Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-09-07
ties liz tns face Of a situation like this
made him SimnlY a fool.

iiieeic III Sliillly { AOpl.
I'm saying again, you used your
ranger bluff just to get near Ray Long
streth," Lawson sneered Mind you,
il you come up there again there'll 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, hotly. He did not seem
to have a deliberate intention to rouse
Duane; the man was simply rancor-
Gus, jealous. "lll call you right. You
cheap buffer. You four flush! You
damned interfering, conceited ranger!"
Lawson, IN not take offense, be-
cause you seem to be championing
your beautiful cousin replied Duane.
Ill slow speech. But let me return
your compliment. you're q fine south,
erner! Why, you're only a cheap four
flush--damned, bull headed ruStler!"
Duane Kissed the last word. Then,
for him there was the truth in Law
sons working passion blachened 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 YOU gum"
yelled Laramie.
Blu LaLwson was crazed with fury.
He tugged at his hip. his face corded
with purple welts, malignant, murder
Gus. Duane kicked the gun out of his
hand. Lawson got up raging, and
rushed out.
Laramie lifted his shaking hands.
"What'd you wing him for?' he
walled, Tie was DRAWN on you.
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.
Yes, for me- replied Duane.
That may be true-whoever you are
but, if Lawson's the man you think
ne IS, he'll begin tibet secret under-
ground bizness. Why Lawson went
sleep of nights now. He an Longstreth
have always been after me-"
Laramie, what are your eyes for?"
demanded Duane. Watch out. And
now here. See you friend Morton.
Tell him this game grows not. Togeth-
err 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;
the doors were open; and in the twi-'
light the only lamps that had been lit
We're in Longstreth's big sitting room,
at the far end Of the house. When a.
buckboard drove up and Longstreth
and lawson alighted, Duane was we'll
hidden in the bushes, so we'll screened
That he could get but a fleeting glimpse
OF Longstreth as he went in. Fol all
Duane could see. he appeared to be
a calm and quiet man, intense beneath
the surface, with an air of dignity I'M
der insult. Duane's chanc 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-
louSly. 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.
Wen, Ray, this has been a bad day.
on, 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 it teasing. Floyd wants
to spoon declared Ruth. e~mphatical-
~: He'd run after any woman"
Ruth laughed Ray.
1 don't care replied Ruth. ITS
so. He's lnushy And when he's been
drinking and tries to kiss mel hate
him!"
There We're steps on the hall floor.
Hello, eirls!" sounded cut L.awson's
voice. minus its usual gaiety.
Floyd, what's the matter?' asked
Ray, presently. 81 never saw papa as he
is tonight, nor you $3.50 worried. Tell
me. what mas happened?"
We'll, Ray, we had a jar today" re-
laugh.
; "Jar?" echoed both the girls, Curl
, ously.
We had to submit to a damnable
outrage added Lawson, passionately.
l as II the sound of his voice augmented
all about it." He %coughed, cleared his
throat in a way that betrayed he had
been drinking.
Duane sum deeper into the shadow
OIL ms covert, and, Stlffening his mus
cles for q protracted spell OF %rigidity,
, prepared to listen with all acuteness
| and intensity. Just one word from this
t Lawson, inadvertently uttered in a mo-
: ment of passion, might be the word
: Duane needed for his clue.
1T happened at the town hail." began
| Lawson, rapidly. your father and
7 Judge Owens and 1 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
observation-disclosures named Laramie,
l Snecker being obviously innocent, he
was discharged. Then this rangerb began
shouting his insults. Law was a farce
in Fairdale. The court was a farce,
There was no aw. Your fathers office
IS mayor should be impeached.i 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
t to cheat ranchers and cattlemen in law
/ suits. All this the ranger yelled for
every one to hear. A damnable outrage,
/ Your father, Ray, insulted in his own
court by a rowdy ranger!."