The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-06-20

very well, we will consider it settled.
My guests will arrive on May ninth.
Meanwhile let us get Her Majesty's
hancho in shape for this invasion"
On the afternoon of the ninth of
May, perhaps half an hour after Made
n had received a telephone message
from Link Stevens announcing the ar
rival Of her guests at Ell Cajon, Flor
ence called her out upon the porch.
otillwell was there with his face wrin-
Killed. by his wonderful smile and his
eagle eyes riveted upon the distant
valley. Far away, perhaps twenty
miles, a thin streak of white dust rose
o the valley floor and slanted sky
ward.
Look" said Florence, excitedly.
What is that?" asked Madeline.
Link Stevens and the automobile !"
oh mol Why, it's only a few min
utes since he telephoned saying the
party had just arrived
Take a look with the glasses" said
Florence.
one glance through the powerful
binoculars convinced Madeline thar
Florence was right. And another
glance at Stillwell told her that he was
speechless with delight. "Wal, as Nels
says, | wouldn't be in that there OF
tomobile right now for a million
pesos" he remarked.
why? Is Stevens driving fast?"
Good Lord! Fast? Miss Majesty,
there hain't ever been anythin' except
a streak of llghtnin' run so fast in this
country. | reckon I'd like to be hyar
when Link drives up but / want to be
with the boys down by the hunks. It'll
be some fun to see Nels an Monty
when Link comes flynn along.'
Il wish AL had stayed to meet Them"
said Madeline.
Her brother had rather hurried a
shipment of cattle to California: and
1t was Madeline's supposition that he
mad welcomed the opportunity to alb
sent himself from the ranch.
Il am sorry he wouldn't stay" re-
piled Florence. But AIS all business
now. And he's doing finely. It's just
as wei, perhaps.
Surely. That was my pride speak
ing. | would like to have all my fam
lily and all my old friends see what a
man Al has become. Well, Link Stew
n is running like the wind. The car
will be here before we know it. Flor
ence, we've only u few moments to
dress. But first l want to order many
and various and exceedingly cold re-
freshments for that approaching
party"
Less than a half-hour later Madeline
went again to the porch and found
Florence there.
"Oh, you look just lovely |" ex.
claimed Florence, impulsively, as she
gazed wide-eyed up at Madeline. "And
somehow SO differenti"
Madeline smiled a little sadly. Per-
haps when she had put on that ex
quisite white gown something had
come to her of the manner which be-
fitted the wearing of it. She could not
resist the desire to look fair once more
i'll the eyes of these hypercritical
friends. The sad smile had been for
the days that were gone. For she
knew that what society had once been
pleased to call her beauty had trebled
since it had last been seen in a draw
ing-room. Madeline wore no Jewels.
but at her waist she had pinned two
great crimson roses. Against the dead
white they had the life and fire and
redness of the desert.
Links hit the old roundup trail"
said Florence. 'and oh, isn't he riding
that car"
With Florence, as with most of the
cowboys, the car was never driven.
but ridden.
A white spot with a long trail of
dust showed low down in the valley.
1t was now headed almost straight for
| the ranch. Madeline watched 1t grow
ing larger moment by moment, and
her p%leasurable emotion grew accord
ingly. Then the rapid beat of a horses
hoofs caused her to turn.
Stewart was riding in on his black
horse. He had been absent on an i'm
portant mission, and his duty had
taken him to the International bound
airy line. His presence home long be-
fore he was expected was particularly
gratifying to Madeline, for it meant
that his mission had been brought to a
successful issue. Once more, for the
hundredth time, the mans reliability
struck Madeline. He was a doer of
things.
Madeline advanced to the porch
steps. And Stewart, after taking n
parcel of papers from a saddle-bag,
turned toward her.