Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-17
Nan ST
Music
Mountain
BY
FRANK Fl. SPEARMAN
Author Of WHISPERING SMITH
lCnnrrisht br Charlas ss.tanar.n sonsl

tCopyriEht by Char les SesS1naSS Son0
EIpaso answered his invitation with
an inquiry. who was this fellow
fighting within"
THAT, also, is question. Certainly
not with Henry de Spain, because the
other fellow, / think, was using soft
nosed bullets. No white man does that,
much less De Spain"
'Unless he used another rifle" sug-
gested Kennedy.
"Tell me h
rifle away from him if ne could fire a
gun at all. / don't put Henry quite as
high with a rife as with revolver
If you want to split hairs-mind, say,
IL you want to split hairs. But no man
that's ever seen him handle either
would want to try to take any kind of
a gun from him. Whoever 1t was" Lee
fever got up into his saddle again,
"threw some ounces of lead into that
piece of rock back there, though l
don't understand how anyone could see
man lying behind It.
Anyway, whoever was hit here has
been carried down the road. Wen
try Sassoon's ranch-hOuse If they don't
fire on us before we get there"
In the sunshine a man in shirt
sleeves, leaning against the jamb, stood
In the open doorway of SasSoon's
shack, watching the invaders as they
rode around the hill and gingerly ap-
preached. Lefever recognized Sat- Nor
gan. He flung a greeting to him from
the saddle.
.Satt answered In kind, but he eyed
the horsemen with reserve when they
drew up, and he seemed to Lefever al
together less responsive than usual.
John spared with him for infOrma-
ton and Satterlee gave back nothing
but words.
Cant tell us anything about De
Spain, eh?" echoed Lefever at length.
"All right, Satt, Wen find somebody
that can. Is there q bridge over to
Dukes on this trail?"
Salts nose wrinkled into his normal
smile. There's q bridge" The re-
port of three shots fired in the distance
seemingly from the mouth of the gap,
interrupted him. He paused in his ut
terance. There were no further shots,
and he resumed: "There is q bridge
that way, yes, but it was washed out
last night. They're blockaded. Duke
and Gale are over there. They're pretty
sore on your man De Spain. You'd bet
ter keep away from 'em this morning
unless you're looking for trouble"
Eefever, having all needed infOrma.
ton from SCOTS signal, raised his
hand quickly. mot at ALL" he ex.
claimed, leaning forward to emphasize
mis- words and adding the full orbit of
his eye to his sincerity of manner. mot
at all, Satt. This is all friendly, all
friendly. But" he COughed slightly
as If in apology, "if Henry shouldn't
turn up o. K, we'll-ahem-be back"
None Of his companions needed to be
told how to get prudently away. At q
nod from Lefever TOmmie MeggesOn,
Elpaso and Wickwire wheeled their
horses, rode rapidly back to the turn
near the hill and, facing about, halted,
with their rifles across their arms. Lee
fever and Kennedy followed leisurely,
and the party withdrew leaving Satter-
lee, unmOved, in the sunny doorway.
Once out of sight, Lefeyer led the way
rapidly down the gap to the rem
devious.
OF all the confused impressions that
crowded Mans memory after the wild
night on Music mountain, the most
vivid was that of a noticeably light
stepping and not ungraceful fat man
advancing, hat in hand, to greet her as
bedraggled in the aspen grove.
A smile famed from her eyes when
turning at once, he rebuked De Spain
with dignity for not introducing him
to Man, and while De Spain made apol-
Ogtes Lefever introduced himself.
"And Isl this" murmured Nan, look
Ing az him quizzically, 'really Mr.. John
Lefever whom I've heard so many
stories about2"
She was conscious of his pleasing
eyes and even teeth as he smiled again.
IF they have come from Mr.. de Spain
I warn you," said John, take them
with all reserve"
but they haven't all come from Mr..
de Spain"
IF they come from any of my
friends, discredit them IN advance. You
could believe what my enemies say" he
ran on; then added ENORMOUSLY. 'if |
had any enemies! ~ To De Spain he
talked very little. 1t seemed to take
but few words to exchange the news.
Lefeyer asked gingerly about the fight
He made no mention whatever of the
crimson pool in the road near Sas-
soon's hut.