The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-06-14
CHAPTER xxllI-eon,lnvea.

lis ILTTf-e OF DlLlLE utrs 10 secure Il
information concerning her was not
possible. unless be should enter the
house. and this. with scani hesitation.
he decided TO do.
he wore a snug-fttlng leatkern |
coat He unbuttOned this and threw |
IL open IS he stepped nOiselessly up |
90 the door. laying his hand on the /
knob. he paused. then. finding the
door unlocked. he pushed IL slowly
open.
The wind rushed in. upset his cal
culations aud blew open the door lead
Ing from the hall into the living room.
A stream Of light In turn shot through
the open door. across the hall. In
etanily De Spain stepped inside and
directly behind the front dOOr-whlch
lie now realized he dare not close
and stood expectant in the darkness.
Gale Morgan, with an impatient ex-
clamation. strobe from the fireplace 70
close the front door.
As he walked into the hail and
slammed the front door shut, he could
have touched with his hand the man
standing In the shadow behind &. De
Spain. not hoping to escape, stood
with folded arms. but under the el-
bow OF his left arm was hidden the
long muzzle OF bis revolver. Holding
his breath. he waited. Gales mind
was apparently filed with other
things. He did not suspect the pres
ence Of an intruder. and he walked
back into the living room, partly clos
A.. n. -
lowing almost on his heels. stepped
past this door. past the hall stairs op-
posite IL. and through a curtained
opening at the end OF the hall Into
the dining room. Barely ten feet from
him. this room opened through an
arch into the living room. and where
he stood he could hear all that was
said.
who's therey" demanded Duke
gruffiy.
Nobody" said Gale. go on.
Druel."
Druel talked softly and through his
nose: II was only going to say 1t
would be a good Idea to have two wit
nesses."
'Nita." suggested Gale.
Duke was profane. you couldn't
keep the girl in the room II she had
Nita to help her. And ! want II I'M
derstOod. Gale. between you and me.
fair and square. that Mans goin' to
live right here with me after this mar
riage till I'm satisfied she's willing
10 go 10 you-otl..yvise II can't take
place. now or never"
DE Spain opened his ears. Gale
feit the hard. cold tone OF his crusty
relative, and answered with like
harshness: "What do you keep harp
ing on that forf You've got my word.
All want Of you is TO keep yours
understandT'
Come, come" interposed Druel.
There's no need OF hard words. But
we need two witnesses. Who's going
TO be the other witnessT'
Before anyone could answer De
Spain stepped out into the open arch
way before the three men. I'm act
as the second witness" he said.
With q common roar the M0rgans
bounded 10 their feet De Spain.
standing slightly sidewise, his coat
lapels tapped wide open, his arms
AEimbO. and his hands on his hips,
faced the three in an attitude Of read
iness only. He had reckoned on the
instant OF Indeclslon which at times,
when coupled with apprehension, par
alyzes the will OF two men acting to-
gether. Under the circumstances ei-
thcr Of the Morgaus alone would have
whipped a gun on De Spain at sight.
Together, and knowing that to DO 50
meant death 10 the one that took the
first shot from the archway, each wait
ed for the other; that fraction OF n
second unsettled their purpose. In
stead OF bullets, each launched curses
at the intruder, and every second that
passed led away from d fight
DE Spain took their oaths, demands
and abuse without batting an eye
TIN here for the second witness, {"
was all he repeated. covering both
men with short glances. Druel, his
face muddy white as the whisky
blOat deserted II. shrunk inside his
shabby clothes. De Spain with each
epltfiet hurled at him took a dreaded
step toward Gale, and Druel. ia the
line OF fire, brought his knees up and
his head down till he curled Ike q
pOrcuplne.
Gale game as be undoubtedly was,
cornered, felt perhaps recoilections OF
Calabasas and close quarters with the
brown eyes and the burning face.
What they might mean in this little
room, which DE Spain was crossing
step by step. was food for thought.
Nor did DE Spain break his obstinate
silence unul their burst OF rage had
blown. You've arranged your mar.
riage' he said at length. "Now pull
IT,"
MY cousins ready TO marry me
and she's goin' to do II tonight" cried