Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-12

He Saw 1t Was Not Man at All, but
Woman.
t sounded so grOtesque that De Spain
would fully as lief have been sitting
between his horses legs as astride his
pack.
That's not true, SassOon," said his
.elentless questioner. Her tone and
he expression of her face BODIED no
.riendliness for either of the two she
lad intercepted.
De Spain had recovered his wits.
You're right" he interpOsed without
IN instant's hesitation. at isn't true.
But that's not his fault; he is under
arrest, and is telling you what [ told
him to tell you. [ came in here this
morning to take SassOOn to Sleepy Cat.
He is prisoner, wanted for cutting up
)ne of our Stage-guards.'
Nan, cOldly skeptical, eyed De Spain.
''And do you try to tell me"-she
pointed to SassOon's unbound hands
that he is riding out of here, a free
nan, to go to jail?"
Il do tell you exactly that. He is
my prisoner"
Il don't believe either of you," de-
clared Nan scOrnfuliy. you are plan
ming something underhand together"
De Spain laughed coolly. We've
planned that much together, but not /
assure you, with his consent"
Il don't believe your stories at all"
she declared firmly.
De Spain flushed. The irritation and
the serious danger bore in on him. IF
you don't believe me it's not my fault"
he retorted. 1--WE told you the truth.
Ride on, Sassoon."
He spoke angrily, but this in no
wise daunted Nan. She wheeled her
horse directly in front of them. Don't
you stir. Sassoon," she commanded,
until [ call Uncle Duke"
De Spain spurred straight at her !;
their horses collided, and his knee
Ouched hers in the saddle. I'm 60
ng to take this man cut of here" he
announced in tone she never had
heard before from man. 1--WE no
time to talk. Go call your uncle if you
like. We must pass
you shan't pass a step!"
With the quick words of defiance the
two glared at each other. De Spain
was taken aback. He had expected no
more than a war of wOrds-a few
screams at the most. Mans face
turned white, but there was no symp-
tom even of a whimper. He noticed
her quick breathing, and felt, instinc-
lively, the restrained gesture of her
right hand as it started back to her
side. The move steadied him. zone
question:" he said bluntly, "are you
armed?"
She hated even to answer, and met
his searching gaze resentfully, but
something in his tone and manner
wrung reply. 81 can defend myself"
she exclaimed angrily.
De Spain raised his right hand from
his thigh to the pOmmel of his saddle.
The slight gesture was eloquent of his
surrender of the issue Of force. Il
can't go into a shooting-match with
you about this cur If you call your
uncle there will be loodshed-unless
you drop me off my horse right here
and now before he appears. All I ask
YOU is this: Is this kind of a cut
throat worth that? If you shoot me,
my whole posse from Sleepy Cat is
right below US in the aspens. Some
Of your own people will be killed In a
general fight. If you want to shoot me,
shoot-you can have the match all to
yourself. If you don't, let us go by.
And if I've told you one word that isn't
true, call me back to this spot any time
you like, and I'll come at your call, and
- - - g. - -
His words and his manner confound-
ed her for moment. She could not at
once make an answer, for she could not
decide what to say. Then, of a sud
den, she was robbed Of her chance to
answer. From down the trail came a
veil like a shot. The clatter of boots
rang out, and men on horses dashed
from the entrance of the gap toward
them. De Spain could not make out
! distinctly, but he knew Lefevers yell
and pointed. There they are" he
! exclaimed hurriedly. "There is the
whole posse. They are coming" a
| shot, followed closely by a second, ranG
out from below. 60" he cried t(
Nan. "There'n be shooting here tha
| can't stop!" He slapped Sasscon''
pony viciously with his hand, spurret
I past her himself, and was away. White
with CONSERVATION and anger, SIT
steadied herself and looked after TIT
fleeing pair. Then whirling in her SAD
die. she ran her pony back to tn
ranch-house to give the alarm.
i Yelling ike half dozen men, lie