Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-06-01
CHAPTER XIX.
A Try-Out.

a Iry-Out.
Sleepy Cat is not so large a place
that one would ordinarily have much
trouble in finding a man in it if he
searched well. But Duke Morgan
drove into town next morning and had
to stay for three days waiting for a
chance to meet De Spain. Duke was
not a man to talk much when he had
anything Of moment to put through,
and he had left home determined, be-
fore he came back, to finish for good
with his enemy.
De Spain himself had been putting
off for weeks every business that would
bear putting off, and had been forced
at length to run down to Medicine
Bend to buy horses. Nan, after her
uncle left home-justly apprehensive
of his intentiOnS-madef frantic efforts
to get word to De Spain of what was
impending. She could not telegraph
a publicity that she dreaded would
have followed at once. De Spain had
expected to be back in two days. Such
a letter as she could have sent would
not reach him at Medicine Bend.
AS it was, a distressing amount of
talk did attend Dukes efforts to get
track of De Spain. Sleepy Cat had
but one Interpretation for his inqui-
rles-and a fight, if one occurred be-
tween these men, it was conceded,
would be historic in the annals of the
town. Its anticipation was food for
all of the rumorS of three days of sus-
pense. For the town they were three
days of thrilling expectation; for Nan,
isolated, without confdant, not
knowing what to do or which way to
turn, they were the three bitterest
days of anxiety she had ever known.
Desperate with suspense at the close
of the second day-wild for a scrap of
news, yet dreading one-she saddled
her pony and rode alone into Sleepy
Cat after nightfall to meet the train
on which De Spain had told her he
would return from the east. She rode
straight to the hospital, instead of
going to the livery barn, and leaving
her horse, got supper and walked by
way of unfrequented streets downtown
to the station to wait for the train.
When the big train drew slowly, al
most noiselessly, in, Nan took her
place where no incoming passenger
could escape her gaze and waited for
De Spain. But when all the arrivals
had been accounted for, he had not
come.
She turned, heavy-hearted, to walk
back uptown, trying to think Of whom
she might seek some information con-
corning De SPANS whereabouts, when
her eye fell on man standing not
ten feet away at the door of the bag
gage room. He was alone and seemed
to be watching the changing of the
engines, but Nan thought she knew
him by sight. The rather long, straight,
black hair under the broad-brimmed
hat marked the man known and hated
in the gap as "the Indian" Here, she
said to herself, was a chance. De
Spain, she recalled, spoke Of no one
oftener than this man. He seemed
wholly disengaged.
REFRESHING her nervous timidity,
Nan walked over to him. aren't you
Mr.. Scott?" she asked abruptly.
Scott, turning to her, touched his
hat as If quite unaware until that mo-
ment of her existence. Ibid Mr.. de
Spain get off this train?" she asked, as
Scott acknowledged his identity.
II guess he didn't come tonight"
Nan noticed the impassive manner of
his speaking and the low, even tones.
81 was kind Of looking for him N.Y.
SELF"
SIS there another train tonight he
could come onW
II don't think he will be back now
before tomorrow night"
Nan, much disappointed, looked up
the line and down. II rode in this
afternoon from Music msuntaln espe-
cially to see him."
Scott, without commenting, smiled
with understanding and encourage
ment, and Nan was so filled with anxi-
ETY. that she welcomed a chance to
talk to somebody. 1--WE often heard
him speak of you" she ventured,
searching the dark eyes, and watching
the open, kindly smile characteristic
of the man. Scott put his right hand
out at his side. i've ridden with
that boy since he was SO high"
II know he thinks everything of
you"
"I think n lnt af him.