The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-06-21


utes' talkf' continued the man coolly.
"Not unless you have something very
important"
"what have is more important to
you than to me-"
De Spain took an instant 10 decide.
"AI right" he said impatiently; "come
along Only" he paused TO let the
word sink In. If this Is a rame you're
springing-"
I'm Springing no game" returned
the man evenly.
"Come along then. I'll tell you just
how to get here. Do you heafT'
I'm listening"
Leave Main street at Rancherlo
street. Follow RancLerio north four
blocks turn west lzto Grant avenue.
Mr.. Jeffries' house is on the cUfncr.
"TiI End It."
"Don't come any other way. II you
DO. you won't see me-"
'I'm not afraid Of you, Mr.. Dc Spain,
and III come as you say. There's only
one thing I should Ike 10 ask. II would
be as much as my life is worth 20 be
seen talking 70 you. And there are
other good reasons why I shouldn't
Ike TO have It known l had talked To
you. Would sou mind putting out the
lights before come up-I mean, in the
front Of the house and in the room
where we talkT'
Not in the least. / mean-I am al
ways willing TO take chance against
any other mans. But / warn you.
come prepared TO take care Of your
self"
"If you will do as 1 ask, no harm
will come to anyone"
De Spain heard the receiver hung
up at the other end Of the wire. He
sigualed the operator hastily and got
hold.of Bob Scott. To him he explained
rapidly what had occurred, and what
he wanted. "Get up to Grant and Ran
cherio, Bob. as quick as the Lori viii
let you. Come by the back streets.
There's a high mulberry hedge at the
southwest corner you can get behini
This chap may have been talking foI
somebody else. Anyway. look the man
over when he passes under the arc
/ light. II it is Sassoon or Gale Morgan.
come into Jeffries' house by the rear
door. Wait in the kitchen FOR my call
from the living room, or shot. I'll
arrange for your getting in
Leaving the telephone, De Spain re-
Joined Nan in the living room. lie told
her briefly of the expected visit and
explained, laughingly, that his caller
had asked to have the lights out and to
see him alone. He made so little Of
the incident that Nan walked up the
stairs on De Spain's arm reassured
When he kissed her at her room door
and turned down the stairs again, she
/ leaned in the half-light over the b,inis-
I ter, waving one hand at him and mur-
muring the last caution: BE careful,
Henry, won't youf"
"Dearie, I'm always careful"
"'Cause you're all I've got now," she
whispered.
You're all I've got. Nan, girl"
81 haven't got any home-or any
| thing-just you. Don't go to the door
/ yourself. Leave the front door open
/ Stand behind the end of the piano TIL
you are awfully sure who IT is"
"What head Nanw
/ De spain cut of the lights, threw
open the front door, and in the dark
ness sat down on the piano STOOL \
heavy step on the porch, a little Will,
later, was followed by a knock ON the
open door.
Come inw called De Spain roughly
The bulk of large man filed and oh
scured for an instant the opening
then the visitor stepped carefully ovel
the threshold. "What DO you want?'
asked De Spain without changing hi,
tone. He awaited with keenness III,
sound Of the answer.
as Henry de Spain heref'
The voice was not familiar 10 D,
4 Spain's ear. He told himself the mar
was unknown to him. 81 am HenE,
de Spain" he returned without heslta
ton. "Wh0t do you want?" /.
The visitors deliberation was reflect
ed in his measured speaking. II an
from Thief River" he began, and hi
reNerDeraung voice was low and dis
tinct. II was sent in 10 Morgan's gaI
some time ago TO ind out who burne,
the Calabasas barn"
"And you report TOP
"Kennedy."
De Spain paused. A fresh convic
ton had flashed across his mind. "Yol
called me up on the telephone one nigh
last week." he said suddenly.
The answer came without evasion
II did"
"You gave me a message from Nal
Morgan that she never gave you"
Il did. / thought she needed yo,
right of. She didn't know me as
rightly am. knew what was going or
rode into town that evening and rod
out hgain. IL was not my business, an,
| couldn't let II interfere with the busl
ness I'm paid to look after. That's tn