Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-02-02

said De Spain. "wiicn one OF your
nell Is drunk ind quarrcsome he will
be pu, o'T IKE any other dsturter.
That we can't avoid. Public stages
can't be run any other way"
"All right" retorted Morgan. "If
you take that tack for your new man
agement. wen see how you get along
running stages down In this country"
I'VE will run them pcaceably, just AS
long rs we can" smiled De Spain. 1--WE
will get on with everybody that gives
US II chance"
Morgan pointed finger at him. IL
give you n chance, DE Spain, right now.
VIII you discharge Elpaso?"
mo"
Morgan almost caught his breath at
the refusal But De Spain could be
extremely blunt, and In the parting
shots between the two he gave no
ground.
"Jeffrles put me here to stop this
kind Of rowdyism on the stages" he
said to Lefever on their way back to
the barn. This is good time to be-
gin. And Sassoon and Gale Morgan
are good men to begin with" he added.
As the horses OF the two men
emerged from the canyon they saw Il
slender horsewoman riding In toward
the barn from the Music Mountain
trail. She stopped In front of Meal
pin, the barn boss, who stood outside
the office door. McAlpln. the old Medi-
cine Bend bnrnman. had been pro-
NOTED from Sleepy Cat by the new
manager. De Spain recognized the
roam pony, but aside from that,
glance at the figure OF the rider, as
she sat with her back to him. was
enough to assure him Of Nan Morgan.
He spurred ahead fast enough to over
hear request she was making OF Nc
Alpin to mail letter for her. She
also asked McAlpin, Just ms De Spain
drew up. whether the down stage had
passed. McAlpIn told her It had. De
Spain, touching his hat, spoke: II am
going right up to Sleepy Cat I'll mail
your letter II you WISH"
She looked at him In some surprise,
and then glanced toward Lefever, who
now rode up. De Spain was holding
out his hand for the letter. His eyes
met Mans, and each felt the moment
was a sort of challenge. De Spain, q
little self-consclOus under her inspec-
tion. was aware only Of her rather
fearless eyes and the dark hair under
her fawn cowboy hat.
"Thank YOU" she responded evenly.
III the stage is gone l will hold It to
add something" SO saying, she tucked
the letter inside her blouse and spoke
to her pony, which turned leisurely
down the road.
I'm trying to get acquainted with
your country today" returned De
Spain, managing with his knee to keep
his own horse moving alongside Nan
as she edged away.
Nan, without speaking, ruthlessly
widened the distance between the two.
De Spain unobtrusively spurred his
steed to greater activity. you must
have a great deal of game around you. |
Do you huntf" he asked.
He knew she was famed as n hunt
ress, but he could make no Roadway
whatever against her studied reserve
and when at length she excused her
self and turned her pony from the
Sleepy Cat road into the Morgan gap
trail, De Spain had been defeated In
every attempt to arouse the slightest
interest In anything he had said. But,
watching with regret. at the parting.
the trim lines Of her figure as she
dashed away on the desert TRAIL seated |
as II part Of her spirit ! horse, he
felt only fast-rislng resolution to at
tempt again to break through her
stubborn reticence and know her bet
ter. -
Cont,nued Newt Week