The Irish standard., 1917-02-17
She, Too, Was Drowned by the Noun.
tain Sun and Air.

responding with sort Of fiery i'm
patience to her partners guiding, she
caught the rapid step of the music,
and together the two swept down the
floor. The spectators soon showed
their admiration of the dancing with
unrestrained handclapping, and fol-
lowed with approving outcries. Every
swaying step, every agile turn proved
how sure Nan was Of herself, and how
perfectly her body answered to every
exaction of the quick movement of the
dance. Gale Morgan seemed the mer-
est attendant for his partner, who, with
quickened pulses, gave herself up more
and more to the lively call of the
music.
Once the two swung away out, near
to De Spain's 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 riveted 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 a
gun. 1t was only now he forgave her,
unasked, the humiliation she had put
on him. He felt an impulse to go up
to her-now that she had stopped
dancing-and congratulate her honest
ly, instead of boorishly as he had done
at the match.
But while he thought of this the two
dancers disappeared. and new and
rougher party crowded out on the floor.
"Now, isn't that a pretty bunch!"
exclaimed the talkative woman again.
"Thats the Calabasas gang. Look at
Sanduslly, that big fellow, with the
crooked jaw. And Harvey Logan, with
his black hair plastered over his eyes.
Why, for one drink those two fellows
would turn loose on this crowd and kill
half dozen. And there's two of Duke
Morgan's cowboys with them, BOOKING
old Bull Page, and that squint-eyed Sas-
soOn-hes worse than the others, that
fellow-a fine bunch to allow in this
town."
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, coatless, was dressed in white
shirt, with 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" assure"
grimaced the obdurqte one, with other
peoples money"
De Spain, disconnected, turning
again into Main street, continued on to
the Thief River stage barn. After look.
ing the horses over and inspecting the
wagons with new but mild curiosity,
awakened by Jeffries' proposal, De
Spain walked back toward the station.
He had virtually decided not to take
the job. Medicine Bend was his home.
He knew every man, woman and child
In the town. Before the tragic death
Of mis- &c.. bis mother had lived
II fhena. ard Dn Hnein ha,: --e~n mn In