Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-21

tnlly. But he told Nan, ut last, that
De Spain must lose either his arm or
his life. NO" she repeated without
hesitation and without blanching you
shan't take off his arm. He shap't lose
his llfe.'
The blood surged into her cheeks
better blood and redder than the doc
tors had been able to bring there-such
blood as De Spain alone could call into
them. Nan, with her nurses help,
dressed. joined De Spain, and talked
long and earnestly. The doctors too.
laid the situation before him. Wien
they asked him for his decision, he
nodded toward Nan. "She will tell
you. gentlemen, what We'll do
And Nan did tell them what the two
who had most at stake in the decision
would do. Any man could have done
as much us that. But Nan did more.
She set herself ont to save the arm
and patient both, and. lest the doctors
should change their tactics and move
together on the arm surreptitiously,
Nan stayed night and day with De
Spain. until he was able to make such
active use of either arm rs to convince
her that he and not the surgeons would
soon need the most watching.
Afterwarl when Nan. in some doubt,
asked the chaplain whether she was
married or single, he Obligingly offered
to ratify and confirm the desert cere-
mony.
This affair was the occasion for nn
extraordinary roundup at Sleepy Cat.
Two lOng-hOstile elements--the stag,
, and railroad men and the Calabasas-
Morgan gap contingent of mountain
! men, for once ut least. fraternized.
Warrants were pigeOnholed suspicion
, suspended, si'learms neglected in their
scabbartls. The fighting men of both
camps. In the presence of Il ceremony
that united De Spain and Nan Morgan,
could not but feel Il generous citation.
Each party considered that it was con-
tributing to the fcstivity in the bride
and groom and the very best each
could boast. and no false note dis
turbed the harmony of the notable
day.
Gale Morgan. having given up the
fight, had left the country. Sntterlee
Morgan danced till all the platforms In
town gave way. John Lefeyer attend
ed the groom. and Duke Morgan stern
" but without colnpunction, gave the
bride. From Medicine Bend, Farrell
Kennedy brought Il notable company
of De Spain's early associates FOR the
: event. II included Whispering Smith,
whose visit to Sleepy Cat on this oc-
casion was the first in years; George
McCloud, who had come all the way
from Omaha to join his early comrades
in arms; Wickwirp, who had lost none
: of his taciturn bluntness-and so many
train dispatchers that the service on
the division was crippled for the entire
: day.
a great company of self-appointcd
u retainers gathered together from ovei
9 all the country rode behind the gnyly
l decorated bridal coach in procession
from the church to Jeffries house
> where the feasts had been prepared
, During the reception Il modest man
| dragged from an obscure corner anon.
the guests, was made to take his place
| next Leftover on the receiving line. 4
| was Bob Scott, and he looked most un
| comfortable until he found Il chance
to slip unobservcd back TO the sid,
! of the room where the distinguishes,
| Medicine Bend contingent. together
with McAlpin. Pnrdnloe Elpaso AM
4 Bull Page, slightly unsteady but eX
tremely serious for the grave occasion
\ appeared vastly uncomfortable to
gether.
i The railroad has not yet been bull
/ across the sinks to Thief River. Blu
! only those who lived in Sleepy Cat II
It's really wild stage days are entitled
to call themselves early settlers. or t,
tell stories more or less authenti
| about what then happened. The great
or number Of the Old Guard Of tina
L day. as cankerlng peace gradually re
asserted itself along the sinks. turne'
n from the stage coach to the ralroa,
VI coach some Of them may yet be me
p on the trains in the mountain country
| Wherever you happen to find such
N one, he will tell you of the days whel
y Superintendent dc Spain Of the Yves,
:. ern division wore n. gun In the noun
" tains and used it, when necessary, Of
his wife's relations.
ii Whether 1t was this stern sense O
,r discipline or not that endenred him +
the men, these old.timers nre. to
10 man, very loyal to the young coupl
W who united In their marriage the tw
70 hostile mountain elements. One i
NJ especial, Il whitehnired old man, De
Is scribed BY the fnnclful as retire
10 outlaw. living yet on Mans ranch /
70 the gap, always spends his time 4
no town ut the DE Spain home. whcr
"a he takes great interest IN an nctlv
Ia little boy, Morgan de Spain, VIII