Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-20

rock-Tiiat sii0ali she cross the ledge
in the dark she could hardly escape
rousing him.
The device betrayed her. 'T'm
awake" announced De Spain at once
from his retreat. When she stopped
Mt the words he could not see her; she
had nattened herself. standing, against
wall Of the ledge. He waited pa
tiently. "You give me no chance to
thank you" he went on after n pause.
81 don't need any thanks" she replied
with calculated GOODNESS. 81 am hop
ing when you are well enough you
will go away quietly in the night. That
will be the only way you can thank
me-"
Il shall be as glad to 90 as you can
be to have me-" rejoincd De Spain.
But that won't be thanking you as l
am going 10. If you think you can
save my life and refuse my thanks as
| mean to express them-you are mis-
taken. will be perfectly honest. Ly-
ing out here isn't just what I'd choose
for comfort But II by doing it I
could see you once In two or three
days"
"You won't see me again."
"No news could be worse. And II
l can't, I don't know how I'm going
to get out ut all. I've no horse-you
know that. l can't stand on my foot
yet; if you had a light you might see
for yourself. think | showed you my
gun. If you could tell me where l
an"
lie halted on the implied question.
Nan took ample time to reply.
"Do you mean TO tell me you don't
know where you are?" she asked, and
there was II touch OF vexed incredulity
in her tone.
1 De Spain seemed unmoved by her
slieptlcsm. 81 cnnt tell You anything
else" he said simply. "You couldn't
have any idea l crawled up here for
the fun of it,"
"Ive been trying to think" she re-
turned, and he perceived in the hard
ness of her voice how at bay she felt
In giving him the least bit of infor-
nation whether l ought to tell you
anything at all"
81 couldn't very decently take any
unfair advantage after what you've
done, could II"
"Then--you are In Morgan's gap"
she said. swiftly, as If she wanted it
off her mind.
There was no movement Of surprise,
neither was there any answer. II
supposed, when found you here, you
knew that" she added less resolutely (;
the darkness and silence were plainly
n strain. you are at the foot of Mu-
sic mountain, about a mile from where
| live"
"You must have thought meant to
raid yonr house. ! didn't. ! was hit.
| got mixed UP in trying to get away.
You want me out Of herc?'
every much.'
mo more than l want to get out
Perhaps by tomorrow | could walk Il
few miles. | should have to asSassi-
nate somebody to get some ammuni'
ton"
at wouldn't be hard for you to dc
that, I presume"
Her words and her tone revealed the
intensity OF her dislike and the depth
Of her disrast.
lie Was silent for moment. Then
he said, without resentment, You are
ashamed already Of saying that, aren't
your?
"No, l am not" she answered de
family.
"lcs, you are. You know it isn't
true. If you believed it, you never
would have brought food here to save
my Hfe."
~ brought It TO save some of my
own people from possible death n
to see If you hadn't manhood enough
after being helped, to go away, WheI
| you were able to move, peaceably. On'
cartridge might mean one life, dea
to me-"
81 know whose life you mean"
9 "You know nothing about what
mean"
:, II know better than you know your
! self. If l believed you, | shouldn'
: respect you. Fear and mercy are tw'
:, different things. IL l thought yo'
:. We're only afraid Of me, | shouldn'
!, think much Of your aid. Listen
: never took the life Of any man excep
to defend my own"
y "No murderer that ever took any
body's life in this country ever sal
anything but that
4 "Don't class me with murderers."
= "You arc known from one end of tn
- country to the other as Il gunman."
y He answered impassively: "Di
/. these men who call me gunman eve
s tell you why I'm oncT' She SCENE
d in too hostile Il mood to answer.
II guess not" he went on. let me te
you now. The next time you hear III
Q, called gunman you can tell them
= II won't listen" she exclaimed, re-
'e tive.
y "Yes, you will listen" he said qu
If ely; YOU shall hear every word. NJ