The Jasper news., 1917-05-10
Copyright By Charles 6cribnerS Bons)
CHAPTER XxIIl-Continued.
Observation-Disclosures


uneasy concerning Nan, and was not
to be baked, by any combination, Of
his purpose Of finding her. To secure
information concerning her was not
possible, unless he should enter the
house, and this, with scant hesitation,
he decided to do.
He wore snug-fitting leathern
coat. He unbuttoned this and threw
1t open as he stepped noiselessly up
to the door. Laying his hand on the
knob, he paused, then, finding the
door unlocked, he pushed it slowly
open.
The wind, rushed in, upset his cal
culations and blew open the door lead
ing from the hall into the living room.
A stream Of light in turn shot through
the open door, across the hall. In
stantly De Spain stepped inside and
directly behind the front door-which
he now realized he dare not close
and stood expectant in the darkness.
Gale Morgan, with an impatient ex-
clamation, strobe from the fireplace to
close the front door.
slammed the front door shut, he could
have touched with his hand the man
standing in the shadow behind 1t. DE
Spain, not hoping to escape, stood
with folded arms, but under the ell
bow of his left arm was hidden the
long muzzle of his revolver. Holding
his breath, he waited. Gales mind
was apparently filled with other
things. lie did not suspect the pres
ence of an intruder, and he walked
back into the living room, partly clos
ing the second door. De Spain, fol.
lowing almost on his heels, stepped
past this door, past the hall stairs op-
.posite it. and through Il curtained
opening at the end of the hall into
the dining room. Barely ten feet from
him, this room opened through an
arch into the living room, and where
lie stood he could hear all that was
said.
"Whos there?" demanded Duke
grutlly.
Nobody" said Gale. go on,
Druel."
Druel talked softly and through his
nose: II was only going to say II
would be a good idea to have two wit
nesses."
"Nita." suggested Gale.
Duke was profane. "You couldn't
keep the girl in the room If she had
Mia to help her. And | want it un
derstoOd. Gale. between you and me
fair and square, that Mans goin' tc
live right here With Inc after this mar
ringe till I'm satisfied she's willing
place, now or never"
DE Spain opened his ears. Gall
felt the hard, cold tone of his crust.
relative, and answered with lik
harshness: what do you keep harp
ing on that for? You've got my word
All want of you is to keep yours
understand"
Come, come" interposed Druel
There's no need of hard words. Blu
we need two witnesses. Who's goinl
to be the other witness?"
Before anyone could answer D.
Spain stepped out into the open arch
way before the three men. "Ill nc
as the second Witness" he said.
With common roar the Morgan
bounded to their feet. De Spair
standing slightly sidewise, his Goa
lapels tapped wide open, his arm
akimbO, and his hands on his hip.
faced the three in an attitude of reat
mess only. He had reckoned on tn
instant of indecslon which at time!
when coupled with apprehension, pal
a'SZes the will of two men acting L
gether. Under the circumstances e
ther of the Morgans alone would hav
whipped gun on De Spain at sigh
meant death to the one that took til
first shot from the archway, ench wal
ed for the other; that fraction of
second unsettled their purpose. Ii
stead of bullets, each launched curse
at the intruder, and every second tn,
passed led away from fight.
De Spain took their oaths, demand
and abuse without batting an eye
I'm here for the second witness
was all he repeated, covering bot
men with short glances. Druel, h
face muddily white as the whlsk
bloat deserted it, shrunk inside h
shabby clothes. De Spain with eac
epithet hurled at him took q dreade
step toward Gale, and sDruel, in Il
line ot fire brought his knees up Ill