The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-08-17
CHAPTER xx1v.-(Continued.)

That's tough. I'm glad to be able tt
tell you that up to just lately youl
mother, sister, uncle-all your folksk,
believe-were well. I've Kept posted
hut haven't heard lately"
Duane averted his face a moment
hesitated until the swelling left his
throat, and then said; It's worth what
I went through today to hear that"
Il can imagine how you feel about
1t. When | was in the war-but let's
get down to the business of this meet
ing"
lie pulled his chair .lose to Duane's.
you've had word Sore than once in
the last two years that l wanted to
see you?"
Three times. l Ssmember," replied
Duane.
why didn't you hunt me up?"
i supposed you imagined me one of
those gunfighters who couldn't take a
dare and expected me to ride up to
your camp and be arrested"
THAT was natural, l suppose" went
on MacNelly. You didn't know me,
otherwise you would have come, I've
been long time getting to you. But
the nature of my job. as far as you're
concerned, made me cautious. Duane,
you're aware of the hard name you bear
all over the southwest"
"Once in while I'm Jared into re-
alizing," replied Duane
Its the hardest, barring Muir"
rell and Cheseldine, on the Tex
as border. But there's this difference:
Murrell in his day was known to
deserve his infamous name. Chesel-
dine in his day also. But I've found
hundreds of men in southwest Texas
who're your friends who swear you
never committed a crime. The farther
south l get the clearer this becomes.
What l want to know is the truth.
Have you ever done anything crimi-
nal? Tell me the truth, Duane. 1t
won't make any difference in my plan.
And when j say crime / mean what l
would call crime, or any reasonable
Texan"
That way my hands are clean, re-
Piled Duane.
You never held up a man, robbed
store for grub, sole horse when
You needed him bad-never anything
like that?"
Somehow l always kept out of that,
just when pressed the hardest"
Duane, I'm damn glad!" MacNelly
exclaimed, gripping Duane's hand.
Glad for your mothers sake! But, ali
the same, In spite of this, you are a
Texas outlaw accountable to the state.
You're perfectly aware that under ex-
listing circumstances, If you fell into the
hands Of the law, you'd probably hang,
at least go to Jail for a long term"
That's what kept me on the dodge
all these years. replied Duane.
Certainly MacNelly removed his
cigar. His eyes narrowed and glittered.
The muscles along his brown checks
set hard and tense. He leaned closer
to Duane, laid sinewy. pressing fingers
upon Duane's knee
Listen to this, y he whispered,
i Too s.fsIc s,,
handmade you a free, honest citizen
once more, clear your name of infamy,
make your mother, your sister proud
81 you--W1ll you swear yourself to a
service. any service / demand of you?"
Duane sat stock still, stunned
SLOWLY, more persuasively, with show
or earnest agitation. Captain MacNelly
reiterated his startling query
My God.' burst from Duane.
What's this? MacNelly. you can't be
In earnest! =,
Never more SO in my life. I've
deep game. I'm playing it square.
What do you say
{. he rose to his feet. Duane, as if
impelled, rose with him. Ranger and
outlaw then locked eyes that searched
each others souls. In MacNelly's
Duane read truth. strong. fiery purpose.
nope. even gladness, and fugitive
mounting assurance of victory,
vice Duane endeayored to speak.
Tailed of all save a hoarse, incoherent
sound, until, forcing back a flood of
speech, he found voice.
Any service? Every service! Mac
Nelly. ! give my word said Duane.
r a light played over .MacNelly's face.
warming out all the grim darkness. He
held out his hand. Duane met it with
ms II clasp that men unconsclously
give in moments OF stress.
When they unciasped and Duane
stepped back to drop into d chair Mac
Neliy Iumbled for another cigar--he
had bitten the other into sbreds.-and
lighting it as before, he turned to his
VISITOR, now calm and cool. He had
the look OF man who had Justly won
something at considerable cost. His
next move was to take long leather
case from his pocket and extract from
II several folded papers.
Here's your pardon from the gov
erner,' he said, quietly. ..You,u see
when you look it over. that it.s c q nsI'
tIonal. When you sign this paper
have here the condition win be,rnet
rs snoothed out the paper. handed
duane q pen, ran his forefinger along
q dotted line. n .
Duane's hand was shaky. Years had
passea &, he had held a pen. It
his signature. Buckley u DIN ne.- s ~, !,
strange the name lookedi
ght here ends the career or Buck
duane, outlaw and gun fighter said
MacN and. seating himself. ha !
too!S the pen from Duane,s fingers ana
wrole several lines in several places
lyon lyon t iss. paper, hen with a smile he
IT lat makes YOU a member of con-. \
pany AZ TeNas rangers,
$50 that's itin btirat n,lt D,,.,,,., AZ !.