Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-07-12
HAPTE TX (Continued).

Duane shot him. He fell forward, his
CUR exploding as it hit the floor, and
dropped loose from stretching fingers.
Duane stood over him, stopped to turn
him on his back. Bland looked up with
clouded gaze. then gasped his asst.
Duane, you've killed him!" cried
Kate Bland, hnskily. II knew you'd
have tot"
h staggered against the wall. her
eye dilating, her strong hands clinch-
ing. her face slowly whitening. She APP
peared shocked, half stunned but
showed nc grief.
"Jennie!" called Duane. sharply.
"Oh--Duane!" came II llalting reply.
Eyes. Come out. Hurry"
h came out with icy steps,
seeing only him, and she stumbled yer
BANDS body. Duane caught her arm,
woman when she realized how she had
been duped. His action was protective.
and his movement TOWARD the door
equally as significant.
"Duane!" sried Mrs. Bland.
1t was no time for talk. Duane edged
on, keeping Jennie behind him. AT that
momcct there was q pounding OF IRON
shod noofs out in tie lane. Kate Bland
bounded to the door. When she turned
back her amaZement was changing to
realization.
Where re you taking Jen?" she
cried, her voice like II MANS.
Get out of my way" replied Duane.
His look perhaps. without speech. was
enough for her. In an instant she was
transformed into a fury.
You houndl All the time you were
fooliag me! You made love to me! You
let me believeryou swore you loved
me! Now l see what was queer about
you. All for hat girl! But you can't
have her. You'll never leave here alive.
Give me that girl! Let me-ge at her!
She'll never win n more men in this
camp!"
h was a powerful woman. and it
took all Duane's strength to ward off
her o~nslaughts. She clawed at Jennie
over his upheld arm. Every second hel
fury increased.
q voice that must have penetrated to
the remotest cabin in the valley.
Let go! Let got" cride Duane, low
and sharp. He still held his gun in his
right hand, and 1t began to be hard for
him to ward the woman off. His cool
ness had gone with her shrek for help.
Let go!" he repeated. and he showed
her fiercely.
Suddenly she snatched a rifle off the
wall and backed away, her strong
hands fuinbling at TIE lever. AS size
!erked 1t down, Throwing Il shell! INTO
the chamber and cooking the weapon,
duane leaped upon her. He struck up
the rifle as ii went off. the powder
burning his face.
Jennie. run out. Get on a horse."
he said.
Jennie flashed out of the door.
With an iron grasp. Duane held to
the lille barrel. He had graspcu il With
his left hand. and he gave such a rull
tEas ne swung the cra2ed woman of
the floor. But he could not loose lei.
Strip. She was as strong as he.
Kate! Let got"
He tried 10 %intirnidate her. She did
not gee his gun thrust in her face. or
reason lad given way to sucl an ex-
tent to passion that she cid no, care.
Size cursed. Her husband had used the
same curses. and from he. lips they
seemed strange, unseXed, more deadly.
Like a tigress she fought him: her face
a., longer ~resenbled a woman's. TIE
ess. NJ that outlaw life. the wildness
a.: rage, the meaning to kill. were
eve: n such q moment terribly i'm
pressed upon Duane.
He i,eard & cry rcm outside-a rnan's
cry. hoa.se and alarming.
It made him think of loss OF time.
This demon of a woman might vet
block his plan.
LET go!" he whispered, and felt his
lips stiff. In the grimness Of that In
slant he relaxed his hold on the rifle
barrel.
with sudden. redoubled. irresistible
strength h wrenched the rifle down
ar1 discharged It. Duane felt a blow
- saoclk--a burning agony tearing
rough his breast. Then in a frenzy
70 jerked so powerfully upon the rifle
tha. ne threw the woman against the
wall. She fell and seemed stunned.
Duane leaped back. whirled. flew out
OF h door to the porch. The sharn
cracking of a u halted him. Etc saw
Jennie holding to theb bride Of his bay
horse. Euchre was astride the other.
a. a ND M hnH n rDeA A,,~Nz
firing down the lane. Then came q
s.ngle shot. heavier. and Euchre's
ceased. He fell from the horse.
\ swift glance back showed to Duane
rnan coming down the lane. Chess
Alloway! His gun was smoking. He
ne saw Duane. n tried to check his
pace ~ he swung up his arm. But that
lltyhts pause vas fatal. Duane shot.
\ AlI0way was falling when his gun
Went or His bullet whistled close "a
Dwans ard thudded into the cabin.
Duane bounded down to the horses.
Jennie was trying to hold the plungine
br.y. EueAre lay flat on his back. dead.
outlet hole In his shirt. his face set
fnrA q his hands twisted around gun
.:nie. you've nerve. all right!s
e~lca Duane. AZ he dragged down tho
horse Z vas holding. .sUp with YOU
now! There! Never mind@on9 stir-
ftp1! HanH on somehow"
He caught the bride ont OF Flu
.ohre's sclvtchtn~ serip and leaped astride
The fri9htened horses Jumped into Z
r..n 80 tsundere0 doknStho lanS into
tre ~oad. Diiene ~ inen rtinning from
chhirS. re heard shouts. Hut there
100 no shots fired. Jennie saesned eble
~ gatay IN her horse: but Without ,efir.
o. 'alsarWan thIoWn about % m6cl
ssakaf nspra rode closer and reached out
81 ANA rr.&fl4 .FSt9 EF E&<