The Lamar register., 1917-07-04

that De Spain and Nan Morgan have
fastened up 10 each other for the long
ride down the dusty trail together
That, take ii. is their business. But
her uncle, old Duke and Gale, and the
whole bunch, l hear, turned dead sore
on 1t. and have fixed it up to beat them.
You all know the Morguns. Theyr re
some bunch-Hnd they stick for one
another like hornets, and all hold to-
gether in IA fight. So | don't want any
man to ride in there with me thinking
he's going 10 wedding. He isn't. He
may or may not be going Ia a funeral,
hut he's not going to a shivaree.'
Frank Elpaso glanced suurly ut his
companions. Il guess everybody here
is wise. John"
II know you are, Frank" retorted
Lefevcr testify; that's all right Tn
only explaining. And l don't want you
to get sore ON me If I don't show you
"a fight" Frank ElpusO grunted. 81
ann under orders" John waved his
hand. "And 1 can't do anything"
oBut talk" growled Frank Elpaso
not waving his hand.
Lefever started hotly forward in his
saddle. "Now look here, Frank" He
pointed his finger at the objccting
ranger. "Fra here for business, not for
pleasure. Any time I'm free you can
talk to me
MOT till somebody gags you, John
interposcd Elpaso moodily.
Look here, Elpaso," demanded Le-
fever, squirting his horse sInurtly to
ward the Texan. "nre you looking for a
fight with me right here and now?"
Yes. here and now" declared El-
paso fierccly.
"Or. there and then" interposed
Kennedy. ironically, "some time, some
where. or no time, nowhere. Huving
heard all of which. "A hundred and fifty
times from you two fellows, let us have
peace. You've pulled it so often, over
at Sleepy Cat. they've got it in double
faced, red-seal records. Let's get
started"
fright you are, Farrell" assented
Lefever. but"
"Secund verse; John. You're boss
here; what are we going to do? That's
all we want 10 know"
till ten O'Clock this morning. There's
been firing inside twice since twelve
O'Clock last night. He told me To pay
no attention 10 that But II the whols
place hadn't been under water all
night, I'd have gone in, anyway. This
last time it was two highpowered
guns, picking at long range and. If I'm
any Judge Of rifles and tho men prob
ably behind them. someone must have
got hurt. It's all a gucss-hut I'm GO
ing in there. peaceably II | can. To look
for Henry de Spain; II we are fired on
we've got to fight for II. And If
there's any talking to be dome
"You can do it," grunted Elpaso.
'"Thank you, Frank. And ] will do II.
I need not say that Kennedy will ride
ahead with me, Elpaso and Wickwire
with Tommie Meggeson."
Leaving Scott in the trees, the little
party trotted smartly up the road,
plciing their way through the pools
and across the brawling streams that
tore over the trail toward Duke Nor
rnn's place. The condition Of the trail
broke their formation continually and
Lefever. in the circumstances was not
sorry. His only anxiety was to keep
Elpaso from riding ahead far enough
to embroil them In a quarrel before h"
himself should come up.
Halfway to Dukes house they found
small bridge had gone out 1t cut on
the direct road, and, at Elpaso's sug-
gestion, they crossed over 10 follow the
ridge up the valley. Swimming their
horses through the backwater that COW
cred the depression 10 the south, they
gained the elevation and proceeded,
unmOlested, on their way. As they
approached SassoOn's place, ElpaS"
riding ahead, drew up his horse and sat
n moment studying the trail and cast
ing an occasional glance in the direc-
ton of the ranch-house, which lay un-
der the brow Of a hill ahead.
When Lefever rode up to him, he
saw the story that Elpaso was reading
in the roadway. II. told of a man shot
in his tracks as he was running toward
the house-and, in the judgment of
these men, fatally shot-for, while his
companions spread like fan in front
of him, Lefever got off his horse and.
bending intently over the sudden page
torn out Of a mans life, recast the
scene that had taken place, where he
stood, half an hour earlier. Some little
.f. 10. ..Fr.fa