The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-10-20

and the fear of their isolated lives
! Duane saw a woman come to the door
then man. The latter looked keenly
then stepped outside. He was sandy
/ haired, freckled Texan.
"Howdy, stranger" he called, as
Duane halted. sect down, you an
your woman. Say, now, air you sick
or shot or what? Let me"
Duane, Keeling in his saddle, bent
searching eyes upon the rancher. He
thought ne saw good will, Kindness
honesty. He risked all on that one
sharp glance. Then he almost plunged
from the saddle.
The rancher caught him, helped him
to bench.
Martha, come out here!" he called
"This mans sick. No; he's shot, or
don't know blood-stains."
Jennie had slipped off her horse and
to Duane's side. Duane appeared
about to faint.
"Air you his wife?" asked the
rancher.
"No. I'm only a girl he saved from
outlaws. oh, he's so pale! Duane,
Duanei"
"Buck Duane!' exclaimed the ranch
er, excitedly. "The man who killed
Bland an Alloway? Say, 1 owe him
good turn, an I'll pay it, young
| woman
The rancher's wife came out, and
| with manner at once kind and prac-
i +o d,.i, +
from flask. He was not so far gone
| that he could not recognize its con-
tents, which he refused, and weakly
asked for water. When that was given
him he found his voice.
Eyes, I'm Duane. I've only over
done myself-.iust all in. The wounds
got at BANDS are healing. Will you
take this girl in-hide her awhile till
the excitement's over among the out
laws?"
81 shore WILL" replied the Texan.
"Young man you amt in any shape
to travel. I'll take you in along with
the girl, an hide both of you till you
got well.''
Duane's last fading sensations of
that hard day were the strange feel
of bed relief at the removal of his
heavy boots, and of Jennie's soft, cool
hands on his hot face.
He lay i'll for three weeks before he
began to mend, and it was another
week then before he could walk out
a little in the dusk of the evenings.
After that his strength returned rapid
ly. And it was only at the end of this
long siege that he recovered his spirits.
silent, moody.
Jennie, I'll be riding off soon," he |
said, one evening. 81 can't impose on |
this good man Andrews much longer. /
I'll never forget his Kindness. His |
wife, too-shes been so good to US.
Yes, Jennie, you and I will have to
say good-by very soon."
"Don't hurry away" she replied.
Lately Jennie had appeared strange
to him. She had changed from the
girl he used to see at Mrs. BANDS
house. He took her reluctance to say
good-by as another indication of her
regret that he must go back to the
brakes. Yet somehow it made him
observe her more closely.
"Its likely that we won't see each
other again." he said. "That's strange
to think of. We've been through some
hard days, and I seem to have known
you long time"
Jennie appeared shy, almost sad, so
Duane change the subject to some
thing less personal.
Andrews returned one evening from
/ several days trip to Huntsville.
'Duane, everybody's talkin' about
low you cleaned up the Bland outfit"
lie said, important and all full of news.
It's some exaggerated, accordin' to
What you told me; but you've shore
made friends on this side of the |
lueces. I reckon there amt a town |
where you wouldn't find people to
Welcome you"
ibid you hear of any outlaws hunt
ng me?" asked Duane.
Nobody from BANDS outfit is hunt |
a. you, thet's Shore" replied Andrews.
Fisher said there never was a boss
to go on your trail. Nobody g
ad eny use for Bland. Anyhow. his u
len would be afraid to trail you. An =
ou could go right in to Huntsville, p
here you'd be some popular. Reckon
ou'd be safe, too, except where some j.
{ them fool saloon loafers or bad a
owpunchers would try to shoot you u
)r the glory in 1t. Them kind of men o.
ill bob up everywhere you go, II
uane."
'I'll be able to ride and take care of .
yself in a day or two" went on
uane. "Then I'll go-rd like to talk q
you about Jennie"
"She's welcome to home here with sc
J."
Thank you, Andrews. You're a =.
nd man. But 1 want Jennie to get q
rther away from the Rio Grande. =
ned never be safe here"
"All right, Duane. Whatever you .
ink best. / reckon now you'd better Z
north an strike for Shelbyville. =
| fell Jennie the names of men who'll | 4