White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-04-08

Michael O'Neill scowled into t.lo
gathering darkness. His keen gray
eyes were troubled and a perplexed
puckered on his forehead Nan, his
daughter watched him covertly. They
were alone on the veranda Of the
Lazy M ranchhouse and a hooking
bird was pouring it's delirious music
from the cottonwoods high over their
heads, while the stars began pricking
through the deepening dusk.
man," he shifted his gaze to the
girl and addressed her abruptly, lis
Rance Harlow comm here again to-
night?"
She nodded and stared at her griz-
zled father quizzically. Her dark
eyes were thoughtful, as she leaned
toward him with her elbows on her
knees and her chin firm and strong
like his own, cupped in her hands.
"Gettin' serious, amt he?" O'Neill
queried. "He's been here every night
lately, an it amt no hop-step-an' Jump
to tn Lazy M from where he's pros
pectin' back there in tn hills behind
Little Paradise" He gestured toward
the north.
Nan laughed deliciously.
It's no laughin' matter, Man," he re-
minded her bluntly.
She caught the anxiety in his tones
and became serious at once.
you're all I've got, Man," his voice
became husky with feeling in spite of
his efforts to control his emotion.
"Ever since your mother died, when
you were just a fodder, Nan, I've
worked an lived for you. Nothin's
been too good for you. That's why I
sent you back east for schoolin'. Moth
in ever will be too good for you, Nan,
an Rance Harlow amt tn kind Of man
I'm wantin' you to marry. Don't mis-
understand me, Man," he continued
wistfully. IT amt amin to butt in
a'tall. You're old enough to know
your own mind an, when it comes to
love, it's generally best to do your own
decidin'. Somehow, though don't
like Rance Harlow"
'You dear old Dad!" she exclaimed
impulsively, as she came and settled
on the arm Of his rocking-chair and
flung her arms around his neck, while
she heaped kisses on his tumbled
thatch of snowy hair. There is very
little likelihood of your having SON
in-law for quite while, Dad, but what
is your objection to Rance Harlow?"
HE amt good enough for you, Man,"
t'Why?"
He scratched his head thoughtfully.
care you condemning him without
reason?" she teased. "That's not at all
like you, Dad
There's nothin' can put my fng-
er on, Man," he confessed sheepishly,
"but I just can't see Rance Harlow. I
didn't like him, when met him short
ly after he came into this section a
little more than year ago. l liked
him less, when he started comm here
after you landed home from tn east
about six months back. like him less
than that now. There's something
about Harlow, Nan, that makes me in
distrust him. There you
are!"
"And here he comes" Nan spoke
softly, as the regular clippetty-clop,
of a galloping pony's
hoofs came to their ears, family at
first but gradually growing louder as
they drew nearer. "He is riding fast"
can he's mostly likely bubblin' over
with tn doin's Of tn Black Rider"
O'Neill grumbled, as he got to his
feet. "He seems to get quite kick
out Of that bandit, who has been stir
rim up didoes in these parts for tn
last few months. Well, Harlow won't
be worryin' me with his fool chatter,
I'm goin' down to tn mems quarters
an have talk with Hall. If by any
chance anybody other than Harlow
comes, hold him till I get back, Man."
IT WILL" she replied, as her father
disappeared in the enveloping shad-
ows.
However it was not Harlow whom