The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-03-31


>1 someone is coming" said lie Spain.
Nan ran lightly to where she could
peep ever the ledge. Hardly pausinx
~ sne glanced down, she stepned
quickly back. It'll go right on up the
mountain to the azalea fields" she said
hastily.
He nodded. ''Tu hide. Stop. II
you are questioned, you dom. know
I'm here. You must say 80 for your
own sake, not for mine."
She was gone before he had finished.
De Spain drew quickly back to where
ne could secrete himself. In another
moment he heard heavy footsteps
where he had stood with his visitor,
But the footsteps crossed the ledge,
and their sound died away up the
path Nan had taken. Then snatches
OF TWO voices began to reach him. He
could distinguish Mans voice and at
Intervals the heavier tones of a man,
The two We're descending. In few
moments they reached the ledge, and
De Spain, near at hand, could hear
every word.
"Hold on minute" said the man
roughly. His voice was heavy and his
utterance harsh.
II must go home," objected Nan.
"Hold on, tell you," returned her
companion. De Spain could not see,
but he began already to feel the scene.
II want to talk to you"
1--WE can talk going down." parted
Nan.
De Spain heard her hurried foot
falls. mo, you DON'T" retorted her
companion, evidently cutting off her
retreat.
"Gale Norgan!" There was a blaze
In Mans sharp exclamation. "What
do you mean?"
II mean you and are going to have
this out right here, before we leave
this ledge"
GLOW dare you stop met"
"pll show you what dare, young
lady. You'll talk things over with me
right here, and as long as like" he re.
torted savagely. "Every time ask you
to marry me you've got some new
excuse"
cts shameful for you to act in> this
way, Gale.' She spoke low and rap.
idly to her enraged sutton. De Spain
alone knew it was to keep her hui.
initiation from his own ears, and he
made no effort to follow her quick,
pleading words. The moment was most
embarrassing for two of the three in.
volved. But nothing that Nan could
say would win from her cousin any
reprieve.
"When you came back from school
told Duke was going to marry you.
He said, all right" persisted her cous.
In stubbornly. "You said you'd marry
me-
Nan exploded: II never, never said
SO in this world" Her voice shook
with indignation. "You know that's
downright falsehood."
"You said you didn't care for any.
body else," he fairly beloved. Nov
want to know whether you'll marry
me if take you over to Sleepy Cat
tomorrow"
"No" Nan flung out her answer
reckless of consequence. "Tll never
marry you. Let me go home"
you'll 60 home when get through
with you. You've fooled me long
enough"
Her blood froze at the look in his
face. "How dare you!" she gasped
"Get out of my way!"
"You little vixen" He sprang for
ward and caught her by the wrist. She
fought like tigress. He dragged hel
struggling into his arms. But above
her half-stifed cries and his granting
laugh, Morgan heard sharp voice:
'Take you hands off that girl!'
Whirling, with Nan in his savage
arms, the half-drunken mountaineel
saw De Spain ten feet away, his right
hand resting on the grip of his re
volver. Stunned, but sobered by NOR
tai danger, Morgan's grasp relaxed
Nan, Jerking away, looked at De Spain
and instantly stepped in front of hel
cousin, on whom De Spain seemed
about to draw.
"What are you doing here?" demand
Morgan, with an enraged oath.
II left some business with you the
other day at Calabasas half Finished
said De Spain. "Im here this after
noon to clean it up. Get away from
that GRIT"
His manner frightened even Nan
The quick step to the side and back
posing himself like a fencer-his re-
volver restrained a moment in it,
sheath by an eager right arm, as II
at any instant it might leap into dead.
~ play. De SPANS angry face and
burning eyes photographed themselves
on her memory from that moment
But whatever he meant, she had hel
part to do. She backed, with arms
spread low at her sides, directly
against her cousin. "You shan't fight
she cried at De Spain.
"Stand away from that mani" 70
torted De Spain. ~ Il
"You shant kill my cousin. What