Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-11

a fight. You might be hurt. Then
the fact of my being here"
Duane did not finish what he meant.
but instead made a step toward the
door. White of face and dark of eve.
she took hold Of him to detafn him.
She was as strong and supple as a
! panther. But she need rot have been
! either resolute or strong. for the clasp
of her hand was enough to make
Duane weak.
Up yet, RayT came Longstreth's
/ clear voice, too strained, too eager to
+ be natural
"No. I'm In bed reading. Good
night" instantly replied Miss Long
/ streth, so calmly and naturally that
! Duane marveled at the difference be-
! tween man and woman. Then she
motioned for Duane to hide in the
/ closet. He slipped in, but the door
would not close altogether.
"Are you alone?" went on Long
streth's penetrating voice.
YES" she replied. Ruth went to
! bed"
| The door swung inward with a swift
| scrape and jar. Longstreth half en-
tered, haggard, faming-eyed. Behind
| him Duane saw Lawson, and indis-
| tinctly another man.
Longstreth barred Lawson from en-
| tering, which action showed control as
| well as distrust. He wanted to see
into the room. When he had glanced
around he went out and closed the
door.
Then what seemed a long interval
ensued. The house grew silent once
! more. Duane could not see Miss
Longstreth, but he heard her quick
breathing.
Presently he pushed open the closet
door and stepped forth. Miss Long
streth had her head lowered upon her
| arms and appeared to be in distress.
At his touch she raised. quivering
face.
ST think can go now-safely," he
whispered.
eco then, if you must, but you may
stay till you're SAFE" she replied.
IL couldn't thank you enough.
It's been hard on me-this finding
out-and you his daughter I feel
strange. I don't understand myself
well. But want you to know-if l
were not an outlaw-a ranger-rd lay
my life at your feet"
ooh! You have seen $3.50 little
of me-" she faltered.
Gall the same it's true. And that
makes me feel more the trouble my
coming caused you"
''You will not fight my father?'
'Not if I can help it. I'm trying
to get out of the way"
''But you spied upon him."
81 am a ranger, Miss Longstreth.''
"And oh am rustler's daughter"
she cried. ''Thats so much more ter
rible than I'd suspected. It was
tricky cattle deals l imagined he was
engaged in. But only tonight I had
strong suspicious aroused"
'HOw? Tell me-"
81 overheard Floyd say that men
were coming tonight to arrange
meeting for my father at a rendezvous
near Ord. Father did not want to go.
Floyd tainted him with a name"
'What name?" queried Duane.
''It was Cheseldine"
"Cheseldine My Godl Miss Long
streth, why did you tell me that?"
what difference does that make?"
'YOur father and CheseIdine are one
and the same" whispered Duane,
hoarseIy.
81 gathered so much myself" she re-
piled, miserably. 'FBut Longstreth is
fathers real name"
Duane felt so stunned that he could
not speak at once. 1t was the girls
part in this tragedy that weakened
him. The instant she betrayed the
secret Duane realized perfectly that
he loved her. The emotion was like
a great flood.
Miss Longstreth, all this seems so
unbelievable" he whispered. "Chesel-
dine is a rustler chief I've come out
here to get. He's only a name. Your
father is the real man. I've sworn
to get him. I'm bound by more than
law or Osths. l can't break what
binds me. And I must disgrace YOU
wreck your life! Why, Miss Long
streth, 1 believe II love you. It's
all come in a rush. I'd die for you
if I could. How fatal-terrible-
isl How things work out!"
She slipped to her knees, with her
hands on his.
you won't kill him?" she implored.
eff you care for me-you won't kill
him.
mo. That I promise you"
With a low moan she dropped her
head upon the bed.
Duane opened the door and stealth
fly stole out through the corridor to
the court. But long after he had
tramped out into the open there was
a lump in his throat and an ache in
his breast.
CHAPTER XXI.
Duane had decided to go to Ord
and try to find the rendezvous where
LOngstreth was to meet his men.