The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-02-15

I've needed to meet"
"If Iawson's the man you think he
is he'll begin tibet secret underground
Why, Lawson won't sleep OF
nights now. He an Longstreth have
always been after me"
Laramie, what are your eyes forr'
dcmnnded Duane. watch out. And
now here. See your friend Morton.
Tell him this game grows hot To-
gether you approach four or five men
YOU know well and can absolutely
trust. may need your help
Then Duane went from place ,
plnce. corner TO corner, bar to bar.
watching, listening. recording. Inc
excitement had preceded him. ana
speculation was rife. he thought
best to keep out Of It After dark
he stole up to Longstreth's ranch.
The evening vas warm; the doors
were open; and In the twilight the
only lamps that had been lit were In
Longstreth's big si%tting-room, at the
fnr end Of the house. When a buck
board drove up and Longstreth and
Lawson alighted, Duane was well
hidden in the bushes, so well screened
that he could get but a feetins
glimpse Of Longstreth as he went In
For all Duane could see. he appeared
TO be n calm and quiet man, Intense
beneath the surface, with an air OF
dignity under insult. Dunne'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 u window, was IN Offset be-
tween step and wall, and there In
the shadow Duane hid. SO Duane
waited there IN the darkness with
patience born Of many hours OF hid.
Ing.
Presently a lamp vas lit; and
Duane heard the swish Of skirts.
Something's happened surely,
Ruth" he heard Miss Longstreth say.
%nnxiously. Papa just met me In
the hall and didn't speak. He seemed
pale, worried"
"Cousin Floyd looked like
thunder-cloud," said Ruth. "For once
he didn't try to kiss me. Something's
happened"
"Oh, dear! Ruth, what can we dof
These are wild men. Floyd makes life
miserable for me-. And he leases you
unmer-"
~ don't call It teasing. Floyd wants
to spoon" declared Ruth. emphat-
cally. He'd run after any woman"
"a fine compliment for me, Cousin
Ruth" laughed Ray.
II don't care" replied Ruth, stub
bornly. ITS so. He's mushy. And
when he's been drinking and tries to
kiss mel hate himI"
There were steps on the hall floor.
"Hello, girls!" sounded out Law.
sons voice, minus Its usual gayety.
"Floyd, what's the matter7" asked
Ray, presently. IL never saw papa an
he Is tonight, nor you $3.50 worried
Tell me, what has happened?"
"We had to submit to a damnable
outrage" replied Lawson. passionate
ly. as IL the sound Of his voice aus.
mented his feeling. Listen. girls; III
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, stiffeuing his
muscles FOR u protracted spell OF
rigidity, prepared to listen with all
acuteness and intensity. Just n
word from this Lawson, inadvertently
uttered In n moment of passion, might
be the word Duane needed for his
clue.
ut happened at the town hail." be.
gan Lawson, rapidly. "Your father
and Judge Owens and ! 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 observation-disclosures named
Laramie. Snecker being obviously in.
nocent. he was discharged. Then this
ranger began shouting insults. Law
was n farce In Fairdale. The court
was n farce. There was no law. Your
father wa. afraid OF the ~rustlers.
h~ighwaymen, murderers. He was
afraid or-ho just let them alone. He
used his Office TO cheat ranchers and
cattlcmen in lawsuits. All this the
ranger yelled for everyone TO hear.
A damna''" outrage. Your father,
Ray, ~insulted in his own court by u
rowdy %ranger!"
"Oh" cried Ray Longstreth, in
mingled distress and anger.
"The rnr scr service wants to rule
western Texas" went on Lawson.
THESE rangers are all n low set.
This Is one OF the worst Of the lot.
He's 10 be feared. He would kill. II
your father had made the least move
he would have shot him. He's a
cold.nerved deyil-the born gunman.
My God, any instant ! expected to
see your father fall dead at my feet I"
"Oh, Floyd! The ~unspeakable
rufian!" cried Ray Longstreth. pas
sionately.