The Ozark spectator., 1916-10-11


 | haired, freckled Texan. "Howdy, stranger" he called, as Duane halted. Get down, you an your woman. Say, now, air you sick or shot or what? Let me" Duane, reeling in his saddle, bent searching eyes upon the rancher. He | thought he 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 l to bench. Martha, come out here!" he called. 'This mans sick. No; he's shot, or l | 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 tke 1 rancher.
 "No. I'm only a girl he saved from outlaws. Oh, he's so pale! Duane, Duane!"
 Buck Duane '" exclaimed the ranch CT, eXcitedly. "The man who killed Bland an Alloway? Say, I owe him a good turn, an I'll pay it, young | woman"
 The rancher's wife came out, and 1 with a manner at once kind and prac- tical essayed to make Duane drink | from a 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.
 "Yes, I'm Duane. I've only over- done myself-just all in. The wounds ! got at Bland's are healing. Will you take this girl in--hide her awhile till the settlements over among the out | lawS?"
 "I shore will" replied the Texan. "Young man you ain't in any shape to travel. I'll take you in along with the girl, an hide both of you till you get well.'
 Duane's last fading sensations of that hard day were the strange feel of a 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 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. During most of his Illness he had been silent. moody.
 Jennie, I'll be riding off soon," he | said, one evening. II can't impose on this good man Andrews much longer I'll never forget his kindness. His wife, too-she's 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 l girl he used to see at Mrs. Blands 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 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 a several days trip to Huntsville.
 "Duane. everybody's talkin' about how you cleaned up the Bland outfit" he said, important and all full of news. "Its some exaggerated. accordin' to what you told me; but you've shore made friends on this side of the 1 Nueces. I reckon there ain't town where you wouldn't find people to welcome you"
 'Did you hear of any outlaws hunt | ing mep" asked Duane.
 Nobody from Bland's outfit is hunt in you, thet's shore." replied Andrews. | "Fisher said there never was hoss | straddled to go on your trail. Nobody | had any use for Bland. Anyhow, his men would be afraid to trail you An you could go right in to Huntsville, where you'd be some popular. Reckon | you'd be safe, too, except where some of them fool saloon loafers or bad cowpunchers would try to shoot you for the glory in it. Them kind of men will bob up everywhere you go, ! Duane"
 'I'll be able to ride and take care of myself in day or two" went on Duane. "Then I'll go--rd like to talk | to you about Jennie"
 "She's welcome to home here with | us"
 ''Thank you, Andrews. You're a kind man. But I want Jennie to get farther away from the Rio Grande. She'd never be safe here.''
 All right, Duane. Whatever you think best. I reckon now you'd better go north an strike for Shelbyyille. l |