Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-05
Copyright By Harper and Brothsp
CHAPTER X.

great difficulty to mount his horse.
During daylight. by short relays, he
and Jennie rode back to the main
trail, where they hid again till he had
rested Then in the dark they rode
out of the canyons and gullies Of the
Rim Rock, and early in the morning
halted at the first water to camp.
From that point they Travelled after
nightfall and went into hiding during
the day. Once across the Nueces
River, Duane was assured Of safety
for her and great danger for himself
At last, far ahead over a barren mes.
quite-dotted stretch of dusty ground,
he Sespied a patch Of green and a little
flat, red ranch-house. He headed his
horse for 1t and turned face he tried
to make cheerful for Jennie's sake.
She seemed both happy and sorry.
When near at hand he saw that the
rancher was a thrifty farmer. And
thrift spoke for honesty. There were
fields Of alfalfa. fruit-trees. corrals,
windmill pumps, irrigation.ditches, all
surrounding neat little adobe house.
Some children were playing in the
yard. The way they ran at the sight
of Duane limited to both the loneliness
and the fear of their isolated lives.
Duane saw woman come to the door,
then a man. The latter looked keenly,
then stepped outside. He was sandy
haired, freckled Texan.
.'Howdy, stranger" he called, as
Duane halted. SECT down, you an
your woman. Say, now, air you sick
or shot or what? Let me"
Duane, Keeling in his saddle, bent
searching eyes upon the rancher. He
thought he saw good will, kindness,
honesty. He risked all on that one
sharp glance. Then he almost plunged
from the saddle.
The rancher caught him, helped him
to bench.
Martha, come out here:" he called.
This mans sick. No; he's shot. or I
don't know blood-stains."
Jennie had slipped off her horse and
to Duane's side. Duane appeared
about to faint
''Air you his wife?" asked the
rancher.
No. I'm only girl he saved from
outlaws. Oh, he's SO. pale! Duane,
Duane!"
.'E,lck Duane!" exclaimed the ranch
or, ritedly. '"The man who killed
I:i,.l. an Alloway? Say, owe him
Il good turn. an I'll pay it, young
woman" -
The rancket's wife came out, ahd
with a manner at once kind and prac-
teal essayed to make Duane drink
from a flask. He was not so far gone
that he could not recognize it's. con-
tents, which he refused, and weakly
asked for water. When that was given
him he found his voice.
"Yes. I'm Duane. I've only over
done myself-just all in. The wounds
I got at BANDS are healing. Will you
take this girl in-hide her awhile till
the excitement's over among the out
laws?'
II shore WILL" replied the Texan.
young man you amt in any shape
to travel. I'll take you in along with
the girl, an hide both of you till you
get WELL"
Duane's last fading sensations Of
that hard day were the strange feel
Of q bed, relief at the removal Of his
heavy boots, and of Jennie's soft, cool
hands on his hot face.
sEla =
He lay i'll for three weeks before he
began to mend, and it was another
week then. before he could walk out
a little in the dusk of the evenings.
After that his strength returned rapid
~. And it was only at the end of this
longSiege that he recovered his spirits.
During most of his illness he had been
silent, moody. o..
Jennie, I'll be riding off soon," he
said, one evening. II can't impose on
this good man Andrews much longer.
I'll never forget his kindness. Els
wife, too-she's been SO good to us.
Yes, Jennie, you and I will have to
say good-by very soon."
Don't hurry away" she replied.
Lately Jennie had appeared strange
, to him. She had changed from the
girl he used to see at Mrs. BANDS
house. He took her reluctance to say
good.by as another indication of her
regret that he must go back to the
brakes. Yet somehow it made him
observe her more closely.
'It's likely that we won't see each
other again." he said. "That's strange
to think of. We've been through some
hard days, and seem to have known
youga long time"
Jennie appeared shy, almost sad, so
Duane change the subject to some
thing less personal.
=
Andrews returned one evening from
several days trip to Huntsville.
'Duane, everybody's talkip' about
how you cleaned up the Bland outfit"
he said, important and all full of news.
\ sits some exaggerated, accordin' to
what you told me; but you've shore
made friends on this side of the
Nueces. I reckon there ain't town
ssha.s yeu wouldn't find people to
welcome you"
ibid you hear Of any outlaws hunt
ing me?' asked Duane.
s.Nobody from BANDS outfit Is hunt
I'M you, thet's Shore" replied Andrews.
"Fisher said there never was a boss
stradiied TO go OH your trail. Nobody
had any use for Bland. Anyhow, his