Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-07-12
TX (Continued).

INV AAiAa 4 ASii W u ~ 1iAS
u exploding as it hit the floor. and
dropped loose from stretching fingers.
Duane stood over him, stopped to turn
him on his back. Bland ooked up with
louded gaze. then gasped his last.
Duane, you've killed him." cried
Kate Bland, hnskily. II knew you'd
nave D."
h staggered against the wall, her
eye dilating, her strong hands clinch-
ing. her face slowly whitening. She APP
peared shocked, half stunned. but
showed no grief.
"Jennie!" called Duane, sharply.
"Oh-Duane!" came Il halting reply.
Yes. Come out. Hurry"
h came out with uneven steps,
seeing only him, n she stumbled ver
B!and's body. Duane caught her arm,
swung her behind him. He feared the
woman hen she realized 10Y she had
been duped. His action was protective.
n his movement toward the door
equally as significant.
"Duane!" sried Mrs. Bland.
1T was no time for talk. Duane edged
on. keeping Jennie behind him. AT that
momeGt there was q pounding OF iron
shod noofs out in tie lane. Kate Bland
bounded to the door. When she turned
back her amazement was changing to
realization.
Where re o taking Jen?" she
cried. her voice like Il MANS.
Get out OF my way" replied Duane.
HIS look perhaps. without speech. was
enough for her. In an instant she was
transformed into a fury.
You hound, All the time you were
1oollag me! You made love to me! You
let me believe-yOu swore you loved
me. NOW l see what was queer about
you. All for that girl! But you can't
nave her. You'll never leave here alive.
Give me that girl! Let me-get at her!
Sn0lI nAUnN uiu orNt.o ,rn,& H. tki,
camp!"
She was a powerful woman. and it
TOOK all Duane's strength to ward off
hei onslaughts. She clawed at Jennie
over his upheld arm. Every second hel
fury increased.
Help! help! help" she shrlelsed. in
2 voice that must have penetrated to
the remotest cabin in the valley.
Let go! Let go!" cride Duane, low
n sharp. He still held his gun in his
right hand, and 1t began to be hard for
him to ward the woman off. His cool
ness had gone with her shrek for help.
Let gO!" he repeated, and he showed
he %fierccly.
Suddenly she snatched a rifle off the
wall and backed away. her strong
hands fumbling at the lever. AS size
!efked 1T down. Throwing Il shell into
Duane leaped upon her. He struck up
the rifle as il went off. the powder
burning his face.
Jennie, run out. Get on a horse."
he snid.
Jennie flashed out of the door.
WITH an iron grasp. Duane held to
we llfle barrel. He had grospcd il with
his left hand. and he gave such a lul,
tEat ne swung the cra@cd woman Off
the floor. But he could not loose her
Strip. She was as strong as he.
Kate! Let go!"
He triad 20 iptir,i1,tn No., c.l,~ ~. +,
not see his gun thrust in her face. or
reason lad given way to sue an ex-
tent to passion that she cid not care.
She cursed. Her husband lac used the
Same curses. and from nc. lips they
seemed strange, unsexed, more deadly
Lire a tigress she fought him: her face
Ns' longer ~reSenlbled a womar's. The
ev'i vi that outlaw life. the wildness
a.s.s rage. the meaning to kill. were
eve. n Such a moment terribly inn
pressed upon Duane.
Ho i,eard a Cry from outside-a mans
cry. hoarse and alarming.
1t made him think of loss OF time.
This demon of a woman ,night vet
block his plan.
Let go!" he whispered. and felt his
lips stiff. In the grimness Of that In
,etnnt he relaxed his hold on the rifle,
barrel.
With sudden. r%edoubled. irresistible
strength she wrenched the rifle down
,ar1 discharged 1t. Duane felt q blow
q saock---a burning agony tearing
rough his breast. Then in a frenzy
&c jerked 80 powerfully upon the rifle
tina ne threw the woman against the
wall. She fell and seemed stunned.
Duane leaped back. whirled, flew out
OF the door to the porch. The sharp
cracking Of a U halted him. He saw
Jennie holding to the bride of his bay
horse. Euchre was astride the other.
firing down the lane. Then came a
SINGLE shot. heavier. and Euchre's
ceased. He fell from the horse.
\ swift glance back showed to Duane
. = coming down the lane. Chess
Alloway! Hi U was smoking. He
broke into q run. Then in an instant
ne saw Duane. and tried to check his
pace A. he swung up his arm. But that
.pisyhts pause vas fatal. Duane shot.
md All0way was falling when his gun
Went on. His bullet whistled close to
Duane Ard thudded into the cabin.
Jennie was trying to hold the plunging
bry. Eu&hre lay flat on his back. dead.
Z outlet hole In his shirt. his face set
f'rN and his hands twisted around gun,
Cra bride. -
-:nie. you've nerve. all right!.
horse she. was holding. 'sUp with YOU
now! There! Never mindlons stir
rsus! Hang ON somehow"
He caught b bride u OF Flu
ehre'.. clntchtn. ,eytp and lesped astrids.
r..n .-s t~undsre6 downsthe ians into
tNe -cad. DIeue ~ men rvnninf from
ehhln1. Ye heard shouts. But there
sSeSfosno shots fired. Jennie seemed able
r. alaH on her hoE0o. but without gtir-
HsnNsaafa Wae 4htOWn about 10 much
e1ssf nweaA rode closer ard reached out
ftftt zIt-r+t+t9