Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-23

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meansA of defense I gave him myself
There can never be any real doubt
or MISUNDERSTANDING between u
again. Nan" He waited for her +
speak, but she remained silent
You have given me my life, my de
Tense" he continued, passing from
subject that he perceived was bette
left untouched. "Who is nearest an,
dearest to you at home"
MY Uncle Duke"
Then l never will raise hant
against your Uncle Duke. And THU
man, t0night-this cousin-Gale? Nan
what is that man?"
II hate him."
"Thank God. so do T."
But he is Il COUSIN"
"Then l 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 othe,
drunken man?'
She laid her own pistol without a
word In De SPANS hand. lie felt It
opened, closed, and gave It back
THAT'S Il good defender--when it's in
reach. When it's at home it's a pool
| one"
Ut will never be at home again ex
cept when | am"
shall | tell you secret?"
What is it," asked Nan unsuspect
ingly
I'VE are engaged to be married.
she Sprang from him like Il deer ITS
Il dead secret he said gravely; mo
body Knows II yet--not even you."
You need never talk again like
mat If you. want to be friends with
me- she said Indignantly. 81 hate
It."
Hate it if you WILL It's so. And
II began when you handed me that
llttle bit of lead and brass on thc
mountain tonight to defend your life
and mine"
I'll hate you if you prosecute me
the way Gale does. The moon is
almost up. You must 60"
YOU haven't told me" he persisted
how YOU got away at nll.' They had
walked ont Of the trees. He looked
reluctantly to the cast. "Tcl me and
III CO. he promised.
After went up to my room | wait.
ed til the house was all quiet. Then
started for Calabasas. When | came
pack ! got up to my room without be.
Inc seen, ana sat ut the window n long
tinc. waited till all the men stopptsl
riding past. Then I climbed through
the window and down the kitchen roof.
ana lief myself down TO the ground.
some more men came past. and | hid
on the porch ANA slipped over 70 ,hc
horse barns and found II hackanlore.
ana went down to the corral and hunt. |
Ell around I'll found this little pinto
shes the best 20 ride bareback"
i could ride a razorbacb--why take
all that trouble for flle?"
IF you don't start while YOU have
II chance you undo everything have
tried TO do to avoid fight
The wind, stirring softly, set the
aspen leaves quivcring. The stars.
chilled in the thin, clear night mir
hung dlanondike in the heavens md
the eastern sky across the Distant dos.
ert paled for the rising moon. The
TWO, standing at the horses head. lis
fened moment together in the dark.
ness. DE Spain, leaning forward. said
in Il low, laughing voice.
Nan made no answer. Then, bending
he took her hand and, before she could
'eleasc 1t. caught It up to his lips.
For long time after he hnd rona
me stood, listening for shot---won.
iering, GREATNESS at moments, wbeth.
+ ne could ret past the waiting trans.
De Spain, true to all she had ever
leard of his 1ndinnlike stealth had
Ell her side unabnshed and unafraid--
wing, laughing, paying bold court TO
Ter even when she stubbornly refused
0 be co'i'tcd~-and had made himself
n the twinEling Of an eye part Of
ne silence beyond--thc silence of tbn
lsiit' the wind, the stars, the waste
I sand and of all the mystery that
fooued upon II. She would have wei.
omed, in her keen suspense Il sound
7 some Kind. some reminder that no
ct lived and could yet laugh: none
lme ,
4
vl..x. 4