The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-06-14
CHAPTER xXI-continued.

CHAPTER XXI-continued
~
Bull lifted his weak and watery
eyes. His whisky-seamed face bright
ened into the ghost OLA smile. "What
I'm going to ask you to do" continued
De Spain, sis a mans job. You can
get into the gap without trouble. You
are the only man 1 can put my hand
on just now that can. l want you to
ride over this morning and hang out
around Duke Morgan's place till you
can get chance to see Miss Nan"
AT the mention of her name Bull
shook his head a moment in afiirma-
tive approval. "She's a queenr' he
exclaimed with admiring but pungent
explosives. "a queen!"
81 think so, Bull. But she is in
troublesome circumstances. You know,
Nan and +"
Bull winlled in many ways.
and her Uncle Duke is making us
trouble, Bull. 1 want you to find her,
speak with her, and bring word to me
as to what the situation is. That
doesn't mean you're to get drunk over
therein fact, I don't think anybody
over there would give you a drink"
Don't believe they would"
"And you are to ride back here with
what you can find out just as quick,
after you get into the clear, as horse
will bring you"
Bull passed his hand over his mouth
with Il show of resolution. 1t indi-
Gated that he was pulling himself to-
gether. Within half an hour he was
on his way to the gap.
For De Spain hours never dragged
as did the hours between Bulls start
ing and the setting of the sun that
night without his return. And the sun
set behind Music mountain in a drift
of heavy clouds that brought rain. All
evening it fell steadily. At eleven
o'clock De Spain had given up hope
of seeing his emissary before morn
ing and was sitting alone before the
stove in the Office when he heard the
sound of hoofs. In another moment
Bull Page stood at the door.
He was sorry sight. Soaked to
the skin by the steady dOwnpOur;
rain dripping internationally from his
frayed hat, his ragged beard and ia
tered coat; shaking with the cold as
if gripped by an ague, Bull, picking
his staggering steps to the fire, and
sinking in Il heap into chair, SYM
bOlzed the utterlnOst tribute OF man
hood to the ravGges of whisky. He
was not drunk. He had not even been
drinking; but his vitality was gone.
lie tried to speak. 1t was impOs-
sible. His tongue would not frame
words, nor his throat utter them. He
could only look helplessly at De
Spain as De Spain hastily made him
stand up on his shaking knees, threw
n hi" blanket around him, sat him
down, Kicked open the stove drafts,
and called to McAlpin for more wills
ky TO steady the wreck of it crouch
ing over the fire.
AcAlpin, after considerable and re- |
Iuctnut search, produced bottle, and /
for more reasons than one, /
to t!tisf it to Bulls uncertain posses (
sion brought Upper. Bull held the /
dipprr while De Spain poured. Meal /
pin. hcHind the stove, hoped first on /
one foot and then on the other us De /
Spain rucklesSly continued to pour. .
When the liquor half filled the cup, I
licAipin Put out unnri>takab'e dis
Ircss signals, but Bun, watching IN"
brown stream. his eyes galvanized at
he sight, held fast to the haudic and |
made no sign to stop. "EHIi.' thun-
Tered the barn boss with IN emphatic /.
word. "That is Elpasos bottle. What /.
ire you dreaming Of man? Mr.. de
Saain, you'll kill him. Don't ye see
a. can't tell ye to stop?'
Bull. with the last hickrrin@ spark
), vitality still left within him, looked
.gcadily up and winkcd ut De Spain.
NEcAlpin. outraged, stamped out oil
he noon. Steadying the diDper In .
10Th hands, Bull with an effort passed .
me hand at the final moment preIimi- |
,arily over his mouth. and raising
he bowl. emptied it. The poison cleo
riGed him into utterance. Il seen
,er." he declared, holding his chin
veil down and in, and speaking in a
,ardonably proHd throat.
Good, Bull r
"Thcy'ye got things tied M for tair
ycr there" lie spoke slowly ana
rokeGly. 81 never got inside the
ouse til after supper. Toward night
hcIpcd ParuIloc put up the stock