The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-12-29

DOAANt ~ Vdo a LII ~ ~OAC Ndl1OOlt AkA
unusual cartridge. saw it, and
wanted it, but Miss Longstreth
| wouldn't part with it. Buck, there
was bullet left in one Of Poggin's
guns, and that bullet was the same
kind as the one cut out of you. By
guml Boy, it d have killed you if
it ID stayed there"
"It would indeed, uncle" replied
Duane, and the old, haunting, somber
mood returned.
But Duane was not often at the
mercy of childish old hero-worshiping
Uncle Jim. Miss Longstreth was the
only person who seemed to divine
Duane's gloomy mood, and when she
was with him she warded off all sug-
gestion.
One afternoon while she was there
at the west window, message came
for him. They read 1t together.
You have saved the ranger service to
the Lone Star State.
MacNelIy.
Ray knelt beside him at the, window,
and he believed she meant to speak
then of the thing they had Stunned.
Her face was still white, but sweeter
now, warm with rich life beneath the
marble; and her dark eyes were still
intent, still haunted by shadows, but
no longer tragic.
'T'm glad for MacNelly's sake as
well as the state's," said Duane.
She made no reply to that and
seemed to be thinking deeply. Duane
shrank a little.
'The pain-is it any worse todayT'
she asked, instantly.
"No; it's the same. 1t will always
be the same. I'm full of lead, you
know. But I don't mind little pain"
"Then-it's the old mood-the
feaf?" she whispered. Tell me-
Eyes. It haunts me. I'll be well
soon-able to go out. Then that
that hell will come back ~
"No. mol" she said with emotion.
"Some drunken cowboy, some fool
with a gun, will hunt me out in every
town, wherever l CO." he went on,
miserably. "Buck Duanei To kill
Buck Duane"
sHushI Don't speak So Listen.
You remember that day in Val Verde,
when came to you-pleaded with you |
not to meet Poggin? Oh, that was a
terrible hour for me. But it showed |
me the truth. / saw the struggle be- |
tween your passion to kill and your |
love for me. / could have saved you
then had / known what know now.
Now 1 understand that-that thing /
which haunts you. But you'll never
have to kill another man, thank God !"
Like a drowning man he would have
grasped at straws, but he could not
voice his passionate query.
She put tender arms round his neck.
Because you'll have me with you al
ways" she replied. Because always
I shall be between you and that
that terrible thing"
1t seemed with the spoken thought
absolute assurance Of her power came
to her. Duane realized instantly that
he was in the arms of a stronger
woman than she who had pleaded with
him that fatal day.
'We1l-we'll be married and leave
Texas" she said, softly, with the red
blood rising rich and dark in her
cheeks.
"RayI''
Eyes we will, though you're laggard
In asking me, SIR
"But, dear-suppose," he replied,
huskily, suppose there might be-be
boy. A boy with his
fathers blood!"
Il pray God there will be. do
1ot fear what you fear. But even sol
he'll be half my blood"
Duane felt the storm rise and break
n him. And his terror was that of
10y quelling fear. The shining glory
# love In this woman's eyes made him
weak as child. How could she
owe him-how could she SO bravely
ace future with him? Yet she held
i'm In her arms, twining her hands
ound his neck, and pressing close
O him. Her faith and love and beauty .
these she meant to throw between
i'm and all that terrible past. They
we're her power, and she meant to
se them all. He dared not think Of ,
ccepting her sacrifice
"But Ray you dear, noble girl IF
m poor. ! have nothing. And I'm ]
cripple"
"Oh, you'll be well some day" she
eplied. ~And listen. l have money.
y mother left me well OF. All she {
ad was her fathers Do you under I
tandf Wen take Uncle Jim and
our mother. Wen go to Louisiana
. my old home. It's far from here.
here's = plantation to work. There 4
re horses and cattle - great cypres
prsst t. CT On, yoau hays mueA =