Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-01-24
he Lone
Star Ranger.
a Romance Of the Border
By ZANE GREY
AssAssse
uQM or WESTERN 4LA1S
s16oi 6e I'M PUZZLE SAGE" no

0t8y.at-nOme C1tlzenS u array tncAu ~
time against the other element, then
Fairdale showed its wolf teeth.
Several times Duane was shot at in
the dark and once slightly injured.
Rumor had 1t that Poggin, the gun
man, was coming to meet him. But
the lawless element did not rise up
in a mass to STAY Duane on sight.
It was not so much that the enemies
OF the law awaited his next move,
but Just slowness peculiar to the
frontier. There was rude kind OF
good humor even in their open
hostility.
/ Besides, one ranger or a company
OF rangers could not have held the
undivided attention Of these men from
their games and drinks and quarrels
except by. some decided move. Elk
element, greed, appetite were rife IN
them. Duane marked, however,
striking exception to the usual run
OF strangers he had been in the habit
Of seeing. Snecker had gone or was
under cover. Again Duane caught a
vague rumor of the coming of Poggin,
vet he never seemed to arrive. More
over the goings-on among the
habitues Of the resorts and cowboys
who came in to drink and gamble
were unusually mild in comparison
\ with former conduct. This lull. how
ever, did not deceive Duane. 1t could
not last. The wonder was that 1t
had lasted so long.
Duane went often to see Mrs. Lara
mic and her children. One afternoon
while he was there he saw Miss long
! streth and Ruth ride up to the door.
They carried basket. Evidently
they had heard of Mrs. Laramie's
trouble. Duane felt strangely glad.
but he went into an adjoining room
rather than meet them.
..Nfrs. Laramie. I've come to see
YOU said Miss Longstreth, cheer
fully.
The little room was not very light,
there being only one window and the
doors, but Duane could see plainly
enough. Mrs. Laramie lay, hollow
checked and haggard. on bed. Once
she had evidently been woman Of
some loneliness. The ravages Of
trouble and grief were there to read
In her worn face; 1t had not, however.
any Of the hard and bitter lines that
had characterized her husbands.
Duane wondered. considering that
Longstreth had ruined Laramie, how
Mrs. Laramie was going to regard the
daughter Of an enemy.
$50 you're Granger Longstreth's
girl?" queried the woman. with her
bright, black eyes fixed on her visitor.
EYES," replied Miss Longstreth.
simply. ''This is my cousin. Ruth
Herbert. We've come to nurse you.
take care of the children, help you In
any way you'll let US"
There was a long silence.
"Well, you look a little like Long
streth,"' finally said Mrs. Laramie,
'but you're not at all like him. You
must take after your mother. Miss
!, Longstreth, l don't know if ! can-if
! ought to accept anything from you.
j Your father ruined my husband"
Eyes, l know" replied the girl sad
". that's all the more reason you
should let me help you. Pray don't
refuse. It will-mean much to me-
II this poor, stricken woman had
any resentment it speedily melted IN
the warmth and sweetness Of Miss
Longstreth's mapner, and no sooner
had she begun to talk to the children
than both they and the mother were
won. The opening Of that big basket
was an event. Poor, starved little
I beggars! The havoc was wrought In
that household. The needs now were
cheerfulness, kindness, help. action
and these the girls furnished with a
spirit that did Duane good.
"Mrs. Laramie, who dressed this
baby7' presently asked Miss Long
streth. Duane peeped In to see a
dilapidated youngster on her knee.
That sight, IL any other was needed,
completed the full and splendid es-
innate of Ray LOngstreth and wrought
strangely upon his heart,
'sThe ranger" replied Mrs. Laramie.
'sThe rangerv exclaimed Miss Long
streth.
Eyes, he's taken care OF US all since
since Mrs. Laramie choked.
"Oh! So you've had no help but
his" replied Miss Longstreth, hastily.
mo women. Too bad. TIL send
someone, Mrs. Laramie, and I'll come
myself"
ut III be good of you," went on
the older woman. You see, Jim had
few friends-that is, right in town.
And they've been afraid to help us
afraid they'd get what poor Jim"
That's awful" burst out Miss
Longstreth, passionately. "A brave
lot Of friends! Mrs. Laramie. don't
you worry any more. Wen take care
Of you. Here, Ruth help me. What
ever is the matter with baby's dress?"
Manifestly Miss Longstreth had
some difficulty in subduing her emo
ton.
"Why. it's on hind side before de-
clared Ruth. II guess Mr.. Ranger
hasn't dressed many babies"
"He did the best he could" said
Mrs. Laramie. 'sLord only knows
what would have become Of us!"
'Then he isis something more
than ranger?" queried Miss Long
streth, with little break in her
voice.