The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-03-29

side. The move Steadted him. zone
question, he said bluntly. "are you
armed?7
She hated even to answer. and met
his searching gaze resentfully, but
something in his tone and manner
wrung a reply. Il can defend myself"
1 she exclaimed angrlIy.
De Spain raised his right hand from
his thigh to the pOmmeI OF his saddle.
The slight gesture was eloquent Of his
+ surrender Of the issue Of force. Il
can't 90 into a shoOting-match with
you about this cur. If You call your
uncle there win be bloodshed- unless
you drop me of my horse right here
and now before he appears. All ask
you IS this: Is this kind of cut
throat worth that? If you shoot ne
my whole posse from Sleepy Cat is
right below rs in the aspens. Some
Of your own people VIII be killed in
4 general fight. If you want to shoot me,
shoot-you can have the match al to
yourself. If you don't, let us 90 by.
And If I've told you one word that isn't
true, call me back TO this spot any time
you like, and I'll come at your call. and
f. answer for it."
His words and his manner c0nfOund-
I ed her for a moment. She could not at
once make an answer, for she could not
decide what to say. Then, Of a sud
den, she was robbed Of her chance to
answer From down the trail came
I yell like a shot. The clatter Of hoofs
/ rang out, and men on horses dashed
( from the entrance of the gap toward
( them De Spain could not make out
I distinctly, but he knew Lefever's yell,
and pointed ''There they are" he
I exclaimed hurriedly. 'There- is the
I whole posse. They are coming !" A
shot, followed closely by a second, rang
out from below. GO" he cried TO
Nan. "Thereu be shooting here that
/ 1 can't stop!" He slapped Sassoon's (
pony viciously with his hand, spurred
past her himself, and was away. White
with CONSERVATION and anger, she
steadied herself and looked after the
fleeing pair Then whirling in her sad (
die, she ran her pony back to the /
ranch-house to give the alarm.
Yelling like half dozen men, Le-
fever and Scott, as De Spain and his /
prisoner dashed toward them, sep I
arated, let the pair pass, and spurred .
in behind TO cover the flight and con-
front any pursuers. None at the mo-
ment threatened, but no words were
exchanged until the WHOLE party, riding
fast, were well past Ell Captain and
out of the gap. For some unex-
pressed reasOn-sO strong is the inftu
ence of tradition and reputadon-no (
one of the three coveted a close en-
counter with the Morgans within its ,
walls.
IT'S the long heels for it now, boys"
cried De Spain. His companions closed (
up again.
save your horses" cautioned Scott. I
between strides. It's a good ways /
home"
make for CaIabasas,a shouted Lee
fever.
NO" yelled Scott. "They would
stand US a siege at Calabasas. While
the trail is open make for the rail
road"
A great globe of dazzling gold burst
into the east above the distant hills. /
But the glory of the sunrise called I
forth no admiration from the three
men hurrying a fourth urgently along
the Sleepy Cat trail. Between breaths
De Spain explained his awkward meet
ing with Nan, and of the strait he was
in when Lefever's strong lungs enabled
him TO get away unscratched. But for
a gunman narrow squeak is as good
as a wide one, and no one found fault
with the situation. They had the ad-
vantage-the only question was wheth-
er they could hold it. And while they
continued to cast anxious glances be
hind, Scott's Indian eyes first per
ceived signs on the horizon that
marked their pursuit.
mo matter" declared Lefever.
This is little fast for a fat man, any
way" He was not ayerse. either. to
the prospect OF a long-range exchange
with the fighting mountaineers. All
drew rein little. Suppose I cover
the rear till we see what this is" sug-
gested Lefeyer, Hmbering up as the
other two +ooked back. Push ahead
with Sassoon. These fellows won't fol-
low far"
Don't be sure about that" muttered ,
Scott. Duke and Gale have got the
best horses in the mountains. and !
they'd rather fight than eat. There {
they come now"
Dashing across a plain they them
selves had just crossed. they could see
three horsemen in hot chase. The pur-
sued men rode carefully, and, scanning
the ground everywhere ahead, felt as
sured of their escape. Though their
pursuers rode in at times with q show =
Of rushing, the chase was a stern one, Z
and could be checked whenever neces- G
sary. Hating at times to breathe their t
horses. De Spain with his two COM /
Danions and their prisoner rode into t
Sleepy Cat, locked Sassoon up, and 7
vent to the Mountain house for break I
last. I
CHAPTER vi. d