The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-10-12

you worry any more. Well take care
| Of you. Here, Ruth help me. What.
ever is the matter with baby's dress p
Manifestly Miss Longstreth had
some difficulty in subduing her emo
ton.
"Why, it's on hind side BEFORE" de-
clared Ruth. II guess Mr.. Ranger
hasn't dressed many babies"
HE did the best he could" said
Mrs. Laramie. lord only knows
what would have become Of us!'
"Then he isis something more
than a ranger?" queried Miss Long
streth, with a little break in her
voice.
Hes more than can TELL" replied
Mrs. Laramie. Gle buried Jim. He
paid our debts. he fetched US here.
He bought food for us. He cooked for
| us and fed us. He washed and dress
ed the baby. he sat with me the
first two nights after Jim's death,
when I thought I'd die myself. He's
so kind, so gentle, so patient. He has
kept me up just by being near. Some
times I'd wake from a doze, an, see
ing him there, I'd know how false
were all these tales Jim heard about
him and believed at first. Why, he
plays with the children just-just
like any good man might. When he
has the baby up just can't believe
he's q bloody gunman, as they say.
He's good, but he isn't happy. He
has such sad eyes. He looks far off
sometimes when the children climb
round him. They love him. His life
is sad. Nobody need tell me-he sees
the good in things. Once he said some
body had to be ranger. Well, say,
Thank God for a ranger like him ="
Duane did not want to hear more,
so he walked into the room.
1T was thoughtful Of you," Duane
said. "Womankind are needed here.
could do so little. Mrs. Laramie,
you look better already. I'm glad.
And here's baby all clean and white.
Baby, what a time I had trying to
puzzle out the way your clothes went
on! Well, Mrs. Laramie, didn't tell
you-friends would come? So will
the brighter side."
Eyes, I've more faith than I had"
replied Mrs. Laramie. "Granger
daughter has come to me.
There for while after Jim's death
I thought I'd sink. We have nothing.
How could ever take care of my
little ones? But I'm gaining courage
to-"
"Mrs. Laramie, do not distress your
self any MORE" said Miss Longstreth.
Il shall see you are well cared for.
promise you."
Miss Longstreth, that's fne!' ex-
claimed Duane. cts what Ive-ex- ,
'ected Of you"
1t must have been sweet praise to 1.
Ter, for the whiteness Of her face
'urned out in beautiful blush.
"And it's good Of you, too, Miss
Herbert, to Gomez added Duane. -
Let me thank you both. I'm glad =
have you girls as allies in part Of
ny lonely task here. More than glad
or the sake Of this good woman and
he little ones. But both of you be
areful about coming here alone.
here's risk. And now I'll be going. IL
'ood-by, Mrs. Laramie. I'll drop in
gain tonight. Good-by."
'Mr. Ranger, wait!" called Miss II
ongstreth as he went out. She was y
'hite and wonderful. She stepped
ut of the door close to him.
II have wronged you'll" she said, i'm n
G.
Miss Longstreth! How can you
~ that?" he returned. pl
II believed what my father and
lloyd Lawson said about you. Now W
see-I wronged you." r
'You make me very glad. But, al
ISIS Longstreth, please don't speak er
wronging me. I have been IA ne
lnman, I am a ranger-and much be
i'd Of me is true. My duty is hard til
Others-sometimes on those who
e innocent, alas! But God knows on
at duty is hard, too, on me-" he
II did wrong you. IF you entered 10!
Y home again I would think it an or
nor. T." Sc
"Please-please don't, Miss Long
:eth." interrupted Duan>. CO.
'But, sir, my conscience flags me-" Lo
e went on. There was no other as
und like her voice. "Will you take
: hand? Will you forgive me?" OBJ
She gave it royalty, while the other hir
IS there pressing at her breast. .
ane took the proffered hand. He VIII
not know what else to do. be-
Then 1t seemed to dawn upon him int
It there was more behind this white, hes
eet, noble intensity of her than alo
It the making amends for fancied ate
real wrong. Duane thought the gay
n did not live on earth who could roo
re resisted her then. ret
I honor you for your goodness to Du
5 unfortunate woman" she said, felt
now her speech came swiftly. Lay
hen she was all alone and help
) you were her friend. It was the sait
d Of Il man. But Mrs. Laramie pre-
T the ONLY unfortunate woman in | nv