Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-06-08
Nan ST
Music
Mountain
BY
FRANK II. SPEARMAN
Author Of WHISPERING SMITH
Copyright by Charles scTibnors Sons,


his VIII tonight, una uon WhHt no
body armnd-got old Judge Druel II
there
De Spain prlc&ed up his ears
whats that, Druel?" he demanded
Bull repeated his declaration. Lefe
yer broke into violent language at tn,
Sleepy Cat jurlst's expense, and ended
by declaring that no will should bt
drawn in the gap that night by Duk,
Morgan or anybody else, unless HI
and Bull were made legatees.
Beyond this nothing could be
learned from Bull who was pcrsuad
cd without difficulty by Lefevcr t.
abandon the idea Of riding to Calaba
Sns through the rain, and TO spend
the night with him in the neighbor,
hood, wherever fancy, the rain, and
the wind-which was rislng-should
dictate.
While the two were talking, De
Spain tried 10 slip away, unobScrved
by T.efever, on his GRAND. He failed,
hs he expected 10, aud after some ia.
millar abuse. rode off alone, fortified
by every possible suggestion at the
hands of man to whom the slightest
precaution was usually joke.
De Spain reached Dukes ranch un-
challenged. Night had fallen every.
where, and the increasing rain OBJ
scurcd even the outline of the house.
But light shone through one incur
tainCd window. lie waited some time
for a sound Of life, for a door to open
or close. or for the dog to bark-he
heard nothing. Slipping out OF the
wet saddle. he led his horse In the
darkness under the shelter OF the lone
pine tree and securing him, walked
slowly toward the house.
Mindful Of the admOnitions he had
been loaded with, he tramped around
the house In narrowing circles. paus-
Ing at times to look and listen. In
like manner he circled the barn and
stables, until he had made sure there
was no ambush and that he was alone
outside. After time he stepped
around to the front OF the house.
whore, screened 10y bit OF shrubbery,
he could peer at close range into the
living room.
Standing before the fire burning In
the open hearth. and with his back
10 It. he now saw Gale Morgan. Sit
ting bolt upright beside the table.
square, awed and obdurate, his stubby
brier pipe supported by his hand and
grlpped In his great teeth, Duke Nor
gan lookc7 uncompromlslngly past his
bclligerent nephew Into the FIRE. A
third and elderly man, heavy, red
faced, and almost toothless MS he
spoke, sat 10 the right of the table In
rocking chair, and looked at Duke;
this was the old lawyer and justice
from Sleepy Cat, the sherlffs broth
er-Judge Druel
Nan WAS not TO be seen. Gale, big
and aggressive, was doing most Of the
talking, and theoretically, as was his
habit. Duke listened thoughtfully,
but seemingly with GOODNESS. Druel
looked from Gale TO Duke, and ap-
penred occasionally to put In word
to carry the argument along.
De Spain suspected nothing Of what
they were talking about. but he was
uneasy concerning Nan. and was not
to be baked, by any combination, Of
his purpose Of finding her. To secure
Information concerning her was not
possible, unless he should enter the
house, and this with scant hesitation,
he decided to do.
He wore snug-ftting leathern
cont He unbuttoned this and threw
II open as he stepped noiselessly up
TO the door Laying his hand on the
knob, he paused. then, finding the
door unlocked, he pushed It slowly
open.
The wind, rushed In, upset his cal.
culations and blew open the door lead
Ing from the hall into the living room.
A stream Of light In turn shot through
the open door, across the hall. In
stantly De Spain stepped inside and
directly behind the front door-which
he now realized he dare not close
and stood expectant In the darkness.
Gale Morgan, with an impatient ex.
clamation, strobe from the fireplace to
close the front door.
As he walked into the hall and
slammed the front door shut, he could
have touched with his hand the man
standing in the shadow behind II. De
Spain, not hoping to escape. stood
with folded arms, but under the ell.
bow of his left arm was hidden the
long muzzle of his revolver. Holding
his breath, he waited. Gales mind
was apparently filled with other
things. He did not suspect the pres
ence Of an intruder, and he walked
back into the living room, partly clos
ing the second door. De Spain, fol-
lowing almost on his heels, stepped
past this door, past the hall stairs OPP
poste II, and through a curtalned
opening at the end Of the hall into
the dining room. Barely ten feet from
him: this room opened through an
arch into the living room, and where
he stood he could hear all that was
said.
who's theref' demanded Duke
gruffiy,
Nobody" said Gale. "Go on,
Druel."
Druel talked softly and through his
nose: II was only going to say It
would be a good idea to have two wit
nesses."
"Nita,' suggested Gale.
Duke was profane. "You couldn't
keep the girl In the room IL she had