Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-04-26

IT you don't start while you have
II chance. you undo everything 1 have
tried to do to avoid fight
The wind. stirring softly. set the
aspen leaves quivering. The stars.
chilled in the thin. clear night air.
hung diamondlike In the heavens and
the eastern sky across the distant des,
ert paled for the rising moon. The
two. standing at the horses head, lis
tened a moment together in the dark
ness. De Spain. leaning forward, said
something in a low, laughing voice.
Nan made no answer. Then, bending,
he took her hand and. before she could
release 1t, caught 1t up to his lips.
For a long time after he had gone
she stood. listening for a shot-won-
dering, GREATNESS at moments, wheth-
er he could get past the waiting traps.
De Spain. true to all she had ever
heard of his Indianlike stealth. had
left her side unabashed and unafraid-
living. laughing, paying bold court to
her even when she stubbornly refused
TO be courted-and had made himself
in the twinkling of an eye part Of
the silence beyond-the silence of the
night, the wind, the stars. the waste
of sand. and of all the mystery that
brooded upon 1t. She would have well
coined. in her keen suspense. a sound
of some kind, some reminder that he
yet lived and could yet laugh; none
came.
Day was breaking when the night
hos 1fr-r In. -,
Calabasas barns. saw horseman rid
ing at leisurely pace up the Thief
River road. The barnman scrutinized
the approaching stranger closely.
There was something strange and
something familiar in the outlines OF
the figure. But when the night rider
had dismounted in front OF the barn
door. turned his horse loose and. limp
ing stiffiy walked forward on foot the
man rubbed his eyes hard before he
could believe them. Then he uttered
an incredulous greeting and led Henry
de Spain into the barn Office.
There's friends OF yours in your
room upstairs right now" he declared /
hulging with shock. De Spain. sitting 1
down. forbade the barnman TO disturb 1
them. ony asking who they were
Whe1- he had asked half a dozen
more leisurely questions and avoided
answering twice as many. the barnmap
at De SPANS request helped him up-
stairs. Beside himself with excite
ment. the night boss turned. grinning
as he laid one hand on the doorknot
mt the other on De SPANS shoulder.
You couldn't have come" he whis-
'sed loudly. lat a better time"
The entryway was dark. and from
he silence within the room one might
lave thought its occupants. If there
we're such. wrapped in slumber. But
Il intervals a faint clicking sound
ould be heard. The night man threw
pen the door. BY the light Of two
lage-lsmps one set on III. dresser
ND the other Oh a window ledge, four
-en sal shout rickety table In life
ino-death struggle 81 cards. No voice
'roke The tense silence, lot even when
he door vas thrown broadly open.
No on@neither Lefever, Scott
rank Elpsso nor McAlpin-looked I'D
= hen De Spain walked into the room
and, with the night man tiptoeing be-
hind, advanced composedly toward the
group. Even then his presence would
have passed unnoticed. but that Bob
scotrs ear mechanically recorded the
linping step and transmitted 70 his
trained intelligence merely notice Of
unusual.
Scott. picking up his cards one at
time as Lefever dealt, raised his eyes.
Startling as the sight Of the man
given up for dead must have been. no 1
muscle of Bob Scott's body moved. |
His expression OF surprise slowly dis
solved into a grin that mutely invited /
the others, as he had found out for |
to find out for themselves.
Lefever finished his deal, threw down |
the pack. and picked up his hand. His |
suspicious eyes never rose above the |
level of the faces at the table; but |
when he had thumbed his cards and /
looked from one to the other of the |
remaining players TO read the weather |
signals, he perceived on SCOTS face |
an unwonted expression, and looked to |
where the scouts gaze was turned for |
an explanation of IL. Lefever's own /
eyes. at the sight of the thinned, IA
miliar face behind Elpaso's chair, |
starting, opened like full moons. The |
big fellow spread one hand out, his |
cards hidden within IL, and with the |
other hand prudently drew down his
pile of chips. Gentlemen" he said |
lightly. this game is interned" He |
rose and put silent hand across the
table over Elpaso's shoulder. Henry"
he exclaimed impassively. zone ques-
ton, If you please-and only one: How
In thunder did you do it?"
(To be continued)