The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-02-01

some difficulty In subduing her emo
ton.
"Why, it's on hind side before" de-
clared Ruth. II guess MFR. Ranger
hasn't dressed many babies"
"He did the best he could" said
Mrs. Laramie. "Lord only knows
what would have become of us"
"Then he isis something more
than a rangerT" queried Miss Long
streth, with little break in her
voice.
Hes more than can tell" replied
Mrs. Laramie. "He buried Jim. He
paid our debts. He fetched us here.
lie bought food for u.s. He cooked for
US and fed us. He washed and dress
ed the baby. He sat with me the
| first two nights after Jim's death,
when / 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 a 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 just can't believe
he's a 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, say,
Thank God for a ranger like him Z"
Duane did not want TO hear more,
so he walked into the room.
at was thoughtful Of you" Duane
said. "Womankind are needed here.
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 / had trying TO
puzzle out the way your clothes went
onl Well, Mrs. Laramie. didn't 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 while after Jim's death
thought I'd sink. We have nothing.
How could l 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.
l promise you"
Miss Longstreth, that's finel" ex-
claimed Duane. ats what rve-ex-
pected OF you"
1t must have been sweet praise TO
her. for the whiteness 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
/ 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 waitl" called Miss
|
white and wonderful. She stepped
out OF the door close to him.
81 have wronged you'll" she said, i'm
pulsively.
Miss Longstreth How can you
say that7" he returned.
II believed what my father anC
Floyd Lawson said about you. Now
! see-I wronged you"
"You make me very glad. But
Miss Longstreth, please don't speal
OF wronging me. / have been at
gunman, l am ranger-and mucf
said of me Is true. My duty is hare
on others-sometimes on those who
are innocent, alasl But God knows
that duty is hard, too, on me-"
Il did wrong you. If you entered
my homo again would think 1t al
honor. +"
"Please-please don't, Miss Long
! streth," interrupted Duane.
} "But, sir, my conscience flays me,
she went on. There was no othel
, sound like her voice. "will you TAXI
my hand? VIII you forgive met"
| She gave IL royalty, while the othel
was there pressing at her breast
5 Duane took the proffered hand. HI
: did not know what else to do.
/ Then It seemed to dawn upon hin
that there was more behind this white
, sweet, noble intensity of her thar
: just the making amends for a fanciet
I or real wrong. Duane thought thu
man did not live on earth who coult
!. have resisted her then.
: II honor you for your goodness 4
this unfortunate woman" she said
3 and now her speech came swiftly
"When she was all alone and help
{ less you were her friend. 1t was tn
I. deed Of a man. But Mrs. Laramie
4 isn't the only unfortunate woman Il
the world. i, too, am unfortunate
An how I NAV e0nu naad friand