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

closely. She wore a plain, white dress
made from material Mrs. Andrews had
given her. Sleep and good food had inn
proved her. II she had been pretty
out there in the outlaw den, now she
was more than that. But she had the
same paleness, the same strained look,
the same dark eyes full Of haunting
shadows. After Duanes realization Of
the change in her he watched her more,
with a growing certainty that he would
be sorry not TO see her again.
Its likely we won't ever see each
other again." he said. That's strange
to think OF. We've been through some
hard days. and I seem to have known
you a long time"
Jennie appeared shy, almost sad, SO
Duane changed the subject to some
thing less personal.
Andrews returned one evening from
q several days trip to Huntsville.
Duane eyerybody's talkin' about
how you cleaned up the Bland outfit"
he said, important and full OF news.
Its some exaggerated, accordin
to what you told me; but you've shore
made friends on this side OF the Nu-'
eces. / reckon Their amt town where
you wouldn't find people to welcome,
you. Huntsville, you know, Is some
divided in its ideas. Half the people
are crooked. Likely enough, all them
who was so loud in praise Of you are.
the crookedest. For instance, met King
Fisher, the boss outlaw Of these parts.
Well, King thinks he's a decent citi.
zen. He was tellin' me what q grand
job yours was for the border an nom
est cattlemen. Now that Bland and
Alloway are done for, King Fisher Will
find rustlin' easier. There's talk OF
Hardin movin' his camp over TO-
BANDS. But i don't know how true III
is. reckon Their amt much to II. In
h.V nat rhnVt n al la ~
under, his band almost always broke
up an scattered. There's no one left
who could run tibet outfit" #. D..
Did you hear Of any outlaws hunt
ing me?" asked Duane.
Nobody from BANDS outfit is hunt
in you, thet's Shore" replied Andrews.
Fisher said there never was q boss
straddled to go on your trail Nobody
had any use for Bland. Anyhow, his
men would be afraid to trail you. An
you could go right In to Huntsville,
where you'd be some popular. Reckon
you'd be safe too, except when some
Of them fool saloon loafers or bad cow
punchers would try to shoot you Tor
the glory in II. Them kind Of men win
bob up everywhere you go, Duane"
TN be able to ride and take care OF
myself in a day or two" went on Du-
ane. Then IN god like to talk to
you about Jennie"
shes welcome to q home here with
Thank you, Andrews. You're kind
man. But l want Jennie to get farther
away from the Rio Grande. Shed
never be safe here. Besides, she may
be able to find relatives. She has some,
though she doesn't know where they
are"
"An right. Duane. Whatever you
think best. reckon now you'd better
IN ka har 70 north
strike for Shelbyville or Crockett.
Them's both good towns. I'll tell Jen-
ME the names OF men who'll help he's.
You needn't ride into town at all"
Which place Is nearer, and how far
is TIT"
"shelbyville. reckon about two
dayy ride. Poor stock country, so you
amt liable to meet rustlers. AL the
same, better hit the train at night an
60 careful"
At sunset two days later Duane and
Jennie mounted their horses and said
goodby to the rancher and his wife.
Andrews would not listen to Duane's
thanks.
Il tell you I'm beholden to you yet"
wen, what can do for your" asked
Duane: Il may come along here again
some day."
Get down an come in, then, or
you're no friend of mine. I reckon
there amt nothin' I can think Of
Just happen to remember" Here
he led Duane out Of earshot Of the
women and went on in a whisper
Buck, / used to be well to do. Got
skinned by a man named Brown-Rod-
ney Brown. He lives in Huntsville, an
he's my enemy. never was much on
fightin', or I'd fixed him. Brown ruined
me-stole all / had. He's q boss an
cattle thief. an he has pull enough al
home to protect him. ] reckon needn't
say any more"
Us this Brown q man who shot an
outlaw named Stevens?" queried Du-
ane, curiously.
shore, he's the same. heard tibet
story. Brown swears he plugged Ste
vens through the middle. But the out
law rode off, an nobody ever knew
for shore"
Luke Stevens died Of that shot. l
buried him." said Duane. &c.
Andrews made no further comment,
and the two men returned to the
women.
"The main road for about three miles,
then where 1t forks take the left hand
road and keep on straight. That what
you said, Andrews?" '"
"Shore. An good luck to you BOTH"
Duane and Jennie trotted away into
the gathering twilight. At the moment
Both Luke Stevens and the rancher
Andrews had limited to Duane to kill
man named Brown. Duane wished with
all his heart they had not mentioned
II, let alone taken for granted the ex-
ecution Of the deed. What bloody
place Texas was! Men who robbed
and men who were robbed both wanted
murder. It was in the spirit Of the
country. Duane certainly meant to
avoid ever meeting this Rodney Brown.
And that very determination showed
Duane how dangerous he really was
to men and to himself. Sometimes he
had feeling Of how little stood be-
tween his sane and better self and q
self utterly wild and terrible. He rea
soned that only intelligence could save
him--only a thoughtful understandins
Of his danger and hold upon some
ideal.
Then he fell into. low conversation
with Jennie, holding out hop4ful views
of her future, and presently darkness
set in. The sky was overcast with
heavy clouds; there was no air NOV
ing; the heat and oppression threat
ened storm. BY and by Duane could
/