The Ozark spectator., 1917-05-30


 tinued after pause.
 "Why, that was just some Frontier day fun, Nan. A mans got to be lit tie bit of sport once in while, hasn't hep
 Not if he likes me-" She spoke with an ominous distinctness, but under her breath. He caught her words and laughed again. "Pshaw, didn't think you'd get jealous over a little thing like that, Nan. When there's cele- bration on in town, everybody's friend ly with everybody else. If you lay little thing like that up against me. where would the rest of the men get of? Your strawberry-faced Medicine Bend friend is celebrating In town most of the time."
 Her face turned white. "What a falsehood!" '" she exclaimed hotly. Look ing at her, satisfied, he laughed whole heartedly again. She rose. furious. I know it."
 T suppose" retorted Gale, regarding her jocosely, 'you asked him about it."
 He had never seen her so angry. She stamped her foot. "IIow dare you say such thing! One of those women was at the hospital-she Is there yet and she is going to die there. She told Uncle Dukes nurse the men they knew and whom they didn't know, at that place. And Henry de Spain, when he heard this isaserable creature had been taken to the hospital, and Doctor Torpy said she could never get well, told the sister to take care of her and send the bills to him, because he knew her father and mother in Medicine Bend and went to school with her there when she was decent girl. Go and hear what she has to say about Henry de Spain, you contemptible faisifier."
 Gale laughed sardonically. That's right. like to see girl stick to her friends. De Spain ought to take care of her. Good story"
 And she has other good stories, too, you ought to hear" continued Nan un- dis,nayed. Most of them about you and your fine friends in town. She told the nurse it's you who ought to be pay ing her bills till she dies"
 Gale made q disclniming face and a deprecating gesture. "No, no, Nan let De Spain take care of his own. Be sport yourself, grille, right now" He stepped nearer her. Nan retreated. Kiss and make up." he exclaimed with q laugh. But she knew he was angry, and knew what to guard against. Still laughing, he sprang toward her and tried to catch her arm.
 Don't touch mel" she cried, jump ing away with her hand in her blouse.
 You little vixcn," he exclaimed with an oath, "what have you got there?" But he halted at her gesture, and Nan. panting, stood her ground.
 "Keep away! she cried.
 "Where did you get that knlfe?" thundered Gale.
 "From one who showed me how to use 1t on n coward !"
 He affected amusement and tried to pass the incident off as joke. But his diSSlmulation was more dangerous, she knew, than his brutality, and he left her the prey to more than one alarm and the renewed resolve never to be taken off her guard. That night he came back. He told her uncle. glaneing admiringly at Nan as he re- counted the story, how she had stood her ground against him in the morn ing.
 Nor did Nan like the way her uncle acted while he listened-and after ward. He talked good deal about Gale and the way she was treating her cousin. When Nan declared she never would have anything to do with him, her uncle told her with disconcert- ing bluntncss to get all that out of her head, for she was going to marry him. When she protested she never would, Duke told her, with many harsh oaths, that she should never marry De Spain even if he had to kill him or get killed to stop 1t, and that if she had any sense she would get ready to marry her cousin pcaceably, adding. that If she didn't have sense, he would see himself 1t was provided for her.
 His threats left Nan aghast. For two days she thought them all over Then