Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-19

Chapter XXlll.-De Spain, Lefever
and Scott invade the Morgan strong
mold. De Spain alone walks into
Dukes house and, preventing forced
marriage, takes Nan away.
Chapter XXlV-They escape over
III Captain. De Spain kills Sassoon.
Chapter XXv--Lefever rides in and
out of the gap.
Chapter XXVI--Pardaloe, who has
been working for Duke, tells De Spain
that Sassoon had said that Duke kill
ed De Spails father Nan overhears
the story.
Chpter XXVII--Nan goes back to
get the straight story from Duke. De
Spain sends his spy into the gap.
Chapter XXVIlI-Nan and Duke get
caught in a blizzard De Spain trails
and finds them
Chapter XXIX--De Spain hears from
Duke that he Is not absolutely sure
that he did not kill DeSpains father,
but the evidence proves that Sassoon
did the killing.
II amt afraid Of you, De Spain. I'll
give you whatever you thinks coming
to you with rifle or gun any time,
anywhere--yoa're a better man than
nm or ever was, know that-and that
ought to satisfy you. Or, I'll stand
my trial, il you say SO, and tell the
truth"
! The ice.laden wind, as De Spain
stood still. swept past the little group
with Il sinister roar, insensible alike to
its emotions and its deadly peril.
Within the shelter of his arm he felt
the yielding form Of the ndomtable
girl who. by the power of love, had
wrung from the outlaw his reluctant
story-tle story of the murder that
had stained with its red strands the
relations of each of their lives to both
the others. He felt against his heart
tho faint trembling of her frail body.
SO, when boy, he had held In his
hand iuttering bird and felt the
whirring beat of its frightened heart
against his strong, cruel fingers.
A sudden aversion to more blood
/ shed, a sickening of vengeance, swept
/ over him as her heart mutely beat for
mercy against his heart. She had
\ done more than any man could do.
/ Now she waited on him, Both his
arms wrapped round her In the breath
less embrace that drew her closer she
read her answer from him. She looked
up into his eyes and waited. There's
more than what's between you and me,
Duke, facing us now" said De Spain
sternly, when he turned. We've got
to get Nan out of this-even II we
don't get out ourselves. Where do you
figure we are?' he cried.
II figure we're two miles north of
the lava beds, De SPAIN shouted Nor
gan.
| De Spain shook his head In dissent.
.Thcn where are wei" demanded the
older man rudely.
II ought not to say, against you.
But il I've got to guess, say two
miles east. Either way, we must try
for Sleepy Cat Is your team all
rightY
"Team is all right. We tore wheel
near off getting out Of the lava. The
wagons done for"
De Spain threw the fur coat at him.
Put itson,' he said. well look at
the Wheel
They tried together to wrench 1t
into shape, but worked without avail.
In the end they dashed it, put Nan on
the Lady, and walked behind while the
team pushed into the pitiless wind.
Morgan wanted to cut the wagon away
and take to the horses, but De Spain
said, not TIL they found trail or>the
stage road.
So much snow had fallen that in
spite of the blizzard, driving with an
unrelenting fury, the drifts were deep
ening, packing and making all effort
increasingly difficult. 1t was well-nlgh
impossible to head the horses into the
storm, and DE Spain looked with ever
more anxious eyes ut Nan. After half
I'm hours superhuman struggle to re-
gain q trail that should restore their
bearings, they halted, and De Spain.
riding up to the wugon, spoke to Nor
gun, who was driving: How long ~
this going to last?"
IAN day and all night" Nan leaned
closely over to hear the curt question
and answer. Neither man spoke nguin
for q moment.
H. aWf. @- .iatf-
~..---,---