The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-05-12

dom tell a Mexican's age from his
looks. Don Carlos Is well educated
and man we know very little about.
Mexicans Of his stamp don't regard
women as we white men do. Now.
my dear, beautiful sister from New
York, / haven't much use for Don Car
los; but don't want Nels or Ambrose
to make wild throw with rope and
pull the Don of his horse. So you had
better ride up to the house and stay
there"
Alfred. you are joking, teasing me-"
said Madeline. =
Indeed not" replied Alfred. "How
about 1t, Flor"
Florence replied that the cowboys
would upon the slightest provocation
treat Don Carlos with less ceremony
and gentleness than q roped steer. Old
Bill 5Stillwell came up to be importuned
by Alfred regarding the conduct Of
cowboys on occasion, and he not only
corroborated the assertion. but added
emphasis and evidence Of his own.
can, Miss Majesty" he concluded,
IT reckon IL Gene Stewart was ridin'
fer me, tibet GRIMM Greaser would
hev he'd bump in the dust before
now" ....-..
Madeline had been wagering between
sobriety and laughter until >Stillwell's
mention Of his ideal of cowboy chiv-
airy decided in favor Of the laughter.
Il am not convinced, but I surren-
der" she said. "You have only some
occult motive for driving me away.
am sure that handsome Don Carlos is
being unjustly suspected. But as
have seen little of cowboys singular
imagination and gallantry, am rather
inclined to fear their possibilities. So
good-by."
Then she rode with Florence up the
long, gray slope to the ranch-house.
That night she suffered from excessive
WEAKNESS. which she attributed more
to the strange working Of her mind
than to riding and sitting her horse.
Morning, how ever, found her in no dis
position to rest. 1t was not activity
that she craved, or excitement, or
pleasure. An unerring instinct, rising
clear from the thronging sensations of
the last few days, told her that she
had missed something In life. What
ever this something was, she had baf-
fling intimations of it, hopes that faded
on the verge Of realizations, haunting
promises that were unfulfilled. What
ever it was, it had remained hidden
and unknown at home, and here In the
West it began to allure and drive her
to discovery. Therefore she could not
rest; she wanted to 60 and see; she
was no longer chasing phantoms; 1t
was a hunt for treasure that held
aloof, as Intangible as the substance of
dreams.
Upon the morning after the end of
the roundup, when she went out on
the porch, her brother and Stillwell
appeared to be arguing about the iden'
tity Of horse.
oval, I reckon it's my old roan,'
said Stillwell, shading his eyes with
his hand.
'Bill. if that isn't Stewards horse
my eyes are going back on me-" replied
Al. cts not the color Or shape-the
distance is too far to Judge by that
It's the motion-the swing"
al, mebbe you're right. But they
amt no rider up on tibet boss. Flo
fetch my glass;"
Florence went into the house, while
Madeline tried to discover the object
Of attention. Presently far up the gray
hollow along foothill she saw dust
and then the dark, moving figure of q
horse. She was watching when Flor
ence returned with the glass. Bill
took long look, adjusted the glasses
carefully, and tried again.
oval, I hate to admit my eyes are
gettin' pore. But I guess TIL hev to
Thet's Gene Stewards boss, saddled
an comm at fast clip without 8
rider. It's amazin' strange, an some
In keepin' with other things concernin
Gene"
"Give me the glass;" said Al. Eyes
I was right. Bill, the horse is not
frightened. He's coming steadily; he's
got something on his mind"
The wide hollow sloping up into thu
foothills lay open to, unobstructeC
view. and less than half a mile distant
Madeline saw the riderless horse com
ing along the white trail at rapiC
csnter. A shrill, piercing whistle pealet
In. -.. ...
oval, he's seen us, thet's sure" sale
Bill.
The horse neared the corrals. disap
peared into q lane, and then, breakin,
his gait again, Numbered into the in
closure and pounded to halt som,
twenty yards from where Stillwel
waited for him.
One look at him at close range IL
the clear light of day was enough fo
Madeline to award him blue ribbon
over all horses, even the prize-winner
White Stockings. The cowboys grea
steed was no 1.-THE. slender-bodied mus
stang. He was charger, almost tire
mendous of build, with black Goa
family notified In gray, and 1t shon,
like polished glass In the sun. Evi
IDENTIFY he had been carefully dressed
down for this occasion, for there wa
no dust on him, nor kink In his beau
tiful name, nor mark on his gloss.
hide.
"Come hyar, you son-of-a-gun." sal.
Stillwell.
The horse dropped his head, snorted
and came obediently up. He was mel
Their shy nor wild. Unlocking the stir