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Show (: THE SALINA SUN, SALINA, UTAH yesTerday. He was a sharpshooter In the federal ranks. Sentenced to death Thursday at sunset." The Light of CHAPTER XIX when he straightened up he was Continued. 17 gw "Miss Hammond, shes safe an almost well, an' what I feared most aint ho cried. "Sure Ill so, thank God, never be able to pay you for all youve done for her. Shes told me how Rhe was dragged down here, how Gene tried to sa ve her, how you spoke up for Gene an her, too, how Monty at the last throwed his guns. Poor Moniyl We were good friends, Monty an I. Theres Nels an Nick an Gene, hes been some friend to me; but Monty Price was he was grand. He never knew, any more than you or Bill, here, or the boys, what Bonita was to me. Stillwells kind and heavy hand fell upon the cowboys shoulder. Danny, whats all this queer gab? he asked. "An youre takln some liberty with Miss Hammond, who never seen you before. I see youre not drlnktn. Come, ease up now an talk sense. The cowboys fine, frank face broke Into a smile. He dashed the tears from his eyes. Then he laughed. Ills laugh had a pleasant, boyish ring a happy ring. "Rill, old pal, stand bridle down a Then he bowed to minute, will you? I beg your pardon, Miss Madeline. Hammond, for seemin rudeness. Im Danny Mains. An Bonita Is my wife. Iin so crazy glad she's safe an unbanned so grateful to you that why, sure It's a wonder I didnt kiss you outright. "Bonitas Cant Say You've Never Been Kissed," Stewart Said. You the certainty that she would kill Stewart If she held the gun an Instant longer, tortured the self-accusi- cry from her. Stewart stooped to pick up the weapon. "You might have saved me a h 1 of a lot of trouble, he said, with another flash of the mocking smile. "Youre beautiful and sweet and proud, but Majesty you're no thoroughbred! Hammond, adlos Stewart leaped for the saddle of his ' horse, and with the flying mount crashed through the mesquites to disappear. ! CHAPTER XX The Secret Told. I.ate In the night Madeline fell asleep. In the morning she was pale and languid, but In a mental condition that promised composure. It was considerably after her regular hour that Madeline repaired to her oftiee. The door was open, and Just outside, tipped back In a chair, sat Stillwell. "Mawnin, Miss Majesty, he said, as he rose to greet her with his usual Madeline shrank Inwardly, courtesy. fearing his old lamentations about Stewart. Then she saw a dusty, ragged pony In the yard and a little burro drooping under a heavy pack. Roth animals bore evidence of long, arduous travel. "To whom do they belong? asked Madeline. Them critters? Why, Danny Mains, replied Stillwell, with a cough that betrayed embarrassment. Is Danny Mains here? she asked, In sudden curiosity. The old cattleman nodded gloomily. "Yep, hes hyar, all right. Sloped In from the hills an he hollered to see Bonita. Hes locoed, too, about that little black-eyehussy. Why, he hardly said, Howdy, Bill,' before be began to ask wild an eager questions. I took him in to see Bonita. Hes been there moren a half-hou- r now. Rapid footsteps with an accompaniment of clinking spurs sounded In the ball way. Then a young man ran out upon the porch. He was a handsome, frank-faceboy. At sight of Madeline be slammed down his sombrero and, leaping at her, he possessed himself of ber hands. His swift violence not only alarmed her, but painfully reminded her of something she wished to forget. This co who v bent his; head and fcliMd bat bands and wrung them, and d d i a , cry- ing. Ills white face loomed over hers. She closed her eyes. He rained kisses upon her face, but no more upon hec mouth. On her closed eyes, her hair, her cheeks, her neck he pressed swift lips lips that lost their tire and cold. Then he releused her, and, lifting and righting her In the saddle, he still held her arm to keep her from falling. For a moment Madeline sat on her She dreaded horse with shut eyes. the light. "Now you cant say you've never been kissed," Stewart said. Ills voice seemed a long way oft. "Iiut that was coming to you, so be game. Here I She felt something hard and cold and metallic thrust Into her hand. He made her fingers close over it, hold It. The feel of the thing revived her. She opened her eyes. Stewart had given her his gun. He stood with his broad breast against her knee, and she looked up to see that old mocking smile on his face. Go ahead! Throw my gun on me I Be a thoroughbred I Madeline did not yet grasp his meaning. You can put me down In that quiet place on the hill beside Monty Price. Madeline dropped the gun with a shuddering cry of horror. The sense of his words, the memory of Monty, Now H Ut your wife! ejaculuted Stillwell. Sure. Weve been married for months replied Danny, happily. "Gene Stewart did It. Good old Gene. I guess maybe I havent come to pay Jilin up for all hes done for me! You see, Ive been In love with Bonita for two years. An Gene you know, Bill, what a way Gene has with girls he was well, he was tryin to get Bonita to have me. Madelines quick, varying emotions were swallowed up In a boundless gladness. Something dark, deep, heavy, and somber was flooded from her heart. She had a sudden rich sense of gratitude toward this smiling, clean-face- d cowboy whose blue eyes flashed through tears. Danny Mains! she said, tremulously and smilingly. "If you are as glad as your news has made me If you really think I merit such a reward you may kiss me outright. With a bashful wonder, hut with right hearty will, Danny Mains availed himself of this gracious privilege. Stillwell snorted. The signs of bis phenomenal smile were manifest, otherwise Madeline would have thought that snort an indication of furious disapproval. "BUI, straddle a chair, raid Danny. "Youve gone back a heap these last few months, frettln over your bad boys, Dunny an Gene. Youll need support under you while Im throwln He my yarn. Story of my life, Bill. Miss placed a chair for Madeline. Hammond, hoggin your pardon again, I want you to listen, also. Youve the face an' eyes of a woman who loves to hear of other peoples happiness. Besides, somehow, Its easy for me to talk lookin at you. Walking off the porch, he stood before the weary horse and burro. With the swift violence characteristic of men of his class he slipped the pack from the burro and threw saddle and bridle from the horse. He untied the pack and, taking a small, heavy sack from It, he' came back upon the porch. Deliberately he dumped the contents of the sack at Stillwell's feet. Piece after piece of rock thumped upon the floor. The pieces were sharp, ragged, evidently broken from a ledge; the body of them was white in color, with yellow veins and burs and streaks. Stillwell grasped up one rock after another, stared and stuttered, put the rocks to his lips, dug Into them with his shaking fingers; then he lay hack In his chair, head against the wall, and as he gaped at Innny the old smile began to transform his face. Danny regarded Stillwell with lofty condescension. Now, BUI, what've we got here, say, offhand? Oh, Lord. Danny Im afraid to say. Look, Miss Majesty, jest look at the gold. Ive lived among prospectors an gold mines fer thirty years, an I never seen the heat of this. "The Lost Mine of the Padres! An' cried Danny, in stentorian voice. it belongs to me! Stillwell made some Incoherent sound ns he sat up fascinated, quite beside himself. BUI, it was some long time ago since you saw me, said Danny. "Fact Is, I know how you felt, because Gene kept me posted. 1 happened to run across Bonita, an' I wasn't goin to let her ride away alone, when she told me she was In trouble. We hit the trail for the IelonciUos. Bonita had Genes horse, an she was to meet him up on the trail. We got to the mountains all right, an nearly starved for a few days till Gene found us. He had got In trouble himself an couldnt fetch much with him. ' We made for the crags an butlt a cabin. I come down that day Gene 1 Dij K Western Stars I J. Romance Zane Qreij sent his horse Majesty to you. Never saw Gene so broken-hearteWell, after he sloped for the border Bonita an I were hrd put to It to keep alive. But we got along, an' I think It was then she began to care a little for me. Once I went to El Cajon an run plumb Into Gene, ne was back from the revolution an cuttln up some. But I 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 drlnk-l- n hed changed wonderful, was fine an' dandy. It was then he began to pester the life out of me to make me marry Bonita. I was happy, so was she, an I was some scared of spollln It. hard to buck Genes against! I had to give In, an I asked Bonita to marry me. Well, she wouldnt at first said she wasnt good enough for me. But I saw the marriage idea was workln' deep, an I Just kept on bein as decent as I 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 a mountain quail. Gene fetched up Padre Marcos, an he married us. 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. Madeline leaned toward Danny with her eyes shining. "Miss Hammond, an' you, Bill Stlll-wel- l, now listen, for this Is strange Ive got to tell you. The afternoon Bonita an J 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 hnlr. 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 I 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 flowers on that slope, the same kind she had in her hair. When I 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 wontherln' of the cliffs. An' there under the crags was a gold pocket. "Then I was worse than locoed. I went gold-crazI worked like seventeen burros. Bill, I dug a lot of Bonita watched the quartz. dog-gon- e gold-beari- n He forced Stewart threatened me. you. ne made me speak the service. He made you speak the Spanish yes. And I, Senora, knowing the deeds of these sinful cowboys, fearing worse than disgrace to one so beautiful and so good as you, I could not do less than marry you truly. At least you should be his wife. So I married you, truly, In the service of my church. My God! cried Madeline, rising. "Hear me! I Implore you, Senora, hear me out I Do not leave me! Do not look so so Ah, Senora, let me speak a word for Senor Stewart. He was drunk that night. He did not know what he was about. In the morning he came to me, made me swear by my cross that I would not reveal the disgrace he had put upon you. If I did he would kill me. Life is nothing to the American vaquero, Senora. I promised to respect his command, but I did not tell him you were his wife. He did not dream I had truly married you. He went to fight for the freedom of my country Senora, he is one splendid soldier and I brooded over the sin of my secret. If he were killed I need never tell you. But If he lived I knew that I must some day. Senora, I pray you, do not misunderstand my mission. Beyond my confession to you 1 have only a duty to tell you of the man whose wife you are. But I am a priest and I can read the soul. The ways of God are Inscrutable. I am only a humble Instrument. You are a noble woman, and Senor Stewart Is a man of desert Iron forged anew in the crucible of love. Qulen sabe? Senor Stewart swore he would kill me If I betrayed him. But he will not lift his hand against me. For the man bears you a very great and pure love, and It has changed him. To love you above the spirit of the flesh; to know you are his wife, his, never to be anothers except by his sacrifice; to watch you with a secret glory of joy and pride; to stand, while he might, between you and evil; to find his happiness In service; to wait, with never a dream of telling you, for the hour to come when to leave you free he must go out and get himself shot! Senora, that Is beautiful, It Is sublime, It Is terrible. It has brought me to you with my confession. So I beseech you In my humble office as priest, as a lover of mankind, before you send Stewart to his death, to be sure there Is here no mysterious dispensation of God. I pray you, Senora, before you let Stewart give you freedom at such cost be sure ou do not want his love, lest you cast awTay something sweet and ennobling which you yourself have created. water. That was how she come to get caught by Pat ITawe an his guerrillas. Sure! Pat llawe was so set on doin Gene CHAPTER XXI dirt that he mixed up with Don Carlos. Bonita will tell you some staggerin News of Stewart. news about that outfit. Just now my Blinded, like a wild creature, Madestory Is all gold. line Hammond ran to her room. She Danny Mains got up and kicked back felt as If a stroke of lightning had Blue lightning gleamed shattered the shadowy substance of his chair. from his eyes as he thrust a hand the dream she had made of real life. toward Stillwell. The wonder of Danny Mains story, "Bill, old pal, put her there give me the strange regret with which she had your hand, he said. You were always realized her Injustice to Stewart, the my friend. You had faith In me. Well, astounding secret as revealed by Padre Danny Mains owes you, an he owes Marcos these were forgotten In the Gene Stewart a good deal, an Danny sudden consciousness of her own love. Mains pays. I want two pardners to She liberated the thought that knocked help me work my gold mine. You an at the gates of her mind. With quivGene. Go fetch him; an right here In ering lips she whispered It. Then she this house, with my wife an' Miss spoke aloud: Hammond as witnesses, we'll draw up I will say It hear It. I I love a pardnership. Go find him, Bill. I him want to show him this gold, show him In a nature like hers, where strength how Danny Mains pays! An the only of feeling had long been Inhibited as bitter drop In my cup today Is that I a matter of training, such a transcant ever pay Monty Price." forming surprise as sudden consciousMadeline watched the huge Stillwell ness of passionate love required time and the little cowboy, both talking for Its awakening, time for its sway. wildly, as they walked off arm In arm By and by that last enlightening mome, brought me 1 She Imagined someto find Stewart. what of disappointment Danny's thing would be, of the elder mans consternation and grief, when he learned Stewart had left for the border. At this juncture she looked up to see a strange, yet familiar figure approaching. Padre Marcos! Mention of Padre Marcos, sight of hint, had always occasioned Madeline a little indefinable shock; and now, as he stepped to the porch, a shrunken, man, she was stooped, and sad-face- d startled. The padre bowed The Ride. "Stillwell I The old cattleman stood mute before her, staring at her white face, at her eyes of flame. I am Stewarts wife! Stillwell "My Gawd, Miss Majesty! be burst out. "I knowed somethin turrlble was wrong. Aw, sure Its a pity Do you think Ill let him be shot when I know him now, when Im no longer blind, when I love him? she I asked, with passionate swiftness. will save him. This Is Wednesday hours to morning. I have thirty-sisave his life. Stillwell, send for Link Saved from an Operation by Lydia E. Pinkhara Vegetable Compound 1 Copyright bt Harper and Brother trails for ILL SEVEN YEARS XXII CHAPTER MRS. COFFMAN low to her. Senora, will you grant me audience? It Is a matter of great moment, which you might not care to have any one hear. Wonderlngly Madeline Inclined her head. The padre gently closed one door and then the others. Senora, I have come to disclose a secret my own sinfulness in keeping Do It and to Implore your pardon. you remember that night Senor Stewart dragged me before you In the at El Cajon? waiting-roo"Yes. replied Madeline. "Senora, since that night you have been Senor Stewart's wife! Madeline became as motionless as She seemed to feel nothing, stone. only to hear. You are Senor Stewarts wife. 1 have kept the secret under fear of death. But I could keep It no longer. Senor Stewart may kill me now. Ah Senora, It Is very strange to you. You were so frightened that night, you Senor knew not what happened. ment come, and Madeline Hammond faced not only the love in her heart, but the thought of the man she loved. Suddenly, as she raged, something In her this dauntless new personality took arms against Indictment of Gene Stewart. Her mind whirled about him and his life. She saw him drunk, brutal; she saw him abandoned, lost. Then out of the future she had of him thus slowly grew one of a different man weak, sick, changed by shock, growing strong, strangely, spiritually altered, fllent, lonely like an eagle, secretive, tireless, faithful, soft ns a woman, hard as Iron to endure, and at the last noble. Oh, It Is all terrible! she cried. "I am his wife. Ills wife! That meeting with him the marriage then his fall, his love, his rise, his silence, his pride! And I can never be anything to him? to him. Could I But I am his I. Madeline Hammond? wife, and I love him! His wife! I am the wife of a cowboy! That might be undone. Can my love he undone? Ah, do I want anything undone? He Is gone. Gone! Could lie hue meant I will not, dare not think of that. He will come back. No. he never will come back. Oh, what shall I do? And on the morning ot the next day, when Madeline went out upon the porch, Stillwell, haggard and stern, with husky. Incoherent word, handed her a message from El Cajon. She read : EDCapltan Stewart captured by u fight at Agua Prleta rebel soldier I was a nervous wreck. Sidell, 111. I was suffering from a pain in my left 4 side, which was almost unbearable, and I could not even let the bed clothing rest on my body at night. I had been sick for seven years, but not so bad until the last eighteen months, and had become so rundown that I cared x and the car! She went Into her office. Her mind for nobody, and worked with extraordinary rapidity would rather have died than live. I and clearness. Her plan, born In one couldnt do my work without help, and lightningllke flash of thought, necessithe doctors told me that an operation tated the careful wording of telegrams was all there was left I would not to Washington, to New York, to San consent to that, so my husband brought Antonio. These were to senators, repme a bottle of Lydia E. Pinkhama resentatives, men high In public and Vegetable Compound and begged me private life, men who would remember to take it I have taken fourteen bother and who would serve her to their tles of it and I feel ten years younger. Life is full of hope. I do all my houseutmost. Never before had her position meant anything to her comparable work and had a large garden this year. with what It meant now. Never in all I never will be without the Vegetable in the house, and when my her life had money seemed the power Compound two little girls reach womanhood I inthat it was then. If she had been tend to teach them to take I am poor! A shuddering chill froze the never too busy to tell some suffering thought at Its inception. She dispelled sister of my help, and you can use my heartbreaking thoughts. She had name and letter to spread the good E.Pinkhams medicines. power. She had wealth. She would news of Lydia Mrs. Ida M. Coffman, R.B.2,SidelUU. set Into operation all the unlimited means these gave her the wires and Easily Explained. pulleys and strings underneath the sui The man who ran the elevator of face of political and International life, the skyscraper was talking to a pasthe open, free, purchasing value of senger. money or the deep, underground, mysThe judge certainly did soak him,1 terious, Incalculably powerful Influ- he said. He sentenced him to three ence moved by gold. She could save Now I underand ten days. years Stewart. the three years all right; but stand When she went outside the car was what the ten days were for Id like there with Link, helmet in hand, a to know? cool, bright gleam in his eyes, and with That was the war tax, said a Stillwell, losing his haggard misery, citizen who got aboard at quiet beginning to respond to Madelines the tenth floor. Treat Em Square. it spirit. Link, drive Stillwell to El Cajon In time for him to catch the El Paso Walt there for his train, she said. return ,and if any message comes from him, telephone It at once to me. Then she gave Stillwell the telegrams to send from El Cajon and drafts to cash In El Paso. She Instructed him to go before the rebel junta, then stationed at Juarez, to explain the situation, to bid them expect communications from Washington officials requesting and advising Stewarts exchange as a prisoner of war, to offer to buy his release from the rebel au- Aspirin 1 Say "Bayer and Insist! thorities. There was a crack, a muffled sound bursting Into a roar, and the big car Jerked forward to bound over the edge of the slope, to leap down the long Incline, to shoot out upon the level valley floor and disappear In moving dust. Madeline endured patiently, endured for long Interminable hours while holdUnless you see the name Bayer on ing to hope with indomitable will. No message came. At sunset she package or on tablets you are not getwent outdoors, suffering a torment of ting the genuine Bayer product presuspense. accumulating Night fell. scribed by physicians over twenty-twShe prayed for the sun not to rise, not years and proved safe by millions for to begin its short twelve-houColds journey Headache toward what might be a fatal setting Toothache Lumbago for Stewart. But the dawn did lighten, Earache Rheumatism swiftly she thought, remorselessly. Pain, Pain Neuralgia Daylight had broken, and this was Accept Bayer Tablets of Aspirin Thursday only. Each unbroken package contains Sharp ringing at the telephone hell proper startled her, roused her Into action. twelve directions. Handy boxes of tablets cost few cents. DrugShe ran to answer the call. also sell bottles of 24 and 100. gists "Hello hello Miss Majesty! came Is the trade mark of Bayer Aspirin This s Link talkthe hurried reply. in. Messages for you. Favorable, the Manufacture of Monoaceticacldester of operator said. Im to ride out with Salicylicacid. Advertisement. them. Ill come Not Scared at All. That was all. Madeline heard the ' was Jodkins always a dissatisfied as Stevens threw bang of the receiver melofcer of the staff. His complaint Then Stillwell it down. Favorable considered time he a big one, and this been successful. Her heart leaped had he told his workmates that he would threaten to leave. What did the boss say about your threat to leave?" he was asked, on being seen coming from the chiefs room. He didnt take It as a threat, replied Jodkins; he thought I was doing the firm a favor. Stray Stories. o r ! I Relief Sure FOR INDIGESTION 5$ AND 75$ PACKAGES EVERYWHERE Cuticura Soap For the Hands IS IDEAL I Will Say It Hear It Himl" I I Suddenly she became weak and her hands failed of their accustomed deftness. It took her what seemed a thousand years to dress. Breakfast meant nothing to her except that It helped her to pass dragging minutes. Finally a low hum, mounting swiftly to a roar and ending with a sharp report, announced the arrival of the car. If her feet had kept pace with her heart she would have raced out to meet Link. (TO BE CONTINUED Swap 25c, Ointment 25 and 50c, Love I HINDERCORNS 2Sc. 0. Onm. (U loose. to.t stop all pain, ensure comfort to th feet nukk.ee walking eaey. lta. by mail or at Drug girt. HUoox Chemical Wcrk. Fatohoffoe. N. T. SAVE YOUR EYES I C Dr. Tbompeon's Byewater Boy at yoor druggist e or N.T. Booklet. U8J Hirer. Troy. Ladle to Sell and Demonstrate article uead dally in every home. Write ue for Information Kugenleal Labora. torlea Co., 401 Planter Bldg , St. Louia Mo. Wonted higC-grad- Single Devotion. "Don't they get on well together? "Ill say they dont. They have twin pews la church." Life. Tilcu e W. M. U., Salt Lake City, No. 39-19- 23. |