The Mena weekly star., 1917-05-24
CHAPTER Xx. Concluded


 4 acted while he listened-and after 8E ward. He talked a good deal about Gale and the way she was treating her cousin. When Nan declared she never would have anything to do with s him, her uncle told her with disconcert- ing bluntness to get all that out of her head, for she was going to marry him. When she protested she never would, Duke told her, with many harsh oaths, that she should never marry De Spain eEen if he had to kill him or get killed to stop it, and that if she had any sense she would get ready to marry her cousin peaceably, adding, that if she didn't have sense, he would sea himself it was provided for her.
 His threats left Nan aghast For two days she thought them all over. Then she dressed to go to town. On her way to the barn her uncle intercepted her. "Where you going?"
 "To Sleepy Cat" returned Nan, re- garding him collectedly.
 "No, you're not" he announced bluntly.
 Nan looked at him in silence. q don't want you running to town any more to meet. De Spain" added Duke, without any attempt to soften his in- junct4n.
 "T!5i I've got to go to town once in q GBile, whether I meet Henry de Spain or not, Uncle Duke"
 "Nhat do you have to go for?'
 Why for mail, supples-every- thng.'
 "Pardaloe can attend to all that"
 Nan shook her head. "Whether he ean or not, I'm not going to be cut off from going to Sleepy Cat, Uncle Duke --hor from seeing Henry de Spain."
 Meaning to say you won't obey, eh?"
 When I'm going to marry q man it isn't right to forbid me seeing him."
 You're not going to marry him you're going to marry Gale, and the quicker you make up your mind to il the better"
 You might better tell me l am going to marry Bull Page-I would marry him first. l win never marry Gale Morgan in the living world, and I've told you so more than once."
 He regarded his niece a moment wrathfully and, without replying walked back to the house. Nan, upset but resolute, went on to the barn and asked Pardaloe to saddle her pony. Pardaloe shufled around in an obliging way, but at the end of some evasion admitted he had orders not to do it. Nan famed at the information. She disliked Pardaloe anyway, not for any reason she could assign beyond the fact that he had once been a chum of Gales. But she was too high-spirited to dispute with him, and returned to- the house pink with indignation. Go ing straight to her uncle, she protested against such tyranny. Duke was in sensible alike to her pleas and her threats.
 But next morning Nan was up at three o'clock. She made her way into the barn before a soul was stirrng, and at daybreak was well on her way to Sleepy Cat She telephoned to De Spain's office from the hospital and went to breakfast. De Spain joined her before she had finished, and when they left the dining room she explained why she had disappointed him the day before. He heard the story with mis- givings.
 "T'l tell you how 1t looks to me, Man." he said when she had done. You are like a person that's being bound tighter every day by invisible cords. You don't see them because you are fearless. You are too fearless, Man." he added, with apprehension re- hected in the expression of his face. 'Ill tell you what I wish you'd do, and say it knowing you won't do 1t" he concluded.
 She made light of his fears, twisting his right hand till it was helpless in her two hands and laughing at him. How do you know 1 won't do it2'
 Because I've asked you before. This is it: Marry me, now, here, today, and don't take any more chances out there.
 But, Henry" protested Nan, T can't marry you now and just run away from poor Uncle Duke. If you will just be patient, I'll bring him around to our side"
 Never, Nan"
 Don't be so sure. know him bet ter than you do. and when he comes for anybody, he comes all at once. Why, it's funny Henry. Now that I'm picking up courage, you're losing itP
 He shook his head. q don't like the way things are going"
 "Dearie, she urged, should be any safer at home If I were your wife, than am as your sweetheart. don't want to start horrible family war by rum ming away, and that is just what cer- tainly should do."
 De Spain was unconvinced- But ap- prehension is short-lived in young hearts. The sun shone, the sky spfsiid a speckless blue over desert and moun- tain, the day went to their castles and