Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-06-29

~ AsS<NA L ~ va llloo6h
who carried short messages. But he
caught glimpses of her every time he
went to the Bland house. She contrlVed
somehow to pass door or window, TO
give him a look when a n afforded.
And Duane discovered with surprise
that these moments were more thrilling
to him than n with Mrs. Bland. OFTEN
Duane knew Jennie was sitting just
inside the window, and then he felt in
spired in his talk, and it was all made
for her. So at least Ii came to know
him while as yet she was almost a
stranger. 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 a double meaning.
Euchre said that the girl had begun
to wither under the strain, to burn up
with intense hope which had famed
within her. But all the difference Duane
could see was Il paler face and darker,
more wonderful eyes. The eyes seemed
to be entreating him to hurry, that time
was flying, that soon it might be too
late. Then there was another meaning
in them, a light, a strange fire wholly
inexplicible to Duane. 1t was only a
flash gone in an instant. But he re-
membersd it because he had never seen
it in n other woman's eyes. And all
through those waiting days he knew
that n face, and especially the
warm, fleeing glance she gave him,
was responsible for a subtle and gra-
aual change in him. This change, he
fancied, was only that through remem.
brance of her he got rid OF his pale,
sickening ghosts.
One day a careless Mexican threw a
lighted cigarette up into the brush
mating that served as a ceiling for
Benson's den. and there was a fire
walls standing. The result was that
while repairs We're being made there
was no gambling and drinking. Time
hung very heavily on the hands Of some
w score outlaws. Days passed by
without q brawl, and BANDS valley
saw more successive hours Of peace
than ever before. Duane, however,
found the hours anything but empty.
He spent more time at Mrs. BANDS;
he walked miles on all me trails lead
ing cut of the valleys. he had a care
for the condition of his two horses.
Upon his return from the latest Of
these tramps, Euchre suggested that
they go down to the river to the boat
landing.
Ferry couldn't run ashore this morn
in'," said Euchre. River gettin' low
an san bars maxim it hard fer bosses.
There's a greaser freight wagon stuck
in the mud. l reckon we might hear
IlcWS III Ille lIelSIllSIS. Ildllu > sup
posed to be in Mexico"
Nearly all the outlaws in camp were
assembled on the river bank, lolling in
the shade of the cottonwoods. The heat
was oppressive. Not an outlaw offered
to help the freighters, who were trying
to dig a heavily freighted wagon out Of
the quicksand. Few outlaws would
work for themselves, let alone for the
despised Mexicans.
Duane and Euchre Joined the lazy
group and sat down with them. Euchre
lighted a 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, observ-
Ing, thoughtful. He never missed any
thing. 1t was his belief that any mo-
ment an idle word might be of benefit
to him. Moreover, these rough men
were always interesting.
"Rland's been chased acrost the riv-
err" said one.
Nav, he's deliverin' cattle to tibet
Cuban ship" replied another.
big deal on, hey?"
Some big. Riggs says the BOSS he'd
an order fer $4,000"
Say, that order'll take a year to
fill"
Nav; Hardin is in cahoots with
ders bigger'n thet."
wondered what Hardin was rustlin'
in here fer"
Duane could not possibly attend to
all the conversation among the out
laws. He e~ndeavored to get the drift
of talk nearest to him.
kid Fuller's goin' to cash." said a
sandy whiskered little outlaw.
80 Jim was tellin' me-. Blood poi
son amt it? Thet hole wasn't bad.
But he took the fever" rejoined a COM
rade.
through if he he'd nursin'."
wal, Kate Bland amt nursin' any
shot up boys these days. She hasn't
go time
A laugh followed this sally; then
came a penetrating silence. Some of
the outlaws glanced good naturally at
Duane. They bore him no Ill will.
Manifestly they were aware of Mrs.
BANDS infatuation.
Pete, pears to me you've said tibet
before"
"Shore. Wal, it's happened before"
This remark drew louder laughter
n more significant glances at Duane.
He did not choose to ignore them any
longer.
Boys, poke all the fun you like at
me. but don't mention any lady's name
again. My hand is nervou and itchy
these days"
He smiled as he spoke. and his speech
was NAoNNlSdS UuIr Liz SOOd uuillOI Ill lO
wise weakened it. Then his latter re-
mark was significant to a class of men
who from inclination and necessity
practiced at gun drawing until they
wore callous n sore places on their
thumbs and inculcated in the very
deeps of their nervous organization a
habit that made even the simplest and
most innocent motion of the hand end
at or neal the hip. There was some
thing remarkable about a gun fighters
hand. 1t never seemed to be gloved,
never to be injured. never out of sight
or in an awkward position.
There were grizzled outlaws in that
group. some of whom had many
notches on their gun handles, and they,
with their comrades, accorded Duane
silence that carried conviction Of the
regard in which he vas held.
Duane could not recall any other in
stance where he had let fall a familiar
speech to these men, and certainly he
had never before limited Of his posi-
bilities. He saw instantly that he could
not have lone better.
"Orful hot, amt it?" remarked Bill
Black, presently. Bill could not keep
quiet for long. He was a typical Texas
desperado, had never been anything
else. He was stoop shouldered and bow
1 1oo0oa from much rfaino. q r,jr1, 1ff%3o