The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-05-19

when coupled with apprehension, par
alyzes the will Of two men acting to-
gether. Under the circumstances Ell
Their Of the Morgans alone would have
whipped a gun on De Spain at sight.
Together, and knowing that to do so
meant death to the one that took the
nrst shot from the archway, each watt
ed for the other; that fraction of a
second unsettled their purpose. In
stead Of bullets, each launched curses
at the intruder, and every second that
passed led away from fight.
De Spain took their oaths, demands
and abuse without batting an eye.-
I'm here for the second Witness"
was all he repeated, covering both
men with short glances. Druel, his
face muddy white as the whisky
bloat deserted it, shrunk inside his
shabby clothes. De Spain with each
epithet hurled at him took dreaded
step toward Gale, and Druel, in the
line Of fire, brought his knees up and
his head down till he curled like q
porcupine.
Gale, game as he undoubtedly was,
cornered, felt perhaps recollections Of
Calabasas and close quarters with the,
brown eyes and the burning face!
What they might mean in this little
room, which De Spain was crossing
step by step, was food for thought.
Nor did De Spain break his obstinate1
silence until their burst Of rage had
blown. you've arranged your mar
riage." he said at length. "Now pull
It."
my Cousins ready to marry me,
and she's goin' to do it tonight" cried
Gale violently.
Duke, towering with rage, looked
at De Spain and pointed to the hall
door. "You hear that! Get out Of
my house!" he cried, launching a:
vicious epithet with the words.
"This isn't your house," retorted De
Spain angrily. "This house is Mans,
not yours. When she orders me out,
I'll 60. Bring her down." he thun-
dered, raising his voice to shut off
Duke, who had redoubled his abuse.
''Bring her into this room," he re-
peated. well see whether she wants
to get married. If she does, I'll marry
her. If she doesn't, and you've been
putting this up to force her into marry
ing, so help me God, you'll be carried
out Of this room tonight, or will"
He whirled on her uncle with an accus-
ing finger. "You used to be a man,
Duke. I've taken from you here to-
night what would take from no man
on earth but for the sake of Nan Nor
gan. She asked me never to touch you.
But If you've gone into this tlAdg 70
trap your own flesh and blood, your
dead brothers girl, living under your
own protection, you don't deserve
mercy, and tonight you shall have
what's coming to you. I've fought you
both fair, too fair. Now-before
leave-it's my girl or both of YOU"
He was standing near Druel. With
out taking his eyes off the other man,
he caught Druel with his left hand by
the coat collar, and threw him half
way across the room. "Get upstairs,
you old carrion, and tell Nan Morgan
Henry de Spain is here to talk to her."
Druel, frightened to death, scrambled
into the hall. He turned on De Spain.
I'm an officer of the law. 1 arrest
you for trespass and assault" he
shouted, shaking with fear.
ARREST me?" echoed De Spain con-
temptuously. "You scoundrel, if you
don't climb those stairs, I'll send you
to the penitentiary the day 1 get back
to town. Upstairs with your message! !"
ut isn't necessary" said low voice
in the hall, and with the words Nan
appeared in the open doorway. Hcy
face was white. but there was no sfgr
Of haste or panic in it; De Spain
choked back breath; to him she hat;
never looked in her silence so awe
inspiring.
He addressed her, holding his left
hand out with his plea. "Nan," he
said, controlling his voice, "these men
were getting ready to marry YOU to
Gale Morgan. No matter how you feel
toward me, you know me VIII enough
to know that all l want is the truth:
Was this With your cOnsent!"
+ She stepped into the line of fire be.
tween her cousin and De Spain as she
answered.: "No. You know I shall
never marry any man but you. This
vile bully'-she turned little to look
at her angry cousin-"has Influenced
Uncle Duke-who never before tried
to prosecute or betray me-into joining
him in this thing. They neve' could
have dragged me into it alive. And
they've kept me locked up for three
days In a room upstairs, hoping to
break me down.
'Etand back, Man."
If De Spain's words of warning
strtsck her with terror of a situation
she could not control, she did not re-
venl it. "NO," she said resoIutely. III
anybody here is to lie shot, I'll he first,
Uncle Duke, you have always protect
ed me from Gale Morgan; now you join
hands with him. You drive me from
this roof because l don't know how /