THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA,
THE LONE STAR RANGER
A Thrilling Texas Border Story
By ZANE GREY
8YN0P8IS.
Muck Duane, Inheriting blood lust from
lila fattier, kllla a liquor-maddened "bail
man" who Is bent on kllllnr Dunne. To
icnpe the law, Muck 11pm to thn wild
country In footed by outlaw. He linn Just
wet ono and In Invited to form a partner
hip for better or worse. He accent.
They har trouble at onoe. Htoven dies
from a fcullet wound. Buck enters the
camp of Bland's Knnc and wound an
outlaw who trim to Kill lilm. Ho And n
champion In Kuehre, and through tim
rneoLs Mrs. Mland, and Jennlt, an or
pluuied hostage.
Comes the next big crisis In
Buck Uuane's life. He meets It
with characteristic energy and
decision. More rnurd-jr Is done,
but the cause Is goed. Love and
license and Intrigue play their
part' In the drma. Hovv this
hunted man who Isn't an outlaw
at heart brings out the only de
cent Gtreak In Euchre and how
he rolls another bad man by
shielding the helpless Is told
here.
tvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv,v
CHAPTER VII.
That night Dunno was not troubled
fey ghosts huuntlng Ills wulklng and
lecPlng hourn. He awoke feeling
trlK&t ana cngcr, and grateful to
tiufhrc for having put something,
worth whllo Into bin mlnil. During
breakfast, however, lie whh unusually
thoughtful, working over the Idea of
Ijow much or how little he could' con
fide In Iho outlaw. He was aware of
Bkichro's scrutiny.
"VVnl," begun the old man, at InBt,
"hew'd you make out with Jonnlo?
What d you nn' sno talk about?"
"We had a little chut. You know
foil wanted me to cheer her up."
Kwrhrc at wlt,h coffee-cup poised
snd narrow eyes studying Dunne.
"Buck, I've seen Home outlaws
whtrte word wtui good. Mine ItT. You
chb trust tnc. I trusted you, takln'
ton Qvor there nn' puttln' you wIho to
Wf tryln' to help thet poor kid."
Thus enjoined- by Euchre, Dunne he
mii to tell the .conversations with Jen
nie and Mrs. Bland word for word.
Jong before he had reached nn end
Kscliro wet Nwn the coffee-cup nnd
becan to stare, and at the conclusion
f, the, stAiiy his face, lost somo of Its
red colT and beads of sweat stood
out tkvlcly on his brow.
'Wiil. If thet doesn't floor mel" ho
tflattfuV blinking at Dimmr. "Yonftg
avn,i I flggered you whs roiiic swift,
ft' suro to innke your murk on this
river: but I reckon J missed your real
rnllbcr. Do you know what It '11 tuko
t do all you promised Join
"I haven't any Idea,." replied Duane,
KTHVOly.
"You'll have to pull the wool over
Kate Bland's eyes, nn' even If alio fulls
1m love with you, which 'a shore likely,
liictiwon't bo easy. An' she'd kill you
(a asmlnnlt, Muck, If shu ever got
Vflse. You ain't mistaken her none,
ro you?"
"Not me, Euchre. Sho's it woman.
I fear her more than any man."
"VVal, you'll have In kill Blnnd nn'
Jho Alloway an' Hugs, nn' mebbo
some others, before you can ride oft
Into the IUUk with thet girl."
wAll right. I'll meet what comes,'
Mid Dunne, quietly. "The great point
t to have horses ready and pick the
tight moment, then rush the trick
through,"
I '"-Hint's Uio only chatico for success.
An' you can't do It alone,''
Til have to. 1 wouldn't ask you to
kelp me,"
"Wftl, I'll take my chutices,'' replied
Kuehre, gruffly. "I'm going to help
Jennie, you can gamble your luBt peso
m theL"
They talked mid planned, (hough In
truth It was Euchre who nlnimcd.
Dunne who llsteuod and agreed. Whllo
wuuiuk me return m maun aim m
JLkjutminntH it would bo well for Dunno
jtwulllug the return of Bland and his
tpb grow frletiilly with tho other out
Jws, to Bit In ti few games of immtc,
ynr sliow a willingness to spend n little
money. Thb two Hchomei'H wero to
fall upon Mr. Blund overy dny
Htichro to carry messages of cheer und
warning to Jennie, Dunne to blind tho
toiler womnn nt anv cost. These nro-
lmlnnrlefl decided upon, thny proceed
ed to put them Into action.
No hard task was it to win the friend
hip of tho most of those good-natured
outlaws, There were men among
thorn, however, thnt made Duune feel
that terrible Inexplicable wrath rlso
In his breast. He could not bear to bo
hear them. Jnckrabblt Benson woh
nne of these men. Becutise of him and
other outlaws of ills Ilk Dunne could
scarcely over forget the reality of
thing? This was a hidden valley, n
tDlvfecfs don, a rendezvous for nitir
Atrors, n. wild place stained red by
deeds of wild men. And becutiso of
Unit there was always a changed nt'
mpRpliero. The merriest, Idlest, most
cureless moment might in tho Hash of
kit uye ond in ruthless mid tragic ac
tion. Duane felt rather than saw a
jlark, brooding shadow over the valley.
Then, without nuy solicitation or en
courHgcme.it rro.n Dunne, the Miami
. .... ...
urnttiutt roll rifiuumitntiilv In NiVn Willi
him. Hho launched herself. And the
thing which evidently held hur In check
.wuh the newness, the strangeness, und
Ifor tho moment the nll-Mitlsfyluir tnv
f bin respect for her Duane extsrto'i
tfmsolf to please, to amuse, to tntor-
mt, to facUto hr, and always with
deference. That was his strong point,
nud It had made his part easy so far.
He was playing u game of love
playing with life uud death I What
little communication he had with Jen
nie was through Euchre, who curried
short messages. Hut he caught
glimpses of her every time he went
to the Bland house. She contrived
somehow to pass door or window, to
give him n look when chance afforded.
Duane discovered with surprise that
the.e moments were more thrilling to
him than any with Mrs. Itlnud. Jennie
had been instructed by Euchre to
listen, to understand thut this was
Duuno's only ohancb to help keep her
mind from constant worry, to gather
the Import of every word which hud a
double meaning. And all through
those waiting days he kuew that Jen
nie's face, and especially the warm,
fleeting glance she gave him, was re
sponsible for a subtle and gradual
change In him. This change, he
fancied, was only that through remem
brance of her ho got rid of his pule,
sickening ghosts.
Ono day a careless Mexican threw
a lighted cigarette up Into the brush
limiting that served as a celling for
Benson's den, and there was a tire
which left little more thun the ndoha
walls standing. The result was thut
while repairs wero being made there
She Contrived to Paso the Window,
was no gambling and drinking. Tlino
huiig very heavily On the hands of
some twoscore outlaws. Dunuo, how
ever, found the hours anything hut
empty. He spent more time at Mrs.
Bland's; he walked miles on all the
trails lending out of tho vultoy ; ho had
a care for the conditions of his two
horses,
Upon his return from the intent of
these tramps Euchro suggested that
they go down to the river to tho bout
laiullug. Nearly nil tho outlaws In camp wero
assembled on the river-bank, lolling In
tho shade of the cottonwoods. Tho
heat was oppressive.
Dunuo and Kuchre Joined the lazy
group nud sat down with them.
Kuchre lighted n black pipe, and,
drawing his hut over his eyes, lay
bnck In comfort after tho manner of
tho majority of the outlaws, But
Dunuo was ulert, observing, thought
ful. He never missed unythlng. It
was his belief that any moment an Idle
word might bo of benefit to him. More
over, these rough men were always In
teresting.
'Bland's been chased ncrost the
rvot. saj on.,
"jnIiw, bo's dellvei
rln' cattle to thet
Cuban, ship," replied another.
"Big deal on, hey?"
"Some big. Bugg says the boss hed
nn order fer tlfteeu thousand."
"Say, that order 'II take u year to
011."
'Nuw. llardlu Is In cahoots with
Blond, Between 'em they'll till orders
bigger 'n thet
"Wondered what Hurdln was rust-
Uii' in here fer."
Dunne could not iKfislbly attend to
all the conversation among the out
luw b. He eudeavorcd to get tho drift
of talk nearest to him.
"Kid Fuller's goln to cash." said n
sandy-whiskered little outlaw.
"So Jim was telling me.. Blood
poison, nln't it? Thet hole wasn't bad
But ho took the fever." rejoined a
comrade.
"Deger says tho Kid might pull
through If he had nurslu'."
"Wnl, Kate Bhmd ain't nursln' any
Hhot-up boys these duys. She hasiv
got time."
A laugh followed this sally; men
came n penetrating silence. Some of
the outlaws glanced good-uaturedly nt
Duane. They boro him no 111 will
WnfMtly toy were nwuro of Mrs,
I 11i.itn1sa ttifritdilttwt
I ssvimvss
"Boys, poke all the fun you llko ut
me, hut, don't mention any lndy'fl namo
again. My hand is nervous anil itchy
theso iluys.
He s.mlled us he spoke, und his
pmh 'was drawled; but the good
luuuor lu no wise weakened It. Tlicu
I TX- 1
his latter remark was significant to a
class of men who from Inclination and
necessity practiced at gun-drawing un
til they wore cnllous and soro places
on their thumbs nnd Inculcated In the
very deeps of their nervous organiza
tion n habit that made even tho sim
plest nnd most Innocent motion of tho
hand end at or neur the hip. There
was something remarkable 'about a
guu-flghtcr's hund. It never seemed to
bo gloved, never to bo Injured, never
out of sight or In an awkward posi
tion. Grizzled outlaws In that group,
some of whom had many notches on
their gun-handles, accorded Duane
silence that carried conviction of tho
regard In which ho was held.
"Orful hot, ain't It?" remarked Bill
Bhick, presently. BUI could not keep
quiet for long. He was n typical
Texas desperado, had never been any
thing else. He was stoop-shouldered
and bow-legged from much riding; a
wiry llttlo man, all muscle, with a
squnro head, n hard face partly bluck
from scrubby beard and red fronl sun,
and a bright, roving, cruel eye. His
shirt was open at tho neck, showing a
grizzled breast.
"Laziest outfit I over rustled with,"
went on Bill, discontentedly. "Nuthln'
to dol Say, If anybody wants to swim
maybe somo of you'll gamble?"
He produced a dirty pack of cards
and wnved them nt tho motionless
crowd.
"BUI, you're too good at cards," re
plied a lanky outlaw.
"Now, Jasper, you say thet power
ful sweet, an you look sweet, cr I
might take It to heart," replied Black,
with a sudden change of tone.
Here It wns again that tipflnshlng
passion. What Jasper saw fit to reply
would mollify the outlaw or It would
not. There wub nn even baluncc.
"No offense, Bill," said Jasper,
placidly, without moving.
Bill grunted nnd forgot Jasper. But
he seemed restless and dissatisfied.
Duane watching the disgruntled out
law, marveled nt him nnd wondered
what was In his mind. These men
were more variable than children, as
unstable us water, as duugerous as
dynamite.
"Bill, I'll bet you ten you" can't spill
whatover's In the bucket thet peon's
pnekin'," Bald the outlaw called Jim.
Black's head came up with tho ac
tion of a hawk about to swoop.
Dunne glanced from Black to tho
road, whore he saw a crippled peon
currying u tin bucket toward tho river.
This peon wub a half-witted Indian
who lived In a shaclc and did odd Jobs
for the Mexicans. Ddane had met him
often.
"Jim, I'll tnke you up," replied
Black.
Something, perhaps a harshness la
his voice, caused Duane to whirl. He
caught a leaping gleum in the outlaw's
eye. '
"Aw. Bill, thet's too fur a Bhot,"
said Jasper, us Black rested an elbow
on his kueo and sighted over tho long,
heavy Colt. The dlstunce to tho peon
was uhout fifty paces, too far for even
the most expert shot to hit a moving
object so smnll as a bucket
Dunne, mnrvclouBly keen in tho
nllgifiucnt of sights, was positive that
Bluck held too high. Another look at
tho hard fucc, now tenso and dark
with blood, confirmed Dunne's sus
picion that the outluw was, not aiming
at the bucket at all. Duano leaped
nnd struck tho level gun out of hla
hand. Another outlaw picked it up.
Black fell back astounded. De
prived of his weapon, he did not seem
the saiuo man, or else he wns cowed
ly Dunne's significant, und formidable
front Sullenly ho turned away with
out even asking for Ids gun.
CHAPTER VIII.
What a contrast, Dunuo thought, the
calm evening of that day presented to
the statu of his soul I This third fac
ing of u desperute man hud thrown
him off his bahmce. It hud not been
fatal, but It threatened so much.
Despair had seized upon him and wns
driving him Into u reckless nlood when
ho thought of Jennie.
He had forgotten hor, Ho had for
gotten that he had promised to save
her. lie hud forgotten that ho meant
to snuff out as many lives as might
stand between her und freedom. Tho
very remembrance sheered off hla
morbid Introspection. She made a
difference. How strango for him to
realize that I He felt grateful to her.
He hud been forced Into outluwry; sho
had beeu stolen from her people and
carried Into captivity. They hud met
in tho river fastness, ho to instill hope
into her despnlrlug llfo, sho to bo the
means, perhnps, of keeping him from
sinking to tho level of her captors. He
became conscious of u strong nhd heat
ing desire to see her, talk with her.
These thoughts had run through his
mind while on his way to Mrs. Bland's
house. Ho had let Euchre go on uhead
because he wanted more tlmo to com
pose himself. Darkness luul .ilnnit set
lu when he reached his destination.
There was no light In the house. Mrs.
Bland W'us waiting for him on tho
porch.
She embraced him. and the sudden,
violent, unfamiliar contact sent such u
shock ' through him that ho all but
forgot tho deep game he was phiy'hg.
She, however. In her ugltatlon did net
notice his shrinking. Krom her em
brace nnd the tender, Incoherent d4
thnt flowed with It ho gathered that
Kuchre had acquainted her of his ac
tion with Black.
"He might have kllld youl" she
whispered, more clearly; and If Dunno
hnd ever heard lovo In a volco ho
heard it then. It softened him. It
wns ensy, even plcnsunu, to kiss her;
but Dunno resolved thnt, whatever her
abandonment might become, he would
not go further than tho He sho made
him act
"Buck, you lovo mo?", she whispered.
"Yes yes," he hurst out, enger to
get it over, and oven ns ho spoke ho
caught tho pale gleam of Jennie's face
through the window. Ho felt a shame .
ho was glad sho could not see.
Tho moon had risen over tho eastern
bulge of dark mountain, and now the
valley was flooded with mellow light,
and shadows of cottonwoods Wavered
against tho silver.
Suddenly the clip-clop, clip-clop of
hoofs caused Duano to raise his head
and listen. Horses wero coming down
tho road from the head of the valley.
Tho hour was unusual for riders to
come in. Presently tho narrow, moon
lit lane was crossed nt its far end by
black moving objects. Two horses
Duane discerned. '
"It's Blnnd I" whispered tho woman,
grasping Duane with shaking hands.
"You must run! No, he'd seo you.
Thnt d be worse. It's Blnnd ! I know
his horse's trot."
Then sho dragged Duano to the dcor,
pushed him In.
"Euchre, come out with mo 1 Dunne,
you stay with tho girl 1 I'll tell Bland
you're in (love with her. Jen, if you
give us uway I'll wring your neck."
The swift action and flerco whisper
told Duano thnt Mrs. Blnnd wns her
self again. Duano stepped close to
Jennie, who stood near the window.
Neither spoke, but her hands were
outstretched to meet his own. They
were small, trembling hands, cold as
Ice. Ho held them close, trying to
convey what he felt that he would
protect her. She leaned against him,
and they looked out of the window.
Duane saw the riders dismount down
the lane and wearily come forward. A
boy led away tho horses. Euchre, the
old fox, was talking loud and with
remnrknble ense, considering what he
claimed his natural cowardice.
Tho approaching outlaws, hearing
voices, halted u rod or so from tho
porch. Then Mrs. Bland uttered an
exclamation, ostensibly meant to ex
press surprise, nnd hurried out to meet
them. She greeted her husband warm
ly and gave welcomo to the other man.
Duaue could not see well enough in
the shndow to recognize Bland's com
panion, but he believed It was AUo
wuy. "Dog-tired wo are and starved," said
Bland, heavily. "Who's here with
you?"
"That's Euchro on tho porch. Duano
Is inside at the- window .with Jen,"
replied Mrs. Bland.
"Duane I" he exclaimed. Then ho
whispered low something Duane
could not catch.
"Why, I asked him to come," sntd
tho chief's wife. She spoke easily and
naturally and made no change in tone.
"Jen has been ailing. She gets thin
ner nnd whiter every day. Duano
enmo here ono day with Euchre, saw
Jen, and went looney over lier pretty
face, samo as all you men. So I let
him come."
Bland cursed low and deep under his
breath. The older man made a violent
action of some kind nnd apparently
wns quieted by n restraining hand.
Then ho led tho wny to the porch,
his spurs clinking, tho weapons ho was
currying rattling, and ho flopped down
on a bench.
"How nro you, boss?" asked EUchre.
"Hello, old man, I'm well, but all
in."
Alloway slowly walked on to the
porch nnd leaned against tho mil. Ho
answered Euchro's greeting with n
nod. Then ho stood thcro a dnrk,
silent figure.
Mrs. Bland's full volco in enger
questioning hud a tendoncy to case tho
situation Blnnd replied briefly to her,
reporting n remurkahly successful trip.
TJunno thought it was time to show
himself. He hnd u feeling thnt Blnnd
and Allowuy would let him go for tho
moment They wero plainly non
plused, and Alloway seemed sullen,
brooding.
"Jennie," whispered Dunne, "thnt
wns clever of Mrs. Blnnd. We'll keep
up tho deception. Any dny now bo
rendyl"
Sho pressed close to him, and n
barely uudlblo "nurryt" camo breath
ing Into his car.
"Good night, Jennie," he said, aloud,
"Hopa you feel better to-morrow."
Then ho stepped out Into the moon
light nnd spoke. Bland returned tho
greeting, nnd, though ho wns not
amiable, ho did not show resentfueut.
"Met Jasper ns I rode in," sold
Bland, presently. "Ho told mo you
mndo Bill Black mad, and thero's liable
to bo a fight. What did you go off tho
handlo about?"
Duano explained tho Incident. "I'm
sorry I happened to bo there," he went
on. "It wasn't my business."
"Scurvy trick thut 'd been," mut
tered Bland. "You did right All tho
same, Duane, I want you to stop
quurrcllng with my men. If yon were
ono of usthat M be different I can't
keep my men from fighting. But I'm
not called on to let an outsider hang
around my camp nnd plug my rus-
tlnrs."
"I guess I'll have to bo hitting tho
trail for somowhere," Bald Duane
"Why not Join my bnnd? You'vo
got a bad start already, Duane, and If
I know this border you'll never bo a
resnectnblo citizen again. You'ro a
born killer."
"But I'm no gun-flghtcr," protested
lunne. "Circumstances made me "
"No doubt,' Interrupted Bland, with
a tuugh. "Circumstances mudc me n
rustler. You don't know yourself.
You're young; you've got u temper;
your fnther was one of tho most
dangerous men Texus over had. I
don't seo any other career for you.
Instead of going It alone a lone wolf,
ns tho Tcxnns say why not mnkc
friends with other outlaws? You'll
live longer."
Euchro squirmed In his scat.
"Boss, I've been glvln' the boy eg
zactly thet samo Uno of talk. An' he'd
bo a grnnd feller fer the gang. I've
seen Wild Bill Hlckok throw a gun,
an Billy the Kid, nn Hardin,' an'
Chess here all tho fastest men on tho
horder. An' with apologies to present
company, I'm hero to say Duano has
them all skinned. His draw Is differ
ent You enn't seo how he docs It"
Euchre's admiring praise served to
crento an effcctlvo llttlo silence. Allo
way shifted uneasily on his feet, his
spurs Jnngllng faintly, and did not lift
his head. Bland seemed thoughtful.
"That's about the only qualification
I have to make me eligible for your
band," said Duane, easily.
"It's good enough," replied Bland,
shortly. "Will you consider the Iden?"
. "I'll think it over. Good night."
He left the group, followed by
Euchre. When they reached the end
of tho lane, iind before they hnd ex
chnnged n word, Bland called Euchro
back. Duane proceeded slowly along
tho moonlit road to tho cabin and sat
down under tho cottonwoods to wait
for Euchre. As ho sat thcro with a
foreboding of moro nnd dnrkcr work
ahead of him thcro wns yet u strnngo
sweetness left to him, nnd It Iny In
thought of Jennie. The pressure of
her cold little hnnds lingered In his.
Ho did not think of her ns a woman,
and he did not nnalyzo his feelings.
He Just hnd vague, dreamy thoughts
and imaginations that wero inter
spersed in tho constant and stern re
volving of plans to save her.
A shuffling step roused him. Euchre's
dnrk figure enme crossing the moon
light grass tinder tho cottonwoods.
The moment the outluw reached him
Duano saw thnt lie wns lnborlng under
fcreat excitement It scarcely affected
Duane. He seemed to bo acquiring
patience, calmness, strength.
"Bland kept you pretty long," ho
said.
"Walt till I git my breath," replied
Euchre. He sat silent a llttlo while,
fanning himself with a sombrero,
though tho night wns cool, nnd then
he went Into the cnbln to return
presently with a lighted pipe.
"Fine night," he snld; nnd his tone
further acquainted Duane with
Euchre's qunlnt humor. "Flno night
for love-nffalrs, by gum I"
"I'd noticed that," rejoined Dunne,
dryly.
"Buck, listen to this here ynrn.
When I got back to the porch I seen
Bland Asked me some questions right
from tho shoulder. I was ready for
them, an I swore tho moon was green
cheese. Ho was satisfied. Bland al
ways trusted me, nn' liked me, too, I
reckon. I hnted to He black thet wny.
But he's a hard man with bad Inten
tions toward Jennie, an' I'd double
cross him any day.
"Then ho went Into tho house. Jen
nie hnd gone to her llttlo room, an'
Bland called her to come out Then,
Buck, his next move was somo sur-
prlsln. Ha deliberately throwed n gun
on Kate. Yes sir, he pointed his big
blue Colt right nt her, nn' he suys :
"Tvo a mind to blow out your
brains.' ,
" 'Go ahead,' says Kate, cool as could
be.
" 'You lied to me,' ho roars.
"Kate laughed In his face. Blnnd
Blnmmcd tho gun down nn' niude a
Duane Struck
Hand.
grab for her. Ho choked her till I
thought she was strangled. Allowny
mndo him stop. Sho flopped dowu on
tho bed an' gnsped fer a while.
"Then ho went in an' dragged poor
Jen out. An' when I seen Bland twist
her hurt her I hnd n queer hot feel
In' deep down In me, un' fer the only
time in my life I wished 1 wns a gun
flghtcr. "Wul. Jen was whiter 'n a sheet, an
her eyes were big nud story, hut shu
Hnd nerve. Fust time I ever seen her
show any.
'Jennie,' he said, 'my wife said
Duano camo hero to seo you. I believe
j she's lyin'. I think Bhe's been curry-
' v
the Gun Out cf Hla
In' on with him, an' I wnnt to know.
If she's been nn' you tell mo th truth
I'll let you go. 111 send you to Hunt
vlllo, whoro you enn communicate
with your friends. I'll give you
money.'
"Thet must hev been a hell of n
tnlnnlt fer Kutc Blnnd. If ever I scon
denth In a mnn's eye I seen It In
BInnd's. He loves her. Thet's the
strnngo pnrt of it
"Tins Dunno been conilir hero t
seo my wife?' Blnnd asked, flerco
Hko. " 'No,' said Jennie.
"He has fallen Jn love with you?
Kate said thet'
" T I'm not I don't know he
hasn't told me.'
"'But you'ro In lovo with him?'
"'Yes,' she snld; nn', Buck, If yod
only could have seen her 1 Sho throw
ed up her head, an' her eyes were full
of fire. Blnnd seemed dnzed nt sight
of her. An Alloway, why, thet little
Bkunk of nn1 outlaw cried right out
He was hit plumb center. Ho's In
lovo with Jen. An' tho look of her
then was enough to mnke any feller
quit. He Jest slunk out of the room.
I told you, mebbe, thet he'd been try
in' to git Bland to marry Jen to him.
So oven a tough like Alloway can love
n woman I
"Bland stamped up on' down the
room. He sure was dyln' hnrd.
" 'Jennie,' he snld, once moro turnln'
to her. 'You swenr In fenr of your
life thet you're tellln' truth. Kate's
not in lovo with Dunno? She's let hlui
come to see you? There's been nuthln'
between. them?'
" 'No. I swear,' answered Jennie ;
an' Bland sat down like a man. licked.
'"Go to bed you whlto-fuced -'
Bland choked on some word or other
n bad ono, I reckon an' h positive
ly shook in his chair.
"Jennie went then, nn Knte began
to have hysterics. An' your Uncle
Euchre ducked his nut out of the door'
nn' como homo."
CHAPTER IX.
Both men were nwako early, silent
with the premonition of troublo nhead,
thoughtful of the fact that the, time
for the long-plunned action ,wns nt
hand.
"Buck, the sooner tho better now,"
Euchro llunlly declared, with n glint
In his eye. "The moro time we uso,up
now tho less surprised Bland '11 be."
"I'm ready when you are," replied
Duano, quietly, and he rose from the
table.
"Wnl, saddle up, then," , went on
Euchre, gruffly. "Tlo on them two
pneks I made, ono fer each saddle.
You can't tell mebbe cither boss will
be carryln double. It's good they're
both big, strong bosses. Guess thet
wasn't a wise move of your Uncle
Euchre's brfngln' In your bosses an'
i bavin' them ready?" .
"Euchre, I hope you'ro not going to
get In hnd here. Tin afraid you are.
Let me do tho rest now," said Duane.
The old outlaw eyed him sarcasti
cally. "Thet 'd be turrlblo now, wouldn't
It? If you wnnt to know, why I'm
In bad already. I didn't tell you thet
Allowny cnlled me InBt night. He's
gettln' wise pretty quick."
"Euchre, you're going with me.?"
queried Dunno, suddenly divining, tho
truth.
'Wnl, I reckon. Either to hell or
safe over tho mountain 1 Now, Buck,
you do some hard flggerln' while I go
nosln' round. It's pretty enrly, which
's nil the better."
Euchro put on his sombrero, and as
ho went out Duune saw that he wore
first time Dunne hnd over seen tho
outlaw armed.
Dunno pneked his few belongings
Into his saddle-bags, and then carried
the saddles out of tho corral. The
hour had arrived, and ho was ready.
Tlmo passed slowly. Finally he
heard tho shuffle of Euchre's boots
on tho hard path. Tho souud was
quicker than usual.
When Euchro camo around the
corner of tho cnbln Dunne wns not so
nstoundcO as he was concerned to see
the outlaw white and shaking. Sweat
dripped from him. Ho had n wild look.
"Luck ours so fur, Buck!", he
pouted.
"You don't look It" replied Duiuie,
"I'm turrlble sick, Jest killed a man.
Fust one I over killed 1"
"Who?" usked Duane. startled.
"Jackrabblt Benson. An' sick as 1
am, I'm gloryln In It I wont nosln'
round up tho road. Saw Alloway goln'
Into Deger's. He's thick with the
Degers. Reckon ho's nskln' quesllons.
Anyway, I was sure glad to see him
away from Bland's. An' ho didn't see
me. When I dropped into Benson's
there wasn't nobody there hut Jack
rabbit an somo greasers ho was start
In' to work. Benson never had no uso
fer me. An' he up nn' snld he wouldn't
give n two-bit pleco fer my life. I
asked him why.
" 'You're double-crossln' the boss un'
Chess,' ho said.
"'Jock, what 'd you give fer your
own life?' I asked him.
"Ho stralghtened up surprised an'
mWm-lookln. An' I 'let him, have it,
plumb center I Ho wilted, nn' thd
greasers run. I reckon I'll never sleep
again. But I had to do it"
Duano asked if the shot had attract
ed any attention outside.
What, in your opinion are the $
rli.n.a Un 11 1 - Cult..
will get away with little Jennie? If
Isn't it possible that the good
element hidden In Mrs. Bland
will crop out to save Duck? $
iWkvwvvtvv.'iviW
(to bk Continued.)