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Updated: June 28, 2025
Don Carlos is a wily Greaser, he knows the ranges, he has the water, and he is dishonest. So he outfigured me. And now I am practically ruined. He has not gotten possession of my ranch, but that's only a matter of time, pending lawsuits at Santa Fe. At present I have a few hundred cattle running on Stillwell's range, and I am his foreman." "Foreman?" queried Madeline.
When she awoke it was twilight. She wondered why her Mexican maid had not come to her, and she rang the bell. The maid did not put in an appearance, nor was there any answer to the ring. The house seemed unusually quiet. It was a brooding silence, which presently broke to the sound of footsteps on the porch. Madeline recognized Stillwell's tread, though it appeared to be light for him.
"Stewart, the best thing in life is faith in human nature. I have faith in you. I believe you are worth it." "You're only kind and good saying that. You can't mean it." "I mean it with all my heart," she replied, a sudden rich warmth suffusing her body as she saw the first sign of his softening. "Will you come back if not for your own sake or Stillwell's then for mine?"
"I am simply boss of Stillwell's cowboys, and right glad of my job." Madeline was conscious of an inward burning. It required an effort for her to retain her outward tranquillity. Annoying consciousness she had also of the returning sense of new disturbing emotions. She began to see just how walled in from unusual thought-provoking incident and sensation had been her exclusive life.
Are you hurt?" "No, Senor." He took hold of her. "I heard somebody got shot. Was it Danny?" "No, Senor." "Did Danny do the shooting? Tell me, girl." "No, Senor." "I'm sure glad. I thought Danny was mixed up in that. He had Stillwell's money for the boys I was afraid.... Say, Bonita, but you'll get in trouble. Who was with you? What did you do?"
"Listen, Al," came the boom of Stillwell's big voice, "now that we've butted in over hyar 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 him, and Madeline's quick glance saw that Nels had undergone some indescribable change.
But a few years of that doesn't change what the early days made of him. As for Nick Steele and Monty, they're just bad men, and looking for trouble." "How about yourself, Stewart? Stillwell's remark was not lost upon me," said Madeline, prompted by curiosity. Stewart did not reply. He looked at her in respectful silence.
The boys are all turrible in earnest about this gol-lof. An' I want to say, for the good of ranchin', not to mention a possible fight, that Monty an' Link hev got to be beat. There'll be no peace round this ranch till that's done." Madeline's guests were much amused. As for herself, in spite of her scarcely considered doubt, Stillwell's tale of woe occasioned her anxiety.
Stillwell's stentorian laugh rolled across the mesa. Madeline and her guests found it impossible to restrain their mirth. And when Nels got up he cast a reproachful glance at Madeline. His feelings were hurt. His second attempt, not by any means so violent, resulted in as clean a miss as the first, and brought jeers from the cowboys. Nels's red face flamed redder. Angrily he swung again.
Stillwell's haste and silence, too, were pregnant of catastrophe. "Nels, git in this!" yelled Monty; and all the time he never shifted his intent gaze as much as a hair's-breadth from Hawe and his deputy. "Nels, chase away them two fellers hangin' back there. Chase 'em, quick!" These men, the two deputies who had remained in the background with the pack-horses, did not wait for Nels.
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