The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-07-13
CHAPTER TX (Continued).

gun eNplOulHB aS IL MT the IlOOT, anu
dropped loose from stretching fingers.
Duane stood over him, stopped to turn
him on his back. Bland looked up with
clouded gaze, then gasped his last.
Duane, you've killed him." cried
Kate Bland, huskily. Il knew you'd
have tol"
She staggered against the wall, her
eyes dilating, her strong hands clinch-
ing, her face slowly whitening. She APP
peared shocked, half stunned, but
showed no grief.
"Jennie!" called Duane, sharply.
"Oh-Duane!" came a hating reply.
"Yes. Come out. Hurry"
She came out with uneven steps,
seeing only him. and she stumbled over
BANDS body. Duane caught her arm,
swung her behind him. He feared the
woman when she realized how she had
been duped. His action was protective.
and his movement toward the door
equally as significant.
"Duane!" sried Mrs. Bland.
II was no time for talk. Duane edged
on, keeping Jennie behind him. At that
momcEt there was pounding of iron
shod hoofs out in the lane. Kate Bland
bounded to the door. When she turned
back her amazement was changing to
realization.
Where re you taking Jen?" she
cried, her voice like a mans.
Get out of my way" replied Duane.
His look perhaps, without speech, was
enough for her. In an instant she was
transformed into a fury.
You hound All the time you were
foolilg me! You made love to me! You
let me believe-you swore you loved
me! Now l see what was queer about
you. All for that girl! But you can't
have her. You'll never leave here alive
Give me that girl! Let me--get at her!
She'll never win any more men in this
camp!"
She was O. powerful woman, and 1t
took all DuLne's strength to ward off
her onSlaughts She clawed at Jennie
over his upheld arm. Every second her
fury increased.
Help! help! help!" she shrleked In
O voice that must have penetrated to
the tremotest cabin in the valley.
Let go! Let co." cride Duane, low
right hand, and it began to be hard for
him to ward the woman off. His cool
ness had gone with her shrek for help.
Let go!" he repeated, and he showed
her fiercely.
Suddenly she snatched a rifle off the
wall and backed away, her strong
hands fumbling at the lever. AS she
jerked it down, Throwing a shell into
the chamber and cooking the weapon,
Duane leaped upon her. He struck up
the rifle as 1t went off, the powder
burning his face.
Jennie, run out. Get on a horse!"
he said.
Jennie flashed out of the door.
With an iron grasp. Duane held to
the rifle barrel. He had grasped IL with
his left hand, and he gave such "a pull
that he swung the crazed woman of
the floor. But he coulG not loose her
grip. she was as strong as he.
Kate! Let go!"
He tried to intimidate her She did
not see his gun thrust in her face, or
reason had given way to such an eX-
tent to passion that she did not care
She cursed. Her husband had use1 the
same curses, and from her lips they
seemed strange, unsexed, more deadly.
Like tigress she fought him; her face
no longer resembled a woman's. The
evil of that outlaw life, the wildness
and rage, the meaning to kill, were
even in such moment terribly i'm
pressed upon Duane.
He heard a cry from outside-a mans
cry, hoarse and alarming.
1t made him think of loss of time
This demon of woman might vet
block his plan.
Let go!" he whispered, and felt his
lips stiff. In the grimness of that in
slant he relaxed his hold on the rifle
barrel
with sudden, redoubled irresistible
strength she wrenched the rifle down
and discharged 1t. Duane felt a blow
shock-a burning agony tearing
through his breast. Then in frenzy
he jerked so powerfully upon the rifle
that he threw the woman against the
wall. She fell and seemed stunned.
Duane leaped back, whirled, flew out
Of the door to the porch. The sharp
cracking of a gun halted him. He saw
Jennie holding to the bride OF his bay
horse. Euchre was astride the other,
and he had Colt leveled. and he was
firing down the lane. Then came a
single shot, heavier, and Euchre's
ceased. He fell from the horse
A swift glance back showed to Duane
q man coming down the lane. Chess
Alloway! His gun was smoking. He
broke into a run. Then in an instant
he saw Duane, and tried to check his
slight pause was fatal. Duane shot.
and Alloway was falling when his gun
went off. His bullet whistled close to
Duane ard thudded into the cabin.
Duane bounded down to the horses.
Jennie was trying to hold the plunging
bay. Euchrre lay fiat on his back, dead,
e bullet hole In his shirt his face set
hard. and his hands twisted around gun
and bride.
Jennie. you've nerve. all right"
cried Duane. as Re dragged down the
horse she was holding. up with YOU
now! There! Never mind--long stir
runs! Hang on somehow"
He caught the bride out # En-
chre's clutching grin and leaped hstride
The frightened horses jumped into a
run and Numbered down the lane into
the road. Duane saw men running from
cabins. He heard shouts. But there
were no shots fired. Jennie seemed able
to stay on her horse, but without stir
-ups she was thrown about so much
that Duane rode closer and reached out
to grasp her arm.
Thus they rode through the valley
tn the trail that led up over the steep
and broken Rim Rock. AS thew began
to climb, Duane looked back. No pur-
suers were in sight.
Jennie, we're going to get away!"
he cried. exultation for her In his voice.
She was gazing horror stricken at
his breast, as in turning to look back
he faced her.
ooh. Duane. your shirts all bloodvi"
she faltered, pointing with trembling
finoers. ..,
with her words Duane became aware
n Il.