Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-31
CHAPTER XIX.
A Try.out.

Sleepy Cat Is not SO large a plac,
that one would ordinarily have mucf
trouble In finding a man in It If h
searched well. But Duke Morgan
drove Into town next morning and haf
to stay for three days waiting for d
chance to meet Do Spain. Duke was
not man to talk much when he had
anything Of moment to put through
ana he had left home determined, be
fore he came back, to finish for good
with his enemy.
DE Spain himself had been putting
of for weeks every business that would
Dear putting of, and had been forced
at length to run down to Medicine
Bend to buy horses. Nan, after her
uncle left hone--justly apprehensiye
o. bis misunderstanding frantic efforts
70 get word to De Spain of what was
impending. She could not tclcgrnph---
publicity TINT she dreaded would
nave followed at once. De Spain had
expected to be back ln two days. Such
letter as. she could have sent would
not reach him at Medicine Bend.
AS 1t was, distressing amount Of
talk did attend Dukes efforts to get
track Of De Spain. Sleepy Cat had
but one Interpretation for his inqui-
ries--and a fight, II one occurred be-
tween these men, It was conceded
would be historic Ia the annals Of the
town. Its anticipation was food for
az ot the rtimors OF three days OF sus-
peiise. For the town they were three
days Of thrilling expectation; for Nan.
Isolated, without confidant. not
showing what to do or which way to
turn, they We're the three bitteresi
days Of anxiety she had ever known.
Desperate with suspense at the close
OF the second day--wlld for scrap OF
news, yet drcading one--she saddled
her pony and rode alone into Sleepy
Ont after nightfnll to meet the train
on which De Spain had told her he
would return from the east She rode
straight to the hospital, instead Of
going to the livery barn, and leaving
her horse, got supper and walked BY
way OF unfrequented streets downtown
TO the station to wait for the train.
When the big train drew slowly. al. I
most noiselessly, in, Nan took her
place where no incoming passenger
could escape her gaze and waited for
DE Spain. But when all the arrivals
had been accounted for, he had NOT
come.
She turned, heavy-hearted. to walk
back uptown, trying to think of whom
she might seek some information con.
corning De SPANS whereabouts, when
her eye fell on q man standing not
ten feet away ut the door of the bag.
gage ROOM He was alone and seemed
TO be watching the changing of the
engines but Nan thought she knew
aim BY sight. The rather long, straight.
black hair under the broad-brimmed
lat marked the man known and hated
n the gap rs "the Indian" Here, she
'aid to herself, was chance. De
Spain, she recalled, spoke Of no one
'ftener than this man.. lie seemed
Wholly disengaged.
depressing her nervous timldity.
Van walked over to him. "Arent YOU
Ar. Scot?" she asked abruptly.
scott, turning to her. touched his
at as n quite unaware until that mo.
nent of her existence. ibid Mr. de
main yet Off this train?" she asked, IA
cot acknowledged his identity. H
"a guess no didn't come tonight.v |
ian noticed the lmpnssiye manner Of II
y speaking and the low. even tones. |
was Kind of looking for him my, b
plf." n
rs there another train tonight he I
Duld come onY"
\ don't think he will be back now Il
efore tomorrow night" 81
Nun. much disappointed, looked up {,
lie Hue and down. II rode In this Il
fternoon from Music mountain espe. q
nlly to see him. "
Scott, without commenting, smiled II
It'll understanding and encourage kI
en-, and Nun wins so Filed with anxl. IN
y that she welcomed Il chance ID =,
X to somebody "I've often heard b,
III speak OF YOU" she ventured, b,
hrchlng the dirk eyes. ana watching ID,
e'opcn, kindly emile characteristic
the man. Scott put his rIgh. hand
It at his side. "T'vc ridden viii,
Vt hoy since he was SO high" .,