Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-11-29

ton. Duane felt rather than saw Q
dark, brooding shadow over the valley.
Then. without any solicitation or en-
enlargement from Duane. the Bland
woman fell passionately In love with
him. She launched herself. And the
thing which evidently held her in check
was the newness, the strangeness. and
for the moment the all-satisfying fact
Of his respect for her. Dua&e exerted
himself to please, to amuse, 10 inter
est. to fascinate her, and always with
Difference. That was his strong point.
and It had made his part easy 20 far.
He was playing Q game Of love-
playing with life and death! What
little communication he had with Jen-
ME was through Euchre. who carried
short messages. But he caught
giimpses Of her every time he went
to the Bland house. She contrived
somehow to pass door or window. to
give him Q look when chance Afforded
Duane discovered With surprise that
these moments were more thrilling to
him than any With Mr.. Bland. Jennie
had been instructed By Euchre to
listen, to understand that this was
Duane's only chance to help keep her
mind from constant worry. to gather
the import Of every word which had .
double meaning. And al through
those waiting days hs knew that Jen-
niles face, and especially the warm,
fleeting glance abe gave him, was ~
sponsible for Q subtle and gradual
change In him. This change, he
fancied. was only that through remem.
brance Of her he got rid Of bis pale.
dckenins ghosts.
One day q careless Mexican threw
Z lighted cigarette up into the brush
mating that served - . ceiling for
Benson's den, and there was Q IRE
which left little more than the adobe
walls standing. The result was that
while repairs were being made there
was no gambling and drinking. Time
hung very heavily on the hands Of
some twoscore outlaws. Duane, how
ever. found the hours anything but
empty. He spent more time at Mrs.
BANDS: he walked miles on al the
trails leading out Of the valley; he had
. care for the conditions Of his two
horses.
Upon his return from the latest Of
these tramps Euchre suggested that
they 60 down to the river to the boat
landing.
Nearly all the outlaws in camp were
assembled on the river-bank, lolling In
the shade Of the cottonwoods. The
heat was oppressive.
Duane and Euchre Joined the lazy
group and sat down with them.
Euchre lighted q black pipe, and.
drawing his hat over his eyes, lay
back in comfort after the manner Of
the majority Of the outlaws. But
Duane was alert, observing thought
full. He never missed anything. It
was his belief that any m6ment an idle
word might be Of benefit to him. More
over, these rough men were always in
teresting.
GLANDS been chased acrost the
river" said one.
"Naw, he's deliverin' cattle to tibet
Cuban ship" replied another.
"Big deal on, hey7"
"Some big. Rugg says the boss he'd
an order fer fifteen thousand"
"Say, that order II take a year to
I'LL"
''Naw. Hardin is In cahoots with
Bland. Between 'em they'll I'LL. orders
bigger n thet."
''Wondered what Hardin was rust.
lin In here fer"
Duane could not possibly attend to
all the conversation among the out
laws. He endeavored to get the drift
Of talk nearest to him.
"Kid Fuller's goin' to cash. said q
sandy-whiskered little outlaw.
$50 Jim was telling me. Blood
poison, amt it? Thet hole wasn't bad.
But he took the fever" rejoined .
..Deger says the Kid might pull
II he had nursin'."
oval. Kate Bland amt nursin' any
shot-up boys these days. She hasn't
got time
A laugh followed this sally; then
came penetrating silence. Some Of
the outlaws glanced good-naturedly at
Duane. They bore him no i'll will.
Manifestly they We're aware Of Mrs.
BANDS infatuation.
Boys, poke all the fun you like at
me, but don't mention any lady's name
ngain. My hand is nervous and itchy
these days"
He smiled as he spoke, and his
speech was drawled; but the good
humor In no wise weakened 1t. Then
his latter remark was significant to q
class of men who from inclination and
necessity practiced at gun-drawing un-
til they wore callous and sore places
on their thumbs and inculcated In the
very deeps Of their nervous organizes
ton habit that made even the sim.
plest and most innocent motion Of the
hand end at or near the hip. There
was something remarkable about Q
hand. It never seemed to
be gloved. never to be injured. never