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Show f Nan gf Music Mountain Br FRANK H. SPEARMAN Author of WHUPSKOta (OopriifM SMITH" hr Ghutao telbMrh Boh) DE SPAIN RECEIVE8 A MY8-TERIO- ME8SAGE WHICH CAUSES THE HIM MOST TO TAKE DESPERATE TH8?GRANTSVILLE MEWS, GRANTSVILLE, UTAH. the sight, held fast to the handle and made no sign to stop. Bull! thundered the barn boss with an emphatic word. That is Elpasos bottle. What are you dreaming of, man? Mr. de Spain, youll kill him. Dont ye see be cant tell ye to stop? BulL with the last flickering spark of vitality still left within him, looked steadily up and winked at De Spain. McAlpln, outraged, stamped out of the room. Steadying the dipper In both hands, Bull with an effort passed one hand at the final moment preliminarily over his mouth, and, raising the bowl, emptied it The poison electrified him Into utterance. I seen her,. he declared, holding his chin well down and In, and speaking In a pardonably proud throat throw light on the message or messenger. No one had been found anywhere In town from Morgans gap; whoever had taken a chance In delivering the message had escaped undetected. Even after the search had been abandoned the significance of the Incident remained to be weighed. De Spain was much upset ' A conference with Scott whose Judgment In any affair was marked by good sense, and with Lefever, who, like a woman, reached by Intuition a conclusion at which Scott or De Spain arrived by process of thought, only revealed the fact that all three, as Lefever confessed, were nonplused. Its one of two things, declared Lefever, whose eyes were never dulled by late hours. 'Either theyve sent this to lure you Into the gap and get you, or else and thats a great big or else she needs you. Henry, did that message I mean the way It was worded sound like Nan Morgan? De Spain could hardly answer. It he said finally. did, and it didnt, his companions saw during But the pause by which his lips expressed the resolve he had finally reached that he was not likely to be truned from It 1 am going to act Just as If the word came from Nan and she does need me. More than one scheme for getting quickly Into touch with Nan was proposed and rejected within the next ten minutes. And when Lefever, after conferring with Scott, put up to De Spain a proposal that the three should ride Into the gap together and demand Nan at the hands of Duke Morgan, De Spain had reached another ity Is well ended, held out his hands toward the blazing stove. De Spain went over the words one by one, and the letters again and again. It was, after all their months of ardent meetings, the first written message, he had ever had from Nan. He flamed angrily at the news that she was prisoner in her own home. But there was much to weigh In her etched words, much to think about concerning her feelings not alone concerning his own. He dropped Into his chair, and, oblivious for a moment of his companion's presence, stared Into the Are. i hen he started from his revery Bull was asleep. De Spain picked him up, carried him In his blanket over to a cot, cut the wet rags off him, and, "Good, Bull I rolling him In a second blanket, Theyve got things tied up for fair walked out Into the barn and ordered over there." He spoke slowly and up a team and light wagon for Sleepy I never got Inside the Cat The rain fell all night brokenly. house till after supper. Toward night I helped Pardaloe put up the stock. CHAPTER XXII, He let me Into the kitchen after my An Ominous Message. coaxing for a cup of coffee hes an ornery, Few men bear suspense well; De guy, that Pardaloe. Old Duke and Sassoi i think the Spain took his turn at It very hard. sun rises, and sets on the top of his Patience. He repeated the word to head funny, aint It?" himself a thousand times to deaden De made no comment his suspense and apprehension. BusiSpain Whilst I was drinking my coffee " ness affairs took much of his time, but Nans situation took most of his Who gave It to you? , Old Bunny, the Mex. Pardaloe thought For the first time he told goes out to the bunkhouse ; I sits down John Lefever the story of Nans findto my supper, alone, with Bunny at ing him on Music mountain, of her the stove. All of a sudden who comes aid In his escape, and the sequel of In from the front of the their friendship. Lefever gave It to house but Jfan. I jumps up as Bob Scott In Jeffries' office., What did I tell you, John?" destrong as I could, but I was too cold and stiff to jump up real strong. She manded Bob mildly. seen me, but didnt pay no attention. No matter what you told me, reI dropped my spoon on the floor. It torted Lefever. The question Is: didnt do no good, neither, so I pushed What's he to do to get Nan away from a hot plate of ham and gravy off the there without shooting up the Mortable. It hit the dog n he Jumped gans?" like kingdom come. Old Bonny sails De Spain had gone that morning to and while Medicine Bend. He got back late and, into me, Nan Mex was pickin up and cleanin' up, after a supper at the Mountain house, I sneaks over to the stove and winks went directly to his room. The teleat Nan. Say, you ougtiter see her phone bell was ringing when he unlook mad at me. She was hot, but I locked and threw open his door. and I says to her kind Is this Henry de Spain?" came a kept of huskylike: Got any letters for voice, slowly pronouncing the words Calabasas tonight? Say, she looked over the wire. at me as If shed bore holes Into me, "Yes." but I stood right up and glared back I have a message for you from Muat the little girl. Gome from there sic mountain. "Go ahead." this momln', says L 'going back tonight Someone waiting there - for The message Is like this: Take me news. away from here as soon as you can. Whom Is that message from? By jlngl Just as I got the words I cant call any namaq. out o my mouth, who comes Who are you?" In but Gale Morgan. The minute I cant tell you that Goodby. he seen me, he lit on me to beat the Hold on. If youre treating me band called me everything be could to-c- ome lay his tongue to. I let on I was fair and I believe you mean room a to orover minute. He my drunk, but that didnt help. "No." dered me off the premises. IN the Let me come to where you are?" worst of It was. Nan chimed right In No." and began to scold Bunny for lettln Let me wait for you anywhere? me In and leaves the room, qulck-llk- e. No. Bunny put It on Pardaloe, and Do you think that message means she and Gale had It, on b Jing, Gale put me out said he'd pepper me. But what it says? I know It does. wait till I tell y' how she fooled him. Do you know what It means for me It was rainin' like h I, n It looked as If I was booked for a ride through to undertake? ."I have a pretty stiff Idea. It and hadn't half drunk my second Did you, get It direct from the the coffee of for I starts at cup that barn,, when someone In the. dark on party who sent It?" I cant talk all night Take It or the porch grabs my arm, spins me around like a top, throws a flasher up leave It just where It Is. He Into my face, and there was Nan. De Spain heard him close. BulL she says, Tm sorry. I dont closed his own Instrument and began want to see you ride out In this with feverishly signaling central. This Is nothing to eat; come this way quick. 101. Henry de Spain talking, he said You just called me. Ten She took me down cellar from the briskly. e kitchen. When dollars for you, operator If you can ratslde, under Sale goes out again she flings up the locate tliat call, quick 1 There was a moment of delay at the trapdoor, speaks to Mex, pulls all the kitchen shades down, locks the doors, central office, then the answer:-I- t and I sets down on the trapdoor steps came from 234 Tenlsons saloon. n eats a pipin hot supper; say I Give me your name, operator. Well, I reckon I drank a couple o Good. Now give me 22, and ring the quarts of coffee. Bull, she says, T neck off the belt never done you no harm, did I? Lefever answered the call on No. Never, says L and I never done you 22. The talk was quick and sharp. none, neither, did I? And what's Messengers were Instantly pressed more, I never will do you none. Then Into service from the dispatchers ofI up and told her. Tell him, says fice. Telephone wires hummed, and she, T can't get hold of a horse, nor every man available on the special a pen, nor a piece of paper I cant agent's force was ..ought into action. leave the, house but what I am Livery stables were covered, the pubwatched every minute. They Seep lic resorts were put under observation, track of me. day and night Tell him, horsemen clattered up and down the she says, T can protect myself; they street Within an incredibly short think they'll break me make me do time the town was rounded up, every what they want me to marry but outgoing trail ..watched, and search they cant break me, and ni never do was underway for anyone from MorIt tell him that' gans gap, and especially for the send"But eays L that aint the whole er of the telephone message. De Spain, after' Instructing Lefever, case, Miss Nan. What he'll ask me, when hes borin through me with his hastened to Tenlsons. His rnpld eyes like the way you're borin me questioning of the few habitues of the through with yours, Is : When will you place and the bartender elicited only see him when will he see you? the Information that a man had used She looked worrit for a minlt the telephone booth within a few minThen she looks around, grabs up the utes. Nobody knew him, or, If they cover of an empty tmcco box and a did know him, refused to describe Inside. Bull him In any but vague terms. fork and begins with as much of a smile- as he could Outside, Bob Scott In the saddle call Into life from his broken nerves, waited with s led horse. The two men opened up his blanket drew carefully rode straight and hard out on the from an Inside coat pocket an oilskin sinks. The sky was overcast, and package, unwrapped from It the flat speed was their only resource. After square top of a tin tobacco box, on two miles of riding, they reined up on which Nan had scratched a message, a ridge, and Scott, springing from the and handed It triumphantly to De saddle, listened for sounds. He rose Spain. from the ground, declaring he could He read her words eagerly: hear the strides of a running horse. Wait; don't have ' trouble. I can Again the two dashed ahead. The stand anything better than bloodshed, chose was bootless. Whoever rode before them easily eluded pursuit Henry. Be patient While De Spain, standing close to Undeterred by his failure to overthe lantern, deciphered the brief note, take the fugitive, De Spain rode rapBulL wrapping his blanket about him idly back to town to look for other with the air of one whose responsibil dews. Nothing further was found to cold-bloode- d, CHANCE OF HIS LIFE - Henry de Spain, manager of the stagecoach line between Thief River and Sleepy Cat, a railroad division town in the Rocky mountains, Is fighting a band of cattle thlevee living In Morgan gap, a fertile valley about 20 miles from Sleepy Cat and near Calabasas, where the stage horses are changed. Pe Spain has killed two of the gang and has been seriously wounded. Pretty Nan Morgan, niece of Duke Morgan, gang leader, and De Spain are In lovfe. Her uncle has taken steps to marry her to dale Morgan, a cousin, who Is a bad man In every way. CHAPTER XXI Continued. 14 Bull lifted his weak and watery face bright-tone- d eyes. His whisky-seame- d into the ghost of a smile. uWhat km going to ask you to do, continued be Spain, Is a mans Job. You can Set Into the gap without trouble. You tore the only man I can put my hand on Just now that can. I want you to Hde over this morning and hang out toround Duke Morgan's place till you tan get a chance to see Mi Nan " At the mention of her name Bull Shook his head a moment In affirmaShes .a queen I" ' he tive approval: i exclaimed with admiring but pungent A queen expletives. think so, BulL But she Is In troublesome circumstances. You know. Nan and I " Bull winked in many ways. And her Uncle Duke Is making us trouble, BulL I want you to find her, peak with her, and bring word to me es to what the situation Is. That doesnt mean you're to get drunk over there in fact, I dont think anybody over there would give you a drink " Don't believe they would. And you are to ride back here with what you can find out Just as quick, after you get Into the dear, as a horse Will bring you. , Bull passed his hand over his mouth It Indi(with a show of resolution. cated that he was pulling himself together. Within half an hour he was on his way to the gap. , For De Spain hours never dragged as did the hours between Bulls starting and the setting of the sun that eight without his return. And the sun set. behind Music mountain in a drift of heavy clouds that brought rain. All At eleven evening it fell steadily. Vdock'De Spain had given up hope of seeing his emissary before morn-- I lng and was sitting alone before the stove In the office when he heard the sound of hoofs. In another moment Bull Page stood at the door. He was a sorry sight Soaked to the skin by the steady downpour; rnln dripping intermittently from his frayed hat his ragged beard and tale red coat; shaking with the cold as If gripped by an ague, Bull, picking his staggering steps to the fire, and sinking In a heap Into a choir, gym-- , bollzed the uttermost tribute of manhood to the ravages of whisky. He was not drunk. He had not even been drinking; but his vitality was gone. He tried to speak. It was Impossible. His tongue would not frame words, nor bis throat utter them. He could only look helplessly at .De 8poln as De Spain hastily made him stand up on his shaking knees, threw a big blanket around him, sat him down, kicked open the stove drafts, and called to McAlpln for more whisky to steady the wreck of It crouching over the fire. McAlpln, after considerable and re- luctant search, produced a bottle, and unwilling, for more reasons than one, to trust It to Bulls uncertain pbsses- slon, brought a dipper. Bull heldthe dipper while De Spain poured. . McAlpln, behind the stove, hopped first on one foot and then on the other as De 0paln recklessly continued to pour. When the liquor half filled the cup, McAlpln put out unmistakable distress signals, but Bull, watching the brown stream, his eyes galvanised at 1 1 ! 1 , conclusion. I know you are tilling to take more than your share, John, of any game I play. In the first place, It Isnt right to take you and Bob In where I am going on my own personal affair. And I know Nan wouldnt enfight joy the prospect of an on her account Fighting Is a horror to that girL Ive got her feelings to think about as well as my own. Ive decided what to do, John. Tm going all-arou- In alone. , Youre going In alone I Tonight Now, HI tell you what Fd like you to do If you want to : ride with me and wait till morning, outside El Capltan. If you dont hear from me by ten oclock, ride back to Calabasas and notify Jeffries to look for a new manager. On the contrary, If we dont hear from you by ten oclock, Henry, we will blase our way In and drag out your body. Lefever put up his hand to cut off any rejoinder. Dont discuss It What happens after ten oclock tomorrow morning, If we dont hear from you before that cant possibly be of Interest to you or mnke but De any difference. Spain saw that he was not done. When he resumed, he spoke In a tone different from that which De Spain usually associated with him. Henry, youve pulled a , good many rough games In this country. No man knows better than I that you never pulled one for the looks of the thing or to make people talk or that you ever took a chance you didn't feel you .hnd to take. But It Isnt humanly possible you can keep tills up for all time I It cant go on forever. The pitcher goes to the well once too often, Henry; there comes a time when It doesnt come hack. Understand Tm not saying this to attempt to dissuade you from the worst job you ever started in on. I know your., mind Is made up. You won't listen to me ; you wont listen to Scott; and I'm too good an Indian not to know where I get off, or not. to do what Tm told. But this Is wiint Ive been thinking of a long, long time; and that Is whnt I feel I ought to say, here and now. The two men were sitting In De Spain's room. De Spain was staring through the broad south window at d the peaks of the distant range. He was silent for a time. T believe you're right, John, he said I know you are. In after a while. this case I am tied up more than I've ever been tied before; but Ive got to see it through as best I can, aqd take what comes without whining. My mind Is made up, and, strange as It may sound to you, I feel that I am coming back. Not but what I know It's due me, John. Not but what I expect to get it sometime. .And maybe Tm wrong now; but I don't feel as Its coming till Ive given all the protection to that girl that a man can give to a womun. d, white-cappe- ' Scott hnd already made up a tents tlve list. He named four first Farrell Kennedy, who was In town, and said nobody should go If he didnt; Frank Elpaso, the Texan; the Englishman, Tommy Meggeson; and Wlck-wlr-e, If he could be located any one of them, Lefever knew, could give an account of himself under all circumstances. While Scott was getting his men together, De Spain, accompanied by Lefever, was riding toward Music mountain. Scott had urged on them but one parting caution not to leave the aspens until rain began falling. When he spoke there was not a cloud In the It's going to rain tonight, just sky. the same, predicted Scott Dont leave the trees till It gets going. Those gap scouts will get under cover and be hunting for a drink the minute It gets cold I know them! You can ride right over their toes, If youll be pa- tient" 1 The sun set across the range In a g drift of grayish-blacclouds, which seemed only to awgit Its disappearance to envelop the moun- -. tains and empty their moisture on the desert By the time De Spain and Lefever reached the end of their long ride a misty rain was drifting dowm from the west The two men had Just .ridden Into the quaking asps when a man coming out of the gap almost rode Into them. The Intruders had halted and were sufficiently 'hidden to escape notice, had not Lefever's horse Indiscreetly coughed. The man from the gap reined up and called out Lefever answered. Its Bull Page, declared De Spain, after the exchange of a few words, colling to Bull at the same time to come over to the shelter of the trees. Whats going on In there. Bull?, asked De Spain after Bull had told him that Gale had driven 1dm out and he was heading for Calabasas. Looks You tell," retorted Page. to me like old Dukes getting ready to die. Gale says he's going to draw his will tonight and dont want nobody around got old Judge Drnel la there." De Spain pricked up his ears. What's that DruelT he demanded. Bull repeated his declaration. Lefever broke Into violent language at the Sleepy Cat jurists expense, and ended by declaring that no will should be drawn In the gap that night by Duke Morgan or anybody else, unless he and Bull were made legatees. this nothing could be Beyond learned from BulL who was persuaded without difficulty by Lefever to abandon the Idea of riding to Calabasas through the rain, and to spend the night with him In the neighborhood, wherever fancy, the rain, and. the wind which was rising should, dictate. Wlille the two were talking, tried to slip away, unobserved by Lefever, on his errand. He failed as he expected to, and after some familiar abuse, rode off alone, fortified by every possible suggestion at of a man to whom the slightest precaution was usually a Joke. De Spain reached Duke's ranch unchallenged. Night bad fallen everywhere, and the Increasing rain obscured even the outline of the house.. But a light shone through one uncurtained window. He waited some time for a sound of life, for a door to open or dose, or for the dog to bark he heard nothing. Slipping out of the wet saddle, he led his horse In the darkness under the shelter of the lone pine tree and, securing him, walked slowly toward the house. Mindful of the admonltlops he had been loaded with, he tramped around the. house In narrowing circles, pausing at times to look onj listen. In like manner he circled the barn and stables, until he had made sure there was no ambush and that he was alone nutsfde. After a time he stepped around to the front of the house, where, screened by a bit of shrubbery, lie could peer at close range Into the k, . low-lyin- . . De-Spai- the-hand- s living room. Standing before the fire burning In the open hearth, and with. his bade to it, he now saw Gale Morgan. Sitting bolt upright beside the table, square-jawe- d and obdurate, his stubby brier pipe supported by his hand and gripped In his great teeth, Duke Morgan looked: uncompromisingly past his belligerent nephew Into the fire. A third und elderly man, heavy, and almost toothless as he spoke, sat to the right of the table in a rocking chair, and looked at Duke; tills wns the' old lawyer and Justice from Sleepy Cat, the sheriffs brother Judge Drucl. ' CHAPTER XXIII. Nan was not to be seen. Gale, big and aggressive, was doing most of the A Surprising 8l!p. talking, and energetically, as was his Scott was called by Lefever to con- habit. Duke listened thoughtfully, clude In secret the final arrangements. but seemingly with coldness. Djruel The ground about the quaking asp loosed from Gale to Duke, and apgrove, and nearest El Capltan, afford- peared occasionally to put In a word ed the best concealment close to the to carry the argument along. gap. And to this point Scott was directed to bring what men he could beWhat happens to De Spain fore daybreak the following morning. when he goes Into Morgan gap "Its a short notice to get many men together of the kind we want, during tho night to rescue his sweetheart la told with thrilling You'll have to admitted Lefever. detail In the. next Installment skirmish some between now and middou .What think you night. you cun red-face- - -- dor (TO (.UNTIN UlbUj d, |