Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-23
I he Lone
Star Ranger
A Romance of the Border
By ZANE GREY
Author Of
THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS
riders OF THE PURPLE SAGE" ETC.
coeyrieha b Hasper ana BrssAss,

Then Duane went from place !.
place, corner to corner, bar to bar,
watching, listening, recording. The
excitement had preceded him, and
speculation was rife. He thought
best to keep out of It. After dark
he stole up to Longstreth's ranch.
The evening was warm; the doors
were open; and in the twilight the
only lamps that had been lit were in
Longstreth's big sitting-room, at the
far end Of the house. When buck
board drove up and Longstreth and
Lawson alkghted, Duane was well
hidden In the bushes, so well screened
that he could get but a fieeting
glimpse Of Longstreth as he went in.
For all Duane could see, he appeared
to be a calm and quiet man, intense
beneath the surface, with an air Of
dignity under insult. Duane's chance
TO observe Lawson was lost. They
went into the house without speaking
and closed the door.
At the other end Of the porch. close
under a window, was an Offset be-
tween step and wall, and there in
the shadow Duane hid. So Duane
waited there in the darkness with
patience born Of many hours Of hid.
ing.
Presently a lamp was lit; and
Duane heard the swish Of skirts.
Something's happened surely,
Ruth" he heard Miss Longstreth say,
anxiously. Papa just met me in
the hall and didn't speak. He seemed
pale. worried" ''
Cousin Floyd looked like a
thunder-cloud," said Ruth. 'sFor once
he didn't try to kiss me. Something's
happened"
"Oh, dear! Ruth, what can we dot
These are wild men. Floyd makes life
miserable for me. And he leases you
unmer-"
II don't call it teasing. Floyd wants
to spoon" declared Ruth, emphati-
cally. "He'd run after any woman"
"A hne compliment for me, Cousin
Ruth" laughed Ray. -... .s..
II don't care" replied Ruth, stub
bornly. "It's SO. He's mushy. And
when he's been drinking and tries to
kiss mel hate himw
There were steps on the hall floor.
Hello, girlsl" sounded out Law
sons voice. minus its usual gayety.
''F1oyd, what's the matter?" asked
Ray, presently. n never saw papa as
he is tonight, nor you $3.50 worried.
Tell me, what has happened7"
1--WE had to submit to q damnable
outrage" replied Lawson, passionate
~, as if the sound Of his voice aug
mented his feeling. Listen, girls; ri
tell you about It," He coughed, clear
ed his throat in way that betrayed
he had been drinking.
Duane sank deeper into the shadow
Of his covert, and. stiffening his
muscles for a protracted spell Of
rigidity, prepared to listen with all
acuteness and intensity. Just one
word from this Lawson, inadvertently
uttered In a moment Of passion, might
be the word Duane needed for his
clue.
1T happened at the town hail." be-
gan Lawson, rapidly. "Your father
and Judge Owens and were there
in consultation with three ranchers
from out Of town. Then that damned
ranger stalked in dragging Snecker,
the fellow who hid here in the house.
he had arrested Snecker for alleged
assault on a restaurant-keeper named
Laramie. Snecker being obviously in
nocent, he was discharged Then this
ranger began shouting insults. Law
was a farce in Fairdale. The court
was q farce. There was no law. Your
father was afraid Of the rustlsrs.
highwaymen, murderers. he was
afraid or-he Just let them alone. He
used his ONCE to cheat ranchers and