The Benson signal., 1916-10-28
was a criminal in sight of Texas law
he, too, was an outcast.
CHAPTER vi.

round the river bluff. He thought and
thought. After a while he made out
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 for
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
twilight or dusk or in the dark night.
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 it's 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
bullet-holes in thet cowpuncher Balm
you plugged. Then there was a ranch
er shot at a water-hOle twenty miles
south of Wellston. Reckon you didn't
do it?''
"No, I certainly did not" replied
Duane.
"Wal, you get the blame. 1t aine
nothing for feller to be saddled with
gun-plays he never made. An, Buck,
if you ever get famous, as seems like
ly, you'll be blamed for many a crime.
The border IL make an outlaw an
murderer out of you. Wal, thets
enough of thet. I've more news.
You're goin' to be popular"
Popular? What do you mean?
ST met BANDS wife this mornin'.
She seen you the other day when you
rode in. She shore wants to meet you,
an so do some Of the other women
in 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"
"Well, Euchre, don't want to be
impolite, but I'd rather not meet any
women" rejoined Duane.
''I was afraid you wouldn't. Don't
blame you much. Women are hell. l
was hopin', though, you might talk a
little to thet poor lonesome kid"
"What kid?' inquired Duane, in sur
prise.
Didn't I tell you about Jennie-the
girl BANDS hoIdin' here?"
'No. Tell me now," replied Duane,
abruptly.
sWal, I got it this way. Mebbe it's
straight, an mebbe it amt. Some
years ago Benson made a trip over the
river to buy mescal an other drinks.
An he run across gang of greasers
with some gringo prisoners. don't
know, but I reckon there was some
barterin', perhaps murderin'. Any
way, Benson fetched the girl back.
She was starved an scared half to
death. She hadn't been harmed. l
reckon she was then about fourteen
years old. Bland seen the kid right
off and took her-bought her from
Benson. You can gamble Bland didn't
do thet from notions of chivalry.
! Kate BANDS been hard on Jennie, but
she's kept Bland an the other men
from treating the kid shameful. Late
Jennie has grown into an all-fired
pretty girl, an Kate is powerful jeal-
GUS Of her. I can see hell brewin'
over there in BANDS cabin. Thet's
why I wish you'd come over with me.
You'd get to see Jennie, an mebbe
you could help her. had baby girl
once, an if she'd lived she'd be as big
as Jennie now, an I wouldn't want her
here in BANDS camp"
"Tll go, Euchre. Take me over" re-
| IL fo1t E1o
upon him. The old outlaw, however
had no more to say.
In the afternoon Euchre set off with
Duane, and soon they reached BANDS
cabin. Duane remembered it as the
one where he had seen the pretty wo,
man watching him ride by. Through
tie open door Duane caught glimpse
of bright Mexican blankets and rugs