The Raymer enterprise., 1923-06-21

bank-draft to Stewards sister with
letter explaining that the money was
drawn In advance on Stewards salary.
This done. she impulsively determined
to go to Chiricahua herself.
Nels, when Madeline asked him to
accompany her to Chiricahua, replied.
reluctantly, that he would rather fol
low on his horse. However, she pre-
vailed over his hes!tancy. and with
Florence also In the car they set out.
For miles and miles the valley road
was smooth. hard-packed. and slightly
downhill. And when speeding was
perfectly safe, Madeline was not
averse to 1t. And when the car
stopped In the wide, dusty street Of
Chlrlcahua Nels gladly tumbled out.
"Nels, we shall wait here In the chr
while you find Stewart" said Made
line.
Nels crossed the railroad track and
disappeared behind the low. fiat
houses. After little time he reap.
peared and hurried up to the car.
Miss Hammond. found him." said
Nels. HE was sleepin'. I woke him.
He's sober an not bad hurt; but l
don't believe you ought to see him.
Mebbe Florence"
"Nels, l want to see him myself.
Why notl What did he say when you
| told him l was here?'
"Shore I didn't tell him that. I Jest
says, 'Hullo, Genev an he says, My
Gawd! Nelsl mebbe amt glad to see
a human beln'.' He asked me who was
with me, an I told him Link an some
friends. l said I'd fetch them In. He
hollered nt thet. But l went, anyway,
Now. II you really will see him, Miss
Hammond, It's good chance. But
shore It's a touchy matter, an you'll
be some sick at sight of him. He's
layin' In Greaser hole over here.
Likely the Greasers hev been kind to
him. But they're shore a poor lot"
Madeline did not hesitate a moment.
THANK you. Nels. Take me at once.
Come, Florence"
They left the car. now surrounded
by gapingeyed Mexican children, and
crossed the dusty space to narrow
lane between red adobe walls. Pass.
ing by several houses, Nels stopped Mt
the door Of what appeared to be an
alIeyway leading back. 1t was filthy.
Hes In there, round thet first cor
ner. It's Il patio. open an sunny. An,
Miss Hammond, II you don't mind. I'll
walt here for you. l reckon Gene
wouldn't like any fellers around when
he sees You girls"
Florence, you walt also" said
Madeline, at the doorway, and turned
In alone
And she had stepped into a broken
down patio Uttered with alfalfa straw
and debris, all clear In the sunlight.
Upon a bench, back toward her, sat a
man looking out through the rents In
the broken wall. He had not heard
her. Madeline did not recognize Stew.
art. The side Of his face exposed to
her was black. bruised, bearded. His
clothes were ragged and solled. There
were bits Of alfalfa In his hair. His
shoulders sagged. He made wretched
and hopeless figure sitting there.
Madeline OWNED something Of why
Nels shrank from being present.
"Mr Stewart. 1t Is I, Miss Ham.
mond, come to see you." she said.
He grew suddenly perfectly motion
less, as II he had been changed to
stone. She repeated her greeting.
His body jerked. He moved violent
ly as II instinctlvely to turn and face
this intruder; but more violent
movement checked him.
Madeline waited. How singular
that this ruined cowboy had pride
which kept him from showing his face
And was 1t not shame more than
pride!
"Go away" he muttered.
"Mr. Stewart" she began. II have
come to help you. VIII you let mel"
"For Gods sake! You-you-" he
choked over the words. "Go awayW
stewart, perhaps It was for Gods
sake that I came," said Madeline,
gently. surely 1t was for yours
and your sisters" Madeline bit her
tongue, for she had not meant to be.
tray her knowledge Of Lefty.
He groaned, and. staggering up to
the broken wall. he leaned there with
his face hidden. Madeline reflected
that perhaps the slip Of speech had
been well.
Stewart. please let me say what I
have to say?'
He was silent. And she gathered
courage and inspiration.
"Sillwell is deeply hurt, deeply
grieved that he could not turn you back
from this-this fatal course. My
brother is, also. They wanted to help
you. And so do I. have come. think.
Ing somehow l might succeed where
they have failed. Nels brought your
sisters letter. IL read It. was
only the more determined to try to
help you. and indirectly help your
mother ard Lefty. Stewart. we want
you to come to the ranch. My COW.
boys are without capable leader.
VIII you Gomez"