The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-05-17
CHAPTER xv-continued.

Calabasas that day De Spain had act
ed. When he left Bull at the bridge
he started for Calabasas, took supper
there, ordered a saddle horse for one
o'clock in the morning went to his
room, slept soundly, and, shortly after
he was called, started for Music noun
tain. He walked his horse into the gar
and rode straight for Duke MOrgan's
fortress. Leaving the horse under a
heavy mountain pine close to the road
De Spain walked carefully but directly
around the house to the east side. The
sky was cloudy and the darkness al
most complete. He made his way as
close as he could to Mans window, and
raised the soft, grooming note of the
desert owl.
After while he was able to distin-
guish the outline of her easement, and,
with much patience and some little
skill remaining from the boyhood days,
he kept up the faint call. Down at the
big barn the chained watchdog tore
himself with a fury of barking at the
intruder, but mountain lions were COM
mon in the gap, and the noisy sentinel
gained no credit for his alarm. In
deed, when the dog slackened his
ferceness, De Spain threw a stone over
his way to encourage a fresh outburst.
But neither the guardian nor the in
truder was able to arouse anyone
within the house.
Undeterred by his failure, De Spain
held his ground as long as he dared
When daybreak threatened, he with
drew The following night he was in
the gap earlier and with renewed de-
termination. He tossed pebble into
Mans open window and renewed his
soft call. Soon a light flickered for an
instant within the room and died out.
In the darkness following this, De
Spain thought he discerned a figure
outlined at the easement. Some min
utes later a door opened and closed.
He repeated the cry of the owl, and
could hear a footstep; the next mo-
ment he whispered her name as she
stood before him.
What is it you want?" she asked,
so calmly that it upset him. "Why do
you come here"
Where he stood he was afraid of the
sound of her voice, and afraid of his
own. "To see you" he said, collecting
himself. Come over to the pine tree"
Under its heavy branches, where the
darkness was most intense, he told her
why he had come-because he could
not see her anywhere outside.
There is nothing to see me about"
she responded. still calm. 81 helped
you because you were wounded. l
was glad TO see you get away without
fghting-I hate blOodshed."
But put yourself in my place a
little, won't you? After what you did
for me, isn't it natural I should want
to be sure you are well and not in any
trouble on my accountY
at may be natural, but it isn't nee
essary. l am in no trouble. No one
here knows even know you"
Excuse me for coming, then. /
couldn't rest, Nan. without knowing
l was here last night"
Il know you were"
He started. you made no sign"
why should I? l suspected it was
you. When you came again tonight |
knew l should have to speak to you !
ut least. TO ask you not to come again"
"But you will be in and out of town
sometimes, won't you, Nan?"
If l am, it will not be to talk with /
you"
The words were spoken deliberately. 4
De Spain was silent for u moment.
Not even to speak to me?" he asked.
You must know the position l am
H." she answered. And what a po-
;ition you place me in if l am seen TO
speak to you. This is my home. You
ire the enemy of my people"
mot because l want To be-
Aud you can't expect them not to
'esent any acquaintance on my part
With you
He paused before continuing. DO
'ou count Gale Morgan us one Of your
,eople?" he asked evenly.
II suppose l must"
Don't you think you ought to count
II of your friends, your well-wishers. I
hose who would defend you with their
ives, among your people?" She made
% answer. Aren't they the kind of
eople," he persisted, "you need when
on are in trouble?' II
you needn't remind me l should be !
rateful TO YOU"
Nan ~ he exclaimed.
For am" she continued. unmoyed {
But" s
TITS a shame to accuse me in that
'ay."
you were thinking when you smoke 5
( what happened with Gale on Music {
fountain"
81 wish to God you and | were on
Iusic mountain again. | never lived {
r did anything worth living for. till {
ou came to me that day on Music
Iountain It's true l was thinking Of z
hat happened when l spoke--but not b
remind you you owed anything TO n
e. You don't; get that out Of your II
cad"
II dc. though" IN
81 SPOKE in the way l did because 1 f
anted to remind you Of what might o
ippen some time when I'm not near" d
an a., ,,noht ,ff v,.,s ] 4