Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-26

assistance. And De Spain, in his
long and frequent rides, his pro-
tracted absences, indifference to the
details of business and careless
humor, had evidently passed within
these limits.
What was stage traffic to him
compared to the sunshine on Nam
hair; what attraction had schedules
to offer against moment of her
eyes; what pleasing connection could
there be between bad-order wheels
and her low laugh?
The two felt they must meet to dis
cuss their constant perpleXities and
the problems of their difficult situa-
tion; but when they reached their
trysting places, there was more of
gayety than gravity, more of nom
chalance than concern, more of look
ing into each others hearts than
looking into the troublesome future.
And there was hardly an inviting spot
within miles of Music mountain that
one or the other of the two had not
waited near.
There were, of course, disappoiut-
ments, but there were only a few
failures in their arrangements. The
difficulties of these. fell chiefly on
Nan. How she overcame them was
source OF surprise to De Spain, who
marveled at her innocent resource in
escaping the demands at home and
making her way, despite an array
of obstacles, to his distant i'm
patience.
Midway between Music mountain
and Sleepy Cat a low-lying wall of
lava rock. in part sand-covered and
in part exposed, parallels and some
times crosses the principal trail. This
undulating ridge was a faVorite with
De Spain and Nan, because they
could ride in and out of hiding places
without more than just leaving the
trail itself. To the west of this ridge
and commanding it, rose rather more
| than mile away the cone called
Black Cap.
Suppose" said Nan one after
noon, looking from De Spain's side
I toward the mountains, someone
should be spying on us from Black
Cap?" She pointed to the solitary
rock.
"If ayone has been, Nan, with a
good glass he must have seen ex-
changes of confidence that would
make him gnash his teeth. l know
if I ever saw anything like it I'd
go hang. But the country around
there is too rough for a horse. No
body even hides around Black Cap,
except some tramp hold-up man
that's crowded in his getaway. Bob
Scott says there are dozens of noun
tain lions over there"
But Sassoon had the unpleasant
patience of mountain lion and its
dogged persistence, and, hiding him
self on Black Cap. he made certain
one day of what he had long been
convinced-that Nan was meeting
De Spain.
The day after she had mentioned
Black Cap to her lover. Nan rode
over to Calabasas to get bride
mended. Galloping back, she en-
countered Sassoon just inside the
gap. Nan so detested him that she
never spoke when she could avoid
II. On his part. he pretended not to
see her as she passed. When she
reached home she found her Uncle
Duke and Gale standing in front of
the fireplace in the living room. The
two appeared from their manner TO
have been in heated discussion, one
that had stopped suddenly on her
appearance. Both looked at Nan
The expression on their faces fore
warned her. She threw her quirt on
and began to unpin her hat: but she
knew a storm was impending.
Gale had been made for q long
time to know that he -s'as an unwel-
come visitor, and Mans greeting of
him was the merest contemptuous
nod "Well. uncle" she said. glanc-
ing at Duke. I'M late again. Have
you had supper"
Duke always spoke curtly: tonight
his heavy voice was as sharp as an
ak. Been late a good deal lately"
Nan laid her hat on the table, and
glancing composedly from one sus-
pieious face to the other, put her
hands I'D to arrange har hair. I'm