Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-06-15

Drown 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 obstinate
silence until their burst of rage had
blown. you've arranged your mar
fiage," he said ut length. Now pull
It,"
MY cousins ready to marry me,
and she's gon' to do 1t 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 u
vicious epithet with the words.
"This isn't your house" retorted De
Spain angrily This house is Mans,
not yours, When she orders me ont
I'll go. Bring her down. he thun.
dered, raising his voice TO shut of
Duke, who had redoubed his abuse.
bring her into this ROOM" he re-
peated. We'll see whether she wants
to get married. II She does, I'll marry
her. II 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 uccus.
Ing finger. You used 10 be u 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 HE never to touch you.
But If you've gone into this thing to
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-lts 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 tulk to her"
Druel, frightened TO death, scrambled
into the hall. He turned on De Spain.
"Pm an officer OF the law. arrest
you for trespass and assault" he
shouted, shaking with fear.
'~Arrest mei" echoed Dc Spain con.
temptuously. you scoundrel, If YOU
don't climb those stairs, I'll send you
to the penitentiary the day get back
to town. Upstairs with your message!"
at isn't necessary" said low voice
In the hall, and with the words Nan
appeared in the open doorway. Her
face was white but there was no sign
of haste or panic In 1t; De Spain
,choked back BREATH TO him she had
never looked In her silence so ave
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 wen enough
to know that all | want is the truth:
Was this with your consent?n
She stepped into the line of fire be-
tween her cousin and De Spain as she ,
answered; "No. You know | shall
never marry any man but you. This
vile bully"-she turned little to look
lat her angry cousin-"has influenced
Uncle Duke-who never before tried
to prosecute or betray me-into joining
him In this thing. They never 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."
"Stand back, Nan"
If De SPANS words Of warning
struck her with terror Of situation i
she could not control, she did not re- !
veal 1t. mo" she said resolutely. IF !,
anybody here is to be shot, I'll be 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 | !
can protect myself under It,"
Gale looked steadily at her. You .,
promised TO marry me-" he muttered :,
truculently. "Ill find a way to make
you keep your word" !
A loud knocking interrupted him, :. :,
and. without waiting to be admitted, =
Pardaloe, the cowboy. opened the front !,
toor and stalked boldly in from the =
hall. !,
II the situation In the room surprised II
him, he gave no evidence of 1t. And
Is he walked In Nan disappeared Par .
ialoe was drenched with rain, and, TAX .
ng OF his hat as he crossed the room q
% the fire. he shook II hard into the +
,lasing wood.
what DO you want, Pardaloe?"
mapped Duke
Pardaloe shook his hat once more Y
md TUNED q few steps so that be stood Y,
,etween the uncurtalned window and W
he light. "The creeks up" he said
o Duke In his peculiarly slow, steady
one. "Some of Salts boys are trying D
o get the cattle out of the lower cor b,
al" He fingered his hat, looked first
I Duke, then at Gale, then at De W
pain. "Guess they'll need little ! b,
elp, 90 asked Sassoon to come m
verN-r Pardaloe jerked his head In a
icatvely toward the front. Hes out re
lde with some of the boys now" F.
Tell Sassoon to come In herew Ii,
numbered Gale. pl
De SPANS left arm shot out. Hold si
q, Pardaloe; pull down that curtain SC
ehind youl" to
"Don't touch that crutain. Parda- pc
leis shouted Gale Morgan. ia