RED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF iion'ira'nmi iTi:: i;iv;i i,1. 'in i i: n i; ;n: ,:i. .i.i: i:n,!;:!:!:y;i;u:!,:i in:;. i i:i in i J !:';t i: : : n:!: ltj 3 . m The Light of UJestern Stars DON CARLOS SYNOI'SIS.-ArrlvInK at the lone ly llttlti ruilroml Million of i:i Cn Jon, Now Mi'Xlco, Miuk'llnc Ilnm tnotiil. Now Vork socMy Klrl, Ilinl.i no 0110 to meet her. While In the u-nliitm room, u lnmlon cowboy enter, ivhKh If bIic Is mnrrlcil, uml departs, lwivlns her terrified. He retnniH vlth n priest, who roch throiiKh como nort of corumony, ami the cowboy forces her to wiy "SI." AbU'iik her imine nml learn Ins her hlMtitlty the cowboy noems ilnzr-ri, In a uliootlnt? ncrapo out siilu the room u Mexican Is killed. The cowboy lets n Klrl, ItonlUi. tnke his horse nnd escaiie, then conducts Madeline to Florence Klngidey. friend of her brother. Florence welcomes her, learns her story, and dismisses the cowboy, (8no Stownrt. Next day Alfred llnmmond, Madeline's brother, Hikes 8tewrt to task. Madeline exonerates hltn of any wronjr In tent Alfred, scion of a wealthy family, hud been dismissed from his homo because of Ills dissipation. Madeline ices that the West haH redeemed lilin. She meets Stlllwcll. Al's employer, typical western raiirhnmn. fitlllwell tells her how Stewart he.it up the sheriff to saVe her from arrest and then lit out for the border. D.inny Mains, ono of Stlllell's cowboys, lias disap peared, with some of Htlllwch'B money. Ills frlenda link his namo with the Klrl Honlta, Madellno Kot.1 a Kllmpsu of llfo on a western ranch, Stownrt sends Madeline his horso Malesty. She buys out Htlll well and "I lor Majesty's Ilnncho" becomes famous. Slio llnds her llfo .work under "The Light of Western Stars." Learning Stewart had liem hurt In n brawl at Chlrlcahua. Madellno visits him and persuades him to como to the ranch us the boss of her cowboyH. Jim Ncla, Nick Steele, and "Monty" I'rlce nro Madeline's chief riders. They havo a feud with Don Carlos' vaipicros, who are really Kuarrlllas. CHAPTER IX 6 The New Foreman. Toward the end of the wcelc Still well Informed Madeline that Stewart had arrived at the ranch and had (alien up quarters with Nels. "Gene's sick, lie looks bad," said the old cattleman. "He's so weak an' shaky he can't lift n cup. Nels says that Gone has hed some bad spells. A little liquor would strnlghtcn him up now. Hut Nels can't force him to drink a drop, an' has hed to sneak some liquor In his coffee. Gene's losln' his mind, or he's got somethln' powerful strange on It." Stewart was really ill. It became necessary to send for it physician. Then Stewart began slowly to mend and presently wns able to get up and about. Stlllwell said the cowboy lacked Interest nnd seemed to be n broken man. This Ktutement, however, the old cattleman modllled as Stewart continued to Improve. Then presently It was a good augury of Stewart's progress that the cowboys once more took up the teasing relation which had been characteristic of them before his Illness. "Wal, the boys are sure after Gone," said Stlllwell, with his huge smile, ".lochia' htm all the time about how he sits around an' hangs nrnund an' loafs around Jest to get, a glimpse of you, Mls Majesty. Sure all the boys liev a pretty bad case over their pretty boss, but none of them Is a marker to Gene. lie's got it so bad, Miss Maj esty, thel he arfxdy don't know- they are Joshln' him. It's the amazlu'est strange thing I over seen." Madeline smiled her amusement. It had been Impossible fr her to fall to olwervo Stewart's singular behavior. She never went tail to take her cus tomary walks and rides without seeing him siiinowhere In the distance. She wax nwiuy that he watched for her and avoided meeting her. When she sat on tho porch during the afternoon or at sunset Stewart could always be ties cried ut some point near. He Idled listlessly In the sun, lounged on the porch of his bunklious'o, sat whittling the top bar of the corral fence, and iilwnjs It siiemed to Madeline he was watching her. lie was pale, haggard, drawn. Ills eyes held a shadow through which shone u soft, suhdiifd light; and. once having observed this, Madeline fancied It was like the light In Majesty's o.e. In the dumb, worship ing eyes of her favorite stag-hound. She told Stewart .that she hoped he Would soon In In the saddle again, and passed on her way. That Stewart loved her Madeline could not help but see. When she ills covered this she felt a little surprise and annoynnce. Then she Interrogated herself, and concluded thAt It was not Hint Stewart wns so different from his comrades, but that circumstances made him stand out from them. She re called her meeting with him that night when he had tried to force her to mar ry him. This wns unforgettable In It self. She recalled subsequent mention of him, nnd found It had been peculiar ly memorable. The man and his ac tions seemed to hinge on events. Last ly, the fact standing clenr of all others In Its relation to her Interest wns that he had almost been ruined, almost lost, and she had saved him, Thnt alone ;wus sulllclent to explain why she thought of him differently. She had befriended, uplifted the other cowboys; .she had wived Stownrt's llfo. To ho sure, liu Imil hooii ft rulllnn, but n '.voiium could not .save the life of even 11 rulllnn without remembering It with Kindness. Madeline fit length decided lior lnti;ro.st In Sluwnrt wns nnturnl, nml that her dcoiiur feeling wns pity. I'orhups the Interest hiul hcen forced from her; however, she gave the pity as she nave everything. Stewart had taken up his duties as foreman, and his activities were cease less. Ho was absent most of the time, ranging down toward the Mexican line. When he returned Stlllwell sent for him. This wns Into In the afternoon of n day In the middle of April. Alfred and Florence were with Madeline on the porch. Madeline saw the man she remem bered, but with n singularly different nspect. Ills skin was brown; his eyes "You Don't Mean You Follerea Them Hoss Tracks Thet Far? were piercing and dark and stondy; he carried himself erect; ho seemed preoccupied, nnd there wns not a truce of embarrassment In his manner. "Wal, Gene, I'm sure glud to see you," Stlllwell wns saying. "Where do you hull from?" "Guudulupe canyon," replied tho cowboy. Stlllwell whistled. " 'Way down there! You don't menn you follered them hoss tracks thel far?" "All the way from Don Carlos' rancho across the Mexican line. I took Nick Steele with me. Nick Is the best tracker In the outllt. This trail we were on led along the foothill valleys. First we thought whoever made It wus hunting for water. Hut Uiey pussed two ranches without watering. At Seaton's wash they dug for wnter. Here they met u pack-truln of burros that came down the mountain trail. The burros were heavily loaded. Horse and burro tracks struck south from Seaton's to the old California emigrant' road. We followed tho trail through Guadalupe canyon and across the bor der. On the way back we stopped nt Slnughter'.s ranch, where tho United States cavalry are camping. There we met foresters from the I'elonclllo forest reserve. If these fellows knew anything they kept It to themselves. So we hit the trail home." "Wal, I reckon you know enough?" Inquired Stlllwell, slowly. "Miss Ham mond can't be kept In the dark much longer. Make your report to her." The cowboy shifted lilsdark gaze to Madeline. "We're losing a few cat tle on the open range. Night-drives by vaqueros. Some of thc-o cattle are driven across the valley, others up In to the foothills. So fur as I can llnd nut no cattle are being driven south. So this raiding Is a blind to fool the cowboys. Hon Carlos Is a Mexican rebel, lie located his rancho here a few years ago and pretended to raise cattle. All that time be has been smuggling arias nml ammunition across the border. lie was for Mndero against Diaz. Now he Is against Mndero be cause be and all the rebels think Mn dero failed to keep his promises. There will be another revolution. And all the arms go from the States across I he border. Those burros I tohl about were packed with contraband goods." "What Is my my duty? What has It to do with me?" Inquired Madeline, somewhat perturbed. "Wal, Mls Majesty, I reckon It hasn't nothing to do with you," put In Stlllwell. "Thet's my blzness nn Slew art's. Hut I Jest wanted you to know. There might be .some trouble follerln' mj orders." "Your orders?" "I want to send Stewart over to fln Don Carlos an his vaqueros olY the range. They've got to go, Don Carlos Is breakln' the law of the United Stntes, an' doln' It on our property an' with our bosses. I lev I your permis sion, Miss Hammond?" "Why, assuredly you havol Stlll well, you know what to do. Alfred, what do you think best?" "It'll make trouble, Majesty, but It's got to be done," replied Alfred. "Here you have a crowd of eastern friends due next month. We want the range to ourselves then. Hut, Stlllwell, If you drive those vnquoroa off, won't they hung around In tho foothills? 1 declare they arc n bnd lot." "IIo'll have to bo forced off," replied Stewart, quietly. "Tho Don's pretty slick, but his vaqueros aro bail actors. It's just this way: Don Carlos has vaqueros coming and going nil the time. They're guerrilla bands, that's nil. And they're getting uglier. There have been several fchootlng-scrapes lately. It's only n matter of time till something stirs up tlw boys here. Stlll well, you know Nels and Monty and Nick." "Sure I know 'em, an you're not mentlonln' one more particular cowboy In my outfit," said Stlllwell, with a dry chuckle and u glance at Stewart. Madeline divined tho covert mean ing. "Stewart, I see you carry a gun," she said, pointing to a black handle protruding from a sheath swinging low along his leather chaps. "Yes, mn'nm." "Why do you enrry It?" sho nsked. "Well," ho snld, "it's not n 'pretty gun and It's heavy." She caught the Inference. The gun wns not nn ornnment. Ills keen, steady, dnrk gaze caused her vague nhirin. Whnt hud once seemed cool and audacious about this cowboy was now cold and powerful and mystical. Hoth her Instinct and her Intelligence realized the steel liber of the man's nature. As sho was his employer, she had tho right to demnnd that he should not do whnt was so chillingly manifest thnt he might do. Hut Madellno could not demand. She felt ourlously young and weak, nnd tho five months of western life were ns If they had never been. She now had to do with a ques tion Involving human life. And tho value sho pluced upon human life nnd Its spiritual significance was n matter far from her cowboy's thoughts. A strange Idea Unshed up. Did sho place too much value upon all human life? She checked that, wondering, almost horrified at herself. And then her Intuition told her thnt sho possessed a far stronger power to move these primitive men thun any woman's stern rule or order. "Stewart, I do not fully understand whnt you hint thnt Nels and his com rades might do. ricnse be frank with me. Do you mean Nels would shoot upon little provocation?" "Miss Hammond, as far as" Nels Is concerned, shooting Is now Just a mnt ter of his meeting Don Carlos' vaqueros. As for Nick Steele nnd Monty, they're Just bad men, and look ing for trouble." "How about yourself, Stqwart? Still well's remark wns not lost upon me," said Madeline, prompted by curiosity. "Stewart, I have come to love my ranch, and I care n great deal for my my cowboys. It would bo dreadful If they were to kill anybody, or especial ly If one of them should be killed." ".Miss Hammond, you've changed things considerable out here, but you can't change these men. All that's needed to start them Is n little trou ble. And this Me.xlcnn revolution Is bound to make rough times along some of the wilder passes ncross the border. We're In line, that's all. And the boys are getting stirred up." "Very well, then, I must ncccpt the Inevitable. I nni facing a rough time. And some of my cowboys cannot bo checked much longer. Hut human life Is not for any man to sacrifice unless In self-defense or In protecting those dependent upon him. What Sllllwell and you hinted makes me afraid of Nels nnd Nick Steele and Monty. Can not they bo controlled? I want to feel that they will not go gunning for Don Carlos' men. I want to avoid all vio lence. And yet when my guests eome I want to feel that they will he safe from danger or fright or even annoy ance. May I not rely wholly upon you, Stewart?" "I hope so, Miss Hammond," replied Stewart. It was an Instant response but none the les fraught with con sciousness of responsibility. Hi- wait ed a moment, and then, asri . itber Stlllwell nor Madeline offered further speech, he bowed and turned down the; path, his long spurs clinking In the gravel. "Wal. wal," exclaimed Stlllwell, "thet's no little Job you give hhn, MKs Majesty." "It was a woman's cunning, Stlll well." said Alfred. "Majesty, what ever actuated you, it was a stroke of diplomacy. Stewart has got gomi stuff in him. lie was down and out. Well, he's made a game light, and It looks as If he'd win. Trusting him, giving him responsibility, relying upon hhn, wns the surest way to strengthen hit hold upon himself. Hut. Majesty, remem ber, he's a composite of tiger breed nnd forked lightning, and don't Imag ine lie has failed you If he gets Into it tight." CHAPTER X Don Carlos' Vaqueros. Knrly the following morning Stow urt, with n compnny of cowboys, de parted for Don Carlos' rancho. As the day wore on without any report from hlm, Stlllwell appeared to grow more J Romance Bi Zane Qreu Copqriqht bt Harper and Brothers e at ease; nnd nt nightfall he told Made line that he guessed there was now no reason for concern. "Wal, though It's sure anmr.hr strange," ho continued, "I've been wor ryln' some about how we was goln to lire Don Carlos. Hut Gene has n way of doln' things." Next day Stlllwell nnd Alfred de cided to ride over to Don Carlos' place, taking Madeline nnd Florence with them, nnd upon the return to stop nt Alfred's ranch. They started In the cool, gray dawn, and after three hours' riding, as the sun begun to get bright, they entered a mesqulto grove, sur rounding corrals nnd bnrns, nnd n number of low, squat buildings and a huge, rambling structure, all built of adobe nnd mostly crumbling to ruin. Only ono green spot relieved tho bald red of grounds and walls ; nnd this evi dently wns mnde by tho spring which bnd given hoth vnlue and fnme to Don Carlos' nine. The nppronch to the house was through a wide courtyard, bnre, stony, hr"-J packed, with hitch-Ing-rnlls and w.iterlng-troughs hi front of n long porch. Several dusty, tired horses stood w'sh drooping heads nnd bridles down, their wet flanks attesting to travel Just en.!cd. "Wul, dog-gone It, Al, If there nln't Pnt Ilnwo's hois I'll cut It," exclaimed Stlllwell. "What's I'nt want here, anyhow?" growled Alfred. No one was In sight; but Madeline heard loud voices coming from the house. Stlllwell dismounted nt the porch and stalked In at the door. Al fred leaped off his horse, helped Flor ence and Madeline down, nnd, bidding them rest and wnlt on tho porch, he followed Stlllwell. From the corridor enmc the rnttllng of spurs, tramping of boots, nnd loud voices. Mudellno detected Alfred's quick notes when he wns annoyed: "We'll rustle hack home, then," he said. The nnswer came, "No !" Made line recognized Stewart's voice, nnd sho quickly straightened up. "I won't have them In here," went on Alfred. "Outdoors or In, they've got to be with us!" replied Stewart, ,shnrply. "Listen, Al," came the boom of Still well's big voice, "now thnt we've but ted In over hynr with the girls, you let Stewart run things." Then a crowd of men tramped pell mell out upon the porch. Stewart, dark-browed and somber, was In the lead. Nels hung close to hlm, and Madeline's quick glance saw that Nels had undergone Indescribable change The grinning, brilliant-eyed Don Cnr los came Jostling out beside n glnnt, sharp-featured man wearing n silver shield. This, no doubt, wns I'nt Hnwe. In the background behind Stlllwell nnd Alfred stood Nick Steele, bend nnd shoulders over a number of vaqueros and cowboys. "Miss Hammond, I'm sorry you came," said Stewart, bluntly. "We're In u muddle here. I've Insisted that you and Flo be kept close to us. I'll explain later. If you can't stop your enrs I beg you to overlook rough talk." With that ho turned to tho men be hind him: "Nick, tnke Hooly, go hack to Monty and the boys. Fetch out that stulT. All of It. Hustle, now '" Stlllwell and Alfred dlsengnged themselves from tho crowd to take up positions In front of Madeline nnd Florence. I'at Hnwe leaned against n post and insolently ogled Madeline and then Florence, Don Curios pressed Then a Crowd of Men Tramped Pell Mell Out Upon the Porch. forward. Ills swarthy face showed dark lines, like cords, under tho sur face Ills little eyes were exceedingly prominent nnd glittering. To Made line his face seemed to he a hold, hand some mask through which his ejes piercingly betrayed tho evil nature of the man. He bowed low with elaborate nnd sinuous grace. His smile revealed bril liant teeth enhanced tho brilliance of his eyes. He slowly spread deprecatory 1 uiiuls, "Suiorltas, I beg a thousand par ES dons,'' he wild. How strange It wnd for Madellno to hear Kngllsh upoken In a soft, whlnlngly sweet accent I "The gracious hospitality or Don Cur ios has passed with his home." Stewart stepped fofwnrd and, thrust ing Pen Carlos aside, he called, "Make way, there!" The crowd fell buck to the (rump of heavy IumK Cowboys appeared Mag goring out of tho conldor with long iiovos, Those thoy placed side by side ' upon tho lloor of tho poich, "Now. Hnwe. we'll piooood with our business,'' )nJ Stow ait. "You mo those boos, don't ouY" "I reckon 1 see u psul many thlnixs round hynr." replied Mn wo, meaningly. "Well, do ou Intend to open these hoses upon uty say-so?" "No!" retorted llawo. "It's not my place to meddle with property as come by express an' all accounted for regu lar." "I'll open thorn. Hero, ':.! o' you bo. knock tho tops oiT these boxes," ordered Stewart. "No. not you, Monty. You use your ejes. Let Hooly handle the ax. Hustle, now I" Monty I'rlce bnd Jumped out of the crowd Into the middle of the porch. The manner In which he gave way to Hooly nnd fnced tho vaqueros, was not significant of friendliness ortmst. "Stewart, you'ro tlend wrong to bust open them boxes. That's ag'Iu' tho law," protcstexl Hnwe, trying to Inter fere. Stewnrt pushed him bnck. Then Don Carlos, who hnd been stunned by iho appearance of the boxes, suddenly be came active In speech nnd person. Stewnrt thrust him bnck also. The Mexican's excitement Increased. He wildly gesticulated; he exclnlmed shrilly In Spnnlsh. When, however, the lids were wrenched open nnd an Inside packing torn away he grow rigid and silent. Madeline raised herself behind Stlllwell to see that tho boxes were full of rllles nud ammunition. "There, Hnwe I What did I toll you?" demanded Stewnrt. "I enmo over here to take charge of this ranch. I found these boxes bidden in nn unused room. I suspected whut they were. Contra band , goods I" "Wal, supposln' they arc? I don't see any call fer seen all-llred fuss as you're mnkln'. Stewnrt, I cnlklluto you're some stuck onyour nev Job an' want to make a big show bofbre " "Ilawe, stop slinging that kind of talk," interrupted Stewart. "You got too free with your mouth once before I Now here, I'm supposed to be consult ing nn ofilcer of the Inv. Will you tnke charge of these contraband goods?" "Say, you'ro holdln' on high nn' mighty," replied Unwe, In nstonlsh ment thnt was plainly pretended. "Whnfre you drlvln' at?" Stewnrt muttered nn Imprecation. lie took several swift strides across the porch; he held out his hands to Stlllwell as If to Indicate the hopeless ness of Intelligent nnd reasonable arbi tration; he looked at Madellno with a glance eloquent of his regret tnnt ho could not handle the situation toplense her. Then ns he wheeled he came face to face with Nels, who had slipped for ward out of the crowd. Madellno gathered serious Import from the steel-blue mennlng flush of eyes whereby Nels communicated something to Stewart. Whntevor thnt something wns, it dispelled Stewart's Impatience. A slight movement of his hand brought Monty I'rlce forwnrd with a jump. In these sudden Jumps of Monty's there wns u suggestion of restrained ferocity. Then Nels nnd Monty lined up behind Stewnrt. It wns n deliberate notion, even to Mnde line, unmistakably formidable I'nt Ilnwo's face took on nn ugly look; his eyes had a reddish gleam. Don Carlos added a pale face nnd extreme nerv ousness to his former expressions of agitation. The cowboys edged away from tho vaqueros and the bronzed, bearded horsemen who were evidently Ilawe's assistants. "I'm driving nt this," spoke up Stew nrt. presently; and now ho was slow nnd caustic. "Here's contraband of war! IIiiwp, do you get that? Arms and ammunition for the rebels across the border! I charu'e you as an ofilcer to confiscate these goods and to nrrest the smuggler Don Carlos." These words of Stewart's precipitat ed a riot nuiDiig'Doii Carlos and his followers, and they surged wildly around the sheriff. Tho crowd around Don Curios grew louder and denser with the addition of armed vaqueros and bare-footed stable-boys and dusty booted herdsmen and blanketed Mexi cans, the last of whom suddenly slipped from doors and windows and round coiners. Shrill cries, evidently frmn Don Carlos, somewhat quieted the commotion. Then Don Carlos could be heard addressing Sheriff llawo In an exhortation of mingled F.ngllsh and Spanish. Ho denied, he mowed, lie proclaimed, and all In rap id, passionate utterance. It seemed to Madeline that Don Carlos denied knowledge of the boxes of contraband goods, then knowledge of their real contents, then knowledge of their destination, and, flnnlly, every thing except that they were there In sight, damning witnesses to somebody's complicity In the breaking of neutral ity laws. Passionate as had been his denial of nil this, It wns ns nothing compnred to his denunciation of Stew nrt. "All over the ride. Bolt now and keep your nerve!" ITO UK CONTINUED.) The Mitinro nillo of tho city of Lon don Is divided Into 27 wnrds, with sucl' iiunlnt ninnos ns rortsoken, Vlntrj Cordwuliier nnd Candlcwlek wards. give your diges tion a "kick" with WRIGLEY'S. Sound tcctli, a good appetite nnd proper digestion mean MUCH to your health. WRIGLEY'S la a helper In all this work n pleasant bencllclol pick-me-up.' KayiMPsH Opportunity Calls fromCANAUA Vl3lt Canada this eummer see for yourself the op portunities which Canada offers, (o both labor and capital rich, fertile, vir gin prairie land, near rail ways and towns, at $15 to $20 an acrelong terras if desired. Wheat crops last year the biggest In history; dairying and hog9 pay well; mixed farming rapidly in creasing. Excursion on 1st and3d Tuesday of Each Month from various U.S. points, single fare plus $2 for the round trip. Other special rates any day. Make this your summer outing Canada welcomes tourists no passports required have a great trip and see with your own eyes the opportunities that await you. For full information, with fre i booklets and maps, write W. V. BENNETT DeskW 300 Peter's Trait Bid Omaha, Neb. AttloriitJ CuiCta Ct1 Alt. CLEAN. DVE, AND SillMC 3X SHOE POLISHES LIQUIDS OR PASTES Fcrlhe Whole Family Devotion's Temple. The secret heart Is fnlr devotion's temple; there the Milnt, even on thnt HvltiK nlttir, lights the tlmue of purest sacrifice, which hums unseen, not un accepted. Ilnnniili More. Cuticura Soap for the Complexion. Nothing better thnn Cuticura Soap dally nnd Ointment now nnd then as needed to innl;c the complexion clear, scnlp clean und hnnds soft and white. Add to tills the fascinating, frngrnnt Cuticura Talcum, and you have tho Cuticura Toilet Trio. Advertisement, Special Attraction. No. 1 I nin sure Millie paints. No. 1 Anil she certnlnly can drni men. V Stearns' Electric Paste ia reeosnlzod fi3 tho tnitvrnntccd exterminator for Itatt, Mice, Auu. Cookroarlios nnu Nnturliusj. Don't vnto tlmn tryltiar to Irtll tlioso rests with powders, lluuiUs or any oxporunouul preparation. . RoadyforUBO 3ottorthanTropo 2-os. box, 3.1c 15-oz. box, ?1.W SOLO EVERYWHERE Wanted, District Manager to appoint agents to sell our full coverage Health and Accident Policies, which pay for natural death. Write for full information. PBONEER INSURANCE CO. U LINCOLN, NEORASKA Requires No Attention . Guaranteed Three Years At Your Local Station or Mac-Dry Battery Co. of Neb. 20 17 From St., Omaha 11UV VOUU Oir.AKH Dlltr.CT Fifty Havana moker. prepaid, Jl 51) AKeni.i wanted. Haftna Smoku Huuir, llomtaml,(lH W. N. U LINCOLN, NO. 22-1923. ayjg5Agjnr as'wl J isHOE Ij W00 M 1