Show e RiN 7 i CHAPTER I. I It was one of ot those rare days days n a alight light breeze mingled with sunshine to put plenty of enthusiasm In one one when when Madge Morris and Rna Ena Ferris alighted from the dally daily passenger train at a little station In Colorado It grand said Madge It makes me feel Just as though I want to shout for Joy Why dont don't you said Ena there doesn't appear to be anybody about to prevent it It The two girls noted the stage that was to take them twenty-five twenty miles across the country to Tampa They saw to It that their baggage was placed safely aboard the rough looking vehicle and the they were anxious for the stage to be on its way Wheres the driver Madge asked of the station agent Who Highland Shorty responded the railroad official Hes In the hospital hospital hos hos- pital vital at Denver having a couple of bullets bullets bullets bul bul- lets removed from his anatomy He Ho HodI dI didn't nt stick his hands up quick enough c r I 1 I I I v 1 r f f Who Highland Shorty to suit a fellow so he got pumped full of lead Young Charles Rodgers is taking his place on the high seat sent Here nere he comes now Madge l and Ena Enn looked at each other slightly startled but said fald noth noth- ing lag As the girls turned In the direction direction direction tion the station agent Indicated they saw a boyish looking figure Jump from the street onto the station platform He lie looked still in his teens and whistled whistled whis whis- tied merrily as he loaded the stage and threw the mall mail on n the drivers driver's seat How now soon docs does the stage go Madge asked the driver In about five fi minutes As Madge and Ena climbed into the dilapidated vehicle a large fat tat woman with arms filled with packages opened the door and said Is this the stage i for Tampa 7 Upon being Informed that it was oho Bho tossed her bundles onto the seat and climbed in Charles Rodgers Hodgers was anything but butan butan i ian an experienced stage driver and he i looked It He TIe had come from Omaha to Colorado to breathe the pure mountain moun moun- I tain air and build up his constitution j i tion as he lie put it lie He accepted the first position offered which was clerkin clerk clerk- clerk 1 in Jn In a store then when Highland I ISh Sh Shorty got shot young Rodgers applied applied applied ap ap- ap- ap apI I plied for tor the position as stage driver and got it He felt little concern I about highwaymen because ho was assured assured assured as as- that the tho pay roll for tor the mines would never be sent by stage o again since the highwaymen had bad made such sucha I Ia a success of ot It when they rode away awny with the last shipment and left Highland nigh High High I land Shorty badly wounded so it gave him a feeling of ot importance to sit alt on I the high sent seat and crack his whip over the four horses as they trotted along When the three e women were inside I the youthful driver mounted his seat scat I and cried I The creal creaky old vehicle gave gaTe a great lunge that threw I Ena out of her seat and into the tho fat womans woman's lop lap all right you didn't hurt me none said the woman of ot weight as 1111 asEna asEna Ena straightened her hat and apolo apolo- zed Madge had caught herself and I Iwas was laughing merrily at the mix r These measly drivers are all aUk alike e. e said aid the fat tat woman addressing no one In particular a careless good for nothing good nothing lot and dont don't think of ot anybody but themselves elves Just listen to that fellow whistle little ho he cares whose hose neck he breaks by his careless driving I I But Dut everything Is all right now Madge said and Its It's such a grand morning 1 Y cant can't blame him for tor whis tUng I 1 feel that way myself Madge Morris the only child of m mil l. l Bonaire Harry Morris bad had a slim soft sort I figure cameo features raven black blackhair blackhair blackhair hair and big soft blue eyes Her ner type of beauty she had inherited from her mother who had died before the girl was old enough to remember Madge I had many of ot her fathers father's strong characteristics char char- principally self self- tion and pride The paternal Inheritance Inheritance inheritance tance appeared plainly In her strong and graceful carriage Ena Ferris Madges Madge's closest companion compan compan- ion for sIx sir years rears was a charming girl Her parents had lost their lives of oft off the coast of British Columbia when an nn Alaskan excursion boat struck a rock and went to the bottom At that time Ena was a guest at the Morris home and Mr Morris Insisted that she remain remain remain re re- re- re main as a companion for tor his only child Ena was a typical blonde even- even tempered and sunshiny It was not long before the two girls knew that their companion had lived in the mountains thirty years was a widow with a daughter that she had just sold her restaurant in a mining camp and that she was going to Tampa to buy a hotel Madge became completely absorbed by her surroundings She loved the trees the streams and the mountains and It kept her little head bobbing in her efforts not to miss seeing things When the stage ran along Grand river Madge cried out Oh Isn't it beautiful 1 N No wonder they call it Grand river Such a beautiful stream running so swiftly and yet ret so quietly Yes Its It's a nice river said the stout woman but It Is the most treacherous stream In the country Just a short time ago ngo three boys were caught In Its quicksand and drowned And every once In a while people lose their lives while trying to ford it It I As Madge looked down the canyon she could see a continuous swirling and churning of water rushing swiftly from side to side High rugged cliffs lined the stream on the east while while- Jagged rocks kept It within its bounds on the western border What are you ou dreaming about now asked Ena I wasn't dreaming replied Madge I was Just thinking what a great hurry that water seems to be In to Join the Colorado in Its made race down the Grand Canyon of Arizona Promptly at twe twelve e the stage came cameto cameto cameto to a halt at Doby ranch the driver Jl Pt rUn I a irL JI ho R a at the r ranch house As the pass passengers passengers n- n gers had bad lunched en route the they alighted alight alight- ed to walk alk around and note how quickly the four tired horses were un un- un L I I I I hitched and exchanged for tor fresh ones Arent you afraid of highwaymen asked Madge of the driver when he emerged from the ranch house and started for the stage Not at all was the prompt reply somewhat proudly But he continued continued con con- there Is one bad place In the road about five miles from here Its here Its It's the place where Highland Shorty got held up and I always feel a little safer sater after I get by that point You will know when you get there for tor I have to slow down as we wind around th j curves cUr You see that big Finger rock down there well Its It's Just this side of that If he had deliberately planned I to frighten his passengers he could not noth have h c selected a better way but ut they showed no signs of fear However Madge larI unconsciously felt her hand steal to her small revolver er in her coat pocket There were three silent figures In Inthe Inthe inthe the stage as it rattled along at the lively pace the fresh horses struck They repeatedly looked at Finger rock It was plain that all nil were thinking along the along the same line Une Suddenly the driver stopped whistling whis whis- the horses halted to n a walk and the rattling old coach conch died into a grating squeak With a Jerk the stage stopped dead Two masked horsemen with raised rifles blocked the way Instantly Instantly In In- the drivers driver's hands went straight above his head hend Before the passengers ers realized what they were doing the three stood beside the old vehicle with hands up A clear silver cr lou laugh h echoed and reechoed reechoed re- re echoed through the canyon Well what do you know about that I l ejaculated tho the taller of the masked horsemen as his laugh died He looked at his companion and slipped sUpped his rifle rUle In Its scabbard and dismounted Ho lIe wore topped high leather boots corduroy trousers a flannel flan flan- flannel nel shirt felt hat and a green veiL His companion was dressed in a similar simi simi- similar lar fashion but had his features cov coy covered covered ered Bred with a black veil We never molest ladles said the theman theman man In the green veil I guess we will wUl have to let you pass Then stepping stepping stepping step step- ping directly in front of ot Madge he noted the small revolver that was held tightly In her hand above her head bead Pardon me me he be said but before we go I guess I better make sure of our get-away get by taking that little gun D for a souvenir Reaching up and gently taking the little revolver he be quickly put his hand Into his pocket and took out a small automatic revolver removed the cartridges cartridges cartridges cart cart- ridges slipped sUpped them Into his coat and placed his revolver in Madges Madge's hand There he said a fair exchange Is no robbery Then slightly lifting the green veil he smiled as he looked for tor a n moment straight into Madges Madge's big blue eyes eyes and and a flush stole over his face under the intensity of her gaze As the tho veil vell fell again over his hise e r rI I I 1 I I f- f I 1 I dal I I h Slightly Lifting the Green Veil clear cut smoothly shaven features be he tipped his hat and said Adios s. s The only reply he received was a sharp retort from Madge Coward coward 1 I CHAPTER ii II I When the stage arrived in front of the Hotel Grand at Tampa there was the usual crowd of the town sitting in front of the office and Charles Rodgers lost no time lime In telling of the hold holdup The news spread quickly and soon reached the marshal who was pitching shoes horse with the blacksmith Madge and Ena had been In their room a few minutes when a loud knock sounded at their door Upon being bidden enter the marshal marshal mar max skid Introduced himself and walked InI inI In I MI have been Informed Miss Morris Morris began the officer that you are the only person who had an opportunity to see the face tace of ot the principal bandit therefore I would like to have you describe him For a few moments Madge sat In silence as if It meditating then speaking to the officer she said He was a big strong man about five fifty-five years cars of age very dark ark complexion and wore a aI ablack ablack I black beard I would say he was a Mexican As Madge finished speakIng speakIng speakIng speak- speak Ing she felt feIt as If Enas Ena's eyes were looking lookIng look look- Ing at her In a startled manner Did you notice anything peculiar about him Again Madge l hesitated Yes she replied I noticed he limped Anything else elser Nothing Nothing more He une exchanged revolvers with you did he be not He lIe did Will you kindly let me see the revolver revolver re re- re- re volver he gave you Madge produced the pistol The officer looked It over carefully and found It nothing more than an ordinary ordinary ordinary nary automatic revolver that had undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly un un- un- un seen much service as the blue steel was badly worn In places Do you care If It I keep this gun for a while at-while asked th the marshal Indeed I do was the reply It belongs belongs belongs be be- longs to me until I can get possession of my own Very well Miss I think that will willbe willbe be bc all No sooner had the door shut him from sight and his footsteps could be heard going down stairs than Ena Ens turned to Madge Why Madge Morris MorrIs Morris Mor Mor- ris what in the world Is the matter with you Can It be that you have lost your senses You told me the bandit was young with cut clear-cut smooth features and I distinctly saw that his Ills hair was light and as for the tile limping you know lenow very well that he hew walked w like n a soldier J Dont Ena I Please dont don't I I cant can't understand it myself said sald Madge ladge as she intently examined her newly acquired acquired ac ac- revolver The first thing Madge did the following follow tollow- following ing morning was to Inquire If tho the bandits bandits bandits ban ban- had been caught The proprietor of the hotel hote said sold the posse vosse was still out but as the description she had given had been sent over the entire coon country try the bandits would undoubtedly I be landed soon To be Continued |