The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1916-12-07
CHAPTER xlv-coutinusd.

SFNFNF . = y - AfNtNNfHaHAs
Duane avrrted his face a moment
hesliated tiil the swelling left his
throat. and then sBld "it's worth what
! went through to-day 10 hear that"
= can imagine how you feel about
H. when ! waa Ia the war-but let's
get down 10 the business Of this meet
Ing
lie pulled his chair close 10 Dunne's.
You've had word more than once
IN the last two years that wanted 10
see you, why didn't you bunt me upT"
= supposed sou Imagined me one of
those gun-hghters whc couldn't take Il
dare and expected me 20 ride up 10
your camp and be- arrested"
"rhat was natural suppose" went
on MacNeiIy. lyon didn't know me.
otherwise you would have come. I've
been a long time getting 10 you. But
the nature u my job, ns fnr Ms you're
concerned. made me cautious. Dunno.
you're aware o. the hard name yor
bear 81 over the southwestT
7Onee IN while I'm Jared into
realizing. replied Duane,
ITS the hardest barring Murrell
and Cheseidine. 90 the Texas border
But there's this difference. Murrell
Ia his dag was known 70 deserve his
infamous name. Cheseldine IN his day
also Bul I've found hundreds 81 men
Ia southwest Texas who're your
friends who swear you never com
mltted a crime The farther south
got the clearer this becomes What |
want 10 know Il the truth Have you
ever done anything crlminal7 Tell me
the truth Duane Il won't make any
difference Ia my plan. And when
say crime ! menn what ! would cali
crime. or any reasonable Texan"
"That wny my hands ure ciean." re-
piled Duane
"You never held 90 man. robbed
a store for grub, stole a horse when
you needed him badneyer anything
like tbatT
somehow / always kept out Of that,
just when pressed the hardest"
Duane, fm glad r. MacNelly ex.
claimed gripping puunes hand "Glnd
FOR your mothers sakel hut all the
same. in spite 81 this, you are Texas
outlaw accountable 80 the state,
You're perfectly aware that under OK,
sting circumstances. II you feil into /
he hsnds ~ the law. you'd probably |
hang 80 least so 10 jnli for a long /
iertnT
THAT'S what kept me on the dodge
M these years" replied Dunno.
Certainly" MacNelly's eyes mar.
-owea and gllttcred. The muscles
along his brown checks set hard and
euse Tie leaned close 70 Duane.
aid siuewy pressing fingers upon
Duanc's knee,
Listen to this" he whispered,
loarsciy "lf place a pardon IN your
iand-makc you free. honest citizen
,nce more, clear your namo OF lufnmy, |
make your mother, your sister proud
4 you VIII you swear yourself 70
,sryiee, any service | demand Of your
Duane sat stock stlll stunned
Slowly more persuasiyely. with
how ~ earnest agitation. Captain
iscNeliy reiterated his startling
.urry
MY G0df" burst from Duane.
what's thls7 MEcNclly, you can't be
b earnest 2"
Never more 80 IN my nfc. I've a
erp game, I'm playing it square
What Dc you snyY"
He rusr 90 bis feet Duane. as n I
upellei rose with him Ranger and
uIlHw then locked eyes that searched
gCb others souls. In MacNrIy's (
'uane read truth, strong. hcry pur
use. hope even cludness, and fugI
I've mounting assurance Uf victory.
Twice Duane eudeav0rrd 10 speak
allied of 90 save n hoarse. iucohcrrut
1uud unit forcing beck flood OF
neorb bs found q voice.
ANY serylce2 Every seryIrcl Mac,
iely give my word. said Duane
A light played over MRcNclIy's face.
grm.Gg uuf an the grim darkness
u bri3 out his hand Duane met 70
1h DIS In clasp that men uucon-
riuusiy give 800 moments ~ stress
When they unclasped and Duane
topped back 90 drop into chair
larNei'y fumh'ed ror cigar and.
EhduE BE-. turned 10 his visitor \
1w calm mud cool lie had the Inok
man who had Justly won some
hing az considerable cost Ills next !
i0gs wgs 20 take a long leather case
ron bis pocket and extract from it |
syerai folded papers
Here's your pardon from the Cover,
or be said quietly. "you1l see
.hgH sou ln7E lt over that IFS coudI-
naL When sou sign this paper I
ave here the condition wiz br met"
o. smDDthad ont The pepper banded
,ua1e pen, ran bis f0rafngar along
dotted line.
Duape's hand was shagv. Years
ad passed since be- bad held pen
. "as with difficulty that Bee achieved I
is signature Buckley uuane-huw
TRANCE the uame looked
Fright here ends the career NJ Buck
Duane. outlaw and guu-Gghtar." said
and, seating himself. he
Ook the pen from Duane's fingers aud
wrote several lines IN several places
Ipon the paper Then with a smile
" handed II to Duane.
That makes yon member OF Com
ANY Texas Rangers"