The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-14

rustler gang?
1T isn't likely I'd forget" replied
/ Longstreth, grmly.
II can go to Ray, tell her that, make
her believe I'd tell 1t broadcast-tell
this ranger-unless she'd marry me-"
| Lawson spoke breathlessly, with hag
gard face and Swallowed eyes. He had
no shame. He was simply in the grip
| of passion.
/ Longstreth gazed with dark. con-
trolled fury at this relative. In that
| look Duane saw a strong, INSCRIPTIONS
| man fallen into evil ways, but still a
man. 1t betrayed Lawson to be the
! wild and passionate WeaiIing. Duane
! seemed to see also how during all the
years of association this strong man
had upheld the weak one. But that
| time had gone for ever both in intent
on Longstreth's part and in possibility.
! Lawson, like the great majority of evil
and unrestrained men on the border,
had reached a point where influence
was futile. Reason had degenerated.
He saw only himself.
But. Floyd, Rays the one person on
earth F'ho must never know I'm
rustler, a thief, a red handed ruler of
the worst gang on the border" replied
| LongStreth, impressively.
| Floyd bowed his head at that as il
the significance had just occurred to
him. But he was not long at a loss
She's going to find it out sooner or
| later. | tell YOU she knows now there's
something wrons out here. She's got
eyes Mark what l say
Ray has changed, l know But she
hasn't any idea vet that her daddy's a
| boss ruStler Rays concerned about
what she calls my duty as mayor. Also
l think she's not satisfied with my ex-
plantations in regard to certain ,.--op-
erty."
Lawson halted in his restless walk
and leaned against the stone mantel-
! piece. He had his hands in his pockets.
! He squared himself as if this was his
last stand. He looked desperate. but
on the moment showed an absence of
| his usual nervous excitement.
"Longstreth, that may we'll he true"
he said, mo doubt all YOU say is time.
But it doesn't help me. ! want the
! girl. If don't get her-I reckon Wen
all go to hell"
He might have meant anything, prob
ably meant the worst. He certainly
had something more in mind. Long
streth gave Il slight start, barely per
ceptible. like the switch of an awak-
ening tiger. He sat there, head down,
stroking his mustache. Almost Duane
saw his thought He had long ex-
perlence in reading men under stress
of such emotion. He had no means to
vindicate his judgment, but his convic-
ton was that Longstreth right then and
there decided that the thing to do was
to kill Lawson. For Duane's part he
wondered that Longstreth had not
come to such conclusion before. Not
| lmprobably the advent of his daughter
mad put Longstreth in conflict with
himself.
Suddenly he threw off a somber cast
of countenance, and he began to talk
| lie talked swiftly, persuasively yet
Duane imagined he was talking to
smooth Lawsons passion for the mo-
ment. Lawson no more caught the
fateful significance of a line crossed,
! limit reached, a decree decided than if
| he had not been present. He was OBJ
sessed with himself How Duane
wondered, had a man of his mind ever
lived so long and gone so far among
the eNactins conditions of the south
west? The answer was, perhaps, that
Longstreth had guided him, upheld
him. protected him. The coming of
Kay LonSstreth had been the entering
wedge of dissension.
You're too inpatient" concluded
of happiness if you rush Ray. She
might be won. II you told her who l
am she'd hate you forever She might
marry you to save me, but she'd hate
you. That isn't the way Wait. Play
tor time. Be different with her Cut
out your drinking. She despises that.
Let's plan to sell out here-stock,
ranch. property-and leave the country.
Then you'd have a show with her"
told You we've got to stick"
growled Lawson. The gang won't
stand for our going. 1t can't be done
unless you want TO sacrifice every
thing.
You mean double cross the men2
90 without their knowing? Leave them
here to face whatever comes?"
: mean just that"
I'm bad enough, but not that bad"
| the gang to let me off, III stay and
face the music. All the same, Lawson.
uld 1t ever strike you that most OF the
deals the last few years have been
yours?"
es If l hadn't rung them in there
Wouldnt nave been any. You've had
| cold feet, and especially since tnis
ranger has been here"
Wen, call it cold feet if YOU like
| sui call 1t sense. We reached our
unit long ago. We began by rustlIng
a lew cattle-at time when rustling
was laughed at. But as our greed grew
/ so dld our boldness. Then came the
gang, the regular trips, the one :,
ana another till, before we knew IL
/ before knew tive had shady deals
/ loidups and murders on our. record
linen we had to go on Zoo late to tnrn
| back!'' ~ eui
Il reckon we've all said that Mona
\
thlnk, ana think we can't be touched!
| we may be blamed, but nothing can be
/ proved. We're too strong"
Ihere's where you're dead wrong ),
! feJoined Longstretn, emphatically. II
imagined that once, not long ago i
was bull headed. Who would ever con
meet Granger Longstreth with a rusfier
gang? I've changed my mind. I've
pegun to think. I've reasoned ont
4 things. We're crooked, ana we can't
iast. It's the nature OF life, even here
LOT conditions to grow better. rha
wise deal Tor US would be to diyide
equally and leave the country. an or
! us sii u
"But you and have all the stock
IL! In, the gam, protested Lawson.
4 IN split nine"
Il won't--that settles that" addaa
4 Lawson, instantly.
Longstreth spread wide his hands az
II IT was useless to try to convince his
RAN Iaiklng had not increased his
caimness, and he now showed more
tlan impatience. A dull CLINT cleaned
4 deep in mis- eyes.
i Your stock and property will last
long time-do you lots of good wbsn
! this ranger" ~