The Raymer enterprise., 1923-05-24

Madeline listened. Low voices OF men,
the softer liquid tones Of q woman,
drifted In through the open door.
They spoke In Spanish, and the
voices grew louder. Then the woman's
voice. hurried and broken. rising
higher, was eloquent Of vain appeal
The cowboys demeanor startled
Madeline into anticipation Of some
thing dreadful. She was not deceived.
From outside came the sound Of
scufile-a muffled shot, q grcan, the
thud Of a falling body, a woman's
low cry, and footsteps padding away
in rapid retreat
Madeline Hammond leaned weakly
back In her seat, cold and sick, and
for moment her ears throbbed to
the tramp Of the dancers ACROSS the
way and the rhythm Of the cheap
music. Then into the open doorplace
flashed girls tragic fnce, lighted by
dark eyes and framed by dusky hair.
The girl reached a slim brown hand
round the side Of the door and held
on as Il to support herself:
"Senor-Gene she exclaimed; and
breathless glad recognition made q
sudden break In her terror.
Bonita" The cowboy leaped to
her. "Glrl! Are you hurtT
mo, senor." r-.
He took hold Of her. " heard
somebody got shot. Was It DannyT'
"NO, senor."
| "Dld Danny do the shootingl Tell
me, girl" ...-.
mo, senor."
| am sure glad. I thought Danny
was mixed up in that He had Still
wells money for the boys-I was
afraid. Say, Bonita, but you'll
get In trouble. Who was with you'll
What did you do?"
"Senor Gene-they Don Carlos
vaqueros-they quarrel over me.
only dance a leetle, smile q leetle,
and they quarrel. l beg they be good
watch out for Sheriff Have
and now Sheriff Have put me In jail
so frlghten; he try make leetle love
to Bonita once, and now he hate me
like he hate Senor Gene" s
"Pat Have won't put you In jail
Take my horse and hit the Peloncillc
trail. Bonita, promise to stay away
from El Cajon."
"Sl, Senor."
He led her outside. Madeline heart
the horse snort and champ his bit
The cowboy spoke low; only few
words were lntelligible-"stirrup
wait out Of town
mountain -. trail now
ride!"
A moments silence ensued, and wal
broken by a pounding Of hoofs, a pat
terlng Of gravel. Then Madeline saw
a big, dark horse run into the widt
space. She caught a glimpse Of wind
swept scarf and hair, little for1
low down in the saddle. The
was outlined In black again
Of dim lights. Theres
wild and splendid -
Directly the COZ ~ dgail
In the doorway.
Miss Hammond, I reckon we wan
to rustic out Of here. Been bad goings
on. And there's a train due"
She hurried into the open air, no
daring to look back or to either side
Her guide strobe swiftly. She hat
almost to run to keep up with him.
Suddenly aware that she had beel
led beyond the line Of houses, sh'
spoke:
"Where are you taking me?"
"T0 Florence Kingsley" he replied
"Who is she?"
" reckon she's your brothers bes
; friend out here"
Madeline kept pace with the COW
boy for a few moments longer, ant
:. then she stopped. 1t was as mucl
8 from necessity to catch her breatl
] as 1t was from recurring fear. TIL
! cowboy, missing her, came back tn
{ few Intervening steps. Then h
! waited. still silent, looming beside heI
"It's so dark, so lonely" she fal
tered. "How do know :. wha
, warrant can you give me that you
Q that no harm will befall me II I g
' fartheri"
8 "None, Miss Hammond, except tina