Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-08-31
CHAPTER xv.--(continued

Miss I4ongstreth reeled and might
lave lallea lial Duane not supported
lc!. ii was only Il few Steps 10 q
couch, to Wi.icn nc half led, hall car
lied her. Then he rushed out of the
room, across the patio, tiIougn the bar
! 10 llte yaru. NGNeltneleSs, he WAS eau
lous. in The gloom STOOD a sadaled
horse, piobapIy lac II belonging 10
tLc Fellow he Il Shot. his coilliauc
Lad escaped. Rctuln4ug to the slttinS
room, Duale found u condition ap-
preaching "pan4einonium.
Ihe iln!soe9er rusHeu in, pitchfork In
!"nCS. i~-Vlaently he nau ueen out Ut
inc Barn. lie was now snouung 10 linG
out what had happened. JOEL, me staSa
diver. VAS trying 10 Quiet the men
WHO Eau been ROBBED. The olna wife
OF n Of tae men, had come IN, and
SIC ilad Mysteries. The girls were StIll
ana Wtlile. lAe robber Gill lay where
Las matte a fair shot. alley all. And.
%lastiy, the thing mat struck Duane
most Of All was LonSStretu'S rag ne
neNer saw sucn passion. Like u Gagged
hon l.onGstreth stalNed md roared.
There came Il quieter moment, in which
tie innileepcr siriiiy protested:
Man, wIatre you raVin' ABBOTT? No
body's hu1-tn' ltct3 lucky. L swear
to God h; nothin' to do with them
feNels!'
Il ought to kill you anyhow" re-
Piled Lon&streth. And his voice now
a~sloGnGed Duane, it was so full OF
power.
Upon examination, Duane found that
his bullet lad furraWed the robbers
temple, torn q great piece out of lils
scalp. and, as Duane had guessed, had
glanced. He was not seriously injured,
II already shovel signs of returning
consciousness.
H.Itr,o" lin, p,t Of barofo 1rIaro1
| Longsircth; and 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 properly OF he other
men. Joel helped the innkeeper carry
| the injutcI man somewhere OutSlue.
Miss Longstreth WAS sitting, white
but composed, upon The couch, where
lay Miss RUN. who evidently had boon
carried there by the colonel. Duane did
not think she had wholly lost con-
SciouSnosa. and o she lay very still.
| with eyes dark and shadoWy. her face
pullid and wet. The colonel, now that
lie finally remembered his womenfoll.,
seened to be gentle and kind. lie talked
so0rhingly to Miss Ruth, made light OF
the adventure, said sho must learn to
have nerve out hero who're things hap
, pencd.
'~lli l. pc VI any sci VICE: dohCu IN
| une, s~olicitously.
Thanks; | guess there's nothing you
can do. Talk to these frightened girls
While / go see what's to be done with
that thick skullod robher," he replied.
and. telling the girls that there was no
more anger, he went out.
Miss LonGstreth sat with one hand
holding her tom waist in place; the
Other she extended 10 Duane. He took
it awkwardly, and he felt a strange
thrill.
You saved my life" she said. in
grave, sweet seriousness.
NO, no." Duane exclaimed. HE
might a struck you, hurt you. but
Mt more"
y 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"
Ibid you kill him?" asked Miss Ruth,
who lay listening.
oh, no. He's not badly hurt"
I'm very glad he's alive said Miss
Lonsstreth, shuddering.
My intention was bad enough"
Duane went on. 1T was a tickfish
place for me. You see, he was half
drunk. Inc l was afraid his gun might
go off. Fool careless he was!"
Yet you say "ou 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 you hands up thinking of Moth
ing-Watching for nothing except a
little moment when you might draw
s. -o,1,s Lrr,V,1 CSt 49, Ts-. TDHA
Il guess that's about it," he replied
Cousin" said Miss Longstreth.
thoughtfully. sit was fortunate for us
that this gentleman happened to be
here. Papa scouts--laughs at danger.
He seemed to think there vas no dam
ger. Yet he raved after it m
GO with us all the way to Fairdale-
p'ease?" 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 ~Longstrath returned then.
an after bidding Duane q good night.
which seemed rather curt by contrast
to the -graciousness Of the girls. he
led them away.
T. Before going to bed Duane went out
side to ask him q few questions. TO
was his horse. The innkeeper was
dumfounded. He said that he left the
fellow on the floor in the barroom.
Had he come to-? inquired Duane.
Sur lie n ur-wI1isNy
"Did he say anything elseg'
Not to me. l. heard him talkin' to
the father Of them girls"
you mean Colonel Longstreth?"
II reckon. He sure was some riled,
wasn't he? Jest rs IL l was to blame