The Irish standard., 1917-04-07
Effdnk SpedrmaN
Author q WisperMd Smith.

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But long before Bull Page reached
Calabasas that day De Spain had act.
ed. When he left Bull at. the bridge
he started for Calabasas, took supper
there, ordered saddle horse for one
o'clock in the morning, went to his
room, slept soundly, and, shortly after
he was called, started for Music noun.
tain. He walked his horse into the gan
and rode straight for Duke Morgan's
fortress. Leaving the horse under a
heavy mountain pine close to the road.
De Spain walked carefully but directly
around the house to the east side. The
sky was cloudy and the darkness al.
most complete. He made his way as
close as he could to Mans window. and
raised the soft, grooming note of the
desert owl.
After a while he was able to distin.
guish the outline of her easement, and,
with much patience and some little
skill remaining from the boyhood DAYS,
he kept up the faint call. Down at the
big. barn the chained watchdog tore
himself with fury of barking at the
intruder, but mountain lions were com.
mon in the gap, and the noisy sentinel
gained no credit for his alarm. In.
deed, when the dog slackened his
herceness, De Spain threw stone over
his way to encourage a fresh outburst.
But neither the guardian nor the in.
truder was able to arouse anyone
within the house.
Undeterred by his failure, De Spain
held his ground as long as he dared,
When daybreak threatened, he with.
drew. The following night he was in
the gap earlier and with renewed de-.
termination. He tossed a pebble into
Mans open window and renewed his
soft call. Soon light flickered for an
instant within the room and died out.
In the darkness following this. De
Spain thought he discerned a figure
outlined at the easement. Some min.
utes later a dor opened and closed.
He repeated the cry of the owl, and
could hear a footstep; the, next mo.
ment he whispered her maine as she
stood before him.
''What is it you want?" she asked
SO calmly that it upset him. "Why do
you come here?"
Where he stood he was afraid of the
sound Of her voice, and afraid of his
own. ITO see you," he said, collecting
himself. "Come over to the pine tree"
Under It's heavy branches, where the
darkness was most intense, he told her
why he had come-because he could
not see her anywhere outside.
'There is nothing to see me about,a
sne responded, still calm. II helped
you because you were wounded. !
was glad to see you get away without
6ghting-I hate bloodshed."
"But put yourself in my place
little, won't you? After what you did
for me, isn't it natural should want
to be sure you are well and not in any
trouble on my account?"
1T may be natural, but it isn't nee
essary. am in no trouble. No one
here knows even know you"
excuse me for coming, then. I
couldn't rest, Nan, without knowing
something. I was here last night"
II know you were."
He started. "You made no sign"
"Why should I? 1 suspected it was
you. When you came again tonight I
knew I should have to speak to YOU
at least. to ask you not to come again"
''But you will be in and out of town
sometimes, won't you, Nan?"
eff am, it will not be to talk with
you.'
The words We're spoken deliberately.
De Spain was silent for moment.
Not even to speak to me?" he asked.
s'You must know the position 1 am
In" she answered. "And what po.
si'iun you place HE in if am seen to
speak to YOU. This is my home You
uie the c-lenly Of my people,
".Nnt because i want 20 be-
"An'l you can't expect them not to
resent any acquaintance on my part
with YOU"
He paused before continuing. do
you count Gale Morgan as one Of youl
peopir" ne asked evenly.
* suppose | must"
Don't you think you ought to count
all Of your friends, your well-wisinrs,
those who would defend you with their
lives, among your people?" She made
no answer. Aren't they the kind OF
people," he persisted. you need when
you are in trOuble?'
you needn't remind me should be
grateful to you"
"Nan!" he exclaimed.
"For am" she continued, unmoved.
But
Its shame to accuse me in that
way"
you were thinking when you spoke
Of what happened with Gale on Music
mountain"
II wish to God you and I were on
Music mountain again! l never lived