The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-06-07

took two halting steps toward her
since you are unarmed, will be, too. |
Not that this puts us on an even foot
ing. l don't mean that. Nothing |
would. You would be too much for me |
in any kind of contest, armed or
unarmcd."
"What do you mean?" she demand
ed to hide her confusion. And she
saw that each step he took cost pain,
skillfully concealed.
81 mean," he said, you are to take
this cartridge as remembrance of my
forgetfulness and your adventure"
She drew back. II don't want it."
take it."
He was persistent. She allowed
him to drop the loaded shell into her
hand. snow" he continued, replacing
his gun, "if l encounter any of your
people in an attempt to break through
n line, and somebody gets killed, you
will know, when you hear the story,
that this time, at least, l didn't start
it,"
He put her objections aside, enjoy
ing being so near her and happy that
she made no retreat. my reputa-
tion," he insisted, "has suffered n little
in Morgan's gap. mean that at least
one who makes her home under Music
mountain shall know differently of me.
"Listen !"
The two, looking at each other,
/ trained their ears to hear more
through the rush of the falling water.
SSomeone is coming" said De Spain.
Nan ran lightly to where she could
peep over the ledge. Hardly pausiny
as she glanced down, she stepped
quickly back. "rll go right on up the
mountain to the azalea fields" she said
hastily.
He nodded. "Tll hide. Stop. If
you are questioned. you don't know
I'm here. You must say SO for your
own sake, not for mine"
She was gone before he had finished.
De Spain drew quickly back to where
he could secrete himself. In another
moment he heard heavy footsteps
where he had stood with his visitor.
But the footsteps crossed the ledge,
and their sound died away up the
path Nan had taken. Then snatches
of two voices began to reach him. He
could distinguish Mans voice and at
intervals the heavier tones of man.
The two were descending. In a few
moments they reached the ledge, and
De Spain, near at hand, could hear
every word.
"Hold on minute said the man
roughly. His voice was heavy and his
utterance harsh.
81 must go home" objected Nan.
"lIold on, l tell YOU" returned her
companion. De Spain could not see,
but he began already to feel the scene,
, Il want to talk to you"
I "We can talk going down." parrled
{ Nan.
> De Spain heard her hurried foot
4 falls. "No, you don't" retorted hei
Q companion, evidently cutting off hel
Q retreat.
), Scale Morgan!" There was blaz'
S in Mans sharp exclamation. "Wha
do you meanf"
k 81 mean you and are going to have
$ this out right here, before we leave
= this ledge"
: "How dare you stop me"
r "Tll show you what / dare, younl
t lady. You'll talk things over with M
e right here, and as long as like" he re
e torted savagely. "Every time ask yo'
g to marry me you've got some new
excuse"
II 'It's shameful for you to act in thi
l. way, Gale" She spoke low and rap
: idly to her enraged suitor. De Spail
alone knew 1T was to keep her hu
o initiation from his own ears, and h
r made no effort to follow her quick
a pleading words. The moment was mos
= embarrassing for two of the three In
l. yolved. But nothing that Nan coul
It say would win from her cousin an
!" reprieve.
IL "When you came back from schoc
told Duke was going to marry yor
VI He said, all right" persisted her cou,
)" in stubbornly. you said you'd MARI
n me-"
)i Nan exploded: II never, never sal
II so In this world" Her voice shoe
he with Indignation. "You know that
n downright falsehood."
II "You said you didn't care for an!
body else" he fairly beloved. "No'
r / want to know whether you'll MARI
r me If take you over to Sleepy Ca
he tomorrow"
"No" Nan flung out her answe
is reckless of consequence. "Fll neve
e. marry you. Let me go home"
2" "You'll go home when get throug
re with you. You've fooled me Ion
De enough"
III Her blood froze at the look In HI
|; face. "How dare your she gaspe,
ST get out of my wayw