The Jasper news., 1917-03-29

with, struggle with the woman, or girl,
rather--child, even, to his thoughts, 30
fragile she wns-this girl who had
given him back his life against her
own marauding relatives.
His friends saw that something was
absorbing him In an unusual, even an
extraordinary way, yet none could mr.
rive at certain conclusion as to what
it was. The one man In the country
who could have surmised the situa-
tlon between the two--the barn boss,
McAlpln--if he entertained suspicious,
was far too pawky to share them with
anyone.
When two weeks had passed without
De Spain's having seen Nan or having
heard of her being seen, the conclu-
sion urged itself on him that she was
either Ill or In trouble-perhaps in
trouble for helping him; moment
later he was laying plans to get into
the gap to find out.
Nothing In the way of venture
scould be more foolhardy-this he ad-
mitted to himself-nothing, he con-
soled himself by rejecting, but some
thing stronger than danger could JUS
tify 1t. OF all the motley Morgan fol-
lowing within the mountain fastness
he could count on but one man to help
him in the slightest degree--this was
the derelict, Bull Page. There was no
choice but to use him, and he was
easily enlisted, for the Calabasas affair
/ L. A. tn an,, NJ To Gnoin
in the barrooms. De Spain, according
ly, lay in wait for the old man and
Intercepted him one day on the road
to Sleepy Cat, walking the twenty
miles patiently for his whisky.
"You must be the only man In the
gap, Bull, that can't borrow or steal
horse to ride" remarked De Spain,
stopping him near the river bridge.
Page pushed back the broken brim
of his hat and looked up. "You
wouldn't believe It," he said, impart-
ing cheerful confidence, "but ten
years ago had horses to lend to every
man tween here and Thief river" He
nodded toward Sleepy Cat with
wrecked smile, and by d, dramatic
chance the broken hat-brim fell with
the words: "They've got 'em all"
"Your fault, Bull"
"Sayw Up went the broken brlm,
and the whiskied face lighted with a
shaking smile, "you turned some trick
on that Caiabnsas crew-some fight"
Bull chuckled.
"Bull, is old Duke Morgan Repub-
lican?"
Bull looked surprised at the turn Of
De Spain's question, but answered In
good faith: "Duke votes most any
ticket that's again the railroad"
"How about picking a couple OF
good barnmen over in the gap, Bull?'
"What kind of job y got?"
"See AtcAlpin the next time you're
over at Calabasas. How about that
girl that lives with Duke?"
Bulls face lighted. "Nanl Say |
she's little hummer!"
II hear she's gone down to Thief
river, teaching school,"
"Came by Dukes less'n three hours
ago. Seen her In the kitchen maxim
bread"
"They're looking for schoolteacher
down there, anyway. Much sickness In
the gap lately, Bullf''
sony sickness l knowed lately Is
what you're responsible for y'self." re-
torted Bull with grin. "Plty y left
: any chips at all from that Calabasas
job. eh?'
i "See McAlpin, Bull, next time you're
, over Calabasas way. Here"-De Spain
} drew some currency from his pocket
t and handed bill to Page. go get
| your hair cut. Don't talk too much
, wear your whlskers long and youl
r tongue short"
D "Right-oI"
, "You understand"
r "Take 1t from old Bull Page, he's q
l worlds wonder of sucker, but he
: knows his friends"
i, "But remember this-you don't know
Q me. If anybody knows you for frient
9 of mine, you are no good to me. Seer
e Bull was beyond expressing his com
9 prehension in words alone. He winked
i nodded, and screwed his face into {
e thousand wrinkles. De Spain, wheel
g ing, rode away, the old man blinking
y first after him, and then at the money
+ in his hand. He didn't profess to un
v derstand everything In the high coun
try, but he could still distinguish thu
principal figures at the end Of bank
note. When he tramped to Calabasai
the next day to interview McAlpin HI
received more advice, with stroni