Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-16
CHAPTER NNIv.-(Continued.)

AIlClIlcI, SlS.ci, Gii'lt-dlI your lOlkSs, L
believe-wcre well. I've kept posted,
but haven't heard lately"
Duane averted his face u moment,
hesitated until the swelling left his
throat, and then said: ITS worth THAT
1 went through today to hear that"
II can imagine how you feel about
it. When | was in the war-but let's
get down to the business of this meet
ing"
He pulled his chair close to Duane's.
You've had word more than once in
the last two years that | wanted to
see your"
"Three times. l remember" replied
Duane.
why didn't you hunt me up?"
II supposed you imagined me one of
those g~unfighters who couldn't take a
dare and expected me to ride up to
your camp and be arrested"
THAT was natural. | suppose went
on MacNelly. You didn't know me,
otherwise you woul have come. I've
been a long time getting to you. But
the nature of my job. as far as you're
concerned, made me cautious. Duane,
you're aware of the hard name you bear
all over The s~outllwest?"
"Once in IL while I'm Jared into re-
alizing." replied Duane.
ms the hardest, barring Muir
rell and Cheseldine, on the Tex
as border. But there's this difference:
VII III illN 0sN Wstc NIIONH W
deserve his infamous name. Chesel-
dine in his day also. But I've found
hundreds of men in southwest Texas
who're your friends, who swear you
never committed a crime. The farther
south | get the clearer this becomes.
What ! want to know is the truth.
Have you ever done anything crimi-
nal? Tell me the truth, Duane. 1t
won't make any difference in my plan.
And when i say crime l rlean what l
would call crime. or n reasonable
Texan"
That way my hands are clean, re-
piled Duane.
You never held up a man, robbed
q store for grub. sole a horse when
you needed him bad-never anything
like that?"
Somehow 1 always kept out of that,
just when pressed the hardest"
Duane, I'm damn glad!" MacNelly
exclaimed. gripping Duane's hand.
Glad for your mothers sake! But, all
the same. in spite of this, you are a
Texas outlaw accountable to the state.
You're perfectly aware that under ex-
listing circumstances, if you fell into the
hands OF the law, you'd probably hang,
at least go to Jail for a long term"
That's what kept me on the dodge
all these years. replied Duane.
Certainly" MacNelly removed his
cigar. His eyes narrowed and glittered.
The muscles along his brown cheeks /,
set hard and tense. He leaned closer
to Duane, laid sinewy, pressing fingers
hpon Duane's knee
Listen to this." he whispered,
hcarsely. IF l place a pardon in your
handmade you a free, honest citizen
once more, clear your name of infamy, !
MAKE our mother, your sister proud
OF you-Wlll you swear yourself to a
service, any service / demand of you?"
Duane sat stock still. stunned.
Slowly, more persuasively, with show
of earnest agitation, Captain MacNelly
reiterated his startling query.
"My God.'t burst from Duane.
whats this? MacNelly, you can't be
In earnest"
Never more SO in my life. Nv a
deep game. I'm playing it square.
What do YOU say"
10, rose to his feet. Duane, as if
out aw then locked eyes that searched
each others souls. In MacNelly's
Duane read truth, strong, fiery purpose.
hope. even gladness. and a fugitive
assurance of victory.
IWice Duane endeavored to speak,
Ialled OF an save a hoarse, i%ncoherent
sound, Until, forcing back a flood of
speech. he found voice.
ANY service? Every service! Mac
Nelly, ! ,giye my word said Duane.
a !ight played over MacNelly's face.
warming out all the grim darkness He
cid out his hand. Duane met it with
his in a clasp that men unconsc,ousiv
give in moments Of stress.
When they unclasped and Duane
topped back to drop into a chair Mac
a bitten the other Into shreds-,na
lignting 1t as before. he turned to his
visitor. now calm and cool. He had
the Iooa of a man who had Justly won
somethins at considerable cost. His
next move was to take a long leatha,.
case from his pocket and extract from
1t several folded Eapers.
3aeres your pardon from the gov
ernor. he said. quietly. "You1l see
t;onna YOU w look it, over that it's condi.
have mere the condition will be mot
he snlcothed cut the paper. handed
Duane a pen. ran his forefinger aionp
q dotted line. ~
Diane hand was shaky. Years had
passed since he had held a nan ~ ~
was with difficulty that he achieves
his signature. Buckley Duane-hcw
strange the am looked!
.HlSnt mere ends the career OF Buck
Duane. outlaw and GIN fighter" said
taais +ea ~ anu nc seating himself, he
wrote several lines In several nlacas
upon the paper. Then with = smile no
handed it to Duane. :"
"That makes you q member of Com.
pany A. Texas rangers"
$50 that's sit!'s burst ont D,,ora
light breaking In upon his bewiid.ra
sment: "You want me for anger Ser.
Sure. That's it,. replied the can.
v E4n dryly. ssNoM to hear what tKat
"a took this Job. and. @. you NAV
M1nrdssFvsfdore q few thinrGs
telling you that poiii s.,skE
put me In here and that I'M
Y there's . bood deal Of fric-