The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-09-07

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made him simply a fool.
I'm saying again, o used your
ranger bluff just to get near Ray Long
streth," Lawson sneered. Mind you.
If you come up there again therell be
HE'LL
You're right. But not the kind you
think" Duane retorted, his voice sharp
and cold.
Ray Longstreth wouldn't stoop to
know a dirty blood tracker like YOU"
said Lawson, holly. He did not seem
to have a deliberate intention to rouse
Duane; the man was simply rancor-
GUS, jealous. III call you right. You
cheap buffer! You four flush! You
damned interfering, conceited ranger!"
Lawson, I'll not take offense, be-
cause you seem to be championing
your beautiful cousin" replied Duane,
in slow speech. But let me return
your compliment. You're a fine south
erner! Why, you're only u cheap four
flush-damned, bull headed rustler!"
Duane Kissed the last word. Then
for him there was the truth in Law
sons working passion blackened face.
Lawson jerked, moved, meant to
draw. But how slow! Duane lunged
forward. His long arm swept up, and
Lawson staggered backward, knocking
table and chairs, to fall hard, in a half
sitting posture against the wall.
Don't draw!" warned Duane.
Lawson, git away from your gun!"
yelled Laramie.
But LaLwson was crazed with fury.
He tugged at his hip, his face corded
with purple wells, malignant, murder
Gus. Duane kicked the u out Of his
hand. Lawson got up raging, and
rushed out.
Laramie lifted his shaking hands.
"What'd o wing him for?" he
Nxyn fln1 tIIA xvn1 1ra ryiy,p IN xyntI
Kickin' men like him won't do out
here"
THAT bull headed fool will roar and
butt himself with all his gang right
into our hands. He's just the man
I've needed to meet. Besides, shoot
ing him would have been murder"
"Murder!" exclaimed Laramie.
Eyes, for me-" replied Duane.
That may be true-whoever you are
but, If Lawson's the man you think
he is, he'll begin tibet secret under
ground biZness. Why Lawson won't
sleep of nights now. He an Longstreth
have always been after me-"
Laramie, what are your eyes for?"
demanded Duane. Watch out. And
Tell him this game grows hot. Togeth-
er you approach four or five men you
know well and can absolutely trust. l
may need your help"
Then Duane went from place to place,
corner to corner, bar to bar, watching,
listening, recording. The excitement
had preceded him, and speculation was
rife. He thought best to keep out Of
1t. After dark he stole up to Long
streth's ranch. The evening was warm;
n doors were open; and in the twi-
light the only lamps that had been lit
were in Longstreth's big sitting room,
at the far end Of the house. When a
blackboard drove up and Longstreth
and Lawson alighted, Duane was well
hidden In the bushes, so we'll screened
thai he could get but a fleeting glimpse
Of Longstreth as he went in. For all
Duane could see, he appeared to be
q calm and quiet man, intense beneath
the surface, with an air of dignity I'M
der insult. Duane's chance to observe
Lawson was lost. They went into the
house without speaking and closed the
door.
At the other end Of the porch, close
under a window, was an offset between
step and wall, and there in the shadow
Duane hid. So Duane waited there in
the darkness with patience born Of
many hours Of hiding.
Presently a lamp was lit; and Duane
heard the swish Of skirts.
Something's happened surely, Ruth -
he heard Miss Longstreth say, anx-
iously. Papa just met me in the hall
and didn't speak. He seemed pale,
worried"
Cousin Floyd looked like a thunder
cloud" said Ruth. For once he didn't
try to kiss me. Something's happened.
Well, Ray, this has been a bad day"
oh, dear! Ruth, what can we do?
These are wild men. Floyd makes life
miserable for me. And he leases you
unmer-"
Il don't call 1t teasing. Floyd wants
to spoon" declared Ruth, e~rnphatical-
ly. He'd run after any woman"
"A fine compliment to me, Cousin
Ruth" laughed Ray.
Il don't care" replied Ruth. TITS
so. He's mushy And when he's been
drinking and tries to kiss mel hate
him!"
There were steps on the hall floor.
Hello, girls" sounded out Lawson's
voice, minus it's usual gaiety.
Floyd, what's the matter?" asked
Ray, presently. Il never saw papa as he
Is tonight nor you $3.50 worried. Tell
me, what mas happened"
well, Ray. we had a jar today" re-
piled Lawson, with a blunt, expressive
laugh.
"Jar?" echoed both the girls, curl
ously.
I'VE had to submit to a damnable
outrage" added Lawson, ~passionately,
dS ~ lilC Souiiu VI Ills NOlC0 augmented
his feeling. Listen, girls; I'll tell you
all about It," He coughed, cleared his
throat in a way that betrayed he had
been drinking.
Duane sunk deeper into the shadow
Of his covert, and, stiffening his mus
cles for a protracted spell Of rigidity,
prepared to listen with all acuteness
and intensity. Just one word from this
Lawson, inadvertently uttered in a mo-
ment Of passion, might be the word
Duane needed for his clue.
ut happened at the town hail." began
Lawson, rapidly. Your father and
Judge Owens and I were there In con-
sultation with three ranchers from out
of town. Then that damned ranger
stalked In dragging Snecker, the fellow
who hid here In the house. He had ar
rested Snecker for alleged assault on a
restaurant-keeper named Laramie.
Snecker being obviously innocent, he
was discharged. Then this ranger began
shouting his insults. Law was a farce
in Fairdale. The court was a farce.
There was no law. Your fathers office
as mayor should be impeached. He
made arrests only for petty offenses.
He was afraid Of the rustlers, highway
men, murderers. He was afraid or he
just let them alone. He used his office