The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1917-04-05

iHOTS VI ieSS iiuZy STORIES Oh his ourllor
experiences at Medicine Bend in the
company of Whispering Smith were
dragged into the talk. One convales-
cent stage-guard at the hospital told
story one hight at supper about him
that chilled Nan again with strange
fears, for she knew 1t to be true. He
had had it from McAlpin himself, so
the guard said, that De Spain's father
had long ago been shot down from am-
bush by cattleman and that Henry
de Spain had sworn to find that man
and kill him. And 1t was limited pref
ty strongly that De Spain had informa-
tion when he consented to come to
Sleepy Cat that the assassin still lived,
and lived somewhere around the head
of the sinks.
On that very evening 1t CHANGED the
doctor came late. When he walked in
he asked her If she knew 1t was From
tier day, and reminded her that Just
n year ago she had shot against Henry
de Spain and beaten the most danger
GUS man and the deadliest shot on the
mountain divide in her rifle match.
How he had grown In the imagina-
tion of Sleepy Cat and Music noun
| tain, she said to herself-while the
doctor talked to her uncle-since that
day year ago! Then he was no more
than an unknown and discounted
marksman from Medicine Bend, beaten
| by mountain glrl-now the most
talkedof man in the high country. And
the suspicion would sometimes obtrude
itself with pride into her mind, that
she who never mentioned his name
when II was discussed before her,
really knew and understood him bet
ter than any Of those that talked so
much-that she had at least one great
secret with him alone.
When leaving, the doctor wished to
send over from his Office medicine for
her uncle. Nan offered to go with him,
but the doctor said 1t wns pretty lnte
and Main street pretty noisy-he pre-
ferred to find messenger. When
there came rap on the half-open door,
she went forward to take the medicine
from the messenger and saw, standing
before her in the hall. De Spain.
She shrank back us II. struck. She
tried to speak. Her tongue refused its
Office. De Spain held a package out
In his hand. Doctor Torpy asked me
to give you this"
doctor Torpy2 What is it?"
II really don't know-I suppose 1t
Is medicine" She heard her uncle turn
in his bed ut the sound Of voices.
Thinking only that he must not Mt any
cost see De Spain, Nan stepped quick
ly into the hall and faced the messen-
ger. II was over at the doctors Of
flee just now," continued her visitor
evenly; "he asked me to bring this
down for your uncle" She took the
package with an incoherent acknowl-
edgment. Without letting her eyes
meet his, she was conscious Of how
fresh and clean and strong he looked,
dressed In a livelier manner than
usual-a partly cowboy effect, with a
broader hat and n gayer tie than he
ordinarily affected. De Spain kept on
speaking: THE telephone girl In the
Office downstairs told me to come right
up. How is your uncle?"
She regarded him wonderingly. "He
has good deal of pain," she answered
quietly.
"Too bad he should have been hurt
in such n way. Are you pretty well,
Nan2" She thanked him.
"Stay here good deal, do your I'll
bet you don't know what day this is?'
Nan looked up the corridor, but she
answered to the point: you'd lose.'
"Its our anniversary" She dartcd
look Of indignant disclaimer at him
But In doing so she met his eyes
"Have you seen the decorations In
Main street? Come to the door just O
minute and see the way they've lighted
the arches" She knew just the ex.
preston of his eyes that went with
that tone. She looked vexedly ut him
to confirm her suspicion. Sure enough
there in the brown part and In the lids
1t was, the most troublesome possible
kind of an expression--hardt to be reso
: lutte against Her eyes fell away, bu|
some damage had been done. He die
not say another word. None seemed
, necessary. He just kept still ant
, something-no one could have sait
Just what-seemed to talk for him tC
t poor defenseless Nan. She hesitatet
helplessly. II can't leave uncle" she
, objected at last.
: "Ask him to come along"
Z Her eyes huttered about the dimly