Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-26

about De Spain Conyalescents in the
corridors, practically all Of them Inea,
never gathered in sunny corners or at
the tables in the dining room without
De SPANS name coming in some way
into the talk, to be followed with vary
ing circUmstantial accounts of what
really had happened that day at Gala.
basas.
And with all the known escapades
in vhich he had figured, exhausted as
topics, by long-winded commentators,
more or less hazy stories of his earlier
experiences at Medicine Bend iE the
company of Whispering Smith were
dragged into the talk. One GONZALES
cent Stage-guard at the hospital told
story one night at supper about him
that chilled Nan again with strange
fears, for she knew it to be true. He
had had it from McAlpin himself, so
the guard said, that De SPANS father
had long ago been shot down from am
bush by a cattleman and that Henry
de Spain had sworn to find that man
and kill him. And it was limited pref
ty strongly that De Spain had infOrma-
ton when he consented to come to
Sleepy Ca: that the assassin still lived,
and lived somewhere around the head
Of the sinks.
On that very evening it CHANGED the
doctor came late. When he walked in
he asked her if she knew it was From
tier day, and reminded her that just
year ago she had shot against Henry
de Spain and beaten the most danger
Gus man and the deadliest shot on the
mountain divide in her rifle match.
How he had grown in the magma
ton of Sleepy Cat and Music noun
tain, she said to herself-while the
doctor talked to her uncle-since that
day year ago! Then he was no more
than an unknown and discounted
marksman from Medicine Bend, beaten
by mountain girl--now the most
talked-Of man in the high country. And
the suspicion would sometimes obtrude
itself with pride into her mind that
She who never mentioned mis- name
when it was discussed before her,
really knew and understood him bet
ter than any of those that talked so
much-that she had at least one great
secret with him alone.
When leaving, the doctor wished to
send over from his office medicine for
her uncle. Nan offered to GO with him,
but the doctor said it was pretty late
and Main street pretty nOisy-he pre-
ferred to find a messenger. When
there came rap on the half-Open door,
she went forward to take the medicine
from the messenger and saw, standing
before her in the hall, De Spain.
She shrank back as if struck She
tried to speak. Her tongue refused it's
office. De Spain held a package out
In his hand Doctor Torpy asked me
to give you this
Doctor Torpy? What is it?'
Il really don't know suppose it
is medicine" She heard her uncle turn
In his bed at the sound of voices.
Thinking only that he must not at any
cost see De Spain, Nan stepped quick
ly into the hall and faced the meSSen-
ger. Il was over at the Doctors of
fee just now" continued her visitor
evenly; che asked me to bring this
down for your uncle" She took the
package with an incOherent acknOWI-
edgment. Without letting her eyes
meet his, she was conscious of how
fresh and clean and strong he looked,
dressed in q livelier manner than
usual-a partly cowboy effect, with a
broader hat and q gayer tie than he
ordinarily affected. De Spain kept on
speaking: 1.-THE telephone girl in the
office downstairs told me TO come right
up. How is your uncle?'
She regarded him wonderingly. He
has Il good deal of pain she answered
quietly.
"ToO bad he should have been hurt
in such a way. Are you pretty well,
Nan" She thanked him.
"Stay here a good deal. do you? I'll
bet you don't know what day this is?"
Nan looked up the corridor, but she
answered TO the point: You'd lose"
IT'S our anniversary" She darted
a look OF indignant disclaimer at him.
But in doing so she met his eyes.