Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-05-24

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tnsas1 vhltA ~ tAses ms - 49,
ton svea e Q vAanose. He soticed
hee Quiek bceath1nG. anA fe1t. instine-
lively. IL FestEaised gesture e ~
right haaA - q stnfted back - ~
side. The move aeadied IN sons
question" hs said bluatiy. -sss 20
armedy'
She hated even to answer. and net
his searching gass resentfusly. but
something In his tone and manner
wruns . reply. Il can defend myself"
she exclaimed angrily.
De Spain raised his right hand from
his thigh to the pommel Of his saddle.
The slight gesture was eloquent OF his
surrender Of the issue Of force. II
can't 90 into q shOOting-match with
you about this cur. II you Gull your
uncle there will be bloodshed-unlcss
you drop me OF my horse right here
and now before he appears. All l ask
you Is this: Is this kind Of a cut
throat worth that? II you shoot me.
my whole posse from Sleepy Cat is
right below us In the aspens. Some
Of -FOUR own people will be killed In =
general fight. II you want to shoot ne.
shoot-you can have the match all to
yourself. II you doa't, let US 80 b..
And II 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
answer for It,"
His words and his manner cOnfound-
ed her for a moment. She could not at
once make m 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 a
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
distinctly, but he knew Lefever's yell,
and pointed. "There they are" he
exclaimed hurriedly. "There ia the
whole posse. They are coming!" A
shot, followed closely by a second, rang
out from below. "Go." he cried to
Nan. 'ThereM be shooting here that
l can't stop!" He slapped S%assoon'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 a her pony back to the
ranch-house to give the alarm.
Yelling like half Il dozen men, Le-
fever and Scott, as De Spain and his
prisoner dashed toward them, sep.
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 influ-
ence Of tradition and reputation-no
one of the three coveted a close en-
counter with the Morgans within its
walls.
"It's the long heels for 1t now, boys
cried De Spain. His companions closed
up again.
"Saye your horses" cautioned Scott
between strides. ITS a good ways
home"
make for C~a!abasas," shouted LIE.
fever.
"No," yelled Scott. "They would
stand us a siege at Calnbasas. 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
forth no admiration from the three
men h%urrying Il fourth urgently along
the Sleepy Cat trail. Between brcaths
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 fol
a gunman n narrow squeak is as goot
as a wide one, and M one found faul,
with the situation. They had the ad
vantage--the only question was wheth
er they could hold it. And while the,
continued to cast anxious glances be
hind, SCOTS Indian eyes first per
ceived signs on the horizon tina
marked their pursuit.
mo matter" declared Lefever
"Thls is a little fast for a fat man, any
way" He was not avcrse, either, t.
the prospect Of q long-range exchang'
i, with the fighting mountaineers. AL
drew rein n little. Suppose I cove
!, the rear till we zee what this ls," sug
gested Lefever. limbering up as tn
other two looked back. Push ahea,
with Sassoon. These fellows won't fol
low far"
"Don't be sure about that" muttere,
Scott. "Duke and Gale have got tn
best horses In the mountains, M
they'd rather fight than cnt. Their
they come now"
Dashing across a plain they then
selves had just crossed, they could Sc
three horsemen In hot chase. The pul
sued men rode carefully, and, scannln
the ground everywhere ahead, felt n.
] sured Of their escape. Though thci
pursuers rode in at times with a sho,
Of rushing, the chase was q stern on,
and could be checked whenever nece.
sary. Hating ut times to breathe thei
horses, Dc Spain with his two con
pani0ns and their prisoner rode int
Sleepy Cat, locked Sassoon up, an
went to the Mountain house for breal
fast. H