Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-06-29
CHAPTER xxI-continued.
ID

Bull lifted his weak and watery
eyes. His whisky-seamed face bright
ened into the ghost of smile. 'What
I'm going to ask you to do" continued
De Spain, sis mans job. You can
get into the gap without trouble. You
are the only man I can put my hand
on Just now that can. want you to
ride over this morning and hang out
around Duke Morgan's place till you
can get chance to see Miss Nan"
At the mention of her name Bull
shook his head a moment in affirma-
i've approval "She's a queenw he
exclaimed with admiring but pungent
expletives. "a queen"
Al think so, Bull. But she is in
troublesome circumstances. You know,
Nan and L"
Bull winked in many ways.
"And her Uucle Duke is making us
trouble, Bull. l want you to find her,
speak with her, and bring word to me
as to what the situation is. That
doesn't mean you're to get drunk over
therein fact, / don't think anybody
over there would give you a drink"
Don't believe they would"
"And you are to ride back here with
what you can find out just as quick,
after you get into the clear, as a horse
will bring you"
Bull passed his hand over his mouth
with show of resolution. 1t indi-
Gated that he was pulling himself to-
gether. Within half an hour he was
on his way to the gap.
For De Spain hours never dragged
as did the hours between Bulls start
ing and the setting of the sun that
night without his return. And the sun
set behind Music mountain in a drift
Of heavy clouds that brought rain. All
evening 1t fell steadily. At eleven
o'clock De Spain had given up hope
OF seeing his em;ssary before morn
ing and was sitting alone before the
stove in the office when he heard the
sound of hoofs. In another moment
Bull Page stood at the door.
He was a sorry sight. Soaked to
the skin by the steady downpOur;
rain dripping internationally from his
Trayed hat, his ragged beard and ia
tered coat; shaking with the cold as
gripped by an ague, Bull, picking
ais staggering steps to the fire, and
sinking In a heap into chair, SYM
oolized the uttermOst tribute of man
mood to the ravages of whisky. He
was not drunk. He had not even been
drinking; but his vitality was gone.
de tried to speak. 1t was impOs-
sible. His tongue would not frame
words, nor his throat utter them. He
could only look helplessly at De
spain as De Spain hastily made him
sand up on his shaking knees, threw
big blanket around him, sat him
Gown, kicked open the stove drafts,
and called to McAlpin for more whis-
~ to steady the wreck of 1t crouch
ing over the fire.
McAlpia, after considerable and re-
1uctant search, produced a bottle, and
unwilling, for more reasons than one,
20 trust 1t to Bulls uncertain posses
s,oh' brought dipper. Bull held the
upper while De Spain poured. Meal
pm behind the stow, hoped first on
que loot and then on the other as De
opain recklessly continued to pour
Mnen the liquor half filed the cup.
1cAlpin put out unmistakable dis
~ess signals, but Bull, watching the
U'o"n stream, his eyes galvanized at
Tue sight, held fast TO the handle and
alaue no sign to stop. 'Bullr' thun-
1eteu the barn boss with an emphatic
~ofu' That is Elpaso's bottle. What
Gre You dreaming of, man? Mr.. de
PAIN you'll kill him. Don't We see
Ne can't tell We to stop?"
0all' with the last Pickering spark
~ Vitality still left within him, looked
S,,5saaliy up and winked at De Spain.
.uleAlpin. outraged. stamped out of
has, room Steadying the Upper in
oo1H hands, Bull with an effort passed
-e nand at the final moment prelimi.
lily over bis mouth, and, raising