The Benson signal., 1917-10-20
CHAPTER XXIll-Continued.

to be baked, 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-f1tting 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
culations and blew open the door lead
ing from the hall into the living room.
A stream of light in turn shot through
the open door, across the hall. In
stantly De Spain stepped inside and
directly behind the front door-which
he now realized he dare not close
Gale Morgan. with an impatient ex-
clamation, strobe from the fireplace to
close the front door.
aAs he walked into the hall and
slammed the front door shut, he could
have touched with his hand the man
standing in the shadow behind it. De
Spain, not hoping to escape, stood
with folded arms, but under the ell
bow of his left arm was hidden the
long muzzle of his revolver. Holding
his breath, he waited. Gales mind
Was apparently filed with other
things. He did not suspect the pres
ence Of an intruder, and he walked
back into the living room, partly clos
ing the second door. De Spain, fol-
lowing almost on his heels stepped
past this door, past the hall stairs op-
posite it, and through q curtained
opening at the end Of the hall into
the dining room. Barely ten feet from
him, this room opened through an
arch into the living room, and where
he stood he could hear all that was
said.
gruff1y.
4 "Nobody," said Gale go on.
Druel.'
4 Druel talked softly and through his
nose: "I was only going to say it
would be good idea to have two wit
nesses."
s "Nita." suggested Gale.
K Duke was profane. "You couldn't
keep the girl in the room if she had
Nita to help her. And I want it un-
derstood Gale, between you and me,
fair and square, that Mans goin' to
live right here with me after this mar
.riage till I'm satisfied she's willing
80 go to yOu-otherwise it can't take
-place. now or never"
( DE Spain opened his ears. Gale
Efel. the hard, cold tone Of his crusty
relative, and answered with like
Sharshness: "What do you keep harp
ajng on that for? You've got my word.
.All 1 want Of you is to keep yours.
2tindeTstand?"
Il s"Ccme, come" interposed Druel.
q There's no need Of hard words. But
we need two witnesses. Who's going
TO be the other witness?"
:. Before anyone could answer De
Spain stepped out into the open arch
way before the three men. "Pll act
IT'S the second Witness" he said.
A With a common roar the Morgans
bounded to their feet. De Spain,
& standing slightly sidewise, his coat
japels tapped wide open, his arms
nkimbo. and his hands on his hips,
I: faced the three in an attitude Of read
ineas only. He had reckoned on the
Instant of inuecision which at times,
when coupled with apprehension, par
a!yZeg the will Of two men acting to-
4 gether Under the circumstances ei-
\ ther of the Morgans alone would have
whipped a gun on De Spain at sight.
Together, and knowing that to Dc so
meant death to the one that took the
drst shot frcra the archway, each wait
Y ed for the other; that fraction of a
e second uo2ettled their purpose. In
( stead of bullets, each launched curses
6 at the Intruder, and every second that
& passed led away from fight.
& De Spain took their oaths, demands
: and abuse without batting an eye.-
E 'I'm here for the second Witness"
I, was all he repeated, covering both
men with short glances. Druel, his
Z face muddily white as the whisky
. bloat deserted it, shrunk inside his
/ shabby clothes. De Spain with each
epithet hurled at him took dreaded
+ step toward Gale, and Druel, in the
lire of fire, brought htS knees up and
his head down till he curled like
porcupine.
. Gale, game as he undoubtedly was,
cornered, felt perhaps recollections Of
Calabasas and close quarters with the
brown eyes and the burning face.
What they might mean in this little
room, which De Spain was crossing
step by step, was food for thought.
Nor did De Spain break his obstinate
silence until their burst Of rage had
blown. you've arranged your mar
rlage," he said at length. "NOw pull
It."
"Mv cousju'a ready to marry me.