The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-03-24

| iiO poihlou " Tue COdl-TdCk vi
the wall just inside the wide barn
Idoor. There is Henry de Spain's
coat He hung 1t there Just be.
fore he went down to the fnh
Under 1T, IL you look, you'll find
his belt or cartridges. Don't take
lmy word-look for yourself.
Giving this information time to
sink in, McAlpin continued. Mans
eyes had turned, despite her In
difference, to the coat; but she
was thinking more intently about
the belt which McAlpin asserted
hung under 1t.
You want to know what he did
go down to the hotel for that after
noon? l happen to know that,
too" averred McAlpin. First |
want to say this: 1 worked for
your Uncle Duke five years"
| He paused to give Nan a chance
to dispute the statement il she SO
desired. Then he went on: "Hen-
ry de Spain is dead" he said quiet
ly. She eyed him without so much
as speaking. And since he's dead
1t harms no one to tell 1t to you
though I'd never breathe it to an
other. He was fairly gone on you
Now that's the fair truth. He
thought all the time he was fool.
ing me, and keeping covered. Why
II laughed to myself at his tricks
to get information without letting
lon! Now, that afternoon he came
In here to see your pony a-stand-
ing back there in the box-stall. He
asked me whose 1t was; and he
, asked me about you, and, by iinx!
the way he perked up when | told
him you were coming in on the
! stage that afternoon! When ht
. heard you'd been sick, he was fol
going down to the hotel to get {
cup of coffee-for you!" McAlpir
exclaimed. And you know VIVA
he got when he stopped into tn,
bar-room." He took hold of d,
lSpain's coat and held 1t aside Il
enter his exhibit. There" he con
cluded, us his cartridge belt hang
ing there yet. The boy is dead
why shouldn't tell your"
Without going in to speak t.
Gale, whom Bull Page, his nurse
reported very cross but not hur
much, Nan left her packet for hin
and rode hime. Her Uncle Duk,
, was in town.
The longer she pondered on d,
, Spain and his dilemma and hel
own - the more she worried
: When she went to bed she though
r sleep-never hard for her to woe
would relieve her of her anxiet,
flor at least the night. But sh.
waited In vain for sleep.
At last she dressed resolutely
walked softly downstairs and ou
! OF doors.
Nan at length found herself be
low the ledge where de Spain wa
In hiding. Hearing no sound, sh,
: took courage and made the ascent
She reached without adventur,
: the corner OF the ledge. Then hel
heart stopped in an agony of feaI
, she heard voices.
To attempt to escape was a.
dangerous as to lie still. Had sh,
dared, she would have retreated a
once the way she came. Since sh,
dared not, she was compelled Il
hear what was said. De Spain hat
confederates. then, and had trick
ed her, after all. Whatever hii
plot, she was resolved to know It
She took her revolver in hand ant
drew herself nearer. When sh,
had gained her new position tn,
mutterings, which had been indis
tinct. became audible. It was no
two voices she had heard, but one
de Spain, she judged, was talk
ing in his sleep.
But moment later this explain.
alton failed to satisfy her. The
muttering were too constant and
two disconnected to be mistaken
for sleep-talking-it dawned or
Nan that this must be delirium
She crept nearer.
He was babbling In the chill
darkness about ammunition, urg.
ing men to. make haste, warning
them of some one coming. Nan lis
tened to his rawlings, overcome by
the revelation of his condition.
| She told herself he must die II
he remained longer unaided, and
there were unpleasant possibilities
lif he died where he lay. Such a
death, so close to her own home
might, IL IL were ever known
throw huspicion on her uncle and
arouse the deeper resentment OF
the wounded mans friends.
Toward daylight OF the morning
de Spain dreamed he was not
alone. But when he opened his
eyes later. and with clearer
head, he found food and drink
near. He fancied his wavering
senses deceiving him, until he put
out his hand and felt actually the
substance of what he saw.
] He was determined, If she