{Con aned from last week). Madeline's 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- faced cowboy whose blue eyes flashed through tears. “Danny Mains!” she said, tremulous- ly and smilingly. “If you are as glad %]# You Really Think | Merit Such a Reward, You May Kiss Me Out- _ right” as oe + news has made me—if you really think I merit such a reward— you may kiss me outright.” With a bashful wonder, but with right hearty will, Danny Mains availed himself of this gracious privilege. Stillwell snorted. The signs of his phenomenal smile were manifest, oth- erwise Madeline would have thought that snort an indication of furious dis- approval. “Bill, straddle a, chair,” said Danny. “You've gone back a heap these last few months, frettin’ over your bad boys, Danny an’ Gene. You'll need gupport under you while I'm throwin’ my yarn. Story of my life, Bill.” He placed a chair for Madeline. “Miss mond, beggin’ your pardon again, want you ! to listen, also. You've the face an’ eyes of & woman who loves go hear of other people’s happiness. Besides, somehow, it’s easy for me to talk lookin’ at you.” Walking off the porch, he stood be fore 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 Btilwell’'s feet. Piece after piece of rock thumped upon the floor. The Pleces were sharp, ragged, evidently broken from a ledge; the body of them was white in color, with yellow velns and bars and streaks. Stillwell grasped up one rock after another. stared and stuttered, put the rocks to this lips, dug into them with his shak- ing fingers; then he lay back in his chalr, head against the wall, and as he gered at Danny the old smile began to sform his face, Danny regarded Stillwell with lofty condescension. “Now, Bill, what've we got here, say, offhand?” “Oh, Lord, DAnnY! I'm afrald to say. Look, Miss Majesty, jest look at the gold. I've lived among prospec: tors an’ gold mines fer thirty years, an’ I never seen the beat of this.” “The Lost Mine of the Padres!” cried Danny, in stentorian voice. “An’ it belongs to me!” Stillwell made some incoherent sound Ha sat up fascinated, quite beside mself. “Bill, it was some long time ago since you saw me,” said Danny. “Fact is, I know how you felt, because Gene kept me posted. I 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 Peloncillos. Bonita had Gene's horse, an’ she was to meet him up on the trail. We got to the moun- tains all right, an’ nearly starved for a few days till Gene found us, He had got In trouble himself an’ couldnit fetch much with him. “We made for the crags an’ built a cabin. I come down that day Gene sent Nis horse Majesty to you. Never saw Gene so broken-hearted. Well, after he sloped for the border Bonita an’ I were hard put to it to keep alive, But wo 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. He was back from the rev- olution an’ cuttin’ up some. But I got IE TRA leet (SE gy eg STARS us PEER 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 drink- ir’, he’d 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 spoilin’ it. Gene's dog-gone hard to buck against! T had to give in, an’ I asked Bonita to marry me. Well, she wouldn’t at first—said she wasn’t good enough for me. But I saw the marriage idea was workin’ deep, an’ I just kept on be- in’ 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. Stillwell’s smile was rapturous. Made- line leaned toward Danny with her eyes shining. “Miss Hammond, an’ you, Bill Still- well, now listen, for this Is strange I've got to tell you. The afternoon Bonita an’ I 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 hair. She sald 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 flow- ers on that slope, the same kind she had in her hair. When 1 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 weatherin’ of the cliffs. “An’ there under the crags was a gold pocket. “Then I was worse than locoed. I weit gold-crazy. T worked like seven- teen burros. Bill, I dug a lot of gold- bearin’ quartz. Bonita watched the trails for me, brought me water. That was how she come to get caught by Pat Hawe an’ his guerrillas. Sure! Pat Hawe was so set on doin’ Gene dirt that he mixed up with Don Carlos. Bonita will tell you some staggerin’ news about that outfit. Just now my story is all gold. 3 Danny Mains got up and kicked back his chair. Blue lightning gleamed from his eyes as he thrust a hand toward Stillwell, “Bill, old pal, put her there—give me your hand,” he said. “You were always my friend. You had faith in me, Well, Danny Mains owes you, an’ he owes Gene Stewart a good deal, an’ Danny Mains pays. I want two pardners to help me work my gold mine. You an’ Gene. Go fetch him; an’ right here in this house, with my wife an’ Miss Hammond as witnesses, we'll draw up a8 pardnership. Go find him, Bill. I want to show him this gold, show him bow Danny Mains pays! An’ the only bitter drap in my cup today is that I can’t ever pay Monty Price.” Madeline watched the huge Stillwell and the little cowboy, both talking wildly, as they walked off arm In arm to find Stewart. She imagined some- thing of what Danny’s disappointment would be, of tire elder man's conster- nation and grief, when be learned Stewart had left for the border. At this juncture she looked up to see 8 strange, yet. familiar figure approach- ing. Padre Marcos! Mention of Padre Marcos, sight et him, had always occasioned Madeline a little indefinable shock ; and now, &s be stepped to the porch, a shrunken, stooped, and sad-faced man, she was startled. The padre bowed low to her. “Senora, will you grant me andl ence? It is a matter of great moment, which you might not care to have any ong hear.” Wonderingly Madeline inclined her head. The padre gently closed one door and then the others. “Senora, I have come to disclose 8 secret—my own sinfulness in keeping ft—and to implore your pardon. Do you remember that night Senor Stew: art dragged me before you in the walting-room at El Cajon?” “Yes,” replied Madeline. ~ “Seriora, since that night you have been Senor Stewart's wife!” Madeline became as motionless as stone. - She: seemed’ to feel nothing, only to hear. “You are Senor Stewart's wife. 1 have kept the secret ‘under fear ‘of death. But I could keep it no longer. Senor Stewart may kill me now. Ab, Senora, it 18 very to you. You were ‘80 frightened that night, you knew ‘not what - happened. Senor Stewart threateped me, He forced you. He made me speak the service. He made you speak the Spanish yes. a ~ And 1, 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! 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. 1 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 se- cret. If he were killed IT need never tell you. But if he lived I knew that I must some day. “Senora, I pray you, do not misun- derstand my mission. Beyond my con- fession to you I 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 in- scrutable. I am only a humble instru- ment. You are a noble woman, and Senor Stewart is a man of desert iron forged anew in the crucible of love. Quien 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 another’s 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 dis pensation of God. I pray you, Senora, before you let Stewart give you free- dom at such cost be sure you do not want his love, lest you cast away something sweet and ennobling which you yourself have created.” CHAPTER XXI News of Stewart. Blinded, like a wild creature, Made fine Hammond ran to her room. She felt as if a stroke of lightning had shattered the shadowy substance of the dream she had made of real life. The wonder of Danny Mains’ story, the strange regret with which she had * en Fan. realized her injustice to Stewart, the astounding secret as revealed by Padre Marcos—these were forgotten in the sudden consciousness of her own love. She liberated the thought that knocked at the gates of her mind. With quiv- ering lips she whispered it. Then she spoke aloud: “1 will say it—hear it. I—I love hip!” In a nature like hers, where strength of feeling had long been inhibited as a matter of training, such a trans- forming surprise as sudden conscious- ness of passionate love required time for its awakening, time for its sway. By and by that last enlightening mo- 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 picture she had of him thus slowly grew one of a differ ent man—wedk, sick, changed hy shock, growing strong, strangely, spir- itually altered, sflent, lonely like an eagle, secretive, tireless, faithful, scft a8 a woman, hard as fron to endure. and at the last noble. “0h, it is a]l terrible!” she cried. “I am his wife. His wife! That meet- ing with him—the marriage—then ds fall, his love, his rise, his silence, his pride! And I can never be anything to him: Could I be anything to Mm? IL Madeline Hammond? But I am his wife, and I love him! His wife! 1 am the wife of a cowboy! That might be undone. Can my love be undone? Al, do I want anything undone? He is gone. Gone! Could he have meant=— I will not, dare not think of that. He will come back. No, he never will come back. Oh, what shall I.do?" * ® * LJ * e ® ® And on the morning of the next day, when Madeline went out upon the porch, Stillwell, haggard and stem, with husky, incoherent word, handed hér a message from El Cajon. She read: “El Oapitan Stewart captured: by rebel ‘soldiers in fight at Agud Prieta pesterday. He vas a sharpshooter in the federal ranks. Sentenced to death Thursday at sunset.” CHAPTER XX The Ride. “Stillwell I” The old ‘cittleman stood mute be. fore her, staring at her white face, at her eyes of flame, “Stillwell! I am Stewart's wife!” “My Gawd, Miss Majesty!" he burst out. “I knowed somethin’ turrible was wrong. Aw, sure it's a pity—" “Do you think I'll ‘let him be shot when I know him now, when I’m no longer blind, when I love him?” she asked, with passionate swiftness. “I oe yA AEE oA fe Eo nd Eo = = BS 7 if i im A i i i Vi WH An if fi! i" ii Wh fl iyi fi i \ It—Hear It—-l—| Love Him!” “i Will Say will save him. This is Wednesday morning. 1 have thirty-six hours to save his life. Stillwell, send for Link and the car!” She went into her office. Her mind worked with extraordinary rapidity and clearness. Her plan, born in one lightninglike flash of thought, necessi- tated the careful wording of telegrams to Washington, to New York, to San Antonio. These were to senators, rep- resentatives, men high in public and private life, men who would remember her and who would serve her to their utmost. Never before had her posi- tion meant anything to her comparable with what it meant Low. Never in all her life had money seemed the power that it was then. If she had been poor! A shuddering chill froze the thought at its inception. She dispelled heartbreaking thoughts. She had power. She had wealth. She would set into operation all the unlimited means these gave her—the wires and pulleys and strings underneath the sur- face of political and international life, the open, free, purchasing value of money or the deep, underground, mys- terious, incalculably powerful influ- ence moved by gold. She could save Stewart. When she went outside the car was there with Link, helmet in hand, a cool, bright gleam in his eyes, and with Stillwell, losing his haggard misery, beginning to respond to Madeline's spirit. “Link, drive Stillwell to El Cajon in time for him to catch the El Paso train,” she said. “Wait there for his return .and if any message comes from him, telephone it at once to me.” Then she gave Stillwell the telegrams -tp send from El Cajon and drafts to cash in El Paso. She instructed him to go before the rebel junta, then sta- tioned at Juarez, to explain the situa- tion, to bid them expect communica- tions from Washington officials re- questing, and advising Stewart's ex- change as a prisoner of war, to offer to buy his release from the rebel au- 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 in- cline, ‘to shoot out upon the level val- ley floor and disappear In moving dust. Madeline endured patiently, endured for long interminable hours while hold- ing to hope with indomitable will. No message came. At sunset she went outdoors, suffering a torment of gccumulating suspense. Night fell. ‘She prayed for the sun not to rise, not to begin its short twelve-hour journey toward what might be a fatal setting for Stewart. But the dawn did lighten, ewiftly she thougnt, remorselessly. Daylight had broken, and this was Thursday ! Sharp ringing at the telephone bell startled her, roused her into action. She ran to answer the call. “Hello—hello—Miss Majesty!” came the hurried reply. “This 's Link talk- fn’. Messages for you. Favorable, the operator said. I'm to ride out with them. I'll come a-hummin'.” That was all. Madeline heard the bang of the receiver as Stevens threw it down, Favorabie! Then Stillwell had been successful. Her heart leaped Suddenly she became weak and her bands 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 swift- ly 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. He gave her a packet of telegrams. Madeline tore them open with shaking fingers, began’ to read with swift, dim eyes. Some were from Washington, as- suring her of every possible service; some were from New York; others written in Spanish were from El Paso, and these she could not wholly trans- late in a brief glance. Would she never find Stillwell's message? It was the last. ‘It was lengthy.’ It read: ' “Bought Stewart's relefise. Also ar- ranged for his transfer as prisoner of war. Both matters official. He's safe if we can get notice to his captors. Not sure I've reached them by wire. Afraid to trust it. You go with Link to Agua Prieta. Take the messages sent you in Spanish. They will protect you and secure Stewart's freedam. Take Nels with you. Stop for noth- ing. ‘Tell Link all—trust him--let him drive that car. “STILLWELL.” “Link, do you know the roads, the desert hetween here and Il i) il) Hd ) “Can an Automobile Be Driven Fron Here Into Northern Mexico?” Agua Prieta?’ she asked. Can an au- tomobile be driven from here into northern Mexico?” “Sure. But it’d take time.” “We must do it in little time,” she went on, in swift eagerness. “Other- wise Stewart may be—probably wiii bhe—Dbe shot. Link Stevens appeared suddenly to grow lax, shriveled, to lose all his pe- culiar pert brightness, to weaken and age. “I'm only a—a cowboy, Miss Majes- ty.” He almost faltered. It was a sin- gular change in him. “Thet's an aw- ful ride—down over the border. If by some luck I didn’t smash the car I'd turn your hair gray. You’d never be no good after thet ride!” “I am Stewart’s wife,” she answered him, and she looked at him, not con- scious of any motive to persuade or al- lure, but just to let him know the greatness of her dependence upon him. He started violently—the old action of Stewart, the memorable action of Monty Price. This man was of the same wild breed. Then Madeline’s words flowed in a torrent. “I am Stewart’s wife, I love him; I have been unjust to him; I must save him. Link, I have faith in you. I beseech you to do your best for Stewart's sake—for my sake, Ill risk the ride gladly—bravely. T’ll not care where or how you drive. I'd far rather plunge into a canyon—go to my death on the rocks—than not try to save Stewart.” How beautiful the response of this rude cowboy—to realize his absolute unconsciousness of self, to see the haggard shade burn out of his face, the old, cool, devil may-care spirit re- turn to his eyes, and to feel something wonderful about him then! It was more than will or daring or sacrifice. A blood-tie might have existed between him and Madeline. “Miss Majesty, thet ride figgers im- possible, but I'll do it!” he replied. His cool, bright glance thrilled her. “I'll need mebbe half an hour to go over the ‘car an’ to pack on what I'll want.” She could not thank him, and her re- ply was merely a request that he tell Nels and other cowboys off duty to come up to the house. When Link had gone Madeline gave a moments thought to preparations for the ride. A number of cowboys were waiting. She explained the situation and left them In charge of her home. With that she asked Nels to accompany her down into the desert. “Why, Miss Majesty, I'm powerful proud to go. If you're goin’ down among the Greasers you. want me.” Madeline heard the buzz of the car. Link appeared, driving up the slope. He made a short, sliding turn and stopped before the porch. Link had tied two long, heavy planks upon the car, one on each side, and in every available space he had strapped extra tires. A huge cask occupied one back seat, and another seat was full of tools and ropes. There was just room &n this rear part of tne car for Nels to jueeze in. Link put Medeline in front beside him, then bent over the wheel. Madeline waved her hand at the si- lent cowboys on the porch. Not an audible good-by was spoken. : (To be continued). LOVE STORY MADE IMMORTAL Romance of Elaine, the “Lily Maid of Astolat,” Subject of Great Verses by Tennyson. Elaine, “the lily maid of Astolat,” loved Sir Lancelot, but was not loved in return. Sir Lancelot was sworn to celibacy, and In addition his interest was centered in Guinevere, the queen. Elaine, realizing the hopelessness of her passion, died of a broken heart. In accordance with her last request her body, clad in white, and resting on the bed on which she died, wag placed on a barge and guided by an old dumb servitor to ‘Arthur's palace. In her right hand ‘was placed a ily, and in her left hand a letter declaring her love. When the “dead steered by the dumb” reached the palace wharf, the king requested that thé body be brought ashore. The letter was then read, and the departed buried ina manner befitting ‘a queen. On the tomb was inscribed: the sad narrative of Elaine's unrequited passion. The story is derived from Sir Thom- as Malory’s history of Prince: Arthur, and has been told.in blank verse by Tennyson, forming one of the “Idylls of the King” o—— ———— ——Subscribe for the “Watchman.” SRS, BR, POPLAR TREES GIRLS DOWRY Planted at Child's Birth, They Provide a “Dot” Demanded on Her Marriage. In the southernmost part of Italy is the province of Calabria. One of the most charming of the customs here in Italy’s toe is that relating to a girl's dowry. For, as In most European countries, a Calabrian girl has a slim chance of marriage unless she is the proud possessor of a “dot.” The Calabrians, to avoid such a tragedy as that of bringing up & daughter and not being able to endow her with a sufficient dowry to attract an eligible husband, make provision in her babyhood against such a misfor- tune. In some parts of Calabria, when a little girl is born, her father plants a row of poplar tree§, which are hers. By the time she is seventeen years old the poplars are fine, large trees and ready to be hewn down. Then their wood is sold and the money is set aside for the daughter’s dowry. Calabria also is rich in historic in- terest. Scilla is one of the seaports. Across the straits of Messina is Sicily. It was here that the mythological monsters, Scylla and Charybdis, were supposed to menace mariners. Even the brave Ulysses was in never-ending fear of Scylla. It has always been filled with romance, and from this mountainous country come thrilling tales of highwaymen and brigands, for it was a favorite haunt for out- laws. PLUTARCH’S RULES OF DIET Philosopher Seems to Have Had the Right Idea Concerning the Satisfying ot Appetite. He that is hungry should eat neces- sary food and find it pleasant; but when he is freed from his common ap- petite, he ought not to raise up a fresh one. For as dancing was no un- pleasant exercise ta Socrates himself, so he that can make his meal of sweatmeats or a second course re- ceives the less damage. But he that has taken already what may sufficient- ly satisfy his nature ought by all means to avoid them. And concerning these things, indecorum and ambition are no less to be avoided than the love of pleasure or gluttony. Therefore, when any rare or noble dish is before you, you will get more honor by refraining from it than par- taking of it. Remember what Simon- ides said, that he never repented that he had held his tongue, but often that he had spoken; so we shall not re- pent that we have refused a good dish or drank water instead of Falernian, but the contrary. We are not only to commit no violence on nature; but when any of those things are offered to her, even if she has a desire for them, we ought oftentimes to direct the appetite to a more innocent and accustomed diet, that she may be used to it and acquainted with it.— Plutarch. White Buffalo Robe Prized, In the old days Indians cherished the white buffalo robe as almost be- yond price. In 1832 or 1833 the Man- dans, hearing that the Blackfeet at the mouth of the Yellowstone had a white buffalo robe, sent a delegation with eight horses and with trading- goods the 200 miles to procure the robe if possible. The delegation left the horses and the goods and returned afoot with the robe. ‘This was conse- crated to the Great Spirit and hung upon a pole, out of touch, as power- ful medicine. It is said that not one in a hundred thousand buffaloes was white. Even at that the color was likely to be a yellowish white and the robe was known by the plainsmen as a “buck- skin” robe. The pure white robe scarcely existed. Millet Studio to Be Museum. The remarkable building in the main street’ of ‘the art center Barbizon, where Jean-Francois Millet painted “The Angelus” and other master- pieces, is being restored to its exact condition when used by the master. It will be opened officially to tourists and art pilgrims. The restoration is almost a work of dove by Douhin, the last painter of the Barbizon school, who, after dis- covering a long-hidden set of camera plates showing almost every corner of Millet’s home, bought the lease and commenced to rebuild and replace, covering the expense of his operations by the sale: of coples of Millet’s best known ' canvases. When completed, the house will be virtually a Millet museum. Cool-Headed Little Girl, The coolest act I ever saw, says Mr. Rex Stuart, a railway engineer, in the American Magazine, was some months ago on the run between New York and Albany. We were a little late and were traveling fast when I saw two little girls.on the track straight ahead. A freight was coming north on the ppposite track. One of the girls saw the: danger apd jumped clear. The ether was caught. There is only Six feet between the ‘rails of the two tracks, and slie was ‘trapped in there. She turned sidewise, then cput: her hands: straight down at her sides, shut her eyes and stood perfectly still. I looked back after we -bit the curve, and: she was still stand- ing there as stiff: as a poker, waiting for the: trains to Of course; it would: have dropped flat scarcely had a very cool-headed