Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-09-21

Iney heard me, but did not see me.
Ihey don't know who was listening.
They're after me now"
her eyes changed from blank CULTS
to ulldl!ns, s~iauoWlng, Q~uickenlng WIN
OF thought.
Then she STOOD up and faced Duane
with the ire and Intelligence OF u Wom-
an in her eyes.
Tell me now. You were spying on
my tather?'
Briefly Duane told her what a hap
pened before he entered her room, not
omlltlnS a lerse word as to the charac-
ter OF the men he had watched.
My Cod! So it's tAat? 1 knew
something was terribly wrong here
with him-with the place-the people.
And right oil l hated Floyd Lawson.
Oh, itll kill me if-if- It's SO much
worse han l dreamed. What shall /
or"
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.
IN have to get out Of here" whis-
pered Duane.
Wait" she replied. Didn't you say
they were hunting for your"
They sure are" he returned, grimly.
"Oh, then you mustn't go. They might
shoot you before you got away: Stay.
If we hear them you can hide. III turn
out the light. Ill meet them at the
DOR. You can trust me. Wait till all
quiets down, if VIZ have TO wait till
morning. Then you can slip out"
Il oughtn't to stay. ] don't want to
L won't" Duane ,Hsglied' perpleSed and
But you must: ;71t's the ssaIy safe
way. They won't come here:%Sss.
Suppose they should? It's an even
chance Longstreth VIII search every
room and corner in this old house. If
they found me here ! 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.
mo I'm in bed reading. Good
night" instantly replied Miss Long
streth, so calmly n naturally that
tween man and woman Then she mo-
Toned for Duane to hide in the closet.
He slipped in, but the door would not
close altogether.
Are you a%lone?" went on Long
streth's penetrating voice.
Yes She replied; Ruth went to
bed"
The door swung inward with a swift
scraIe and jar. Longstreth half entered
hag2ard, flaming eyed. Behind him
Duane saw Lawson, and i~ndistinctly
another q
Longstreth barred Lawson from en-
terinG, WliCh action ShoWed control as
well as distrust. lie 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-
sued. The house grew silent once more
Duane could not see Miss Longstreth
but he heard her quick breathing. How
long did SIC mean TO let him stay hill.
cen thcre2. Hard and perilous as his
life had been, this was a new kind OF
adventure. lie had OWNED the strange
softness of his feeling as something du,
to the magnetism of this beautifu
woman II hardly seemed possible tina
he. who had been outside the pale fol
so many years, could nave fallen il
love. Yet that must be the secret O
his agitation.
Presently he pushed open the close
door and stepped forth. Miss Long.
streth Lad her head lowered upon he,
arms and appeared to be in distress
AT his touch she raised a quiverin!
face.
q think l car go now-safely." h,
whispered.
Go then, If you must; but you ma.
stay till you're safe" she replied.
Il couldn't thank you enough. It
and you his daughter. feel strange
l don't understand myself well. Blu
l want you 10 lnow-if l were not al
outlaw-a ranger-I'd lay my life a
your feet"
"Oh! You nave seen $3.50 little O
me- she faltered.
"An tie same, it's true. And tina
makes me Ieei more the trouble III
> coming caused YOU"
You will not fight my father?"
Not if ! can help it. I'm trying t
get out of his way"
: Bat you spied upon him"
, Il am a nger Miss Longstreth.'
teri" she cried. That's SO muc
. more terrible tina I'd suspect
. ed. 1t was tricky cattle deals l mag
! ined he was engaged in. But only to
night l had strong suspicious aroused.
Flow. Tell me-"
coming tonight TO arrange a meetin
= for my father at a rendezvous nea
y Ord. Father did not want to GO. Floy
tainted him with 4 name
: Nv hat name?" queried Duane.
! 1T vas Cheseldine.'
"C~hesetdine! My God! Miss Long
streth, why did you tell me that 2"
g what difference does that maker"
Your father and Cheseldine are on
and the same" whispered Duan
hoarsely.
Il gathered so much myself" she re
!, piled, m~iserably. But Longstreth
fathers real name"
u Duane felt so stunned he could nc
. speak at once. 1t was the girls part /
this tragedy that weakened him. TIL
8 instant she betrayed the secret Duan
e realized perfectly that he did love he.
! The emotion was like a great flood.
Miss Longstreth, all this seems S
q unbelievable" he whispered. "Chesel
: dine Is the rustier chief I've come OF
here to get. He's only a name. You
K father is the real man. i've sworn I
q get him. I'm bound by more than la,
II or oaths. / can't break what binds m
And 1 must disgrace you-wreck yor
y life! Why, Miss Longstreth. I beliey
n I'll love you. It's all come in q rus
I'D die for vO1rif I cOuld Hou Fatal