Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-19

more or less Ntlltu, 10 NihltcNcT run
ming comment McAlpin had to offer
concerning the Calahasas fight. And
/ was sorry to see Gale mixed up in it,"
he concluded, in his effort to draw Nan
out, "sorry. And sorrier 10 think OF
Henry Dc Spain getting killed that
way. Some say" he suggested, look /
ing significantly toward the door OF |
the barn, and significantly away again,
"thnt Henry went down there to pick q I
fight with the boys. But" he asserted
graphically, 81 happen to know that
wasn't So"
"Then what did he 90 down there
for!" demanded Nan Indignantly, but
not warly.
licAlpin, the situation now in hand,
took his time TO it. He leaned forward
in manner calculated TO invite conf
dence without giving OtfenSe. Miss
Nam said he simply, "l!enry de Spain
was here, with me, sitting right there
where You are sitting, in that chair,
not fifteen minutes before that fight
began. lold you he never went down
there to fight DO you want the proof?
I II! tell you'll wouldn't want anybody
else to know-will you keep it?''
/ Nan seemed indifferent. "Girls are
not supposed to keep secrets she said
obstinately.
Her narrator was not to be baked.
He pointed to the coat-rack on the
wall in front of them both. "There Is
Henry de SPANS coat. He hung 1t
there just before he went down to the
inn. Under it, if you look you'll find
his belt of cartridges. Don't take my
word--look for yourself"
Giving this information time to sink
in, McAlpin continued. Mans eyes had
turned, despite her indifference, to the
coat; but she was thinking more in
tcntly about the belt which McAlpin
asserted hung under IT, you want to
know what he did 20 down to the hotel
for that afternoon? happen to know
that. too" averred McApin, sitting
down, but respectfully. on the edge Of
The chair. "First / want to say this:
worked for your Uncle Duke five
years.
He paused to give Nan chance to
dispute the statement if she so desired.
Then. taking her dospairing silence as
IN Endorsement of his position in Civ
Ing her IA confidence he went on
"Ilenry de Spain is dead" he said qui
city. She eyed him without so much
as winking Il wouldn't tell it, if he
wasn't The boys dead. And he was
always talking about you. It's Gods
truth, and since he's dead it harms no
one to tell it to you, though I'd never
breathe it to another. He was fairly
gone on you.
you don't have to knock me down,
Miss Nan, to put me wise about a
mans being keen on girl. I'm mar
ricd man. declared McAlpin with
modest pride. "lIc thought all the
tlmc he was fooling me, and keeping;
covered. Now, that afternoon he cailp
III bNiN hIiIN Va iA1b'ts' 1t N't' an t'i
nivcrsary for him, and hard one-thc
day his father was shot from aim
buSh-a good many years ago, but
nary one Of US had forgot it. Then
he happened to see your pony-thiS
same pony you're riding today-a.
standing back there in the boX-stall
He asked me whose it was; and he
asked me about you. and, by jinx. the
!. way he perkcd up when | told him
you were coming in on the stage that
afternoon! When he heard you'd beer
}. sick, he was for going down to the
hotel to get cup Of collector your
McAlpin, like any good story-tcler
, was already on his feet again. "llt
did it." he exclaimed "and you know
what he got when he stepped into the
barroom." He took hold of De Spain,
coat and held it aside to enter hi,
, exhibit. "Thcre," he concluded, 81!
, lis car1ridge belt, hanging there yet
= The boy is dead-why shouldn't l tel
: your
Y Nan rode home much more excited
= more bewldercd than when she In,
A ridden over. Strangest shock of al
that this man of all other men shoul,
Y profess to care for her. She hat
D shown anger when McAlpin daret
t speak Of it; at least, she thought sh
: had. And she still did not Know hoy
: sufficiently to resent the thought o
p such audacity on De SPANS part
e This was, to say the least, furthe
g awkward complication for her feelings
She already had enough to confus
It them.
d GRO nE CONTlNuFDl