Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-07-26


every minute earlier. Duke Morgan was
found, alone. In q BARRIERS hands In the
Mountain house. At the moment Duke
left the revolving chair and walked to
the CHAR stand to pay his check. De
Spain entered the shop through the
door opening from the hotel ONCE.
Passing with nm easy step the row
Of BARRIERS lined up In waiting beside
their chairs. De Spain walked straight
down the open aisle, behind Morgan's
back. While Duke bent over the s
to select Q cigar. De Spain. passing
placed himself ut the mountain'man's
side and between him and the street
sunshine. 1t was taking IN advantage.
De Spain was well aware, but under
the circumstances he thought himself
entitled to a good light on Dukes eye.
De Spain wore m ordinary sack
street suit, with no sign Of q weapon
about him : but none Of those who con-
sidered themselves favored spectators
Of q long-awaited encounter felt any
doubt as to his ability to put his hand
or one at incomparably short notice.
There was, however. no trace of hos
tility or suspicion in De SPANS greet
ing.
Hello, Duke Morgan" he said frank.
~. Morgan looked around. His face
hardened when he saw De Spain. and
he involuntarily took a short step
backward. De Spain. with his left hand
lying carelessly on the cigar case,
faced him. II heard you wanted to
see me-" continued De Spain. Il want
to see you. How's your back since you
went homer"
Morgan eyed him with a mixture Of
| suspicion and animosity. He took what
was to him the most significant part Of
De Spain's greeting first and threw his
response into words as short as words
could be chopped: what do you want
to see me aboutT"
Nothing unpleasant, I hope" re-
turned De Spain. Lets sit down a
minute"
"Say what you got to say"
swell, don't take my head off, Duke.
l was sorry to hear you were hurt. And
I've been trying to figure out how to
make 1t easier for you to get to and
from town while you r getting strong.
Jeffries and l both feel there's been a
lot Of unnecessary hard feeling be.
tween the Morgans and the company,
and we want to ask you to accept this
to show some of it's ended" De Spain
put his left hand into his side pocket
and held out IN unsealed envelope to
Morgan. Duke, taking the envelope,
eyed it distrustfully. "What's thisT'
he demanded, opening 1t and drawing
out a card.
Something for easier riding. Ar
annual pass for you and n over the
stage line between Calabasas and
Sleepy Cat-with Mr.. Jeffries' compli
ments."
Like a fash, Morgan tore the care
pass in two and threw 1t angrily to the
floor. "Tell Mr. Jeffries," he ex
claimed violently, "to-"
The man that CHANGED at that mo
ment to be lying in the nearest chail
slid quietly but imperiously out from
under the razor and started with TIN
BARRIERS for the ear door, wiping tn
lather from one unshaven side Of hi
face with n neck towel as he took hi
hasty way. At the back Of tn
shop a fat man, sitting in u cfair Oh
the high, shoe-shining platform. Will
a negro boy polished him, rose at MOI
gan's imprecation and tried to ste
over the bootblack's head to the foo
below. The boy, trying to get out Of tn
way, Jumped back, and the fat mar fcl
or pretended to fall, yer him-for
might be seen that the man, despite hi
size, had lighted like a cat on his fec
and was instantly halfway up to tn
front of the shop, exclaiming profant
ly but collectively ut the lads awl
. w~ardness, before De Spain had ha
g time to reply to the insult.
! The noise and confusion Of the inc
dent we're considerable. Morgan WI
l too old a fighter to look behind him
!, a critical moment. No nan could 50
he had meant to draw when he stanpe
= the card underfoot, but De Spain ren
It In his eye and knew that Lefever
sudden diversion at the rear had mao
him hesitate; the crisis passed like
flash. Sorry you feel that way, Duke
b returned De Spain, undisturbed. 1T
4 a courtesy we were glad to extern
d And l want to speak to you abo,
Nan, too"
Morgan's face was livid. "yyh,
" about her1"
"She has given me permission to n,
your consent to our marriage" 50.
De Spain, 'sOme time In the reaso