The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-06-22
CHAPTER vi.

Next morning Duane found that q
moody and respondent spell had fast.
ened on him. Wishing to be alone, he
went out and walked a trail leading
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 abhorred the possibility
chance seemed to hold in store for him.
He could not believe there was no hope.
But what to do appeared beyond his
power to tell.
Duane had intelligence and keenness
enough to see his peril-the danger
threatening his character as a man,
just as much as that which threatened
his life. He cared vastly more, he dis
covered, for what he considered honor
and integrity than he did for life. He
saw that 1t was bad for him to DO
alone. But, IL appeared, lonely months
and perha ps years inevitably must be
his. Another thing puzzled him. In
the bright light of day he could not re-
call 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 scarce
ly remember or believe that this
strange feat of fancy or imagination
had troubled him. panied him, made
him sleepless and sick.
That morning Duane spent an un-
happy hour wrestling decision out Of
the unstable condition of his mind But
at length he determined to create in
terest in all that he came across and
so forget himself as much as possible.
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 its
possibilities had been exhausted or I'M
til 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 Brad
ley rode in this mornin'. He's heard
some about you. Told about the ace Of
spades they put over the bullet holes
in tibet cowpuncher Balm you plugged.
Then there was a rancher shots at q
water hole 20 miles south of Wellston.
Reckon you didn't do it?"
mo, certainly did not" replied
Duane.
oval, you get the blame. It amt
nothin' for a Teller to be saddled with
gun plays he never made. An, Buck,
If you ever get famous, as seems likely,
you'll be blamed for many a crime. The
border'll make an outlaw an murderer
out Of you. Wal. thet's enough Of tibet
I've more news. You're goin' to be
popular"
Popular? What do you mean?"
Il 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"
We'll, Euchre, / don't wat to be i'm
polite, but I'd rather not meet any
women" reJoined Duane.
II was afraid you wouldn't. Don't
blame you much. Women are hell.
was hopin', though, you might talk h
little to tibet poor lonesome kid"
What kid?" inquired Duane, in sur
prise.
Didn't tell you about Jennie-the
girl BANDS holdin' here-the one Jack
rabbit Benson had a hand in stealin' 20
You mentioned a girl. That's all.
Tell me now" replied Duane, abruptly.
wal, got IL this way. Mebbe it's
straight, an mebbe 1t amt. Some years
ago Benson made a trip over the river
to buy mescal an other drinks. He'll
sneak over there once in a while. An,
as I get Ii, he run across gang of
greasers with some gringo prisoners.
/ don't know, but / reckon there was
some barterin', perhaps murderin'.
Anyway, Benson. fetched the girl back.
She was more dead than alive. But II
turned out she was only starved an
scared half to death. She hadn't been
harmed. reckon she was then about
Ia years old. Benson's idee, he said
was to use her in his den sellin's drinks
an the like. But never went much
on Jackrabbit's word. Bland seen the
! kid right off and took her--bought her
from Benson. You can gamble Bland
! didn't do tibet from notions Of chivalry,
ain't gainsayin', however, but tibet