, 1917-12-13
| where You are tonight for a rev min

utes' talk2" continued the man coolly.
mot unless you have something very
important"
"what ] have is more important to
you than to me-"
De Spain took an instant to decide.
"All right" he said impatiently; come
along. Only" he paused to let the
word sink in, If this is a game you're
springing-"
I'm springing no game" returned
the man evenly.
Come along, then. I'll tell you just
how to get here. Do you hear?"
I'm listening"
Leave Main street at Rancherio
street. Follow Rancherio north four
blocks, turn west into Grant emu
Mr.. Jeffries' house is or the corner.
"Tll find it."
Don't come any other way. If you
do, you won't see me-"
I'm not afraid of you, Mr.. de Spain,
and I'll come as you say. There's only
one thing 1 should like to ask. 1t would
be as much as my life is worth to be
seen talking to you. And there are
other good reasons why 1 shouldn't
like to have it known I had talked to
you. Would you mind putting out the
lights before 1 come up-I mean, in the
front of the house and in the room
where we talk?"
mot in the least. 1 meant am al.
ways willing to take a chance against
any other mans. But / var you,
nnpnn nranoroI 10 faln of Untlr.
self"
eff you will do as I ask, no harm
will come to anyone"
De Spain heard the receiver hung
up at the other end Of the wire. He
signaled the operator hastily and got
hold of Bob Scott. To him he explained
rapidly what lind occurred, and what
he wanted. "Get up to Grant and Ran
cherio, Bob, as quick as the Lord will
There's a high mulberry hedge at the
southwest corner you can get behind,
This chap may have been talking for
somebody else. Anyway, look the man
over when he passes under the arc
light. If it is Sassoon or Gale Morgan
come into Jeffries' house by the rear
door. Wait in the kitchen for my call
from the living room, or a shot. I'll
arrange for your getting in"
Leaving the telephone, De Spain re
Joined Nan in the living room. He told
her briefly of the expected visit and
explained, %laughingly, that his caller
had asked to have the lights out and to
see him alone. He made SO little OF
the incident that Nan walked up the
stairs on De SPANS arm treasured
When he kissed her at her room door
and turned down the stairs again, she
leaned in the half-light over the banis.
ter, waving one hand at him and muir.
muring the last caution: "Be careful
Henry, won't your"
"Dearie, I'm always careful"
"'Cause you're all I've got now" she
whispered.
you're all I've got. Nan, girl"
II haven't got any home-or any
thing-just you. Don't go to the door
yourself. Leave the front door open
Stand behind the end of the piano till
you are awfully sure who it Is"
what a head, Mani"
De Spain cut off the lighrs, threw
open the front door, and in the dark.
ness a down on the piano stool. A
heavy step on the porch, a little while
later. was followed by a knock on the
open door.
"Come in !" called De Spain roughly
The bulk of a large man filed and OBJ.
scured for an instant the opening
then the visitor stepped carefully oveI
the threshold. what do you want?'
asked De Spain without changing his
tone. He awaited with keenness the
sound of the answer.
as Henry de Spain here?"
The voice was not familiar to De
Spain's ear. He told himself the mar
was unknown to him. 81 am Henry
de Spain," he returned without hesita,
ton. "What do you want?"
The visitors elaboration was reflect.
ed in his measured speaking. 81 an
from Thief River" he began, and his
re~verberating voice was low and dis.
tinct. 81 was sent in to Morgan's gar
some time ago to find out who burned
the Calabasas barn."
"And you report to-"
Kennedy"
De Spain paused. A fresh convic.
ton had flashed across his mind. "You
called me up on the telephone one night
last week." he said suddenly.
The answer came without evasion
81 did"
you gave me a message from Nan
Morgan that she eve gave you"
81 did. 1 thought she needed you
right off. She didn't know me as ]
rightly am. 1 knew what was going on
l rode into town hat evening and rode
out again. 1t was not my business, and
l couldn't let 1t interfere with the bust.
nncS In, nnia Il laol- aaL.. E,I-L.-