The Ozark spectator., 1916-12-20
CHAPTER Xxvl-Continued,


 Why? Then came realization. He was not a ranger now. He cared noth- ing for the state. He had no thought of freeing the community of danger ous outlaw. of ridding the country of an obstacle to its progress and pros perity. He wanted to kill Poggin. It was significant now that he forgot the other outlaws. He was the gunman, the gun-thrower, the gun-fghter, pas sionate and terrible. His fathers blood, that dark and fierce strain, his mothers spirit, that strong and un- quenchable spirit of the surviving pio- neer-these had been in him; and the killings, one after another, the wild and haunted years, had made him, ab- solutely in spite of his will, the gun man. He realized it now, bitterly, hopelessly.
 The thing he had intelligence enough to hate he had become. At last he shuddered under the driving, ruthless, inhuman blood-lust of the gunman. Actual pride of his record Actual vanity in his speed with q gun! Actual jealousy of any rival!
 Duane could not believe 1t. But there he was, without choice. What he had feared for years had become monstrous reality. He stood strip ped bare, his soul naked-the soul of Cain. And at the utter abasement the soul he despised suddenly leaped and Quivered with the thought of Ray Longstreth.
 Then came agony. He loved the girl. He wanted her. All her sweet ness, her fire, and pleading returned to torture him.
 At that moment the door opened, and Ray Longstreth entered.
 "Duane," she said. softly. Captain NacNelly sent me to you"
 'But you shouldn't have come," re- piled Duane.
 "As soon as he told me would have come whether he wished it or not. You left me-all of us-stunned. l had no time to thank you. Oh, do with all my soul. It was noble of you. Father Is oyerce.le. He didn't expect so pl:.n. And he'll be true. But Duane< was told to hurry, and nere I'm selnshly using time." Go. then--and leave me. You mustn't unnerve me now. when there's a desperate game to finish"
 "Need it be desperate?" she whisp- .red, coming close to him.
 "Yes; 1t cant be else"
 Her eyes were dark, strained, beau tiful, and they shed q light upon Duane he had never seen before.
 You're going to take some mad iisk." she said. Let me persuade sou not to. You said-you cared for me-and I-oh, Duane-don't you -know-f
 The low voice, deep sweet as an ,ld chord, faltered and broke and failed.
 Duane sustained a sudden shock md an instant of paralyzed confusion If thought.
 She moved, she swept out her hands, md the wonder of her eyes dimmed flood of tears.
 My God! You can't care for me?'' se cried. hoarsely.
 Then she met him, hands outstretch- h.
 But I dol dol"
 Swift as light Duane caught her and seld her to his breast. He stood hold Ing her tight. with the feel of her Tarm, throbbing breast and the clasp If her arms and flesh and blood reali- ies to fight terrible fear. He felt Ter. and for the moment the might f 1t was stronger than all the demons that possessed him. And he held her .s if she had been his soul, his strength on earth, his hope of heaven, .gainst his lips.
 The strife of doubt all passed. He found his sight again. And there rushed over him tide of emotion un- utterably sweet and full, strong like an intoxicating wine, deep as his na- ture. something glorious and terrible as the blaze of the sun to one long In darkness. He had become an outcast ; . wandercr. a gunman, a victim of circumstances; he had lost and suf- fered worse than death in that loss he had gone down the endless, bloody trail. q killer of men, a fugitive whose mind slowly and inevitably closed to all except the instinct to survive and q black despair; and now, with this woman in his arms. her swelling breast against his, in this moment almost of resurrection. he bent under the storm of passion and joy possible only to him who had endured so much.
 Do vou care-a Hitler" he whis- pered unsteadily.
 He bent over her. looking deep into ne dark, wet eyes.
 She uttered low laugh that was half sob. and her arms slipped up tO his neck.
 "A little! Oh. Duane-Duane-a great deal"
 Their lips met in their first kiss, rhe sweetness, the fire of her mouth