The Benson signal., 1917-09-15
CHAPTER xV-Continued.

10
But long before Bull Page reached
Calabasas that dayrDe Spain had act
ed. When he left Bull at the bridge
he started for Calabasas, took supper
there, ordered a saddle horse for one
o'clock in the morning, went to his
room, slept soundly, and, shortly after
he was called, started for Music noun
tain. He walked his horse into the gap
and rode straight for Duke Morgan's
fortress. Leaving the horse under a
heavy mountain pine close to the road,
De Spain walked carefully but directly
around the house to the east side. The
sky was cloudy and the darkness al
most complete. He made his way as
close as he could to Mans window, and
raised the soft, grooming note of the
desert owl.
After a while he was able to distin-
guish the outline of her easement, and,
with much patience and some little
skill remaining from the boyhood days,
he kept up the faint call. Down at the
big harm the chained watchdog tore
himself with fury of barking at the
intruder, but mountain lions were COM
mon in the gap, and the noisy sentinel
gained no credit for his alarm. In
deed. when the dog slackened his
tierceness, De Spain threw a stone over
his way to encourage fresh outburst.
But neither the guardian nor the in
truder was able to arouse anyone
within the house.
Undeterred by his failure, De Spain
held his ground as long as he dared.
When daybreak threatened, he with
drew. The following night he was in
the gap earlier and with renewed de-
termination. He tossed a pebble into
Mans open window and renewed his
soft call. Soon light f1ickered for an
instant within the room ~ ned out.
In the darkness following this, De
Spain thought he discerned a figure
outlined at the easement. Some min
utes later a door opened and closed.
He repeated the cry of the owl, and
could hear footstep; the next mo-
ment he whispered her name as she
stood before him.
"What Is 1t you want ?" she asked,
so calmly that 1t upset him. "Why do
you come hCre?"
Where he stood he was afraid Of the
sound of her voice, and afraid of his
own. ITO see you," he said, collecting
himself. "Come over to the pine tree"
Under it's heavy branches, where the
darkness was most intense, he told her
why he had come-because he could
not see her anywhere outside.
"There is nothing to see me about"
she responded, still calm. II helped
you because you were wounded. l
was glad to see you get away without
hate bloodshed."
''But put yourself in my place a
little, won't you? After what you did
for me, isn't it natural / should want
TO be sure you are we'll and not in any
trouble on my account?"
"It may be natural but it isn't nee
Cssary. 1 am in no trouble. No one
here knows I even know you"
excuse me for coming, then. I
couldn't rest, Nan, without knowing
something. 1 was here last night"
II know you were."
He started. "You made no sign"
"Why should I? 1 suspected it was
you. When you came again tonight
knew l should have to speak to you
at least. to ask you not to come again."
"But you will be in and out Of town
sometimes, won't you, Nan?"
eff am, it will not be to talk with
you"
The words were spoken deliberately.
De Spain was silent for a moment.
"Not even to speak to me?' he asked.
"You must know the position I am
an," she answered. "And what a po-
sition you place me in if am seen to
speak to you. This is my home. You
are the enemy Of my people"
"NOt because l want to be-"
"And you can't expect them not to
resent any acquaintance on my part
with you"
He paused before continuing. ''Do
you count Gale Morgan as one of your
people?" he asked evenly.
II suppose l must"
"Don't you think you ought to count
all of your friends, your well-wishers,
those who would defend you with their
lives, among your people?" She made
90 answer. Aren't they the kind of
people," he persisted, you need when
you are in trouble?"
"You needn't remind me I should be
grateful to you"
"Nan!' he exclaimed
"For am" she continued, unmoved.
But"
"It's q shame to accuse me in that
FAY"
~yc~ wsre thinking when you spoke