Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-07-06
CHAPTER xxlIl-continued.

they were taking about, but ne was
uneasT concerning Man. and was not
10 be baked, by any combination, of
his purpose of finding her. To secure
information concerning her was not
possible, unless he should enter the
house, and this, with scant hesitation,
ne decided to do.
He wore snug-ftting 'eathern
coat. He unbuttoned this and threw
It open as he stepped noiselessly up
to the door. Laying his hand on the
knob, be paused, then. finding the
door unlocked. he pushed it slowly
open
The wind, rushed in, upset his cal
cItlatiOns and blew open the door lead
sng from the hall into the living room.
A stream of light in turn shot through
the open door, across the hall. In
stantly De Spain stepped inside and
directly behind the front door-which
he now realized he dare not close
and stood expectant in the darkness.
Gale Morgan, with an impatient ex-
clamation, strobe from the fireplace to
close the front door.
AS he walked into the hall and
slammed the front door shut. he could
have touched with his hand the man
standing in the shadow behind it. De
Spain, not hoping to escape, stood
with folded arms, but under the el-
bow of his left arm was hidden the
iong muzzle of his revolver. Holding
his breath, he waited. Gales mind
was apparently filed with other
things. lie did not suspect the pres
ence of an intruder. and he walked
back into the living room, partly clos
ing the second door. De Spain, fol-
lowing almost on his heels, stepped
past this door, past the hall stairs op-
pOsite it, and through curtained
opening at the end of the hall into
the dining room. Barely ten feet from
him, this room opened through an
arch into the living room, and where
ne stood he could hear all that was
said.
who's there" demanded Duke
gruf1y.
Nobody" said Gale. "Go on,
Druel."
Druel talked softly and through his
nose: II was only going to say it
would be a good idea to have two wit
1esses."
"Nita," suggested Gale.
Duke was profane. "you couldn't
Keep the girl in the room if she had
Nita to help her. And want it I'M
derstood, Gale, between you and me,
fair and square. that Mans gOin' to
live right here with me after this mar
riage till I'm satisfied she's willing
20 go to you-otherwise it can't take
place, now or never"
De Spain opened his ears. Gale
felt the hard, cold tone of his crusty
relative, and answered with like
harshness: what do you keep harp
ing on that for2 You've got my word.
All | want OF you is to keep yours
understands"
Come, come" interposed Druel.
There's mo need of hard words. But
we need two witnesses. Who's going
to be the other witness?"
Before anyone could answer De
Spain stepped out into the open arch
way before the three men. "TlI act
as the second Witness" he said.
With a common roar the MOrgans
bounded to their feet. De Spain,
standing slightly sidewise, his coat
iapes tapped wide open, his arms
eklmbo, and his hands on his hips,
1aced the three in an attitude of read
lnesS only. He had reckoned on the
Anstant of indecision which at times,
When coupled with apprehension, paT-
TO
gether. Under the circumstances Ell
ther of the Morgans alone would nave
whipped gun on De Spain at sight.
together, and knowing that r. 10 so
meant death to the one that took tie
arst shot from the archway, each waiI-
~ Tor the other; that fraction of
second unsettled their purpose. In
stead of bullets, each launched curses
az the intruder and every second that
passed led away from fight
DE Spain took their oaths demands
ana abuse without batting az eye.-
I'm here for the second witness"
was all he repeated. covering both
.ueh with short glances. Druel, his
1ace muddy white as the whisky
OIoat deserted it, shrunk inside his
"uaooy clothes. De Spain with each
epi'het hurled at MIN took a dreaded
slep toward Gale, and Druel, in the
,iae OF fire, brought his knees up and
al" head down till he curled like q
porcuDine.
0ale game as he undoubtedly was,
~y-uefec' felt perhaps recoIlecti0ns of
S1oiaDasas and close quarters with the
-o"h eyes and the burning face.
Hhat they might mean in this little
oon, which De Spain was crossing
ep by step, was food for thought.
.r 1 oid De Spain break his obstinate
Ne1ee until their burst of rage lad
s''"n. You've arranged your mar
7e' he said at length. 'Now pull