The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-05-12

sAC uhAAhui, uHu hAS cye Sou6ns snS ~
ure Of the rider.
De Spain stepped out Of the trees
and, moving toward Nan. caught heI
hand and helped her to the ground.
She enjoined silence, and led the
horse into the little grove. Stopping
well within it. she stopped and be
gan rcarrangng the muhiers on the
hoofs.
I'm afraid Tn too late" she said
"How long have you been hereT She
faced De Spain with one hand on the
popy's shoulder.
did you have any falls?"
"You see I'm here. You'll How
could you get here at all with horseT
'They are hiding on both trails ont
side watching for you-and the moon
viii be up" She seemed very anxious
De Spain made light Of her fears. I'll
get past them-Fve got to, Nan. DOM
give It thought"
| II don't know what you'll think OF
me-" He heard the troubled note
| in her voice. ~.
Wnat 10 you meanF
She began to unbutton her jacket
Throwing back the revers, she felt
inside around her waist, unfastened
after moment and drew forth leath.
ern strap. She laid 1t in De SPANS
hands. This is yours" she said in a
whisper.
He felt 1t questioningly, hurriedly
then with amazement. "Not car
fridge belt ~ he exclaimed.
tits your own"
"Where-?" She made no answer
"Where did you get it, Nan?' he whis.
pered hurriedly.
"Where you left it."
"How?' She was silent. "Whenr
Tonight"
"Haye you been to Calabasas and
back tonight?"
Everybody but Sassoon is in the
chase" she replied uneasily-as If not
knowing what to say. or how to say it
"They said you should never leave
the gap alive-they are ready with
traps everywhere. didn't know what
to do. l couldn't bear-after what
you did for me tonight-to think OF
your being shot down like q dog, when
you were only trying to get away"
II wouldn't have had you take q
ride like that for forty belts!">
"McAlpln showed 1t to me the last
time l was at the stage barn, hanging
where you left it." He strapped the
cartridges around him.
"You should never have taken that
ride for 1t. But sinca go. s--
He had drawn his revolver from hi:
waistband. He broke ii now and held
it out. Load 1t for me, Nan"
"What do you mean"
"Put four more cartridges in II your
self. Except for your cartridge, the
gun is empty. When you do that you
will know none of them ever will bt
used against your own except to pro
tect my life. And II you have any
among them whose life ought to come
ahead of mine-name him, or them
now. Do Gs / tell you-load the gum
He took hold of her hands and, 10
spite of her refusal, made her do his
will. He guided her hand to draw the
cartridges, one after another, from his
belt, and waited for her to slip them
in the darkness into the empty cyl
Under, to close the breech, and hand
the gun back.
Now, Man," he said, you know me
You may have doubts-they will all
die. You will hear many stories about
me-but you will say: L put the car
tridges. in his revolver with my OWL
hands, and know he won't abuse the
means of defense l gave him myself
There can never be any real doubts
or Misunderstanding between us
again, Man." He waited for her to
speak, but she remained silent.
"You have given me my life, my de.
fense," he continued, passing from O
subject that he perceived was better
left untouched. "Who is nearest and
dearest to you at homer"
my Uncle Duke"
"Then I never will raise hand
| agalnSt your uncle Duke. And this
man, tonight-thls cousin-Gale? Nan
what is that manT
II hate him."
THANK God! So do Ip
'But he is q cousin"
"Then suppose he must be one OF
mine"
UNLESS he tries to kill you"
HE won't be very long in trying
that. And now, what about yourself
What have you got to defend yourself
against him, and against every othel
drunken manT
She laid her own pistol without ,
word In De SPANS hand. He felt II
opened, closed, and give 1t back
THAT'S a good defender-when It's /,
reach. When it's at home it's O poo
one"
1T will never be at home again ex
ccpt when / am"
"Shall tell you a secretr'
what Is itr asked Nan unsuspect
ingly.
"We are engaged to be married.
She sprang from him like deer. "It'