The Jasper news., 1917-04-12


Bob Scott says there nre dozens Of
mountain lions over there"
But Sassoon had the unpleasant pa
tience of mountain lion and It's dog
ged persistence, und, hiding himself on
Black Cap, he made certain one day
of what he had long been convinced
that Nan was meeting De Spain.
The day after she had mentioned
Black Cap to her lover, Nan rode over
to Calabusas to~get a bride mended.
Galloping back, she encountered Sas-
soon just Inside the gap. Nan SO
detested him that she never spoke
when she could nvoid 1t. On his purt,
he pretended not to see her us she
passed. When she reached home she
found her Uncle Duke and Gale stand
ing In front of the fireplace In the llv-
ing room. The two appeared from
their manner to have been in heated
discussion, one that had stopped sud-
denly on her appearance. Both Looked
at Nan. The expression on their faces
forewarned her. She threw her Quirt
on the table, drew off her riding
gloves, and began to unpin her hat;
but she knew storm was impending.
Gale had been made for long time
to know that he was an unwelcome
visitor, and Mans greeting of him was
the merest contemptuous nod. "NVell.
uncle" she said, glanclng at Duke,
"I'm late again. Have you had sup
perF
Duke always spoke curtly; tonight
his heavy voice was us sharp us an
AK. Been late good deal lately"
Nan laid her hat on the table, and,
glancing composedly from one suspi-
cious face to the other, put her hands
up to arrange her hair. I'm going to
try to do better. I'll go and get my
supper If you've had yours" She
started toward the dining room.
"Hold on!" Nan paused ut her I'M
cle's ferocious command. She looked
at him either really or felgnedly sur
prised, her expression changing to one
Of Indignation, and waited for him to
speak. Since he did no more than
glare angrily ut her, Nan lifted her
brows little. "What do you want,
uncle?"
"Where did you go this afternoon?"
"Over to Calabasas," she answered
innocently.
who'd you meet there?" Dukes
tone snapped with anger. He was
working himself into fury, but Nan
saw 1t must be faced. 1.-THE same
people l usually meet-why?"
NTltl Won p1nof unnru do cpoi,, tbo.o
this afternoon"
Nan looked squarely at her cousin
and returned his triumphant express
sion deflnntly before she turned her
eyes on her uncle. "No," she said col
Iectedly. "Why2
"See him anywhere else?"
mo, did not. What do you mean7
What" demanded his niece with spirit,
"do you want to know2 What are you
trying to find out?"
Duke turned In his rage on Gale
"There! You hear that-what have
you got to say now?" he demanded
with an abusive outh.
Gale jumped forward, his finger
pointed at Nan. Look here. do you
deny you are meeting Henry de Spain
all over the desert? You met him
down the Sleepy Cat trail near Black
Cap, didn't your
Nan stood with her back against the
end Of the table where her uncle's first
words had stopped her, and she looked
sidewIse toward her cousin. In her
answer he heard rs much contempt as
II girls voice could convey to u re-
jected lover. $50 you've turned sneak !"
Gale roared string Of bad words.
you hire that coyote SassoOn to
spy for you, do you?" demanded Nan
coolly. "Aren't you proud of your
manly relation, unclc?"' Duke was
choking with rnge. lie tried to speak
to her, but he could not form his words.
"Whut Is 1t you want to know, uncle ?
Whether 1t Is true that ] meet Henry
de Spain? 1t is. / do meet him. and
we're engaged to be married when you
give us permission, Uncle Duke-and
not till then"
"There you have it" cried Gale.
"There's the story. told you so.
I've known 1t for week, tell YOU.
Mans face set. "Not only" continued
her cousin jeerlngly. injecting that
Almost before the vile cpithet that
followed had reached her ears, Nan
caught up the whip. Before he coulil
escape, she cut Gale sharply across the
face. "You coward" she cried. trem.
bling so she could not control her
voice. "If you ever dare use that word
before me again. I'll horsewhip you