Nebraska Newspapers

    THE 8EMI.WEEKLV TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA
The Lone Star
A Romance of the Old Fighting Stock
on the TexQ3 Border
8YN0P6I8.
Buck Dunne. Inheriting blood lust from
kin fatter, .lulls a liquor-maddened "bad
man" who Is bent on killing Dunne. To
oocapa the law. Buck flees tn tlie wild
country Infested by outlaws. He 1ms just
Biel one and Is Invited to form n partner
hip for better or worse. He accepts.
They liave trouble at once. Stevens dies
from a bullet wound. Buck enters the
amp of Blnnd'b cans find wounds an
iu t law iho trios t kill him.
CHAPTER V.
Duune looked nrcMwl Inm for n book
or n paper, nnythlng to rend; but nil
the printed mnttcr he could find con
Blsfcd of n few words on cartridge
boxes nnd nn advertisement on tlio
back of n tobacco poucli. There
seemed to ho nothing for htm to do.
"He had rested ; he did not wnnt to lto
down nny more. lie began to walk to
and fro, from ono end of the room to
the other. And ns he wnlked ho fell
Into the lately acquired habit of
brooding over his misfortune.
Suddenly he ntrnlglitcned tip with a
Jerk. Unconsciously ho hnd drawn his
gun. Standing there with the bright,
cold weapon In his hnnd, ho looked nt
tt In consternation. How had he como
to draw It? It might havo como from
subtle sense, scarcely thought of nt
all, of the late, close and Inevitable re
lation between that weapon and him
.self. Ho was amazed to And thnt? bit
ter ns he had grown of Into, the dcslro
to lire burned strong In him. Life
certainly held no bright prospects for
hlni. Already he had begun to despair
of ever getting back to his home. But
to give up like u whlte-henrted coward,
to let himself be handcuffed and'
Jailed, to run from n drunken, brag
ging cowboy, or bo shot In cold blood
by somo border brute who merely
wanted to add another notch to his
ruh theso things were impossible- for
Duano because there was In 1dm the
temper to fight.
In that hour he yielded only to fr.to
and the spirit Inborn In him. Here
after this gun must bo n living pnrt
of him. Right then nnd thcro he re
turned to a practice he had long dis
continued tlio draw. It wns now a
ntern, bitter, deadly business with
him. Ho did not need to fire the gun,
for accuracy was n gift and hnd be
come uwmrvd, Swiftness on tho draw,
however, could bo Improved, nnd ho
set himself to acquire the limit of
speed possible to any man. Ho stood
etlll in his tracks ; lto paced the room ;
be sat down, lay down, put himself In
awkward positions; nnd from every
position lie practiced throwing Ids
gun practiced it till ho wns hot and
tired and his arm ached nnd his hand
burned. That practice ho determined
to keep up every day. It was ono
thing, at least, that would help pass
tlio weary hours.
Later ho went outdoors to tho cooler
Windo of tho cottonwoods. From this
"point ho could sec a good deal of tho
valley. Under different circumstances,
Duano felt that ho would havo en-
He Practiced Drawing His Gun.
Jeyed such n beautiful spot, no saw
d good many Mexicans, who, of course,
ere kand and glove with Bland.
I also ho saw enormous flat-boats, crude
C structure, moored along the banks
DC the river, The Itlo Qrnndo rolled
kway between high bluffs. A cublo,
gagging deep in tho middle, wns
tretched over tho wide yellow stream,
and an old scow, evidently used us u
Xcrry, lay anchored on tho far shore.
The vallp ,wus nn Ideal retreat for
tu outlaw baud operating on u big
scale. Pursuit scarcely need bo feared
ycr the broken trails of tho Itlm
Ilock. And the open end of tho valley
Jeould bo defended against almost auy
slumber of men coming down tho
frlver.
Duane must have Idled considerable
time up on tjie hill, for when bo re
turned to tho shack Euchru was
busily engaged around tho camp-fire.
"Wnl, glad to sea you ulu't so pale
about tho gills us you was," ho said,
fcy tho way of greeting. "Pitch in nn
we'll soon aye grub reudy. Thpru'B.
fboro ono trfwsolln' fact round this
381
igS&iliUJU;
"What's that?" asked Duane.
"Plenty of good Juicy beef to eat.
An' it doesn't cost a short bit."
"Hut it costs hard rides and trouble,
bad conscience, and life, too, doesn't
it?"
"I nln't shoro nbout tho bnd con
science. Mine never bothered me none.
An' ns for life, why, thct's cheap In
Texas."
"Who is Bland?" asked Dunne,
quickly changing the subject. "What
do you know nbout him?"
"We don't know who he is or where
he halls from," replied Euchre. "Thet's
always been somethln' to Interest the
gnng. He must have been n young
man when he struck Texas. Now he's
middle-aged. I remember how years
ago ho wns soft-spoken nn' not rough
in talk or net like he is now. Blnnd
ain't likely his right name. He knows
a lot. He can doct6r you, nn' he's
shore n knowln' feller with tools.
He's tho kind thet rules men. Outlaws
nro nlways rldln' In hero to join his
gnng, nn' if It hadn't been fer the
gnmblln' nn' gun-plny he'd have n
thousand men around him."
"'now many In Ida gnng now?"
"I reckon there's short of n hundred
now. Tho number varies. Then Bland
hns several small camps up an' down
tho river. Also ho has men back on
the cattle-ranges."
"How docs ho control such a big
force?" asked Duane. "Especlnlly
when his bnnd's composed of bad men.
Luke Stevens snld he had no use for
Blnnd. Arid I heard once somewhere
thnt Blnnd wns a dtvll."
"Thct's It. Ho is a devil. He's ns
hard ns flint, violent in temper, nover
mndo any friends oxcept his right
hand men, Dnvo Itugg an' Chess Allo
wny. Bland '11 shoot nt a wink. He's
killed a lot of fellers, nn' some fer'
nothln'. Tho renson thet outlaws
gather round him. nn' stick is because
ho's a safe rofugc, an' then ho's well
heeled. Bland is rich. They say ho
has a hundred thousand pesos dild
somewhere, nn' lots of gold. But he's
freo with money. He gambles when
ho's not off with n shipment of cattle.
Ho throws money around. An' tho
fact is thero's nlwnys plenty of money
where he Is. Thet's what holds tho
gang. Dirty, bloody money I"
"It's n wonder ho hasn't been killed.
All theso years on tho border 1" ex
claimed Dunne-
"Wal,"' replied Euchre, drylyv "he's
been quicker on tho draw than the
other fellers who hankered to kill him,
thet's all."
Euchre's reply rather chilled
Duano's Interest for tho moment. Such
remarks nlwnys mndo his mind resolvo
round facts pertaining to himself.
"Spenktn' of this here swift wrist
gome," went on Euchre, "there's been
coiiBldernblo talk in camp about your
throwln' of n gun. I heard Bland say
this nfternoon nn' ho snld it serious
llko an' speculntlvo thet ho'd never
seen your cqtinl. AH tho fellers who
seen you meet Bosomcr had somethln'
to Bay. An' they nil Bliut up wheu
Bland told who nn' what your dad
was. 'Pears to mo I once seen your
dnd in n gun-scrape over nt Suntone,
years ago. Wnl, I put my oar In to
duy among tho fellers, an' I says:
'What alls you locoJd gents? Did
young Duano budgo an inch when Bo
enmo ronrln' put, blood In his eye?
Wasn't ho cool nn' quiet, steady of
i f'ps, nn' weren't his eyes readln Bo's
jimlnd? An' thet llghtuln' draw can't
ijwoiwill bco thet's n family gift?"
Euchro'B narrow oyes twinkled, nnd
ho gave tho dough he was rolling n
slap with his flour-whitened hand.
Manifestly ho had proclaimed himself
a champion and partner of Dunnes,
with all, tho prldo an old man could
feel In n young one whom ho admired.
"Wnl," ho resumed, presently,
'thet's your Introduction to tho border,
Buck,
An' your enrd was n high
trump. You'll bo lot severely nlono by
rent gun-fighters an' men llko Blnnd,
Allowny, Rugg, an' the bosses of tho
other gangs. After nil, theso real men
u?o men, you know, tin onless you
cross them thoy'ro no moro likely to
Interfere with you than you are with
them.
Tho only feller who's goln' to put
a close eye on you Is Benson,, He runs.
the store mr sells, drinks. Tho gang
calls him Jackrnbblt Benson, because
lie's always got his eye peeled nu'
his cars coqUed.
"Bland's not hero tonight. He left
to-duy on ono of his trips, takln' AUo-
wny nn' somo outers. ut ins otnor
nuui, Itugg, Iio'b hero. Rugg's tho
little bow-legged man with half of his
fnce shot off. Ho's one-eyed. But ho
cau shoro boo out of the opO he's got.
An' thero's Hardin. You know him?
He's uot nn outluw gang ns big as
Bland's."
Euchro went on calling Dunne's nt
tontlon to other men of tho bund, Auy
ono of them would have been a mark
ed man In n rcspoctiiblo. crowd, H6ro
each took; his plnco with more or less
distinction, according to tho record of
his past wild prowcBs nnd his present
v possibilities. Dunne, realizing that ho
wns tolerated there, rcceivcu in care
less spirit by this terrlblo class of
outcasts, experienced n feeling of re
vulsion that amounted almost to hor
ror, Was his being there not nn ugly
tlreamT What hud ho in common with
such rutnnns? Then In n luish ot
memory catno tho painful proof ho
Buck's future at first appears to him to be unendurable. He wins
a sort of distasteful popularity among the outlaws growing, out of his
dexterity with the pistol. But he loathes these men all but Euchre,
who has some good stuff In him. Then comes to Duane an opportunity
to perform a great service an opportunity to atone for the blood he
has shed by helping one who needs help much. Serious complications
begin to arise In this installment.
was n criminal In sight of Texas luw;
he, too, wao an outcast.
CHAPTER VI.
Next morning Dunne found thnt n
moody and despondent spell had fas
tened on him, Wishing to bo alone,
lie wont out nnd walked n trail lending
round tho river bluff. Ho thought nnd
thought. After a while he made out
that the trouble with him probnbly
was thnt ho could not resign himself
to his fate. Ho cared vastly more, he
discovered, for whnt he considered
honor nnd Integrity than he did for
life, nc snw thnt it was bad for him
to be nlono. But, It appeared, lonely
months nnd perhaps years Inevitably
must be 'his.
Another thing puzzled him. In the
bright light of day he could not-rccnll
the state of mind that was his nt
twilight or dusk or In the dnrk night.
By dny these visitations became to
him whnt they really were phantoms
of his conscience. He could dismiss
tho thought of them then. Ho could
scarcely remember or believe thnt this
strange font of fancy or Imagination
had troubled him, mndo him . sleepless
nnd 'sick.
At length he determined to create
Interest In all that he came ncross
nnd so forget himself as much ns poa
Bible. Ho had an opportunity now to
seo Just whnt tho outlaw's life really
wns. He meant to force himself to
bo curious, sympathetic, clear-sighted.
And ho would stny there In the vnlley
until Its' possibilities had been ex
hausted or until circumstances sent
him out upon his uncertain way.
When he returned to the Bhnck
Euchro was cooklug dinner.
"Say, Buck, I've news for you," he
sold; nnd his tono conveyed either
pride In his possession of such news
or prldo in Duano. "Feller named
Bradley rodo in this mornln'. Ho's j
heard some nbout y6u. Told nbout j
tho nt!o of spades they- put over tho
bullet-holes in thet cowpuncher Bain
you plugged. Then there wns n ranch
er shot; nt n water-hole twenty miles
south of Wcllston. Reckon you didn't
do It?"
"No, I certainly did not," replied
Dunne.
"Wnl, you get tho blame. It ain't
nothing for n feller to bo snddled with
gun-plays ho never made.. An', Buck,
If you ever get famous, as seems like
ly, you'll bo blamed fqr many n crime.
The border '11 mnko hn t outlaw an
murderer out of you. 'Wnl, thet's
enough of thet. I've moro news.
You'ro goln' to .bo popular."
"Popular? What do you mean?"
"I met Bland's wife this mornln'.
She seen you tho other dny when you
rode In. Sho shore wants to meet you,
an' so do some of the other women
In camp. They nlways wnnt to meet
tho new fellers who've Just come In.
It's lonesome for women here, an' they
like to hear news from tho towns."
"Well, Euchro, I don't want to bo
Impolite, but I'd rather not meet nny
women," rojolned Dunne.
"I wns nfrnld you wouldn't. Don't
blamo you much. Women uro hell. 1
was hopln', though, yon might talk a
llttlo to thet poor lonesome kid."
"Whnt kid?" Inquired Dunne, in sur
prise.
"Didn't I tell you about Jennie tho
girl Bland's holdln' hero?"
"No. Tell mo now," replied Dunne,
ubruptly.
"Wnl, I got It this wny. Mebbe It's
Btralght, tin' mebbe it. nln't. Somo
years ago Benson mndo a trip over tho
rlvar to buy mescal an other drinks.
An ho run across n gang of greasers
with somo grlngO prisoners. I don't
know, nut i recicou tnero wns somo
bnrterln', perhaps murdcrln'. Any
Way, Benson fetched tho girl back.
Sho wns Btnrvert. an scared half to
death. Sho .hadn't been banned.
reckon alio wns then nbout fourteen
years old. Blnnd seen tho kid right
off nnd took her bought her from
Benson. You cin gumblo Bland didn't
do thet from notions of chlvnlry.
Knto Wand's been hard dn Jennie, but
sho'H kent Bland an the other men
from treating tho kill shameful. Lnto
Jennie has grown into an nll-tlred
pretty girl, nn' Knto Is powerful Jenl
ous of her. I Can bco hell brcwln'
over there In Blnnd'a cabin. Thet's
why I wish you'd como over with mo.
You'd get to bco Jennie, nn' mebbo
you could help her, I had a baby tprl
once, nn' If she'd lived sho'd bo ns big .
ns Jennlo now, nn' I wouldn't want her
hero lrt Blnnd'n camp."
"I'll go, Euchro. Tnko mo over," re
plied Dunne. Ho felt Euchro's eyes
upon him, Tho old outlaw, however,
had no more to say.
In tho nfternoon Euchro sot off with
Dunne, nnd Boon they reached Blnnd'd
cabin. Duano remembered It us the
ono where ho had, seen tho pretty wo
man watching him rldo by. Through
the open door Duunu caught n glimpse
of bright Mexican blankets und rugs.
Ranger
By ZANE GREY
Euchre knocked upon the side of the
door.
"Is thnt you, Euchre?" nsked n girl's
voice, low, hesitatingly. The tone of
It, rather dtQp nnd with n note of fear,
struck Dunne.
"Yes, it's me, Jennie. Where's Mrs.
Blnnd?" nnswered Euchre..
"She went over to Deger's. There's
somebody sick," replied the girl.
Euchre turned nnd whispered some
thing nbout luck. The enup of tho
Anyone of Them Would Have Been
Marked Man.
outlnw's eyes was added significance
to Duane.
"Jennie, come out or let us come in.
Hero's the young man I was tclllu' you
about" Euchro said. "Come out.
Jennie, nn' webbe he'll "
Euchre did not complete his sen
tence. But what he said was sufllctcut
to bring the girt quickly. Si k p- j
peared in the doorway with downcast
eyes and a stain of red la her white
cheek. She had a pretty,, sad face
and bright hair. '
"Don't be bashful. Jennie-.." said;
Euchre. "You nu' Dunne have a
chunce to talk a little. Now I'll go
fetch Mrs. Bland, but I won't bo hur
rylnV With thnt Euchre went nwny
through tho cottonwoods.
"I'm glad to meet you. -Miss Miss
Jennie," snld Dunne. "Euchre didn't
mention your last name. He asked
me to come over to ""
Dunne's attempt at pleasantry linltcd
short when Jennie lifted her lnshcs
to look at him. Somo kind of u shock
went through Dunne. Her gray eyes-
were beautiful; but It had not been
beauty that cut short Ms speech. He
scemetl to see a tragic struggle Be
tween hope and donbt that shone In,
her piercing gaze. She kept looking.
nnd Dunne could not break the silence.
It wns no ordinary moment.
"What did you come here for?1, she
nsked, at Inst.
"Well Euchro thoBght ho wnntetl
me to talk to you, cheer you up a bit,'
renlted Duane. somewhat lamely. The
earnest eyes embarrassed lilm.
"Euchro's good. He's the only
person in this nwul -place who's been
good to me. But no' utraiu or jiinnu.
He saltT you were different. Who are
you?"
Duano told her.
"You'ro not a robber or rustler or
murderer or Bome.bnd man como here
to bidcr
"No, tfm not," replied Dunne, trying
to smile. "I'm on the dodce. You
know what that means. I got in a
Shooting-scran rit homo and hart to
run off. When it blows .over I hope
to go back."
"Oh, I know what these outlaws
are. Yes, you'ro different." She kept
tho Btralnod guzo upon him, but hopo
wns kindling, nnd tho hard lines of
her youthful fnco wero softening,
Something Bwcct nnd warm stlrreu
ecp In Dunno ns he realized tho un
fortunnto girl wns experiencing a birth
Of trust In him. Thou tho glow begun
to fndo; doubt onco moro assailed her.
"It can't be. You're onlyafter me,
too. like Bland llko nil of them."
Dunne's loug arms went out nud his
bntids clasncd her shoulders. He
dhook her.
"Look at me straight In the eye.
There nro decent men, Haven't you .
n father n brother?"
"Thoy'ro dead killed by nildcrn.
Wo lived In Dimmit County. I wns
carried uwuy," Jenule replied, hurried -
y. She put up nn appealing hnnd to
i,i.n "Tfawivo m. I believe I know
vva ir war onlv I llvo so
much hi fear I'm half crazy --I've al
most forgotten whnt good men nro like.
Mister Dunne, you'll help me?"
"Yes, Jennie, I will. Tell me how.
What must I do? Hnvo you nny plnn?"
"Oh no. But tuko mo nwny."
"I'll try," said Dunne, simply. "Thnt
won't be ensy, though. Are you watched
kept prisoner?"
"No. I could run off lots of times.
But I wns afraid. I'd only havo fallen
Into worse hands. Euchre hns told
me thnt. Mrs. Bland bents me, half
starves me, but she has kept me from
her husband nnd those other dogs.
She's been ns good ns that, nnd I'm
grateful. She hasn't done It for love
of me, though. She nlwnys hated me.
And lntely she's growing Jenlous. I
hear her fighting with Blnnd nbout mo.
Then I've henrd Chess Alloway try
to persuade Bland to give mo to him.
Dunne, you must be quick If you'd
nave me."
"I realize that," replied he, thought
fully. "I think my dlfllculty will be to
fool Mrs. Blnnd. It she suspected mo
Bho'tl have the whole gnng of outlnws
on mo tit once."
"Sho would that. You've got to be
careful and quick."
"Whnt kind of a womnn Is she?"
Inquired Dunne.
"She's she's brazen. I've henrd her
with her lovers. They get drunk
sometimes when Bland's nwny. She's
got n terrible temper. She's vain.
Sho likes lhittcry. Oh, you could fool
her easy enough If you'd lower your-:
self to to"'
"To make love to her?" Interrupted
Duune.
Jennie bravely turned shamed eyes
to meet ills.
"My girl, I'd do worse thnn thnt to
get you nwny from here," ho snld,
bluntly. . f
"But Duane," she fnltercd, nud
ngaln she put out the appealing hnnd.
"Blnnd will kill yon."
Duane made no reply to this. Ho
wag trying to still a rising strange
tumult in his breast. Tho old emotion
tho rush of the Instinct to kilt r He
turned cold nil over.
"Chess Allowny will kill you If
Blnnd doesn't," went on Jennie, with
Iter tragic eyes on Dunne's.
"Mnybe he will," replied Dunne. It
wns difficult for him to force n smile.
But he nehleved one.
"Oh, better take me Aff at once," she
said. "Snve me without risking so
mucli without mnklng love to Mrs.
Bland I"
"Surely, If I can. Therel" I see
Euchre coming with rt woman.""
"That's her. Oh, she mustn't see
me with ypu."
"Wnlt a moment,"" whispered
Dttane, ns Jenule slipped Indoors.
"We've settled It. Don't forget. IH
Hnd some wny to get word to you, per
haps through Euchre. Meanwhile keep
up your courage. Remember I'll snve
you; somehow. We'll try strategy first.
Whatever you see or hear me do,
don't think less of me "'
Jennie- checked Mm wltht a gesture
and a wonderful gray flash of eyes.
"Til bless yoT with every drop of
- - ... 1 i. I. .. 1 l.I
torju in my iieun, sue wuudcicu,
passionately-
It wns only ns she turned away Into
the room that Duane saw she was
lame and' that she wore Mexican.
sandals over bare feet. .
He sat dbwn upon: a benchi on. the
porch and directed his attention to
jho nppronchlng couple. The trees of
the grove 'were thick enough for Mnv
& mnke reasonnbly sure thnt Mrs.
Blnnd hnd' not seen him talking to
Jennie; When the outlaw's: wife dew
near, the- situation tooic om a singular
zest.
Euchre came tip- oni tho porch and'
awkwardly Introduced Dunne to Mrs-
Bland.. She wns young, probably not
over twenty-five, and not quite so pre
possessing nt close range. Her eyes
were large, . rather prominent, and'
brown, in. color. Her mouth, too, wus-
larger with the lips full, and she had:
white teeth.
Duune took her proffered, hand nnd
remarked frankly that he was glud to.'
meet her.
Mrs. Bland appeared pleased; and
her laugh, which followed; was loud
and rather musical.
Mr. Dunne Buck Duane, Euchre
said, didn't he?" sho nsked.
"Buckley," corrected Dunne. "The
nlcknume's not my choosing."
'Tm certainly glad to meet you.
Buckley Dunne,' she said, as she took
the sent Duane offered her. "Sorry to
have been out. Kid Fuller's lying over
at Deger's. You know he wus shot
lust night.. He's got fever to-dny.
"Wlieu Bland's away I have to nurse nil
these shot-up boys, nnd It sure tnkes
my time. Have you been wnltlng hero
nlone? Didn't see thnt slattern girl
ot mine?"
Sho gave him a sharp glnnce. The
woman had an extraordinary play of
feature. Dunne thought, ,nnd unless
she was smiling was not pretty nt .nil.
"I've been nlone," replied Duane,
"Haven't seen nnybody but a sick-
looking girl -with a bucket. And she
ran when she snw me."
"Thut wus Jen," said Mrs. Blnnd.
"She's the kid wo keep here, nnd she
sure hnrdly pays her keep. Did Euchre
tell you about her?'
"Now that I think of It, he did say
something or other."
"What did he tell yon about me?"
bluntly nsked Mrs. Blond.
"Wnl, Kate," .replied Euchro, speak
ing for himself, "you neeun t worry
nine, for I told Buck nothln' but com
pllments,"
Evidently tho outlaw's wife liked
Euchr6, for her keen glance rested
with amusement upon htm.
J "as lor Jen, ni ten you ner story
, Homo day." went on the womnn. "It's
' common enough story nlong this
vx?v. Euchro here Is a tender-hearted
old fool, nnd Jen 1ms tuken him In."
- i "'. seoln' as you'vo got me flg-
gcred correct," replied Euchro, dryly,
Til go in nn' tnlk to Jennie, If I mny."
"Certnlnly. Go ahead. Jen cnlls
you her best friend," snld Mrs. Blnnd,
nmlnbly. "You'ro nlwnys fetching
somo Mexlcnu stuff, and that's why, I
guess."
"When Euchre hnd shuffled Into tho
house Mrs. Blnnd turned to Dunne
with curiosity nnd Interest In her gnze.
"Blnnd told me nbout you."
"What did he say?" queried Duane,
In pretended alarm.
"Oh, you needn't think he's done you
dirt. Blnnd's not that kind of n man.
He snld: 'Kate, there's a young fel
low in enmp rodo in here on tho
dodge. Slickest bund with a gun I've
seen for many n dnyl Magnificent
chnp. Bigger than nny mnn in tho
vnlley. Just- a great blue-eyed, sun
burned boy !"
"Humph 1" exclnlmcd Duane. "I'm
sorry he led you to expect somebody
worth seeing." n
"But I'm not disappointed," she re
turned, nrchly. "Dunne, are you go
ing to stny long hero In camp?"
"Yes, till I run out of money nnd
hnve to move. Why?"
Mrs. Blnnd's fnce underwent one of
the slngulnr changes. The smiles and
flushes and glances, nil that had been
coquettish nbout her, had lent her u
certain nttrnctlveuess, nlmost beauty
and youth. But with some powerful
emotion she changed nnd instantly be
came n womnn of discontent, Dunne
Imnghied, of "deep, violent nature.
"I'll tell you, Duane," she snld, earn
estly, "I'm sure glad tf you mean to
bldo here nwhlle. I'm n miserable
woman, Dunne. I'm nn outlaw's wife,
and I hate him and tlio life I have tp
lead. I'm sick for somebody to talk
to. I hnve no children, thank God I
If I had I'd not stny here. I'm sick
of this hole. I'm lonely "
Genuine emotion checked, then halt
ed tho hurried speech. She broke
down and cried. Duane believed nnd
pitied her. ' -
"I'm sorry for you," he snld.
"Don't bo sorry for me," she said.
"That only makes mo see the-the
difference between you nnd me. And
don't pay any attention to what these
outlaws say about me. They're lgnor
nht. They couldn't understnnd me.
You'll hear that Bland killed men who
rah after me. But that's- a lie."
"Would Bland object If I called on
you occasionally?" Inquired Dunne.
"No, he wouldn't. He likes mo to
have friends. Ask him yourselfywhcn
he comes back. The trouble has been
that two or three men of Ms fell In
love with me, and when half drunk
got to, fighting. You're not going to do
thnt."
'Tm not going to get half drunk,
thnt's certain," replied Dnane.
He wns surprised to- aae her eyes
dilate; then glow with lire. Before sho
could reply Euchre returned to tlio
porch, nnd that put an end to the con
versation. Dunne was content to-let the matter
rest there nnd had little moro to say.
Euchre and Mrs. Bland talked and
Joked, while Duane listened.
Once he hnppened to glance Into tho
house, and deep. In. the shadow of a
corner he caught a pale- gleum of Jen-
j i i
"Look at Me Straight in the Eye."
nlo's face with great, staring eyes on
him. Wntchlng his chance, he flashed
a look at her; nnd then It seemed to
him the change In her face was won
derful. Later, after ho hnd left Mrs. Bland
with a meaning "Adlos manann," and
was walking along besides the old out
law, he found himself thinking of the
girl instead of tho woman, nnd of how
he had seen her fnce blaze with hope
and gratitude.
There Is the chance that Mrs.
Bland . Is spying against the
young man, that she Is playing
a little game for her husband.
Do you believe she Is honest in
what she tells Buck?
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Not That Kind.
It was nt the baptismal font, and the
minister had tho baby In his nrnis.
"What Is. the name?" ho nsked of tho
mother. "Josephine Newton." "Jo
seph E. Newton, I baptize thee In the
name" "No, no," hurriedly whls.
percd the mother In grent alarm; "not
Joseph E. Nowton, Josephine Nowton:
It's not that kind of a bnb.v."
' A