The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-06-28
CHAPTER XVII.


their dream. They parted late, each
trying to soften the blow as IL fell on
the other. each processing a courage
which. In the face of the revelation,
neither could clearly feel. -
In the morning Jeffries brought
down TO De Spain. who had spent a
sleepless night at the Office. letter
from Nan.
De Spain opened Il with acute mis-
givings. Hardly able to believe his
eyes. he slowly read:
Dearest-A wild hope has come to ne.
Perhaps we don't know the Truth OF this
terrible story as II really Is. Suppose We
should Be condemning poor Uncle Duke
without having the real factsf Sassoon
vas a wretch. Henry. " ever one hved-
curse 10 Everyone What purpose he
coas- -erve by repeating this story. which
ne must have kept very secret Till now.
don't know; but there was some reason
I must know the whole trrfh-f feel that
!. alone, can get hold OF Il. and that you
would approve what 1 am doing IL you
were here with me in this little room.
where I am writing 1t dayoreak. TO show
you my heart.
Long before you get this I shall be
speeding toward the gap. am going
20 Uncle Duke TO get from him the ex-
act truth. Uncle Duke Is breaking-has
broken-and now that the very worst has
come. and we must face II. he Will tell
me what ! ask. Whether / can get him
TO repeat this to you. TO come 10 you. 70
throw himself on your pity. my dearest
one. don't know. But II Is for this
Am going 10 try. and for this beg OF
your love-the love OF which ! have been
so proud,-tha; you will let me stay with
him until ! at least learn everything and
k-4r o ~A.4N.
can bring him. 1 will.
And shall be safe with him-perfectiy
safe. Gale has been driven away. Pard-
aloe. I know ! can trust. and he viii be
under the roof with me Please. do not
try TO come TO me. II might ruin every
thing. Only forgive me. and shall bs
back with what l hope for. or what
fear. very. very soon Not tn then can
! bear TO look into your eyes. You have
q better night than anyone In the world
TO know the whole truth. cost what II
may. Be patient for only n little while
with ------a----- .--.- NAN.
II was Jsffries who said. afterward.
he hoped never again TO be the bearer
OF letter such as that. Never until
he had read and grasped the contents
OF Mans note had Jeffries seen the
bundle OF resource and nerve and
sinew. that men called Henry de
Spain, 90 to pieces. For once, trouble
overbore him.
When he was able to speak he told
Jeffries everything. lit is my faux" :"
he said hopelessly. Il was so crippled.
so stunned. she must have thought
see ii now-that l was making ready
to ride out by daybreak and shoot
Duke down on sight. It's the price n
man must pay. Jeffries. for the abll-
ity 10 defend himself against this
bunch OF holdup men and assassins.
Because they can't get me, I'm gun
man"
"No. you're not n 'gunman.'
"a gunman and nothing else. That's
what everybody. friends and enemies,
reckon me-a guninan. You put me
here TO clean out this Calabasas gang.
not because Of my good looks, but
because rYe been. so FIR. a fraction OF
q second quicker on trigger than
these dOuble-d-1 crooks"
Jeffries. from behind his pipe. re-
garded De SPANS random talk calmly.
Il do fsSl hard over my fathers
DEATH he went on moodily. "Who
Wouldn't II God meant me TO forget
IL. why did be put this mark on my
face. Jenfl did talk pretty strong 10
Nan about II on Music mountain
Il did feel. for long time, I'd ike
20 kill with my own hands the man
h4at murdered my father. Je1. Ny
mother muss have realized that her
babe. II man-chlld. was doomed TO q
life OF bloodshed. I've been trying 10
think most OF the night what she'd
want me to do now. don't know what
can do, or can't do. when l sei eyes
on the old scoundrel. He's got to tell
the truth-that's all l say now. II he
lies, after what he made my mother
suffer, he ought TO die Ike dog-nC
matter who he Ia.
Il don't want TO break Mans heart
What can dol Hanging him here IL
Sleepy Cat. II / could do IL. wouldnr
help her feelings a whole lot. II
could see the fellow" De Spain,
hands, spread before him on the table
drew up tight. III / could get my fin
gers on his throat, for n minute. an,
talk to him. tell him what think q
him-I might know what would wan
TO do-Nan might be there 20 see an,
judge between Us. ia be almost VII
ing TO leave things 10 her TO settle her
self. ! only want what's right. But,
the oath that recorded his closini
threat was collected and pItiless. Il
any harm comes to that girl now frou
this wild trip back among those woIves
God pity the men that put II over. III
wipe out the whole accursed clan. IL
have 10 swing for 1t right here Il
Sleepy CatI'' ~ f-. -
John Lefeyer. Jefries. Scott in turr
took him in hand 10 hold him durin
three days. 70 restrain the fury OF hi
resentment. and keep him from ridin
10 the gap In temper that each Q
.Har,, t4,avr- xr-..,rl s.,r.n.. ,rtI.- ,