The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-08-08

Stand Behind the Head of the Piano
Till You Are Awfully Sure Who
It Is"
the incident that Nan walked up the
stairs on De SPANS arm treasured.
When he kissed her ut her Don door
and turned down the stairs again. she
leaned in the half-light Over the banis-
ter, waving one hand at him and MUIR
muring the last caution: "Be careful,
Henry. won't your
"Dearie, I'm always careful"
"'Cause you're all I've got now" she
whispered.
you're all I'VE got. Nan, girl"
II haven't got any hOme-or any.
~thing-just you. Don't go to the door
yourself. Leave the front door p
Stand behind the end of the piano till
you are awfully sure who it is"
what a head. NAM"
De Spain cut off the lights. threw
open the front door, and in the dark.
ness sat down on the piano stool. A
heavy step on the porch, a little while
later, was followed by a knock on the
open door.
"Come in" called De Spain roughly.
The bulk Of a large man filled ana OBJ
scured for an instant the opening
then the visitor stepped carefully over
the threshold. "What do you want?"
asked De Spain without changing his
tone. He awaited with keenness the
sound Of the answer
us Henry de Spain here?'
The voice was not familiar to De
SPANS ear. He told himself the man
was unknown TO him. II am Henry
de SPAIN" he returned without hesita.
ton. what do you want?"
The visitors deliberation was reflect.
ed In his measured speaking. 81 am
from Thief River" he began, and his
tinct. II IA sent in to Morgan's gap
some time ago to find out who burned
the C%alabasas barn."
"And you report top
Kennedy"
De Spain paused. A fresh convic.
ton had flashed across his mind. "You
called me up IN the telephone one night
last week." he said suddenly.
The answer came without evasion.
II did"
"You gave me a message from Nan
Morgan that she never gave you"
Il did. I thought she needed you
right Off. She didn't know me as /
rightly am. I knew what was going on.
l rode into town that evening and rode
out again. 1t was not my business, and
l couldn't let 1t interfere with the bust.
ness I'm paid to look after. That's the
reason l lodged YOU"
There is a chair at the left Of the
door; sit down. What's your manner"
The nan feeling around slowly, de-
posted his angular bulk with care up
on the little chair. my name"--in the
tenseness of the dark the words
seemed to carry added mystery-'is
PardalOe."
you've got a brother-JOe Parda.
lOe?" suggested De Spain to trap him.
mo, I've got no brother. / am just
plain JIM Pardaloe."
"Say what you have got to say,
JIM"
"The only job I could get In the gap
was with old Duke Morgan-Tve been
working for him, of and on. and spend
Ing the rest OF my time with Gale ana
Dave Sassoon There were three men
In the barn-burning. Dave Sassoon
Put up the job"
"Where Is Dave Sassoon nowY'
Dead"
Both men were silent for a moment.
Yesterday mornings fghtr" asked
De Spain reluctantly.
"Yes, SIR"
"How did he happen to catch us OH
Ell Capitanr
HE saw q fire on Music mountain
and watched the lower end of the gap
all night. Sassoon raj a wide-awake
man."
swell. I'm sorry. Pardaloe." con-
tinued De Spain after q moment. "No-
body could call Il my fault. II was
either he or Tor the life Of 4 woman
who ' harmed . hair of hin head.
and . woman I'm bound to protect. He
was running when hs was hit. II he
hid Got 70 covsr again thsrs was moth