Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-04-13

II don't believe either OF you de-
clared Nan Scornfully. You are plan
ming something underhand together"
De Spain laughed coolly. We've
planned that much together. but not,
assure you. with his consent"
81 don't believe your stories at ALL"
she declared firmly.
De Spain flushed. The irritation and
the serious danger bore in on him. IF
you don't believe me it's not my fault"
he retorted. I've told you the truth.
Ride on, Sassoon."
He spoke angrily, but this in no
wise daunted Nan. She wheeled her
horse directly in front of them. Don't
you stir, SasSoon." she commanded.
until call Uncle Duke"
De Spain spurred straight at her:
their horses collided, and his knee
touched hers in the saddle. I'm go
ing TO take this man out OF here" he
announced in a tone she never had
heard before from a man. I've no
time to talk. Go call your uncle If you
like. We must pass"
~ on Shant pass Step!
With the quick words of defiance the
two glared at each other. De Spain
was taken aback. He had expected no
more than war of wordS-a few
screams at the most. Mans face
turned white, but there was no Symp-
tom even of a whimper. He noticed
her quick breathing, and felt, instinc-
lively, the restrained gesture OF her
right hand as it started back to her
side. The move steadied him. "One
question: he said bluntly, ARE you
armedT
She hated even to answer and met
his searching gaze resentfully, but
something in his tone and manner
wrung a reply. 81 can defend myself"
she exclaimed angrlly.
De Spain raised his right hand from
his thigh TO the pOmmel of his saddle.
The slight gesture was eloquent OF his
surrender Of the issue of force. i
can't go into a shooting match with
you about this cur. If you call your
uncle there will be blOodshed-unless
you drop me off my horse right here
and now before he appears. All / ask
you is this: Is this kind of cut
throat worth that? If you shoot me,
my whole posse from Sleepy Cat is
right below us in the aspens. Some
of your own people Will be killed in a
general fight. If you want to shoot me,
shoOt-yOu can have the match all 10
yourself. II you don't. let us 20 by.
And if I've told you one word that isn't
true. call me back to this spot any time
you like, and I'll come at your call, and
answer for it,
His words and his manner confound-
ed her for moment. She could not at
once make an answer, for she could not
decide what to say. Then. of a sud
den, she was robbed of her chance TO
answer. From down the trail came
yell like shot. The clatter of hoofs
rang out, and men on horses dashed
from the entrance of the gap toward
them. De Spain could not make out
distinctly, but he knew Lefever's yell,
and pointed. There they are he
exclaimed hurriedly. There is the
whole posse. They are comingw A
shot, followed closely by second. rang
out from below. go" he cried to
Nan. "Therell be shooting here that
l can't stopl" He slapped Sassoon's
pony viciously with his hand, spurred
past her himself, and was away. White
with cOnster alton and anger, she !
steadied herself and looked after the |
fleeing pair. Then whirling In her sad |
die, she ran her pony back to the /
ranch-house to give the alarm.
Yelling like half a dozen men. Lee
fever and Scott, as De Spain and his |
prisoner. dashed toward them, sep
arated, let the pair pass, and spurred |
in behind TO cover the flight and con-
front any pursuerS. None ut the mo-
ment threatened, but no words were
exchanged until the whole party, riding
fast, were well past FL Captain and
out of the gap. For some uncx-
pressed reasOn--sO strong is the inilu-
ence Of tradition and repUtatIon--no
one of the three coveted a close en-
counter with the Morgans within its
walls.
Its the long heels for # now, boys"
cried De Spain. His companions closed
up again.
Save your horses cautioned Scott.
between strides IT'S a good ways
home"
MAKE for Calabasas," shouted Lee
fever.
mo" yelled Scott. "They would
stand us n siege at Caabasas. While /
the trail is open make for the rail- |
road"
A great globe Of dazzling gold burst 1
into the east above the distant hills. /
But the glory OF the sunrise called |
forth no admiration from the three !
men hurrying a fourth urgently along |
the Sleepy Cat trail. Between breaths |
De Spain explained his awkward meet !
ing with Nan, and of the strait he was
in when Lefever's strong lungs enabled
HI &ra r