Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-06-28

AhliiCi Ac odN a y ". =
shadow over the valley.
Thea, without any solicitation or en-
enlargement from Duane, the Blanc
woman fell passionateiy in love with
him. His conscience was never troubieG
about the beginning of that affair. She
launched herself. 1t took no great pers-
plculty on MS part to see that And the
thing which evidently held her in check
was the newness, the strangeness, and
for the the all-Satisfying fact
of his respect for her. Duane eXerted
himself to please, to anluse, to interest.
to fa%sclnate her, and always with de-
terence That was his strong point, and
it had made his part easy so far. He
believed he would carry the whole
scheme through without involving hiin
self any deeper.
He was playing at a game of love
playing with life and death! Sometimes
he trembled, not hat he feared Bland
or Alloway or any other man. but at
the deeps of life he had come to see
into. He was carried out of his old
mood. Not once since this daring mo-
tive Il stirred him had he been haunt
ed by the phantom of Balm beside his
bad. Rather had he been haunte by
Jennle'S sad face, her wiStful smile, her
eyes. He neve was able to speak Il
word to her. What little communication
he had with her was through lCuchre,
who carried short messages. But he
caught glimpses OF her every time he
went to the Bland house. She contrived
somehow to pass door or window. to
give him a look when chance afforded.
And Duane discovered with surprise
that these moments We're more thrilling
to him than any with Mrs. Bland. Often
Duane knew Jennie was sitting just
inside the window, and then he felt in
spired in his talk, and it was all made
for her. So at least She came to knOW
him while as Vet she was almost a
stranger. Jennie had been instructed by
Euchre to listen. to understand that
this was Duane's only chance to help
keep her mind from constant worry, to
gather the import of every word which
had q double meaning.
Euchre said that the girl had begun
to wither under the strain, to burn up
with intense hope which a famed
within her. Blu all the difference Duane
could see was a paler face n darker,
more wonderful eyes. The yes seemed
to be e%ntreating him to hurry. that time
was flying, that soon it might be too
late. Then there was another meaning
in them, a light, a strange fire wholly
ineXplicible to Duane. 1t was only a
flash zone in an instant. But he re-
membersd 1t because he had never seen
it in nv other woman's eyes. And all
through those waiting days he knew
that Jennie's face, and especially the
warm, fleeing glance she gave him,
was responsible for a subtle and gra-
dual change in him. This change, he
fancied.' was only that through remem-
brance Of her he got rid Of his pale,
sickening ghosts.
One day q careless Mexican threw a
lighted cigarette up into the brush
mating that served as a ceiling for
Benson's den. and there was a fire
which left little more than the adobe
walls standing. The result was that
II Nnr1tr yry0So 0fr- Vn011 h@v
was 10 gambling and drinking. Time
hung very heavily on the hands of some
two score outlaws. Days passed by
without q brawl, and BANDS valley
saw more successive hours Of peace
than ever before. Duane. however,
He spent more time at Mrs. BANDS;
he walked miles on all the trails lead
ing out Of the valley; he had q care
for the condition Of his two horses.
Upon his return from the attest of
these tramps, Euchre suggested that
they go d IN to h river to the boat
landing.
Ferry couldn't run ashore this morn
in'," said Euchre. River gettin' low
an sand bars maxim 1t hard fer bosses.
There's a greaser freight wagon stuck
in the mud. l reckon we might hear
news from the freighters. BANDS sup
posed to be in Mexico"
AAA NAiS VA S0AAA4 "SAS
assembled on the river bank, lolling in
the shade of the cottonwoods. The heat
was oppressive. Not an outlaw offered
to help the freighters. who were trying
to dig a heavily freighted wagon out of
the q~uicksand. Few outlaws would
work for themselves, let alone for the
| despised Mexicans.
Duane and Euchre Joined the lazy
| group and sat down with them. Euchre
lighted a black pipe. and, drawing his
hat over his eyes, lay back in comfort
after the manner OF the majority of the
Ing. thoughtful. He never missed any
thing. 1t was his belief that any mo-
ment an idle word might be of benefit
to him. Moreover, these rough men
were always interesting.
"Bland's been chased acrost the riv-
err" said one.
Nav, he's deliverin' cattle to tibet
! Cuban ship" replied another.
big deal on. hey?"
Some big. Riggs says the boss he'd
an order fer 1t, O0O."
Say. that order'n take a year to
NAV; Hardin is in cahoots with
Bland. Between 'em they'll fill or
| ders bigger'n thet."
Wondered what Hardin was rustlin'
in here fer"
Duane could not possibly attend to
all the conversation among the out
laws. He endeavored to get the drift
OF talk nearest to him.
kid Fullers goin' to cash." said a
sandy whiskered little outlaw.
/, $50 Jim was tellin' me. Blood poi
SON, nin't 1t? Thet hole wasn't bad.
But he took the fever" rejoined a COM
rade.
"Deger say- the Kid might pull
through II he he'd nursin'."
wal. Kate Bland amt nursin' any
shot up boys these days. She hasn't
go time"