Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-20
CHAPTER NIX Con,!nncd).

Some OF them, uccl3Ici La anC
now he was sarcastic.
TO tel you the tr4th. / wouldn't" re-
turned the either, biuntiy. i'm pretty
sick OF tins mess"
Lawson cursed i'm am~azeInent. His
emotions We're all out OF proportion
to his intelligence. lie Was not 1T all
quicN-wittod. Duane had never seen Il
Naine" or more arrogant
"Lcngstretl. Gcn't Ike your talk
he sa.d.
"if you don't like .he way / talk you
know what you car co." replied Long
ktreth. quickly. He STOOD UP then, cool
and quiet. with flash of eyes and set of
Well. after al. that's neither here
nor there" went on Lawsoa, l;ncun-
rciousiy cowed by the other. "a'he thing
is. do get the sirl:"
Not by any means G ner con-
sent"
you'll not make her marry me-"
NO No" replied Longstreth. his
voice still cold. iow-pitci.ad.
AN right. Then I'll mako her."
Evidently Longstreth understood he
man before him so well that he wasted
no more words. Duane knew what Law
son never dreamed of. n that was that
Longstreth had a gun somewhere with
in reach and meant to use it. Then
heavy footsteps sounded outside
~traInping upon the porcn. Duane might
nave. been mistaken, but he believed
those footsteps saved Lawson's life.
There they are" said Lawson, gu!
ne opened the door.
Five masked men cnterc.i. They all
Wore coats hiding any weapons. = big
man with bury shoulders shook hands
with Longstreth. and the o:Acrs stood
back.
The atmosphere of that room had
changed. Lawson might have been a
ncncntity for all he counted. Lol.sstcetl
was another stronger to Duane.
III hc had entertained a hD!e OF freeing
himself from this band. q: getting ava
to a safer country. he abandp ned it at
,he very sight of these .nen. There was
power here, and he was bo,.ll.
The big man spoke in :ow, hoarse
whispers, and at this all Tie others
gathered around him cioso to the table.
There were evidently some a:g1s of
membership not pain to Duane. Thcn
Low voices spoke. glie"icd, answered,
argued. by s%training his ears Duane
caught Il word hero and ..he:e. They
We're planning, and they were brief.
Duane gathered they were to have a
rendezvous at or near Ord.
Ihca the dig man. who evidently was
n ieade. Of the present convention,
got Up to depart. lie WHIT as swiftly
as he had come. and was followed by
his comrades. Jcngstrcth prepared for
a quiet smoke. Lawson seemed urcon-
m',nicativc and unsociable. Hc smoked
fiercely n drank continually. All at
once he Strengthened up as liz listening.
Whats that" nc called. suddenly.
nuane's starined cas- were pervaded
bJ a slight rustiing soEnd
Must be q rat" replied Lonsstreth.
ire ruosle became q rattle.
sounds ike q r~attlesnasc to me-"
sale Lawson.
~l"ngstrcth go. up from the table and
peerad rotnd the room.
just ut tllat instant Duane felt an al
most inappseciabie movement Of the
adobe wa which supported him. He
could scarcely credit his senses. But the
rattle inside Lonsstreth's room was
= Ing with little dull thuGs of fall
in.s DIT. The adobe wall. merely dried
mid. was cru.nbling. Duane d;stinstly
telt Il tremor pas through it. Thcn the
blood Sushed back to his heart.
Nv laGt in the he'll" exclaimed Long
ctreth.
II smell dust said Lawson, sharply.
That was the sigma: for Duane to
drop down from his i,e:cii. set despite
his care he made a n"isc.
Did you heal a ste2:" qGericd Long
streti.
No one answered. But a heavy piece
Duane heard 1t crack. felt it shake.
There's SOMEBODY between the
wals!" Numbered Lcngstreth.
e u section Ut the wall fell inward
with n crash. Duane began to squeeze
his body through tie narrow passage
toward the patio.
Hear him." yelled Lawson. "This
side!'
mo, he's going that way" yelled
Longstrcth.
The tramp Of heavy boots lent Duane
the strength of desperation. He was not
striking a fight, u to be cornered like
g trapped coyote was another matter.
He nc tore hrs Clothes off in that
passage. The dust nearly stifled him.
When he burst into tie patio it was no
. single instant too soon. But one deep
gasp OF breath revived him and he was
up. eur In hand. running for the outlet
into. the court. -aThumping footsteps
tu:ASd him back. While there was a
chersce Ia set away he did not want to
Eight. He, thought he heard some one
running into the patio from the other
end. He stole along. and coming to a
door. without any Idea OF where It
might lead. he softly pushed it open a
little way and slipped in.
CHAPTER Xxx.
A low cry greeted Duane. The room
was lighted. he saw Ray Longstreth
~&tfspsr IN har had In hA. a~~..;.