The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-17

Ing. Jul l. AuSdh tAuts 4NOhalhs
would. You would be too much for me
in any. kind of contest, armed or
unarmed."
"What do you meanr' she demand
ed to hide her confusion. And she
saw that each step he took cost pain,
skillfully concealed.
81 mean," he said, "you are to take
this cartridge as remembrance Of lay
forgetfulness and your adventure"
She drew back. II don't want IT,"
'sTake it,"
He was persistent. She allowed
him to drop the loaded shell into her
hand. "Now," be continued, repyacing
his gun, "if enccunter any OF your
people in an attempt to SfSsf through
line, and somebody gets killed. you
will know, when you hear the story,
that this time, at least, I didn't start
it."
He put her objections hside, enjoy
ing being so near her AMI happy that
she made no retreat "My reputa-
tion," he insisted, "has suffered little
in Morgan's gap. mean that at least
one who makes her hy1ne under Music
mountain shall know differently of me.
What's that?" He heard sound.
"Listen!"
The two, looking at each other,
trained their sars to hear more
through the rush of the falling water.
someone is coming" said De Spain.
Nan ran lightly to where she could
peep over tie ledge. Hardly pausinS
as she gispced down, she stepped
quickly basx. "I'll go right on up the
mountain 10 the azalea fields" she said
hastily.
/ He nodded. 'Pn hide. Stop. If
you are questioned, you don't know
I'm here. You must say so for your
own sake, not for NINE"
4 She was gone before he had finished.
De Spain drew quickly back to where
he could secrete himself. In another
moment he heard heavy footsteps
!. where he had stood with his visitor.
r But the footsteps crossed the ledge,
"a etkair sound died away up the
oath Nan had taken. Then snatches
'lof two voices began to reach him. he
could distinguish Mans voice and at
Intervals the heavier tones Of man.
1.-The two were descending. In few
moments they reached the ledge, and
De Spain, near at hand, could hear
every word.
aHold on q minute" said the man
roughly. His voice was heavy and his
lutterance harsh.
81 must go home," objected Nan.
Il ssHold on, I tell you," returned her
companion. De Spain could not see
but he began already to feel the scene
II want to talk to you"
eve can talk going down." parried
Nan.
Il De Spain heard her hurried foot
, falls. "No, you DON'T" retorted hel
!, companion, evidently cutting off hel
! retreat.
III scale Morganl" There was blaze
! lin Mans sharp exclamation. "Wha
do you mean?"
Il 81 mean you and are going to have
] this out right here, before we leav'
! this ledge"
4 "How dare you stop meT
r "rll show you what dare, youni
t lady. You'll talk things over with M
9 right here, and as long as like" he re
8 torted savagely. "Eyery time ask yo'
Q to marry me you've got some neY
excuse"
f "It's shameful for you to act in thi
i way, Gale" She spoke low and rap
s idly to her enraged sutton. De Spail
alone knew 1t was to keep her hu
e initiation from his own ears, and h
II made no effort to follow her quick
d pleading words. The moment was mos
= embarrassing for two of the three In
l. volved. But nothing that Nan c0ul
II say would win from her cousin an
)" reprieve.
It "When you came back from schot
I told Duke was going to marry yo'
VI He said, all right" persisted her cou
}" In stubbornly. "You said you'd MARI
,r me-"
II Nan exploded: II never, never sal
,r SO In this world" Her voice shoe
70 with indignation. "You know that
n downright falsehood"
a 'You said you didn't care for an
Is body else" he fairly beloved. "No
r. want to know whether you'll mari
r me If take you over to Sleepy Q;
10 tomorrow"
"Now Nan flung out her answ'
is reckless of consequence. It'll new
e. marry you. Let me go home"
a. "You1l go home when ] get throus
re with you. You've fooled me lor
% enough"
tn Her blood froze at the look in h
II; face. slow dare you" she gaspe
st sect out Ct my way"
er "You Iitde vixen" He sprang TO
he ward and caught her by the wrist. 81
fought like tigress. BE dragged h'
4; struggling into his arms. But abo,
be her half-stified cries and his gruntir
X laugh, Morgan heard sharp vOict
ss, aTake you hands Off that girl!''
mr. Whiriing, with Nan In his saws
ID. arius. the baif-dtunkeE mountaine'