Show ti li I 1 0 ht 1 IL f western nr a 11 fiill II 1 ill VA 0 stars HURRY MADELINE III SYNOPSIS arriving at the lonely little railroad station at el caon ion new mexico madeline hammond new york society girl finds no one to meet her while in the N malting alti n g room a drunken cobb cowboy oy e enters a asks I 1 it I 1 she che la is married a and till departs leaving her terrified lie he returns with a priest who mho goes through some sort of ceremony and the cowboy forces her to say bay sl asking her name and learning ar r identity the cowboy see seems dazed in a shon shooting tins scrape out out tilde side the room a mexican to Is killed the cowboy lets a girl bonita take lla bla horse and escape then condu conducts 1 ts madeline to florence kingsley l ey friend of h afi brother florence welcomes her learns he story and dismisses i t a cowboy gene stewart next day alfred hammond madella Madell nt j brother takes stewart to task madel madeline ina exonerates him ot of any wrong mt int benl e nt alfred scion of a wealthy family amily had been dismissed from his home because of his dissipation madeline sees that the west has redeemed him she meets stillwell als employer typical western ranchman stillwell tells lier ber how h ow stewart beat up the sheriff to a save ava her from arrest and then lit out for the border danny kalns mainson on of cowboys has haa disappeared with some of stillwell money ills his friends link his narn name with the girl bonita madeline gets a glimpse of life on a weste western rn ranch stewart sends madeline his horse majesty she bhe buys out stillwell and ifer her Maje rancho hancho becomes famous she inda finds her life work nork under the light ot of weste western han stars learning stewart had d been hurt in a brawl at madeline visits him and persuades him flint to come to the ranch as the boss boas of her cowboys jim nels nick steele and monty price are chief riders they have a feud with don carlos vaqueros ros who are really guerrillas madeline makes stewart promise that peace la Is kept they raid don carlos ranch tor for contraband arms CHAPTER X continued 7 senor stewert he keel my va quero lueion lue iol I 1 shouted don carlos as asi sweating imil ana spent he concluded his arraignment ment of the cowboy illin you must arrest 1 senor stewart a ba lad d maril lie keel in my va querol do you hear thet yelled glawe the dons got you figuered figg ered fer thet little job at el 11 cajon last fall the clamor burst into a roar hawe began shaking his finger in stewarts Ste wurts face and hoarsely shouting then a lithe young joung vaquero swift as an indian glided gilded under names uplifted arm whatever the action he intended he was too late for or its execution stewart lunged out struck the he vaquero and knocked him off the porch As he fell a dagger glittered in the sunlight und and rolled clinking over the stones atones the man went down hard and did not nwe move with the same abrupt violence and a manner of contempt stewart stew art threw glawe ott off the porch then don carlos who being less aup ample fell heavily then the mob backed before stewarts rush until nil all were down in the courtyard the shuffling of feet ceased the clanking of spurs and the shouting nets nels and monty now re enforced by nick steele were as shadows of stewart so closely did they follow him stewart waved them back and stepped down into the yard he was absolutely fearless but what struck madeline so keenly was his magnificent disdain manifestly lie he knew the nature of the men with whom he was dealing from the look of him film it was natural for madeline to expect them to give way before him which they did even birwe and his attendants sullenly retreating don carlos got up to confront stew art the prostrate vaquero stirred oil and moaned but did not rise you spanish to me said stewart St ewort you can talk american and you can understand amerl amer isanor nor stewart St swart lie he keel my Va querol shouted don carlos carlo can it if you start a roughhouse rough house lore you ou and your greasers will be cleaned up lip youve youe got to glenve tills this ranch you yon can have the stock the packs and traps in the second corral theres gaib too saddle up and lilt tho the trail don doll carlos carlo im ee ing ne more than square iii ure with you youre lying nebout these boxes of suns guns and cat cartridges ridges youre breaking the laws of my country and youre doing doln it on nn property in ny mr 10 lia rRt if I 1 let smuggling go on arp cpr id ile be implicated masu if now new 37 in r vt iret off the range ranee if you dont A romance by zane grey copyright by harper and brothers ill hove have the united states cavalry here in six hours and you can gamble got get what my cowboys leave of you don carlos was either cither a capital actor and gratefully relieved at stew slow arts leniency or else lie he was thoroughly cowed by references to the troops sl SI lenort Grac grades ins fenorl he exclaimed and then them turning away lie he called to ills his men they hurried after fill bilm while the fallen vaquero got to his feet with stewarts help and staggered across the court ird in n moment they were gone leaving glawe and lila ills several comrades behind glawe was spitefully ejecting a wad of tobacco from his mouth and swearing in an undertone under tona about white liv ered cred Gret greasers users ile he cocked ills his red eye speculatively at stewart will wal I 1 reckon ns as youre so hell bent an on doln it up brown thet try to ire fire me offu the range too it if I 1 ever do pat need to be carrial off replied stewart just now im politely pull tely inviting you and your deputy sherif ts to leave well go but bui were comin back one of these days an when wo we do well put you in irons arons at glawe if youve got it in that bad for roe me come over here in the corral and lets fight it out youve got it in for me man to man speak up now and broye youre not the cowardly skunk ive always thought you ive called your hand muttering cursing cur pallid of face ellawe climbed astride his horse ills comrades followed suit certain it appeared that the sheriff was contending with more than fear and wrath savagely he spurred his horse and as it snorted and leaped he turned in his saddle shaking blinking ills his ost flat ills comrades led themay th eway with their horses clattering into a canter they disappeared through the gate when later in the day madeline and florence accompanied by alfred and stillwell left don carlos ranch it was not any too soon for madeline the inside of the Mex mexicans leans home was more unprepossessing and uncomfortable than the outside the halls were dark the rooms huge empty and musty and there was an air of silence and secrecy and mystery about thera them most fitting to the character florence had bestowed upon the place on the other hand alfreds ranch house bouse where the party halted to spen spend d the night was picturesquely located small end and cozy camp like in the arrangement ranger ran gement nent and altogether agreeable to madeline the days longside lon long gride rl da and the exciting events had wearied her she rested while florence and the two men got supper during the meal it was not lost upon madeline that florence appeared unusually quiet and though thoughtful tf ul madeline wo wondered a little at the cause she kemem remembered be that stewart had wanted to come with mam or detail a few cowboys to accompany them th M but alfred bad laughed at the idea and would have none of it after supper alfred monopolized the conversation by describing what he wanted to do to improve his home before lie he and florence were married then at an early hour they all retired deep slumbers were disturbed by a pounding upon the wall and then by florences crying out in answer to a call get cupl up I 1 throw some clothes on and come it was alfreds voice the matter asked florence as she slipped out of bed alfred Is there anything wrong added madeline sitting up the no room was dark as pitch but a faint glow seemed to mark the lie position of the window oh nothing liuch replied alfred only don carlos rancho going up in smoke firel I 1 cried florence sharply think so BO when you see it iturry out florence helped madeline to dress then they hurriedly stumbled over chairs and passing through the dining room went out upon the porch away to the westward low down along the horizon she saw I 1 leaping red flames and windswept wind swept columns of smoke I 1 stillwell appeared greatly perturbed at al im lookin fer that ammunition to blow up he be said there was enough of it to blow the roof oft off the rancho dill bill surely the cowboys would get that stuff out the first thing replied alfred anxiously 1 I reckon so but all the same im wor worrying debbe there time Sup supposing thet powder wont went oft off as the boys was coln for fer it or car carrein caroyln carry ln it out I 1 well know soon if the explosion come quick now we can egger the boys got the bodei out for the next few moments there was a silence of sustained and painful suspense florence gripped Madell nes firm arm madeline felt a fullness in her throat and a rapid beating of her henrt heart presently she was relieved with the others when stillwell declared tho the danger of an explosion needed to be feared no longer sure you can gamble on gene stewart he adam therel there I 1 ashes derin down low reckon we all might jest as well turn in again its only three madeline awakened early but not so early ns as the others who were up and had breakfast ready when she went into the dining room stillwell was not in an amiable frame of mind the furrows of worry lined his br broad end brow and he continually glanced at ills watch and growled because the cowboys were so BO late in riding over with tho the news lie ile gulped lilg ills breakfast and while madeline and the others ate theirs he tramped up and down the porch madeline noted that alfred grew nervous find restless presently he left the table to join stillwell out side slope on off to don carlos rancho and leave us to ride home alone observed florence do you mind questioned made line no I 1 dont exactly mind weve got the file fastest horses in this country j but ive no hankering for a situation gene stewart thinks florence began disconnectedly and she ended evasively madeline did not press the point although she had some sense bense of misgiving stillwell trumped tramped in shaking the floor with ills hugo boots i alfred followed him carrying a field glass not a hoss boss in sight complained stillwell wrong over don carlos way miss majesty be jest as well for you an flo to lilt hit the homo home trail we con can telephone over vie en see that the boys know youre colln 11 alfred standing in the door swept the gray valley with his field glass bill I 1 see running stock horses or cattle I 1 cont cant make out which I 1 guess wed better rustic over there iloth both men hurr hurried leil out anci ana while tho file horses were being brought up and saddled madeline and florence put away the breakfast dishes then lien speedily donned spurs sombreros sombre ros and gaunt lets here ore are the horses ready called alfred flo that black mexican horse Is a prince the girls went out in time to hear Still wells goodby good by as lie he mounted and spurred away alfred went t through rough the motions of assisting madeline and florence to mount which assistance they always flouted and then he too I 1 swung up astride 1 I guess its all right he said rather dubiously you really must riot not go over toward don carlos its only a few miles home sure its all right we can ride cant wel we retorted florence 1 I declare he be and at al were sure rattled florence dismounted and went into the house she left the door open madeline had some difficulty in holding majesty it struck Madel madeline lne that florence stayed rather long indoors presently she came out with sober face and rather tight lips 1 I get anybody on the phone no answer I 1 tried a dozen times why florence I 1 madeline was more concerned by the girls looks than by the information she imparted the wires been cut sold said florence ner lier gray glance swept swiftly after alfred who was now for out of ea earshot rabot 1 I dont like this a haahs where ive got to jigger as dill bill says she pondered a moment then hurried into the house to return presently with the field glass that alfred had used with this she tooka survey ot of the valley particularly in the direction of ranch house thil was hidden by low rolling roiling ridges which were quite close by anyway nobody in that direction can see sec us leave heah she mused theres mesquite on the ridges weve got cover long enough to save us till we can see ahead florence what what do you expect asked madeline nervously 1 I dont know theres never any telling about Orea greasers sers I 1 wish dill bill alid at al left us still come to think ot of that they help us ui much la in case of a chase wed sun lun right away from them Me besides sides shoot I 1 guess im as well satisfied that weve got the job of getting home on our own hands we dont dare follow at al toward don carlos ranch we know theres trouble over there so nil all left Is to lilt hit the troll for or home come lets ride you stick like a Stin spanish nish needle to me A heavy growth of mesquite covered the top of the first ridge and the troll went through it florence appeared cautious deliberate dellbe rote yet she lost no time she was ominously silent misgivings took dell definite in the fear of vaqueros ros in imbush upon the ascent 0 of the third ridge which madeline remembered was the last uneven ground between the point she had reached and home florence exercised even more guarded care in advancing before she reached the top of this ridge sho she dismounted looped tier her bridle round a 0 dead snag and motioning madeline to wait she slipped attend ahead through the file mosquito mesquite out of tight sight madeline waited val ted anxiously listening and watching all of a sudden blie saw Maje oars ears were held up then florences face now strangely white showed allowed round tho tha turn of the trail 11 IS S 9 s sh I 1 whispered florenco florence holding up a warning linger finger she reached rea the black horse and petted him evidently to still an uneasiness he be manifested were in for it t she went on A whole bunch of veque ros hiding among the mesquite over oter the ridge I 1 not seen or beard us yet wed better risk riding ahead cut off the trail and beat them thein to the ranch madeline youre white AS I 1 dont taint faint bowl now I 1 1 1 I riot not faint bit you frighten rno me Is there danger I 1 what shall we do theres danger madeline I 1 deceive you went on florence in earnest whisper wo we should A at should hove have listened to genel I 1 believe im afraid gene knewl knew I 1 knew what asked madeline never mind now listen wo lye barent take the back trail well go on ivo ive a scheme to tool fool that grinning don curios carlos get down madeline hurry I 1 madeline dismounted give nio me your white sweater take it olt and that white hat I 1 hurry madeline she had divested herself of sombrero and jacket which she held out to madeline neall take these give we me yours then get up on the bluck black ill ride majesty rustle hustle now madeline this Is no time to talk but dear why why do you want 7 alit ahl youre going to make the vaqueros ros tako take you for met mel you guessed it will you 1 I shall not allow you to do anything of tho the kind hind 11 returned madeline it was then that florences face changing took on the hard stern sharpness sh arless 0 ao o typical of A cowboys Madel madeline lne had aught glimpses of that expression in alfreds face and on oil stewarts when lie he was silent find and on Still wells always it was a look of iron andoire and lire unchangeable un Quench able will there was even much |