The Raymer enterprise., 1923-05-31
CHAPTER II
I Secret Kept.

really did not think about what he
had said. Any answer to he' would
have served II II had been kind.
As she walked on Into the windy
darkness. much relieved that he hsS
answered as he had. rejecting 'hd, ne
had yet TO prove his worGs true. she
began TO grasp the deeper significance
OF them. There was revival Of pride
tha, made her feel that she ought to
scorn to think at all about such a
man.
Presently MadeIine's guide turned
of the walk anu raped at door Of
Q low-roofed house.
"HuIlo-who's there?' deep voice
answered
"t.ene Stewart" said the cowboy.
"Call F;orcnce-qu!ck
Tramp OF footsteps followed tap
on a door. and voices. Madeline heard
a woman exclalm: "Gene. here when
thtre's dance In town! Something
wrong out on the range" A light
ha-pd up and shone bright through a
wirdow. In another moment there
caIne n patter Of soft steps. and the
door opened to disclose woman hold.
inR lamp.
"Gene. AIS not"
"AI is all right" interrupted the
cowboy.
Madeline had two sensations then
one OF wonde- at the note Of alarm
and lave In the woman's voice, and
the other Of unutterable relief IA oe
saf. with friend Of her brothers.
'It's AIS slster-cn,ne on tonight's
ti'n." the cowboy was saying. 81
.r,pened to be Mt the station, and
r." fetched her up to you"
Madeline came forward out Of the
shadow.
"Not--not really Majesty Ham.
mcnd :" exclaimed Florence Kingsley.
She nearly dropped the lamp, and she
Looked, astounded beyond belief
"Yes. am really She" replied
Madeline. "My train was late and
for some reason Alfred did no, meet
me. Mr.-Mr. Stewart saw ht to bring
me to you instead OF taking me to a
hotel"
"0h, Tn 50 glad TO meet you" re-
piled Florence. warmly. ado come In.
Tn so surprised, ! forget my manners.
Why. you are white as sheet. You
must be tired. What long wait you
had at the s,ationl n | had known
you were coming Indeed. you are
very pale. Are you M"
"No. Only am very tired Travel.
Ing so far by rail Is harder than |
imagined. did have rather a long
walt after arriving at the station. but
] can't say that II was lonely"
Florence Kingsley searched Made
lines face with keen eyes. and then
took long, significant look at the
silent Stewart. With that she de-
llberately and quietly closed door
leading into another room.
Miss Hammond. what has hap
pened?" She had lowered her voice
II do not wish to recall all that has
happened" replied Madeline. II shall
tell Alfred. however, that would
rather have met hostile Apache than
Z cowboy"
"fleHse don't tell Al that" cried
Florence. Then she grasped Stewart
ard pulled him close to the light
Scene. you're drunk"
"Now, see here, Flo, | only"
Il don't want to know. I'd tell II.
Gene, aren't you ever going to learn
decency? Aren't you ever going to
stop drInkIngi You'll lose all your
friends. Molly and | have pleaded
with you, and now you've gone and
done-God knows what"
what do women want to wear wells
forr he growled. "Td have known
her hut for that veil"
'And you wouldn't have insulted
her. But you would the next girl who
came along Gene, you are hopeless.
Now, ynr get out Of here and don't
ever cone back"
"Flo he entreatei
" 'nean It."
II reckon then I'll come back to-
morrow and tnke my medicine" he
replied.
.Don', you dare!" she cried.
Stewart went out and closed the
door.
"Siiss Hammond, you--you don't
know how this hurts me-" said
Florence. what you must think of
usl It's so unlucky that you should
have had this happen right at first.
Now. maybe you won't have the heart
~ stay. Oh. I've known more than
oaa eastern girl to 60 home without
ever learning what we really are out
here. Miss Hammond. Gene Stewart
a d fiend when he's drunk. All the
sams know. whatever he did. he
meant no shame to you. Come now.
don't think about Il again tonight"
she took up the lamp and led Made
ss~a lnte 4 mile room, won't roo