The Lamar register., 1917-05-09
Nan ST
Music
Mountain
By
FRANK II. SPEARMAN
Author Of WHISPERING SMITH


ing being so near her and happy that
she made no retreat. MY reputa-
tion," he insisted, "has suffered little
In Morgan's gap. 1 mean that at least
one who makes her home under Music
mountain shall know differently of me.
What's that7" He heard sound.
"ListenT
The two, looking at each other,
trained their ears to hear more
through the rush of the falling water.
Someone is coming" said De Spain.
Nan ran lightly to where she could
peep over the ledge. Hardly pauslns
as she glanced down, she stepped
quickly back. "Ill go right on up the
mountain to the azalea fields" she said
hastily.
He nodded. 'Tn hide. Stop. II
you are questioned, you don't know
I'm here. You must say SO for your
own sake, not for mine"
She was gone before he had finished.
De Spain drew quickly back to where
he could secrete himself. In another
moment he heard heavy footsteps
where he had stood with his visitor.
But the footsteps crossed the ledge,
and their sound died away up the
path Nan had taken. Then snatches
Of two voices began 10 reach him. He
could distinguish Mans voice and at
intervals the heavier tones of a man.
The two were descending. In a few
moments they reached the ledge, and
De Spain, near at hand, could hear
every word.
Hold on a minute" said the man
roughly. His voice was heavy and his
utterance harsh.
81 must go home" objected Nan.
Hold on, tell you," returned her
companion. De Spain could not see,
but he began already to feel the scene
81 want to talk to you"
1--WE can talk going down." parted
Nan.
De Spain heard her hurried foot
falls. mo, you don't" retorted her
companion, evidently cutting of her
retreat
scale Morganr" There was a blaze
in Mans sharp exclamation. "Whai
do you meant"
az mean you and I are going to hive
this out right here, before we leave
this ledge"
-How dare you stop mer
'Tll show you what 1 dare, young
lady. You'll talk things over with me
right here, and as long as / like" he re-
torted savagely. Every time ask you
to marry me you've got some new
excuse"
+Its shameful for you to act In this
way, Gale" She spoke low and rap
idly to her enraged sutton. De Spain
alone knew 1t was to keep her hui
initiation from his own ears, and he
made no effort to follow her quick,
pleading words. The moment was most
embarrassing for two of the three in.
volved. But nothing that Nan could
say would win from her cousin any
reprieve.
"when you came back from school
told Duke was going to marry you
He said, all right" persisted her cous
in stubbornly. "You said you'd marry
me-"
Nan exploded: 81 never, never said
so in this world" Her voice shooE
with Indignation. "You know that's
a downright falsehood."
you said you didn't care for any
body else" he fairly beloved. Nov
1 want to know whether you'll MARI!
me II take you over to Sleepy Ca
tomorrow
mol" Nan flung out her answer
reckless of consequence. 'Tll nevel
marry you. Let me go home"
You'll go home when get through
with you. You've fooled me IonI
enough"
Her blood froze at the look in hi
face. ''How dare your she gasped
"Get out of my wayI"
"You little vixenr' He sprang for
ward and caught her by the wrist. Sh
fought like a tigress. he dragged he
struggling into his arms. But abov
her half-stified cries and his gruntin
laugh, Morgan heard sharp voice
'"Take you hands of that grill !"
Whirling, with Nan in his savag
arms, the half-drunken mountainee
saw De Spain ten feet away. his RICH
hand resting on the grip of his re
volver. Stunned, but sobered by MOI
tai danger, Morgan's grasp relaxed
Nan, Jerking away, looked at De Spai
and instantly stepped in front of he
oo,ct- ~ r-hnra M