Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-07-06

lis liouLI Slul.
"Ho, no, ho!" rolled out BANDS
laugh.
Then he led the way to the porch, his
spurs clinking, the weapons he was
carrying rafting, and he flopped down
on a bench.
How are you, boss?" asked Euchre.
Hello, old man. I'm we'll, but all in
Alloway slowly walked on to the
porch and leaned against the rail. He
answered Euchre's greeting with a nod.
Mrs. BANDS full voice in eager ques-
tioning had a tendency to ease the
situation. Bland replied briefly to her,
reporting a remarkably successful trip.
Duane thought it tiEle to show him
self. He had a feeling that Bland and
Alloway would let him go for the mo-
ment: They were plainly nonplussed,
and AlloWay seemed sullen, brooding.
Jennie" whispered Duane, that was
clever of Mrs. Bland. Well keep up
the deception. Any day now be ready!'
n pressed close to him, and a bare
~ audible Hurry" came breathing
fnto his ear.
Good night, Jennie" he said aloud
Hope you feel better tomorrow"
Then he stepped out into the moon
light n spoke. Bland returned the
greeting, and, though he was not ami
able. he did not show resentment.
Met Jasper as rode in," said Bland,
LIZ tOlu Ilo you mdQe Bin
Black mad, and there's liable to be a
about?" ~
Duane explined the incident. "rm
sorry happened to be there" he went
on. 1T wasn't my business"
"scurvy trick that'd BEEN" muttered
Bland. You liz right. All the same,
puane, l want you to stop quarreline
that'd be different. 1 can't keen INV
men from fighting. But I'm not called
on to let an outsider hang around my
camp and plug my %rustlers."
u guess I'll have to be hitting the
trail for somewhere" said Duane.
why not Dir my band? You've got
a pad start, already, Duane, and If ]
know this border you'll never be a re-
spectacle citizen again. You're a born
Klller. l Know every bad man on this
frontier. More than one OF them have
told me that something exploded in
their brain, and when sense came back
there lay another dead man. It's no,
so with me. I've done a little shooting
TOO, out l never wanted to kill another
man Just to rid myself Of the last one
MY dead men don't sit on my chest at
night. That's the gun fighters trouble
Hes crazy. He has to kill a new man
one" nc ias'
pul In no gun lighter" protested
circumstances made me"
mo dolbt." interrupted Bland, with
a laugh. circumstances made me a
rustler. You don't know yourself
You're young; you've got a temper:
your father was one of the most dan.
gerous men Texas ever had. 1 don't
see any other career for you. Instead
o. going 1T alone-a lone wolf, as the
Texans say-why not make friend
with other outlaws? You'll live longer
Euchre squirmed in his seat.
Boss, I've been givin' the bow es-
zactly tibet same line Of talk. Thet's
why L took him in to bunk with me
II ne makes pards among us Their
won't be any more trouble. An he'd
De a grand Teller fer the gang. rye
seen Wild Bill Hickok throw a gun. an
Billy the Kid, an Hardin. an chess
here-all the fastest men on the Dor
der. An with apologies to present
company, I'm here to say Duane has
them all skinned. His draw is differ
ent; Q can see how he does It,"
adniring praise served to
create an effective little silence. AL
ioway shifted uneasily on his feet. his
spurs jangling family. and did not iii
MS head. Bland seemed thoughtful.
That's about the only qualification
+! nave to make me eligible for your
band." said Duane. easily.
LIS good enough" replied Bland
sn sI1 VIII you consider the idea?'
I'll think 1t over. Good night
He left the group, followed by Eli
chre. When they reached the end at
the lane, and before they had ex-
changed a word, Bland called Euchro
c Duane proceeded slowly alone
the moonlit Dad to the cabin and sal
down under the cottonwoods to wait
Tor Euchre. The night was intense and
quiet. a low hum Of insects giving the
erect or a congestion Of life. Thu
beauty OF the soaring moon the ebony
canons of shadow under the mountain,
the melancholy serenity Of the perfect
night, made Duane shudder in the re-
ahzation of how far aloof he now was
from enjoyment of these things. Never
again SO long as he lived could he be
natural. Ills mind was clouded. His
eye and a henceforth must registe,
impressions OF nature, but the iov OF
| them had fled.
Still, as he sat there with a forebod-
Ing OF more and darker work ahead OF
him, there was yet a strange sweet
ness left to him, and it lay in thought
Of Jennie. The pressure OF her cold
little hands fingered in his. He did
not think of her as a woman, and he
did not gnalyze his feelings. He inst
had vague, dreamy thoughts and i'm
aginations that were interspersed IN
the constant n stern revolving OF
plans to ave her.
A suffling step reused him. Euchre's
dark figure came crossing the moonlf1
grass under the cottonwoods. The
moment the outlaw reached him
Duane saw that he was laboring under
great excitement. 1t scarcely affected
Duane. He seemed TO be ACQUIRING
patience. cAlmness, strength.
bland kept you pretty long" he said
What till I git my BREATH replied
Euchre. He sat silent q little while
tanning himself with q sombrero. though
the night was cool. and then he went
into the cabin to return presently with
= lighted pipe.
Fine night" he said; ana his tone
further acquainted Duane with Euchre's
quaint humor. fine night for love az.
tfairs. ~ gumis
* noticed that. rejoined Duane
Wal. I'm . SON Of . run II / didn't
stand ansssatch Bland choke. his wife
TIL her tongue stuck out u she goi
black In tho fnce..
Mol calculated Duane.
Hope to deli I didn't Bucak. lister
10 this here yarn. When L rot back
Ito tho porchsI seen Bland Wa wakfn
fup. He'd bean TOO sflgged ont 20 fig9el
mueh AIl0W1y ant Kate haA rome Il
III NY h0aGN go ~ awnr.