The Lamar register., 1917-06-20

ridden into the quaking asps when a
man coming out of the gap almost
rode into them. The intruders had
halted and were sufficiently hidden to
escape notice, had not Lefever's horse
indiscreetly coughed. The man from
the gap reined up and called out. Lee
fever answered.
Its Bull Page" declared De Spain,
after the exchange of few words,
calling to Bull at the same time to
come over to the shelter Of the trees.
"What's going on in there, BullT'
asked De Spain after Bull had told
him that Gale had driven him out, and
he was heading for Calabasas.
"You tell" retorted Page. Looks
to me like old Dukes getting ready
to die. Gale says he's going to draw
his will tonight, and don't want no
body around-got old Judge Druel in
there"
De Spain pricked up his ears
"Whats that, Druel?" he demanded.
Bull repeated his declaration. Lefe-
yer broke into violent language at the
Sleepy Cat jurlst's expense, and ended
by declaring that no will should be
drawn in the gap that night by Duke
Morgan or anybody else. unless he
and Bull We're made legatees.
Beyond this nothing could be
learned from Bull, who was persuad-
ed without difficulty by Lefever to
abandon the idea of riding to Calaba-
sas through the rain, and to spend
the night with him in the nelghbor-
hood, wherever fancy. the rain, and
the wind-which was rising-should
dictate.
While the two were talking, De
Spain tried TO slip away. unobserved
by Lefever, on his errund. He failed.
as he expected to, and after some fa-
millar abuse. rode OF alone. fortified
by every possible suggestion at the
hands Of a man TO whom the slightest
precaution was usually n joke.
De Spain reached Dukes ranch un-
challenged. Night had fallen every
where and the increasing rain OBJ
scured even the outline of the house.
But a light shone through one uncur-
tained window. He waited some time
for sound of life, for u door to open
or close, or for the dog to bark-he
heard nothing. Slipping out of the
wet saddle. he led his horse In the
darkness under the shelter of the lone
pine tree and, securing him, walked
slowly toward the house
Mindful Of the admonitlons he had
been loaded with, he tramped around
the house In narrowing circles, paus-
ing at times to look and listen. In
like manner he circled the barn and
stables, until he had made sure there
was no ambush and that he was alone
outside. After a time he stepped
around to the front of the house,
where, screened by n bit of shrubbery,
he could peer at close range into the
living room.
Standing before the fire burning In
the open hearth. and with his back
to i, he now saw Gale Morgan. Sit
ting bolt upright beside the table.
square-ia iawed and obdurute, his stubby
brier pipe supported by his hand and
grippcd In his great teeth. Duke Nor.
gan looked uncompromisingly past his
belligereut nephew into the fire. A
third and elderly man, heavy, red.
faced, and almost toOthless as he
spoke, sat to the right Of the table In
IA rocking chair, and looked Mt Duke
this was the old lawyer and justice
from Sleepy Cat, the sheriffs broth.
er-Judge Druel.
Nan was not to be seen. Gale, big
and aggressive, was doing most of the
talking, and energetically, as was his
habit. Duke listened thoughtfully,
but seemingly with coldness. Druel
looked from Gale to Duke, and ap.
peared occasionally to put in IA word
to carry the argument along.
De Spain suspected nothing of what
they We're talking about, but he was
uneasy concerning Nan, and was not
TO be balked, by any combination. of
his purpose Of finding her. To secure
Information concerning her was not
possible, unless he should enter the
house, and this, with scant hesitation,
he decided to do.
He wore a snug-fitting leathern
coat. He unbuttoned this and threw
it open as he stepped noiselessly up
to the door. Laying his hand on the
knob, he paused, then, finding the
door unlocked, he pushed it slowly
open.
The wind, rushed in. upset his cal
culadons and blew open the door lead