The Winslow mail., 1923-09-07

But we got along, an think 1t was
then she began to care a little for me.
Once went to Ell Cajon an run plumb
into Gene. He was back from the rev.
olutfon an cuttin' up some. But got
away from him after doin' all I could
to drag him out of town. A long time
after that Gene trailed up to the crags
an found us. Gene had stopped drink
| in, he'd changed wonderful, was fine
an dandy. 1t was then he began to
pester the life out of me to make me
marry Bonita. I was happy, so was
she, an l was some scared Of spoilin'
| 1t. Genes dog-gone hard to buck
against! had to give in, an I asked
Bonita to marry me. Well, she wouldn't
| at first-said she wasn't good enough
for me. But saw the marriage idea
was wOrkin' deep, an just kept on be-
in as decent as 1 knew how SO it
was my wantin' to marry Bonita-my
bein' glad to marry her-that made
her grow soft an sweet an pretty as
as mountain quail Gene fetched up
Padre Marcos, an he married u.s."
Danny paused in his narrative,
breathing hard, as if the memory of
the incident described had stirred
strong and thrilling feeling in him.
Stillwells smile was rapturous. Made
shining.
Miss Hammond, an you, Bill Still
well, now listen, for this is strange
I've got to tell you. The afternoon
Bonita an were married, when Gene
an the padre had gone, she left me
for a little, an when she came back
she wore some pretty yellow flowers
in her hair. She said some queer
things about spirits rollin' rocks down
the canyon. Then she said she wanted
to show me where she always sat an
waited an watched for me when was
away. She led me around under the
crags to a long slope It was some
pretty there-clear an open, with a
long sweep, an the desert yawnin'
deep an red. There were yellow flow
ers on that slope, the same kind she
had in her hair.
"When / heard the strange crack of
rollin' rocks-heard them rattle down
an roll an grow faint-I was some
out of my head But not for long Them
rocks were rollin' all right, only it was
the weatherin' of the cliffs.
can there under the crags was
gold pocket.
"Then I was worse than locoed. /
went gold-craZy. worked like seven
teen burros. Bill, dug lot of gold
bearin' quartz. Bonita watched the
trails for me, brought me water. That
was how she come to get caught by
Pat Have an his guerrillas. Sure
Pat Have was so set on doin' Gene
dirt that he mixed up with Don Carlos.
Bonita will tell you some staggerin'
news about that outfit. Just now my
story is all gold"
Danny Mains got up and kicked back
his chair. Blue lightning cleaned
from his eyes as he thrust a hand
toward Stillwell.
"Bill, old pal, put her there-give me
your hand" he said. "You were always
my friend. You had faith in me. Well,
Danny Mains owes you, an he owes
Gene Stewart good deal, an Danny
Mains pays. want two pardners to
help me work my gold mine. You an
Gene. Go fetch him; an right here in
this house, with my wife an Miss
Hammond as witnesses, we'll draw up
a partnership. Go find him, Bill. 1
want to show him this gold, show him
how Danny Mains pays! An the only
bitter drop in my cup today is that l
can't ever pay Monty Price"
Madeline watched the huge Stillwell
and the little cowboy, both talking
wildly, as they walked off arm in arm
to find Stewart. She imagined some
thing of what Danny's disappointment
would be, of the elder mans conster-
nation and grief, when he learned
Stewart had left for the border At
this juncture she looked up to see a
strange, yet familiar figure approach
ing. Padre Marcos!
Mention of Padre Marcos, sight Of
him, had always Occasioned Madeline
a little indefnable shock; and now, as
he stepped to the porch, shrunken,
stopped, and sad-faced man, she was
startled.
The padre bowed low to her.
"Senora, will you grant me audi
ence? 1t is matter of great moment,
which you might not care to have any
one hear"
Wonderingly Madeline inclined her
head. The padre gently closed one
door and then the others
"SenOra, have come to disclose a
secret-my own sinfulness in keeping
it-and to implOre your pardon. Do
you remember that night Senor Stew
art dragged me before you in the
waiting-room at FL Cajon?"
"Yes," replied Madeline.
"Senora, since that night you have
been Senor Stewards wife!"
Madeline hncama 90 mOtiOnIeSS as