Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-02
CHAPTER Xxx.
Gale Persists.

Gale Persists.
When within an hour De Spain
Joined Nan. tense with suspense and
anxiety. nj the hospital. she tried hard
to read his news in his face.
Have YOU seen him?" she asked
eagerly. De Spain nodded. What
does he say
Nothing very reasonable
Her face fell. II knew he wouldn't.
Tell me all about it, Henry-every-
thing"
She listened keenly to each word. De
Spain gave her n pretty accurate re-
cital of the interview, and Mans appre-
hension grew with her hearing of 1t.
Il knew it," she repeated with con
viction. Il know him better than you
know him. What shall we do?"
De Spain took both her hands. He
held them against his breast and stood
+ looking into her eyes. When he re-
gnrtled her in such way her doubts
j and fears seemed mean and trivial. He
/ spoke only one word, but there was Il
world Of confidence in his tone
"Stick."
She archcd her brows as size re-
turned his gaze, and with little trou-
bled laugh drew closer. Stick, Nan,
he repeated ut will come ont all
right"
She paused moment How can you
know
II know because it's got to. ! talked
1t all over with my best friend in Medi'
cine Bend, the other day
"Who, Henryf'
"Whispering Smith. He laughed at
your unclc's opposing us. He said II
your uncle only knew it, it's the best
thing that could happen for him. And
he said if all the marriages opposed
by old folks had been stopped, there
wouldn't be young folks enough left
to milk the cows
Henry, what is this report about the
Calahusas barns burningT
"The old Number one barn is gone
and some Of the old stages. We didn't
lose any horses, and the other barns
are all right. Some of our Calabasas
or gap friends, probably. No matter
Wen get them all rounded up after q
while, Nan. Then, some fine day
were going to get married
De Spain rode that night 10 Gala
basas to took into the story Of the fire.
McAlpn, sWathed in bandages. made
no bones about accusing the common
enemy. No witnesses could be fount
to throw any more light on the inquiry
than the barn boss himself. And ID,
Spain made only Il pretcnse Of forlna
investigation. If he had had an!
doubts about the origin of the fire the,
: would have been resolved by an anony
nous scrawl sent through the mail
promising more if he didn't get out o
the country.
But instead of getting out of tn
5 country, De Spain continued as Il mat
4 ter of energetic policy to get into II
5 He rode the deserts stripped, so to say
t for action and walked the streets o
9 Sleepy Cat welcoming every chance t
meet men from Music mountain or TN
sinks. 1t was on Nan that the rea
:. harlships Of the situation fell, AM
;, Nan who had to bear them alone AM
;, almost unaided.
;, Duke came home Il day or two late
without word for Nan concerning hi
encounter with De Spain. He wa
shorter in the grain than ever, crustle
l. to everyone than she had ever know
. him-and toward Nan herself fercel
. rcspntful. Sassoon was In his con
. pany great deal. and Nan knew o
old that Sassoon was bad symptom
l. Gale, too. came often, and the tire
y were much together. In some way
r Nan felt that she herself WAS in par
the subject Of their talks, but no info'
q nation concerning them could she eve
e get.
Il One morning she sat on the pore
j. sewing when Gale rode up. He aSke
If for her uncle. Bonita told him DuR
had gone to Caabasas. Gale III
p nounced he was bound for Calabnso
e himself, and dsmountcd near Nal
n professedly TO cinch his saddle. II
- fused with the straps for n minute
trying to engage Nan in the interva
n without success, In conversation. Loo
,e here, Man." he said ut length, studlOu
ly amiable, 'don't you think your
Ia pretty hard on me, lntely?"
mo, / don't" she answered. :"