Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-24

girl That lives with Duke?"
Bulls face lighted. man! Say!
she's little hummer
II hear she's gone down to Thief
river, teaching school,"
"Came by Dukes less'n three hours
ago. Seen her in the kitchen maxim
BREAD"
"They're looking for schoolteacher
down there, anyway. Much sickness in
the gap lately, Bulli'
"On'y sickness l knOwed lately is
what you're responsible for y'self" re-
tOrted Bull with II grin. PITY y left
any chips Mt NIL from that Calabasas
Job eh?"
"See McAlpin, Bull, next time you're
over Calnbnsas way. Here"-De Spain
drew some currency from his pocket
and handed bill 70 Page. ''Go get
your hair cut. Don't talk too much
wear your whisscrs long and your
tongue short"
'Mght-Ow
"You understand"
"Take 1t from old Bull Page, he's a
worlds wonder of sucker, but he
knows his friends"
But remember this--yOu don't know
me. If anybody knows you for friend
Of mine, you are no good to me. See?'
Bull was beyond expressing his com
prehension In words alone. He winked,
nodded, and screwed his face into a
thousand wrinkles. De Spain, wheel
ing, rode away, the old man blinking
first after him. and then ut the money
In his hand. He didn't profess to un-
derstand everything In the high corn-
try, but he could still distinguish the
principal figures mt the end Of a bank
note. Vixen he tramped to Calabasas
the next day to interview McAlpin he
received more advice, with. strong
burr, about keeping his own counsel,
and q, little expense money to run him
until an opening presented itself on
the pay roll.
But long before Bull Page reached
| Calahasas that day DE Spain had net.
ed. When he left Bull Mt the bridge
he started for Calabasas, took supper
/ there, ordered saddle horse for one
o'clock in the morning, went to his
room, slept soundly, and, shortly after
he was called. started for Music noun
tain. He walked his horse into the gap
and rode straight for Duke Morgnn's
/ fortress. Leaving the horse under a
heavy mountain pine close to the road,
De Spain walked carefully but directly
around the house to the east side. The
sky was cloudy and the darkness al.
most complete. He made his way as
close MS he could to Mans window, and
/ raised the soft. grooming note of the
desert OWL
I After while he was nble to dis,ln-
guisl the outline Of her easement, and,
with much patience and some little
skill remaining from the boyhood days,
he kept up the faint call Down at the
big barn the chained watchdog tore
himself with 4 fury Of barking ut the
Intruder, but mountain lions were com.
mon in the gap, and the noisy sentinel
gained no credit for his alarm In.
deed, when ihe dog slEckened his
tiercencsS De Spain threw Il stone over
his way to encourage Il fresh outbursl
But neither The guardian nor the in.
truder was able to arouse anyone
within the house.
4 Undeterred by his failure. De Snain
held his ground as long as he dared
When daybreak threatened, he with
drew. The following night he was in
the gap earlier and with renewed de-
termination. He tossed pebble into
Nnh's open window and renewed his
soft call. Soon light nickered for an
instant Within the room and died out
In the darkness followIng this. Dc
\ Spain thought he disceihed Il figure
outlined at the easement. Some min
utes later door opened and closed
He repeated the cry Of the OWL ant
could hear footstep; the next mo
ment he whispered her name as she
stood before him.
"What is II you want?" she asked
50 calmly that II upset him "Why dc
YOU COME here?"
Where he stood Nc was afraid Of tn,
sound of her voice. md afraid Of hi.
own "To see YOU" he said. colectin.
himself Come over to the pine tree.
Under its heavy branches, where tn,
darkness was most intense, he told he
why he had come--because he coul,
not see her anywhere outside.
"There Is nothing to see me about.
she responded, still calG. III helpe'
you because you were wounded.
was glad TO see you get away withou
nghting---I hate .bloOdsled."
"But put yourself in my place
little, won't YOU! After what yon dit
, for me, isn't 1t natural should wan
1 to he sure you ARE .well and not In an
I trouble on my account"
ut mny be natural, but II isn't nee
essary. am in no trouble. No on
Y here knows even know you
Excuse me FOR coming. then.
Il couldn't rcst, Man, without KNOWN
~. Z A.