Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-26

life. But in doing it sne nau email
tenged him to a new and Overwhelm-
ing interest in life itself. And again,
in front of her cousin, she was crying
out anew against the shedding Of
blood.
L came up here to fight man. /
don't fight women" muttered De
Spain, maintaining the deceit and re-
garding both with an unpromising Wis
age. Then to Morgan: I'm talk to you
later. But you've got to fight or get
away from here, both of you, in Ten
seconds"
Take me away, Gale" cried Nan.
Leave him here-take me home!
Take me home !"
She caught her cousins arm. "Stay
right where you are" shouted Nor
gan, pointing at De Spain. and follow
ing Nan as she pulled him along.
when 1 come back, I'll give you what
you're looking for"
Bring your friends said De Spain
tauntingly. "Tn accommodate four
more of you. Stop" 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 a while yet.
| Mover
Morgan took the path sullen1y, De
Spain covering every step he took. Be
hind De Spain Nan stood waiting for
her cousin to get beyond earshOt.
What" she whispered hurriedly to
De Spain, will you do?"
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 will start the whole gap as soon
as he gets to his horse"
He looked at the darkening sky.
before morning"
Morgan was at safe distance, De
Spain turned to Nan. Her eyes were
bent on him as if they would pierce
him through. eff I save your life"
still breathing fast, she hesitated for
| words-"yOu won't trick me-ever-
will your"
Steadily returning her appealing
gaze, De Spain answered with DELHI
| Grafton: Don't ever give me a chance
to trick you, Nan"
"What do you mean?" she demand
ed, fear and distrust burning in her
tone.
MY life" he said slowly, 'isn't
worth it,"
you know" He could see her res
Olute underlip, pink with fresh young
| blood, culver with intensity of feeling
/ as she faltered. you know what ev-
cry man says of every girl-foolish,
| trusting, easy to deceive-everythin
like that
MAY God wither my tongue before
ever it speaks to deceive you, Nan"
| There's not a moment to lose" she
| said swiftly. Listen: a trail around
this mountain leads out of the gan,
| straight across the face of Ell Capi-
| TAM"
| Il can make it,
! "A Soou CI1LIDef can 90 1T nave
done it. I'd even go with you, if l
| could"
"Why?"
She shook her head angrily at what
he dared SHOW in his eyes, ooh, keep
| stIll-listen!"
81 know you'd go, Man," he declared
unperturbed. But, believe me, I never
would let YOU
i 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 a wide one clear down to
the road-oh, do be careful on Ell Capt.
tan :"
I'll be careful
Il must watch my chance to get
away from the corral with a horse. II
L fail it will be because I 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. IF you don't
come, l shall know why"
She turned without speaking, and,
fearless as ehamois, 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.