The Ozark spectator., 1917-06-06

TedCleu Dy luluitlOu Il COHciuSlOn Ut which Scott or De Spain arrived by process of thought, only revealed the fact that all three, as Lefever con- fessed, were nonplused.
 Its one of two things" declared Lefever, whose eyes were never dulled by late hours. Either they've sent this to lure you into the gap and get you. or else-and that's a great big or else'-she needs you. Henry, did that message-I mean the way 1t was worded-sound like Nan Morgan?"-
 De Spain could hardly answer. "It did, and it didn't" he said finally. "But-" his companions saw during the pause by which his lips expressed the resolve he had finally reached that he was not likely to be truned from it-"I am going to act just as if the word came from Nan and she does need me-"
 More than one scheme for getting quickly into touch with Nan was pro- posed and rejected within the next ten minutes. And when Lefever, after comforting with Scott, put up to De Spain q proposal that the three should ride into the gap together and de- mand Nan at the hands of Duke Nor gan, De Spain had reached another conclusion.
 "I know you are willing to take more than your share, John. of any game I play. In the first place, it isn't right to take you and Bob in where l am going on my own personal affair. And I know Nan wouldn't en- joy the prospect of an all-around fight on her account. Fighting is a horror to that girl. I've got her feelings to think about as well as my own. I've decided what to do, John. I'm going In alone"
 You're going in alone"
 Tonight. Now, I'll tell you what I'd like you to do if you want to: ride with me and wait till morning, out side Fl Capitan. If you don't hear from me by ten o'clock, ride back to Calabasas and notify Jeffries to look for new manager"
 'On the contrary, If we don't hear from you by ten o'clock, Henry. we will blaze our way in and drag out your body" Lefever put up his hand to cut off any rejoinder. Don't dis cuss it. What happens after ten o'clock tomorrow morning, if We don't hear from you before that. can't pos sibly be of interest to you or make any difference" He paused, but De Spain saw that he was not done. When he resumed, he spoke in tone different from that which De Spain usually associated with him. Henry, you've pulled good many rough games in this country. No man knows better than l that you never pulled one for the looks of the thing or to make people talk-or that you ever took chance you didn't feel you had to take. But 1t isn't humanly pos sible you can keep this up for all timel it can't go on forever. The pitcher goes to the well once too often, Henry: there comes a time when it doesn't come back.
 "Understand-rm not saying this to attempt 10 ulSSuaue you rom the worst job you ever started in on. know your mind is made up. You won't listen to me; you won't listen to Scott: and I'm too good an Indian not to know where I get off. or not to do what I'm told But this is what I've been thinking of a long, long time; and that is what feel ought to say, here and now"
 The two men were sitting in De Spain's room. De Spain was staring through the broad south window at the white-capped peaks of the distant range. He was silent for time. "I believe you're rigHt, John" he said after a while. "I know you are. In this case l am tied up more than I've ever been tied before hut I've got to see it through as best l can, and take what comes without whining. My mind is made up, and. strange as it may sound to you, l feel that I am coming back. Not but what l know It's due me. John. Not but what l expect to get it sometime. And may he I'm wrong now; but I don't feel as it's coming till I've given all the protection 10 that girl that a man can give to q woman"