The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-24
CHAPTER XIiI--Continued.

"Take me away, Gale" cried Nan.
~Leave him hete-take me home
Take me homer
She caught her cousins arm. stay
right where you are" shouted Nor
gan, pointing at De Spain, and follow
ang Nan as she pulled him along.
"When / come back, I'll give you what
you're looking for"
Bring your friends" said De Spain
Eauntingiy. "Tl accommodate four
more of you. Stopw With one hand
still on his revolver, he pointed the
way Go down that trail first, Nor
gan. Stay where you are, girl, till he
gets down that hill. You won't pot
me over her shoulder for while yet.
Novel"
Morgan took the path sullenly, De
Spain covering every step he took. Be-
mind De Spain Nan stood waiting for
her cousin to get beyond earshot.
~What," she whispered hurriedly to
De Spain. twill you do2"
Covering Morgan, who could whirl
On him at any turn in the descent, De
Spain could not look at her in answer
ing. Looks pretty rocky, doesn't it?"
"He VIII start the whose gap as soon
Gs he gets to his horse"
He locked at the darkening sky.
SThey won't be very active on the job
before morning"
Msnrgan4 WAS at q aafa distance. De
Spain turned to Nan. Her eyes were
bent on him as IL they would pierce
him through. "If save your life"
still breathing fast, she hesitated for
words-"you won't trick me-ever-
will you?"
Steadily returning her appealing
gaze, De Spain answered with DELHI
Grafton: Don't ever give me chance
to trick you, Man."
"What do you mean?" she demand
cd, fear and distrust burning in her
tone.
My life" he said slowly, isn't
worth it."
"You know" He could see her res
olute underiip pink with fresh young
blood CULVER with intensity Of feeling
rs she faltered. "You know what ev-
cry man says of every girl-foolish,
trusting easy to decaye-every:hias
Ike that"
MAY God wither my tongue before
ever 1t speaks to deceive you, Man,
There's not a moment to lose" she
seid swiftly. Listen: trail around
this mountain leads out of the gap,
straight across the face of FL Capt.
tan"
Il ca1 make it."
"a good climber can do i'll have
done it I'd even go with you, If I
could"
"WhyT'
She shook her head angrily at what
he dared show in his eyes. "Oh, keep
still-iiSten !"
Il know you'd go, Man," he declared
unperturbed. "But, believe me, ! never
would let you"
Il can't go, because to do any good
must meet you with a horse out
side"
He only looked silently at her, and
she turned her eyes from his gaze.
"See,' she said, taking him eagerly to
the back of the ledge and pointing,
follow that trail, the one to the east
you can't get lost; you can reach Ell
Captain before dark-it's very close.
Creep carefully across Ell Captain on
that narrow trail, and on the other
side there is q wide one clear down to
the road-oh, do be careful on Ell Capt.
TAM"
"I'll be careful"
II must watch my chance to get
away from the corral with horse. If
! fail it will be because 1 am locked
up at home, and you must hide and
do the best you can. How much they
will surmise of this, don't know"
go now, this minute" he said, re-
straining his words. eff you don't
come, / ahall know why"
She turned without speaking. and
fearless as chamois, ran down the
rocks. De Spain. losing not moment
hobbled rapidly up along the granite
walled passage that led the way to his
chance for life.