The Lamar register., 1917-06-06
CHAPTER XIX.

a Try-Out.
Sleepy Cat is not so large a place
that one would ordinarily have much
trouble in finding a man in it If he
searched well. But Duke Morgan
drove into town next morning and had
TO stay for three days waiting for
chance to meet De Spain. Duke was
not a man to talk much when he had
anything of moment to put through,
and he had left home determined, be
fore he came back, to finish for good
with his enemy.
De Spain himself had been putting
OF for weeks every business that would
bear putting of, and had been forced
at length to run down to Medicine
Bend to buy horses. Nan, after her
uncle left home-Justly apprehensive
Of his intentions-made frantic efforts
to get word to De Spain of what was
Impending. She could not telegraph
a publicity that she dreaded would
have followed at once. De Spain had
expected to be back in two days. Such
a letter as she could have sent would
not reach him at Medicine Bend.
As II was, a distressing amount OF
talk did attend Dukes efforts to get
track of De Spain. SLEEPY Cat had
but one Interpretation for his inqui.
ries-and n fight, If one occurred be
tween these men, II was conceded,
would be historic in the annals of the
town. Its anticipation was food for
all Of the rumors Of three days Of susL
lpense. For the town they were three
Il Of NhrfIIfrry fAr
isolated, without a cOnfidant, not
knowing what to do or which way to
turn, they were the three bltteresi
days of anxiety she had ever known
Desperate with suspense at the close
of the second day-wild for a scrap OF
news, yet dreadlng one-she saddled
her pony and rode alone into Sleepy
Cat after nlghtfall to meet the train
on which De Spain had told her he
would return from the east. She rode
straight to the hospital, instead OF
going to the livery barn, and leaving
her horse, got supper and walked by
way of unfrequented streets downtown
to the station to wait for the train.
When the big train drew slowly, al.
most nolselessly. in, Nan took her
place where no incoming passenger
could escape her gaze and waited for
De Spain. But when all the arrivals
had been accounted for, he had not
come.
She turned, heavy-henrted to walk
back uptown, trying to think of whom
she might seek some Information con.
corning De SPANS whereabouts, when
fol
ten feet AWAY Mt the door of the bag
Gnge room. He was alone and seemed
to be watching the changing of the
engines, but Nan thought she knew
him by sight. The rather long, straight.
black hair under the broad-brimmed
hat marked the man known and hated
In the gap as "the Indian" Here, she
said to herself, was n chance. De
Spain, she recalled. spoke of no one
oftener than this man. He seemed
wholly dlsengaged.
Represslng her nervous timidity,
Nan walked over to him. Aren't you
Mr.. Scott?' she asked abruptly.
Scott, turning to her, touched his
I us II quite unaware until that mo-
mt Of her existence. "Dld Mr.. de
ain get OFF this trulnT" she asked, n,
.ott acknowledged his Identity.
81 guess he didn't come tonight"
Nan noticed the impassive manner of
his speaking and the low, even tones.
81 was kind of looking for him my
self"
us there another train tonight he
eould come onT'
81 don't think he will be back now
L.aa.. tnrrnnrrnE nightO