Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-10

| De Spain opened his ears. G lie
/ felt the hard, cold tone Of his crusty
/ relative, and answered with like
harshness: 'FWhat do you keep harp
ing on that for? You've got my word.
ALI want of you is to keep yours
understands"
Come, come" interposed Druel.
I There's no need of hard words. But
we need two witnesses. Who's going
/ 10 be the other witness?''
Before anyone could answer De
Spain stepped out into the open arch
way before the three men. I'll act
! as the second Witness" he said.
With a common roar the MOrgans
I bounded to their feet. De Spain,
standing slightly sfdewise, his coat
lapels tapped wide open, his arms
akimbO, and his hands on his hips,
faced the three in an attitude Of read
mess only. He had reckOned on the
instant of indecision which at times,
when coupled with apprehension, par
aIyzes the will OF two men acting to-
/ gether. Under the circumstances Ell
! Their of the MOrgans alone would have
whipped a gun on De Spain at sight.
! Together, and knowing that to do so
meant death to the one that took the
first shot from the archWay, each wait
ed for the other; that fraction Of
second unsettled their purpose. In
stead of bullets, each launched curses
at the intruder, and every second that
passed led away from q fight.
De Spain took their oaths, demands
and abuse without batting an eye.-
I'm here for the second witness"
was all he repeated, covering both
men with short chances. Druel, his
face muddy white as the whisky
bloat deserted it, shrunk inside his
shabby clothes. De Spain with each
epithet hurled at him took a dreaded
step toward Gale, and DrUel, in the
line of fire, brought his knees up and
his head down till he curled like a
porcupine.
Gale, game as he undoubtedly was,
cornered, felt perhaps rec0lIecti0ns Of
CaIabasas and close quarters with the
brown eyes and the burning face.
What they might mean in this little
room, which De Spain was crossing
step by step, was food for thought.
Nor did De Spain break his obstinate
silence until their burst of rage had
blown. you've arranged your mar
riage," he said at length. "NOW pull
it."
MY Cousins ready to marry me,
and she's gOin' to do it tonight" cried
Gale violently
Duke, towering with rage looked
at De Spain and pointed to the hall
door "You hear that! Get out Of
my housen' he cried, launching a
vicious epithet with the words.
''This isn't your house." retOrted De
Spain angrily. This house is Mans,
not yours. When she orders me out,
III go. Bring her down." he thun-
dered raising his voice to shut off
Duke, who had redoubled his abuse
Bring her into this ROOM" he re.
peated. Wen see whether she wants
TO get married. IF she does, I'll marry
her. If she doesn't, and you've been
putting this UP to force her into marry
ing, so help me God, you'll be carried
out of this room tonight, or I Will
He Whirled on her uncle With an accus-
ing finger. "YOu used to be q man
Duke. I've taken from YOU here to-
night what l would take from no man
on earth but for the sake of Nan Nor
: gan. She asked me never to touch you.
But if you've gone into this thing to
trap your own flesh and blood, your
dead brothers girl, living under your
own protection, you don't deserve
mercy, and tonight you shall have
: what's coming to you. I've fought you
both fair, too fair. NOW-bef0re ]
leaye-it's my girl or both of you"
He was standing near DrueI. With
out taking his eyes off the other man,
he caught Druel with his left hand by
the coat collar, and threw him half
way across the room. Get upstairs.
you old carrion, and tell Nan Morgan
Henry de Spain is here to talk to her"
Druel, frightened to death, scrambled
into the hall. He turned on De Spain.
Pm an officer Of the law. I arrest
you for trespass and assault" he
shouted, shaking with fear.
ARREST me?" echoed De Spain con-
temptuously. "You scoundrel, if you
don't climb those stairs, I'll send you
to the penitentiary the day I get back
to town. Upstairs with your message p
ut isn't necessary said a low voice
in the hall, and with the words Nan
appeared in the open doorway. Her
face was white, but there was no sign
of haste or panic in it; De Spain
choked back a breath; to hisn she had
never looked in her silence so awe
inspiring
He addressed her, holding his left
hand out with his plea. "Nan,'' he
said, controlling his voice, these men
were getting rGady to marry YOU to
Gale Morgan. Nc matter how you feel
toward me, you know nc we'll enough
to know that all / want is the truth :
Was this with your consent?,
She stepped into the line of fire be-
tween her cousin and De Spain as she
answered: "No. You know l shall
never marry any man but you. This
vile bully''-she turned little to look
ut her angry cOUsin-''has influenced
Uncle Duke-who never before tried
to persecute or betray 1ne-into Joining
him in this thing Tbpv navnr cc,,T 4