The Jasper news., 1917-05-10
, lhis neod down till he curled like a

DIOWu SyCh hhu thc Duihih luIts
What they might mean in this little
room, which De Spain was crossing
step by step, was food for thought.
Nor did De Spain break his obstinate
silence until their burst of rage had
blown. you've arranged your mar
riage," he said at length. Nov pull
It,"
My cousins ready to marry me,
and she's goln' to do It tonight" cried
Gale violently.
Duke. towering with rage, looked
at De Spain and pointed to the hall
dooi You hear that Get out of
my house II" he cried, launching a
vicious epithet with the words.
"Thls isn't your house." retorted De
Spain angrily. "This house is Nan's,
not yours. When she orders me out.
III go. Bring her down." he thun-
dered, raising his voice to shut Off
Duke, who had redoubled his abuse.
! "Bring her into this room," he re-
peated. "We'll see whether she wants
to get married. If she does, I'll marry
her. If she doesn't, and you've been
putting this up to force her into marry
ing, so help me God, you'll be carried
out of this room tonight, or I will"
He whirled on her uncle with an accus-
ing finger. "You used 10 be a man,
Duke. I've taken from you here to-
night what l would take from no man
on earth but for the sake of Nan Nor
gan. She asked me never to touch you.
But If you've gone into this thing to
trap your own flesh and blood, your
dead brothers girl, living under your
own protection, you don't deserve
mercy, and tonight you shall have
what's coming to you. I've fought you
both fair. too fair. Now--before /
leave-it's my girl or both Of you"
He was standing near Druel. With
out taking his eyes off the other man,
he caught Druel with his left hand by
the coat collar, and threw him half
way across the room. Get upstairs,
you old carrlon, and tell Nan Morgan
Henry de Spain is here to talk to her"
Druel, frightened to death, scrambled
into the hall. He turned on De Spain.
"I'm an officer of the law. arrest
you for trespass and assault" he
shouted, shaking with fear
ARREST me?" echoed De Spain con-
temptuously. "You scoundrel, If you
don't climb those stairs, I'll send you
TO the penitentiary the day l get back
to town. Upstairs with your message I"
ut isn't necessary" said low voice
in the hall, and with the words Nan
appeared in the open doorway. Her
face was white, but there was no sign
of haste or panic in it; De Spain
choked back q breath; to him she had
never looked in her silence so awe.
inspiring.
He addressed her, holding his left
hand out with his plea. "Nan," he
said, controlling his voice, "these men
were getting ready to marry you to
Gale Morgan. No matter how you feel
toward me, you know me we'll enough
to know that all ! want Is the truth :
Was this with your consent?"
She stepped into the line of fire be-
tween her cousin and De Spain as she
answered: "No. You know / shall
never marry any man but you. This
: vile bully"-she turned little to look
, at her angry cousin-"has influenced
Uncle Duke-who never before tried
to persecute or betray me-into joining
him In this thing. They never could
have dragged me into 1t alive. AnG
they've kept me locked up for three
e days in n room upstairs, hoping tt
break me down."
e "Stand back, Nan"
= If De Spain's words of warning
|. struck her with terror of a situation
: she could not control, she did not re
veal it. mo" she said resolutely. IL
!. anybody here Is to be shot, I'll be first
t Uncle Duke, you have always protect
g ed me from Gale Morgan; now you joiI
hands with him. You drive me from
e this roof because l don't know how
l. can protect myself under it."
t Gale looked steadily at her. "Yo,
promised to marry me-" he mutteret
s truculently. 'Ill find way to maxi
/, you keep your word"
It A loud knocking interrupted him
IS and, without waiting to be admitted
5, Pardaloe, the cowboy, opened the from
l. door and stalked boldly In from tn
e hall.
8, If the situation In the room surprises
r him, he gave no evidence of 1t. An
D. as he walked In Nan disappeared. Par
l. daloe was drenched with rain, and, tax
e ing off his hat as he crossed the roor
t, to the fire, he shook IL hard into tn
10 blazing wood.
Ie "What do you want. Pardaloe