Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-07
CHAPTER XIII.
A Surprising Slip.

- CNt p'ioiH9 Si'P.
Scott was called By Lefever to con-
clude in secret the final arrangements.
The ground about the quaking asp
grove, and nearest III Captain, afford
ed the best coucealment close to the
gap. And to this point Scott was d.
rected to bring what men he could be-
fore daybreak the following morning.
/ ''It'S short notice to get many
men together--of the kind we want"
admitted Lefever You'll have to
I skirmish some between now and mid
night What do you think you can
4 ,lo?"
4 Scott had already made up tenta-
/ tive list. He named four-first Far
i rell Kennedy. who was in town, ana
said nobody should 20 If he didn't;
Frank Elpaso. the Texan; the English
man. Tommy Meggeson; and Wick
wire. If he could be located--any one
Of them, I.efcver knew. could give an
account Of himself under ail crcum-
! stances.
\ While Scott was getting his men to-
gether, De Spain, accompanied by Lee
fever, was riding toward Music noun
i tain. Scott had urged ON them but
one parting caution--nOt to leave the
nspens until rain began falling. When
he spoke there was not n cloud in the
sky. Its going to rain tonight. just
the same" predicted Scott. Don't
leave the trees till it gets going. Those
gap scouts will get under cover and
be hunting for a drink the minute it
gets cold know them. You can ride
right over their toes, If youll be pa
tent"
The sun set across the range in Il
a.;,;;et of grayis'.-b,aCn, low-,yins
clouds, which seemed only to await its
disappearance 10 envelop the noun
tains and empty their moisture on tie
desert BY the time De Spain and Lc-
fever reached the end Of their long
ride n misty rain was drifting down
from The west. The two men had just
ridden into the quuEing asps when 3
man coming out of the gap almost
rode into them. The intruders had
halted and were sufficiently hidden to
escape notice, had not Lefever'S horse
indiscreetly coughed The man from
the gap reined up and called out. lie.
fever answered.
ITS Bull Page" declared De Spain
after the exchange of Il few words
calling to Bull ut, the same time tC
come over to the shelter of the trees
"What's going on in there BullY
asked De Spain after Bull had told
him that Gale had driven him out, and
he was heading for Calabasas.
You tell" retorted Page. Looks
, to me like old Dukes getting ready
to die. Gale says he's going to draw
his viii tonight and don't want no
. body around--got old Judge Drue il
. there"
De Spain pricked up his ears
whats that. Drue?" he demanded
Bull repeated his declaration. Lefe
: YER broke into violent language at tht
Sleepy Cat iurist'S expense. and ended
! by declaring that no Will should BE-
: drawn in the gap that night by Duke
/, Morgan or anybody else, unless III
! and Bull were made legatees.
! Beyond this nothing could b.
: learned from Bull, who was persuad
! cd without difficulty by Lefever t
. abandon the idea Of riding to Calnba
sas through the rain, and to spent
!. the night with him in the neighbor
!. hood, wherever fancy, the rain, ant
: the w.nd--which was rising sho'llt
/. dictate.
! While the two were talking, d,
:, Spain tried to slip away, unobservet
, by Eefever on hts GRAND. He failed
: as he expected to, and after some fl
miliar abuse, rode OF alone. fortifie
D by every possible suggestion at tn
q hands of man to whom the slightes
n precautiMn was usually a Joke.
u DE Spain reached Dukes ranch uf
challenged. Night had fallen every
q where, and the increasing rain o.
o scurcd even the outline Of the HOUSE
But Il light shone through one uncul
Is tanned window. He waited some TIN
for Il sound of life, for II door to one
a or close, or for the dog to bark--h
n heard nothing. Slipping out of tn
II wet saddle. he led his horse In tn
darkness under the shelter of the ion
70 pine tree and, securing him, Wake
slowly toward the house.