The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-10-19
CHAPTER XIV.

Light shone before Duane,s eyes
thick, strange light that came and
went. For q long time dull and BOOM
ing sounds rushed by, filling all. 1t
was q dream In which there was Moth
Ing; a drifting under a burden; dark
ness, light. sound, movement; and
vague. obscure of time-time that
was very long There was fire-creep-
Ing, consuming fire. A dark cloud OF
flame enveloped him, rolled him away.
He saw then, dimly, a room that was
strange, strange people moving about
over him, with faint voices, far away,
things In a dream. He saw again,
Clearly. n consciousness returned,
still unreal, still strange, full Of those
vague and far away things. Then he
was not dead. He lay stiff, like a stone.
with a weight ponderous as q mountain
upon him and all his bound body
racked in slow, dull beating agony.
A woman's face lowered over him.
white and tragic eyed, like one Of his
oid haunting phantoms, yet sweet and
eloquent. Then q mans face bent over
him, looked deep into his eyes. and
seemed to whisper from q distance:
"Duane-Duane! All, he knew mel"
After that there was another
long interval Of darkness. When
the light came again, clearer this
time, the same earnest faced men bent
SNSI I'LL IL was mdCVNelly. ana WlIn
recognition the past flooded back.
Duane tried to speak. His lips were
weak. and he could scarcely move them.
"Poggin!" he whispered. His first
real conscious thought was for Poggin.
Ruling passion--eternal INSTINCT
"Poggtn Is dead. Duane; shot to
pieces" replied MacNelly, solemnly.
What a fight he madel He killed two
or my men, others. Godl he
was a tiger. He used up three guns
before we downed him"
"Who-got-awayT
Fletcher, the man with the horses.
We downed all the others. Duane, the
Jobs done--its done! Why. man.
what of-of-her?"
Miss Longstreth has been almost
constantly at your bedside. She helped
the doctor. She watched your wounds.
And, Duane, the other night. when you
sank low-so low--I think 1t was her
spirit that held your back. Oh, she's
O wonderful girl Duane. she never
gave UP. never lost her nerve for a
moment. Well. were going to take you
home, and she'll go with us. Colonel
Longstreth left for Louisiana right aft
or the fight. I advised 1t. There was
great excitement. 1t was best for him
to leave"
"Have I--a-chance-to recoverr'
Chance? Why, man." exclaimed the
captain. you'll get well! You'll pack
q sight Of lead all your life. But you
can stand that. Duane. the whole
southwest knows your story. You need
never again be ashamed OF the name
Buck Duane. The brand outlaw is
washed out. Texas believes you've
been a secret ranger all the time. You
are a hero. And now think of home,
your mother. Of this noble girl-of your
future" y.
The rangers took Duane home to
Wellston.
A railroad had been built since Duane
had gone into exile. Wellston had
grown. A noisy crowd surrounded the
station but It stilled as Duane was
carried from the train.
A sea Of faces pressed closa Some
were faces he remembered-school
mates, frfends. old neighbors. There
was an u~pflinging of many hands.
Duane was being welcomed home to
the town from which he had fled. A
deadnsss within him broke. This wei
come hurt him somehow. ~Quickened