The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-21

save my life. I was pursued ! was
! spying on-on your father and his men
They heard me, but did not see me.
They don't know who was listening.
| They're after me now"
Her eyes changed from blank CULTS
| 10 d.lains. shadoWlng. quickening WIN
dows of thought.
Then she stood up and faced Duane
with the fire and intelligence OF a WON
| an in her eyes.
Tell me now. You were spying on
my father"
Briefly Duane told her what had hap
pened before he entered her room. not
emitting terse word as to the charac-
Ter or the men he had watched.
My God! So it's that? 1 knew
something was terribly wrong here
with htm-with the place-the people.
And right off l hated Floyd Lawson.
oh, It'll Kill me if-if- It's SO much
worse than l dreamed. What shall l
do?"
The sound Of soft steps somewhere
near distracted Duanes attention, re-
minded him of her peril, and now what
counted more with him, made clear the
probability of being discovered in her
room.
IN have to get out OF here" whis-
pered Duane.
Wait she replied. Didn't you say
they were hunting for ycu?"
They sure are" he returned, grimly.
ON, then you mustn't go. They might
shoot you before you got away. Stay.
Ii we hear them you can hide. I'll turn
out the light. Ill meet them at the
door You can trust me. Wait till all
quiets down, if we have to wait till
morning: Then you can slip OUT
I oughtn't to stay. l don't want to
won't Duane replied, perplexed and
stubborn.
But you must. It's the only safe
way. They won't come here"
suppose they should? It's an even
chance Longstreth will search every
room and corner in this old house. II
they found me here l couldn't start a
fight. You might be hurt Then-the
fact Of my being here"
Duane did not finish what he meant,
but instead made a step toward the
door. White Of face and dark of eye
she took hold Of him to detain him
She was as strong and supple as a
panther. But she need not have been
either resolute 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. I'm in bed reading. Good
night, instantly replied Miss Long
streth, so calmly and naturally that
Duane marveled at the difference be-
tween man and woman. Then she mo-
| toned for Duane to hide in the closet.
lie slipped in, but the door would not
close altogether.
Are you alone?" went on Long
streths penetrating voice.
Yes" she replied; Ruth went to
bed
The door swung inward with swift
scrape and jar. Longstreth half entered,
haggard, flaming eyed. Behind him
r At,
another man.
Longstreth barred Lawson from en-
tering, which action showed control as
well as distrust. He wanted to see
| into the room. When he had glanced
around he went out and closed the
door,
Then what seemed long interval en-
sued. The house grew silent once more.
Duane could not see Miss Longstreth,
but he heard her quick breathing. How
long did she mean to let him stay hid
den there? Hard and perilous as his
li5e had been, this was a new kind of
| adventure. He had OWNED the strange
softness of his feeling as something due
to the magnetism Of this 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.
Presently he pushed open the closet
door and stepped forth. Miss Long
streth had her head lowered upon her
| arms and appeared to be in distress.
AT his touch she raised quivering
| face.
Il think l can go now-safely," he
whispered.
Go then, If you must: but you may
stay till you're SAFE" she replied.
Il couldn't thank you enough. It's
been hard on me-this finding out
and you his daughter. ] feel strange
don't understand myself well. But
want you to know-if ! were not an
outlaw ranger-Td lay my life at
| your feet"
"Oh! You have seen $3.50 little OF
| me-" she faltered.
"All the same, it's true. And that
makes me feel more the trouble my
coming caused YOU
You will not fight my father?"
| Not II can help It I'm trying to
get out of his way
/ But you spied upon him
/ - am ranger. Miss Longstreth.'
teri" she cried. That's so much
more terrible than I'd suspect
4 ed. 1t was tricky cattle deals I imag-
| ined he was engaged in. But only to-
night had strong suspicious aroused"
How. Tell me-"
overheard Floyd say that men were
coming tonight to arrange meeting
for my father at rendezvous near
Ord. Father did not want to go. Floyd
tainted him with a name
i What name?" queried Duane.
/ 1T was Cheseldine."
l "Cheseldine! My God! Miss Long
i streth. why did you, tell me that"
What difference does that make?"
1 Your father and Cheseldine are one
and the same" whispered Duane
hoarsely.
Il gathered SO much myself" she re-
/ piled, Miserably. But Longstreth IL
fathers real name"
Duane FELT 80 stunned he could not
/ speak at once. It was the girls part In
4 this tragedy that weakened him The
! instant she betrayed the secret Duane
4 realized perfectly that he did love her.
4 The emotion was like great flood.
/ Miss Longstreth. all this seems SO
4 nbelievable, he whispered -Chesel-
4 dine is the rustler chief I've come out
here to get. He's only name. Your
4 father Is the real man. I've sworn to
4 set him. I'm bound by more than law
4 or oaths. can't break what binds me.
4 And I must disgrace you-wreck your
1 life! Why. Miss Longstreth, / believe
I'll love you. It's all come In a rush,