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Show WEAVER CITY PRESS j w ... St (Lnimal A ROMANCE by ZANE GREY Cerrit by Harper BUT YOU'RE NOTHOfcOUGHBRED. MAJESTY HAMMOND, ADIOS1" For a moment Madeline sat on her horse with shut eyes. She dreaded the light. "Now you can't say you've never been kissed," Stewart said. Uis voice seemed a long way off. "But that was coming to you, so - bt-gar- iie. Here!" She felt something hard and cold and metallic thrust into her hand. lie 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 wilh his broad breast against her knee, and she looked up to see that old mocking smile on his face. "Qo ahead! Throw my gun on me! Be a thoroughbred!" Madeline did not yet grasp his meaning. "You can put me down in that quiet place on the hUl Monty beside Price" Madeline dropped the gun with a shuddering cry of horror. The tense of his words, the memory of Monty, the certainty that she would kill Stewart if she held the gun an instant longer, tortured the cry from her. Sttwarl stopped to pick up the weapon. "You might have saved me a h I of a lot of trouble," he said, with another flash of the mocking smile. "You're beautiful and sweet and proud, but youre no thoroughbred! Majesty Ilammond, adiosT self-accust- ng A bit tempestuous? Well, rather, but it's only one dramatic situation in a story of tbe cattle range near the Mexican border. There are others Madeline Hammond owns "Her Majesty's Raacho" and Stewart is her foreman. She is a transplanted Eastern irl who has come to love life under "The Light of the Western Stars." The life of the range has recreated, a wealthy, spoiled society girl into a fine woman. And her influence has saved Stewart, a wild, handsome,, brave, dissolute, efficient cowboy a college man and a gentleman once. Of course they fall in love. But he glories in it, while she is slow te admit it even to herself. Of course, also, tbey lash two dominant personalities. And then the girl is jealous whereupon there is the dickens to pay. And what a dramatic ending I The author? Why, Zane Grey. That should be enough to guarantee a stirring tale, with color and adventure and swift actions. He's the writer of the hour for outdoor Western stories, with success after success to his credit. 5 CHAPTER I 1 A Gentleman of the Range. "When Madeline Hammond stepped i ' , J from the train at El Cajon, New Mexico, It was nearly midnight, and her y first Impression was of a huge4 dark space of cool, windy etnptJWeVv strange and silent, stretching away? r. under great blinking white stars. "Miss, there's no one to meet you,'' said the conductor anxiously. , "I wired my brother," she replied, "lie will be here presently. But, If he ahould not come surely I can And a hotel "There's lodgings to be had. If .you'll excuse me this Is no place for a lady like you to be alone at night. ' It's a rough little town mostly Mex- -' And they (cans, miners, cowboys. carouse a lot Besides, the revolu-- J tlon across the border has stirred up some excitement along the line. Miss, I gueBS It's safe enough. If you " "Thank you. I am not In the least .i j - r - ' afraid." As the train started to glide away Miss Hammond walked toward the dimly lighted station. She entered l the empty waiting-room- . An gave out a thick yellow light A tele-- i graph Instrument clicked faintly. ; Madeline Hammond crossed the waiting-rooto a window and, hold-( V lnS aside her veil, looked out. At Bret i' she could descry only a few dim lights, and these blurred In her sight As v ; her eyes grew accustomed to the dark- J, j ness she saw a superbly built horse ' y standing near the window. Beyond was a bare square. Through a hole came a cool ., In the window-glas- s I breete, and on It breathed a sound that struck coarsely upon her ear a of laughter and j discordant mingling - ' shout and the tramp of boots to the ff hard music of a phonograph. mused Miss "Western revelry," JtJti Hammond, as she left the window. "Now, what to do? I'll wait here. the station agent will return "i ' Ferbaps ? soon, or Alfred will come for me." .' '' As she sat down to wait she re-- ( viewed the causes which accounted for the remarkable situation In which '' That Madeline she found herself. , Hammond should be alone, at a late hour, In a dingy little western rail- ' road station, was Indeed extraordl-nary. The close of her debutante year ' had been marred by the only unhappy experience of lier life the disgrace : ' of her brother and his leaving home. ' She dated the beginning of a certain ; thoughtful habit of mind from that i time, and a dissatisfaction with the '.; V billllant life society offered her. of unrest, v There had been months of curiously painful wonderment that her position, her wealth, her pop-- v ularlty no longer sufficed. She be-lleved she had lived through the dreams and fancies of a girl to be-- , 'come a woman of the world. And she fcad gone on as before, a part of tbe glittering show, but no longer blind ;to the truth that there was nothing j In her luxurious life to make It slg--, itfflcant. And at last she knew what i Wie needed to be alone, to brood for "long boars, to gaze out on lonely, silent darkening stretches, to watch ; the stars, te race ber soul, to find her real self. i Then It was she bad first thought of Uttlng the brother who lad gone - p 4 ! .1 '' J , ! west to cast his fortune with the As It happened, she had cattlemen. friends who were on the eve of starting for California, and she made a quick decision to travel with them. When she calmly announced her Intention of going out west her mother had exclaimed in consternation; and her father, surprised Into pathetic memory of the black sheep of the family, had stared at her with glistening eyes. "Why, Madeline! You want to see that wild boy!" Then be bad reverted to the anger he still felt for his wayward son, and he had for bidden Madeline to go. Her mother forgot her haughty poise and dignity. Madeline stood her ground, even to reminding them that she was twenty-fou- r and her own mistress. In the end she had prevailed. Madeline had planned to arrive In El Cajon on October 8, her brother's birthday, and she had succeeded, though her arrival occurred at the twenty-fourt- h hour. Her train had been several hours late. Whether or not the message had reached Alfred's hands she had no means of telling, end the thing which concerned her now was the fact that she had arrived and he was 'riot there to meet her. As Madeline sat waiting In the yellow gloom she heard the faint. Intermittent click of the telegraph Instrument, the low hum of wires, the occasional stamp of an Iron-shohoof, and a distant vacant laugh rising above the sounds of the dance. She became conscious of a slight quickening of her pulse. Madeline had only a limited knowledge of the West. Like all of her class, she had traveled Europe and had neglected America. She had been astounded at the Interminable distance she had traveled, and if there had been anything attractive to look at In all that Journey she had passed It In the night A faint sound like the rattling of thin chains diverted Madeline's attention. At first she Imagined It was made by the telegraph wires. Then she heard a step. The door swung wide; a tall man entered, and with him came the clinking rattle. She realized then that the sound came from his spurs. "Will you please direct me to a hotel?" asked Madeline, rising. The cowboy removed his sombrero, and the sweep he made with It and the accompanying bow, despite their exaggeration, had a kind of rude He took two long strides grace. toward her. ' "Lady, are you married?" In the past Miss Hammond's sense of humor had often helped her to over-loocritical exactions natural to her breeding. She kept silence, and she Imagined It was Just as well that her veil hid her face at the moment. She had been prepared to find cowboys rather striking, and she had been warned not to laugh at them. This gentleman of the range deliberately reached down and took up her left hand. Before she recovered from her start of amaze he had stripped off her glove. "Fine spark, but no wedding ring." be drawled. "Lady, Tm glad to see you're not married." He released ber band and returned tbe glove. "You sea, tbe only hotel In this here town Is against boarding married d k J?ve your W aVethers women. Bad business for hotels to have married women. Keeps the boys away. You see, this isn't Reno." Then he laughed rather boyishly, and from that, and the way he slouched on his sombrero, Madeline realized he- - was half drunk. As she instinctively recoiled she not only gave him a keener glance, but stepped Into a position where a better light shone on his face. It was like red bronze, bold, raw, sharp, Like that of all women whose beauty and charm haf brought them much before the world,' Miss Hammond's Intuition had been developed until she had a delicate-anexquisitely sensitive per ceptlon of the nature of men and of her effect upon them. This crude cowboy, under the Influence of drink, had affronted her; nevertheless, whatever was In his mind, he meant no insult. "I shall be greatly obliged to you If you will show me to the hotel." she said. "Lady, you watt here," he replied, slowly, as If his thought did not come swiftly. "I'll go fetch the porter." . She thanked hlra, and as he went out. closing the door, she sat down In considerable relief. It occurred to her that she should have mentioned her brother's name. Then she fell, to wondering what living with such uncouth cowboys had done to Alfred. 5ne alone of her family had ever be lieved In any latent good In Alfred Hammond, and her faith had siarcelv survived the two years of silence. Waiting tbeie, she again found her self listening to the moan of the wind through the wires. Then Madeline heard a rapid pattering, low at first and growing louder, which presently sne recognized as the galloping of horses. She went to the winrtnw thinking, hoping her brother had ar rived. But as the clatter Increased to a roar, shadows sned hv lpnn horses, flying manes and tails, som- Dreroed riders, all stranre and wild in her sight Itecalling what the conductor had said, she was at some pains to quell her uneasiness. Then out of the gloom two flirures anneared. one tall, the other slight. The cow- Doy entered, pulling a disheveled ngure that of a priest, a padre, whose mantle had manifestly been dis arranged ty the rude grasp of his captor. Plain it was that the padre was extremely terrified. Madeline Ilammond gazed in bewilderment at the little man. so pale and shaken, and a protest trembled upon her lips; but It was never uttered, for this cowboy now appeared to be a cool, g devil; and stretching out a long arm, he grasped her add swung her back to the bench. "You stay there!" he orrWprt His voice, though neither brutal nor harsh nor cruel, had the unaccountable effect of making her feel powerless to move. No man had ever before addressed her in such a tone. It was the woman In her that obeyed not the personality of proud Madeline Hammond. The padre lifted his clasped hands as If supplicating for his life, and begnn to speak hurriedly In Spanish. Madeline did not understand the language. The cowboy pulled out a huge gun and brandished It In the priest's face. Then he lowered It, apparently to point It at the priest's feet. There was a red flash, and then a thundering report that stunned Madeline. The room filled with smoke and the smell of powder. When she could see distinctly through the smoke she experienced a sensation of Immeasurable relief that the cowboy had rt.it shot the padre. But he was still waving the gun, and now appeared to be dragging his victim toward her. Whnt possibly could be the drunken fool's Intention? This must be. this surely was a cowboy trick. Madeline no sooner thought of It than she made certain her brother was lntr.idu.lni.' her to a Wild West amusement. She could scarcely believe It. yet it must be true. Probably he stood Just outside the door or window laughing at her embarrassment. Anger checked her panic. She straightened up with what composure this surprise hud left her mid started for the door. But the cowboy barrel ber passage grasped her anus. Then Madeline divined that her brother could not have any knowledge of this It was no trick. Poise, Indignity. ail the acquired dignity, culture habits of character fled before the Instinct to fight She was athletic. She fought. She struggled lesHratel.v But he forcvd her back with hands of Iron. She had never knowu a man could be so strong. "What lo you mean?" she punted "Dearie, ease up a little on the bridle," he replied, gallyT Mad'sllne thought she must be dreaming. She could not think rleurly. She not only saw this man, but also felt his powerful presence. And the shaking priest, the haze of blue smoke, the smell of powder these were not unreal. Then close before her eyes burst another blinding red flash, and close at ber ears bellowed another report Unable to stand, Madeline allpped down onto the bench. Her drifting faculties refused clearly to record WKIGLEYs, what transpired during the next few moments; presently, however, as her mind steadied somewhat 8he heard, though as in a dream, the voice of the padre hurrying over strange words. It ceased, and then the cowboy's voice stirred her. "Lady, say Si Si. Say It quick! Say Si!" From sheer suggestion, a force Irresistible at this moment when her will was clamped by panic, she spoke the word. "And now, lady so we can finish this properly what's your name?" Still obeying .mechanically, she told him. He stared for a while, as If the name hud awakened associations In a mind somewhat befogged. He leaned back unsteadily. "What name?" he demanded. "Madeline Hammond. 1 am Alfred Hammond's sister." , He put his hand up and brushed at an Imaginary something before his "You're not Majesty Hameyes. mond?" How strange stranger than anything that had ever happened to her before was It to hear that name on the lips of this cowboy I It was a name by which she was familiarly known, though only those nearest and dearest to her had the privilege of using It. And now It revived her dulled faculties, and by an effort she regained control of herself. "You are Majesty Hammond," and this time he affirmed wonderlngly rather than questioned. Madeline rose aud faced him. "Yes, I am." He slammed his gun back Into Its holster. "Well, I reckon we won't go on with it then." "With what, sir? And why did you force me to say SI to this priest?" "I reckon that was a way I took to show him you'd be willing to get married." "Oh! . . . You you! . . ." Words failed her. This appeared to galvanize the cowboy Into action. He grasped the padre and led him toward the door, cursing It-- Madeline listened. Low voices of men, the softer liquid tones of a woman, drifted In through the open door. They spoke in Spanish, and the voices grew louder. Then the woman'a voice, hurried and broken, rising higher, was eloquent of vain appeal. Tbe cowboy's demeanor startled Madeline Into anticipation of something dreadfuL She was not deceived. From outside came tbe sound of a scuffle a muffled shot a groan, the thud of a falling body, a woman's low cry, and footsteps padding away In grlm-smllln- Si?" She Fought. She Struggled ately. Desper- mtaa'S dloearjo. yr healtk. WRIGLEY'3 lptr i, .1, , Id. , fceaaMeitjpiefcJV rapid retreat Madeline Hammond leaned weakly back in her seat cold and sick, and for a moment her ears' throbbed to the tramp of the dancers across the way and the rhythm of the cheap music. Then Into the open door-plac- e flashed a girl's tragic face, lighted by dark eyes and framed by dusky hair. The girl reached a aUm brown hand round the side of the door and held on as if to support herself. "Senor Gene!" she exclaimed; and breathless glad recognition made a sudden break In her terror. "Bonlta!" The cowboy leaped to her. "Girl! Are you hurt?" "No, senor." He took hold of ber. "I beard-some- body got shot. Was It Danny "No, senor." "Did Danny do the shooting? Tell me, girl." "No, senor." "I'm Bure glad. I thought Danny was mixed up in that. He had Still-wellmoney for the boys I was afraid. . . . Say, Bonlta, but you'll get In trouble. Who was with you? What did you do?" "Senor Gene they Don Carlos vaqueros they quarrel over me, I only dance a leetle, smile a leetle, and they quarrel. I beg they be --good watch out for Sheriff Hawe . . . and now Sheriff Hawe put me ht Jail. I so frighten : he try make leetle love to Bonita once, and now he hate me like he hate Senor Gene." "Pat Hawe won't nut von In 1atl Take my horse and hit the Peloaclllo trail. Bonlta, promise to stay away from El Cajon." "Si, Senor." He led her outside. Madeline beard the horse snort and champ hit bit. The cowboy spoke low; only a few words were Intelligible "stirrups . . . wn wait out . . mountain . . . trail . . . now ride !" A moment's silence ensued and was broken by a pounding of hoofs, a pat tering of gravel. Then Madeline saw a big, dark horse run Into the wide space. She caught a ellmDse of wind swept scarf and hair, a little form low down in the saddle. The horse was outlined In black aealnst the lln of dim lights. There was something wild and splendid In his flight. Directly the cowboy anneared araln In the doorwav. "Miss Ilammond. I reckon we trant to rustle out of here. Been bad gottigs- on. And there's a train due." Sb hurried Into the open air not daring to look back or to either aide. Her guide strode swiftly. She had almost to run to keep up with him. Suddenly aware that she had been led beyond the line of houses, she spoke : "Where are you taking me?" "To Florence Kingsley," he replied. "Who is she?" "I reckon she's your brother's best friend out here." Madeline kept nace with thr mn. boy for a few moments longer, and men sne stopped. It was as moch from necessity to catch her breath as it was from recurring fenr Th cowboy, missing her. came hnrV th. few Intervening Then he steps. waited, still silent, looming beside her. us so dark, so lonely." she fsl- tered. "How do I irnfiur Hht warrant can you give me that you that no harm will befall me If I go r 's ... half-drunke- ' outside had attracted his attention. of-to- and threatening, no doubt enjoining secrecy. Then he pushed him across the threshold and stood there breathing hard and wTestllng with himself. "Here wait wait a minute, Miss Hammond," he said, huskily. "You could fall Into worse company than mine though I reckon you sure think not. I'm pretty drunk, but I'm all right otherwise. Just wait a minute." She stood quivering and blazing wlfli wrath, and watched this savage flcht his drunkenness. Madeline saw farther?" the dark, damp hair lift from his "None, Miss Hammond eirprw brows as he held It up to the cool I've seen your face." th Haa (Mhu ii Rub Watson haa milt iu viJ 4WU ch. I saw him Are yesterday and he still speki: language. New York Sun. Dub-W- ell. WOMEHIEEDSWaMP Thousands HOST of women have kidnct tM bladder trouble and never suspeetS. Women's complaints often provsteW nothing else but kidney trouble, tat result of kidney or bladder disease. If the kidneys are not in a hethhy a dition, they may cause the other onui to Decome diseased. Pain in tbe back, headache, lost ef t bition, nervousness, are often times trm tome of kidney trouble. Don't delay starting treatment ft, Kilmer's Swamp-Roo- t, a physician's p scription, obtained at any drag (ton, n be just the remedy needed to ortneea such conditions. Get a medium or large size bottle b mediately from any drug store. However, if you wish first to test tik great preparation send ten cents to Dr. Kilmer ft Co, Binghamton, N. Y, for i sample bottler When writing be son at mention this paper. Advertisement A Blessing. Mrs. Scrapplngton Mv cnntmT for you Is too deep for words. 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Contains no meroury. salicylate soes, oil wlntergreen or narcotics, but pow lively overcomes any kind of rMS matlsm or gout on earth. What morj do you want? There Is nothing TM as good, and It la Impossible to nj something better. The greatest acid solvent knows and alao a aietiei Uver aMaieine. Trunk's Prescription sells for IU or I for only 15.09 at drug stores, Trsik Bros. DntaT Co Denver, Cela. wind. The cowboy turned and began to talk. "You see I was pretty drunk," he labored. "There was a fiesta and a wedding. I do fool things when I'm drunk. I made a fool bet I'd marry the first girl who came to town. . . If you hadn't worn that veil the fellows were Joshing me and Ed 'Linton was getting married and everybody always wants to gamble. . . I must have been pretty drunk." "Explanations are not necessary," 'he Interrupted. "I am very tired distressed. The hour Is late. Have you the slightest Idea what It means to be a gentleman f" Ills bronzed face burned a flaming crimson. "Is my brother here In town to night?" Madeline went on. "No. He's at his ranch." "But I wired him." "Like as not the message Is over In his box at the P. O. He'll be In town tomorrow. He's shipping cattle for 8tlllwell." "Meanwhile I must go to a hotel. Will you please" If he beard her last words he showed bo evidence of It A nols "I shall not tell my brother or your your rudeness To tne." Ci'O lit; LUNTlNUfcD.) Shakespeare's Vocabulary Rivaled Probably no living tx.et has a mor extensive vocabulary than Gabriel d'Annunzlo. who is to visit Paris la the spring of this year. "Most peohe once said, "use ple, only 800 words. I employ 15,000, which I cuU from different volumes, some taken from an old book on soma agriculture, from an old translation of oth-er- e Ovid, from Machlavelll'a works. Old Italian authors are my dally bread," Women Compared With Clocks. omen are like 'clocks. 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