The Benson signal., 1917-09-29
CHAPTER xVIiI-Continued.

She whirled II won't put it down.
This hulking bully! I know him bet
ter than you do" She pointed a quiv-
ering finger at her cousin. "He insult
ed me as vilely as he could only few
months ago on Music mountain. And
if this very same Henry de Spain
hadn't happened to be there to protect
me, you would have found me dead
next morning by my own hand. DO
you understand" she cried, painting
and furious. "That's what he is -
Her uncle tried to break in. "Stop"
she exclaimed pointing at Gale. HE
never told you that, did he?'
"No, nor you neithel,' snapped Duke
hoarsely.
81 didn't tell you" re%Jrted Nan, "be-
cause I've been trying to live with you
here in peace among these thieves
and cutthroats, and not keep you
stirred up all the time. And Henry
de Spain faced this big coward and
protected me from him with an empty
revolver! What business of yours is
1t whom l meet, or where | go" she
demanded raining her words with
flaming eyes on her belligerent cousin.
IL will never marry you to save you
from the hangman. Now leave this
house." She stamped her foot. "Lnave
this house, and never come into It
again!"
Gale, beside himself with rage, stood
his ground. He poured Gel that he
safely could of abuse or Mans own
head. She had appeas@l her wrath
and made no attempt - retort, only
looking at him with white face and
burning eyes as she breathed defiance.
Duke interfered. "Get out!" he said
to Gale harshly. "I'll talk to her. Go
homer
Not ceasing to mutter oaths, Gale
pick up his hat and stamped out of
the house, slammihg the doors. Duke,
exhausted by the quarrel, sat down,
eying his niece. "l|ow what does this
cnean?" he demanded hoarsely.
She tried to tell him honestly and
frankly all that her acquaintance with
De Spain did mean dwelling no more
than was necessary on it's beginning,
but concealing noting of its develop
ment and consequences nothing of her
love for De Spail- nor of his for her.
But no part of what she could say on
any point she urged sOftened her
uncle's face. Els square, hard jaw
from beginning to end looked like
stone.
$50 he's your iover?" he said harsh
ly when she had done.
'He wants t0 be your friend" re-
turned Nan, determined not to give up.
Duke looked at her uncompromising-
ly. "That rnan can't ever be any
friend of mine-understand that! He
can't ever marry you. If he ever tries
20, so help me God, I'll kill him if
hang for it. I know his game.
know what he wants. He doesn't care
q pinch of snuff for you He thinks he
can hit me blow by getting you away
from me-"
''Nothing could be further from the
TRUTH" exclaimed Nan hopelessly.
Duke struck the table smashing
blow with his fist. "Tll show Mr.. de
Spain and his friends where they get
off,"
"Uncle Duke, if you won't listen to
reason, you must listen to sense. Think
of what position you put me In. l
love you for all your care of me.
love him for his affection for me and
consideration of me - because he
knows how to treat a woman. / know
he wouldn't harm hair on your head,
for my sake, yet you talk now OF
bloodshed between you two. 1 know
what your words mean-that one of
you, or both Of you, are to be killed
for a senseless feud. He will not stand
up and let any man shoot him down
without resistance. If you lay your
blood on his head, you know it would
put q stain between him and me that
never could be washed out as long as
we lived. If you kill him could never
stay here with you. His blood would
cry out every day and night against
you"
Dukes violent finger shot out at her.
"And you're the gal l took from your
nanny and promised I'd bring up
decent woman. You've got none o her
blood in you-not a drop. You're the
brat of that mincing brother Of mine,
that was always riding horseback and
showing off in town while was weed
ing the tobacco beds"
Nan clasped her hands. Don't
blame me because Pm your brothers
child. Blame me because I'm 81 wOm-
An, because | have heart, because
/ want to live and see you live, and
to see suspicion, distrust, feuds.
;arms, and worse. I'm not migrate
tbl, as you plainly say am. want
eos to get ont Of what you are In