Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-03
Nan ST
Music
Mountain
By
FRANK H. SPEARMAN
Author Of WHISPERING SMITH
sCopyriFht by ChszJes scFsAuArs Sons,

The day after she had mentioned
Black Cap to her lover, Nan rode over
to Calabasas to get a bride mended.
Galloping back, she encountered Sas-
soon just inside the gap. Nan so
detested him that she never spoke
when she could avoid it. On his part,
he pretended not to see her as she
passed. When she reached home she
found her Uncle Duke and Gale stand
ing in front Of the fireplace IN the liY-
Ing room. The two appeared from
their manner to have been in a heated
discussion, one that had stopped sud
denly on her appearance. Both looked
at Nan. The expression on their faces
forewarned her She threw her quirt
on the table, drew off her riding
gloves, and began to unpin her hat !;
but she knew a storm was impending.
Gale had been made for long time
to know that he was an unwelcOme
visitor, and Mans greeting of him was
the merest contemptuous nod. "WelI,
uncle" she said, glancing at Duke,
'Pm late again. Have you had sup
peru
Duke always spoke curtly; tonight
his heavy voice was as sharp as an
ak. Been late a good deal lately"
Nan laid her hat on the table, and,
CHANGING cOmpOSedly from one suspi-
cious face to the other, put her hands
up to arrange her hair I'm going to
try to do better. I'll go and get my
supper if you've had yours" She
started toward the dining room.
Hold onv Nan paused at her IN
cle's ferocious command. She looked
at him either really or feignedly sur
prised, her expression changing to one
of Indignation, and waited for him to
speak. Since he did no more than
glare angrily a. her, Nan lifted her
brOws little. 'What do you want,
uncle?'
where did you go this afternoon?"
"Over to Calabasas," she answered
innocently.
Who'd you meet there?" Dukes
tone snapped with anger. He was
working himself into a fury, but Nan
saw it must be faced. THE same
people | usually meet-Why?"
did you meet Henry de Spain there
this afternoon"
Nan looked squarely at her cousin
and returned his triumphant express
sion defantly before She turned her
eyes on her uncle. 'sNo," she said col
lectedly. 'Why?"
''See him anywhere else?"
mo, did not. What do you mean?
What" demanded his niece with spirit,
''do you want to know? What are you
trying to find out?"
Duke turned in his rage on Gale!
'There! You hear that-what have
you got to say nOw?' he demanded
with an abusive oath.
Gale jumped forward, his finger
pointed at Nan. Look here, do you
deny you are meeting Henry de Spain
ali over the desert? You met him
down the Sleepy Cat trail near Black
Cap, didn't your"
Nan stood with her back against the
end of the table where her uncle's first
words had stopped her, and she looked
sidewise toward her cousin. In her
answer he heard as much contempt as
girls voice could convey to a re-
1ected lover $50 you've turned sneak !"
Gale roared a string of bad words.
You hire that coyote Sassoon to
spy for you, do you?" demanded Nan
coolly. Aren't you proud of your
manly. relation, uncle?" Duke was
choking with rage. He tried to speak
to her but he could not form his words.
'What is it you want to know. uncle?
Whether it is true that l meet Henry
de Spain? 1t is. | do meet him, and
We're engaged to be married when you
give us permission, Uncle Duke-and
not dlI then"
'"Ihere you have it, cried Gale.
''There's the story. I told you SO.
I've known 1t for a week. tell you"
Mans face set. Not only" continued
her cousin jeeringly, meeting that"
Almost before the vile epithet that
followed had reached her ears, Nan
caught up the whip. Before he could
escape, she cut Gale sharply across the
face. you coward" she cried, trem-
bling SO she could not control her
voice. IF you ever dare use that word
before NE again. I'll horsewhip you.
Go to Henry de SPANS face, you
skulker, and say that if you dare"
Put down that Quirt, Man," yelled
her uncle
II won't, putt down, she exclaimed
defantly. And he will get a good
flashing with it if he says one more
word about Henry de Spain"
Put down that quirt, I tell you,''
Numbered her uncle
She whirIed. Il won't put it down.
This hulking bully! [ know him bet
ter than you do" She pointed quiv-
ering finger at her cousin. He insult
ed me as yilely as he could only a 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 understands" 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 hep
mo, nor you neither" snapped Duke
hoarsely.
Il didn't tell you" retorted Nan, "be-
cause I've been irving to live with YOU