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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1923)
RED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF The Light - CHAPTER XVII Continued. 14 An' I'll bet you a tiKlllon pesos thet If foil K"t Koln' onct, an' .the ween you iim I've fvi'U you wnl, I know wlint slio'tl lliluk of you. This old world 'ain't changed much, Home women may ho wTilto-Fl.luucri mi' .soft-eyed an' sweet voiced an' hlgh-muiled. hut they all like to see a man ! Gene, here's your name. Let Don Carlos come ulonj:. He civil. If be an' Ills kmik are hungry, feed eiu. Tulip even u Utile overhearln" (lieo'-er tall;. Me blind If he wants his KiK to deal soaiethln'. Let him think (he women hev nuwlctl down to the ranch. Hut If he says you're lyln' If he as much us looks round to see the women Jest Jump him name as you Jumped Pat I la we. Me an' Monty'll hunt; back for thet, an' If your KtrotiK bluff don't go through, If (he Don's CaiiK reu thinks of llashln' pins, then we'll open up. An' all I j;ot to my Is If them Creamers slntid for real kuii play they'll be sure fust 1 over seen." "Nels, there are white men In Hint CiniKi" ald Stewart. "Shore. Hut me an' Monty'll he thlnkln' of thet. If they start any thin' It'll hev to be shore quick." "All rltfht, Nels, old friend, and thanks." replied Stewart. Nels returned to the cnmpllro, and Stewart resumed his silent Riiard. Madeline's guests sat talking In low voices until n late hour. The Incident now beKtm to take on the nature of Helen's lons-ycunied-for ndciituro. Some of the party even prow merry In n subdued wny. Then, gradually, one by one they tired imhI went to bed. To keep r.oni thinking of Stewart and the luiriiiiu; anger he had caused her to feel for herself, Madeline tried to keep her mind on other things. Hut thought of him recurred, mid each time 'here was a hot commotion In her 1 reast hard to stllle. Intelligent rea soning seemed out of her power. In Hie daylight It had beep possible for Jer to be oblivious to Stewart's deceit after the moment of Its realization. At night, boeer. In the strange silence and hoxerlug shadows of gloom, with the speaking Mars neemlng to call to her, with the moan of the wind In the pines, and the melancholy mourn of coyotes in flirt distance, she was not able to govern her thought and emo tion. She had Inadvertently henrd Nels conversation with Stewart ; nhe had listened, hoping to hear some good news or to hear the worst; she had learned hoth, and, moreover, enlighten ment on one point of Stewart's com plex motives. lie wished to spare her any sight that might offend, frighten, or disgust her. Yet this Stewart, who jdiowed n fineness of feeling that might have been wanting even In Hoyd Har vey, maintained a secret rendezvous with that pretty, abandoned Itonltii. Here alwnys the hot shame, like u live, stinging, Internal fire, abruptly ended Madeline's thought. The hours wore on, and nt length, as the stura Jbejjjin to pale nnd there was no sound whatever, she fell asleep. She was called out of her slumber. Duy had broken bright and cool. The aun was still below the eastern crags. Ambrose, with several other cowboys, had brought up buckets of spring wa ter, and hot coffee and cakes. Made line's party appeared to be none the worse for the night's experience. In deed, the meager breakfast might hnve been as merrily partaken of as It was hungrily had not Ambrose enjoined silence. "They're expecting company down below," he said. This Information and the suiniiinr.v milliner In which the cowboys soon led "I Promise Not to Make Any Noise," Replied Madeline. the party higher up among the ruined shelves of rock caused u recurrence of anxiety. Madeline InsMed on not giv. Ing beyond a projection of cliff from which she could see directly down Into the camp. "Ambrose, do you really think the guerrillas will come?" she asked. "Sure. We know. Nels Just rode In and said they were on their way up. Mlsa Hammond, can I trust you? You won't let out a squeal If there's a light down there? Stewart told me to hide you out of sight or keep you from lookln'." "I promise not to muke uny noise," replied Madeline. Madeline arranged her coat so that nbjccauhi lie vui0D lU.Mjd settled down l WMi$W 11' IMP of Western Stars A Romance p. By Zanc Grey Copyright by Harper and Brother to wait developments. There came u slight rattling of stones In the rear. She turned to see Uelcu sliding down ii bank with a perplexed and troubled cowboy, Ambrose sternly and heio Ically prepared to carry her bnck to the others. He laid hold of her. In n fury, with eyes blazing, Helen whis pered: "Let go of me I Majesty, what does this fool ineaiP" Madeline laughed. She knew Helen, and hud marked the whisper, when or dinarily Helen would hive spoken Im periously, and not low. Madeline ex plained to her the exigency of tne sit uation. "I might run, hut I'll never scienin," said Helen. With that Am brose bad to be content to let her stay. However, he found her a place some what farther hack from Madeline's po sition, where he said there was less danger of her being seen. Then he Mernly bound her to silence, tarried a moment to comfort Christine, his wife, acting as maid to the ladles, and re turned to where Madeline lay con cealed. He had been there scarcely n moment when he whispered : "I hear bosses. The guerrillas are comln'." Madeline's hiding place was well protected from possible discovery from below. She could peep over a kind of parapet, through un opening in the tips of the pines that reached up to tin cliff, and obtain a commanding view of i In- camp circle and Its Immediate surroundings. She could not, however, see far either to right or left of the camp, owing to the obstructing foliage Presently the sound of horses' hoofs quickened the beat of her pulse and cmised her to turn keener gaze upon the cowboys below. Although she had some Inkling of the course Stewart and his men were to pursue, she was not by any means prepared for the Indifference she saw. Frank was asleep, or pretended to he. Three cowboys were lazily and uncon cernedly attending to campllre duties, such as baking biscuits, watching the ovens, and washing tins und pots. The elaborate set of aluminum plates, cups, etc., together with tl)e other camp fix tures that had done service for Made line's party, bad disappeared. Nick Steele sat with his back to u log, smok ing his pipe. Another cowboy had Just brought the horses closer Into eamn. where they stood waiting to he sad dled. Nels appeared to be fussing over a pack. Stewart was rolling a cig arette. Monty had apparently nothing to do for the present except whistle, which he was doing much more loudly than melodiously. The whole ensem ble gave an Impression of careless In difference. The sound of horses' hoofs grew louder and slowed Its heat. One of the cowboys pointed down the trail, toward which several of his comrades turned their head for a moment, then went on with their occupations. Presently a shaggy, dusty horse bearing a lean, ragged, dark rider rode Into the camp and halted. Another followed, and another. Horses with Mexlcnn riders came In single file and stopped behind the leader. "Huenos dlas, senor," ceremoniously said the foremost guerrilla. Hy straining her ears Madeline heard that voice, and she recognize.! it as belonging to Don Carlos. S-ewart answered the greeting In Spanish, nnd, waving his hnnd toward the cnmptlrc. added In KnglUh, "(Jet down and eat." The guerrillas were anything but slow In complying. They crowded to the tire, then spread lu a little circle and squutted upon the ground, laying their weapons beside them. The cow boys were not cordial lu their recep tion of this visit, but they were hos pliable. The law of the desert had always been to give food and drink to wayfaring men, whether lost or hunted or hunting. "They appear to be friendly enough," whispered Madeline. "Ambrose, tell tne explain to me the real thing." "Sure, dene thinks they're after you lailies to carry you off. Hut (cue Oli, dene's some hlghfalutln lu his Ideus lately. Most of ns boys think the guerrillas are out to rob that's all." Whatever might have been the se cret motive of Don Carlos and his men. they did not allow It to Interfere with a hearty appreciation of a generous amount of food. Then, ns each and eery one began to roll and smoke the Inevitable cigarette of the Mexican, there was ii subtle change in manner. They smoked and looked about the amp. olY Into the woods, up at the crags, ami back at the leisurely cow boys. They had the air of men waiting for something. "Senor," began Don Cnrlos, address In?, Stewart. As he spoke he swept bis sombrero to indicate the camp el reli'. Madeline could not distinguish his words, hut his gesture plainly Indi cated a question In regard to the rest of the camping party. Stewarts reply and the wave of his hand down the trull meant that his party had gone home. Stewart turned to some task, and the guerrilla leader quietly smoked. He looked cunning anil thoughtful. Presently a blgboned man with a bullet bead and a blistered red face of evil coarseness got up and threw away his cigarette. He was an American. "Hev. cull." he cnllfsl In limit vol,.,. 1 "ain't ye. auln' to eoiuib. ua a drink?" "My boys don't enrry liquor on the (rail," replied Stewart. "Haw, bawl I heerd over In Rodeo thet ye was glttln' to be shore some for temperance," said this fellow. "I hate to drink water, but I guess I've gotter do It." He went to the spring, sprawled down to drink, and all of a sudden he thrust his arm down In the water to bring forth a basket. The cowboys lu the hurry of packing had neglected to remove this basket; nnd It contained hollies of wine and llr,uors for Made line's guests. They had been sub merged lu the spring to keep them cold. The guerrilla fumbled with the lid, opened It, and then got tip, uttering a loud roar of delight. Stewart made an almost Impercept ible motion as If to leap forward; but be checked the Impulse. "Guess my parly forgot that. You're welcome to It." Like bees the guerrillas swarmed uround the lucky finder of the bottles. The drink old not last long, and It served only to llbenttu the spirit of Like Bees'' the Guerrillas Swarmed Around the Lucky Finder of the Bottles. recklessness. The several white out laws bcgiin to prowl around the camp; some of the Mexicans did likewise; others waited, showing by their Ill concealed expectancy the nature of their thoughts. It was the demeanor of Stewart and his comrades that puzzled Madeline. Apparently they felt no anxiety or even particular Interest. Don Cnrlos, who a. been covertly watching them, now mad his scrutiny open, even aggres sive. The guerrilla leader seemed un decided, but not lu any sense puzzled. In her growing excitement Madeline bad not clearly heard Ambrose's low whispers ami she made an elTort to distract some of her attention from those below to the cowboy crouching beside her. The quality, the note of Ambrose's whisper bad changed. It had a slight sibilant sound. "Don't be mad If sudden-like I clap my hands over your eyes, Mis Ham mond," be was saying. "Somethln's brewln' below. I never seen (iene so coed. That's a dangerous sign lu him. And look, see how the boys are work In' together! Oh, It's slow and nccl-dent-like, but I know It's sure not accident. That foxy Greaser knows, too. Hut niiiybe his men don't. If they me wise they haven't sense enough to care. The Don, though he's worried. It's Nels and Monty he's watchln'. And well he need do It! There, Nick and Frank have settled down on that log with Hooly. They don't seem to' be packln' gun. Hut look how heavy their vests hang. A gun In each side! Those boys can pull a gun and Hop over that log quicker than you can think. Do you notice how Nels and Monty and Gene are square between them guerrillas nnd the trail up here? It doesn't seem on purpose, but It Is. Look at Nels and Monty. How quiet they are coufabbln' together, paying no attention to the guerrillas. I see Monty look at Gent, then I see Nels look at Gene. Well. It's up to Gene. And they're goln' to buck him. 1 reckon, Mixs Hammond, there'll be dead Greasers round that camp long ago If Nels and Monty were foot-loose. They're behoblln' to Gene. That's plain." And. Lord : how it tickles me to watch them! Hoth packln' two foity-rivos, butts swlngln clear. There's twenty -four shots In them four guns. And there's twenty- three guerrillas. If Nels .and Monty ever throw guns at that close range, why, Jiefon you'd know what was up there'd be a idle of Greasers, Therel Stewart said something to the Don. I wonder what, I'll gamble it was some thing to get the Don's outfit all closo together. Sure! Greasers have no sense. Hut them white guerrillas they're lookln' some dubious. What over's comln' off will come soon, you can bet. I wish I was down there. Hut maybe It won't come to a scrap. Stewart's set on avoldln' that He's a wonderful chap to get his way. Lord, though, I'd like to see hi in go alter that overbcarln' Greater! See! the Don can't stand prosperity. All this strange behavior of cowboys Is beyond his pulque-soaked brains. Then he's a Greaser. If Gene doesn't kwM; him lun. tiie huiul iimseatlit iut'll kcalu to get OTr his fcnre, rven of NcH and Monty. Hut Gene 'II pick out the right time. Never uaw Nels lu but one light, then ho Just shot h Greaser's u rm off for tryln' to draw on him. Hut I've heard all about him. And Monty I Monty's the real old-fashioned gun man. What I don't understand In how Monty keeps so quid and easy and peaceful-like. That's not his way, w'th such un outfit looktn for trouble. O-liu I Now for the grand bluff. Looks like no light at ull I" The guerrilla leader br.d ceased his restless steps and glances, and turned to Stewart with something of bold resolution In bis aspect. "Graclas, senor," he subl. "Adlos." He swept his sombrero In the direc tion of the trail leading down the mountain to Hie ranch; nnd as he com pleted the gesture a smll", crafty and Jeering, crossed his swarthy nice. Ambrose whispered so low thht Madeline scarcely heard him. "If the Greaser goes that way he'll find our horses and get wise to the trick. Oh, he's wise now I Hut I'll gamble he never even starts on that trail." Neither hurriedly nor guardedly Stewart rose out of his leaning posture and took a couple of long strides toward Don Carlos. "Go hack the way you came," he fair ly yelled ; and his video had the ring of a bugle. Ambrose nudged Madeline; his whis per was tense and rnptd : "Don't miss nothin'. Gene's called him. What over's comln' oft will be here quick as llghtnln'. S e! I guess maybe that Greaser don't savvy good U. S. lingo. Look ut that dlrly yaller face turn green. Put one eye on Nels and Monty! That's great Just to see 'em. Just as quiet and easy. Rut oh, the difference I I . it nnd stiff that means every muscle g like a rawhide rlata. They're wai '. In' with eyes that can see tlio workln's of them Greasers' minds. Now there ain't a hoss-balr between them ( leasers and b I!" Don Carlos gave Stewart one long malignant stare; then he threw back his head, swept up the sombrero, and his ell smile showed gleaming teeth. "Senor " he began. With nuigniticent bound Stewart was upon him. The guerrilla's cry was throttled in his throat. A fierce wrestling ensued, too swift to see clearly; then heavy, sodden blows, and Don Carlos was beaten to the ground. Stewart leaped back. Then, crouch ing with his bauds on the butts of guns nt his hips, be yelled, he thun dered at the guerrillas. He had hem quicker than a panther, and now bis voice was so terrible thnt It curdled Madeline's blood, and the menace of deadly violence In his crouching posl tloTi made her shut her eyes. Hut she had to open them. In that single in stant Nels and Monty had leaped to Stewart's side. Roth were bent down, with hands on the butts of guns at their hips. Nels' piercing yell seemed to divide. Monty'a roar of rage. Then they censed, nnd echoes clapped from the. crags. The silence of those three men crouching like tigers about to leap was more menacing than the nerve rucking yells. Then the guerrllhiB wnvered and broke und run for their horses. Don Carlos rolled over, rose, and staggered away, to be helped upon bis mount, lie looked back, his pale nnd bloody face that of a thwarted demon. The whole baud got Into action and were gone in a moment. "I knew It," declared Ambrose. "Never seen u Greaser who could face gun-pluy. That was some warm. And Monty Price never flashed n gun! He'll never get over that. I reckon, Miss Hammond, we're some lucky to avoid trouble, (iene had his way, as you seen. We'll be makln' tracks for the ranch In about two shakes." "Why?" whispered Madeline, breath lessly. She became conscious that she was weak and .shaken. "Hecause the guerrillas sure will get their nerve back, and come sneakln' on our trail or try to bead us off by anibusbln'," replied Ambrose. "That's their way. Otherwise three cowboys couldn't bluff a whole gang like that. Gene know! the nature of Greasers. They're whlte-llveiHl. Hut I reckon we'te In more dunger now than before, unless we get a good stmt down the mountain. There! Gene's callln'. Come! Hurry!" Helen had slipped down from her vantage point, and therefore bad not seen the Inst act In that little camp tire draiun. It seemed, however, that her desire for excitement was satis fied, for her face, was pale and she trembled when she asked If the guer rillas were gone. Ambrose hurried the three women over the rough rocks, down the cliff. The cowboys below were saddling horses In haste. Swiftly, ylth rcgiifd only for life and limb, Madeline, Helen, und Christine were lowered by lassoes anil half carried down to the level. By the time they were safely down the other members of the party appeared on the dill' above. They were In ex cellent spirits, appearing to treat the matter as a huge Joke. Ambrose put Christine on n horse and rodo away through the pines; Frankle Slado did likewise with Helen. Stewart led Madeline's horse up to her, helped her to mount, and spoke ono stern word, "Walt I" Then as fast as ono of the women reached the level she was put upon a horse and taken away by u cowboy escort. 1'Yw words were spoken. Haste seinneil to be the great essential. The horses were urged, and, once In the trail, spurred and led Into u swift trot. One cowboy drove up four pack-horses, and these were hurriedly loaded witJi the party's, baggage. Castleton and his com panions mounted, und galloped off to catch Clio others In the luad. Tills left Madeline behind with Stewart and Nels and Monty. "Thuii'ra iiola' ta switch off at ilia sMIer thet hearts nenr the. trail i fe miles down," Nels was saying, an hn lightened his saddle-girth. "Thet hoi Iir bends Into a big canyon. Once in thet, It'll be every man fer blsself. I reckon there won't be anythln' wuss (ban n rough ride." Nels smiled reassuringly nt Made line, but he did not speak to her. Monty took her canteen and filled It ut the spring and hung It over the pommel of her saddle. He put u couple of biscuits In the saddle-bag, "Don't f'erglt to take a drink an' n bite as you're rldln' along," he said. "An' 'don't worry, Mls Majesty. Stew art ll be with you, an' me un' Nels hangln' ou the bnck trail." His somber and sullen face did not change In Its strange Intensify, but the look In Ids eyes Madeline felt she would never forget. Left alone with these three men, now stripped of nil pretense, she reullzed how fortune had favored her and what peril still hung In the balance. Stewart swung astride bis big black, spurred him, and whis tled. At the whistle Majesty Jumped, and with swift canter followed Slew art. Madeline looked back to see Nels already up and Monty handing him it rifle. Then the pines hid her view. Once In the trail, Stewart's borso broke Into a gallop. Majesty changed his gait and kept nt the black's heels, Stewart called back a warning. The low, wide-spreading branches of trees might brush Madeline out of the sad dle. Fast riding through the forest along n crooked, obstructed trull called forth all her alertness. lUfore long Stewart wheeled at right angles off the trail and entered a hol low between two low bluffs, Madeline saw tracks In the open patches of ground. Here Stewart' horse took to a brisk walk. At last Madeline was brought to a dead halt by Stewart end his horse blocking the trail. Looking up, she saw they were at the head of a can yon that yawned benenth and widened Its gray-walled, green-patched sloe.s down to a black forest of fir. Retract ing her gaze, Mudellue saw pa k horses cros an open space a mile be low, and she thought she saw the stag hounds. Stewart's dark eyes searched the slopes high up along the craggy escarpments. Then he put the black to the descent. He led off to the right, zigzagging an intricate course through the rough est ground Madeline had ever ridden over. He crashed through cedars, threaded a tortuous way among boulders, made his horse slide down slanting banks of soft earth, picked u slow nnd cautious progress hci'oss weathered slopes of loose rock. Made line followed, finding lu this ride u tux on strength and Judgment. It was dust nnd heat, u parching throat, that caused her to think of time; and she was amazed to see the sun sloping to the west. Stewart never stopped; ha never looked back; he never spoke. "After a mile or so of easy travel the ground again began to fall de cidedly, sloping In numerous ridges, with draws between. Soon night shadowed the deeper gullies. Madeline was refreshed by the cooling of the air. Stewart traveled slow.y now. The barks of coyotes seemed to startle him. Olten be stopped to listen. And during one of those Intervals the silence was broken by sharp rille shots. Madeline could not tell whether they were near or far, to right or left, behind or he foie. F.vldontly Stewart was both alarmed and battled. He dismounted. He went cautiously forward fo listen. Madeline fancied she heard a cry, low and far away. It was only that or a coyote, she convinced herself, yet It was so walling, ;;o human, thnt slio shuddered. Stewart came bnck. He slipped the bridle of both horses, and he led them. Kvery few paces he He Went Cautiously Forward to Listen. stopped to listen. He changed his di rection several times, and the last time he got among rough, rocky ridges. Tint , Iron shoes of the horses ciacked on thtf ' rocks. That cound must bine pene trated far IiWo the forest. It perturbed Stewart, for he searched for softer ground. Meanwhile the shadows ! merged Into darkness. The stars shone. ' The wind rose. Madellnu belVned hours passed. In More Modern Times. i A girl usoil to want to Unow If In? Iiml cnoiipli to Hturt up housekeeping with; now slio wants to Unow If lie Iiiih enousli to -pay ulltiiuny. Clucln- I niitl Kuipiirer. Which? I How invuril "My i In lighter playi the i o." .lay "Uy cur, by note or hy J pinu 1 Daim-MW -11m- l&aa-U iXmtt. Wf)l Mv lifniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiimiiiii RUNA fa UOtt (vearner IIM Drives out the catar rhal poisons, dispels the inflamation of the mucous linings and reinforces the system against dis ease. For safety take Pe-ru-na during hot weather. Tablets or Liquid ,"3old Everywhere Piles are usually due to strain ing when constipated. Nujol being a lubricant keeps the food wnstc soft nnd therefore prevents strain ing. Doctors prescribe Nujol because it not only soothes the suffering of piles but relieves the irritation, brings comfort nnd helps to re move them. Nujol is a lubricodt not a medicine or laxative so cannot gripe. Try it today. a n tit sViMi'Ii A LUBRICANT-NOT A LAXATIVE Safe instant relief from CORNS On ninuU and the piln of that com cndil Tht' whit Dr. Scholl'i Zino-ptdt doiaftly. They remove the fan; trie-tion-preiture, anil heat the irritation. Thui you roid .infection, from, cutting; yoar corns or using cortoiive acidi. Tfim; an tittptic; waterproof. Siiea for corni, cat louiet, bunioni. Get a boi today at yoar drufiiit'a or ahoedealer'a. DZScholl's TiiriO'pads Mait in lit lalcratoritl ef lit ScaoO Uft. Co., maitrt c Dr. SrJWfi Foot Comfcrljpplicnttl, Ank StfpotU.ttt. Put one on the pain is gone I ciiEsiCROUGii HAwrAcnmiNC co. iConnlVJaMrf) Statt SDMI Nr Vara Vaseline RtgUSPVitOfT Yellow orWhite MTROUUM JI UX OIL.DYE& SHINE BjXgYs POLISHES Easiest to use Good for slvoes raHU1liiiIi'.llM:M Skin Troubles Soothed With Cuticura Soap 25c, Oicimect 25 and 50c, Talcum 25c MEAN O IW o n OPTICIAN 1123 O Street :: Lincoln, Neb ' "w7N."u7 LINCOLN, NO. 30-1923. " WWW Era frfl Srafo I W- A m IPs 'IP i igggg,.. I - FLTT naaaaik .1 S i i
