The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-01-11
CHAPTER xiv-continued.

Duane averted his face a moment,
hesitated till the swelling left his
throat, and then said, Its worth what
went through to-day to hear that"
81 can imagine how you feel about
It. When l was In the war-but let's
get down to the business of this meet
ing"
He pulled his chair close to Duane's.
you've had word more than once
In the last two years that wanted to
see you, why didn't you hunt me upf"
81 supposed you imagined me one of
those gun-fghters who couldn't take a
dare and expected me to ride up to
your camp and be arrested"
THAT was natural, l suppose" went
on MacNelly. "You didn't know me,
otherwise you would have come. I've
been a long time getting to you. But
the nature of my job, as 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.
"Its the hardest, barring Murrell
and Cheseldine, on the Texas border.
But there's this difference. Murrell
in his day was known 20 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
mitted q crime. The farther south l
get the clearer this becomes. What l
want to know is the truth. Have you
ever done anything criminal? Tell me
the truth, Duane. 1t won't make any
difference In my plan. And when l
say crime l mean what / would call
crime, or any reasonable Texan"
That way my hands are clean," re-
Piled Duane.
You never held up n man, robbed
store for grub, stole a horse when
you needed him bad-never anything
like that?"
Somehow l always kept out of that,
just when pressed the hardest"
duane, I'm glndw MacNelly ex-
claimed, gripping Duane's hand. "Glad
for your mothers sake! But, all the
same, in spite Of this, you are Texas
outlaw accountable to the state.
You're perfectly aware that under ex-
isting 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" MacNellys eyes mar
rowed and glittered. The muscles
"long his brown cheeks set hard and
tense. He leaned close to Duane
laid sinewy, pressing fingers upon
Duane's knee.
-Listen to this" he whispered
hoarsely. "If place pardon in your
handmade you free. honest citizen
once more, clear your name of infamy
make your mother, your sister proud
of you-will you swear yourself to d
service, any service demand of your
Duane sas stock still, stunned.
Slowly, more persuaslvely, with
show of earnest agitation, Captain
MacNelly reiterated his startling
query.
my Godl" burst from Duane
whats thisl MacNelly, you can't b'
in earnestl"
"Never more so In my life. I've q
deep game. I'm playing 1t square
What do you say?"
He rose to his feet. Duane, as Il
impelled, rose with him. Ranger anC
outlaw then locked eyes that searched
each others souls. In MacNelly',
Duane read truth, strong, fiery pur
pose, hope, even gladness, and a. fugi
tive mounting assurance Of victory.
Twice Dugne endeavored to speak
failed of all save hoarse, incoheren
sound, until, forcing back a flood o.
speech, he found voice.
ANY servicel Every servicel Mac
Nelly, l give my word" said Duane
A light played over MacNellys face
warming out all the grim darkness
He held out his hand. Duane met 4
with his in clasp that men uncon
sciously give In moments of stress.
When they unclasped and Duan,
stepped back TO drop into a chail
MacNelly fumbled for a cigar and
lighting 1t, turned TO his visitor
now calm and cool. He had the lool
Of a man who had justly won some
thing at considerable cost. His mex
move was to take long leother cas-
from his pocket and extract from
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
ticnal. Wh~n you sign this paper