The Lamar register., 1923-04-25


OF this time in the saddle, watching
the strenuous labors of the vaqueros
and cowboys. She overestmnted her
strength. and more than once had to
he lifted from her horse Stlllwell's
pleasure in her attendance gave place
TO concern. He tried TO persuade her
to stay away from the roundup, and
Florence grew even more solicitous.
Madeline, however. was not moved
by their entreaties.
She grasped only dimly the truth
of what 1t was she was learning
something Infinitely more than the
rounding up of cattle by cowboys, and
she was loath TO lose an hour of her
opportunity.
Before the week was out, however.
Alfred found occasion TO tell her that
1t would be wiser for her to let the
roundup 20 without grscing 1t further
with her presence. He said 1t laugh
ingly; nevertheless. he was serious.
And when Madeline turned TO him In
surprise he said, bluntly:
81 don't like the way Don Carlos
follows you around. Bill's afraid that
Nels or Ambrose or one of the cow
boys will take n fall out of the Mexi-
can. They're itching for the chance
OF course. dear. It's absurd TO you. bur
it's true"
Absurd 1t certainly was. yet II served
tu show Madeline how Intensely occu-
pled she had been with her own feel
ings, reused by the tumult and toll Of
the roundup She recalled that Don
Carlos had been presented TO her. and
that she had not liked his dark, strik-
ing face with Its bold, prominent, gilt
| tering eyes and sinister lines; and she
| had not liked his suave. sweet insn-
uatlng voice or his subtle manner. with
its SLOW bows and gestures.
Don Carlos has been after Flor
ence for long time" said Alfrec.
"IIe's not young man by any means
Hes fifty, BIZ says but you can sci
dom tell MeNiran's age from his
| looks. Don Carlos Is well educated
and man we know very little about.
MeNlcHns 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 Cur
| los; but don't want Nels or Ambrose
| to make IA 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 II, Flo?"
Florence replied that the cowboys
would upon the slightest provocation
| treat Don Carlos with less ceremony
and gentleness than a roped steer. Old
Bill Stillwell came up To be lmportuned
/ by Alfred regarding the conduct Of
/ cowboys on occasion, and he not only
/ corroborated the assertion, but added
/ emphasis and evidence of his own.
AN, Miss Majesty" he concluded,
II reckon II Gene Stewart was ridin'
fer me, thet GRIMM Greaser would
hev he'd u bump In the dust before
/ now"
Madeline had been wsvering between
sobriety and laughter until Stllwell's
mention OF his ideal OF cowboy chly-
airy decided In favor OF the laughter.
II am not convinced but l 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
lima gination and gallantry, am rather
Inclined TO fear their possibilities. SO
gocd-by"
Then she rode with Florence up the
long, gray slope to the ranch-house.
That night she suffered from excessive
weariness. which she attributed more
to the strange working OF her mind
than to riding and sitting her horse.
Morning. however. found her in no dis
position to rest. II 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 unfulflled. What
ever 1t was, II 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 go and see; she
was no longer chasing phantoms; It
was hunt for treasure that held
aloof. as intangible as the substance Of