The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-08-31
CHAPTER XV.-(Continued).

Miss LongStTetn reGled n might
fave Iailcn nau Duane not supported
her. II was only a lew steps 10 a
couch, to which he half led, half car
ried her. Then lie rushed out OF the
room, across the patio, through the bar
to the yard. Nevertheless, he was eau
tlouS. In the gloom stood a Saduled
horse, probably the n belonging to
the fellow he mad shot. His cUmrade
| mad escaped. Returning, to the sitting
room, Duane founu a condition APP
! preaching panGemOnium.
| The innkCGpcr rushed in, pltchfork In
! hands, LviuCntly he hau UGen out at
tue barn. He was now shouting to INC
out VIVA had happened. Joel, the stage
! diver. was trying TO quiet the men
who Ead been robbed. Tue omar WiLc
ol one Of tIc men, had come III, and
Sne nae Mysteries. The girls we've sun
! ana white. Ine robber Sill lay where
nc had lAllen. ana, Duane guessed he
| had maze 4 air shot, alter all. And.
lastly, the thing thai struck Duane
most OF al was LOngstreth's rage. lie
| never saw such passion. Like "a Gagged
lion Longstreth stalked and roared.
There came 4 quieter moment, in which
| the innkGeper snrilly protested:
Man, wnatre you ravin' ABBOTT? No
body's hurt~rn' lhet8 lucky. l swear
to God | h, t nothln' to do with them
| fCllers!"
Il ought to kill you anyhow" re-
| Piled LungSu eth. And his voice now
a8luundeu Duane, il was SO full of
power.
Upon examination, Duane found that
his bullet had furrOwed the robbers
temple, torn q great piece out Of hia
scalp, and, as Duane had guessed,
| glanced. lie was not seriously injured.
and already showed signs OF returning
: consciousness.
DRAG him out of here!" ordered
LongSlrCth; M he turned to his
/ daughter.
Before the innkeeper reached the
rObber, Duane had secured the money
|! and gun taken from him; and presently
recovered the property Of the other
men. Joel helped the innkeeper carry
the injured man somewhere outside.
Miss Longstreth was sitting, white
but composed, upon the couch, where
| lay Miss Ruth, who evidently had been
| carried there by the colonel. Duane did
| not think she had wholly lost con-
| seriousness, and now she lay very Stlll,
with eyes dark and shadowy, her face
| pallid and wet. The colonel, now that
he finally remembered his Womentolk,
! seemed to be gentle and kind. lie talked
sOorhingly to Miss Ruth, made light or
the adventure, said She must learn TO
have nerve out here whore things hap
pened.
can be of any service?" asked Du-
ane, solicitOusly.
Thanks; l guess there's nothing you
can do. Talk to these frightened girls
while l so sec what's to be done with
| that thick skulled robber," he replied,
and, telling the girls that there was no
more Danger, he went out.
Miss LOngStreth sat with one hand
: holding her torn waist in place; the
4 other she extended to Duane. He took
ii awkwardly, and he felt q strange
thrill.
You saved my life she said, In
grave, sweet seriousness.
mo, no." Duane exclaimed. II
might LAY struck you, hurt you, but
no more"
~ saw murder in his eyes. He
thought / had jewels under my dress.
/ couldn't bear his touch. The beast!
Ia have fought. Surely my life was In
peril"
Did you kill him?" asked Miss Ruth,
who lay listening.
"Oh. nc He's not badly hurt"
I'm very glad he's alive" said Miss
Longstreth, shuddering.
MY intention a bad enough"
Duane went on. 1T was a ticklisn
place for me. You see, he was half
drunk, and l was afraid his u might
60 off. Fool careless he was"
Yet you say lou didn't save me-"
Miss Longstreth returned, quickly.
well. let it go at that" Duane re-
sponded. II saved you something"
Tell me about it?" asked Miss Ruth,
who was fast recovering.
! Father embarrassed, Duane briefly
told the incident from his point Of
view.
Then you stood there all the time
with your hands up thinking of moth
ing-watching for nothing except a
little moment when you might draw
VpUr pIin 2r asRad Miss Ruth.
81 guess that's about It," he replied
Cousin" said Miss Longstreth,
thoughtfully, 1T was fortunate for us
that this gentleman happened to be
here. Papa scouts-laughs at danger.
He seemed to think there was no dan
ger. Yet he raved after it came"
go with US all the way to Fairdale-
please?" asked Miss Ruth, sweetly Of
fering her hand. II am Ruth Herbert.
And this Is my cousin, Ray Long
streth."
I'm travelling that way" replied
Duane in great confusion. He did not
know how to meet the situation.
Colonel LOngstreth returned then.
an after bidding Duane a good night,
which seemed rather curt by contrast
to the graciousness of the girls, he
led them away.
Before going to bed Duane went out
side TO ask him a few questions. To
| DNolAO . " N 1867 liz "Ao oOhS, NthN ~
was his horse. The innkeeper was
~dumfounded. He said that he left tho
fellow on the floor in the barroom.
HAD he come to?' inquired Duane.
"Sure. He asked for whisky"
"Did he say anything else?"
Not to me. / heard him talkin' to
| the father OF them girls"
You mean Colonel Longstreth?'
81 reckon. He sure was some riled,
wasn't he? Jest as If l was to blame
fer that two-bit of a holdup!"
What did you make of the old gents
rage?" asked Duane, watching the inn
keeper. He scratched his head dubi-
ously. He was sincere, n Duane be-
lieved in his honesty.
Wal, I'm doggoned If l nov what
to make Of it. But / reckon he's either
raz or got more nerve than most
Texans"
More nerve, maybe" Duane replied.
"Show me a bed now, innkeeper."
Once in bed in the dark, Duan COM
posed himself to hin over the several
events Of the evening. He called up
the details OF the holdup and carefully
revolved them in mind. The colonels