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

llams cache. ! rode In last night from
Thief river. and you ire riding out
with me to start me on to the Sleepy
Cat trail. II you can remember that
much"
De Spain stopped halfway through
his sentence. The figure revealed in
the half Light puzzled him at first. Then
II confused aud startled him. He ~
Il was not a man at all, but o woman
and a woman than whom he would
rather have seen six men. 1t was Nan
Morgan.
With her head never more d~ecisiveiy
set under her mannish hat, her waist
never more attractively outlined In
slendernesS she silently faced DE
Spain In the morning gray. His face
reflected his chagrined perplexity. He
could already e Mans eyes. They
were bent keenly first on him. then on
his companion. and again on him. De
Spain kept his face down as much as
he dared. and his hat had been pulled
well over 1t from the beginning.
They were To- almost abreast. The
very instructive knowledge that her
eyes were bent on his made him steal
a glance at her In spite Of himself. The
next instant he was shamefacedly
touching his hat. Though nothing
was lost on her, Nan professed not to
see the greeting. When she spoke her
tone was dry with suspicion.
swat a moment, Sassoon. Where
are you going?" she demanded. Sas-
| soon hitched with one hand Mt his
| trousers band. He inclined his head
sulkily toward his companion. "Start-
ing a man on the trail for Sleepy Cat"
stop" she exclaimed sharply, for
De Spain, pushing his W horse ahead,
had managed without being observed.
to kick Sassoon's horse in the flank.
and the two were passing. Sassoon at
the resotute summons stopped. De
Spain could do no less; both men,
halting, faced their suspicious inQuisi.
tor. She scrutinized De Spain keenly,
what is this man doing In the SapT
"He came up from Thief river last
night" answered Sassoon monoton.
| ousiy.
"Whnt is he doing here with your
persisted Nan.
Hes a cousin of John Rebstock's
from Williams Cache" continued Sas
soon. The yarn would have sounded
decently well in the circumstances fol
which it was intended, but In thu
searching gaze of the eyes now con
fronting and clearly recognizing him
it sounded so grotesQue that De Spai,
would fully as lief have been sittin:
between his horses legs as astride hi!
back.
That's not true, S%assoon." said hi;
relentless questioner. Her tone ant
the expression of her face BODIED nj
%friendliness for either of the two sh,
had intercepted.
De Spain had recovered his wits
"You're right" he. interposed withou
an instant's hesitation. ut isn't true
But that's not his fault he is unde
arrest. and is telling you what l tol,
him to tell you. ! came in here thi
morning to take Sassoon to Sleepy Cat
He is Il prisoner, wanted for cutting VI
one of our Safeguards"
Nan, colby skeptical, eyed De Spain
"And do you try to tell me'-sh
pointed to S%assoon's unbound hands
that he Is riding out of here. q fire.
man, to 60 to jail?"
Il do tell you exactly that. He
my prisoner"
II don't believe either Of you" dc
clared Nan scornfully. "You are plar
ming something underhand together"
:, De Spain laughed coolly. "We'v
. planned TINT much together, but not,
assure you, with his consent"
II don't believe your stories at NIL.
she declared firmly.
DE Spain flushed. The irritation an
!. the serious danger bore In on him. ~