The Benson signal., 1916-12-23

lot of friends! Mrs. Laramie, don't
you worry any more. Well take care
of you. Here, Ruth help me. What
ever is the matter with baby's dress?"
Manifestly Miss Longstreth had
some difficulty in subduing her emo
ton.
"Why, it's on hind side before" de-
clared Ruth. 81 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.
He's more than I can TELL" replied
Mrs. Laramie. "He 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 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 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 ranger like him T."
Duane did not want to hear more,
so he walked into the room.
''It was thoughtful of you," Duane
said. "Womankind are needed here.
I could do so little. Mrs. Laramie,
you look better already. I'm glad.
And here's baby all clean and white.
Baby, what time I had trying to
puzzle out the way your clothes went
on! Well, Mrs. Laramie, didn't I tell
you-friends would come? So will
the brighter side."
eyes, I've more faith than I had,"
replied Mrs. Laramie. Granger
Longstreth's daughter has come to me.
There for a while after Jim's death
r 81 in1y "a hox
How could 7 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.
81 shall see you are we'll cared for.
I promise you."
Miss Longstreth, that's fine" ex-
claimed Duane. cts what Ive-ex-
pected of you"
It must have been sweet praise to
her, for the whiteness Of her face
burned out in a beautiful blush.
"And it's good Of you, too, Miss
Herbert, to come," added Duane.
"Let me thank you both. I'm glad
I have you girls as allies in part of
my lonely task here. More than glad
for the sake Of this good woman and
the little ones. But both of you be
careful about coming here alone.
There's risk. And now I'll be going.
Good-by, Mrs. Laramie. I'll drop in
again tonight. Good-by."
''Mr. Ranger, wait!" called Miss
Longstreth as he went out. She was
white and wonderful. She stepped
out of the door close to him.
II have wronged you" she said, i'm
pulsively.
Miss Longstreth! How can you
say that?" he returned.
II believed what my father and
Floyd Lawson said about you. Now
I see-I wronged you"
"You make me very glad. But.
Miss Longstreth, please don't speak
of wronging me. I have been "a
gunman, I am a ranger-and much
said of me is true. My duty is hard
on Others-sometimes on those who
are innocent, alas! But God knows
that duty is hard, too, on me-"
II did wrong you. If you entered
my home again I would think it an
honor. I"
"Please-please don't, Miss Long
streth," interrupted Duane.
"But, sir, my conscience f1ays me-"
she went on. There was no other
sound like her voice. "Will you take
my hand? Will you forgive me?"
She gave it royalty, while the other
was there pressing at her breast.
Duane took the proffered hand. He
did not know what else to do.
Then it seemed to dawn upon him
that there was more behind this white,
sweet, noble intensity of her than
just the making amends for fancied
or real wrong. Duane thought the
man did not live on earth who could
have resisted her then.
II honor you for your goodness to
this unfortunate woman" she said,
and now her speech came swiftly.
"When she was all alone and help