The Arvada enterprise., 1923-06-14
CHAPTER u
4 Secret Kept.

the COWBOY. but u uhe "o"ens vic
really did not think about what he
had said. Any answer to hes would
have served II II had been kind.
A she walked on into the windy
darkness, much relieved that he hsA
answered a. he had. rejecting thss ne
had yet to prove his words true. she
began 10 grasp the deeper Significance
Of them. There Was revival Of pride
that made her feel that she ought to
ocon to think at all about such .
man.
Presently MAdeline's guide turned
"a the walk ana raped at q door OF
Q low.roofed house.
"Hullo-whos there7" . deep voice
answered
",Senc Stewart" said the cowboy.
sCsu FloTenceQuick!"
Thanp OF footsteps followed, q tap
% q door. and voices Madeline heard
q woman exclaim: Gene here when
thsre's a dance In town! Something
wr,ug ont on the range" light
nafed up and shone bright through q
window. In another moment there
cane . patter Of soft steps. and the
door opSneti to disclose Q woman hold.
Ing . lamp.
sGene! AIS not"
al 10 all right" interrupted the
cowboy.
Madeline had two sensations then
one OF wmde. at the note OF alarm
and iGve In the woman's voice. and
the other OF unutterabie RELIEF - be
safe with q friend Of her brothers.
"lt'a AIS sister-ca,ne on tonights
trstn." the cowboy was saying. y
happened TO he Mt the station. and
I've fetched her up to you"
Madeline came forward out Of the
shadow.
.Not-not really Majesty Ham
mond. exclaimed Florence Kingsley.
8hs nearly dropped the lamp. and she
looked. astoundsd beyond belief.
sYeA I am really She" replied
Madeline. "Ny train was late and
for soms reason Alfred did not meet
me. Mr.-Mr. Stewart saw At TO bring
me- to you Instead Of taking me to .
hoee,.
.Oh. I'm 10 glad to meet you.s re-
piled Florence, warmly. "Do come In.
I'm - surprised. I forget my manners
Why. you are white as a sheet. You
must 10 tired. What . long wait you
had At the stationi II I had known
700 were coming! Indeed. you arc
very pale. Are you my
sNo. Only am very tired. Travel.
ing 10 far by rail Ia harder than
Imagined. ! did have rather a long
walt after arriving at the station. but
I can't say that II was lonely"
Florence Kingsley searched Made
lines face with keen eyes. and then
took q long. significant look at the
silent Stewart. With that she de-
tberatsly md quietly closed door
leading into another room.
Miss Hammond. what has hap
psnedy' She had lowered her voice.
II do not Wish to recall all that has
happened" replied Madeline. II shall
tell Alfred however. that would
rather have met hostile Apache than
. cowboy"
"Plense don't tell Al that" cried
Florence. Then she graspcd Stewart
asd pulled him close to the light.
~t'ens. you're drunk"
snow, see here, Flo only"
y don't want 10 know. I'd tell Il.
Gene. aren't you ever going to learn
deccncy, Aren't you ever going to
stop drinking You'll lose nil your
friends Molly and have pleaded
with you, and now you've gone and
Conceded knows what"
What do women wan, to wear wells
forr lac Irowlcd. I'D have known
her hut for that veil"
"And you wouldn't have insulted
her. But you would the mex, girl who
came along. Gene. you are hopeless,
Now. yor get out OF here and don't
ever cone back"
"Flor' he entrca,ed.
mean IL"
Il reckon then I'll come back to-
morrow and take my medicine" he
replied.
"DMt you dare!" she cried.
Stewart went out und closed the
door.
-Miss Hammond. you--you don't
know how this hurts me-" said
Florence. what you must think Of
us! It's so un,ucky that you should
have had this happen right At h~t.
Now. maybe you won't have the heart
70 stay. Oh, I've known more than
enc eastern girl to 20 home without
evsf lsar,ing whit We really are gu,
hsea. Miss Hammond. Gene Stewar,
= oand when he's drunk. All the
cane I know. whatever he did. he
@sant no shame to you. Come now
aoat think about Il again tonight
~ took ~ the lamp and led Made
- ~ Q 0es1s resA "woat ~