Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-23

after what-you did for me tonight
to think of your being shot down
like a dog. when you were only trying
to get away"
II wouldn't have had you take
ride like that for forty belts"
"McAlpin showed it to me the last
time | was at the stage barn, hanging
where you left it," He strapped the
cartridges around him.
You should never have taken
that ride for it. But since you
have" He rad drawn his revolver
from his ~aistband. He broke it
now and held it our. Load it for
me, Nan"
II Hate Him."
What do you mean?"
Put four more cartridges in it
yourself. Except for your cartridge,
the gun is empty. When you do that
you will know none of them ever
will be used against your own except
to protect my life. And if you have
any among them whose life ought to
come ahead of mine name him, or
them, now. Do as l tell you-load
the gun"
He took hold of ner hands and,
in spite of her refusal, made her do
his will. He guided her hand to draw
dDOInGT,
from his belt, and waited for her to
slip them in the darkness into the
empty cylinder, to close the breech,
and hand the gun back.
Now, Man." he said. you know
me. You may have doubts-they will
all die. You will hear many stories
about me-but you VIII say: I put
the cartridges in his revolver with
my own hands, and l know he won't
abuse the means of defense I gave
him myself There can never be any
real doubts or MISUNDERSTANDING be-
tween us again, Nan" He waited for
her to speak, but she remained silent
You have given me my life, my
defense" he continued, passing from
subject that he perceived was
better left untouched. who is near
est and dearest to you at homer"
My Uncle Duke"
Then / never will raise a hand
against your Uncle Duke. And this
what is that man."
II hate him."
Thank God! So do L."
But he is a cousin"
Then l suppose he must be one of
mine"
Unless he tries to kill you"
He won't be very long in trying
that. And now, what about yourself?
What have you got to defend your
self against him, and against every
other drunken MANI"
She laid her own pistol without n
word in De Spain's hand. He felt it,
opened, closed, and gave it back.
That's a good defender-when it's
in reach. When it's at home it's a
poor one"
1T will never be at home again ex-
cept when / am"
Shall tell you a secret?"
What is it?" asked Nan unsus-
pectingly.
I'VE are engaged TO be married"
She sprang from him like a deer.
IT'S a dead secret" he said gravely.
nobody knows it yet-not even
you"
g You need never talk again like
that If you want to be friends with
me-" she said Indignantly. "I hate
it,"
Hate it if you will; it's so. And
1t began when you handed me that
little bit of lead and brass on the
mountain tonight, to defend your life
and mine"
"I'll hate you if you persecute me
the way Gale does. The moon is
almost up. You must 60"
You haven't told me-" he persist
ed, how you got away at ALL" They
had walked out of the trees. He look
ed reluctantly to the east. Tell me
and I'll CO." he promised.
After 1 went up to my room I
waited till the house was all quiet.
Then I started for Calabasas. When
1 came back got up to my room
without being seen, and sat at the
window a long time. 1 waited till
all the men stopped riding past.
Then I climbed through the window