The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-12-14
Blu ZANE GREY

ing, he still must hide his identity and
take risks OF detection. II he did not
work on some distant, outlying ranch,
how was he to liver The idea of
stealing was %repugnant to him. The
future seemed gray and somber
enough. And he was twenty-three
years old.
But what was the matter with the
light Of his campfire? 1t had taken On
n strange green luster and seemed TO
be waving of into the outer shadows.
Duane heard no step, saw no move
ment nevertheless, there was another
present at that campfire vigil. Duane
saw him. lie lay there In the middle
OF the green brightness, PROSTATE, mo
tlonlcss, dying. Cal Balm!
That haunting visitation left Duane
sitting there In u cold sweat, "A remorse
gnawing at his vitals, realizing the
curse that was on him. lie OWNED
that never would he be able to keep or
that phantom. He remembered how
his father had been ~eternally pursued
by furlcs of accusing guilt, how he had
hfN'i b''h ubl' w l'l ~ W WIN W.
In sleep those men he had killed.
The hour was late when Duane's
mind let him sleep, and then dreams
troubled him. In the morning he be-
stirred himself so early that in the
gray gloom he had difficulty in finding
his horse. Day had just broken when
he struck the old trail again.
Ila soda hn ri oil y,nrpinn md hn1tn1
In n shady spot to rest and Craze his
horse. In the afternoon he took to the
trail at an easy trot. The country
grew wilder. Bald, rugged mountains
broke the level of the monotonous ho-
rizon. About three In the afternoon he
came to n little river which marked
the boundary line OF his hunting terri
tory and followed 1t upstream.
In this kind OF travel and camping
he spent three more days, during which
he crossed a number of trails, and one
where cattle-stolen cattle, probably
had recently passed. He followed the
road until a late hour, when, striking
the willow brakes again and hence the
neighborhood of the river, he plcketed
W q ait 10Y ''"h W i''As Ae'
he did not sleep. His mind bitterly re
volved the fate that had come upon
him. He made efforts to think of Other
! things, but In vain. Every moment he
expected the chill, the sense Of loneli
. ness that yet was omlnous Of a strange
visitation, the peculiarly imagined
lights and shades Of the night-thes'
3 things that presaged the coming Of Ca
Y Balm. Doggedly Duane fought agains
the insidlous phantom. He kept tell
y ing himself that II was just magma
: ton, that 1t would wear Off In time
Still in his heart he did not believ,
r what he hoped. But he would not Civ,
. up; he would not accept the ghost o.
D his victim az a reality.
Gray dawn found him In the saddl,
again, headed for the river. Half al
: hour Of riding brought him to thu
dense %chaparral and willow thickets
These he threaded to come at length
4 TO the ford. Once upon the opposlt,
shore, he refined in his horse ant
I looked darkly back. This actor
o marked his acknowledgment OF his sit
uation: he had voluntarily sought TIT
o refuge of the outlaws; he was beyon'
he pale.
The trail led into a road which wa
$ hard packed and smooth from tn
tracks of cattle. He doubted not tina
K he had come across one Of the road
used by border raiders. He heade,
a in,o 1t, and had scarcely Travelled
mile When, turning a curve, he IN
s point-blnnk upon n single horsemaI
riding toward him. Both riders wheele,
$ their mounts sharply and were read
d TO run and shoot back. Not more tina
t a hundred PAGES separated them. The
Q stood then for a moment watchin
y each other.
"Mawnin'. stranger" called the mar
L dropping his gun to his hip.
"Howdy," replied Duane shortly.
IS They rode toward each other, clio.
Ing half the gap, then they halle
again.
II seen y0u amt no ranger" Gale
l. the rider, ian shore l amt none"
He laughed loudly, as II he IN
|. made n joke.
e, How'd you know / wasn't
IS ranger?' asked Duane ~curiously. Som,
k how he had instantly OWNED that thi
Is horseman was no officer, or eve
rancher trailing stolen stock.
d "Wal," said the fellow, starting HI
If horse forward at a walk. "a ranger
never git ready to run the other wa
It from n man."
s. He laughed again. He was sma
Ie and wiry, slouchy Of attire, and arme
to the teeth, and he bestrode a I'm
ie bay horse. He Ind quick, dancin
d brown eyes. at once frank and Dol,
e, and a coarse, bronzed face. EVIDENT
Ie he was a ~good-natured ruflan.
IT Duane acknowledged the truth {
70 the assertion, and turned over In h
% mind how shrewdly the fellow ha
n, guessed him to be n hunted man.
d "My names Luke Stevens. an I ha
Is from the river. Who're you7" sal
II this stranger.
10 Duane was silent,