The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-01-11
sliding table or chair. and then the

flung, and she was trying to get to
her feet. BANDS back was turned.
He had opened the door into Jennle's
oom md had one foot across the
threshold. Duane caught the girls
low, ~shudderlng cry. Then he called
out loud and clear.
With cat-like swlftness Bland Wheel
ed, then froZe on the threshold. His
sight, quick as his action. caught
Duane's menacing, unmlstakable posi-
ton.
BANDS big frame filed the door.
He was In a bad place TO reach for
his gun. But he would not have time
for a step. Duane read in his Eyes the
desperate calculation Of chances. For
a fleetlng instant Bland shifted his
glance to his wife. Then his whole
body seemed to vibrate with the swing
Of his arm.
Duane shot him. lie fell forward,
his gun exploding rs II hit into the
floor. and dropped loose from stretch
Ing fingers. Duane stood over him,
stopped to turn him on his back.
Bland looked up with clouded gaze,
then gasped his last.
"Duane, you've killed him |" cried
Kate Bland, huskily. Il knew you'd
have to
She staggered against the wall. her
eyes dilatlng, her strong hands clench-
Ing, her face slowly whitening. She
appeared shocked. half stunned, but
showed no grief.
"Jennie! |" called Duane, sharply.
"Come out. Hurry"
She came out with uneven steps,
seeing only him, and she stumbled owe
BANDS body. Duane caught her arm,
swung her behind him. He feared the
woman when she realized how she had
been duped. His action was protec-
tive. and his movement toward the
door equally as significant.
"Duane |" cried Mrs. Bland.
1t vas no time to talk. Duane edged
on, keeping Jennie behind him. At
that moment there was n pounding Of
iron-shod hoofs out In the lane. Kate
Bland bounded to the door. When she
turned back her amazement was
changing to realization.
"where re you taking Jenr she
1 ed, her voice like a mans.
Get out Of my way" replied Duane.
His look perhaps. without speech. was
enough for her. In an instant she was
transformed into a fury.
you houndl All the time you were
fooling me! You made love to me
You'll never leave here alive. Give me
that grill Let me-get at herl She'll
never win any more men In this camp"
Help! help! help" she shrieked, In
a voice that must have penetrated to
the remotest cabin In the valley.
Suddenly she snatched n rife OF the
wall and backed away. her strong
hands fumbling at the lever. And she
jerked 1t down, throwing a shell into
the chamber and cooking the weapon,
Duane leaped upon her. He struck up
the rifle as 1t went of. the powder
burning his face.
"Jennle. run outl Get on a horse II
he said.
Jennie flashed out or the door.
With an iron grasp Duane held ia
the r%lfie-barrel. He had grnsped II
with his left hand. and he gave such
a pull that he swung the crazed wo.
man OF the floor. But he could not
loose her grip. She was rs strong as
he.
"Kate! Let goi"
He tried to intimidate her. She did
not see his gun thrust In her face, OF
reason had given way to such m
extent to passion that she did not care
She cursed. Her husband had used
the same curses. and from her lips
they seemed strange. unsexed, more
deadly. Like a tigress she fought him
her face no longer resembled a wo'
mans.
He heard a cry from outside-a
mans cry. hoarse and alarming.
It made him think of loss Of time
This demon Of q woman might YET
block his plan.
LET goI" he whispered. and felt
his lips stiff. In the grimness Of that
instant he relaxed his hold on the
ri~fie-barrel.
With sudden. redoubied. Irresistible
strength h wrenched the rifle dowr
and discharged 1t. Duane felt a blow
"a shock-a burning agony tearing
through his breast Then In a frenzy
he jerked SC powerfully upon the rifle
that he threw the woman against the
wall. She fell and seemed stunned.
Duane leaped back. whirled, few
out OF the door on the porch. The
sharp cracking of a gun halted him
He saw Jennie holding to the birdie
Of his bay horse. Euchre was astr!dt
the other. and he had a Colt leveled
and he was firing down the lane. Their
came a single shot, heavier, ant
Euchre's ceased. lie fell from thu
horse.
A swift glance back showed to Duan,
a man coming down the lane. Ches:
I'll