Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-11-29
cHAPrER ".

Next morning Duane found that {
moody and respondent spell had fas
tened on him, Wishing to b alone,
- went out and walked Z trail leading
round the river blur. He thought and
thought. After 4 while he made out
that the trouble with him probably
was that he could not resign himself
ito his fate. He cared vastly more, be
discovered, for what he considered
honor and integrity than. he did for
ME. he saw that It was bad for him
. ~ alone. But It appeared. lonely
sn6nths and perhaps years Inevitably
must DO hiA
Another thing puzzled him. In the
bright light Of day he could not recall
] ~ state Of mind that was bis at
twilight or dusk or IN the dark night
~ day these visitations became to
him what they really were phantoms
sof 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 nick.
AT length he determined to create
interest in all that he came across
and 20 forget himself as much as pos
sible. He had an opportunity now to
zee 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
Cuchre 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
bullet-holes in tibet cowpuncher Balm
you plugged. Then there was a ranch
e shot at water-hole twenty miles
I south Of Wellston. Reckon you didn't
do MI
..No, / certainly did not" replied
Duane.
.sWal, you get the blame. It amt
nothing for Teller to be saddled with
gun-plays he never made. An, Buck.
II you ever get famous, as seems like
. II, you'll be blamed for many crime.
The border II make an, outlaw an
murderer out Of you. Wal, thet's
4 enough Of tibet. I've more news.
You're goln' to be popular"
aPopular7 What do you meanf
II met BANDS wife this mornin'
She seen you the other day when you
rode in. She shore wants to meet you.
an 30 do some Of the other women
III camp. They always want to meet
the new fellers who've just come In
IT'S lonesome for women here, an they
like to hear news from the towns"
sWell, Euchre, don't want to be
inpolite, but I'd rather not meet any
Z women" rejoined Duane.
II was afraid you wouldn't. Don't
blame you much. Women are hell.
was hopin', though, you might talk 9
little to tibet poor lonesome kid"
'syNhat kid7" inquired Duane, in sur
prise.
.Didn't tell You about Jennie the
xirl BANDS holdin' herel"
'No. Tell me now" replied Duane
abruptly.
AWal, got 1t this way. Mebbe It'll
straight, an mebbe It amt. Some
Ayears ago Benson made trip over the
p&aver to buy mescai an other drinks
q IAN he run across . gang Of greasera
8 with some gringo prisoners. don't
u know but ] reckon there was some
n barterin', perhaps murderin'. Any
way, Benson fetched the girl back
She was starved an scared half e
death. She hadn't been harmed. ]
reckon she was then about fourteen
years old. Bland seen the kid right
OF and took her-bought her from
Benson. You can gamble Bland didn't
DO thet from notions Of chivalry
4 Kate BANDS been hard on Jennie, but
she's kept Bland an the other men
4 from treating the kid shameful. Late
D Jennie has grown into an ALTERED
pretty girl, an Kate 10 powerful jeal'
j GUS OF her. / can see hell brewin
over there in BANDS, cabin. Thet'a
why wish you'd come over with me
You'd get to see Jennie, an nebbe
you could help her. had a baby girl
once, an, II she'd lived she'd be as big
+ - Jennie now, an I wouldn't want hel
here In BANDS camp"
sri 60, Euchre. Take me over" re
{ piled Duane. He felt Euchre's eyes
upon him. The old outlaw, however
had no more to say.
In the afternoon Euchre set OF with
Duane, and soon they reached BANDS
cabin. Duane remembered 1t as the
one where he had seen the pretty wo.
man watching him ride by. Through
the open door Duane caught glimpse
Of bright Mexican blankets and rugs
Euchre knocked upon the side Of the
door.
us that you, Euchre?" asked a girls
voice, low, hesitatingly. The tone Of
it, rather deep and with note of fear,
struck Duane.
eyes, it's me, Jennie. Where's Mrs.
Bland?" answered Euchre.
''She went over to Deger's. There's
somebody SICK" replied the girl.