The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-03-22

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catch his eyes with your eyes. He
seemed now to regard De Spain keen
ly, as the latter, still attending to Nor.
gan's statement, replied: "Elpaso tells
pretty straight story"
'Elpaso couldn't tell a straight
story if he tried" interjected Sassoon.
81 have the statement of three other
passengers; they confirm Elpaso. Ac'
cording to them, Sassoon-" De Spain
looked straight at the accused, was
drunk and abusive, and kept trying to
put some of the other passengers off.
Finally he put his feet in the lap of
Pumperwasser, our tank and windmill
man, and Pumperwasser hit him."
Morgan, stepping back from the bar,
waved his hand with an air of finality
toward his inoffensive companion :
Here is Sassoon, right here-he can
tell the whole story"
''Those fellows were miners" NUT
tered Sassoon. His utterance was
broken, but he spoke fast. They'll
side with the guards every time
against a cattleman."
"Sassoon," interposed Morgan bel
| ligerently, sis a man whose word can
always be depended on"
''To convey his meaning" interviewed
Lefever graphically. "Of course, 1
know" he asserted, earnest to the
| point of vehemence. Everyone in
Calabasas has the highest respect for
! Sassoon. That is understood. And"
he added with as much impressiveness
as if he were talking sense, Everybody
in Calabasas would be sorry to see Sas-
soon put off a stage. But SassOon is
off that is the situation. We are sorry.
If it occurs again"
what do you mean?" Numbered
Morgan, resenting the interference.
''De Spain is the manager, isn't he?
What we want to know is, what you
are going to do about it?' he demand
ed, addressing De Spain again.
"There is nothing more to be DONE"
returned De Spain composedly. tive
already told Elpaso if SassOon starts
another fight on a stage to put him off
again."
Morgan's fist came down on the bar.
Look here, De Spain! You come from
Medicine Bend, don't you? Well, you
can't bully Music Mountain men-un-
derstand that"
ANY time you have q real grievance,
Morgan, I'll be glad to consider it."
said De Spain. when one of your
men is drunk and quarrelsome he will
be put off like any other disturber.
That we can't avoid. Public stages
can't be run any other way"
"All right" retorted Morgan. IF
you take that tack for your new man
agement, We'll see how you get along
running stages down in this country"
1--WE will run them peaceably, just as
long as we can" smiled De Spain. eve
will get on with everybody that gives
us a chance"
Morgan pointed a finger at him. 81
give you a chance, De Spain, right now.
VIII you discharge ElpasoT
mo"
Morgan almost caught his breath at
the refusal. But De Spain could be
extremely blunt, and in the parting
shots between the two he gave no
ground.
"Jeffries put me here to stop this
kind of rowdyism on the stages" he
said to Lefever on their way back to
the barn. 'This is a good time to be-
gin. And Sassoon and Gale Morgan
are good men to begin with" he added.
AS the horses of the two men
emerged from the canyon they saw
slender hOrsewoman riding in toward
the barn from the Music Mountain
trail. She stopped in front of Meal
pin, the barn boss, who stood outside
the office door. McAlpin, the old Medi-
cine Bend barnman, had been pro-
NOTED from Sleepy Cat by the new
manager. De Spain recognized the
roam pony, but, aside from that, a
glance at the figure of the rider, as
she sat with her back to him, was
enough TO assure him of Nan Morgan. |
He spurred ahead fast enough to over |
hear request she was making of Nc |
Alpin to mail a letter for her. She |
also asked McAlpin. just as De Spain |
drew up, whether the down stage had |
passed McAlpin told her it had. De |
Spain, touching his hat, spoke: 81 am
going right up to Sleepy Cat. I'll mail
your letter if you wish"
She looked at him in some surprise,
and then glanced toward Lefever, who
now rode up. De Spain was holding
out his hand for the letter His eyes
met Mans, and each felt the moment
was a sort of challenge. De Spain.
little self-cOnsciOus under her inSpec-
lion. was aware only of her rather
eyes and the dark hair under
ler fawn cowboy hat.
"Thank you" she responded evenly.
If the stage is gone 1 will hold it TO
ldd something" So saying, she tucked
he letter inside her blouse and spoke
o her pony, which turned leisurely
Town the road.
Tin trying to get acquainted with
,our country today" returned De
Spain, managing with his knee to keep
his own horse moving alongside Nan
is she edged away.
Nan, without speaking, ruthlessly
the distance between the two.
De Spain unobtrusively spurred his
teed to greater activity. You must
ave great deal of game around you.
20 you hunt?" he asked.
He knew she was famed as a hunt
ess, but he could make no Roadway
whatever against her studied reserve
nd ,,.hnn nt lnnrth she eycnSnd her