The Benson signal., 1917-10-06

"Why, for mail, supplies-every-
thing"
"Pardaloe can attend to all that"
Nan shook her head. whether he
can or not, I'm not going to be cut off
from going to Sleepy Cat, Uncle Duke
nor from seeing Henry de SPAIN"
Meaning to say you won't obey,
eh?"
'When I'm going to marry man 1t
isn't right to forbid me seeing him."
"You're not going to marry him
you're going to marry Gale, and the
quicker you make up your mind to it
the better"
"You might better tell me am going
to marry Bull Page-I would marry
him first. I will never marry Gale
Morgan in the living world, and I've
told you so more than once"
He regarded his niece a moment
wrathfully and, without replying,
walked back to the house. Nan, upset
but resolute, went on to the barn and
asked PardalOe to saddle her pony.
PardalOe Shuf1led around in an Obliging
way, but at the end of some evasion
admitted he had orders not to do it.
Nan famed at the information. She
disliked PardalOe anyway, not for any
reason che could assign beyond the
fact that he had once been a chum Of
Gales. But she was too high-spirited
TO dispute with him, and returned to
the house pink with indignation. Go
ipcr CIV iCrht TO hor hn
against such tyranny. Duke was in
sensible alike to her pleas and her
threats.
But next morning Nan was up at
three o'clock. She made her way into
the barn before a soul was stirring,
and at daybreak was we'll on her way
to Sleepy Cat. She telephOned to De
Spain's office from the hospital and
went to breakfast De Spain joined
her before she had finished, and when
they left the dining room she explained
why she had disappointed him the day
before. He heard the story with mis-
givings.
''Ill tell you how it looks to me,
Man," he said when she had done.
''You are like person that's being
bound tighter every day by invisible
cords. You don't see them because you
are fearless. You are too fearless,
Man," he added, with apprehension re-
fected in the expression Of his face.
''I'll tell you what I wish you'd do, and
I say it knowing you won't do it." he
concluded.
She made light of his fears, twisting
his right hand till it was helpless in
her two hands and laughing at him.
"How do you know won't do it?"
because I've asked you before. This
is it: Marry me, now, here, today, and
don't take any more chances out there"
''But, Henry" protested Nan, "I can't
marry you now and just run away from
poor Uncle Duke. If you will just be
patient, I'll bring him around to our
side."
"Never, Man."
| ''Don't be so sure. I know him bet
ter than you do, and when he comes
for anybody, he comes all at once.
Why, it's funny Henry. Now that I'm
picking up courage, you're losing !"
He shook his head. II don't like
the way things are going"
"Dearie," she urged, SHOULD I be any
safer at home If were your wife, than
am as your sweetheart. I don't want
to start horrible family war by run
ming away, and that is just what GER
tainly should do"
De Spain was unconvinced. But ap-
prehension is short-lived in young
hearts. The sun shone, the sky spread
q speckless blue over desert and noun
tain, the day went to their castles and
dreams. In q retired corner Of the
cool dining room at the Mountain
house, they fingered together over a
long-drawn-Out dinner. The better-in-
formed guests by asides indicated their
presence to others. They described
them as the hardy couple who had first
met in stiff Frontier day rifle match,
which the girl had won. Her defeated
rival-the man now most regarded and
feared il the mountain country-was
the man with the reticent mouth, mild
two little, perplexed wrinkles visible
most of the time just between his dark
eyebrows, the man listening intently
to every syllable that fell from the lips
Of the trinity blOused, active girl oppO-
site him, leaning forward in her eager
ness to tell him things. Her Jacket
hung over the back of her chair, and
she herself was referred to by the
more fanciful as queen of the outlaw
camp at Music mountain.
The two were seen together that day
about town by many for the story of
their courtship was still yelled in mys-
terry and afforded ground for the
widest speculation, while that of their
difficulties, and such particulars as De
Spain's fruitless efforts to conciliate
Duke Morgan and Dukes open threats
against De Spain's life were widely