Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-03-09


"Why | really didn't say, sir And
don't know. But from what she says,
and the way she coughs, I'm thinking
1t was touch Of this p.new-monla
that's going around so much lately,
sir"
His listener had already made all
arrangements to meet the occasion now
presenting itself. Circumstances
seemed ut last to favor him, and he
looked at his watch. The down stage
bringing Nan back would be due In
less than an hour.
"Jim," he said thoughtfully, you
are doing the right thing in showing
some goodwill toward the Morgans."
"Now, I'm glnd you think that. SIR"
"You know Internationally rubbed
their backs the wrong way In dragging
SassOon out"
"They're jealous OF their power. I
know-very jealous
This seems the chance to show that
have no renl animosity myself toward
the outfit"
Since De Spain was not looking ut
him, McAlpin cooked two keen and
curious eyes on the sphlnxlke birth
murk ~ thu ynry anInhIo onnoL ar,o
face. However, the astute boss. II he
wondered, made no rOmment. when
the stage comes H." continued De
Spain quietly, "have the two grays--
Lady and Ben--hltched to my own
light wagon. III drive her over to the
gap myself"
"The very thing" exclaimed Meal
pin, staring and struggling with his
breath
I'm some way I've happened, both
times ! talked with her, to get In
wrong-understNnd?' McAlpln, with
clearing wits nodded more than once.
"No fault of mine; II just happened
SO. And she may not at first take
kindly to the lden of going with me-"
~ see"
''But she ought TO do It. She will
be tired-lt's long, dusty ride for n
well woman, let alone one that has
been H.
80 1t Is, so It is !"
De Spain looked now shamelessly at
his ready-witted aid. "See that her
pony is lame when she gets here
cant be ridden. But you'll take good
care Of him and send him home In
n few days-get it?'
McAlpln half closed his eyes. Hell
be 80 lame 1t would stagger a cowboy
to back him ten feet--and never be
hurt mite, neither. Trust me-"
"If she insists ON riding something.
or even walking home" continued De
Spain obviously, for he felt instInc-
lively that he should have the task OF
his life to induce Nan to accept any
kind of Il peace-oflerlng, "Ill ride or
walk with her anyway. Can you sleep
me here tonight, on the hay?"
sleep you on hair mattress. sir.
You've got room right here upstairs I;
didn't you know that?'
With arrangements so begun. De
Spain walked out Of doors and looked
reilectlvely up the Sleepy Cat road.
One further refinement In his appeal
for Mans favor suggested itself. She
would be hungry, possibly faint In the
heat and dust. when she arrived. He
returned to McAlpin "Where can
get good cup Of coffee when the
stage comes I'M"
go right down to the Inn, sir. It's
new chap running it-a half-witted
man from Texas. My wife is cooking
there off and on She'll fix you up n
sandwich and cup of good coffee"
1t was four o'clock. and the sun beat
fiercely on the desert. De Spain walked
down to the Inn unmlndfm Of the heat.
In summer rig with his soft-shlrt col
lar turned under, his forearms bare
and his thoughts engaged, he made his
way rapidly on, looking neither to the
right nor the left.
AS he approached the weather. beaten
pile It looked no more inviting in sun
shine than It had looked In shadow;
and, true to Its traditions, not living
being was anywhere to be seen. The
door Of the office stood aJar. De Spain,
pushing It all the way open, walked In.
No one greeted him as he crossed the
threshold, and the unsightly room was
still bare Of furnishings except for the
bar. with Its two broken mirrors.
De Spain pounded on the bar. His
effort to attract attention met with no
response. He walked to the left end
of the bar, lifted the handrail that
lnclosed the space behind II, and