Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-01-19
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.

S'aN -
Duane averted his face q moment,
hesitated till the swelling left his
throat, and then said, "It's worth what
! went through to-day to hear that"
II can imagine how you feel about
it. When I was in thenwar-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 I wanted to
see you, why didn't you hunt me up?"
II supposed you imagined me n of
those gun-fighters who couldn't take a
dare and expected me to ride up to
your camp and be arrested"
"That was natural, I suppose" went
on MacNelly. "You didn't know me,
otherwise you would have come. I've
been a long time getting to you. But
h e'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 SOuthwest?"
"Once in a while Tn Jared into
realizing" replied Duane.
"It's the hardest, barring Murrell
and Cheseldine, on the Texas border.
But there's this difference. Murrell
in his day was known to deserve his
Infamous name, Cheseldine in his day
also. But I've found hundreds of men
In southwest Texas who're your
friends, who swear you never COM
mitted a crime. The farther south l
get the clearer this becomes. What I
want to know is the truth. Have you
EVER done anything criminal? Tell me
the truth, Duane. 1t won't make any
difference in my plan. And when l
say crime l mean what l would call
crime, OF any reasonable Texan"
That way my hands are Clean" re-
piled Duane.
You never held up a man, robbed
a store for grub, stole a horse when
you needed him bad-never anything
like that?"
Somehow I always kept out of that,
just when pressed the hardest"
duane, I'm glad!" MacNelly ex-
claimed, 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-
i6ting circumstances, if you fell into
the hands of the Jaw, you'd probably
hang. ct least go to Jail for a long
term
That's what kept me on the dodge
all these years." replied Duane.
Certainly" MacNelly's eyes mar
rowed and glittered. The muscles
"long his brown cheeks set hard and
tense. He leaned close to Duane,
laid sinewy, pressing fingers upon
Duane's knee.
Listen to this" he whispered.
hoarsely. "If I place a pardon in your
handmade you a free, honest citizen
nee more, clear your name of infamy,
make your mother, your Sister proud
of you-will you swear yourself to a
service, any service 1 demand of your
Duane sat stock still, stunned.
Slowly, more persuasively, with
show Of earnest agitation, Captain
MacNelly reiterated his startling
query.
"My Cod" burst from Duane.
whats this? MacNelly, you can't be
In earnest!"
Never more so in my life. I've o
deep game. I'm playing it square
What do you say?"
He rose to his feet. Duane, as II
impelled, rose with him. Ranger and
outlaw her locked eyes that searched
each others souls. In MacNelly's
Duane read truth, strong, fiery pur
pose, hope, even gladness, and q fugi
tive mounting assurance of victory.
Twice Duane ~endeavored to speak
failed of all save a hoarse, incoherent
sound, until, forcing back q flood Of
speech, he found a voice.
ANY service? Every service! Mac
Nelly, l give my word" said Duane
A light played over MacNelly's face
warming out all the grim darkness
He held out his hand. Duane met i
with his in a clasp that men uncon
sciously give in moments of stress.
When they unclasped and DUANE
stepped back to drop into a chat
MacNelly fumbled for a cigar and
lighting it, turned TO his visitor
now calm and cool. He had the lool
of a man who had justly won some
thing at considerable cost. His mex
move was to take a long leather cas-,
from his pocket and extract from /
several folded papers.
Here's your pardon from the Cover
nor" he said. quietly. you'll see
when you look 1t over, that it's condi
tionaL When you sign this paper
have mere the condition will be met.