Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-25

In which he had figured, exhausted IA
topics. by longwinded commentator.
more or less hazy stories of his earlier
experiences ut Medicine Bend In the
company of Whispering Smith We're
dragged into the tnlk. One GONZALES
cent stage-guard ut the hospital told
story one night at supper about him
that chilled Nan again with strange
fears. for she knew it to be true. He
had had II from McAlpn himself, so
the guard said, that he Sp;in's father
had long ago been shot down from am
bush By Il cattleman and that Henry
de Spain had sworn to find that man
and Kill him. And it was limited pref
ty strongly that De Spain had informa-
ton when he consented to come to
Sleepy Cat that the assassin still lived,
and lived somewhere around the head
of the sinks.
On that very evening it Glanced the
doctor came late. When he walked in
he asked her If she knew 1t was From
tier day. and reminded her that just
year ago She had shot against Henry
de Spain and beaten the most danger
GUS man and the deaGliest shot on the
mountain divide In her rifle match.
How he had grown in the imagina-
ton of Sleepy Cat and Music noun
tnin, she said to herself-while the
doctor talked to her unclc-since that
day year ago! Then he was no more
Than an unknown and discounted
marksmaD from Medicine Bend, beaten
by mountain giyl--now the most
talked-of man in the high country. And
the suspicion would sometimes Obtrude
Itself with pride into her mind, that
she VINO never mentioned his name
when 1t was discussed before her,
really knew and understood him bet.
ter than any of those that talked SC
much-that she had at least one great
secret with him alone.
When leaving, the doctor wished te
send over from his Office medicine fOl
her uncle. Nan offered to 90 with him
but the doctor said it was pretty late
and Main street pretty noisy--he pre-
ferred to find messenger. Wher
there came rap on the half-open door
she went forward to take the medicine
from the messenger and saw, standing
before her in the hail. De Spain.
She shrank back rs II struck. She
tried to speak. Her tongue refused its
office. De Spain held package out
in his hand Doctor Torpy asked me
to give you this"
doctor Torpy? What is til"
Il really don't know suppose it
Is medicine She heard her uncle turn
In his bed at the sound of voices.
Thinking only that he must not at any
cost see De Spain, Nan stepped quick.
~ into the hall and faced the messcn-
ger. II was over ut the doctors Of
flee just now" continued her visitor
evenly; che asked me to bring this
down for your uncle She took the
package with an incoherent acknOWl-
edgnent. Without letting her eyes
meet HIS, she was conscious Of how
fresh and clean and strong he looked
/ dressed in a liveler manner than
usual--a partly cowboy effect, with a
broader hat and a gayer tie than he
ordinarily affected. De Spain kept on
( speaking. "Tlle telephone girl in the
office downstairs told me to come RICH,
up. How is your uncle?"
She regarded him wonderingly. "Hc
has good deal of pain" she answered
quietly.
"Too bad he should have been hurt
I In such way. Are you pretty well
Nam" She thanked him.
Stay here q good deal, do you? I'll
bet you don't know what day this tsp
Nan looked up the corridor but she
answered to the point: "You'd lose.
IT'S our anniversary" She darted
n look Of indignant disclaimer ut him
But In doing so she met his eyes