RED CLOUD. NEBRASKA. CHIEF u i; ' 1 1 The Light of "ALFRED!" SYNOPSIS.-ArrtvInK fit tlio lone ly llttla rnllronil stntlon of 101 Cujon, New Mexico, MhiIcIIiio Hammond, Now York "octet v tilrl, finds no ouo to meet her, Wlillo In tlio wultlnji room, u drunken cowboy enters, iinkn If rhi' In married, nnil dcimrtn, lenvtnK hor torrlllod. Ho ruttinm with a prle.it, who kocb through ROmn uort of ceremony, nnd the cowboy forces her to say "HI." AakltiK hor nnmo nnd lenrnlnR her Identity "the cowboy seems dazed. In u shooting Hcrnpo outiilclo the room n Mexican Is killed. Tho cow toy lets a Klrl, Honltn, take tils liorm and cHcapo, then condnctH Madeline to Florence KliiKsley, friend of hor brother. CHAPTER II 2 A Secret Kept Ilcratiio of that HltiKulur reply Martc llno found fnltli to jro fnrtlicr with flip cowboy. Hut nt tJio nimncnt hIic really 1lri not think uliout wlint ho Intel Mild. Any atiHwer to her would luivo served If It lintl heen kind. As slie walked on Into tho windy (InrknesH, much relieved that ho hntl nnBwercd an ho had, rellcctlnj that ho had ct to prove IiIh words tnie, she lioRnn to prasi) the deeper slpnlflcanec of theni. There was a revlvnl of prldo that made her feel that she otiRlit to neorn to think nt nil about mich a man. Presently Madeline's Rtildc turned off tho walk nnd rnpped ut a door of a low-roofed house. "llnllo who's there?" a deep voice answered. "Gene Stewart," said the cowboy. "Call Florence quick 1" Thump of footsteps followed, n tnp on it door, and voice. Madeline henrd a woman exclaim: "Gene I here when there's a dance. In town! Something wrong out on tho range." A light llnred up nnd shone bright through n window. In another moment there! came a patter of soft steps, and the door opened to disclose a woman hold ing a lamp. "Gene! Al's not" "Al Is all right," Interrupted the cowboy. Madeline had two sensations then one of wonder at the note of nlartn nnd love In tho woman's voice, and the other of unutterable relief to be safe with a friend of her brother's. "It's Al's sister came on tonight's train," the cowboy was saying. "I happened to be at the station, nnd I've fetched her m to you." Madeline came forward out of the shadow. "Not not really Majesty Ham mond!" exclaimed Florence Klngsley. She nearly dropped the lamp, and she looked, astounded beyond belief. "Yes, I am really she," replied Madeline. "My train was late and for some renson Alfred did not meet me. Mr. Mr. Stewart saw lit to bring me to you Instead of taking me to a hotel." "Oli, I'm so glad to meet you," re plied Florence, warmly. "Do come In. I'm so surprised, I forget my manners. Why, you are white as a sheet. You must be tired. What a long wait you had at the station! If I bad known you were coming! Indeed, you are very pale. Aro you 111?" "No. Only I am very tired. Travel ing so far by rail Is harder than I Iniimined. I did have rather n long wait after arriving at tho station, but I can't say that It was lonely." Florence Klngsley searched Made line's face with keen eyes, and then look a long, significant look at the silent Stewart. With that she de liberately and quietly closed u door loading Into another room. "Miss Hammond, what has hap pened?" She had lowered her voice. "I do not wish to recall all that has happened," replied Madeline. "I shall tell A 1 f i id, however, that I would rather have met a hostile Apache than a cowboy," "Please don't tell Al that!" cried Florence. Then she grasped Stewart and pulled him close to the light. "Gene, you're drunk!" "Now, see here, Flo, I only" "I don't want to know. I'd tell It. Gene, aren't you ever going to leant decency? Aren't arou ever going to stop drinking? You'll loso all your friends. Molly and I have pleaded with you, and now you've gone nnd done God knows what!" "What do women want to wear veils for?" he growled. "I'd huve known her but for that veil." "And you wouldn't hnve Insulted her. Hut you would the next girl who came along. Gene, you nre hopeless. Now, you get out of here and don't ever come back." "Flo!" he entreated, "I mean It." "I reckon then I'll come bnck to morrow and take my medicine," he replied. "Don't you dare!" she cried. Stewart went out and closed the door. "Miss Hammond, you you don't know how this hurts me," said Florence. "What you must think of us! It's so unlucky that you should have hnd this happen right ut llrst. Now, maybe you won't have the heart to stay. Ob, I've known more than ono eastern girl to go homo without ever learning what we really are out here. Miss Hammond, Gene Stewart Is a fiend when he's drunk. All the sumo I know, whatever he did, he meant no shame to you. Come now, don't think about It again tonight." She took up tho lnmp nnd led Made line Into u lltUo room. "Won't you A Romance "Ar By 7.atie Cjreij Copyright by Harper and Brother let mo help you undress can't I do anything for you?" "You are very kind, thnnk you, but I can manage," replied Madeline. "Well, then, good night. Tho sooner I go the sooner you'll rest. Just for get whiit happened and think bow line a surprise you're to give your brother tomorrow." With that she slipped out and softly shut the door. As Madeline laid her watch on the bureau she noticed tbnt the time was past two o'clock. It seemed long since sliu.had gotten off the train. When she bad turned out the tamp and crept wearily Into bed she know whnt It was to be utterly spent. She was too tired to move a linger. When she uwakened the room was bright with sunlight. She was lazily and dreamily contemplating the mud walls of this tittle room when she remembered where she wus and how she had come there. How great n shock she had been subjected to was manifest In n sen sation of disgust that overwhelmed "Gene, Aren't You Ever Going to Learn Decency?" her. Sho even shut her eyes to try nnd blot out tho recollection. She felt that sho had been contaminated. Presently Madeline Hammond ngaln nwoko to tho fact she hud learned the preceding night that there wero emotions to which she bad horetoforo been n stranger. Sho scurcely remem bered when she hnd found It neces sary to control her emotions. There had been no trouble, no excitement, no unpleasantness In her life. It had heen ordered for her tranquil, luxu rious, brilliant, varied, yet always tho same, Then Madeline heard Florence rnp on the door and cnll softly: "Mis Hammond. Are you nwnke?" "Awake and dressed, Miss Kings ley." Presently there were slow, reluctant steps outside tho front door, then n pause, and the door opened. Stewart stood bareheaded In tlio sunlight. Mad eline's glance rnn over him swift as lightning. Hut as she saw his face now she did not recognize it. The man's presence roused In her n revolt. Yet something In her, the Incompre hensible side of her nature, thrilled In the look of this splendid dark-faced barbarian. "Mr. Stewart, will you please come In?" she asked, after that long pause. "I reckon not," he said. The hope lessness of his tone meant that lie knew he was not fit to enter a room with her, and did not care or cared too much. Madeline went to the door. The man's face was bard, yet It wns sad, too. And it touched her. "I shall not tell my brother of your your rudeness to me," she began. It was Impossible for her to keep the chill out of her voice, to speak with other than the pride and aloofness of her class. Nevertheless, despite her loathing, when she bad spoken so far It seemed Unit kindness and pity fol lowed Involuntarily. "I choose to overlook what you d!d becauso you were not wholly accountable, and be cause there must he no trouble be tween Alfred nnd you. May I rely on you to keep silence and to seal the lips of that priest? You will spare urn further distress, will you not, plense?" His hoarse reply was Incoherent, but she needed only to see his working face to know his remorse and grati tude. Madeline went back to her room; and presently Florence came for her, and directly they were sitting at break fast. Madeline Hammond's Impres sion of her brother's friend bud to bo reconstructed In tho morning light, She felt a wholesome, frank, sweet nature. She liked the slow southern drawl. And she was puzzled to know whether Florenco Klngsley was pretty or striking or unusual. She had a youthful glow and tlush, the clear tan of outdoors, a face that lacked the soft curves and lines of eastern women, nnd her eyes wero light gray, like crystal, steady, almost piercing, and her hair wus u beautiful bright waving masj. Western Stars A sharp knock on tho parlor door Interrupted conversation. Florpnce's sister went to open It. She returned presently and said: "It's Gene. He's heen dawdlln' out there on the front porch, nnd ho knocked to let us know Miss Ham mond's brother is comln'." Florence hurried Into the parlor, followed by Madeline. Tho door stood open, and disclosed Stewnrt sitting on the porch steps. From down the road camo a clatter of hoofs. Madeline looked out over Florence's shoulder nnd saw u cloud of dust approaching and In It she distinguished outlines of horses and riders. A warmth spread over her, a little tingle of gladness, and the feeling recalled her girlish love for her brother. Whnt would he bo like after long years? Looking Out, Madeline saw n bunch of dusty, wiry horses pawing the gravel nnd tossing lenn heads. Her swift glance ran over the lithe horse men, trying to pick out the one who wns her brother. But she could not. Her glnnce, however, caught the sntne rough dress and hard aspect that char acterized tho cowboy Stewart. Then one rider threw his reins, leaped from tho saddle, nnd came bounding up tho porch steps. Florence met him at the door. "Hello, Flo. Where Is she?" ho cnlled, eagerly. With that he looked over her shoulder to espy Madeline. Ho nctunlly Jumped at hor. Sho hardly knew the tall form and the bronzed face, but the warm flash of blue eyes was familiar. As for him, ho hnd no doubt of his sister, It ap peared, for with broken welcome ho threw bis nrms around hor, then held her off nnd looked senrchlngly at her. "Well, sister," ho began, when Florence turned hurriedly from the door nnd Interrupted him. "Al, I think you'd better stop the wrangling out there." He stared at her, appeared suddenly to hear tho loud voices from the street, nnd then, releasing Madeline, he said: "Hy George! I forgot, Flo. There Is a little business to see to. Keep my sister in here, please, nnd don't lie fussed up, now." He went out on the porch nnd cnlled to his men: "Shut off your wind, Jack! And you, too, Hlnzo! I didn't want you fellows to come here. Rut ns you would come, you've got to shut up. Tills Is my business." Whereupon he turned to "Stewnrt, who wns sitting on the fence. "Hello, Stewart!" he snld. It was a greeting; but there wns tbnt In the voice which alarmed Madeline. Stewnrt leisurely got up and lei surely ndvnnced to the porch. "Hello. Hammond!" he drawled. "Drunk ngaln last night?" "Well, If you want to know, nnd If It's any of your mix, yes, I wus pretty drunk," replied Stewnrt. It was a kind of cool speech tbnt showed the cowboy In control of him self and master of the situation not an easy speech to follow tip with un due Inqulsltlveness. There wns a short silence. "D It, Stewnrt," snld tho speaker, presently, "hero's tho situntlon: It's nil over town thnt you met my sister last night nt tho stntlon nnd and Insulted her. Gene, you've heen on the wrong trnll for some time, drinking nnd all that. You're going to the bad. Hut Hill thinks, nnd I think, you're still n man. We never knew you to lie. Now whnt have you to sny for yourself?" "Nobody Is Insinuating that I am a liar?" drawled Stewart. "No." "Well, I'm glad to hear thnt. You see, Al, I was pretty drunk lust night, but not drunk enough to forget the least thing I did. I found Miss Ham mnnd waiting nlone nt the stntlon. She wore a veil, but I knew she wns a lady, of course. I Imagine, now that I think of It, thnt Miss Hammond found my gallantry rather startling, and" At this point Mndellne, nnswerlng to unconsidered Impulse, eluded Florence nnd walked out upon tho porch. "Gentlemen," snld Mndellne, rather 'breathlessly; and It did not add to her calmness to feel a hot flush In her checks, "I am very new to western ways, but I think you are laboring under n mistake, which, In Justice to Mr. Stewnrt. I want to correct. In deed, he was rather rather abrupt and strange when he camo up to me last night; but ns I understand him now, I can attribute that to his gal lantry. He was somewhat wild anil sudden and sentimental In Ills de mand to protect nit anil It was not clear whether ho meant his protection for last night or forever; hut I am happy to say lie offered me no word that was not honorable. And he saw me safely here to Mis KIngsley's home." CHAPTER III Sister and Brother. Then Madeline returned to the little parlor with tlio brother whom she had hardly recognized. "Majesty!" he exclaimed. "To think of your being here!" The warmth stole back along her veins. Sho remembered how that pet name had sounded from the lbs of tills brother who had given It to her. "Alfred!" "Dear old girl," be said, "you haven't chnnged ut nil, except to grow lovelier. Only you're n woman now, and you've fulllllel the name I gave you. G d! how sight of you brings back homo ! It seems n hundred years since I left. I missed you more than all the rest." Madeline seemed to feel with his ev ery word that she wus remembering him. Sho was so amazed at tho change In him that she could not believe her eyes. She saw a bronzed, strong Jawed, eagle-eyed man, stnlwurt, su perb of height, and, like the cowboys, belted, booted, spurred. She had bid den good-by to a disgraced, disin herited, dissolute boy. Well she re membered tho handsome pale face with Its weakness nnd shadows and careless smile, with tho ever-present cigarette hanging between the lips. Tlio years had passed, and now she saw him n man tlio West had made him n man. And Madeline Hammond felt a strong, pnsslonate gladness and gratefulness, und a direct check to her sudden Inspired hatred of the West. "Majesty, It was good of you to come. I'm nil broken up. How did you ever do It? Hut never mind thnt now. Tell mo about that brother of mine." And Madeline told him, and then nbout Uielr sister Helen. Question after question lie fired at her; and she told him of her mother; of Aunt Grnce, who hnd died u year ago; of his old friends, mnnied. scattered, vanished. Hut sho did not tell him of his father, for he did not nsk. Quite suddenly tho rnpld-flro ques tioning ceased : lie choked, was silent n moment, nnd then burst Into tears. It seemed to her that n long, stored up bitterness was flooding away. It hurt her to see him hurt her more to henr him. And In the succeeding few moments she grew closer to him than she hail ever been In the past. Had her futher and mother done right by him? Her pulse stirred with unwonted quickness. She did not speak, but she kissed him, which, for her, wns an Indication of unusual feeling. And when he recovered command over his emotions he made no reference to his breakdown, nor did she. Hut that scene struck deep Into Madeline nam inond's heart. Through It she saw what he had lost nnd gained. "Alfred, why did you not answer my last letters?" usked Mndellne. "I had not heard from you for two years." "So long? How time flies! Well, things went bad with me about tho last time I heard from you. I always intended to write some day, but I never did. You remember all about my little ranch, and that for u while I did well rnlslnj stock? I wrote you all that. Majesty, a man makes ene mies anywhere. Perhaps an enstorn man In the West can make, If not so many, certainly more bitter ones. At any rate, I made several. There wus a cattleman, Wnrd by name he's gone now and he and I had trouble over cattle. That guve me u back-set. Pat Hnwe, tho sheriff here, has been In strumental In hurting my business. He's not so much of a rancher, but he has Influence at Snntn Fe and El Paso and Douglas. I made an enemy of him. I never did nnythlng to him. Tho real reason for his animosity toward mo Is thnt he loves Florence, and Florence Is going to marry me." "Alfred !" "What's the mntter, Majesty? Didn't Florence Impress you favorably?" he asked, with a keen glnnce. "Why yes, Indeed. I like her. Hut I did not think of her in relation to l "Dear Old Girl," He Said. you that way. I nm greatly surprised. Alfred, is sho well born? What con nections?" "Florence Is Just a girl of ordlnnry people. She was born in Kentucky, was brought up In Texas. My arlMo cratlu and wealthy family would scorn " "Alfred, you aro still n Hnmmond," said Madeline, with uplifted head. Alfred laughed. "We won't quar rel, Majesty. I remember you, and In spite of your prldo you've got a heart. If you stay here n month you'll love Florenco Klngsley. I want you to know she's hnd u great deal to do with straightening io up. . . . Well, to go on with my story. There's Don Carlos, u Mexican rnncher, and he's my worst euetuy. Don Curios Is a wily Greaser, he knows tb ranges, bo hns the wntor, n.ld he Is dishonest So ho outllgured me. And now I am practically ruined. Ho has not gotttu possession of my ranch, but that's only a matter of time, pending lawsuits at Sunta Fe. At present I have a few hundred cuttle running on Still wella range, nnd I am his foreman." "Foreman?" queried Madeline. "I am simply boss of Stlllwell's cow boys, and right glud of my Job." Madeline wns conscious of nn In wurd burning. It required an effort for her to retain her outward tranquil ity. "Cannot your property be ro claimed?" she usked. "How much do you owe?" "Ten thousand dollars would clear me and give mo another start. Hut, Majesty, In this country Hint's a good deal of money, nnd I hnven't been able to raise It. Stlllwell's In worse shape than I urn." Madeline went over to Alfred nnd put her bunds on lil fthouldcrs. "We must not bo In debt." He stnred nt her ns If her words had recalled something long forgotten. Then ho smiled. "How Imperious you are! I'd for gotten Just who my beautiful slater really Is. Majesty, you're not going to nsk mo to tnke money from you?" "I am." "Well, I'll not do It. I never did, even when I was In college, und then there wasn't much beyond me." "Listen, Alfred," she went on, ear nestly, "this Is entirely different. I hud only un allowance then. You hnd no way to know thnt since I last wrote you I had come Into my Inhcrl tunco from Aunt Grace. It was well, that doesn't matter. Only, I haven't been nbio to spend half tho Income. It's mine. It's not father's money. You will make me very happy If you'll consent. What is ten thou sund dollurs to me? Sometimes I spend thnt In u month. I throw money away. If you let me help you it will be doing me good as well as you. Plense, Alfred." "You ulwuys were the best of fel lows, Majesty. And If you really care If you really want to help me I'll bo only too glad to accept. It will bo tine. Florence will go wild. And Unit Greaser won't harass me any more. Majesty, pretty soon some titled fellow will he spending your money; I may as well tnke u little before ho gets It all," he Hnlshed, Jokingly. "What do you know about me?" she nsked, lightly. "More than you think. Even if we nre lost out here In the woolly West we get news. Everybody knows about Anglesbury. And Hint Dago duke who chased you all over Europe, that Lord Castleton has the running now and seems nbout to wiu. How nbout It, Majesty?" Madeline detected a hint thnt sug gested scorn In his gay speech. And deep In his searching glance she saw a flame. Sho becume thoughtful. She hnd forgotten Castleton, New York, society. "Alfred," she began, seriously, "I don't believe any titled gentlemnn will ever spend my money, as you elegantly express It." "I don't care for that. It's you!" ho cried, passionately, nnd he grasped her with a violence that startled her. He was white; bis eyes were now like tire. "You are so splendid so won derful. People called you the Ameri can Heauty, but you're more than that. You're the American Girl! Majesty, marry no man unless you love him, nnd love an American. Stay away from Europe long enough to lenrn to know the men the real men of your qwii country." "Alfred, I'm afraid there are not al ways real men and renl love for Amer ican girls In International marriages. Alfred, tell mo how you camo to know nbout me, 'wny out hero? You may be assured I was astonished to And that Miss Klngsley knew mo ns Maj esty Hnmmond." "I Imagine It wns a surprise," he replied, with u laugh. "I told Flor ence uliout you gave her a picture of you. And, of course, being a woman, she showed the picture and talked. She's In love with you. Then, my dear sister, wo do get New York pa pers out here occasionally, and we can see nnd read. You mny not he aware that you and your society friend nre objects of Intense Interest in the U. S. In general, and the West In partic ular. The papers are full of you, and perhaps a lot of things you never did. Majesty, I must run down to tho sid ing," consulting his watch. "We're lending u shipment of cattle. I'll be back by supper time nnd bring Still well with me. You'll like him." Madeline went to her room. Intend ing to rest nwiille, nnd she fell nsleep. She wns aroused' by Florence's knock nnd cull. "Miss Hammond, your brother hns come bnck with Stlllwell." Madeline ncconipunied Florence to the porch. Her brother, who was sit ting near tho door, Jumped tip nnd said : "IIoilo, Majesty!" And ns ho put his nrm around her ho turned toward a massive man whoso broad, craggy fnco began to ripple and wrinkle. "I want to Introduce my friend Stlllwell to you. Hill, this Is my sister, tho sister I've so often told you nbout Majesty," "An Gene Stewart hed hit the trail for the border." (TO BE CONTINUED.) 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