e
of procrastination. Thus, the whole day went to their castles and
dreams. In a retired corner of the cool dining-room at the Mountain
House, they lingered together over a long-drawn-out dinner. The
better-informed guests by asides indicated their presence to others.
They described them as the hardy couple who had first met in a
stiff Frontier Day rifle match, which the girl had won. Her defeated
rival--the man now most regarded and feared in the mountain
country--was the man with the reticent mouth, mild eyes, curious
birthmark, and with the two little, perplexed wrinkles visible most
of the time just between his dark eyebrows, the man listening
intently to every syllable that fell from the lips of the trimly
bloused, active girl opposite him, leaning forward in her eagerness to
tell him things. Her jacket hung over the back of her chair, and she
herself was referred to by the more fanciful as queen of the outlaw
camp at Music Mountain.

They two were seen together that day about town by many, for the story
of their courtship was still veiled in mystery and afforded ground for
the widest speculation, while that of their difficulties, and such
particulars as de Spain's fruitless efforts to conciliate Duke Morgan
and Duke's open threats against de Spain's life were widely known. All
these details made the movement and the fate of the young couple the
object of keenly curious comment.

In the late afternoon the two rode almost the whole length of Main
Street together on their way to the river bridge. Every one knew the
horseflesh they bestrode--none cleaner-limbed, hardier, or faster in
the high country. Those that watched them amble slowly past, laughing
and talking, intent only on each other, erect, poised, and motionless,
as if moulded to their saddles, often spoke of having seen Nan and her
lover that day. It was a long time before they were seen riding down
Main Street together again.

CHAPTER XXIII

DE SPAIN WORRIES

They parted that evening under the shadow of Music Mountain. Nan
believed she could at least win her Uncle Duke over from any effort of
Gale's to coerce her. Her influence over her uncle had never yet
failed, and she was firm in the conviction she could gain him to her
side, since he had everything to win and nothing to lose by siding
against Gale, whom he disliked and distrusted, anyway.

For de Spain there was manifestly nothing to do but doubtfully to let
Nan try out her influence.