Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-09
Author Of Whispering Smith

! EuUtt. 'Ilt DL'i -u4i StFilitu tiit iiti-
est attendant for his partner. who, with
quickened pulses, gave herself up more
and mora 10 TIE lively call of the
music.
Once the two swung away out. near
to DE SPANS corner AS Nan whirled
by, De Spain, either with the infec-
ton of the music or from her near
ness to him, caught his breath. His
eyes riycted themselves on her flushed
face as she pasSed--oblivious of his
presence-and he recalled how in the
morning She had handled her rifle In
the same. quick, sure way. De Spain
could not dance at all; but no one
could successfully accuse him of not
knowing how to handle any sort Of
gun. Ii was only now he forgave her
unaskcd, the humiliation she had put
on him. He felt an impulse to 20 up
to hcr--now that she had stopped
dancng--and congratulate her honest
", instead Of boorishly as he had done
ut the match.
But while he thought Of this the two
dancers disappeared. and a new and
rougher parts crowded out on the floor
"Now. isn't that a pretty bunch :"
exclaimed the talkative woman again.
"rhats the Calabasas gang. Look at
SandusHy. that big fellow, with the
crooked jaw. And Harvey Logan, with
his black hair rlastered over his eyes.
Why, for enc drink those two fellows
would turn loose On this crowd and kill
half dozen. And there's two of Duke
Morg;n's cowboys with them. BOOKING
old Bull Page, and that squint-eyed Sas-
soon--hc's worse than the others, that
felloW--a fine bunch to allow in this
town"
1t had become second nature to De
Spain to note even insignificant de-
tails concerning men. and he took an
interest In and remarked how very low
Logan carried his gun in front of his
hip. Sandusky's holster was slung
higher and farther back on the side.
Logan wore tan shirt and khaki. San
dusky, coatess, was dressed in white
shirt with a red tie, and wore soiled,
figured waistcoat fastened at the bot
tom by cut-glass button.
The Sleepy Cat gossip commented on
how much money these men had been
spending all day. She wondered aloud,
reckless apparently of consequences,
who had been robbed, lately, to pro-
vide it, Her companion scolded her
for stirring up talk that might make
, trouble averred she didn't believe
half the stories she heard; asserted
that these men lived quietly at Gala
basas, minding their own affairs. "And
they're kind to poor folks, too !"Sure"
grimaced the obdurate one, with other
peoples money
De Spain, discontented, turning
again into Main street, continued on to
the Thief River stage barn. After look
ing the horses over aud inspecting the
wagons with a new but mid curiosity
awakened by Jelfries' proposal. De
Spain walked back toward the station
He had virtually decided not to take
the lob Medicine Bend was his home
He knew every man, woman ana child
in the town. Before the tragic death
of his father his mother had lived
there. ana De Spain had grown up In
the town and gone to school there. He
was Il railroad man, anyWay-a modest
trainmaster-and not eager for stage
line management.
As he passed Grant street again NJ
encountered party on horseDacf
heading fer The river bridge. Three
uf the men were riding abreast and
little ahead. or these, the middle
| horScman was a spare man OF 1rahEl!
| tllsreputable air. His face was draw
| up into a ono-sided smile. Satt Nor
| rams smiie was hubitual and lessenet
! his stern aspect. At his right rode nj
] cousin, Duke Morgan, older, sh0rte
and stouter. His square, heavy-jawed
4. SlllOOtll-SllilNcll lace WIS hsHtN" W
hard, keen eyes, and finished by an III
compromising chin. Duke was the rea
l. head of the elan, oe which there wer
le numerous branches In the superstition
C, mountains, all looking with fricndll
he ness or enmity TO the Morgans OF MOI
u gan's Cup.
II The yellow.haircd T1nn riding on tn
" left, with red face and red-ltddct
y squirting eyes, showed none of tn
III blood OF his companions. But Davi
W sassoon, the Calabasus gambler quoi
~ dam cowboy, and chronic brawlc
lie stood In some way close to the dlifel