he came back with padre-Padre
Marcos. The poor priest was-terribly
frightened. So was l. Stewart had
turned into devil. He fred his gun
at the padres feet. He pushed me
onto a bench. Again he shot--right
before my face. IL nearly tainted.
But / heard him cursing the padre
heard the padre praying or chanting
l didn't know what. Stewart tried to
make me say things In Spanish. All
at once he asked my name. / told
him. He jerked at my veil. took 1t
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, 1t
was Ed Unions wedding. Then he ex-
plained-the boys were always gam
bling-he wagered he would marry the
first girl who arrived at FL Cajon. /
happened to be the first one. He tried
to force me to marry him. The rest
relating to the assault on the vaquero
II 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 head.
"Ho, no, no! Ho, no, hoi Say,
Sneed, you didn't miss any of 1t, did
We? Haw, hawl Best / ever heerd In
all my born days. Ho, hot"
Then he ceased laughing, and with
glinting gaze upon Madeline, insolent
and vicious and savage, he began to
drawl:
"Wal now, my lady, I reckon your
story, If it TALES 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
tibet 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, helpl" yelled Stillwell.
II can't hold him. Hurry, or there's
goin' to be blood spilledp'
Nick Steele and several cowboys
leaped to Stillwell's assistance.
Scene! 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 a chance to talk to you
It's only ole Bill, you know-your ole
pal who's tried to be a daddy to you
He's only wantin' you to hev sense-te
be cool-to wait"
LET me go! Let me got" cried
Stewart; and the poignancy Of that cry
pierced Madeline's heart. Let me go
Bill. IL you're my friend. I saved your
life once-over in the desert. Yor