Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-08-31

ana mean "A type as Duane had eve
had, from some cause OF
other. been startled. From whatever
point Duane viewed the mans strange
indecision-his start, his check, his
fear had been that of recognition.
Duane compared this effect with the
suddenly acquired sense he had gotten
or Colonel IongStrcth's powerful per
sonality. Why had that desperate rob
Der lowered his gun and stood para
lyzed at sight and SOUND Of the mayor
OF airdale? This was not answer
able. There might have peer a number
OF reasons, all to Colonel Longstreth's
credit, but Duane could not under
stand. Longstreth had not appeared TO
sec danger for his daughter, even
though she a been roughly handled.
and had advanced in front of a cooked
gun. Duane probed deep into this sin
silar fact, and he brought to bear on
the ching all his knowledge and ex.
perience OF violent Texas lifo. And he
round that the instant Colonel Long
streth had appeared on the scene there
was no further danger threatening his
daughter; Why? That likewise Du-
ahe could not answer. Then his rage,
Duane concluded, had been solely 1t
the idea of his daughter being assault
ed by a robber. This deduction was
indeed a thought disturber, but Duane
put 1T aside to crystalline and for more
So- So~ifStuGIa llOl.
Next morning Duane found that tho
little town was called Sanderson. II
was larger than he had at first sup
posed. He walked up the main street.
and Jack again. Just as he arrived
some horsenlen o d up to the inn and
dlsmounted And at this juncture the
Lonsstreth party came cut. Duane
heard Colonel Longstreth utter an exe
clamation. Then he saw him shake
hands with a tail man. Longstreth
looked surprised and angry, and he
spoke with force: but Duane could not
hear what it was he said. The follow
laughed, yet somehow he struck Duane
as sullen, until suddenly he espied Miss
Longstreth. Then his face changed.
and he removed his sombrero. Duane
went closer.
'Floyd. did you come with tho
teams% asked Longstreth. sharply.
Not me. ! rode a horse, good and
hard was the reply.
to you later" Then Longstreth turned
to his daughter. Ray. here's the cou-
sin i've told you about. You used To
play with him 10 years ago-Floyd
lawson. Floyd, my daughter-and my
niece, Ruth Herbert"
Duane always scrutinizeS every one
ne met, and now with a dangerous
game to play, with a consciousness of
l-ongstreth's unusual and significant
personality. he bent a keen and search
ing glance upon this FLOYD Lawson.
He was under 80, yet gray at his
,empios-dars, smooth shaver, with
lines left by Witness, dissipation,
shadows under dark eyss, a mouth
strong and bitter, and a square chin
q reckless, careless, handsome, sinister
face strangely losing the hardness
when ne smiled. The grace of a gem
tleman c,ung round him, seemed like
an echo II his mellow voice. Duane
doubted not that he, like many a
young man, had drifted out to the
frontier, where rough and wild life had
wrought sternly but had not quite eff
raced the mark of @eod family.
Colonel Longstreth apparently did
not share the pleasure of his DAUGHTER
II his niece in the advent Of this
cousin. Something hinged on this
meeting. Duane grew intensely Curl
o'ls, but, as the staee appeared ready
for he journey, he had ne further on
portunity to crafty it.