Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-06-21

women" rejoined Duane.
Il was afraid you wouldn't. Don't
blame you much. Women are hell:
was hopin', though, you might talk q
little to tibet DOC lonesome kid"
What kid? inquired Duane, in sur
prise.
Didn't l tell you about Jennie-the
girl BANDS holdin' herc-the one Jack
rabbit Benson had Il hand in stealin'?"
You mentioned Il girl. That's all.
Tell me now" replied Duane. abruptly.
WAL, i got it this way. Mebbe it's
straight, an mebbe it amt. Some years
6 Benson made a trip over the river
to buy mescal an other drinks. He'll
sneak over there once in a while. An,
as L get 1T, he run across a gang of
greasers with some gringo prisoners.
l don't know, but / reckon there was
some barteril.', perhaps murderin'.
Anyway. Benson fetched the girl back.
She was more dead than alive. But it
turned out she was only starved a n
scared half to death. She hadn't been
harmed. l reckon she was then about
IA years old. Benson's idee, he said
was to use her in his den sellin's drinks
an the like. But L never went much
on Jackrabbit's word Bland seen the
kid right off and took her-bought her
from Benson. You car gamble Bland
didn't do tibet from notions of chivalry.
| amt gainsayin', however, but tibet
ennie was better off with Kate Bland.
She's been hard on Jennie, but she's
kept Bland an the other men from
treatin' the kid shameful. Late, Jennie
has growed into an all fired pretty girl,
can see hell brewin' over there in
BANDS cabin. Thet's why l wish you'd
come over with me. BANDS hardly ever
home. His wires invited you. Shore,
ii she gets sweet on you. as she has
on Wal, thet'd complicate matters.
1Sl1f Won GOT tn Vnnnin ny,' pont1>A
you could help her. Mind, l amt hint
in notlin'; I'm just wantin' to put her
in our way. You're a man an can
hin fer yourself. had a baby girl
once an, if she'd lived, she'd be as big
as Jennie now an by heaven, 1 wouldn't
al her here in BANDS camp
"Tll go, Euchre. Take me over" re.
piled Duane. He felt Euchre's eyes up
on him. The old outlaw, however, had
no more to say.
In the afternoon, Euchre set off with
Duane, and soon they reached BANDS
cabin. Duane remembered it as the
one where he had seer the pretty wom-
not recall what she looked like. The
cabin was the same as the other adobe
structures in the valley, but it was
larger and pleasantly located rather
high up in a o Of cottonwoods. In
the windows and upon the porch were
CIV VI tt III . lldllus i llIOuS
the open door Duane caught a glimpse
OF bright Mexican blankets and rugs
Euchre knocked upon the side of III
door,.
rs that you. Euchre?" asked a girls
voice. low. hesitatingly. The tor of it,
rather deep INC with a note of fear,
struck Duane. He wondered what she
would be like.
Yes. it's me, Jennie. Where's Mrs.
Bland?" answered Euchre.
She went over to Deger's. There's
somebody sick" replied the girl.
Euchre turned and whispered some
thing about luck. The snap Of the
to Duane.
Jennie. come out. or let us come in.
Here's the young man I vas tellin' YOU
about" Euchre said.
oh. 1 can't! look $3.50"
Never mind how you fook," inter-
amt no time to care fer tibet. Here's
young Duane. Jennie, he's no ~rustler,
no thief. He's different. Come out,
Jennie. an mebbe he'll"
E,uchre did not complete his SEN
tence. He had spoken low, with mis-
glance shifting from side to side.
But what he said was sufficient to
bring the girl quickly. She appeared
In the doorway with downcast eyes and
a stain of red in her white cheek. She
had a nretty, sad face and bright hair.
Don't be bashful, Jennie" said Eu-
to talk a little. Now, I'll go fetch Mrs.
Bland, but l won't be h%urryin'."
With hat Euchre went away through
the cottonwoods.
I'm glad to meet you: Miss-Miss
Jennie" said Dual-e. "E,uchre didn't
mention your last name. He asked me
to come over to-"
Duane's attempt at pleasantly halted
short when Jennie lifted her lashes to
look at him. Some kind of a shock
went through Duane. Her gray eyes
were beautiful, but it had not been
seemed to see a tragic struggle between
hope n doubt that shone in her pierre
ing gaze. She kept looking, and Duane
could not break the silence. 1t vas
no ordinary moment.
What did you come here for?" she
asked, at last.
"To see you," replied Duane. glad to
speak.
"Why?"
"weil-Euchre thought-he wanted
me to talk to you, cheer you up a bit"
replied Duane. somewhat lamely. The
earnest eyes embarrassed him.
"Euchre's good. He's the only per-
son In this awkward place who's been
good to me. But he's afraid of Bland.
He said you were different. Who are
you?"
Duane told her.
you're not a robber OF rustler or
murderer or some bad man come here
to hide?"
No. I'm not" said Duane, trying to
smile.
"Then why are you here"
I'm on the dodge. You know what
that I got in a shooting scrape
at home n had to run off. When it
blows over I hope to go back"
But you can't be honest here?"
Yes, I can.
"oh. I know what these outlaws are.