The Lamar register., 1917-07-18
CHAPTER xxx.
The Truth.

ne lEuln-
with the desperation of a joy born
OF despair she laid her burning cheek
Historically against his cheek. She
rnined kisses on his ice-crusted brows
and snow-beaten eyes. Her arms held
him rIgidly. lie could not move nor
speak till she would let him. Trans
formed, this mountain girl who gave
herself 50 shyly, forgot everything. Her
words crowded ON his ears. She re-
pcutrd his name in an ecstasy of wei
come, drew down his lips, laughed, re-
juiccd. knew no shamefaccdness ana
no restraint-she was one freed from
the stroke of descending knife.
moment before she had faced death
alone; it was still death she faced
she realized thi~-but it was death, at
least together, and her joy and tears
rose from her heart in one stream
De Spain comforted her, quieted her,
cut away one of the coats from his
horse. slipped IL over her shoulders, in
cused her in the heavy fur, and turned
his eyes to Duke.
The old mans set, square face sur
rendered nothing of implacability to
the dangers confronting him. De
Spain looked for none of that. He had
known the Morgan record too long, and
faced the Morgan men too often, to
fancy they would finch ut the drum
beat of death.
The two men, in the deadly, driving
snow. eyed each other. out Of the Old
mans deep-set eyes burned the resist
ance Of a hundred storms faced before.
But he was caught now like wolf in
a trap, and he knew he had little TO
hope for, little to fear. As De spain
regarded him, something like pity may
have mixed with his hatred. The old
outlaw was thinly clad. His open
throat was beaten with snow, and,
standing beside the wagon, he held the
team reins in bare hand. De Spain
cut the other coat from his saddle and
held 1t out. Duke pretended not to
see, and, when not longer equal to
keeping up the pretense, shook his
head.
Take it," said De Spain curtly.
mo"
''Take it, | say. You and will settle
our affairs when We get Nan out of
this" he insisted.
de Spain - Dukes voice, as was
Its wont, cracked like pistol. Il can
say all I've got to say to you right
here"
No"
"Yes," cried the old man.
Listen. Henry" pleaded Nan, seek
ing shelter from the furious blast
within his arm. Just for moment,
ustenr
Not now, I tell you'll" cried De
Spain.
He was coming, Henry, all the way
and he is slck-just to say it TO you.
Let him say it here. now"
Go onT cried De Spain roughly.
''say it"
I'm not afraid of you, De SPAIN
shouted the old man, his neck barred to
the flying ice. Don't think itl You're
a better man than l am, better than l
ever was-dont think l don't know
that. But I'm not afraid of eer a
man l faced, De Spain; they'll tell
you that when I'm dead. All the
trouble that ever come tween you and
me come by an accident-come before
you was born, and come through Dave
Sassoon. and he's held it over me ever
since you come up into this country.
was young fellow. SassOon worked
for my father. The cattle and sheep
war was on, north of Medicine Bend.
The Peace river sheepmen ralded our
place-your father was with them. He
never did US no harm, but my brother,
Bay Morgan, was shot in that raid by
n man name of Jennings. l started
out to get the man that shot him. Sas-
soon trailed him to the Bar NJ, the old
De Spain ranch, working for your ia
ths4."