Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-28

A torrent of oaths fell from Nor
gans cracked lips. He tried to tell
De Spain in his fury that he knew
all about his underhand work, he
called him more than one hard
name, made no secret of his deadly
enmity and challenged him to end
their differences then and there.
De Spain did not move. His left
hand again lay on the cigar case.
Duke" he said, when his antagon-
ist had exhausted his vituperation,
II wouldn't fight you, anyway.
You're crazy angry at me for no
reason on earth. If you'll give me
just one good reason for feeling the
way you do toward me, and the way
you've always acted toward me since
I came up to this country I'll
fight you"
Pull your gum" cried Morgan
with an imprecation.
II won't do it. You call me a
coward. Ask these boys here in the
shop whether they agree with you
on that. You might as well call me
an isosceles triangle. You're just
crazy sore at me when | want to be
friends with you. Instead of pulling
my gun, Duke, I'll lay it out on the
case, here, to show you that all l
Spain, reaching with his left hand
under the lapel of his coat, took a
Colts revolver from its breast har-
ness and laid it, the muZzle toward
himself, on the plate-glass top of
the cigar stand. 1t reduced him to
the necessity of a spring into Nor
gan for the smallest chance for his
life if Morgan should draw; but De
Spain was Il desperate gambler in
~g,er 1,A
and he laid his wagers on what he
could read in another's eye.
There's more reasons than one
why l shouldn't fight YOU" he said
evenly. Duke, you're old enough
to be my father-do you realize that?
What's the good of our shooting each
other up?" he asked, ignoring Nor
gan's furious Interruptions. Who's
to look after Nan when you go
as you must, before very many
years? Have you ever asked your
self that? Do you want to leave her
to that pack of wolves in the gap?
You know, just as we'll as 1 do, the
gap is no place for a high-bred,
But the gap is your home and you've
done right to keep her under your
roof and under your eye. Do you
think I'd like to pull a trigger on
a man that's been n father to Nan?
Damnation, Duke, could you expect
me to do it, willingly? Nan is a
queen. The best in the world isn't
good enough for her-I'm not good
enough, / know that. She's dear to
you, she is dear to me. If you
really want to see me try to use a
gun, send me a man that will insult
or abuse her. If you want to use
your own gun use it on me if I ever
insult or abuse hers that fair?'
Damn your fine words" eXclaim-
ed Morgan slowly and implacably.
"They don't pull any wool over my
eyes. l know you, De Spain - !
know your breed"
whats that?"
Morgan checked himself at that
time. "You can't sneak into my af-
fairs any deeper" he cried. Keep
away from my blood! 1 know how
to take care of my own. I'll do it.
So help me God, if you ever take
anyone of my kin away from me
it'll be over my dead body" He
ended with bitter oath and final
taunt: as that fair?"
NO" retorted De Spain good-na-
turedly, "it's not fair. And some day,
Duke, you'll be the first to say so.
You won't shake hands with me now,
know, so I'll go. But the day
will come when you Will"
He covered his revolver with his
left hand and replaced it under his
coat. The fat man who had been
leaning patiently against barbers
chair ten feet from the disputants,
stepped forward again lightly as a
cat Henry" he exclaimed, in a
low but urgent tone, his hand ex-
tended, "just a minute. There's a
long distance telephone call on the
wire for you" He pointed to the
office door. Take the first booth,
Henry. Hello, Duke" he added,
greeting Morgan with an extended
hand, as De Spain walked back.
How are you making it, old man ?"
Duke Morgan grunted.
Sorry to interrupt your talk"
continued Lefever. But the barns at
Calabasas are burning - telephone
wires from there cut. too-they had
TO pick up the Thief River trunk
line to get message through. Makes
it bad, doesn't it?" Lefever pulled
n wry face. Duke, there's some
body yet around Calabasas that
needs hanging, isn't there? Yes"