The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-05-12
CHAPTER xv-contInued.


10
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 a 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
thin. He walked his horse into the gap
and rode straight for Duke Morgan's
fortress. Leaving the horse under
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
himself with a 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
fierceness. De Spain threw a stone over
his way to encourage 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
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 q figure
outlined at the easement. Some min
utes later door opened and closed.
He repeated the cry of the owl, and
could hear q footstep; the next mo-
ment he whispered her name as she
stood before him.
"What is 1t you want?" she asked,
30 calmly that 1t 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 Its 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. '
she responded. still calm. Il helped
you because you were wounded. y
was glad to see you get away without
fightlng-I hate bloodshed."
"But put yourself In my place q
little, won't you? After what you die
for me, isn't 1t natural should want
TO be sure you are well and not In any
trouble on my account"
at may be natural, but It isn't nee
easary. I am In no trouble. No one
here knows even know you"
Excuse me for coming, then.
couldn't rest, Nan, without knowing
something. l was here last night"
II know you were."
He started. "You made no sign"
swhy should II / suspected 1t wa.
you. When you came again tonight
knew I should have to speak to you
nc least. to ask you not to come again
But you will be In and out Of tow
sometimes. won't you, Nan?"
If am. It will not be to talk Will
you"
The words were spoken deliberately
DE Spain was silent for moment
mot even to speak to me-" he asked
you must know the position an
en-" she answered. "And what pc
sition you place me In II am seen t
speak to you. This Is my home. Yo'
are the enemy of my people"
'.Not because 7 want to be-"
"And you can't expect them not t
resent any acQualatance on my par
with you"
He paused before continuing. I'd
you count Gale Morgan as one Of you
peopler he asked evenly.
II suppose I must"
-Don't you think you ought to coun
m Of your friends, your well-wishers
those who would defend you with thei
lives. among your peopleT' She mad
NO answer; AREN'T they the kind o
people," he persisted, ''you need whel
you are In troubler
~You needn't remind mo I should b
grateful to you"
man I" he exclaimed.
@For am" she continued. unmovet
But III.
.Trs a shame to .cets. m. in tina
way"
.Yor yer. +hint,ns - ~ no.