Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-07-13
AS another Indication of her regret that

o' AA1dAS3SlOA u llCI 4SSICI lildS
he must go back to the brakes. Yet
somehow 1t made him observe her more
closely, She wore a plain, white dress
made from material Mrs. Andrews had
given her. Sleep and good God had i'm
proved her. II she had been pretty
out there in the outlaw den, now she
was more tina that. But she had the
same paleness, the same strained look,
the same dark eyes full Of haunting
shadows. After Duane's realization of
the change in her he watched her more,
with a growing certainty that he would
DE sorry not to see her again.
It's likely we won't ever see each
other again" he said. That's strange
to think OF. We've been through some
hard days, and l seem to have known
you a long time"
Jennie appeared shy, almost sad, so
Duane changed the subject to some
thing less personal.
Andrews returned one evening from
a several days trip to Huntsville.
duane everybody's talkin' about
how you cleaned up the Bland outfit"
he said, important and full of news.
ITS some exaggerated, accordin'
to what you told me; but you've shore
made friends on his side of the Nu-'
eces. l reckon Their amt a town where
you wouldn't find people to welcome
YOU. Huntsville, you know, is some
divided in it's ideas. Half the people
are crooked. Likely enough, all them
who was so loud in praise of you are
the croCkedest. For instance, met King
Fisher, the boss outlaw of these parts.
Well, King thinks he's a decent citi-
zen. He was tellin' me what a grand
job yours was for the border an hon
est cattlemen. Now that Bland and
AlloWay are done for, King Fisher will
lind rustlin' easier. There's talk Of
Hardin movin' his camp over to
Bland's. But l don't know how true it
is. l reckon ther amt much to it. In
the past when a big outlaw chief went,
under, his band almost always brokel
up an scattered. There's no one left
who could run tibet outfit"
Did o hear of any outlaws hunt
ing me?" asked Duane.
Nobody from BANDS outfit is hunt
in you, thet's Shore" replied Andrews.
Fisher said there never was a boss
Straddled to go on your trail. Nobody
had any use for Bland. Anyhow, his
men would be afraid to trail you. An
you could go right in to Huntsville.
where you'd be some popular. Reckon
you'd be safe, too, except when some
OF them fool saloon loafers or bad cow
punchers would try to shoot you for
the glory in it. Them kind Of men will
bob up everywhere you go, Duane"
I'll be able to ride and take care Of
myself in a day or two" went on Du-
S1iSs 11S IL 6o"Ao &nS W lain ~
you about Jennie"
She's welcome to a home here with
u.s."
Thank you, Andrews. You're a kind
man. But l want Jennie to get farther
away from the Rio Grande. Shed
be able to find relatives. She has some,
though she doesn't know where they
are"
All right. Duane. Whatever you
think best. 1 reckon now you'd better
take her to some own Go north an
strike for Shelbyville or Crockett.
Them's both good towns. I'll tell Jen-
ME the names of men who'll help heE.
You needn't ride into town at ALL"
Which place is nearer and how far
is it?"
"~Shelbyville. I reckon about two
days ride. Poor stock country, SO you
amt liable to meet rustlers. All the
same, better hit the train at night an
go careful"
AT sunset two days later Duane and
Jennie their horses and said
goodby to the rancher and his wife.
Andrews would not listen to Duane's
thanks.
Il tell you I'm beholden to you YETI
he declared.
well, what can I do for you?" asked
Duane. Il may come along here again
some day."
Get down an come in, then. or
you're no friend of mine 1 reckon
| just happen to remember Here
he led Duane out Of earshot Of the
women and went on III a whisper.
Buck, l used to be well to do. Got
skinned by a man named Brown-Rod-
ney Brown. He lives in Huntsville, an
he's my enemy. l never was much on
fightin', or I'd fixed him.. Brown ruined
me-stole all l had. He's a boss an
cattle thief, an he has pull enough at
homo to protect him. l reckon l needn't
say any more"
us his Brown a man who shot an
outlaw named Stevens?" queried Du-
ane, curiously.
Shore, he's the same. I heard tibet
story. Brown swears he plugged Ste
vens through the middle. But the out
law rode off, an nobody ever knew
for Shore"
Luke Stevens died Of that shot. ]
buried him." said Duane.
Andrews made no further comment
and the two men returned to the
women.
1.-THE main road for about three miles
then where it forks take the left hand
road and keep on straight. That what
you said, Andrews?"
Shore. An good luck to you BOTH
Duane and Jennie trotted away into
the gathering twilight. At the moment
an insistent thought bothered Duane
Both Luke Stevens and the ranchel
Andrews had limited to Duane to kill q
man named Brown. Duane wished with
all his heart they had not mentioned
, it, let alone aiken for granted the ex-
ecution of the deed. What a bloody
place Texas was! Men who robbed
| and men who were robbed both wanted
murder. 1t was IN the spirit of the
country. Duane certainly meant tc
: avoid ever meeting this Rodney Brown
And that very determination showed
Duane how dangerous he really was
l to men n to himself. Sometimes he
had a feeling Of how little stood be-
, tween his sane and better self and q
self utterly wild and terrible. He rea.
soned that only intelligence could saw
!, him-only a thoughtful understanding
of his danger n a hold upon some
, ideal.
Then he fell into low conversatior
) with Jennie, holding out hopeful views
i of her future, and presently darkness
set in. The sky was overcast with
heavy clouds; there was no air NOV
ing; the heat and oppression threat.
i ened storm. By and by Duane could
not see a rod in front Of him, though
T. 4 u z ~-- 1-1 - SHA0 --nA So