The Benson signal., 1917-09-08
CHAPTER XllI-Continued.

3
"Take me away, Gale" cried Nan.
"Leave him here-take me home! !
Take me hOMe {"
She caught her Cousins arm. "Stay
right where you are" shouted Nor
gan, pointing at De Spain, and follow
ing Nan as she pulled him along.
"When I come back, I'll give you what
you're looking for"
Bring your friends" said De Spain
tauntingly. ''Ill accommodate four
more of you. Stop!" With one hand
still on his revolver, he pointed the
way. go down that trail first, Nor
gan. Stay where you are, girl, till he
gets down that hill. You won't pot
me over her shoulder for while yet.
Novel"
Morgan took the path sullenly, De
Spain covering every step he took. Be-
hind De Spain Nan stood waiting for
her cousin to get beyond earshot.
"What," she whispered hurriedly to
De Spain, twill you do?"
Covering Morgan, who could whirl
on him at any turn in the descent, De
Spain could not look at her in answer
ing. "Looks pretty rocky. doesn't it?"
HE will start the whole gap as soon
as he gets to his horse"
He looked at the darkenilg sky.
"They won't be very active on the job
before morning"
Morgan was at safe distance. De
Bpain turned to Nan. Her eyes were
bent on him as if they would pierce
him through. eff ! save your life"
still breathing fast, she hesitated for
words-"you won't trick me-ever-
will your"
Steadily returning her appealing
gaze, De Spain answered with delib-
GRAFTON: Don't ever give me chance
to trick you, Man,
''What do you mean?" she demand
ed, fear and distrust burning in her
tone
MY life," he said slowly, isn't
worth it,
''You know" He could see her res
olute underlip, pink with fresh young
blood, quiver with intensity of feeling
as she faltered. "y III know what ev-
cry man says Of ~very girl-foolish,
trusting, easy to deceive-everything
like that"
"May God wither my tongue before
ever it speaks to deceive you, Nan"
There's not moment to lose," she
said swiftly. Listen: trail around
this mountain leads out of the gap,
straight across the face of Ell Capt.
TAM"
II can make it,"
"a good climber can 10 1T have
COULD" t
"Why?"
She shook her head angrily at what
he dared show in his eyes. ooh, keep
stiIl-listen
81 know you'd go, Man," he declared
unperturbed. "But, believe me, never
would let you."
81 can't go, because to do any good
l must meet you with a horse out
side.'
He only looked silently at her, and
she turned her eyes from his gaze.
"See," she said, taking him eagerly to
the back of the ledge and pointing,
follow that trail, the one to the east
you can't get lost; you can reach Ell
Captain before dark-it's very close.
Creep carefully across El Captain on
that narrow trail, and on the other
side there is a wide one clear down to
the road-oh, do be careful on Ell Capt.
tani"
''Ill be careful
81 must watch my chance to get
away from the corral with horse. IT
fail it will be because / am locked
up at home, and you must hide and
do the best you can. How much they
will surmise of this, 1 don't know"
go now, this minute" he said, re-
krraining his words. eff you don't
come, l shall know why"
She turned without speaking, and,
fearless as a chamois, ran down the
rocks. De SPAIN losing not moment,
hObbled rapidly up along the granite
walled passage that led the way to his
chance for life.