The Ozark spectator., 1917-07-04
\ Nan,g N Music Mountain m By FRANK Fl. SHERMAN
 Author of INTERFERING sanrr'
(Copyrisht by Charles seribasrs eons) CHAPTER xxlx.-continued.

CnAPTeH HHIX.-Continued.
 -1S-
 Listen, Henry" pleaded Nan, seek ing shelter from the furious blast within his arm, "just for a moment, Lstenw
 Not now, tell you." cried De Spain.
 "He was coming. Henry, all the way and he is sick-just to say it to you. Let him say it here. now"
 "Go on" cried De Spain roughly. "Say It."
 "rm not afraid of you, De Spain !" shouted the old man, his neck barred to the flying ice. Don't think it! You're better man than I am, better than l ever was-dOnt think I don't know that. But I'm not afraid of e'er man 1 faced. De Spain; they'll tell you that when I'm dead. All the trouble that ever come tween you and me come by an accident-come before you was born. and come through Dave Sassoon, and he's held it over me ever since you come up into this country.
 
 for my father. The cattle and sheep war was on. north of Medicine Bend. The Peace river sheepmen raided our place-yOur father was with them. He never did us no harm. but my brother, Bay Morgan, was shot in that raid by a man name of Jennings. I started out to get the man that shot him. Sas- soon trailed him to the Bar NJ. the old De Spain ranch. working for your fa- ther."
 The words fell fast and in fury. They came as If they had been choked back till they strangled. "Sassoon took me over there. Toward night we got in sight of the ranchhouse We saw man down at the corral. That's Jennings, SaSsoon says. l never laid eyes on him before-I never laid eyes on your father before. Both of us fired. Next day we heard your father was killed, and Jennings had left the country. Sassoon or l, one of us, killed your father, De Spain. If it was I, I did it never knowing who he was. never meaning to touch him. 1 was after the man that killed my brother. Sassoon didn't care which 1t was. never did. then nor never. But he held it over me to make trouble sometime 'twixt you and me. I was a young fel- low. l thought I was revenging my brother. And If your father was killed by patched bullet. his blood is not on me. De Spain, and never was. Sassoon always shot a patched bullet. l never shot one in my life. And I'd never told you this of my own self. Nan said 1t was the whole truth from me to you. or her life. She's as much mine us she Is yours. I nursed her. took care of her when there weren't no other living soul to do it. She got me and herself out into this. this. morning. I'd never been caught like this if I'd had my way. I told her fore we'd been out an hour we'd never see the end of 1t. She said she'd rather die in it than you'd think she quit you. told her I'd go on with her and do as she said-that's why we're here. and that's the whole truth. so help me God!
 "I ain't afraid of you. De Spain. I'll give you whatever you thinks coming to you with a rife or a gun any time. anywhere-you're better man than am dr ever was. I know that-and that ought to satisfy you. Or, I'll stand my trial, If you say so. and tell the truth"
 The ice-laden wind, as De Spain stood still. swept past the little group with sinister roar, insensible alike to its emotions and it's deadly peril. Within the shelter of his arm he felt the yielding form of the indOmitable girl who. by the power of love. had wrung from the outlaw his reluctant story-the story of the murder that had stained with its red strands the relations of each of their lives to both the others. He felt against his heart the faint trembling of her frail body. So when boy, he had held in his hand a futtering bird and felt the whirring beat of its frightened heart against his strong, cruel fingers.
 A sudden aversion to more blood- shed, slckening of vengeance, swept over him as her heart mutely beat for mercy against his heart. She had done more than any man could do. Now she waited on him. Both his arms wrapped round her. In the breath less embrace that drew her closer she read her answer from him. She looked up into his eyes and waited. There's more than what's between you and me, Duke, facing us now" said De Spain sternly, when he turned. We've got to get Nan out of this--even If We don't get out ourselves. Where do you figure we are?" he cried.
 Il figure we're two miles north of the lava beds. De Spain." shouted Nor gan.
 De Spain shook his head in dissent. ''Then where are wei" demanded the olocr man rudely.
 ssI Ou1ht not tO sny nrninSt yOu