The Ozark spectator., 1917-05-16
CHAPTER XVIII.
Facing the Music.

Facing the Music.
 They had not underestimated the danger from Sassoon's suspicious ma lcvolencc. He returned next morn ing to read what further he could among the rocks. It was little, but 1t spelled q meeting of two peoplc-Nan and another-and he was stimulated to keep his eyes and ears open for fur ther discoveries. Moreover, continu- ing ease in seeing each other, unde- tected by hostile eyes, gradually rem dcred the lovers less cautious in their arrangements.
 De Spain. naturally reckless, had won in Nan a girl hardly more con cerned. Self-reliant, both of them, and instinctively vigilant, they spent so much time together that Scott and Lefever. who, before fortnight had passed after Dukes return home, sur missed that De Spain must be carry ing on some sort of clandestine af- fair limiting toward the gap. only Ques- toned how long 1t would be before something happened. and only hoped It would not be. in their own word. unpleasant. It was not theirs in any case to admonish De Spain, nor to dog the movements of so capable a friend, even when his safety was con ccrncd. so long as he preferred to keep his own counscl-there are limits within which no man welcomes unin- vited assistance. And De Spain, in his long and frequent rides, his pro details of business and careless humor. had evidently passed within these limits.
 What was stage traffic to him com pared to the sunshine on Mans hair : what attraction had schedules to offer against moment of her eyes; what pleasing connection could there be be- tween bad-ordcr wheels and her low laugh?
 The two felt they must meet to dis cuss their constant perpleNities and the problems of their difficult situa- ton; but when they reached their trysting places. there was more of gay cty than gravity, more of nonchalunce than concern, more of looking into each others hearts than looking into the troublesome future. And there was hardly m inviting spot within miles of Music mountain that one or the other of the two had net waited near.
 There were. of course. disappoint- mcnts, but there were only few fail urcs in their arrangements. The diill- cultiej of these fell chiefly on Nan. How she overcame them was a source of surprise to De Spain, who marveled at her innocent resource in escaping the demands at home and making her way, despite m array of obstacles, 10 his distant impatience.
 Midway between Music mountain and Sleepy Cat low-lying wall of lava rock, in part saud-cOvcred and in part exposed. parallels and sometimes crosses the principal trail. This undu- latins ridge was n favorite with De Spain and Nan, because they could ride in and out of hiding places with out more than just leaving the trail Itself. To the west of this ridge, and commanding 1t. rose rather more than mile away the cone called Black Cap.
 Suppose" snid Nan one afternoon. looking from De Spain's side toward the mountains, someone should be spying on us from Black Cap?" She pointed to the solitary rock.
 If anyone has been, Nan, with a good glass he must have seen ex- changes of confidence that would make him gnash his teeth. l know if l ever saw anything like 1t I'd go hang. But the country around there is too rough for a horse. Nobody even hides around Black Cap. except some tramp hold-up man that's crowded in his getaway. Bob Scott says there are dozens of mountain lions over there."
 But SaSsoon had the unpleasant pa- tience of a mountain lion and its dog ged persistence. and, hiding himself on Black Cap. he made certain one day of what he had long been convinced that Nan was meeting De Spain.
 The day ,lser she had mentioned Black Cup to her lover, Nan rode over 10 Calabasas to get a bridle mended. Galloping back, she encountered Sas- soon just inside the gap. Nan 50 ietcsted him that she never spoke when she could avoid it. On his part, he preiended not to see her as she passeJ. When she reached home she