Mexico Missouri message., 1917-04-12
CHAPTER xllI-continued.

>
Take me away, Gale" cried Nan.
Leave him hcre-take me home!
Take me homer
She caught her cousins arm. "Stay
right where you are" shouted Nor
San, pointing at De Spain, and follow
eng Nan as she pulled him along.
~Wheu come back, I'll give you what
yoa're looking for"
Bring your friends" said De Spain
SauntingIy. an accommodate four
more of you. Stop!" With one hand
Etfu on his revolver, he pointed the
gay. eco down that trail first, Nor
gan. Stay where you are, girl, till he
gets down that hill. You won't pot
nc over her shoulder for a while yet.
SE0vei"
Morgan took the path sullenly, De
Spain covering every step he took. Be
emud De Spain Nan stood waiting for
Ger cousin to get beyond earshot.
what" she whispered hurriedly to
QIe Spain, will you DOR
Covering Morgan, who could whirl
on him at any turn in the descent, De
Spain could not look at her In answer
eng. Looks pretty rocky, doesn't it?"
~He will start the whole gap as soon
a. he gets to his horse"
He looked at the darkening sky.
They won't be very active on the job
dSefore morning."
Morgan was at q safe distance. De
Spain turned to Nan. Her eyes were
eseut on him as If they would pierce
&im through. eff l save your life"
still breathing fast, she hesitated for
"words-"yOu won't trick me-ever-
will your"
Steadily returning her appealing
UzEe. De Spain answered with DELHI
Grafton: Don't ever give me a chance
GO trick you, Man."
"'What do you mean2" she demand
cd, fear and distrust burning in her
tone.
my life" he said slowly, isn't
worth it,"
~You know" He could see her res
olUte undcrllp, pink with fresh young
6lood, culver with intensity of feeling
as she faltered. "YOu know what ey-
cry man says of every girl-foolish,
trusting, easy to deceive-everything
like that"
'May God wither my tongue before
ever it speaks to deceive you, Man."
~There's not a moment to lose" she
said swiftly. Listen: trail around
this mountain leads out of the gap,
straight across the face of Ell Capt.
tan"
II can make It."
"a good climber can do 1T have
Gone it. I'd even go with you, if l
could"
4'Why7"
She shook her head angrily at what
He dared show in his eyes. "Oh, keep
StiII-listenp
=. 81 know you'd go, Man," he declared
unperturbed. But, believe me, never
would let you"
Il can't go, because to do any good
4 must meet you with a horse out.
side"
he only looked silently at her, and
she turned her eyes from his gaze
'-See," she said, taking him eagerly to
the back Of the ledge and pointing
follow that trail, the one to the east
goa can't get lost; you can reach E
CAPTAIN before dark-it's very close
Creep carefully across I'll Captain or
Ghat narrow trail. and on the other
side there is a wide one clear down tC
che road-oh, do be careful on FL Capt.
cant"
"'I'Il be careful"
II must watch my chance to gel
seway from the corral with horse. Il
q E2u 1t will be because / am locked
up at home. and you must hide ant
do the best you can. How much the!
will surmise of this, 1 don't know"
GO now, this minute" he said, re
ssralning his words. "If you dom
come, shall know why"
She turned without speaking, and
fearless as a channels, ran down thu
rocks. De Spain. losing not moment
hObbIed rapidly up along the granite
walled passage that led the way to hi
chance for Life.
Nuan-En ~Iu