The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-02-01
CHAPTER xlv-Contlnued.

Duane averted his face a moment,
hesitated till the swelling left his
throat. and then said. ats worth what
went through to-day to hear that"
81 can imagine how you feel about
It. When ] was in the war-but let's
get down to the business Of this meet
ting"
He pulled his chair close to Duane's.
You've had word more than orce
In the last two years that I wanted TO
e you. why didn't you hunt me upf'
II supposed you imagined me one of
those g~un.hghters 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 ONE I've
been a long time getting to you. But
the nature of my job, rs 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 I'm Jared into
realizing" replied Duane.
~It's the hardest, barring Murrell
and Cheseldlne, or 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
United a crime. The farther south l
get the clearer this becomes. What !
want to know Is the truth. Have you
ever n anything crimlnal7 Tell me
the truth, Duane. 1t won't make any
difference in my plan. And when l
say crime I mean what l would coll
crime, or any reasonable Texan"
That way my hands are Clean" re-
piled Duane.
you never held up a man, robbed
Z store for grub, stole a horse when
you needed him bad-never anything
like THAR"
Somehow I always kept out Of that,
lust 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-
citing circumstances, II you fell into
the hands OF the law, 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
"iong his brown cheeks set hard and
tense. He leaned close to Duane,
laid sinewy, pressing fingers upon
Duane's knee.
Listen to this" lie whispered.
hoarsely. "If ! place a pardon In your
handmade you a free, honest citizen
once more, clear your name OF infamy,
make your mother, your sister proud
Of you-will you swear yourself to a
service, any service I demand Of your"
Duane sat stock still. stunned.
Slowly. more persuasively, with
show of earnest agitation, Captain
MacNelly reiterated his startling
query.
my God" burst from Duane.
"what's this? MacNelly, you can't be
In enrnestv -
Never more SO In my life. I've a
deep game. Tn playing It square.
What do you say?"
He rose TO his feet. ruane, as II
lmpelled, rose with him. Ranger and
outlaw then locked eyes that searched
each others souls. In MacNelly's
Tina m rad tHtNth OtrAn0 AaRp muir.
pose. hope. even gladness, and a fugi-
dive mounting assurance Of victory.
Twice Duane endeavored TO speak.
failed Of all w n hoarse. incoherent
sound, until. forcing back a flood Of
speech. he found a voice.
ANY servicef Every servicel Mac
Nelly, I give my word" said Duane.
A light played over MacNeily's face.
warming out all the grim darkness.
he held out his hand. Duane met II
with his In q clasp that men uncon'
sciously give In moments Of stress.
When they unclasped and Duane
stepped back to drop into a chair
MacNeliy fumbled for a cigar and
lighting II, turned to his visitor
now calm and cool. He had the look
Of a man who had justly won some
thing at considerable cost. His next
move vas to take a long leather case
from his pocket and extract from II
several folded papers.
Here's your pardon from the Cover
nor" he said. quietly. you'll see
when you look II over. that it's condi'
tioaal- When you sign this paper
have here the condition viii be met
He moothsr sut the pApss. hAudes