The Winslow mail. (Winslow, Ariz.) 1893-1926, 1923-06-01
CHAPTER II
a Secret Kept.

the cowboy. But at the mOment she
really did not think about what he
had said Any answer to hec would
have served If it had been kind.
AS she walked on into the windy
darkness, much relieved that he has
answered as he had, rejecting tLa6 ne
had yet to prove his words true, she
began to grasp the deeper significance
of them. There was a revival of pride
tina, made her feel that she ought to
scorn to think at all about such a
man.
Presently Madeline's guide turned
a low-roofed house.
"HuIlo-who's there?" a deep voice
answered
"tSene Stewart" said the cowboy.
"Call Florence-quick !"
Thump of footsteps followed, a tap
on a door, and voices. Madeline heard
a woman excaim: "Gene! here when
there's a dance in town! Something
WIRING out on the range" A light
flared up and shone bright through
window. In another moment there
carue a patter of soft steps, and the
door opened to disclose woman hold
ing a lamp.
"Gene! AIS not"
"Al is all right" interrupted the
cowboy
Madeline had two sensations then
one of wonder at the note of alarm
and love in the woman's voice, and
the other of unutterable relief to be
safe with a friend of her brothers.
cts AIS sister-came on tonight's
tram" the cowboy was saying ~
aupened to be at the station, and
I've 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
Eyes, / am really She" replied
Madeline "My train was late and
for some reason Alfred did not meet
me. Mr.-Mr Stewart saw fit to bring
me to you instead of taking me to
hotel"
sob I'm so glad to meet you" re-
piled Florence, warmly. do come in.
I'm so surprised, I forget my manners.
Why, you are white as a sheet. You
must be tired. What a long wait you
had at the station If I had known
you were coming! Indeed, you are
very pale. Are you ill?'
"No Only am very tired. Travel
ing so far by rail is harder than |
imagined. l die have rather a long
wait after arriving at the station, but
I can't say that it was lonely"
Florence Kingsley searched Made
lines face with keen eyes, and then
took a long, significant look at the
silent Stewart With that she de-
liberately and quietly closed door
leading into another room.
Miss Hammond, what has hap
pened?" She had lowered her voice
81 do not wish to recall all that has
happened, replied Madeline. 81 shall
tell Alfred, however. that l would
rather have met a hostile Apache than
a cowboy"
"Please don't tell All that" cried
Florence. Then she grasped Stewart
aid pulled him close to the light
Scene, you're drunk %
"Now, see here, Flo. l only"
Il don't want to know. I'd tell it.
Gene, aren't you ever going to learn
decency? Aren't you ever going to
stop drinkingt You'll lose all your
friends. Molly and l have pleaded
with you, and now you've gone and
done-God knows what"
what do women want to wear wells
for?' he growled. I'D have known
her but for that VEIL"
''And you wouldn't have insulted
her. But you would the next girl who
came along Gene, you are hopeless
Now. yor get out of here and don't
ever co'Ae back"
"Flo he entreated.
81 rnean it."
81 reckon then I'll come back to-
morrow and take my medicine" he
replied.
"Dont you dare!" she cried.
Stewart went out and closed the
door.
Miss Hammond, you-you don't
know how this hurts me-" said
Florence What you must think of
us! It's so unlucky that you should
have had this happen right at first.
Now, maybe you won't have the heart
80 stay. oh, I've known more than
one eastern girl to go home without
ever learning what we really are out
here Miss Hammond, Gene Stewart
IS fiend when he's drunk. All the
same l know, whatever he did, he
meant no shame to you. Come now,
don't think about 1t again tonight"
She took up the lamp and led Made
line into a little room. won't you