The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-28
Nam of
Music Mountain
BY Frank II. Spearman.
Copyright. 1915. BY chss. serlhner'. Sons

tlortinbcu FfVN Sbf I~sk 'sst"f
Nan began 90 unbutton her
jacaet. Throwing back tho rvysrs
shs felt inside around her waist.
unfastened after moment and
drew forth q leaihern strap. She
laid II In de SPANS hands. This
Ia yours" sho said. IN a whisper.
Not a oartridxabeltl" be on.
claimed.
ITS your own"
where" She mado no m
swer. Where did you get Il.
Mani" he whispered hurrtedly.
Where you left H."
Howl" She was silent. When"
Tonight"
Have you been 20 Caiabasas and
back tonightr'
Everybody bu. ssasoon 10 In thu
chase" she replied uneaslly. They
said you should never leave tho
Gap alive. ! couldn't bear 20 think
Of your being shot down uke dog.
when you were only trying 20 got
away"
II wouldn't have bad you takc q
ride like that for forty boitsl"
"McAlpln showed Il 10 mo tho
Inst time was at tho stage barn.
hanging whore you left H." lie
strapped the cartridges around him.
You should never have taken
that ride for II. But since you
have" He had drawn his rcyoi.
yer from hls waistband. Ho broke
Il nov and held Il out Load II for
mo. Nan"
What do you meant"
Put four more cartridges In u
yourself Except for your cartridge.
the gun Is empty. When you do
that you will know none Of them
ever will be used agzins, your own
except TO protect my life. And II
you have any among them whose
life ought 10 come ahead OF mine
name him. or them. now. Do as
tell you--load the gun"
Hc took hold OF her hands and.
in spite OF her refusals. made her
DO his will.
Nov. Man." he said. "you know
me. You may yet have doubts
they Will all die. You win hear
many stories about me-but you
will say: I put tho cartridges in
his revolver with my own hands.
and I know he won't abuse the
means OF defense gave him my
self Who Is nearest and dearest
10 you at homer"
My Uncle Duke"
Then I never will raise q hand
against your Uncle Duke. And
this man. tonlght-this cousin
Caller Nan. what is that mani"
Il hate him. But he is a cousin. -
Then | suppose he must be one
OF mine"
Unless he tries 10 Kill you
HE won't be very long In trying
that. And now. shall | tell you n
secret?"
What is TT" asked Nan unsus.
pectingly.
We are engaged 10 be married"
She sprang from him like a deer.
IT'S a dead secret" he said grave.
ly; nobody knows II yet--not even
you"
You need never talk again like
that II you want TO be friends with
me- she said Indignantly. "The
moon is almost up. You must 20"
The wind. stirring softly, set the
aspen leaves qulvering. The two
standing nj the horses head list.
ened moment together in the
darkness. De Spain, leaning for
ward. said something in low.
Laughing voice. Nan made no an.
swer. Then. bending. no took her
hand, and. before she could release
IT. caught II up TO his lips.
For n long time after he had
gone she stood. listening for shot
Strain her ears as she would, the
desert gave back no ripple OF
sound. No shot echoed from its
| sinister recesses-not even the
clatter OF retrcating hoofs.
when It seemed as II an hour
must have pagscd Nan felt her way
noiselessly home. She regained
her room az she noiselessly left H.
thru her window, and, throwing
herself across her bed, foil into q
heavy sleep.
Day was breaking when the night
boss, standing in the doorway nj
the Calabasas barns, saw horse
man riding Mt leisurely pace NJ
the Thief River road. When the
! night-rider had di3mounted In front
OF the barn door. the man rubbed
his eyes hard before he could be
lieye them. Then he uttered an
incredulous greeting and led Henry
! DO Spain into the barn office.