The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-01-30

| HE is on notwithstanding fast:
| it is Ben Evans"
Instantly Nan jumped to the con-
clusion that he had learned, or guess
ed the truth and was coming to her
aid. But her citation and relief were
short, for he rode past the window
| without so much as glance ana
| stopped at the blacksmith shop.
He was only on an errand, and on
one no more romantic and chivalrous
than half dozen forgotten horseshoes.
Nan could see his face; soberness
and then irresolution crept over it as
Mrs. Gallagher fastened outside and
| explained the situation to him. She
seemed to be urging something with
many vehement gestures Was 1t pos
sible, Nan asked herself, that he was
| hesitating?
He showed distress, indignation
even; but there was nothing in his
manner which conveyed the impress
sion that he was burning with q
| knightly eagerness to rescue a fair
maiden from the result of her indis-
cretion. He accompanied Mrs. Gal
| lagher with no great alacrity, Nan
| thought, and her chin went a little
| higher in the air.
II am sorry that it is necessary for
us to bother you with our difficult
| ties"
1.-The mujer here has told me"-he
locked at her troubled eyes-"but
don't Just see how / can do what she
| asks"
"And what is that?"
Run in her horse and one for you.
They're waiting for me and if III
l., he Redeemed as he hesitated.
| "Yes?"
He blurted the truth helplessly.
"If 1 took time I'd lose my job,
seeing as Spiser ordered them all
| turned Quit"
| The pedestal upon which Nan had
placed him swayed violently, and
again Ben Evans, hero, fell with
crash She felt as she had when he
had kicked his heels against the mop
ard-disappointed, chilled.
The reply seemed so inconsistent.
St at variance with the chiyalry and
courage of his action in the Hope
dale opera house, tina it bewildered as
much as chagrined her. Fancy Bob
refusing her aid because he might lose
his job! Fancy Bob, when 1t came to
| that, refusing her anything
| Spiser was right, she thought in
Quick and sweeping condemnation,
when he had boosted that he was boss
| of the L. X outfit and everything and
everybody upon it.
| Nan said coldly:
"I couldn't think, then, of permit
| ting you to get horse for me-of
taking any such risk on my account.
| We shall make out, somehow, I've no
doubt" She turned into the house.
| Ben suddenly had an uncomfort-
able feeling that the explanation for
| failing to respond which seemed so
adequate and convincing to himself
did not appear so to Nan.
"wait a minute he protested
"Dorf't start away from here afoot
| You can't walk; it's too far, even to
Ell Orc. I'll find way to get word to
some one that will come for you. VIII
you wait here until noon?"
Nan shook her head, but Mrs. Gal
lagher advised:
'It is better that way, senorita. 1t
Is too far for you to walk"
1--WE will wait, them" Nan unwill-
ingIy consented, "but"-she could not
resist lido not jeoIardize your
job"
Mans impotence and uneasiness in
creased as the hour neared IL and the
promised assistance did not arrive.
1t was all of IL o'clck when Mrs. Gal
iagher, who was doing sentinel duty
from the pinnacle of large wood
pile, scrambled from her perch with
the cheering news that some one was
coming.
IAN American leading two horses"
Nan herself could discern only
rapidly moving specs when Mrs. Gall
lagher announced further:
Edith Blakely, from the Longhorn
bcsque."
Edith Blakely? Nan recalled her
after a moment. She was the girl
who had ridden beside Ben Evans
that first day in Hopedale--the girl