Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-02
CHAPTER Xxx.


0die FSFotStS
When within an hour De Spain
Joined Nan, tense with suspense and
anxiety, mt the hospital, she tried hard
to read his news in his face.
Have you seen him?' she asked
eagerly. De Spain nodded What
does he say
"Nothing very reasonable
Her face fell. Il knew he wouldn't.
Tell me all about it, Henry-every-
thing
She listened keenly to each word. De
Spain gave her n pretty accurate re-
cital of the interview. and Mans appre-
hcnsion grew with her hearing of it.
Il knew It," she repeated with con-
viction. Il know him better than you
know him. What shall we do?'
De Spain took both her hands. He
held them against his breast and stood
looking into her eyes. When he re-
garded her in such way her doubts
and fears seemed mean and trivial. He
spoke only one word, but there was Il
world Of confidence in his tone ::
"Stick."
She arched her brows as size re-
turned his gaze. and with little trou-
/ bled laugh drew closer. stick, Nan.
he repeated ut will come ont all
right"
She paused moment. "llow can you
( know
II know because it's got to. talked
1t all over with my best friend in Medi-
/ cine Bend, the other day
"Who, Henry"
whispering Smith. He laughed ut
your uncles opposing us. lie SAID II
your uncle only knew ii, it's the best
thing that could happen for him. And
he said if all the marriages opposed
I by old folks had been stopped there
wouldn't be young folks enough left
! to milk the cows"
Henry, what is this report about the
/ Calabnsas barns burning?"
"rhe old Number one barn is gone
and some Of the old stages. We didn't
/ lose any horses, and the other barns
are all right. Some Of our CAlabasas
or gap friends probably. No matter
wen get them all rounded up after u
while, Nan. Then, some fine day
we're going to get married.
De Spain rode that night to Gala
basas to look into the story Of the fire.
McApin. sWathed in bandages, made
no bones about accusing the common
enemy. No witnesses could be fount
to throw any more light on the inquiry
than the barn boss himself. And DE-
Spain made only a pretense Of Il forlna
investigation. If he had had an!
doubts about the origin of the fire the!
would have been resolved by an nnony
nous scrawl, sent through the mail
promising more if he didn't get out o.
the country.
But instead of getting out of thu
country, De Spain continued as Il mat
ter of energetic policy to get into II
He rode the deserts stripped, so to say
for action and walked the streets o
, Sleepy Cat welcoming every chance t
meet men from Music mountain or tn,
sinks. II was on Nan that the rea
harships Of the situation fell, AM
Nan who had to bear them alone ant
almost unaded.
Duke came home Il day or two late
without a word for Nan concerning hi
encounter with De Spain. He wa
shorter in the grain than ever, crustie
: to everyone than she Ind ever know
: him--and toward Nan herself iiercel
respntful SassoOn WAS In his CON
, pany Il great dcnl, and Nan knew
old that Sassoon was Il bad symptom
+ Gale. too. came often. and the tire
were much together. In some way
Nan felt that she herself was in par
the subject Of their talks, but no infol
8 nation concerning them could she eve
g get.
/. one morning she sat on the pore
J. sewing when Gale rode up He aSke
r for her uncle. Bonita told him Duk
had gone to Culabasas. Gale al
p nounced he was bound for Calabasn
3 himself, and dismountcd near Nal
n professcdly to cinch his saddle. ii
. fused with the straps for n minute
trying to engage Nan in the intervn
n without success, In conversation. Loo
q here, Nan" he said ut length studiou
ly aminblc "don't you think your
Ia pretty hard on me, lately"
mo, don't" she answered. y.
vm~sar- --