Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-20

libly frightened. Again with warnin:
hand commanding silence, Duan.
s,epped soiLly forward, dreaming 10 re.
assure her.
OH" she Whispered, wildly: ant
Duane thought she was ON TO faint
when he got close and looked INTO her
eyes he understood the strange, dark
expression. in them. She was terrified
because she believed he meant to kill
her. or 90 worse: probably worse. Du-
II realize he must have looked Pretty
Aard and fierce bursting into hrc room:
with thai Dig gun in hand.
Ihe way she searched Duane's face
with doubtful. fearful eyes hurt him.
Listen. ! didn't know his was your
room. L came here to SCI nWay-to
save my liie. j was pursue l was
spying un-on your father ans. ais men.
They heard ms. but did NOT see me.
They're after me now
t1er eyes changed from blank CULTS
to 0lldt!nS, s~hadowing. uuickening win
COWS of thought.
Then she stood up and faced Duane
with the fire and intelligence of q wom-
an ii; her eyes.
Tell me now. You were sowing on
my father"
Briefly Duane told her what had nap
pened before he entered her room, not
ofaittlhS Il terse word as to the chsrac-
Ter of the men he had watched.
My Cod! So it's that? knew
something was terribly wrong here
with hlni-~with the plaee-the people.
And right off L hated Floyd Lawson.
oh, it'll XII; me if-if-- it's SO much
worse than : dreamed. What shall 1
do?"
The sound OF soft steps somewhere
near distracted Duane's attention, re-
minded him OF her peril, and now, what
counted more with him., made clear the
probability OF being discovered in her
room.
,Ill have to get u of here" whis-
percd Duane.
Wait" she replied. Didn't you say
they We're hunting for you?"
they sure are" he returned, grimly.
oh, then you mustn't go. They might
snoot You before you got away. Stay.
II we hear them you can hide. I'll turn
out 'hs light: IN meet them at the
door. You can trust me-. Wait till all
qulets down. if we have to wait till
morning. Then you can slip out"
Il oughtn't to stay. l don't want %
l won't Duane replied. perplexed and
stubborn.
but you must. It's the only safe
a They won't come here"
suppose they should? It's an even
chance Longstreth will search every
room and corner in his old house. If
lley found ne here ] couldn't start a
light. You might be hurt. Then-the
tact of my being here"
Duane aid not finish what he meant.
but instead made g step toward the
door. White of face and dark of eye.
size took hold of him tc detain him.
she was as strong and supple as a
panther. But she need not have been
eitner resolilte or strong, for the clasp
OF her hand was enough to make Duane
weak.
Up yet, Ray?" came Longstreth's
clear voice, too strained, too eager to
be natural.
NO. Pm in bed reading. Good
night Instantly replied Miss Long
streth, SO calmly and naturally that
Duane marveled ut the dlfference he
tween man and Then she mo-
TONED tor Duane to hido in the closet.
he slipped in, but the door would not
close altogether.
Are o %alone?" went on Long
streth's penetrating voice.
Yes" she replied; Ruth went to
bed
me door swung inward with a swift
scrape and jar. Longstreth half enter ed,
haggard, flaming eyed. Behind him,
duane saw Lawson. INC i~ndistinctly
another man.
Longstreth barred Lawson from en-
tering. which action showed control as
Wen as distrust. He wanted to see
into the room. When he had glanced
around he went out and closed the
door. .
Then what seemed a long interval en-
Duane could not see Miss Longstrerh.
put he heard her quick breathing. How
long did she mean to let him stay hid
den there? Hard and perilous as his
life had been. this was a new kind of
adventure. He had OWNED the strange
Cnffnn00 Of h{n NN1t~se ~
10 the magnetism Of his beautiful
woman. 1t hardly seemed possible that
he. who had been outside the pale for
SO many years. could have fallen in
love. Yet that must be, the secret Of
his agitation.
door and stepped forth. Miss Long
streth had her head lowered upon her
arms and appeared to be in distress.
At his touch h raised a quivering
face.
: think I a go now-safely.' he
whispered.
GO then, II you must: but you may
stay till you're safe." she replied.
II couldn't thank you enough. It's
been hard on me-this finding out
and you his daughter. I feel strange.
l don't understand. myself well. But
outlaw-a ranger-Td lay my life at
your feet"
Obi. You have seen $50 little OF
me." she faltered.
"All the same. it's true. And that
makes me feel more the. trouble my
you will not fight my father"
Not II I can help it. I'm trying to
get out Of his way"
But you spied upon him."
Il am q ranger. Miss Longstreth."
And oh! I am a rustler's daugh-
kHARvV 0hA AaNA1 SSHNA~ .-..-l
more terrible than I'd suspect
3D.. Il VA tricky cattle deals I mag.