Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-04-13

"She amt really fit to ride STEP"
confided the Scotch boss with growing
confidence. But she's been going up
two or three times now to get some
medicine from Doc TOrpy-that's the
way of it. There's a nice girl, sir
in bunch O. ruffians, | knOw-thOugh
old Duke, she lives with, he amt a
half-bad man except for too many
cards. / used to work for him-but
I call her a nice girl. Do you happen
to know herY'
De Spain had long been on guard.
"Tve spoken with her in business
way once or twice. I can't really say
I know her. Anything sick, Jim?"
asked De Spain, walking on down the
barn and looking at the horses. 1t was
only the second time since he had
given him the job that De Spain had
called the barn boss "Jim," and Nc
Alpin answered with the rising assur-
ance of one who realizes he is sin"
right. ''Not so much as a sore hoof in
either alley, Mr.. De Spain. 1 try to
take care of them, sir"
"What are we paying you, Jim?"
"Twenty-seven week, sir; pretty
heavy work at that"
"We'll try to make it thirty-two after
this week."
McAlpin touched his cap. "Thank
you kindly, sir, I'm sure, 1t comes
high to live out here, Mr.. de Spain"
"What did you say" asked De Spain
indifferently, had been the matter with
Nan Morgan" Her name seemed Il
whole mouthful to speak, so fearful
was he of betraying interest.
| "Why, really didn't say, sir. And
| l don't know. But from what she says,
and the way she coughs, I'm thinking
it was a touch of this pneumonia
that's going around so much lately,
sir"
| His listener had already made all
arrangements to meet the occasion now
presenting itself. Circumstances
seemed at last to favor him, and he
looked at his watch. The down stage
bringing Nan back would be due in
less than an hour.
"Jim," he said thoughtfully, "you
are doing the right thing in showing
some goodwill toward the Morgans.'
"NOw, I'm glad you think that, sir.
"You know l Internationally rubbed
their backs the wrong way in dragging
SassoOn out"
"They're jealous of their power, ]
know-very jealous"
"This seems the chance to show that
] have no real animosity myself toward
the outfit"
Since De Spain was not looking at
him, McAlpin cooked two keen and
curious eyes on the sphinXlike birth
mark of the very amiable speaker
face. However, the astute boss, if he
wondered, made no comment. "WheE
the stage comes in," continued De
Spain quietly, "have the two grays-
Lady and Ben-hitched to my OWL
gap myself"
'The very thing" exclaimed Meal
pin, staring and struggling with his
breath.
"In some way I've happened, bott
times I talked with her, to get II
wrong-understand McAlpin, will
clearing wits, nodded more than once
mo fault of mine; it just happened
so. And she may not at first take
kindly to the idea of going with me.
81 see."
'But she ought to do it. She viii
be tired-it's long, dusty ride for {
, well woman, let alone one that ha!
been ILL.,"
$50 it is, so it isl"
+ De Spain looked now shamelessly a
his ready-witted aid. "See that he
pony is lame when she gets here
can't be ridden. But you'll take goot
care of him and send him home il
a few days-get it?"
McAlpin half closed his eyes. "He'l
be so lame it would stagger cowbo,
to back him ten feet-and never b,
hurt mite, neither. Trust mel"
'If she insists on riding something
or even walking home" continued d,
Spain obviously, for he felt instinc
lively that he should have the task O
his life to induce Nan to accept an,
kind of peace-offering, 'Tll ride O
walk with her anyway. Can you sleel
me here tonight, on the hay?"
"Sleep you on hair mattress, sir
| You've got room right here upstairs
/ didn't you know that?"
| With arrangements so begun, D.
Spain walked out Of doors and LOOKED
reflectively up the Sleepy Cat road
One further refinement in his appea
| for Mans favor suggested ITSELF Sh
would be hungry, possibly faint in tn
heat and dust, when she arrived. IL
| returned to McAlpin: "Where can
get a good cup of coffee when tn
stage comes in?"
"Go right down to the inn, sir. It.
} new chap running tia half-witte,
man from Texas. My wife is cookin
there off and on. She'll fix you up
:. sandwich and cup Of good coffee"
a II was four nicIock and tho cun bao