Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-12-15


"Yes, Jennie, I will. Tell me how.
What must l do? Have you any plan7"
"Oh no. But take me away"
'Fll try" said Duane, simply. "That
won't be easy, though. Are you watched
kept prisoner?"
"No. could run off lots of times.
But l was afraid. I'd only have fallen
into worse hands. Euchre has told
me that. Mrs. Bland beats me, half
starves me, but she has kept me from
her husband and those other dogs.
She's been as good as that, and I'm
| grateful. She hasn't done it for love
Of me, though. She always hated me.
And lately she's growing jealous. l
hear her fighting with Bland about me.
| Then I've heard Chess Alloway try
to persuade Bland to give me to him.
Duane, you must be quick if you'd
save me-"
81 realize that" replied he, thought
fully. 81 think my difficulty will be to
fool Mrs. Bland. If she suspected me
she'd have the whole gang of outlaws
| on me at once"
"She would that. You've got to be
careful-and quick"
"What kind of woman is she?"
inquired Duane.
"Shes-she's brazen. I've heard her
with her lovers. They get drunk
sometimes when BANDS away. She's
got terrible temper. She's vain.
She likes fattery. Oh, you could fool
her easy enough If you'd lower your
self Toto"
"To make love to herr" interrupted
Duane.
Jennie bravely turned shamed eyes
to meet his.
"My girl, I'd do worse than that to
get you away from here" he said,
bluntly.
"But-Duane," she faltered, and
again she put out the appealing hand.
"Bland will kill you"
Duane made no reply to this. He
was trying to still rising strange
tumult in his breast. The old emotion
the rush of the instinct to kill He
turned cold all over.
"Chess Alloway will kill you If
Bland doesn't" went on Jennie, with
her tragic eyes on Duane's.
Maybe he will" replied Duane. 1t
was difficult for him to force smile.
But he achieved one.
ooh, better take me off at once" she
! coiJ NCova mo without ,,iS1yiDu co
much-without making love to Mrs.
Blandm
Surely, If I can. There! I see
Euchre coming with a woman"
THAT'S her. Oh, she mustn't see
me with you"
"Wait "a moment" whispered
Duane, as Jennie slipped indoors.
"We've settled it. Don't forget. I'll
find some way to get word to you, per-
haps through Euchre. Meanwhile keep
up your courage. Remember I'll save
you somehow. Well try strategy first.
Whatever you see or hear me do,
don't think less of me"
Jennie checked him with q gesture
and wonderful gray flash of eyes.
"I'll bless you with every drop Of
blood in my heart" she whispered,
passionately.
1t was only as she turned away into
the room that Duane saw she was
lame and that she wore Mexican
sandals over bare feet.
He sat down upon bench on the
porch and directed his attention to
the approaching couple. The trees of
the grove were thick enough for him
to make reasonably sure that Mrs.
Bland had not seen him talking to
Jennie. When the outlaws wife drew
near, the situation took on singular
Zest.
Euchre came up on the porch and
awkwardly introduced Duane to Mrs.
Bland. She was young, probably not
over twenty-five and not quite so pre-
possessing at close range. Her eyes
were large, rather prominent, and
brown in color. Her mouth too, was
large, with the lips full, and she had
white teeth.
Duane took her proffered hand and
remarked frankly that he was glad to
meet her.
Mrs. Bland appeared pleased; and
her laugh, which followed, was loud
and rather musical.
"Mr. Duane-Buck Duane, Euchre
said, didn't he?" she asked.
Buckley" corrected Duane. "The
nickname's not my choosing"
"Pm certainly glad to meet you,
Buckley Duane" she said, as she took
the seat Duane offered her. "Sorry to
have been out. Kid Fuller's lying over
at Deger's. You know he was shot
last night. He's got fever to-day.
When BANDS away have to nurse all
these shot-up boys, and it sure takes
my time. Have you been waiting here
alone? Didn't see that slattern girl
Of miner
She gave him sharp glance. The
woman had an extraordinary play of
feature, Duane thought, and unless
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