Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-11

Tell him this game grows hot. To-
gether you approach four or five men
you know we'll and can absolutely
trust. I 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 it. After dark
he stole up to LOngstreth'S ranch.
The evening was warm; the doors
were open; and in the twilight the
Longstreth's big sitting-roOm, at the
far end of the house, When a buck
board drove up and Longstreth and
Lawson aIghted, Duane was well
hidden in the bushes, SO well screened
that he could get but a fleeing
glimpse Of LOngstreth as he went in.
For all Duane could see, he appeared
to be a calm and quiet man, intense
beneath the surface, with an air Of
dignity under 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 be
tween step and wall, and there iu
the shadow Duane hid. So Duane
waited there in the darkness with
patience born Of many hours of hid
ing.
Presently a lamp was lit; and
Duane heard the swish of skirts.
Something's happened surely,
Ruth" he heard Miss Longstreth say,
anxiOusly. 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"
"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 it teasing. Floyd wants
to spoon" declared Ruth, emphati-
cally. He'd run after any woman"
"a fine compliment for me, Cousin
Ruth" laughed Ray.
Il don't care" replied Ruth, stub
bornIy. IT'S SO. He's mushy. And
when he's been drinking and tries to
kiss me-I hate himl"
There were steps on the hall floor.
Hello, girls ~ sounded out Law
sons voice, minus its usual gayety.
Floyd, what's the matter?" asked
Ray, presently. 81 never saw papa as
he is tonight, nor you $3.50 worried.
Tell me, what has happened?"
1--WE had to submit to a damnable
outrage" replied Lawson, passionate
ly, as if the sound of his voice aug
mented his feeling. Listen, girls; I'll
tell you about it, He coughed, clear
ed his throat in a way that betrayed
he had been drinking
Duane sank deeper into the shadow
Of his covert, and, stiffening his
muscles for a protracted spell OF
rightly, prepared to listen with all
acuteness and intensity. Just one
word from this Lawson, inadvertently
uttered in moment of passion, might
be the word Duane needed for his
clue.
1T happened at the town hail." be-
gan Lawson, rapidly. "Your father
and Judge Owens and I were there
in consultation 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 arrested Snecker for alleged
assault on a restaurant-keeper named
Laramie. Snecker being obviously in
nocent, he was discharged. Then this
ranger began shouting insults. Law
was farce in Fairdale. The court
was farce. There was no law. Your
father was afraid of the rustlers,
highwaymen, murderers. He was
afraid or-he just let them alone. He
used his Office to cheat ranehers and