Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-08-23

His next move was to order all the
baggage belonging to Madeline and
her guests taken up the cliff. This
was strenuous toll. requiring the need
OF Iassoes TO haul up the effects.
Get ready to climb" said Stewart
turning to MadelIne's party.
"WhereT" asked Helen.
He waved his hand at the ascent Ia
be made. Explanations of disniay fol
lowed his gesture.
"fr. Stewart. is there danger?"
asked Dorothy: and her voice trem-
bled.
This was the question Madeline had
upon her lips TO ask Stewart, but she
could not speak IL.
mo, there's no danger" replied
Stewart, but we're taking precautions
we all agreed on as hest"
Dorothy whispered that she believed
Stewart lied Castieton asked another
question, and then Harvey followed
suit. Mrs. Beck made a timid query.
please keep quiet and do as you're
told said Stewart, bluntly.
At this juncture. when the last OF
the baggage was being hauled up the
cIIr. Monty approached Madeline and
removed his sombrero. His black face
seemed the same, yet this was a vastly
| changed Monty.
Miss Hammond. I'm givin' notice |
resign my job" he said.
"Montyi What do you mean? What
| does Nels mean now, when danger
th~reatens?"
1--WE Jest quit. That's all" replied
Monty. tersely. He was stern and
samber: he could not stand still , his
eyes roved everywhere.
CastIeton jumped up from the log
where he had been sitting. and his
face was very red.
"Mr. Price, does all this blooming
fuss mean we are 10 he robbed or at
tackled or abducted by q. lot OF raga-
muffin guerrillas?"
you've called the bet"
Dorothy turned a very pale face
toward Monty.
"Mr. Price. you wouldn't-you
couldn't desert us now7 You and Mr..
Nels-"
Desert your" asked Monty. biankiy.
"Yes. desert us. Leave us when we
may need you so much, with seine
thing dreadful coming"
Monty uttered a short. hard laugh
as he bent q strange look upon the
girl.
"Afe an Nels is purity much scared,
an we're goIn' to slope. Miss Dor
othy. bein' as we've rustled round so
much, IL sorta hurts us to see nice
young girls dragged off by the hair"
Dorothy uttered a little cry and then
became hysterlcal. Castleton for once
was fully aroused.
by Cad! You and your partner
Where now is that courage you boosted
Off"
Monty's dark face expressed extreme
sarcasm.
"Dook, In my time I've seen some
bright f~ellers, but you take the cake.
It's most marvellous how bright you
are. Figger'n' me an Nels so correct.
Say. Dock, If you don't git rustled of
to Mexico an roped TO a cactus bush
you'll hev a swell story fer your Eng
lish chums. Bah Jovel You'll tell 'em
how you seer two old-time gunner
run like scared jack-rabbits from q
lot of Greasers. Like hi you will T.
Monty, shut up" yelled Stewart,
as he came hurriediy up. Then Monty
slouched away. cursing to himself.
Madeline and Helen, assisted by
Castleton, worked over Dorothy. and
with some difficulty quIeted her.
Stewart passed several times without
noticing them. and Monty, who had
been 50 ridicuIously eager to pay every
little attention to Dorothy. did not see
her III all. Rude II seemed In Monty's
case more than that. Madeline hardly
knew what to make OF 1t.
Stewart directed cowboys to go TO
Me head of the open place in the cliff
and let down lassoes. Then. with lit
lie waste of words, he urged the women
this rough ladder of stones.
awe want to hide you." he said,
when they demurred. IF the guer-
riilas come well tell them you've all
gone down to the ranch. II we have
to light you'll be safe up there"
Helen stepped boldly forward and
let Stewart put the loop OF a lasso
her and tighten 1t. He waved !
his hand TO the cowboys above.
~Just walk W. now" he directed
Helen.
Il proved to b watchers to be an
easy. safe and rapid means Of scaling
the steep passage The men ciimbed
IN without assistance. Edith Wayne
and Madeline climbed last. and, once
an. Madeline saw = narrow bench.
thick wfrh shrubs and ov~ershad0wed |
huse, leaning crags There were
hoies 10 the rock. and dark assures
leading hack. II was a rough. wild
Dlnce. Tnrpauilns and bedding were
then hapied %. and food and water
The cowboys sQfcad comfortable beds
&. nexevui - - caves, and told Made
isns enA ~ frtsads to BE- ~ quiet ~
nnrugnse, ~ - sake \ light. and to
go dr>nne4. ready tor travel II =