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Show THE TIMES-NEW- S, NEPHI, UTAH dently he had been carefully dressed down for this occasion, for there was no dust on him, nor a kink in his beau tiful mane, nor a mark on his glossy hide. "Come hyar, you said Stillwell. The horse dropped his head, snorted. and came obediently up. He was neither shy nor wild. Unhooking the stirrups from the pommel, Stillwell let them fall and began to search the saddle for something which he evidently expected to find. Presently from some where among the trappings he produced a folded bit of paper, and after scrutinizing It handed It to Al. "Addressed to you; an' I'll bet you two bits I know what's In It," he said. Alfred unfolded the letter, read It, and then looked at Stillwell. 'Bill, you're a pretty good guesser. S Q ZtopyriqK bv Iftcupv arv4 8roK 7!ZZa&l 5V4AS Gene's made for the border. He sent "Don Carlos has been after Flor the horse by somebody, no names menence for a long time, said Alfred. tioned, and wants my sister to have GENE'S HORSE He's not a young man by any means. him If she will accept." He's fifty, BUI says; but you can sel"Any mention of Danny Mains?" SYNOPSIS. Arriving at ths lonedom tell a Mexican's age from his asked the rancher. ly little railroad station of El Cajon, New Mexico, Madeline Hammond, looks. Don Carlos is well educated "Not a word." New York society girl, finds no one and a man we know very little about. "Thet's bad. Gene'd know about to meet her. While In the waiting Mexicans of his stamp don't regard Danny If anybody' did. But he's a room, a drunken cowboy enters, women as we white men do. Now, cuss. So he's sure hit-tiasks if she Is married, and departs, leaving her terrified. He returns my dear, beautiful sister from New for Mexico. Wonder If Danny's with a priest, who goes through York I haven't much use for Don Car goln', too? Wal, there's two of the some sort of ceremony, and the los ; but I don't want Nels or Ambrose best cowmen I ever seen, gone to h 1, cowboy forces her to say "Si." to make a wild throw with a rope and an' I'm sorry." Asking her name and learning her identity the cowboy leema dazed. pull the Don off his horse. So you had With that he bowed his head and, In a shooting scrape outside the better ride up to the house and stay grumbling to himself, went Into the room a Mexican is killed. The cowthere." house. Alfred lifted the reins over boy lets a girl, Bonlta, take his horse and escape, then conducts 'Alfred, you are joking, teasing me. the head of the horse and, leading him Madeline to Florence Klngsley, said Madeline. to Madeline, slipped the knot over her friend of her brother. Florence "Indeed not," replied Alfred. "How arm and placed the letter in her hand. welcomes her, learns her story, and about It, Flo?" dismisses the cowboy. Gene Stew"Majesty, I'd accept the horse," he art. Next dny Alfred Hammond, Florence replied that the cowboys snld. "Stewart Is only a cowboy now, Madeline's brother, takes Stewart would upon the slightest provocation and as tough as any I've known. B'lt to task. Madeline exonerates him treat Don Curios with less ceremony he comes of a good family. He was a of any wrong Intent Alfred, scion and gentleness than a roped steer. Old college man and a gentleman once. He of a wealthy family, had been disMill Stillwell came up to be Importuned went to the bad out missed from hiB home because of here, like so many his dissipation. Madeline sees that by Alfred regarding the conduct of fellows go, like I nearly did. Then the West has redeemed him. She cowboys on occasion, and he not only he had told me about his sister and meets Stillwell, Al's employer, typcorroborated the assertion, but added mother. He cared a good deal for ical western ranchman. Stillwell tells her how Stewart beat up the and evidence of his own. emphasis them. I think he has been a source of sheriff to save her from arrest and "An", Miss Majesty," he concluded then lit out for the border. Danny unhapplness to them. It was mostly was I Gene If rldln' when reckon Stewart Mains, one of Stillwell's cowboys, he was reminded of this In some 's has disappeared, with some of fer ine, thet grlnnln' Greaser would way that he'd get drunk. I have alHis friends link his money. hev hed a bump In the dust before ways stuck to him, and I would do so name with the girl Bonlta. Madenow." line gets a glimpse of life on a yet If I had a chance. You read the Madeline had been wavering between letter, sister, and accept the horse." western ranch. until Stillwell's and sobriety laughter In silence Madeline bent her gaze mention of his ideal of cowboy chiv from her brother's face to the letter: CHAPTER V. Continued. alry decided In favor of the laughter. "Friend Al: I'm sending my horse I am not convinced, but I surren down to you because I'm going away The bawling and bellowing, the der," she said. "You have only some and haven't the nerve to take him crackling of horns and pounding of occult motive for driving me away. where he'd get hurt or fall Into hoofs, the dusty whirl of cattle, and am sure that handsome Don Carlos is bands. strange the flying cowboys disconcerted Made- being unjustly suspected. But as I think it's all right, why, give "If you have seen a little of cowboys' singular him to line and frightened her a little. sister with my respects. your "Look, Miss Hammond, there's Don Imagination and gallantry, I am rather But if don't like the Idea, Al, or Carlos !" said Florence. "Look at that Inclined to fear their possibilities. So If she you won't have him, then he's for good-by.- " black horse I" I'm hopln.g your sister will take you. Mexican Madeline saw a Then she rode with Florence up the him. She'll be good to him, and she riding by. He was too far away for long, gray slope to the ranch-houscan afford to take care of him. And, her to distinguish his features, but he That night she suffered from excessive while I'm waiting to be plugged by a reminded her of an Italian brigand. weariness, which she attributed more Greaser bullet, If I happen to have He bestrode a magnificent horse. to the strange working of her mind a picture in mind of how she'll look Stillwell rode up to the girls then than to riding and sitting her horse. my horse, why. man. It's not upon no In his in dis and greeted them Morning, however, found her big voice. to make any difrr9iw to, ou. going "Ulghf In the thick of It, hey? Wal, position to rest. It was, not activity She neetln't ever know it. thet's sura fine. I'm glad to see, Miss that she craved, or excitement, or "Between you and me, Al, don't let Majesty, thet you ain't afraid of a pleasure. An unerring Instinct, rising her or Flo ride alone over Don Carlos' little dust or smell of burn In' hide an' clear from the thronging sensations of I had time I could tell you the last few days, told her that she way. If balr." about that slick Greaser. something In Whathad Madellne's brother Joined the group, missed something life. And tell your sister, if there's ever evidently In search of Stillwell. "Dill, ever this something was, she had baf- any reason for her to run away from Nels Just rode In," he said. fling Intimations of it, hopes that faded on that roan. "Good I Any news of Danny Mains?" on the verge of realizations, haunting anybody when she's up "No. Nels said he lost the trail promises that were unfulfilled. What Just let her lean over and yell In his when he got on hard ground." ever It was. It had remnlned hidden ear. She'll find herself riding the wind. So long. "Wal, wal. Say, Al, your sister Is and unknown at home, and here In the "GE.YE STEWART." sure takln' to the round-up- . An' the West It began to allure and drive her Madeline thoughtfully folded the to discovery. Therefore she could not boys are gettln' wise. See thet murmured, "How he must Ambrose cuttln' capers all rest; she wanted to go and see; she letter and horse!" his love It was no around. He'll sure do his prettiest longer chnslng phantoms; "Well, I should sny so," replied AlAmbrose Is a ladles' man, he thinks." was a hunt for treasure that held tell you. She's the The two men and Florence Joined aloof, as Intangible as the substance of fred. "Flo will only person Gene ever let ride thet dreams. In a little pleasant teasing of MadeWell, sister mine, how about Upon the morning after the end of horse. line, and drew hpr attention to what It will you accept the horse?" on out round-up- , went when she the to be feats really unnecessary appeared "Assuredly. And very happy Inof horsemanship all made In her vi- the porch, her brother and Stillwell am I to get him. Al, you said. deed Idento be arguing about the cinity. The cowboys evinced their In appeared terest In covert glances while recoiling tity of a horse. "Wal, I reckon It's my old roan," lasso or while passing to and fro. It was all too serious for Madeline to said Stillwell, shading his eyes with be amused at that moment. She did his hand. Dot care to talk. She sat her horse "Bill, If that Isn't Stewart's horse end watched. my eyes are going back on me," replied Al. "It's not the color or shape the distance Is too far to Judge by that. CHAPTER VI It's the motion the swing." A Gift and a Purchase. "Al, mebbe you're right But they For a week the scene of the round' ain't no rider up on thet hoss. Flo, of the fetch my glass." tip lay within ranch-housFlorence went Into the house, while and Madeline passed most of this time In the saddle, watching Madeline tried to discover the object the strenuous labors of the vaqiieros of attention. Presently far tip the gray end cowboys. She overestimated her hollow along a foothill she saw dust strength, and more than once had to and then the dark, moving figure of a .Stillwell's horse. She was watching when Florbe lifted from her horse. In her attendance place ence returned with the glass. Bill gave pleasure to concern. He tried to persuade her took a long look, adjusted the glasses and carefully, and tried acaln. to stny oway from the round-up- , Violence grew even more solicitous. "Wal, I hate to admit my eyes are Madeline, however, was not moved gettln' pore. But I guess I'll hev to. Thet's Gene Stewart's hoss, saddled, by their entreaties. She grasped only dimly the truth an' coin In' at a fast clip without a rider. It's amnzln' strange, an' some f what It was she was learningsomething Iniinitrly more than the In keepln' wltfl other things concernln' rounding up of cnttle by cowboys, and Gene." "Give me the glass." said Al. "Yes. she was lnth to lose an hour of her I was right. Bill, the horse Is not opportunity. I'.efore the week wns out. however, frightened, He's coming steadily; he's Alfred found occasion to tell her that got something on his mind." "How He Must Love His Horl It would be wiser for her to let the The wide hollow sloping np Into th found-ugo without gracing It further foothills lay open to unobstructed I think, that Mr. Stewart named him with her presewe. lie said It laugh view, and less than half a mile distant after me saw my nickname In the Inifly; nevertheless, he was serious. Madeline saw the riderless horse comYork paper?" And when Mnrleline turned to htm In ing along the white trail at a rapid New "Yes." A whistle canter. pealed shrill, he said, bluntly: piercing surprise "Well, 1 will not change his name. I don't like the way Don Carlos In. A I, how shall 1 ever climb up on But seen said us, thet's sure," "Wal. he's llows ynu around. Mill's afraid that him? He's taller than I am. What BUI. t'els or Ambrose or one of the The horse neared the tiSTnls. disap- a giant of a horse I Oh, look at him will take a full out of the Mexi can. They're Itching for the chance. peared Into lane, and then, breaking he's nosing my hand. I really believe 1 he understood what I said. Al, did Of course, dear. It's absurd to you, but his gait sgatn, thundered Into the and pounded to s hilt some you ever see such s splendid head and It's true." Absurd It certainly was. yet It served twenty yards from where Stillwell such beautiful eyes? They are so large and dark and soft and huaian. to show Madeline how Intensely oceo-itle- waited for him. One look at him st close range In Oh, I am a fickle woman, for 1 am she had been with her own feel Injrt, roused by the tumult and toll of the dear light of day ws enough for forgetting White Stockings." "I'll gamble hell make you forget blue ribbon She recalled that Don Madeline to awsrd him th ownd-up. any other home," said Alfred. "You'll presented to her, and over alt horses, even the Cl "wshehadhadbeen not liked hi dark, strlk White Stockings. The cowboy's great have to get on htm from the porch." thsv Madeline led the horse to and fro. steed was no IlLhe, slender-bodieI rig face with Its bold, prominent gilt was delighted with his gentleness tresnd s almost was He and sinister she and charger, tines; terlng eys had not liked bis suave, sweet Insio mendous of build, with a black post She discovered that he did Dot need listing voice or his suhtls manner, with faintly mottled In gray, and It shone to be led t cas e at her call. f0. like polished glass la the sua. Evi lowed her like a pet log. rubbed tils fa slow hows Bad intww -- n' close-mouthe- d Still-well- dark-face- d Silk rldlng-dlstanc- e dm H m mm cow-boy- s prize-winne- r, mus-stan- ' black muzzle against her. Sometimes, at the turns in their walk, he lifted his head and with ears forward looked up the trail by which he had come, and beyond the foothills. He was looking over the range. Someone was calling to him, perhaps, from beyond the mountains. Madeline liked him the better for that memory, and pitied the wayward cowboy who had parted with his only possession for very love of it. Madeline was unusuAt supper-tim- e ally thoughtful. Later, when they assembled on the porch to watch the sunset, Stillwell's humorous complainings inspired the inception of an Ideii which flashed up in her mind swift as lightning. And then by listening sympathetically she encouraged him to recite the troubles of a poor cattleman. They were many and long and interesting, and rather numbing to the life of her Inspired Idea. "Mr. Stillwell, could ranching here methon a large scale, wltlr upto-dat- e ods, be made well, not profitable, exactly, but to pay to run without loss?" she asked, determined to kill Idea at birth or else give her It breath and hope of life. "Wal, I reckon It could," he replied, with a short laugh. "It'd sure be a money-makeWhy, with all my bad luck an' poor equipment I've lived pretty well an' paid my debts an' haven't lost any money except the original outlay. I reckon thet's sunk fer. good." "Would you sell if someone would pay your price?" "Miss Majesty, I'd Jump at the chance. Yet somehow I'd hate to leave hyar. I'd Jest be fool enough to go sink the money in another ranch." "Would Don Carlos and these other Mexicans sell?" "They sure would. The Don has been after me fer years, wantin' to sell thet old rancho of his ; an' these herders in the valley with their stray cattle, they'd fall dald at sight of a little money." "Please tell me, Mr. Stillwell, exactly what you would do here If you had unlimited means?" went on Madeline. "Good Lud I" ejaculated the rancher. "Wall, Miss Majesty, It Jest makes my old heart warm up to think of such a thing. I dreamed a lot when I first come hyar. What would I do If I hed unlimited money? Listen, rd buy out Don Carlos an' the Greasers. I'd give a Job to every good cowman In this country. I'd make them prosper as I prospered myself. I'd buy all the good horses on the ranges. I'd fence twenty thousand acres of the best grazln. I'd drill fer water In the valley. I'd pipe water down from the mountains. I'd dam up that draw out dam from hill to there. A mile-lon- g hill would give me a big lake, an' hevln' an eye fer beauty, I'd plant cottonwoods around It. I'd fill that lake full of fish. I'd put In the biggest field of alfalfa In the Southwest. I'd plant fruit-tree- s an' garden. I'd tear down them old corrals an' barns an' bunkhouses to build new ones. I'd make this old rancho some comfortable an' fine. I'd put In grass an' flowers all around an' bring young pine trees down'from the mountains. An when all thet was done I'd sit In my chair an' smoke an' watch the cattle string- In' In fer water an' stragglln' back Into the valley. An' thet red sun out there wouldn't set on a happier man In the world than Bill Stillwell, last of the old cattlemen." Madeline thanked the rancher, and then rather abruptly retired to lier room, where she felt no restraint to hide the force of that wonderful iea, and tenacious and niw alluring. Upon the next day, late In the after noon, she asked Alfred If It would be safe for her to ride out to the mesa. "ni go with you,"-h- e said gayly. "Deur fellow, I want to go alone, she replied. "Ah !" Alfred exclaimed, suddenly serious. He pave her Just a quick glance, then turned away. "5o ahead. I think It's safe. I'll muke It safe by sitting here with my glass and keeping an eye on you. Be careful coming Let the horse pick down the trail. bis way. That's all." She rode Majesty across the wide flat, up the zigzag trail, across the beautiful grassy level to the far rim of the mesa, and not till then did she lift her eyes to face the southwest. In that darkening desert there was something illimitable. Madeline saw the hollow of a stupendous hand ; sh felt a mighty hold upon her heart Out of the endless space, out of silence and desolation and mystery and age, colored shadows, enme phuutoms of peace, and they whis pered to Madeline. They whlsiered that It was a great Rrltn, Immutable earth; that time was eternity; that life was fleeting. They whispered for her to be a woman ; to love someone before It was too lute; to love any one, everyone; to realize the need of work, and thus find happiness. She rode hack across the mesa and more upon down the trail, and, on-the flat, she called to the bnre and made htm run. His spirit seemnd to race with hers. The wind of his speed blew her hair from Its fastenings. When he thundered to a halt at the porch steps Madeline, breathless and disheveled, alighted with the mass of her hair tumbling around her. Alfred met her, and his exclamation, and Florence's rapt eyes shining on her face, and Stillwell's speechless ness made her laughing, she tried to put op the mass of hair. "My hst and my crnnhs went to the wind, t thought my hslr would go, too. . . . There Is the evening " I think 1 am very star. new-bor- fasten up ber Lair, which fell again In a golden mass. 'Mr. SUUwvll," she Began, and paused, strangely aware of a hurried note, a deeper ring In her voice. "Mr. Stillwell, I want to buy your ranch to engage you as my superintendent I want to buy Don Carlos' ranch and other property to the extent say, of fifty thousand acres. I want you to buy horses and cattle In short, to make all those improvements which you said you had so long dreamed of. Then I have Ideas of my own, In the development of which I must have your advice and Alfred's. I Intend to better the condition of those poor Mexicans In the valley. I intend to make life a little more worth living for them and for the cowboys of this range. Tomorrow we shall talk It all over, plan all the business details." Madeline turned from the huge. smile- that beamed down upon her and held out her hands to her brother. "Alfred, strange, Is It not, my com lng out to you? Nay, don't smile. J ever-wideni- n g e ... And tun-gry.- by National Council of th ocoun or, Aniftricev. j Boy ARMY MEN TO AID SCOUTS General Pershing has accepted the Invitation of the Boy Scouts of America asking for the army's and has stated formally : "After care fully reviewing the activities of the Boy Scouts of America, their program, objectives, leadership and actual ac complishments, I do not hesitate to say that I should be very glad to see members of the army everywhere take such active part in scouting as duties and local conditions per olll-cl- mit. r. full-grow- n (Conducted ' 'Having kept In close touch with the work of the boy scouts, I thorough ly approve of It as a soldier for the good It does to those who may be called upon to serve as our future defenders, and finally, as an American citizen. I approve of it for the training it gives In preparing the boy to be a worthy citizen ef his country." The army men who become scout masters will act In the same capacity as civil scoutmasters. No military tactics will be taught, and there will be no attempt made by the soldiers to militarize the movement. The Invitation to General Fershing proceeded from the following resolution, unanimously passed at the March meeting of the national council: "Whereas, The Boy Scouts of Amer ica Is nonmllitary In spirit and In program ; and "Whereas, For this reason officers and former officers of the military establishment have In spite of their genuine desire to do so, expressed a hesitancy to serve as scout leaders for fear that such connection might cre ate a public misapprehension. Be It "Resolved, That we reaffirm at this time our policy that the scout program Is and shall continue nonmllitary, although encouraging at all times the virtues of courage, loyalty, obedience and endurance ; qualities that are no less desirable In civic than In military life; and It Is further "Resolved, That we express sincere appreciation for the splendid which has been given us by officers of the army and navy and by members and posts of the American Legion and others in military and naval service and express hope that we shall continue to enjoy their In the future to an even greater degree." above-mentione- d She Rode Majestic Across the Wide Flat, Up the Zigzag Trail, Across the Beautiful Grassy Level to the Far Rim of the Mes- ahope I have found myself my work. my happiness here under the light of that western star." CHAPTER VII Her Majesty's Rancho. Five months brought all that Stillwell had dreamed of, and so many more changes and Improvements and Innovations that it was as If a magic touch had transformed, the old ranch. Madeline and Alfred and Florence had talked over a fitting name, and had decided on one chosen by Madeline. But this instance was the only one In the course of developments In which Madeline's wishes were not complied with. The cowboys named the new ranch "Her Majesty's Rancho." Stillwell said the names cow boys bestowed were felicitous, and as unchangeable as the everlasting hills; Florence went over to the enemy ; and Alfred, laughing at Madeline's protest declared the cowboys had elected her queen of the ranges, and that there was no help for It. So the name stood "Her Majesty's Itancho." All that had been left of the old Spanish house which had been Stillwell's home for so long was the bare, massive structure, and some of this had been cut away for new doors and windows. Every modern convenience, even to hot and cold running water and acetylene light had been Installed; and the whole Interior painted and carpentered and furnished. The Ideal sought had not been luxury, but comfort. Every door Into the patio looked out upon dark, rich grass and sweet-faceflowers, and every win dow looked down the greed slopes. Madeline Hammond cherished a fancy that the transformation she had wrought In the old Spanish house and In the people with whom she had sur rounded herself, great as that transformation had been, was as nothing compared to the one wrought In herself. She hnd fonnd an object In life. She had seen her brother through his difficulties, on the road to all the suc cess and prosperity that he cared for. Madeline had been a eonsclentlous student of ranching snd an apt pupil of Stillwell. The old cattleman. In his simplicity, gave her the place In his henrt that was meant for the daugh ter he hnd never hnd. His pride In her, Madeline thought was beyond rensnn or belief or words to tell. Under his jpildance, sometimes accom panied by Alfred and Florence, Made line had ridden the ranges and had studied the life and work of the cow bnvs. Sometimes she looked In be? mirror end laorhed with sheer Joy at sight of. the lithe, audacious, brown rreatnrw reflected faced, flashlna-eyethere. It was not so mnch Joy In her beauty as sheer Joy of life. Kastern critics bsd been wont to rail her hestttlful In tno days when she b been pale and slender and proud and cold. She Innghed. If they could only see her nnwl From the tip of her golden head to her feet she was alive, pulsating, on fir. d d BOY SCOUTS AID IN RESCUE When fire broke out In the infirmary of the State sanitarium at Undercliff, Conn., a few weeks ago the Institution's scout troop mobilized Instantly and rendered valuable assistance in helping to carry to safety the 75 sick children from the wards, which occupy three floors. A Merlden (Conn.) paper commenting on the incident says: "The fire drills which have been frequent ennbled the officers and employees of the Institution, assisted by the scout troop, to handle the situation without assistance from the fire department None of the children suffered any 111 effects from the sudden evacuation of the building into the cold outdoors, thanks to the promptness with which the boy scouts conveyed them Into the warm dining room." SCOUTS BEAUTIFY CAMP8 Seattle's ambition to make Its Stated Camp Manager Gates, "that as demona result of the strated by Seattle community organizations and putemal bodies, the tourist camp will become famous for Its beauty throughout the entire United States. I wish to thank everyone, especially the boy scouts, for their participation In the ceremonies." HELP FIGHT WHITE PLAGUE Boy scouts of Cincinnati, Ohio, rendered a unique help to the league In Its recent campaign In that city to educate people on how to avoid danger of the greatwhlte plague. The night preceding the campaign the scouts under the direction of the society painted the sidewalks of the downtown section with the slogan "Sprinkle Before Sweeping." In the morning the pedestrians were thereby reminded of this simple means of keeping down the dry dusty air that carries the germs of the grim tuberculosis. BOY SCOUTS SAVe SS LIVES N. J., hsv lives since January 1, states a local summary of scout "good turns." "Twenty-sevepersons were pulled from beneath the wheels of automobiles," states the report. "Sli were dragged out of ponds or lakes; one was taken from the Morris canal and another was rescued from In front of an approaching train. The names of the scoots have not been announced la many Instances their deeds wefn related by follow scouts." Boy scouts of Newark. saved st least 33 n "Stewart, It's a waste your life. with mel tame Come te bask (TO BK CONTINUED.) No climate Is too wet, to eacae hot or too eoid fer then she gave up uy'vf to tlcbsas te floarfsfc dry. o Ufid ew auto- mobile tourist camp the most beautiful In the West was actively furthered by local boy scouts, who with other residents, aided in planting scores of "I sincerely believe," flower beds. |
