The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1917-05-24
CHAPTER XVIII.
De Spain Rides Alone.

De Spain Rides Alone.
lie had ridden the trail but short
time when 1t led him In wide angle
backward and around toward Cula-
basas, and he found, presently, that the
men he was riding after were appnr-
emily heading for the stage barns. In
the north. the rising curtain had dark
encd. Toward Sleepy Cat the land
scape was already obliterated. In the
| south the sun ShOne, but the air had
grown suddenly cold, and in the sharp
drop De Spain realized what was COM
ing. His first thought was of the south
| ern stages. which must be warned, and
as he galloped UP to big barn, with this
thought in mind he saw, standing in
the doorway, Bull Page.
| De Spain regaRlcd him with aston
ishment. "Ilow did yea set here? was
his sharp question. e..
Page grinned. Got what was aft
er, and en- back sooner'n expected.
Halfway over TO the gnp. met Duke
and the young gal on horseback. hend-
ed for tCalabasns. They pulled up. I
pulled up. Old Duke looked kind o.
gn'nted, and 1t seemed like Nan was In
considerable hurry to get to Sleepy
Cat with him, and he couldn't stand
the saddle. Anyway. they was heading
for Cnlabasas to get rig from Meal.
pin. l knowed McAlpin would never
give old Duke Il rig. not IL he was
| a-dyin' in the saddle"
They've got your rig!" cried De
Spain.
"The gal asked me II I'd mind nc
commodatin' EN-" explained Bull dep
recatingly, "to save time"
'They headed north !" exclaimed De
Spain. The light from the fast-chang-
ing sky fell copper-colored across his
horse and figure. McAlpin, followed by
hostler, appeared at the barn door.
Bull nodded to De Spain. "Said they
wanted to get there quick. She f1g'erd
on savin' n few miles by strikin' the
hill trail in. So | takes their horses
and lets on | was headin' for the gap.
When they got out of sight, turned
round"
Even rs he spoke, the swiftrolling
curtain of mist overhead blotted the
sun out of the sky.
De Spain sprang from his saddle
with ringing order to McAlpin. "Get
up n fresh saddle-horse
"A horse!" cried the startled bnrn
boss, whirling on the hostler "The
strongest legs In the stable, and don't
lose second Lady Jane; up with
her!" he yelled, believing his orders
Into the echoing barn with his hands to
his mouth. "Up with her for Mr.. de
Spain in n second Murmon! Becker
Lanzon! What In HI are you oil do.
ing" he roared, rushing back with q
fusillnde of oaths. Look alive, every
body!"
"Cominglr yelled one voice after an.
other from the depths of the distant
stalls.
De Spain ran into the office. Page
caught his horse, stripped the rife
from its holster and hurriedly began
uncinching. Hostlers running throrni
the barn called shrilly hnck and fox;h.
and De Spain sprlnglng up the stairs
to his room provided what he wanted
for his hurried flight. When he dashed
down with coats on his arm the hoofs
of Lady Jane were clattering down the
long gangway. A stable-boy slid from
her back on one side as Bull Page
threw the saddle across her from the
other; hostlers caught at the cinches
while others hurriedly rubbed the legs
of the quivering mare. De Spain, his
hand on McAlpin's shoulder. was Civ.
ing his parting injunctions, and the
barn boss, head cooked down. and eyes
east furtlvely on the scattering snow.
flakes outside, was listening with IN at
tention that recorded indelibly every
uttered syllable.
Once only he interrupted: Henry
you're ridin' out into this thing alone
don't do It,"
81 can't help it." snapped De spnlr
lmpatlently.
"It's man killer"
! II can't help it.e