The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-02-22

ever IL tne matter with BABY = dress T.
Manifcstly Miss Longstreth had
some difficulty In subduing her emo.
ton.
"why, it's on hind side before" de-
clared Ruth. 81 guess Mr.. Ranger
hasn't dressed many babies"
HE did the best he could" said
Mrs. Laramie. 'L.ord only knows
what would have become Of us I"
"Then he isis something more
than a rnngerf" querled Miss Long
streth, with q little break In her
voice.
Hes more than I can tell" replied
Mrs. Laramie. HE buried Jim. He
paid u debts. He fetched us here.
lie bought food for us. He cooked for
us and fed us. He washed aud dress
ed the baby. He sat with me the
first two nights after Jim's death,
when I thought I'd die myself. He's
so kind, so gentle, so patient. He has
kept me up just by being near. Some-
times I'd wake from n doze, an, see
ing him there, I'd know how false
were all these tales Jim heard about
him and believed at first. Why, he
plays with the children just-Just
like any good man might. When he
has the baby up l just can't believe
he's n bloody gunman, as they say.
He's good, but he isn't happy. He
has such sad eyes. He looks far of
sometimes when the children climb
round him. They love him. His life
Is sad. Nobody need tell me-he sees
the good in things. Once he said some
body had to be a ranger. Well, l say.
Thank God for a ranger like him ="
Duane did not want to hear more,
so he walked into the room.
at was thoughtful of you" Duane
said. "Womankind are needed here.
l could do so little. Mrs. Laramie,
you look better already. I'm glad.
And here's baby all clean and white.
Baby, what a time l had trying to
puzzle out the way your clothes went
on! Well, Mrs. Laramie, didn't I tell
you-friends would come? So will
the brighter SIDE"
"Yes, I've more faith than / had"
replied Mrs. Laramie. Granger
Longstreth's daughter has come to me.
There for n while after Jlm's death
l thought I'd sink. We have nothing.
How could ! ever take care of my
little ones? But I'm gaining courage
to"
Mrs. Laramie, do not distress your
self any more" said Miss Longstreth.
II shall see you are well cared for.
I promise you"
Miss Longstreth, that's fine" ex-
claimed Duane. IT'S what Tve-ex-
pected OF you"
1t must have been sweet praise to
her, for the Wilderness of her face
burned out In a beautiful blush.
And it's good OF you, too, Miss
Herbert, to come" added Duane.
"Let me thank you both. I'm glad
l have you girls as allies In part OF
my lonely task here. More than glad
for the sake Of this good woman and
the little ones. But both OF you be
careful about coming here alone.
There's risk. And now I'll be going.
Good-by, Mrs. Laramie. I'll drop In
again tonight. Good-by."
"Mr. Ranger, waltz" called Miss
Longstreth as he went out. She was
white and wonderful. She stepped
out Of the door close to h'-7
II have wronged you !" sn, said, i'm
pulslvely.
Miss Longstreth How can you
say that?" he returned.
II believed what my father and
Floyd Lawson said about you. Now
l see--I wronged you."
"fou make me very glad. But.
Miss Longstreth, please don't speak
of w%ronging me. l have been IA
gunman, | am n ranger-and much
said of me Is true. My duty Is hard
on others-sometlmes on those who
are innocent, alas! But God knows
that duty Is hard, too, on me-"
II did wrong you. II you entered
my home agnia ! would think II an
honor. l.
PLEASE please don't, Miss Long
streth," interrupted Duane.
but, sir, my conscience fiays me-"
she went on. There was no other
sound like her voice. "Will you take
my hand? VIII you forgive met"
She gave 1t royalty, while the other
was there pressing ut her breast.
Duane took the proffered hand. He
did not know what else to do.
Then II seemed TO dawn upon him
that there was more behind this white,
sweet, noble intensity OF her than
just the making amends for u fancied
or real wrong. Duane thought the
man did not live on earth who could
have resisted her then.
II honor you for your goodness to
this unfortunate woman" she said,
and now her speech came swiftly.
"When she was all alone and help
less you were her friend. 1t was the
deed of a a But Mrs. Laramie
isn't the only unfortunate woman In
the world. ], too, am unfortunate.
All, how I may soon need a friend
VIII you be my friend7 I'm SO alone,
I'm terribly worried. fear-I fear