The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-07-13

somehow it made him observe her more
! closely. She wore plain, White dress
made from material Mrs. Andrews had
| given her. Sleep and good food had inn
proved her. II she had been pretty
out there in the outlaw den, now she
was more than that. But she had the
same paleness. the same strained look,
the same dark eyes full of haunting
shadows. After Duanes realization of
the change in her he watched her more,
| with growing certainty that he would
| be 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 long time"
Jennie appeared shy, almost sad, SO
| Duane changed the subject to some-
thing less personal.
Andrews returned one evening from
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 this side of the Nu-
eces. l reckon Their amt town where
you wouldn't find people to welcome
you. Huntsville, you know, is some
divided III its ideas. Half the people
are crooked. Likely enough, all them
y
the crookedest. For instance, met King
Fisher. the boss outlaw of these parts.
WE'LL KING thinks he's q 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
find rustlin' easier There's talk Of
Hardin movin his camp over to
Bl&nd's. But | don't know how true it
is. y reckon Their amt much to it. In
the past when a big outlaw chief went
under, his band almost always broke
up an scattered. There'S no one left
who could run tibet outfit.
Did you hear of any outlaws hunt
ing me-" asked Duane.
Nobody from BANDS outfit is hunt
in You, thets shore" replied Andrews.
Fisher said there never was a boss
straddled to so on your trail. Nobody
had any use for Bland. Anyhow, his
men would be afraid to trail you. An
you could so 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"
III be able to ride and take care Of
myself in day or two" went on Du-
ane. Then I'll god like to talk to
YOU about Jennie.''
She's welcome to home here with
u.s.
Thank you, Andrews. You're kind
man But l want Jennie to get farther
away from the Rio Grande She'd
never be safe here. Besides, she may
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
an
strike for Shelbyville or Crockett.
Them's both good towns. I'll tell Jen-
ME the names of men who'll help her.
You needn't ride into town at ALL
Which place is nearer, and how far
is it?"
"Shelbyville 1 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 mounted their horses and said
goodby to the rancher and his wife.
Andrews would not listen to Duane's
thanks.
81 tell you I'm beholden to you yet"
he declared.
We'll, 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
there amt nothin' 1 can think of
l just happen to rememaerM" Here
he led Duane out of earshot of the
women and went on in 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
fghtin', or I'd fixed him. Brown ruined
me-stole all I had. He's a boss an
cattle thief, an he has pull enough at
hnr, 70 hi 7 T
say any more."'
rs this Brown a man who shot an
outlaw named Stevens?" queried Du-
ane, curiously.
Shore, he's the same. 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. 1
buried him." said Duane.
Andrews made no further comment,
and the two men returned to the
women.
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 insiAIent thought bothered Duane.
Both Luke Stevens and the rancher
Andrews had limited to Duane to kill a
man named Brown. Duane wished with
all his heart they had not mentioned
it, let alone taken for granted the ex-
ecution Of the deed. What 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 to
avoid ever meeting this Rodney Brown
And that very determination showed
Duane how dangerous he really was
to men and to himself. Sometimes he
had feeling Of how little stood be-
tween his sane and better self and a
self utterly wild and terrible. He rea-
soned that only intelligence could save
hIs-only a thoughtful understanding
of his danger and hold upon some
ideal.
Then he fell into low conversation
with Jennie, holding out hopeful views
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
ened storm. BY and by Duane could
not see a rod in front of him, though
his horse had no difficulty in koanipo