Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-09-28

deavOred to calm her. He asked ner
if Danny Mains had been shot, or IL
he had done the shooting. The girl
said no. She told Stewart that she had
danced little, flirted little with
vaqueros, and they had quarreled over
her. Then Stewart took her outside
and put her upon his horse. l saw the
girl ride that horse down the street to
disappear in the darkness"
While Madeline spoke another change
appeared to be working in the man
Have. His sharp features fixed In an
expression Of craft.
"Thets mighty interestin', Miss Ham
| mond, most as interestin' as story
book" be said "Now, since you're so
obligin' witness, I'd sure like to put
a question or two. What time did you
arrive at FL Cajon thet night?'
ut was after eleven o'clock" replied
| Madeline.
"Nobody there to meet your
"No"
"The station agent an operator both
gone"
'Yes."
''How soon did this feller Stewart
,how upT Have continued, with
Hry smile.
'Very soon after my arrival. think
perhaps fifteen minutes, possibly
little more"
"An' what time was the Greaser
shot?" quered Have, with his little
eyes cleaning like Goals.
! "Probably close to half past one. 1t
was two o'clock when I looked at my
watch at Florence Kingsley's house.
Directly after Stewart sent Bonita
away he took me to Miss Kingsley's.
SO, allowing for the walk and a few
minutes conversation with her, I can
pretty definitely say the shooting took
place at about half past one"
Stillwell heaved his big frame step
closer to the sheriff.
>"What re you drivin' at?" he roared,
his face black again.
Evidence" snapped Have.
Madeline marveled at. this Interrupt
ton; and as Stewart irresistibly drew
her glance she saw him gray-faced as
ashes, shaking, utterly unnerved.
81 thank you, Miss Hammond" he
said, huskily. But you needn't answer
any more Of Hawe's questions. He's
he's It's not necessary. III go with
him now, under arrest. Bonita will
corroborate your testimony in court,
and that will save me from this-this
mans spite"
Madeline, looking at Stewart, seeing
humility she at. first took for cow
ardice, suddenly OWNED that it was not
fear for himself which made him dread
further disclosures Of that night, but
fear for her-fear Of shame she might
suffer through him.
Pat Have cooked his head to one
side, like vulture about to strike with
his beak, and cunningly eyed Madeline.
"COnsidered as testimony, what
you've said is sure important an con-
elusive But Pm calculatin' thet the
court will want to hev explained why
you stayed from eleven-thirty till one
| thirty in thet waitin' room alone with
Stewart"
His deliberate speech met with what
Madeline imagined a remarkable re-
ception from Stewart, who gave tiger
ish start; from Stillwell, whose big
hands tore at the neck of his shirt, as
If he was choking; from Alfred, who
now strode hOtly forward, to be
stopped by the cold and silent Nels !;
from Monty Price, who uttered a vio-
lent "Aw!" which was both hiss and
roar
In the rush of her thought Madeline
could not interpret the meaning Of
these things which seemed so strange
at that moment. But they were por-
tentous. Even as she was forming a
reply to Hawe's speech she felt chill
creep over her
Stewart detained me in the wait
ing ROOM" she said, clear-vOiced as a
bell. "But we were not alone-all the
time"
For a moment the only sound follow
ing her words was a gasp from Stew
art. Hawe's face became transformed
with hideous amaze and JOY.
"Detained?" he whispered, craning
his lean and corded neck. "HoW s
thet?"
"Stewart was drunk. He"
With sudden passionate gesture of
despair Stewart appealed to her:
ooh, Miss Hammond, don't! don't
don't :"
Then he seemed to sink down, head
lowered upon his breast, in utter
shame Stillwell's great hand swept to
the bowed shoulder, and he turned to
Madeline.
Miss Majesty, I reckon you'd be
wise to tell ALL" said the old cattle
man, gravely. "There amt one Of us
who could misunderstood any motive
or act Of yours Mebbe a stroke OF
lightnin' might clear this murky air
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:
UQo camo into tho Stati0p-a faw