The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-10-06
was q criminal in sight of Texas law
he, too, was an outcast.
CHAPTER vi.

| nOOuy anu ueSpOuuellL Spell udu Las
tened on him, Wishing to be alone
he went out and walked trail leading
round the river bluff. He thought ant
thought. After a while he made ou
that the trouble with him probably
was that he could not resign himself
to his fate. He cared vastly more, he
| discovered, for what he considered
honor and integrity than he did fol
life. He saw that it was bad for him
to be alone. But, it appeared, lonely
months and perhaps years inevitably
must be his.
Another thing puzzled him. In the
bright light of day he could not recall
the state of mind that was his at
BY day these visitations became to
him what they really were-phantoms
of his conscience. He could dismiss
the thought of them then. He could
scarcely remember or believe that this
strange feat of fancy or imagination
had troubled him, made him sleepless
and sick.
At length he determined to create
interest in all that he came across
and so forget himself as much as pos
sible. He had an opportunity now to
see just what the outlaws life really
was. He meant to force himself to
be curious, sympathetic, clear-sighted.
And he would stay there in the valley
until its possibilities had been ex-
hausted or until circumstances sent
him out upon his uncertain way.
When he returned to the shack
Euchre was cooking dinner.
"Say, Buck, I've news for you" he
said; and his tone conveyed either
pride in his possession of such news
or pride in Duane. "Feller named
Bradley rode in this mornin'. He's
heard some about you. Told about
the ace of spades they put over the
bulIet-holes in tibet cowpuncher Balm
you plugged. Then there was a ranch
err shot at a water-hoIe twenty miles
south of Wellston. Reckon you didn't
do it?"
.'No, 1 certainly did not" replied
Duane.
"Wal, you get the blame. 1t amt
nothing for Teller to be Saddled with
he never made. An, Buck,
f you ever get famous, as seems like
V, you'll be blamed for many a crime. |
rhe border III make an outlaw an
murderer out of you. Wal, thet's |
enough of tibet. I've more news.
You're goin' to be popular"
Popular? What do you mean?"
81 met Bland's wife this mornin'.
,he seen you the other day when you
ode in. She shore wants to meet you,
n so do some of the other women
q camp. They always want to meet
he new fellers who've just come in.
is lonesome for women here, an they
Ike to hear news from the towns"
"Well, Euchre, I don't want to be
npoiite, but I'd rather not meet any
rejoined Duane.
81 was afraid you wouldn't. Don't
lame you much. Women are hell. l
as hopin'. though, you might talk a
tile to tibet poor lonesome kid"
"What kid?" inquired Duane, in sur
rise.
didn't l tell you about Jennie-the
ri BANDS holdin' here?" ,
"No. Tell me now" replied Duane, ,
,ruptly. E
oval, I got it this way. Mebbe it's
raight, an mebbe it amt. Some r
,ars ago Benson made trip over the 9
yer to buy mescul an other drinks. 7
n he run across gang of greasers v
It'll some gringo prisoners. l don't
low, but / reckon there was some
rterin', perhaps murderin'. Any n
~, Benson fetched the girl back. +,
lie was starved an scared half to
ath. She hadn't been harmed. :,
exon she was then about fourteen !,
ars old. Bland seen the kid right j
and took her-bought her from ,,
nson. You can gamble Bland didn't +,
tibet from notions of chivalry.
tie BANDS been hard on Jennie, but :,
IS kept Bland an the other men ~
IN treating the kid shameful. Late =,
lnie has grown into an ALFRED l.,
.tty girl, an Kate is powerful jeal-
! Of her. 1 can see hell brewin' 4,
r there in BANDS cabin. Thet's o.
y wish you'd come over with me. If
I'D get to see Jennie. an mebbe 20
could help her. / had baby girl
e. an If sled lived she'd be as big 70
Jennie now, an wouldn't want her
e in Bland's camp" h,
I'll go, Euchre. Take me over re- oh
d Duane. He felt Euchre's eyes
n him The old outlaw. however, -
no more to say. n
! the afternoon Euchre set off with
ne, and soon they reached BANDS w,
n. Duane remembered it as the ca,
where he had seen the pretty wo- ".
watching him ride by. Through hir
open door Duane caught glimpse yo,
right Mexican blankets and rugs. mu