Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-08-16
@ NAN 81 9
MUSIC MOUNTAIN

" Ifdnk II. ODedrmdn
Author q Whispering Smith

-. .shA
Duke. I've taken from you here TO-
night what I would take from no man
on earth but for the sake of Nan Nor.
gan. She asked me never to touch you.
But II you've gone into this thing to
trap your own flesh and blood. your
dead brothers girl. living under your
own protection. you don't deserve
mercy. and tonight you shall have
what's coming to you. I've fought you
both fair. too fair. NOw-before ]
leave-it's my girl or both Of you."
He was standing near Druel. With.
out taking his eyes of the other man,
he caught Druel with his left hand BY
the coat collar, and threw him half.
way across the room. "Get upstairs,
you old carrion. and tell Nan Morgan
Henry de Spain Is here to talk to her.
Druel, frightened to death, scrambled
into the hall. He turned Oh De Spain,
"Iim TN officer Of the law. l arrest
you for trespass and assault" he
shouted. shaking with fear.
ARREST me?" echoed De Spain con.
t~emptuously. "You scoundrei, If you
don't climb those stairs, I'll send you
to the penitentiary the day l get back
to town. Upstairs with your message!"
ut isn't necessary" said Il low voice
in the hall, and with the words Nan
appeared In the open doorway. Her
face was white. but there was no sign
Of haste or panic in 1t; De Spain
choked back a breath; to him she had
never looked In her silence so awe.
inspiring.
He addressed her, holding his left
hand out with his plea. man," he
said, controlling his voice, "these men
were getting ready to marry you to
Gale Morgan. No matter how you feel
toward me, you know me well enough
to know that all l want is the truth
Was this with your consents"
She stepped into the line of fire be-
tween her cousin and Dc Spain as she
answered: "No. You know I shall
never marry any man but you. This
vile b~ully"-sle turned a little to look
at her angry cousin-"has Influenced
Uncle Duke-who never before tried
to prosecute or betray me--int0 Joining
him In this thing. They never could
have dragged me into it alive. And
they've kept ME locked up for three
days In a o. upstairs, hoping to
break me down."
"Stnnd back, Nan"
If De SPANS words of warning
struck her with terror Of u situation
she could not control, she did not re.
veal it. NO." she said %resolutely. III
anybody here is to be shot. I'll be first
Uncle Duke, you have always protect
cd me from Gale Morgan; now you joir
hands with him. You drive me from
this roof because l don't know how
can protect myself under it."
Gale looked steadily mt her. "Yor
promised to marry me- he muttered
truculently. I'll find a way to make
you keep your word
A loud knocking interrupted him
and. without waiting to be admitted
Pardaloe. the cowboy, opened the front
door and stalked boldly in from the
hall.
If the situation In the room surprised
him, he gave no evidence Of it. Ant
as he walked in Nan disappeared. Par
daloe was drenched with rain, and. tax
ing off his hat as he crossed the room
to the fire. he shook it hard into thu
blazing wood.
what do you want, Pardaloe?'
snapped Duke.
Pardaloe shook his hat once more
and turned a few steps so that he stoot
between the u%ncurtained window ant
the light. THE creeks up" he sale
to Duke in his peculiarly slow, stead.
tone. ''Some of Salts boys are tryin!
to get the cattle out Of the lower cor
raj" He fingered his hat. looked frs
at Duke, then ut Gale, then at ID
Spain. "Gucss they'll need a littl'
help, so ! asked Snssoon to COM
over" Pardaloe jerked his head in
| dicatiyely toward the front. "He's out
! side with some of the boys now"
'Tell Snssoon to come In here +!
Numbered Gale.
I De SPANS left arm shot out. "Hol'
on, Pardaloe 4; pull down that curtall
behind you"
"DOn't touch that curtain, Parda
loo" shouted Gale Morgan.
"Pardaloe," said De Spain, his LEI
arm pointing menacingly and walkin
Instantly toward him, 'pull that cuI
tain or pull your gun, quick" At thu
moment Nan, in hat and cont. real
peared in the archway behind d
Spain. Pardaloe jerked down the cul
tain and started for the door. Dc Spai
had backed up again. "Stop, Pard,
loc," he called. my men are outsid
that door. Stand where you are" h
ordered, still enforcing his command
with his right hand covering the no
ster ut his hip. II leave this rool
first. Nan. nre you readyT he aske
without looking ut her.
"Yes."
Her uncie's fnce whitened. "Don
leave this house tonight, Man," he sal
m~cnaclngly.
you've forced mo to, Uncle Duke,
Don't leave this house tonight"
" can't protect myself In It."
Don't leave this h0use--most Of nj
Win that mani" He pointed at .
\ Spain With d frenzy OF hatred. witt
out answering. the two were retreatin
into the scfni-darkness o; the dlnin
Il snosn. eNAn.W came her uncin,s xnAc,